How should disabled people be represented in video games?

Mightcrash

I am creating a 3d model in my course based on a group that is underrepresented within the gaming industry and the media as a whole. My partner and I had chosen those with disabilities as one of our two groups to illustrate in our model. My main question is how would you want to be represented in videogames as it would be great to get some insight into how you feel about the situation and how you want the industry to change for the better.

Cher_Alumni

Hello @mightcrash and welcome to our community.  I'm glad you thought of us when thinking about your studies.  Disabled people's representation and inclusion in gaming is very much a hot topic so I'm sure we can help.

Could you first send us a little email to community@scope.org.uk with details about how you will use the replies you receive just so we can check this research is safe for our members.  Thank you.  

Cher_Alumni

Also, I've deleted a duplicate of this post and moved this to our Events, research and opportunities discussion group where all our research-y type enquiries live

Mightcrash

Thank you and I am happy to be here. I'm not entirely sure how to do that if you wouldn't mind instructing me as I am pretty new here. I am currently writing a document and so far I have the majority of the information that I am needing, however I would like to get a response from someone who understands the topic and has to possibly deal with this underrepresentation in their day to day lives.

Those who do reply will stay anonymous and the most I would do is display a link to this website so that my tutors can see that I have found a good source for this information. Thank you for deleting my other post as I was unsure about what section to place in into. 

Ross_Alumni

Hello @Mightcrash

Great question, and sounds like a fantastic study! (Welcome to the community by the way!)

Representation within video games is quite a hot topic right now as mentioned above, and I'm hopeful that things are improving for previously unrepresented groups within the genre. The Last of Us Part II, released earlier this year, was a great step in the right direction.

Personally, if and whenever disability is featured within a video game, I would want it to not be the centre of attention as it can so often be. I'd want the character to seamlessly blend in with any other character in the game and not be portrayed as weaker in any way, because disabled people aren't.

Ultimately, I'd just want them to be a normal character and draw attention to the attributes of a person that we watch films or play games for, such as their personality and actions.

Cher_Alumni

@Mightcrash It sounds like you won't be storing any data or personal details so you're good to go!  I'll add a disclaimer to this thread but good luck

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Mightcrash

Ah I see so you would not like their disability to define them and allow them to be their own character and be defined by their personality and other attributes. I can definitely see that those with disabilities do not want to be seen as weak, as you are right that they are not. In more detail, the character that my partner and I are designing is a girl called Mei who lives within a sci-fi/fantasy world. She has a cybernetic enhancement for her left arm and has a very headstrong personality although she is also very handy and capable of dealing with all sorts of technology. Are there any elements that we may have misinterpreted or areas where you think we could improve?

Mightcrash

@Cher_Scope thank you for the disclaimer and I will make sure that I keep those who do give me information private from my studies

Mightcrash

I have spent a fair amount of time with my partner for my project and have an early model draft as well as some concept art that shows what we were aiming for. Is there any chance that I'd be able to receive some feedback towards how you feel about the character and if you feel, in any way, positively represented by this character and her story?