Comments on: On the Issue of Color Blindness

By: Glen Moyes

Glen Moyes — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 09:28:06 +0000

Yes, we won’t be changing the dialog, and the method for letting color blind readers know what’s going on won’t be distracting (it’ll make sense once we reveal more in the future).

I’ll add though that this issue of colorblindness and telling the difference between undead and ghouls won’t be nearly as much of a problem in an animated version of Hackberry Hollow (yes, we have been thinking about that possibility down the road; we do after all eventually want to get into producing animation). There’s technically two versions of the script. There are notes for things that apply only to the comic book version and a potential animated version. The ghouls will not only look different, but they’ll move differently and also SOUND differently. But unfortunately we can’t animate anything or add sound effects to the comic—well, at least not without typing, “BAM!” “SQUISH!” “ARRROOOWWW! UNEARTHLY HOWL!” etc., so we have to make do with what we can communicate with still images and dialog.

Either way, using more than just color to show the difference between designs is a good idea and, we learned our lesson (again).

By: Adam Weber

Adam Weber — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 05:16:50 +0000

I know two people who are color blind (that I know of, people don’t exactly go around with a billboard advertising this) and though two people is a really small sample, both admitted to getting frustrated when playing games that require you to distinguish green and red. We’re not changing the dialog, but we are going to inform the (colorblind) reader when that line comes up that we didn’t forget about them.

Our goal is to make Hackberry Hollow as good an experience as possible. Though color blind readers may have ways to work around this issue, they shouldn’t have to; and while they may not mind if we ignore them, they’re likely to appreciate the fact that we didn’t.

And if they’re hostile to the idea of being thought of, then they need to lighten up.

By: Erica

Erica — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 03:37:58 +0000

Take this from someone who knows exactly what she’s talking about: People who are color-blind typically know that they are and have found ways to work around it. I appreciate you thinking about it and altering your ghostly apparitions so they look different from each other – but seriously, you don’t need to change your text.

By: Shaun Williams

Shaun Williams — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 08:05:14 +0000

Interesting that most of my work is with a blue accent color. Very interesting.

Wow, you guys. Awesome work on the subject. This will stand out as a high level of awareness to the readers. I’m very impressed! Glen, as always, Your posts are awesome. Thanks for the squirrel. Memories of old times.

By: Higgins

Higgins — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 06:17:28 +0000

I like the level of research you did into the subject, and that you are actively keeping it aware when developing Hackberry Hollow. I like how the general solution, aside from value being the primary key, is to shake it up with the colors a bit. More and more I’m noticing a lot of folks focus on a single color for an element of an illo (say, green) without adding in environmental effects and reflections to give it a broader spectrum and make it more visually interesting. Good advice all around.

By: Adam Weber

Adam Weber — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:32:48 +0000

Wait, the normal and deuteranope pictures look exactly… OH CRAP!!!

By: Austin

Austin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:42:10 +0000

I have a friend that has the level of colorblindness where he only sees gray-scale. the funny thing was, when we played hide and go seek when i was a kid, if you were wearing a white shirt you could pull it over your head and down over your pants and shoes and sit back against a white wall, and he would walk right past you. it was pretty funny. usually he herd you laughing though.