Graduate student Aaron Cendan, who is pursuing a degree in interactive entertainment, is already immersed in finding ways to make games more accessible to everyone. Inspired by a friend who could no longer play games because of a hand issue, Cendan decided to take action.
Read more about Aaron’s work on UCF Today.
Providing more opportunities for people with disabilities in the video game and simulation industries is the theme of the second annual Press Play Conference in downtown Orlando on Jan. 12.
The event will begin at 10 a.m. with keynote speaker Karen Stevens from Electronic Arts. Stevens is a software engineer and the accessibility lead at EA, one of the co-sponsors of the event.
Afterward, participants can select two of four workshops offered:
- The Art and Science of Motion Capture. Participants can see a demonstration of FIEA’s motion capture studio and hear about what it takes to give life to 3D characters from the studio to the screen.
- The Many Roles of Game Programmers. The session covers the many types of engineering that make up game development.
- How to Become a Video Game Artist. Participants will see and hear how art is created for games and the different ways to access those careers. They will also find out what they can do now to prepare.
- Alternative Game Controllers for Accessible Design. College of Arts and Humanitiesfaculty will discuss the importance of good user-experience design for mobility accessibility. They will also discuss how controller design is changing.
The cost is $5, which covers lunch and a T-shirt in addition to the day’s activities. Limited scholarships are available. To sign up, visit: fiea.ucf.edu/pressplay.