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Cyberchase Launches First Accessible Game
< < Back toCyberchase Launches First Accessible Game “Railway Hero” on PBS KIDS Games App and PBSKIDS.org
Now available for free with accessibility features for children with physical and cognitive impairments, including vision and hearing impairments
Produced in collaboration with Bridge Multimedia
WNET announces the release of “Railway Hero,” the first accessible and universally designed digital game from the PBS KIDS math series Cyberchase, created specifically to incorporate accessibility features for children with physical and cognitive impairments. “Railway Hero” is now available for free on the Cyberchase website at pbskids.org and on the PBS KIDS Games app.
A collaboration with Bridge Multimedia, an New York City-based accessibility company dedicated to supporting all facets of universal access, with support from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs, “Railway Hero” was designed using a “born accessible” approach with accessibility functions built into the game design from the ground up. In this math-based HTML5 game, players join the CyberSquad in the Solar CyberTrain on a mission to repair cyberspace’s Information SuperRailway, after pieces of its track were stolen by the villain Hacker. Using math problem-solving strategies including counting, addition and spatial reasoning, players fill in the empty tracks in the railway on an epic journey across cybersites.
“Railway Hero” launches on a new Cyberchase website, redesigned as a mobile-friendly and more broadly accessible destination for STEM learning for children 6-8. The website features math games, hands-on activities and streaming of over 100 episodes from all 11 seasons of the series, as well as a Topics section that allows children, parents and educators to find their favorite learning content.
“Media with impact is our mission at WNET, and we strive to make all of our learning content accessible and available to as many children as possible, as we have with Cyberchase for over a decade,” said Sandra Sheppard, Executive Producer of Cyberchase and Director of Children’s & Educational Media at WNET. “Now, we are thrilled to launch our first universally designed game, along with a newly accessible and mobile-friendly website on pbskids.org, as part of our strategy to reach all kids.”
To make “Railway Hero” accessible to as many children as possible, WNET and Bridge Multimedia performed extensive user testing and incorporated a number of features to support learners with a variety of physical and cognitive needs. They include:
• Customizable screen display options, including text size, color and contrast options
• Audio control options, including adjustable music, sound effects and voiceover levels
• Support for blind or visually impaired users, including audio description and keyboard controls
• Support for deaf or hard of hearing users, including captioning
• A variety of cognitive supports, including in-game learning supports, the ability to change text sizes and colors, caption controls and audio descriptions
“To ensure that the accessibility content reflected the high standards of PBS KIDS and Cyberchase, we provided our game developers with insights and research from specialists in education, STEM, special education and information technology for individuals with sensory and cognitive impairments,” said Dr. Wendy Sapp, Bridge Multimedia Project Director for “Railway Hero.”
“This game is transformational because it provides game developers and producers with a template to create future games that are also born accessible,” said Matt Kaplowitz, CEO of Bridge Multimedia.
Cyberchase is produced by THIRTEEN Productions LLC for WNET. Sandra Sheppard and Kristin DiQuollo are executive producers. “Railway Hero” was produced by THIRTEEN Productions LLC for WNET in association with Bridge Multimedia. The game was developed by Sudden Industries, an award-winning developer of learning and entertainment experiences for kids and families.