Gaming captioning is growing in popularity as a way to improve accessibility and immersion for gamers with hearing impairments. This guide will explore what gaming captioning is, how it works, and its benefits.
What is Gaming Captioning?
Gaming captioning is the process of providing text captions for in-game dialogue and audio cues. This can be done in real-time, or after the fact through post-production. Gaming captioning can be used to provide accessibility for gamers who are deaf or hard of hearing or to provide translations for gamers who do not speak the game’s primary language.
Two Main Types of Gaming Captioning: Live and Post-play
Live Captioning
Live captioning is done in real-time, often using speech-to-text software. This type of captioning can be distracting for other gamers, so it is typically only used when absolutely necessary.
Post-play Captioning
Post-play captioning is done after the fact, through the process of recording and transcribing the game’s audio. This type of captioning is less obtrusive, but it can be time-consuming and expensive.
Captions in Video Game Live Streaming
Live streaming of video games has become increasingly popular in recent years, with platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming attracting millions of viewers as Netflix is also interested to become a player and take part in their market share.
Some live streamers have started using video captioning software, which provides live captions for their streams. These services are not perfect, but they can be a helpful way to make live streams more accessible.
Many live streamers use in-game audio to provide commentary for their viewers, which can be difficult or impossible for deaf or hard-of-hearing viewers to follow. Gaming captioning can be used to provide accessibility for these viewers by captioning the in-game audio.
Benefits of Gaming Captioning
There are several benefits to using gaming captioning, both for gamers and for game developers.
For gamers, gaming captioning can:
– Improve accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing gamers
– Provide translations for gamers who do not speak the game’s primary language
– Enhance immersion and enjoyment of the game
For game developers, gaming captioning can:
– Enhance the immersion of your game for all gamers
– Help you avoid potential legal issues associated with inaccessible games
How to Implement Gaming Captioning in Your Game
If you’re a game developer interested in adding gaming captioning to your game, there are a few things you need to do:
First, you need to decide whether you want to use live captioning or post-play captioning. Once you’ve decided which type of captioning you want to use, you need to find a captioning service that meets your needs. There are a number of companies that provide captioning services for video games and you better do your research to find the right one for you.
Also, you need to integrate the captioning service into your game. This can be a challenge, depending on the game engine you’re using and the type of captioning you’ve chosen. However, there are a number of resources available to help you with this process.
In addition, games like Halo, Call of Duty, and Gears of War have settings in-game to turn on captions. Many other games are beginning to offer this option as well. So, be sure to check the settings of your game to see if captions are already an option.
The Popularity of Captioning Among Generation Z
A 2019 study found that 8 in 10 Generation Z respondents say they would like to see more captioning on TV and Streaming services. A separate study found that 78% of 18-34-year-olds say they would use automatic captioning on their smartphones if it were available.
There is a growing demand for captioning among Generation Z, and game developers who implement gaming captioning into their games will be able to appeal to this demographic.
Generation Z is the most ethnically and racially diverse generation in history, and they are also the most likely to have friends who are deaf or hard of hearing. As a result, they are more likely to be interested in games that are accessible to people with hearing impairments.
In addition, Generation Z is known for its love of technology and its willingness to pay for convenience. Therefore, they want their games and movies to be influenced by captioning and other forms of accessibility.
Finally, Generation Z is the future of the gaming industry. By implementing gaming captioning into your game, you are investing in the future of the industry.
What’s Next for Gaming Captioning?
The future of gaming captioning is bright. As more and more people become aware of the importance of accessibility, we can expect to see more and more games implementing gaming captioning.
In addition, new technologies are emerging that will make it easier for developers to add captioning to their games which will probably help increase the popularity of captioning among gamers even more.
