AbleGamers sits down with Chris Sigaty Lead Producer of Starcraft II

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Published on Monday, 24 August 2009 17:07

Written by Steve Spohn and Mark Barlet

{sidebar id=3}{sidebar id=1}Blizzcon was a flurry of information on all of the newest upcoming titles from Blizzard.  AbleGamers was there covering all the action for all of our disabled gamers across the world asking the questions you want to hear.  AbleGamers own Sheryl Flynn, Mark Barlet, and Steve Spohn sat down with Chris Sigaty lead producer from Starcraft II.

After the lovely but short Sheryl was able to reach up to put the microphone on the taller than average sized Chris, we began the interview.

AbleGamers asks if the interface will continue to be point-and-click like the original Starcraft.  Chris Sigaty answered yes, but there will be enhancements available through the keyboard such as grouping units together but the majority of the interface will be accessible via the mouse.

Mark asked if there be sensitivity settings for mouse speed and camera speed.  Sigaty responded that many of the settings will be saved online but due to the nature of various systems being completely different, not every setting will be available and saved but many will be saved online.  Even if they are not saved online, there will be sensitivity sliders in game.  No word on whether there will be an editable file to increase the speed beyond the slider.

Remappable keys are incredibly important feature for all disabled gamers, yet surprisingly the current build of Starcraft II does not include configurable keys.  Chris expresses that the team would very much like the ability to be put back on the list before shipping and thinks that it is highly likely to make the cut.

Colorblind accessibility

We would then learn one of the most interesting facts of the night.  While asking if Starcraft II will include accessibility options for the colorblind, Chris revealed that he himself is colorblind.  The shocking part of the statement was that no, Starcraft II has not included any colorblind accessibility options even though the lead producer of the project is colorblind.  Truthfully, he sounded aggravated but resigned.

He goes on to say that, he has trouble with reds and greens as well as yellows and light greens.  Quite honestly, we showed surprise in that this was not a priority for Blizzard, particularly since the lead producer from the project was colorblind himself.  Chris continues by saying that they would really like to include some colorblind accessibility later on down the road however, with a list of things that are already not going to make it before shipment, colorblind options was not high on the priority list.

This was amazingly unfortunate because 10% of the male population is colorblind.  One can only wonder why this is not a priority.

Blind and deaf gamers

Steve began asking if the game would be accessible to deaf gamers, mainly if the text would be included for all the major sound events and movie clips.  Chris very eagerly told us that there is text all throughout the cut scenes and other major events.  Even the mini map has a visual cue to go along with the sound wave of being attacked.

Chris then shared a very interesting story about a blind gamer from Korea that was able to participate in a one on one match in the original Starcraft.  The blind gamer played versus a pro-gamer, someone who is sponsored by a corporation, and managed to do very well.  They blindfolded the pro-gamer for the first two minutes to be fair but after that it was a blind gamer versus a fully nondisabled pro gamer.  Unfortunately, the blind gamer did lose but it was a very close match and he almost won the game.

AbleGamers and the wish list

Our next question was about the Tracker IR, a device that beams reflected light into a device to use as a head mouse.  We wanted to know if any accessible technology including the Tracker IR would be included in Starcraft II at launch.

Chris explained that there are many items on the so-called "wish list" that the team would like to add to the game but may not necessarily have time until further on down the road.  He offered to make sure that some AbleGamers will be able to get into the beta to help explain what it is that is a priority for disabled gamers to have included in the game.  Although, assistant technology will be supported if it interfaces directly through the operating system and of course, Blizzard will not block any technology as some other games intentionally do.

We remarked on the achievement for a moment and then decided to move on to some nondisabled game related questions.

Starcraft II achievements

We then wanted to know more about the upcoming Starcraft II achievements system, and if they would be similar to World of Warcraft style achievements that provide rewards for accomplishing certain goals in game.

Chris enlightened us by saying that there would be very similar achievements in Starcraft II comparatively to World of Warcraft.  There will be a point system to show off bragging rights to your friends but there will also be avatar and detailed additions that can only be achieved while on battle.net.

By unlocking certain achievements, you will be able to change your profile picture, or avatar, to something extremely cool that is related to the achievement you unlocked.  Additionally, Starcraft units will have decals painted onto the armor of your troops, and by unlocking certain achievements; you will be able to show off different decals and then are available by default.

Steve wanted to know if there were any achievements that would be necessary or helpful to the gameplay such as in Warcraft, wherein some of the achievements provide players with mounts that would normally cost in game money but are free for those who complete the achievement.

Chris quickly explained that there are some avatars that will only be unlocked by completing achievements but that are no advantages anyone will gain from unlocking these achievements.  Most of these are purely cosmetic or for bragging rights.

Starcraft II LAN is highly unlikely

According to Chris Sigaty, Starcraft II receiving LAN support is highly unlikely because Blizzard is trying very hard to encourage people to participate in the Battle.net experience, and that although playing off-line or in a LAN setting does not prevent you from enjoying the game, it would be impossible for them to award achievements in that situation.

Like many gamers, we attempted to argue that adding LAN support gives certain replayability to the title.  Unfortunately, Chris reiterated the Blizzard hype machine that Battle.net was a scary experience for some people and by removing LAN support they are encouraging users to participate together.

AbleGamers is never a fan of removing options from any game; a LAN option is no different to us then an accessibility option.  Nevertheless, Blizzard is dead set on forcing us all to use Battle.net as often as possible.

Sigaty restated that any LAN support even after shipment would be "highly unlikely" due to the wonderful experience that online gameplay has to offer.  Even when presented with the argument of Korea and off-line LAN tournaments, Chris argues that most tournament grounds are already connected to the Internet and this should pose no problem.

He then stated that the beta itself will be an online beta and not available off-line.

Is accessibility important to Blizzard?

In the final few minutes of the interview, we put him on the spot and ask him, "Why, if you are a colorblind disabled gamer, are you not pushing for this game to be colorblind friendly?"  Sigaty answered that Blizzard would love to put in every feature to the game as quickly as possible, and then almost nervously laughed that many many features are cut that should actually make it into the game sooner rather than later.

He said that from our perspective things do not get into the game as fast as they should but that they do try to add accessibility and other features as quickly as possible, as time allows.

It still strikes us as strange that the lead producer and the lead art director from Starcraft II are both colorblind to some colors and yet colorblind options were not pushed through for the initial release.  One can only wonder exactly what that means or who is making the decision that these parts of the game are not as important as fixing other issues.

At the end of the day, a core issue should not be sacrificed for adding an accessibility option but we can make an educated guess that not all issues on the first release are more important than the ability for some disabled gamers to be able to play the game.

Blizzard as a company has always been extremely open to adding accessibility but this was one of the more surprising developments we had learned in a long time.  We will continue to push this issue with our contacts as hard as we can and let you know if there are any more developments.

Thanks to Chris Sigaty for answering some very difficult questions, questions we are sure are majorly different from the normal canned questions that he probably heard 500 times that day.  Thanks to Sheryl Flynn for physically going to Blizzcon, you rock.

Check out our interviews with Diablo 3 and the World of Warcraft cataclysm devs later this week.  For now, Steve Spohn and Mark Barlet reporting.

About the Author

Author: Mark C. Barlet

The President and Co-Founder of the AbleGamers Foundation.