Fostering Inclusivity and Creativity: A Card Game for Color Perception and Inclusion

Chroma Harmony is a card game designed by Paula Escudeiro and Márcia Campos Gouveia at the Polytechnic University of Porto to improve color perception and promote inclusion of visually impaired players. The paper positions the game as a response to a gap in inclusive game development, arguing that existing industry efforts rarely integrate visually impaired players fully. Its central contribution is the application of the ColorADD color-coding system within a serious game, which the authors present as a novel approach not extensively explored in prior serious game research on color differentiation.

The game centers on players painting three-dimensional objects by combining color cards within a time limit, with single-player and multiplayer modes. Card types include basic, palette, prism, diluent, mirror, and random-color cards, and scoring depends on color accuracy and completion time. The authors describe a passive Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment mechanism tied to a "Lucky Card" whose influence changes with player score and time spent. The paper outlines intended features such as screen reader support, customizable palettes, and tactile feedback, though the extent to which these were fully implemented is not clearly detailed.

Evaluation relied on the authors' Quantitative Evaluation Framework across functionality, adaptability, and usability, with test sessions involving visually impaired and other participants under controlled conditions. Reported scores were 93.868% for functionality, 58.333% for adaptability, and 100% for usability. The modest adaptability score is acknowledged as an area needing improvement, while the sample size and detailed testing protocol are not specified. The authors conclude that most stated objectives were met and anticipate the game's value for color theory education and inclusive design, while the broader claims about industry impact remain largely projected rather than empirically demonstrated.