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Xbox X|SWe've documented 18 accessibility features for Headliner: NoviNews, including Large Text, Low Pressure, No Quick Reactions, No Repeated Pressing and Play Without Hearing. Its accessibility is strongest in Controls and Getting Started but it also has features in Reading, Visual, Audio and Navigation to reduce unintended barriers.
This report is created with input from accessibility experts and the player community to help people find games that have the accessibility features they require. Once you have found potential games on the database, there are excellent specialist accessibility sites that offer in-depth reviews to guide your purchasing decisions.
Accessibility Notes
- Reaction time Not Critical
- Low Pressure, no actions in the game are time-sensitive.
- Auto-Save
- Speaker Indicator
- Playable with mouse only or mouse and keys
- No rapid pressing is required
- Playable without hearing
Headliner: NoviNews can be played with the mouse only, aside from entering your name at the beginning of the game. A random name is generated for you, but if you would like a custom name you will need to use a keyboard. The game does accept keyboard input when the game isn't focused (if using an on-screen keyboard for example).
Game Details
Release Date: 05/10/2019
Out Now: Mac, PC, PS4, Switch and Xbox One
Players: 1
Genres: Adventure, Narrative (Communication and Simulation)
Accessibility: 18 features
Components: 2D Side-On and Text
Developer: Unbound Creation (@UnboundCreation)
Costs: Purchase cost
Controls
We've documented 5 accessibility features for Controls in Headliner: NoviNews which deal with how you control the game, different options for alternative inputs and whether you can remap these settings to suit your needs.
Gamepad
Can play with the following:
Multiple Buttons & Single Stick: Can play with multiple buttons and a stick.
Mouse And Keyboard
Can play with the following:
Keyboard Alone: Can play with just the keyboard.
Mouse Alone: Can play with just the mouse/mouse-button/mouse wheel.
Mouse and Keys: Can play with mouse and multiple keys.
Button Combinations
Specific button operation required to play
Rapid Repeated Pressing Optional: Quick, repeated button pressing (more than 2 times a second) is not required, can be skipped or switched to holding a button to trigger a repeated action.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Controls
If you want to play Headliner: NoviNews, but it doesn't offer the Controls accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Controls accessibility:
- Hypnospace Outlaw (14 Controls Features)
- Majotori (9 Controls Features)
- Monorail Stories (7 Controls Features)
- The Stanley Parable (7 Controls Features)
Difficulty
We haven’t documented any accessibility features for Difficulty in Headliner: NoviNews which deal with how you can adjust the challenge of play, and whether this is locked once chosen or can be adjusted as you play. The following games are similar to Headliner: NoviNews, and offer accessibility features for Difficulty:
- Monorail Stories (2 Difficulty Features)
- Do Not Feed the Monkeys (1 Difficulty Feature)
- Papers, Please (1 Difficulty Feature)
Getting Started
We've documented 4 accessibility features for Getting Started in Headliner: NoviNews which deal with what support is offered to get started with the game. This includes customising the experience when you first open the game via any onboarding processes it provides as well as tutorials and other assistance when you first start playing.
Assistance Getting Starting
These features aid your play of the game in terms of cognitive load on learning controls, dealing with pressure and coping with the environment and challenges.
Tutorials: There are helpful tutorials and instructions on how to play. Information is provided in a timely manner, with appropriate level of detail.
View Control Mapping: You can view a map of controls during play. This clearly displays the mappings of actions to buttons/keys/mouse/keyboard without having to leave the game. This includes games that always display buttons to press during play.
Reaction-Time Not Critical: Individual game actions don’t need quick reactions, or there are settings to lower the requirement for quick reactions. This means you don't need to quickly press a button in response to an on-screen prompt, target a fast-moving target or skillfully complete a scenario against the clock.
Low Pressure: Game tasks aren't time-limited or there's a low-pressure mode. This avoids the pressure of being put on the clock for overarching missions, or failing tasks because you didn't reach a destination in time.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Getting Started
If you want to play Headliner: NoviNews, but it doesn't offer the Getting Started accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Getting Started accessibility:
- Hypnospace Outlaw (8 Getting Started Features)
- Green New Deal Simulator (6 Getting Started Features)
- Monorail Stories (6 Getting Started Features)
- Suzerain (5 Getting Started Features)
Reading
We've documented 4 accessibility features for Reading in Headliner: NoviNews which deal with how much reading or listening comprehension is required, how well the game provides visual and audible access to the text and whether subtitles and captions are a good fit for purpose.
Reading Level
How much reading is required to play the game's main path or story and how complex the language is. The presence of voiced characters doesn't reduce this requirement, as it's recorded as a separate datapoint.
Extensive Complex Reading: Extensive reading required. The quantity and complexity of reading is suitable for someone who loves long books and enjoys extended dialogue or narrative descriptions.
Text Visibility
Large Clear Text: All essential text is large and clear or can be adjusted to be. The general text used throughout the game in menus, instructions and other key information (excluding subtitles that are assessed separately) is at least 1/20 (46 pixels on 1080 screen) the height on landscape screens and at least 1/40 height on portrait screens. We base this on the full line-height, including the space above and below the letters.
High Contrast Text: Text colour contrasts to the background or can be adjusted to be. The text in menus, instructions and other information is presented in high contrast with a solid background.
Captions
Speaker Indicator: Textual captions indicate who is speaking (or there is only ever one person speaking). This can also be indicated visually in the game with character icons or placing text in speech bubbles next to the person speaking.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Reading
If you want to play Headliner: NoviNews, but it doesn't offer the Reading accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Reading accessibility:
- Monorail Stories (7 Reading Features)
- The Stanley Parable (6 Reading Features)
- Majotori (5 Reading Features)
Navigation
We've documented 1 accessibility feature for Navigation in Headliner: NoviNews which deals with how the game provides guidance and assistance to navigate its worlds. These are only for games that have traversal and exploration in 2D and 3D spaces.
Clarity
Large Clear Navigation: The in-game navigation and maps are clear to read. They offer large text and offer markers that are large and of high contrast. Where text or information is small, there are settings to zoom-in and increase visibility.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Navigation
If you want to play Headliner: NoviNews, but it doesn't offer the Navigation accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Navigation accessibility:
- Monorail Stories (5 Navigation Features)
- Suzerain (4 Navigation Features)
- Majotori (2 Navigation Features)
- Hypnospace Outlaw (2 Navigation Features)
Visual
We've documented 2 accessibility features for Visual in Headliner: NoviNews which deal with how you can adjust the visuals to suit your needs, and offer additional information if you can't hear the game.
Visual Distractions
No Screen Shake: No screen shake effect or it is included but it can be disabled. This includes the absence of screen shake for dramatic effect as well as to indicate hits on a target.
Colour Options
Colour Blind Friendly: Game doesn’t rely on colour or can switch to colour blind friendly mode with double coding or similar way to avoid colour dependance.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Visual
If you want to play Headliner: NoviNews, but it doesn't offer the Visual accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Visual accessibility:
- Majotori (7 Visual Features)
- Democratic Socialism Simulator (7 Visual Features)
- Suzerain (7 Visual Features)
- Bury Me My Love (7 Visual Features)
Audio
We've documented 2 accessibility features for Audio in Headliner: NoviNews which deal with how you can adjust the audio of the game and whether audio cues compensate for aspects of the game that are hard to see.
Adjustable Audio
Balance Audio Levels: Set music and game sound effects separately. This enables you to select your preference as well as ensure critical game sounds aren't obscured by other audio.
Play Without Hearing
Play Without Hearing: No audio cues are necessary to play the game well.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Audio
If you want to play Headliner: NoviNews, but it doesn't offer the Audio accessibility features you require, this similar game extends the Audio accessibility:
- Bury Me My Love (3 Audio Features)
System Accessibility Settings
In addition to the accessibility features provided in the game, you can also use system-wide accessibility settings:
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch has some built-in features, including a lockable zoom, that can be used on all games.
PC
Windows has extensive accessibility features. Some, like colour correction, work with games. Lots of accessibility software can be used with PC games, from voice recognition to input device emulators.
PlayStation 4
PlayStation 4 has a range of accessibility settings. Some are system only, some work in games (invert colours and button mapping).
Xbox One
Xbox One has a system features, the excellent co-pilot share controls mode and adaptive controller support for all games.
Read more about system accessibility settings.
Accessibility Report supported by VSC Rating Board, PlayabilityInitiative and accessibility contributors Jonah Monaghan
