Games Galore, and Addressing Zoom Challenges, Friday, Sept 4, 2026

Good evening Techstravaganza friends,

Siena provided a fun tutorial on a couple of accessible gaming platforms, as well as addressing some of the ongoing challenges with Zoom. Have a listen at the following link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4FzYIMsuGTfaNgX1Hx83S1

Show Notes

Session Introduction: Techstravaganza Extra – Games Galore

Siena formally opened the recorded session, introducing the theme of the evening: accessible gaming platforms.

• Details
  • Siena: Announced the session date (Friday, September 4, 2026) and the topic — two gaming platforms to be demonstrated using a screen reader.
  • Siena: Explained she would demonstrate one platform (Dice World) on the Mac and another (Quentin C’s Playroom) on the PC.
  • Siena: Shared her screen and audio via Zoom to allow participants to follow along with VoiceOver output.
• Conclusion
  • The session proceeded as a screen-reader-focused gaming tutorial.

Dice World – Platform Overview and Game Demonstrations

Siena demonstrated the Dice World app on her Mac (M1 chip or later required for Mac compatibility), showcasing several dice games available on the platform.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that Dice World is primarily a mobile app but is also available on Macs with Apple Silicon (2020 or later). A Windows version does not currently exist, though Siena noted she has requested one from the developers.
  • Siena: Shared her Dice World username: Siena.T-R-I-G-I-A-N-I.
  • Lily: Offered her Dice World username to participants and described herself as a casual player.
  • Suzanne: Confirmed she plays Dice World on her phone.
  • Ali: Declined to join Dice World, humorously stating he felt “outnumbered” by the gamers in the group.
• Details – Games Demonstrated
  • Farkle: Siena explained scoring (ones worth 100, fives worth 50, three-of-a-kind combinations, large straights, three pairs) and demonstrated gameplay against her friend Eric (Classical Man 19). She used the bonus roll mechanic and explained how to bank points.
  • Pig (Bank or Bust): Siena demonstrated this game, explaining that rolling a 1 causes the player to lose all points accumulated in that round. Suzanne noted that in her version, a 6 was the losing number, prompting a brief discussion about rule variations.
  • 1-4-24: Siena explained the objective (score as close to 24 as possible, requiring a 1 and a 4 in the roll) and demonstrated gameplay, ultimately scoring 23 against Eric’s 20.
  • Threes: Siena explained that 3s are worth 0 points and the goal is to accumulate the fewest points. Getting all threes triggers a Handel’s Messiah audio cue.
  • Yahtzee: Siena initiated a game against Eric, explaining scoring categories (ones through sixes, three of a kind, four of a kind, full house, small straight, large straight, Yahtzee/five of a kind). Suzanne provided tips on aiming for the upper section bonus.
• Details – Bonus Roll and Coin System
  • Siena: Explained that bonus rolls cost gold coins, which can be earned by winning games, playing the first game of the day (5 coins), scoring 50+ points in one Pig roll, or watching short video ads.
  • Siena: Shared her stats: Level 63, 1,550 wins, 1,379 losses, 6,687 bonus rolls accumulated over 10 years of play.
  • Siena: Demonstrated earning free bonus rolls by watching in-app video ads.
  • Siena: Noted a new app called Card World (Gin Rummy, Rummy 500) from the same developer, built with accessibility in mind, available on the App Store.
• Conclusion
  • Dice World is a well-accessible platform for Mac and iPhone users; Android support is limited.
  • Participants were encouraged to challenge each other using their usernames.
  • Card World was identified as a new accessible card game platform worth exploring.

Transition from Mac to PC for Quentin C’s Playroom

Siena switched from her Mac to her Windows PC to demonstrate Quentin C’s Playroom/Game Room.

• Details
  • Siena: Unplugged her USB hub from the Mac and connected it to the PC, then rejoined the Zoom call from the PC.
  • Ali: Noted Siena was still sharing her Mac screen and prompted her to stop.
  • Siena: Stopped the Mac screen share and joined Zoom from the PC.
• Conclusion
  • The transition was completed successfully, and the session continued on the PC.

Quentin C’s Playroom / Game Room – Platform Overview

Siena provided an overview of Quentin C’s Playroom, an accessible multiplayer gaming platform.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that the Windows desktop client is called “Quentin C’s Game Room,” while the web-based version (accessible on Mac, iOS, Android, and Chromebook) is called “Quentin C’s Playroom.”
  • Siena: Provided the download URL: qcsalon.net (Q-C-S-A-L-O-N dot net). Noted the platform was originally developed in France/Switzerland and translated into many languages.
  • Siena: Shared her username: SienaT (S-I-E-N-A-T).
  • Suzanne: Shared her username: Black-eyed Susan.
  • Siena: Walked through the main menu options: Create a New Table, Join a Table, Restore a Table, Options, Functions and More, and Leave the Playroom.
  • Siena: Demonstrated the Options menu (Language, General Options, Audio and Text-to-Speech, Reading and Appearance, Security, Privacy, Restore Default Settings).
  • Siena: Demonstrated the Functions and More menu (Inbox, Friends List, Blocked Users List, Status Message, Profile, Open Forum, Change Password, Send History Report, Open Website, Save/Copy History).
  • Siena: Noted the platform has 48 games available, including 1,000 Miles, Uno, Scopa, Farkle, Yahtzee, and Quiz Party.
• Conclusion
  • Quentin C’s Playroom is a highly accessible, multi-platform gaming environment suitable for screen reader users across multiple operating systems.

Scopa Game Demonstration (Quentin C’s Playroom)

Siena and Suzanne played a live game of Scopa on Quentin C’s Playroom to demonstrate gameplay.

• Details
  • Siena: Created a Scopa table, invited Suzanne (Black-eyed Susan), and made the table private using Control-H.
  • Siena: Explained Scopa rules: collect cards from the table by matching or summing to equal a card in hand; sevens, most diamonds, the Seven of Diamonds, most cards, and scopas (clearing the table) each earn points. Victory is fixed at 11 points with a two-points-ahead rule.
  • Suzanne: Confirmed she teaches Scopa at REACH and that a participant there plays exclusively Scopa.
  • Siena: Noted she learned Scopa from her grandmother using braille cards.
  • Siena: Explained game variants available: Escobar, Scopone, Muerto, and Manual Selection of Tricks.
  • Suzanne: Explained Scopone (no cards on the table at start) and Manual Selection (player chooses which cards to collect when multiple options exist).
  • Suzanne: Explained the Two Points Ahead Rule (cannot win unless leading by at least 2 points).
  • Gameplay proceeded with Siena leading 3–0 after the first round.
• Conclusion
  • The game was saved to be resumed later.
  • Siena led 3–0 after the first round.

Farkle Game Demonstration (Quentin C’s Playroom)

Suzanne created a Farkle table on Quentin C’s Playroom and played against Siena to demonstrate the platform’s version of Farkle.

• Details
  • Suzanne: Created the table, set the minimum entry to 50 points, minimum bank to 30 points, and score limit to 1,000 points.
  • Siena: Joined the table and explained differences from Dice World’s Farkle: ones are worth 10 points (vs. 100), fives are worth 5 points (vs. 50); small straights, large straights, and full houses are available scoring combinations.
  • Suzanne: Achieved a strong opening turn, rolling all dice and re-rolling multiple times.
  • Siena: Had an exceptional turn, rolling a small straight (100 pts), large straight (200 pts), another small straight (100 pts), and additional singles, banking 485 points.
  • Scores at the point of pausing: Suzanne 535, Siena 485.
• Conclusion
  • The game was saved for later completion.
  • The demonstration effectively showcased the differences between Dice World and Quentin C’s Playroom versions of Farkle.

Zoom Usability and Accessibility Concerns

Participants discussed their frustrations with Zoom’s increasing complexity and accessibility issues, comparing it to Google Meet.

• Details
  • Siena: Described Zoom as “walking into a maze blindfolded” for screen reader users due to constant interface changes, and Google Meet as more predictable and navigable.
  • Ali: Noted he stopped paying for Zoom approximately 4–5 months prior because it no longer met his needs.
  • Lily: Confirmed Zoom freezes her Mac and she can no longer log in on it; she only uses Zoom for Textravaganza.
  • Ali: Drew a parallel to the bloating of iTunes, which similarly became unwieldy over time.
  • Siena: Described instances where Zoom keyboard shortcuts stopped working randomly on both Windows and Mac, requiring force-quitting or rebooting.
  • Ali: Attributed the bloat to Zoom’s post-COVID strategy of becoming an all-in-one office suite.
  • Siena: Acknowledged the concept is sound in theory but noted Google’s approach of keeping apps separate while accessible from one place is more effective.
  • Siena: Noted Zoom’s “My Notes” feature frequently interferes with the interface on Mac.
• Conclusion
  • General consensus that Zoom has become overly complex and less accessible.
  • Google Meet was viewed as a more stable and accessible alternative.
  • The group continues to use Zoom for Textravaganza sessions for now.

Diane’s Question: Joining Zoom from Mac Mail App

Diane raised a question about how to open a Zoom meeting link from the Mac Mail app using VoiceOver.

• Details
  • Diane Brown: Explained she could read the email but could not activate the Zoom link on her Mac, so she joined from her Windows computer instead.
  • Ali: Shared his screen and demonstrated navigating the email using Control-Option-Right Arrow to locate the “Join Zoom Meeting” link, then activating it with Control-Option-Space.
  • Ali: Read out the full meeting link from the newsletter email for reference.
• Conclusion
  • Diane understood the process and planned to try it at a future session.
  • Siena offered to set up a test Zoom meeting with Diane over the weekend to practice.

Ivy’s Ongoing Audio/Unmuting Issues

Ivy Matouk experienced persistent difficulty unmuting throughout the session and was unable to speak during the Q&A portion.

• Details
  • Ali: Attempted to prompt Ivy to unmute via Zoom’s host controls.
  • Siena: Provided keyboard shortcut reminders (Command-Shift-A) and noted the audio mute/unmute sound cues in VoiceOver.
  • Ali: Noted that the prompt to unmute is easy to miss.
  • Siena: Confirmed Ivy still appeared muted and suggested she reach out via email or text for follow-up troubleshooting.
• Conclusion
  • Ivy was unable to participate verbally; follow-up troubleshooting was planned.

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