New PC game designed for visually impaired

A new computer game created by MIT and Singaporean students is taking the “video” out of “video games.”

A new computer game created by MIT and Singaporean students is taking the "video" out of "video games."

AudiOdyssey is unique in that it lets visually impaired or blind players control the action just as well as a sighted player, as the music-based rhythm game relies solely on audio cues. Specifically, players assume the role of Vinyl Scorcher, an up-and-coming club DJ who must layer sounds to build up a great song –- in the hopes virtual partiers remain on the dance floor.

After the free Windows game is downloaded and installed, audio instructions immediately walk players through the premise, song selection and control options, which involve the four arrow buttons on a standard PC keyboard or an optional Nintendo Wii Remote controller for motion-sensing play (the latter of which requires a Bluetooth-enabled computer). Similar to other rhythm games, such as Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution or Rock Band, players are challenged to press the correct button at the correct time in order to lay down dance tracks, while poor timing results in an "error" sound. The game ships with multiple songs, each with varying levels of difficulty. Players can also "freestyle" after they complete the mandatory tasks.

Some basic graphics are visible in the game, however, consisting primarily of the DJ at their console and a dance floor with flashing lights.

Eitan Glinert, a graduate student in computer science, developed the prototype for AudiOdyssey in the summer of 2007 at the Singapore-MIT Gambit game lab. Working with a team of seven other students, Glinert has been testing it with players but concedes the game is still an "early prototype." "It’s limited in the things people can do, but people seem to really enjoy it," says Glinert, in an MIT release.

AudiOdyssey is available here.

Filed Under: Games