An Interview with Steve Jackson : Game Maker

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Published on Thursday, 22 October 2009 21:44

Written by Christian Mcdonald-Kelley

{sidebar id=3}{sidebar id=1}While I was working as a volunteer at PAX in Seattle this year, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet and speak with Steve Jackson of SJ Games. I have long been a fan of his products and owned Car Wars, Truck Stop and Ogre in the little black boxes long ago. For those of you too young to remember these, they were tiny board games that would fit into a cargo pocket or large back pocket and provided hours of fun. Any video games where you get to build motorized tools of high-speed octane fueled death exist because of the pavement Car Wars laid down for them.

Steve is not only a creative and really nice guy; he is also interested in what we can do as gamers to help those with disabilities come to the table. He was willing to do an interview with me for AbleGamers and answered some questions a couple weeks ago.

Christian McDonald-Kelley: Thank you for participating in this interview, please tell me a little about yourself.

Steven Jackson: Hmm. I've been inventing games since 1976. It's what I like to do. I'm a complete, unrepentant geek. I like Lego. I can totally lose my train of thought if I realize where a word came from. I read xkcd and usually I get it. I spend way too much time either rolling weird dice or sitting at my computer. The most important geek question, of course, is "Pirate or ninja?"  Pirates are clearly better. Though I admit that when it comes down to US armed forces ninjas vs. Real Pirates, I root for the ninjas. Consistency, as Emerson said, is the hobgoblin of little minds.

CMK: Do you have or have you had a disability, permanent or temporary, which created a barrier between you and gaming?

SJ: My eyesight has never been good, and it has now deteriorated to the point that I can't read small type across the table. That slows me down a bit, but it's not in the same ballpark with some of the issues that I've seen other gamers overcome. (I have always been critical of graphic design that uses unnecessarily small type, or places type over a mottled background, or starts with quirky fonts and then adds inlines AND drop shadows...I think legibility improves the game for everyone, regardless of their eyesight!)

CMK: Do you know or play with any gamers with disabilities?

SJ: A couple of my friends aren't very mobile; in general, the problem there is just "getting to the game," rather than playing. At conventions, I've played with, or run games for, people with very limited vision, with almost no hearing, with arthritis or other conditions that make it nearly impossible to hold cards, with little language in common, and with really widely varying degrees of social or intellectual connectedness with the game and the other players.

CMK: What is your experience within the gaming community/industry dealing with disabilities?

SJ: My observation has been that designers and publishers are aware of some of the issues, and not unsympathetic, but nobody - including me - has much of an idea of either the true scope of the situation, or of how to proceed in a useful way.

CFK: Are there any products you offer which are specifically adapted to or easily adaptable by gamers with disabilities?

SJ: Nothing specifically adapted. I have observed that, in general, "face to face" games are more adaptable because the other players are right there and can make natural accommodations. Multiplayer computer games don't allow for that degree of natural personal help.

CMK: Do you know of any communities of disabled gamers that are fans of a particular game you offer because of its accessibility?

SJ: I wish I could point to some, but no. Years ago, we gave permission and publicity to a woman who was making Braille books and/or books on tape, and she offered these free or at cost, so in theory there might be game groups out there playing GURPS with those tools. However, she dropped out of communication, and it's been a long time. I would really like to hear from anyone interested in a similar initiative, because we would gladly give permission and support.

CMK: What do you think you, or SJ Games, can do to help more disabled gamers come to the table?

SJ: That's a good question. I think I would like to hear from the people who truly can't get to the table, as well as those who manage with the help of their friends. I would like to hear what works, and what doesn't, and what a publisher might be able to do to make a difference. Is it purely an issue of component design, or is there more?

CMK: Any other thoughts you'd like to share?

SJ: Over and over, I've seen apparent disabilities made irrelevant by a group working together. Gaming is, by definition, social (or used to be; don't get me started on solo computer games, because they sure do mess up the definition). When people want to play together, they look out for each other, even if not everyone can participate in the same way. I think that "not having any other gamers around" is one of the most profound disabilities of all.

Steve was generous with his time and thoughtful answers. I hope that we can find a way for SJ Games to once again help the community of gamers with disabilities. Certainly I plan to follow up with him on this and I welcome your ideas here on how SJ Games can help.

I will be trying to get more interviews with gaming industry representatives and celebrities in the future; tell me whom you would like to hear from and we can try to get an interview for AbleGamers.

Next week I will continue with the story of Richie and how, despite the odds, he beat back an invasion of Orks with a handful of dice, a really poor ASL translator (me) and the help of some decent gamers.

About the Author

Author: Christian Mcdonald-Kelley

I am a gamer who wants to find a way to give back to gaming. I am learning all I can about disabilities and gaming.