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APX

Certified APX Practitioner Course

Become a Certified APX Practitioner (CAPXP) and master player-centric accessible design.

Overview

What you’ll walk away with

Apply our data-driven APX Design Patterns and promote a focus on accessibility early in the design cycle
Learn to identify accessibility issues during the design cycle and implement solutions to fix them
Equip yourself with the data you need to show accessibility is a worthwhile investment in your title
Understand the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) and what it requires

Developed and delivered by the AbleGamers Charity, which has worked within the games industry to make games more inclusive for the past 16 years. In addition to the modules below, all trainings include frequent breaks, and lots of time for discussion, Q&A, and examination of individual accessibility issues within games (including participants’ own games, if desired).

Course Content

What’s covered, module by module

Introduction to the CourseWhat is The AbleGamers Charity? What will we learn together over the next two days?

Cases for AccessibilityWhat is Accessibility in games? How can you become a champion for Accessibility at your studio?

Defining DisabilityWhen we talk about ‘disability,’ what do we mean?

Exercise: Evaluating Player ExperienceExamining what experiences players want in a game, and what experiences they receive from the game.

Shared Player ExperiencesWhat kinds of experiences do players wish to have in games? Are there additional experiences that Players with Disabilities want to have?

Encapsulating KnowledgeWhat are common ways that accessibility knowledge is used during design and development? How can these methods work together?

Exercise: Finding the BarriersUsing a near-final game to demonstrate the difficulty of finding accessibility barriers without a dedicated approach.

Introduction to Design PatternsWhat are design patterns? How are they applicable to Game Accessibility?

The Player Feedback LoopApproach Access Barriers in a game using a simple model of how players exchange information with all games.

Access Patterns: Input OptionsLearn about the Control Patterns within APX — how can you evaluate the controls of your game to find potential accessibility barriers, and brainstorm solutions?

Exercise: Super Awesome Fighting GameApply the Control Access Patterns to a game example, to try to find and solve accessibility barriers within a game’s input.

Access Patterns: Presentation OptionsLearn about the Presentation Patterns within APX — how can you evaluate the way the game gives information to the player, and how the player perceives it?

Exercise: Super Awesome Space FighterApply the Presentation Access Patterns to a game example, to try to find and solve accessibility barriers within a game’s output.

The Challenge CycleApproach Challenge Barriers using a simple model of how players experience gameplay, and where to look for potential accessibility concerns.

Challenge Patterns: Challenge in GamesLearn about the Challenge Patterns within APX — how can you evaluate the gameplay of your game to find potential accessibility barriers, and brainstorm solutions?

Exercise: Super Awesome Action GameApply the first set of Challenge Patterns to a game example, to try to find and solve accessibility barriers within a game’s gameplay.

Challenge Patterns (continued)Continue to learn about the Challenge Patterns within APX.

Exercise: Super Awesome Space RacerApply the second set of Challenge Patterns to a game example, to try to find and solve accessibility barriers within a game’s gameplay.

Difficulty Modes vs. AccessibilityWhere does difficulty and accessibility overlap? How can the existing approach to ‘difficulty modes’ be adjusted to better support players with disabilities?

Supporting the Designer’s IntentHow can we ensure that accessibility doesn’t interfere with the intent of the game’s design?

Exercise: Super Awesome Survival GameApply ALL of the APX design patterns to simulate a design and development process.

Wrap UpYou are now a Certified APX Practitioner! Let’s talk about your next steps.

Course Formats

Three ways to take the course

In-Studio Course (conducted in person with your team), Studio-Only Online Course (a digital classroom customized to your studio’s schedule), and Public Online Course (open registration, may include developers from other studios). All formats total approximately 16 hours, most commonly split across 4 days (4 hours/day) or 2 days (8 hours/day).

Pricing

In-Studio Course

$1,250 / seat

8-person minimum, plus travel expenses for 2 APXP Instructors

Studio-Only Online Course

$1,250 / seat

8-person minimum, conducted in a digital classroom

Public Online Course

$1,400 / seat

or $1,250/seat for 5+ people from one company

FAQ

Common questions

How is the course administered?

There are 3 options: an In-Studio Course conducted over multiple days with instructors present at the studio (10-person minimum); a Studio-Only Online Course conducted in a digital classroom, with scheduling customized to your needs (10-person minimum); or a Public Online Course conducted over multiple days in a digital classroom that may include developers from multiple studios and companies. For studio courses, instructors are happy to sign NDAs so we can view and discuss ongoing projects, if desired.

How much does the certification cost? Are there bulk discounts offered if we want to certify a group?

In-Studio Course: $1,250 per seat plus travel expenses for 2 APXP Instructors. Studio-Only Online Course: $1,250 per seat. Public Online Course: $1,400 per seat, or $1,250 per seat for 5+ people from a company. Reach out to us to discuss further pricing for bulk discounts, or to schedule a studio-only course.

Are there discounts or other means of reducing the price?

Of course! AbleGamers offers discounts for non-profits, bulk discounts for companies sending many developers over time, discounts for those in developing countries, and other ways to work with you to keep training within your budget.

Are there specific discounts or pricing options for indie studios?

Yes — we’re always happy to discuss discounts and other methods of working within indie studio budgets. Reach out to discuss pricing for indies.

Are there means of taking the training at no cost?

Yes! We currently offer scholarships for no-cost APX registrations via our DPAD program. We’re evaluating additional ways of offering no-cost solutions for APX training, and will have more info soon.

How long is the course? How much time will it take?

There’s a lot of material to cover, so we need approximately 16 hours to administer the course, including content, discussions, breaks, and more. These 16 hours are typically split over multiple days — either 4 days at 4 hours per day, or 2 days at 8 hours per day (with a lunch break, which can extend the day past 8 hours). Individual studios can discuss additional times to best suit their needs.

What materials will I need to complete the course?

For Studio-Only Online Courses and Public Online Courses, you’ll need a PC or laptop, a microphone, and we recommend a camera to participate in activities and ask questions. For In-Studio Courses, we’ll need a meeting room that can comfortably fit all participants and instructors, plus a projector or TV/computer setup to display slides. We recommend whiteboards or easel pads for group exercises, though sticky notes work too! Each participant also receives a PDF instructional booklet and a physical APX Card Deck by mail.

How many people can you teach at once?

We estimate we can effectively train up to 25 people in a single course session — more than that and discussion becomes difficult. If you intend to send more than 25 people, we recommend splitting into multiple course offerings. For 10 or more people, we’re happy to come to you for an In-Studio Course, as long as travel costs for the APXP instructors are covered.

Can you come to us?

Yes! For the In-Studio Course or Studio-Only Online Course (10-person minimum for either), we can work with your schedule and timezone to meet your needs.

Will the course be available in my timezone?

For the Public Online Course, we have scheduled time slots to accommodate Eastern Time, Pacific Time, and Central European Time zones, with additional time zones added based on demand.

What platforms/games are covered in the training?

All types of games and platforms are covered, including console, PC, mobile, VR, and more. While most examples and discussions revolve around console and PC, there are examples from other platforms — ultimately, games are games, and the accessibility concepts and APX patterns apply to all of them.

Should Mobile Developers take this course?

Yes! The main accessibility differences between platforms come down to the form of input, and the course does include information related to mobile controls. Presentation and Challenge accessibility are largely the same between mobile and other platforms.

Ready to Get Certified?

Reach out to schedule a course, discuss pricing, or ask a question we haven’t answered above.