Pearl Diver

Accessibility Statement

Accessibility for educational games is a work in progress across the industry. We continually seek solutions to make our products fully accessible and we strive to adhere to established standards for accessibility and usability on each new project. Some of our older products may not be accessible in all areas, and have not been optimized for current accessibility recommendations. Here, we offer the content and approach of this game, so that learners are better able to find alternative content and ways of learning.

Content of the game

Pearl Diver is a learning interactive designed to help students conceptualize how positive and negative numbers are distributed on a number line. The diver must reach the correct depths, depicted as spots on the number line, to retrieve hidden pearls. While gathering hidden pearls, the player must avoid touching the electrifying eels. After the completion of each level, the player is given a bonus minigame that further challenges their understanding of fractions to gain extra points. Each level has a time limit which adds another level of difficulty for the player to retrieve the pearls before time expires.

Accommodations

Approach & Input devices
On the web version of this game, gameplay is controlled by mouse or trackpad. On iOS, gameplay is controlled by tapping and dragging items on the screen.
Audio
Ambient noise is used and can be turned on/off via on-screen controls; however, the game can be completed without sound.
Color blindness
Text and graphics required to understand gameplay have appropriate contrast against adjacent colors.
Visual Aspects
Zooming options are present. In the web version, the font color, type, and size cannot be adjusted.
Cognitive Aspects
This game does not include a practice mode; however, it does include an introductory gameplay screen to allow the player to familiarize themselves with the controls.
Interface
On desktops and laptops, this game is only playable on platforms that support Adobe Flash, which may no longer be supported by browsers beginning in 2020. However, the game is available free at the Apple App Store for iOS.
Language
This game is accessible in both English and Spanish.
Fine Motor Skills
Pearl Diver is somewhat reliant on clicking, dragging and timing precision.
Subtitles
Letterboxed subtitles are present and are easy to read. Subtitles identify the speaker, and audio cues are accompanied by visual cues.