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Will Devs Ever Take A Seriously Take A Look At Color Blind Issues?


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#1 Skyfaller

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 10:30 AM

Because I find it ridiculous

...that on one patch the diffferent vision modes were changed from color blind friendly to color blind hell:

------------night vision went from being a clear green pallete based to a pure grainy-green where the grains are are all a different tone of green. Color blind people see this as a static filled screen that distorts shapes.

------------Heat vision suddenly became different depending on map. Forest became a pitch black where you cant see the terrain you're walking on, Caustic became all-green (similar to night vision) with.. get this.. the HEAT signatures being different tones of green and yellow. We cant see that! . The ice map became a mix of blue hues and by large is perhaps the least changed heat view however the blue tones were darkened so much it is very difficult to see buildings and terrain.

...that despite repeated requests for the ability to select HUD colors it has not been done... but there seemed to be plenty of time for the art team to make several mechs and the Yen Lo Wang's unique look. Hint: RED lock-on boxes and reticles are almost invisible to color blind players.

..that what is essentially an extremely easy fix seems to be beyond the reach of this company.


Return night vision to how it was 2 months ago. Change night vision to be NOT GRAINY. Allow HUD icon colors to be changed by the player.

OR, if this is all too hard then just add a new vision mode: BLACK AND WHITE.

#2 Redshift2k5

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 10:36 AM

I don't think the Devs will appreciate your tone, but I understand it can be exasperating. Colour-blindness is clearly not a primary concern, and when a new art feature gets pushed through development (such as new/tweaked vision modes) it is clear that colour blindness is not being considered until after the face when users lodge a complaint.

Saying "colour blind players can't see x" is not constructive. Even knowing exactly which feature is causing trouble is not enough, either, they need to know what exactly they can do to fix it to solve the issue, and those changes need to fit into the design philosophy of the game. (for example, if colour blind movie-goers all complained they did not like a superhero's costume colour combination, the choice of colour may be too firmly set to even consider making changes)

They would have spent a lot of time making the new night vision mode, and I do not expect them to simply revert all those changes based on a single player's complaint.

But, this is something they are aware of. Here's a quote from earlier today:

View PostMatthew Craig, on 08 November 2012 - 09:48 AM, said:


Please feel free to post screenshots highlighting where the HUD is causing problems for you and our UI engineers will try to take it into account as changes are made, new features added. Thanks for your patience as it probably will take us longer to get to than we'd like, but as mentioned the more feedback you can provide the better we can work to resolve current issues and ensure future designs work better.


Garth has been seen in several colour blindness threads asking for more specific answers- which colours/colour combinations do not work for which players, what alternate colours would work for those layers, etc, and I very rarely see anyone give him a straight answer.

In particular, I think it would be helpful for someone to create photoshop mock-ups from modified in-game screenshots directly illustrating what changes would be effective for specific types of colour blindness (hint: try photoshopping the night vision to suit your needs without reverting to the old night vision style)

Edited by Redshift2k5, 13 November 2012 - 10:44 AM.


#3 Mister Blastman

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 10:38 AM

That sucks man. :P
I don't think they did it on purpose to keep you down though. Being nicer in your tone while constructive might yield more positive results. It could only help not only yourself but everyone else out there that is colorblind as well.

#4 AtomicFrawg

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 10:43 AM

They did say they are working on it along with the UI upgrades. They said you will have control of the UI colors. I wish I could find the post. End of nov. - dec time frame.

#5 CG Chicken Kn

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 10:48 AM

This issue has been a consideration since early July, when I got in the beta.
Or do you think they should drop all other facets of game development so "You" can see better?
Ever consider there are higher priority issues?

#6 von Pilsner

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 10:53 AM

He's just asking for the option to change a few colors, you guys should lighten up.

#7 Onyx Rain

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 10:56 AM

Maybe, I hope so for those people's sake.

I also hope someone addresses the education system responsible for your thread title :)

Just kidding man, but you got some typos there. Happens to the best of us.

#8 Valder

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 10:58 AM

I dunno if they'll ever take a seriously take a look but they are adding changing colors to the HUD. Probably after things like netcode and blackscreening.

#9 Dagger6T6

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 10:59 AM

Posted Image

#10 Felicitatem Parco

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 11:06 AM

They have been taking imput about colorblindess since June (and likely before then, too). I sent them ishihara tests and they replied with great appreciation.

With the upcoming abilities to adjust your own HUD colors, I think this will help.

As for Heat Vision, there is a full spectrum of colors just like many traditional, real-life IR spectrometers. Because it's color-coded with dark-blue representing the coldest features, the ice-cold buildings and terrain of Frozen City SHOULD be too dark to distinguish - they're frozen cold and the same temperature, therefore indistinguishable in Thermal Vision.

I do have to admit that Night Vision is entirely worthless, regardless of the negative effects experienced specifically by those with color-blindness... it's just not a useful tool. It makes caves appear darker... common!

Edited by Prosperity Park, 13 November 2012 - 11:07 AM.


#11 Monsoon

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 11:06 AM

They did say they'd be adding color selection options in a future patch. They're away of colour blind issues. Just probably not their TOP priority.

#12 Skyfaller

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 11:08 AM

View Postvon Pilsner, on 13 November 2012 - 10:53 AM, said:

He's just asking for the option to change a few colors, you guys should lighten up.


Been requested for so long and yet nothing done yet. 'tis all.

btw, what the mech in your sig? I like.

#13 Dagger6T6

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 11:11 AM

View PostSkyfaller, on 13 November 2012 - 11:08 AM, said:


Been requested for so long and yet nothing done yet. 'tis all.

btw, what the mech in your sig? I like.


It did recently come up in one of the Q/A blogs on some website last week I think, when one of the bloggers asked the Devs what the plans were for color blind modes... so they are aware and hopefully will be working on it.

Edited by Dagger6T6, 13 November 2012 - 11:11 AM.


#14 Kilroni

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 11:16 AM

Wish it was taken a bit more seriously. It's not hard to make things work for colorblind folks. My son would love to play but this makes it too tough for him.

Rather than all of the "you think the world revolves around you and blah blah" posts, what if (haha this is the internet, what am I saying?) you instead were thankful that you're not colorblind? My son loves it when ignorant people give him crap about coloring using different colors than they see. He knows they'll grow up into the mal-adjusted good-for-nothings it seems have trouble understanding why we should try to enable as many people as possible to use games, public transportation, etc.

As a developer, I'm familiar with having to ensure products are accessible and meet state requirements for things like support of JAWS readers. It takes only a slight amount of extra work to make these things a certainty rather than an afterthought.

#15 Joseph Mallan

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 11:16 AM

View PostSkyfaller, on 13 November 2012 - 11:08 AM, said:


Been requested for so long and yet nothing done yet. 'tis all.

btw, what the mech in your sig? I like.

Looks like a
Piranha

.

#16 AtomicFrawg

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 11:26 AM

View PostKilroni, on 13 November 2012 - 11:16 AM, said:

Wish it was taken a bit more seriously. It's not hard to make things work for colorblind folks. My son would love to play but this makes it too tough for him.

Rather than all of the "you think the world revolves around you and blah blah" posts, what if (haha this is the internet, what am I saying?) you instead were thankful that you're not colorblind? My son loves it when ignorant people give him crap about coloring using different colors than they see. He knows they'll grow up into the mal-adjusted good-for-nothings it seems have trouble understanding why we should try to enable as many people as possible to use games, public transportation, etc.

As a developer, I'm familiar with having to ensure products are accessible and meet state requirements for things like support of JAWS readers. It takes only a slight amount of extra work to make these things a certainty rather than an afterthought.


Ummm I don't think one here said anything bout "The world does not revolve around you". The only critical post was the guy saying he would get a better reaction if his was not so angry.

#17 ollo

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 12:18 PM

View PostSkyfaller, on 13 November 2012 - 10:30 AM, said:

------------night vision went from being a clear green pallete based to a pure grainy-green where the grains are are all a different tone of green. Color blind people see this as a static filled screen that distorts shapes.


I don't get it, color blindness in the sense of HSL (hue, saturation, lightness) impacts usually HS, not L. You can see if something is bright or dark, don't you? Otherwise it wouldn't be colorblind, it would be brightnessblind, am i wrong?

Quote

------------Heat vision suddenly became different depending on map. Forest became a pitch black where you cant see the terrain you're walking on, Caustic became all-green (similar to night vision) with.. get this.. the HEAT signatures being different tones of green and yellow. We cant see that! . The ice map became a mix of blue hues and by large is perhaps the least changed heat view however the blue tones were darkened so much it is very difficult to see buildings and terrain.


Trust me, we don't see **** on caustic either. :) On the other hand i'm also slightly color weak (red/green). ^_^
But i'd say heat vision isn't supposed to work on caustic, as the mechs blend in with the already hot environment.

And same as before, HV on Forest or other low-temp maps doesn't have an issue with colorblindness. The whole map IS almost pitch black because it's cold, and you can clearly see the mechs as bright silhuettes. The only complaint i'd consider valid here is that you can't distinguish beween coll mechs and mechs close to shutdown.

Quote

...that despite repeated requests for the ability to select HUD colors it has not been done... but there seemed to be plenty of time for the art team to make several mechs and the Yen Lo Wang's unique look. Hint: RED lock-on boxes and reticles are almost invisible to color blind players.

..that what is essentially an extremely easy fix seems to be beyond the reach of this company.


This is clearly valid, it should be a no-brainer to at least provide different color sets. But i guess it's not highest on their priority list, as a few happy colorblind will not save the game when the majority quits of rage or boredom.

Quote

Return night vision to how it was 2 months ago. Change night vision to be NOT GRAINY. Allow HUD icon colors to be changed by the player.


Night vision or heat vision? In both cases the main differentiation is L, not HS. Which also means that...

Quote

OR, if this is all too hard then just add a new vision mode: BLACK AND WHITE.


...with this nothing would really change besides that the slight, not really worth mentioning, advantages non-colorblind have ar gone for everyone (distinguish hot/cold mechs or maybe get a glimpse of valuable information on caustic - but who runs around in an oven with heat vision?)

But i don't see a problem with applying different color ramps for the vision types, apart that it might be abused by non-colorblind to get a better differentiation.

Oh, and: http://englishrussia...sian-army-test/

#18 Onyx Rain

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 12:29 PM

I actually use Heat vision on Caustic to snipe sometimes...

I don't know if it is my custom config or what, but with regular vision I can't see the mech at all sometimes way out there...hit heat vision, and I at least see a green blob I can aim at.

Night vision sucks. The mechs need to refect more light before they get shot, can see better with regular vision. There was one patch where it was working kinda good for me with my config on forest colony but now it is way to dark, and brightness/contrast sliders don't work so I can't do anything about it. Personally I like the bluish/purple/white version of night vision better...Looked cooler (still didn't work very well)

View PostDagger6T6, on 13 November 2012 - 10:59 AM, said:

Posted Image


Please tell me this isn't an actual color blind test because I've passed every one I've ever seen, but I can't make out much of anything in this one. If I had to guess I'd say 39(turns out I was wrong, it isn't 39)?.

Edit:
Thank god, I found this test online...People who aren't color blind are supposed to fail it LOL.
Ooh, once I found out the answer I could see it kinda....I'm superhuman!

Edited by Onyx Rain, 13 November 2012 - 12:35 PM.


#19 ollo

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 12:40 PM

View PostOnyx Rain, on 13 November 2012 - 12:29 PM, said:

I actually use Heat vision on Caustic to snipe sometimes...

I don't know if it is my custom config or what, but with regular vision I can't see the mech at all sometimes way out there...hit heat vision, and I at least see a green blob I can aim at.

Night vision sucks. The mechs need to refect more light before they get shot, can see better with regular vision. There was one patch where it was working kinda good for me with my config on forest colony but now it is way to dark, and brightness/contrast sliders don't work so I can't do anything about it. Personally I like the bluish/purple/white version of night vision better...Looked cooler (still didn't work very well)



Please tell me this isn't an actual color blind test because I've passed every one I've ever seen, but I can't make out much of anything in this one. If I had to guess I'd say 39(turns out I was wrong, it isn't 39)?.


NO

Quote

Edit:
Thank god, I found this test online...People who aren't color blind are supposed to fail it LOL.
Ooh, once I found out the answer I could see it kinda....I'm superhuman!


It's quite funny that 'we' as the challenged ones can see something the people with 'normal' vision can't see. BTW, take the test the russian army in my post above! :)

#20 Agent 0 Fortune

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Posted 13 November 2012 - 12:46 PM

Your video card renders everything you see on screen. You may be able find a render filter from you video card manufacturer or a 3rd party that can perform color fixing at the driver level rather than the application level. I would be very surprised if you couldn't find a "greyscale" filter at the very least.





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