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Star Wars: The Old Republic named AbleGamers' Game of the Year

Charitable foundation celebrates EA BioWare MMORPG for incorporating accessibility features like colorblind options, full subtitles, and control options.

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Star Wars: The Old Republic was released too late in 2011 to be eligible for consideration in most Game of the Year awards but not all. The AbleGamers Foundation today named the massively multiplayer online role-playing game the recipient of its Accessible Mainstream Game of the Year award.

The Old Republic earned some light-side points for its accessibility options.
The Old Republic earned some light-side points for its accessibility options.

According to the charity, "Each year, the AbleGamers Foundation looks at all of the mainstream video game titles released in a given year for the best use of accessibility in a game. Recipients must demonstrate excellence in accessibility by including options that allow for gamers with a wide range of disabilities to fully enjoy the game."

The Old Republic stood out from the crowd because it was a high-profile release with options for colorblind gamers, full subtitles, and various control options at launch, the organization said. It specifically noted that larger releases have a habit of omitting such options or patching them in well after the game's release.

The AbleGamers Foundation is a public charity with a stated mission of promoting accessibility in games "so that people with disabilities can gain a greater quality of life and develop a rich social life that gaming can bring." More information is available at the group's official website.

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