BioWare’s epic RPG Dragon Age: Origins is AbleGamers.com’s 2009 pick for “Mainstream Accessible Game of the Year.” It received a 9.8/10 score for its bevy of options and graphics choices that make the game playable for gamers with disabilities. In fact, AbleGamers.com had only one criticism of the PC title (small font size), which was easily addressed by BioWare in an update.

Dragon Age: Origins had the most impressive options out of any game this year, the organization said. BioWare included three levels of subtitles, gamers can pause the action during battle and issue commands on a delay instead of in real time, various control options are available for the camera and characters, and the game itself is even colorblind-friendly. The fact that all of the previous options are available and don’t hamper the gameplay is key. The accessibility options only enhance the gameplay for disabled gamers, and they don’t dumb it down or make it any less fun.

Mark Darrah, the Executive Producer of Dragon Age: Origins, acknowleged the importance of accessibility in a statement given to AbleGamers.com: “The Dragon Age team is honored to win this award. We try to appeal to as broad of an audience as we can and accessibility is certainly part of this effort. It makes me proud to have the game this well received by this community,” he said.

We can only hope that others will follow suit and bring even more mainstream gaming fun to the members of this oft-overlooked community.

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