An audio game is a game played on an electronic device. It is similar to a video game save that the only feedback device is audible rather than visual. The game itself exists in sound. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Electronics is the study and use of electrical devices that operate by controlling the flow of electrons or other electrically charged particles in devices such as thermionic valves and semiconductors. ... A computer game is a game composed of a computer-controlled virtual universe that players interact with in order to achieve a defined goal or set of goals. ...

Audio games originally started out as 'blind accessible'-games and were developed mostly by amateurs and blind programmers. But more and more people are showing interest in audio games, ranging from sound artists, game accessibility researchers, mobile game developers and mainstream videogamers. Most audio games run on a computer platform, although there are a few audiogames for handhelds and video game consoles. Audio games feature the same variety of genres as videogames, such as adventure games, racing games, etc. The word amateur has at least two connotations. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A programmer or software developer is someone who programs computers, i. ... A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual) that creates computer or video games. ... A video game player is a person who plays video games or sometimes computer games. ... A computer is a machine designed for manipulating data according to a list of instructions known as a program. ... A video game console is a dedicated electronic machine designed to play video games. ... Adventure is a genre of video game typified by exploration, puzzle-solving, interaction with game characters, and a focus on narrative rather than reflex-based challenges. ... A racing game is any [game or games] that involve(s) competing in races through a surrogate playing piece or vehicle, either getting it from one point to another or completing a number of circuits in the shortest time. ...

Audio game history

Before graphical operating systems like Windows, most home computers used DOS or another text-based operating system. Being text-based meant that they were equally accessible for users with and without a visual impairment. This also meant that games such as text adventures were also equally accessible. However, computers became more powerful resulting in more visually enriched games. This caused a huge gap between the video games for the seeing and games for the blind—a gap that is actually growing. While seeing gamers venture into 3D gaming worlds such as Myst and Final Fantasy, blind gamers are forced to play more mundane games such as Blackjack, Battleship or Memory. A graphical user interface (or GUI, often pronounced gooey) is a method of interacting with a computer through a metaphor of direct manipulation of graphical images and widgets in addition to text. ... An operating system (OS) is an essential software program that manages the hardware and software resources of a computer. ... As of 2006, Microsoft Windows is the worlds most common operating system for use on personal computers. ... TRS-80 Color Computer II The home computer is a consumer-friendly word for the second generation of microcomputers (the technical term that was previously used), entering the market in 1977 and becoming common during the 1980s. ... Microsofts disk operating system, MS-DOS, was Microsofts implementation of DOS, which was the first popular operating system for the IBM PC, and until recently, was widely used on the PC compatible platform. ... Zork, an early work of interactive fiction, running on a modern interpreter Interactive fiction, often abbreviated as IF, is a simulated environment in which players use text commands to control characters. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Myst franchise Games and their Ages Novels Book of Atrus Book of Tiana Book of Dni Book of Marrim Comic Books #0   #1 Miscellaneous Dni   Dni Ages   The Art   Timeline   Items   Kings   Language   Numerals   People   Wildlife   Organizations Brøderbund   Cyan   Presto   Ubisoft   DRC Myst (or MYST... Final Fantasy ) is a series of role-playing video games produced by Square Enix (originally Square Co. ... Blackjack! The face cards (Jack, Queen, and King) count as 10 points, and the Ace counts as 1 or 11. ... pencil and paper game version The game Battleship is a guessing game played by two people. ...

But as videogames started to flourish, several amateur game designers started making videogames accessible for the blind by adding sound. Soon they started developing their own games, not so much based on existing game ideas but based on the possibilties of sound. A game designer is a person who designs games. ...

Current State of the Market

Most audio games are now developed by several small companies (consisting of only a team of 1 to 4 people). The main audience is still mostly visually impaired users. But commercial interest is growing steadly. In 1999 a Japanese company called Warp developed a game called Real Sound: Kaze no Regret. It was released on the Sega Saturn and Dreamcast and it featured no visuals at all, just sound. Methods of the game have found their way into games like D2 and Enemy Zero to enhance gameplay. 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... The Sega Saturn (Japanese: セガサターン, Sega Saturn), is a video game console of the 32-bit era. ... Sega Dreamcast The Sega Dreamcast (Japanese: ドリームキャスト; code-named Katana during development) was Segas last video game console. ... Enemy Zero (E0) is a Sega Saturn game, developed by the company Warp. ...

Audio games are also very interesting for the mobile gaming market since no screen is needed. Artists and students are already experimenting wildly with audiogames to explore the possibilities and limitations of audio games. The game market is gradually taking more notice into audiogames as well because of the issue of game accessibility. Look up Artist in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Students attending a lecture at the Helsinki University of Technology The word student is etymologically derived through Middle English from the Latin second-type conjugation verb stŭdērĕ, meaning to direct ones zeal at; hence a student is one who directs zeal at a subject. ... The field of game accessibility deals with the accessibility of electronic games (computer games, console games, etc. ...

No longer can audio games be considered to be 'just' games for the blind. They're games 'for the hearing'. Up until now, game challenges have been presented using dice, cards, boards, balls, a computer monitor, etc. Audio games expand this range with presenting a challenge in sound. Typical role-playing dice, showing a variety of colors and styles. ... Look up card in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

See also

• List of gaming topics
• Rhythm video game
• Video game music
• Video game genres

This is a hierarchical list linking to all articles related to computer and video games. ... A music video game, also commonly known as a music game or rhythm game, is a type of video game where the gameplay is oriented almost entirely around the players ability to follow a musical beat and stay with the rhythm of the games soundtrack. ... Outrun (1986) is an arcade game with an integral soundtrack. ... This is an alphabetized listing of computer and video game genres with a brief description and examples from each genre. ...

External links

• AudioGames.net, an online research and community website which hosts the biggest online archive of audio games
• Bavisoft, a developer of several audiogames
• SoundSupport.net, developer of several audiogames
• PCS Accessible Game developers List, a big list of blind accessible games and audiogames
• AudysseyMagazine, an online magazine on games for the visually impaired
• BSC Games, a developer of audio computer games
• IGDA Game Accessibility Special Interest Group, working to make mainstream games accessible for all disability groups
• Terraformers, graphic 3D game accessible by blind
• AudioGame.com, a VRML project from 1997 where a player navigates with spatialised sound
• Demor, a location-based 3D audio shooter
• Klango Environment, a unified software solution for developing and running of audio games and applications
• KlangoGames.com, a place where authors of audio games present their works (created with Klango Environment)