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People Complaining About The "Visual Terror Radius"...

Iron_Cutlass
Iron_Cutlass Member Posts: 3,362
edited March 2023 in General Discussions

I have always advocated for accessibility changes since I feel like more people being able to access something is overall a good thing, but it seems like a lot of people have misunderstandings of what "accessibility" really is.

Accessibility is something that helps bridge the game between your average players and those who may have some issue that holds them back. The easiest and most common thing to address for game developers is deaf/hearing impairment options, they often try to use visual indicators to help level the playing-field for players.

BHVR is introducing a Visual Terror Radius option for players, so let me break down and debunk common arguments against it:

~ "Isnt this just giving Survivors a free perk slot?"

  • No, this is not. People who are deaf or deal with hearing impairments ran Spine Chill to have some sense of Terror Radius for the longest of times. Unlike other perks, they did not run this because they liked the perk, they ran Spine Chill because they felt forced to, otherwise they would not be able to keep up with other Survivors.
  • If accessibility options were there since the beginning, then people would have used those options over Spine Chill anyways.

~ "This is giving Survivors free information yet again."

  • No, this is not. The Visual Terror Radius is intended to work the exact same as the normal Terror Radius, just in a visual format instead of an auditory format. If a Survivor is Oblivious, or the Killer is Undetectable, the Visual Terror Radius will work the exact same as the normal Terror Radius in those instances.

~ "Where are the Killer accessibility changes, this feels incredibly bias."

  • While I understand where this is coming from, you need to understand that DBD by itself is an asymmetrical game, meaning the two roles are fundamentally different. Because of this, it becomes difficult for BHVR to balance since they want to avoid providing a competitive advantage. Survivor is a lot more straight forward to change than Killer in this instance.
  • If you have any suggestions, I would recommend using the Forums' Feedback section to give it. BHVR does sometimes listen to suggestion and even add them into the game (it one of the reasons why accessibility options are even there to begin with).

I hoped this helped clear the air for those who do not understand why the Visual Terror Radius is a great change, rather than spreading hate or misinformation, I would much rather inform people on these topics, especially since I myself am affected by it since I have a hearing impairment, which allows me to speak first-hand about this.

If you have any questions, or want to give some input, feel free to do so, this is a public forum for a reason, so dont be afraid to do so. :D

Comments

  • Iron_Cutlass
    Iron_Cutlass Member Posts: 3,362

    The option is there for everyone to use anyways, some people prefer to see things in a visual format over hearing it in an auditory format, which is perfectly fine!

  • ReikoMori
    ReikoMori Member Posts: 3,333

    I know from experience that the DBD community can be very adverse to accessibility options.

    I had folks jump down my neck when I suggested that it would be nice if the devs could scale back the preset volume of chase music because some of the killers have chase music that makes playing the game difficult for folks with overly sensitive hearing and Tinnitus.

  • Iron_Cutlass
    Iron_Cutlass Member Posts: 3,362

    DBD's community is not use to these kind of changes and a lot of people are unfamiliar as to where these changes are coming from since they've never been exposed to it, I feel like it would be best to try and inform those who may not understand or may be confused.

  • legacycolt
    legacycolt Member Posts: 1,684
    edited March 2023

    My ears are working as intended but I’ll activate this feature because sometimes gen sounds drown the terror radius. Thank you devs :)

    Post edited by legacycolt on
  • Coffeecrashing
    Coffeecrashing Member Posts: 3,864

    The actual problem is we don't know if the visual terror radius will respect loud noises like generators. If the visual terror radius literally pops up whenever a survivor is in an active terror radius or lullaby, then it's absolutely a buff.

    If the visual terror radius only pops up if the survivor could realistically be expected to hear the terror radius (or lullaby) noises over the loud generator noises, then it will be fine. But I can tell you right now, that if I'm working on a generator, and there are far way faint terror radius noises, that I can't hear them over the generator noises. And if I get a visual terror radius, when I can't hear terror radius noises, then the visual terror radius is a buff.

  • Brokenbones
    Brokenbones Member Posts: 5,223
    edited March 2023

    I'm pretty sure it won't and I'm glad it won't because helping those with problems like impaired hearing is important. They should able to enjoy the game as much as anyone else.

    Most killers these days have super loud custom terror radius themes anyway so as soon as you hear them you know you're in the TR regardless of how loud a generator is

  • fulltonon
    fulltonon Member Posts: 5,762

    It's not like spine chill which somehow showed stealth killers, right?

    I don't see any problem there.

  • IlliterateGenocide
    IlliterateGenocide Member Posts: 6,030

    It will do nothing to people who don't need it. So I really don't care

  • Akumakaji
    Akumakaji Member Posts: 5,487

    And see? I am medium good at hearing, yet don't want to see that stark heart every time the killer is around, thank you. That alone should be an indication that things ain't actually dire and the whole situation is a non issue.

    BTW, I once got into an argument with an easily nauseous person, arguing that, even though I had sympathy for them, we sadly can't have a FOV slider as basekit. But then I decided to walk a mile in their shoes and equipped Shadowborn for one whole evening of gaming. Well, it was fun to have the feeling of zooming everywhere and I guess I could maybe 3 survivors out of the corner of my eyes, but more the that I painfully missed that 4th perk slot that was permanently sealed by Shadowborn that did basically nothing for me. So please, just give killers a FOV slider, it really isn't worth a perk slot by any means. 

  • Carth
    Carth Member Posts: 1,182
    edited March 2023

    Accessibility is good. Accessibility that breaks the games balance is bad. If the end result is normal people who do not need a feature turn it only because it's stronger then it's a questionable inclusion into the game, here's some other examples that could arguably be included but probably shouldn't

    * Being able to make blood and scratch marks a color of your choosing due to a hard time seeing the red colors due to color blindness or any visual problems

    * Subtitles and arrows of any sound source for hard of hearing players. Seeing "ghostface leather flapping noise" would kill his stealth entirely as well as "Bill breathing", "survivor steps", "spirit phase", etc.

    * Being able to change nightfall due to the darkness hurting people's eyes

    And many more. Again, accessibility is good but it is most definitely still going to be a feature that people use to better their info/gameplay/etc at the end of the day.

  • WesCravenFan
    WesCravenFan Member Posts: 2,638

    Accessibility options are a grey area. Not all disabilities can be catered to. No amount of reasonable changes are ever going to let this game be genuinely accessible to someone totally blind, for example.


    So far, most of the changes we have seen are harmless. I don't think killer players are out there right now getting some huge advantage over colorblind mode.


    This visual terror radius doesn't seem to convey any information we don't already get, just changing the form in which the information is delivered. It takes an auditory input and makes it a visual input.


    This shouldn't hurt gameplay at all.

  • GentlemanFridge
    GentlemanFridge Member Posts: 5,796

    Wondering whether you’re maybe a bit hard of hearing yourself, or have trouble listening out for specific things. Either way, this change sounds like its a buff for you. You, specifically.

    With exception of Pinhead’s specifically, I never had any trouble distinguishing the TR music’s 3 phases over gen repairs. So I’m really not sure what you’re on about.

  • Raptorrotas
    Raptorrotas Member Posts: 3,253

    Its funny/sad how your valid criticism gets shot down immediately.

  • Mooks
    Mooks Member Posts: 14,841

    Just another example of how this community (or people in general) like to complain about anything.

    this is such a basic accessibility feature which doesn’t give any actual additional information whatsoever.. love to see it finally implemented


    now, visual indicators for footsteps/breathing/coughing/grunts of pain are way harder to implement (and would probably be the closest to an equivalent for killers though could also help survivors against stealth killer eg Wraiths and GFs sounds in cloaking). I don’t expect these to be addressed anytime soon

  • C3Tooth
    C3Tooth Member Posts: 8,266

    There are players who have photo-epilepsy had problem with marco flash light, Devs gave QoL to it. And there were people actually complain how it gives advantage to killers and people who has epilepsy should not play the game.

    Some people just have no empathy and only care for themselves.

  • Mooks
    Mooks Member Posts: 14,841

    Oh yeah.I saw some of those

    there is no excuse for such hatred

  • Coffeecrashing
    Coffeecrashing Member Posts: 3,864

    Are you honestly telling me that when there is far away super faint terror radius music, and you're repairing a generator that is making loud noises, that you can hear the faint terror radius music over the generator noises?

    I'm not talking about a killer that's close, and the terror radius music has picked up in volume. I'm taking about the faint far away terror radius noises that are very low in volume.

  • Katzengott
    Katzengott Member Posts: 1,210

    It's just for survs who like to play the game with music. And god tx it's optional, i won't use that anyway.

    DBD needs more ingame options for sounds, graphics/performance mode, brightness, FOV. Remember, we don't have any of that on consoles. Wasn't really thought through well when they added crossplay.

  • GentlemanFridge
    GentlemanFridge Member Posts: 5,796
    edited March 2023
  • Annso_x
    Annso_x Member Posts: 1,611

    I'm sorry to let you know that yes, in fact, we can. Maybe the problem doesn't come from your hearing but your sound system though? In any case, you should be able to hear it so having a visual clue isn't a buff, it's just giving you the same information other players have.

    And to answer your other concern, I'm pretty sure it was said on twitter or somewhere that the hearbeat won't appear because of a killer's lullaby. (unless I'm wrong of course)

  • Coffeecrashing
    Coffeecrashing Member Posts: 3,864

    So, real story happening. I checked my headphone sound settings, turned up the bass setting, and I hear the heartbeat noises over the generator noises now lol. Sorry, please disregard my previous complaint.

  • Annso_x
    Annso_x Member Posts: 1,611

    lmao no worries, it happens. Happy to hear it was from your settings and not your ears though!

  • tristenbennett381
    tristenbennett381 Member Posts: 117

    I think it should have a toggleable option in settings at least

  • Hermit
    Hermit Member Posts: 396

    Doesn't DBD mobile have visual indicators for generator noises for killers?

  • Annso_x
    Annso_x Member Posts: 1,611

    It will be optional, also it'll be desactivated by default

  • foods
    foods Member Posts: 73
    edited March 2023

    if it is really just for accessibility why doesnt turning the visual terror radius mute the regular terror radius?

    with both its just extra information for survivors, or at least its easier to read, no matter what bhvr intends

  • Caiman
    Caiman Member Posts: 2,960

    So long as it's not ultra-precise in its visuals like Spine Chill currently is, I have no problem with it.

  • Rovend
    Rovend Member Posts: 1,064

    I use Stake-out as a visual indicator of when a killer's terror radius is close because my headphones work horribly

  • Iron_Cutlass
    Iron_Cutlass Member Posts: 3,362

    It will work exactly like the Terror Radius. How fast the heartbeats for the Terror Radius is how fast it the heart will beat visually.

  • Emoba
    Emoba Member, Alpha Surveyor Posts: 514

    I mean it depends on how it exactly is implemented. If the heart pulses are correlated to the exact distance the killer is away from you then it objectively gives a competitive advantage, despite their claims. If it only emulates the 3 layers then that's indeed fine.