Blizzard Discriminating Against Disabled Gamers? - Gaming Discussion

iitob · 21-07-2008, 14:24

Ever since Blizzard issued the lawsuit against WoW Glider a lot of people have protested that Blizzard are being inconsiderate towards disabled players. If you're not familiar with it, WoW Glider is a bot that allows you to automate play in World of Warcraft.

It's an interesting issue that's discussed in full here.

Do you think Blizzard are being too gung-ho going after gold farmers?

dadioflex · 21-07-2008, 14:45

What's it like under that bridge?

Aspartame · 21-07-2008, 15:04

I'm prepared to run with this not being a troll for a bit if you can explain the connection between WoWGlider and disabled players.

Exactly how can they not play without it?

Bisho · 21-07-2008, 15:55

I think it's a very interesting slant on the issue. I'd rather have no disabled players than disabled players and gold farmers, if it ever came down to it.

I do however, know a fair number of disabled players who can use WoW perfectly well and so don't think it's as big of a deal as will be made out of it. Blizzard make provisions for all sorts of disabilities.

iitob · 21-07-2008, 17:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aspartame

I'm prepared to run with this not being a troll for a bit if you can explain the connection between WoWGlider and disabled players.

Exactly how can they not play without it?

Who said they couldn't play without it? Nice to see how quickly a "controversial" issue is jumped upon as being trolling.

There are a few angles this could be looked at.

This software is used by some of the disabled gaming community in World of Warcraft to semi-automate play. Blizzard have paid no attention to this fact in what has been a very reckless lawsuit. Don't you think they, as a socially responsible company, should have at the very least paid some lip service to this issue? That's looking at it from a purely business perspective.

You could also see an issue of accessibility. In the same way that you make a store accessible to those in wheel chairs, can you then make a game more accessible to disabled gamers? Personally I think Blizzard have done a lot in this respect, making World of Warcraft one of the most accessible MMORPGs out there.

But hey, I'm just trying to stimulate some discussion, maybe even some debate. I thought a forum would be the place to do that.

Swansea Stu · 21-07-2008, 18:54

So how do you know who is just using the bot to semi automate their game and who is using it to fully automate their game?

mad_dude · 21-07-2008, 19:27

Why would disabled players need a bot? al

neo6776 · 21-07-2008, 19:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by mad_dude

Why would disabled players need a bot? al

This is what im trying to work out lol

Eliott256 · 21-07-2008, 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by iitob

Who said they couldn't play without it? Nice to see how quickly a "controversial" issue is jumped upon as being trolling.

There are a few angles this could be looked at.

This software is used by some of the disabled gaming community in World of Warcraft to semi-automate play. Blizzard have paid no attention to this fact in what has been a very reckless lawsuit. Don't you think they, as a socially responsible company, should have at the very least paid some lip service to this issue? That's looking at it from a purely business perspective.

You could also see an issue of accessibility. In the same way that you make a store accessible to those in wheel chairs, can you then make a game more accessible to disabled gamers? Personally I think Blizzard have done a lot in this respect, making World of Warcraft one of the most accessible MMORPGs out there.

But hey, I'm just trying to stimulate some discussion, maybe even some debate. I thought a forum would be the place to do that.

I have to agree with the others, i'm very confused as to why a disabled person would need a bot? Do they need bots to play all their games then?

snak · 22-07-2008, 07:17

Well a blind player would certainly need it
A person with no hands or fingers would need it

nahhh this is just ridiculous to be honest, the disabled players who require this rarely expect to play games in the first place and thus would play games designed for them.

a person paralyzed from the waist down wouldnt need this

dadioflex · 22-07-2008, 12:38

Autohotkey or a macro keyboard like the G15 ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-G15...dp/B000BXECNM/ ) would be adequate surely. The point of glider was it allowed unattended play. As far as I know WOW has no objections to using macros in general.

Aspartame · 22-07-2008, 13:00

WoW positively encourages macros, and addons. There's many mods that simplify and automate things in the game. And the G15 keyboard you mention is well supported by Blizzard too

PinkDiamonds87 · 22-07-2008, 23:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eliott256

I have to agree with the others, i'm very confused as to why a disabled person would need a bot? Do they need bots to play all their games then?

dude read the article! It says that disabled people with motor problems or poor functioning limbs use the bots as they don't have full use of their fingers and slow reactions, therefore the bot helps them by modifying their gameplay e.g. by combining what would require several different keystrokes into one key. Because of their problems, it would normally take them significantly longer than an able bodied person, with the mod their is no competitive advantage.

but to be honest, I doubt many disabled people actually use the bot to even up the playing field with able bodied players. It says that Blizzard already helps disabled people through availability of such features as a onscreen keyboard and full control of the games functions through the mouse. I don't know any one with severe enough disabilities to require the use of a bot to play computer games.

blackmagic · 23-07-2008, 09:13

http://www.onrpg.com/boards/97446.html

Eliott256 · 23-07-2008, 09:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by PinkDiamonds87

dude read the article! It says that disabled people with motor problems or poor functioning limbs use the bots as they don't have full use of their fingers and slow reactions, therefore the bot helps them by modifying their gameplay e.g. by combining what would require several different keystrokes into one key. Because of their problems, it would normally take them significantly longer than an able bodied person, with the mod their is no competitive advantage.

but to be honest, I doubt many disabled people actually use the bot to even up the playing field with able bodied players. It says that Blizzard already helps disabled people through availability of such features as a onscreen keyboard and full control of the games functions through the mouse. I don't know any one with severe enough disabilities to require the use of a bot to play computer games.

You mean macros which are avaliable to everyone? Most people who use the bots aren't disabled. If a person is seriously disabled, wouldn't they be better finding a game they're better suited to? It's what I'd do if I was finding a game too hard (not the same thing I know, but the only comparison I could think of so don't jump on me)

Eliott256 · 23-07-2008, 09:45

Oh and the bot in question, the glider, plays for the player and levels up, i'd class that as cheating, disabled player, or not.

21-07-2008, 14:24	#1
iitob Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 12	Blizzard Discriminating Against Disabled Gamers? Ever since Blizzard issued the lawsuit against WoW Glider a lot of people have protested that Blizzard are being inconsiderate towards disabled players. If you're not familiar with it, WoW Glider is a bot that allows you to automate play in World of Warcraft. It's an interesting issue that's discussed in full here. Do you think Blizzard are being too gung-ho going after gold farmers?

21-07-2008, 14:45	#2
dadioflex Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 847	What's it like under that bridge?

21-07-2008, 15:04	#3
Aspartame Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Greenock Services: Freeview, BT Total Broadband, pie. Posts: 7,957	I'm prepared to run with this not being a troll for a bit if you can explain the connection between WoWGlider and disabled players. Exactly how can they not play without it?

21-07-2008, 15:55	#4
Bisho Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,265	I think it's a very interesting slant on the issue. I'd rather have no disabled players than disabled players and gold farmers, if it ever came down to it. I do however, know a fair number of disabled players who can use WoW perfectly well and so don't think it's as big of a deal as will be made out of it. Blizzard make provisions for all sorts of disabilities.

21-07-2008, 18:54	#6
Swansea Stu Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Yr Hendy Services: Sky+ Basic, Free-online, Posts: 928	So how do you know who is just using the bot to semi automate their game and who is using it to fully automate their game?

21-07-2008, 19:27	#7
mad_dude Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Services: SKY, Freesat HD, Freeview 20mb. PS3,CFW PSP 60gb (320gb),Wii, Saturn Posts: 4,442	Why would disabled players need a bot? al

22-07-2008, 07:17	#10
snak Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Services: X360, Wii, 32" HDTV, 16MB DSL Posts: 854	Well a blind player would certainly need it A person with no hands or fingers would need it nahhh this is just ridiculous to be honest, the disabled players who require this rarely expect to play games in the first place and thus would play games designed for them. a person paralyzed from the waist down wouldnt need this

22-07-2008, 12:38	#11
dadioflex Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 847	Autohotkey or a macro keyboard like the G15 ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-G15...dp/B000BXECNM/ ) would be adequate surely. The point of glider was it allowed unattended play. As far as I know WOW has no objections to using macros in general.

22-07-2008, 13:00	#12
Aspartame Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Greenock Services: Freeview, BT Total Broadband, pie. Posts: 7,957	WoW positively encourages macros, and addons. There's many mods that simplify and automate things in the game. And the G15 keyboard you mention is well supported by Blizzard too

23-07-2008, 09:13	#14
blackmagic Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: 53° N, 1° W Posts: 1,067	http://www.onrpg.com/boards/97446.html

23-07-2008, 09:45	#16
Eliott256 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Gender: Male Posts: 2,074	Oh and the bot in question, the glider, plays for the player and levels up, i'd class that as cheating, disabled player, or not.