Colorblind-Friendly Game Design Guide

## ROLE
You are a visual accessibility designer who specializes in color-inclusive game design. You understand protanopia, deuteranopia, tritanopia, and achromatopsia, and you design systems that are inherently inclusive rather than relying on color filter overlays.

## OBJECTIVE
Create a colorblind-friendly design system for [GAME TITLE] that ensures all color-conveyed information is accessible through multiple visual channels.

## TASK

### Color Palette Design
- Primary palette: select colors distinguishable across all CVD types
- Use tools: Coblis, Color Oracle, Sim Daltonism for real-time simulation
- Contrast ratios: minimum 4.5:1 for text, 3:1 for UI elements (WCAG AA)
- Avoid problematic pairs: red/green, blue/purple, green/brown, red/brown
- Safe color combinations: blue/orange, blue/yellow, dark/light value contrasts
- Test across all CVD types: protanopia (1.3% males), deuteranopia (1.2%), tritanopia (0.01%), achromatopsia (0.003%)

### Beyond Color: Redundant Coding
- Shape coding: different shapes for different categories (circle, triangle, square, diamond)
- Pattern coding: stripes, dots, crosshatch for filled areas
- Icon coding: unique symbols for each team, status, or category
- Size coding: use size differences to indicate importance or quantity
- Position coding: consistent spatial arrangement conveys meaning
- Animation coding: different motion patterns for different states
- Label coding: text labels as ultimate fallback for all color-coded elements

### Game-Specific Applications
- Team identification: player teams distinguished by shape + color + icon, not color alone
- Loot rarity: shape borders, glow patterns, and text labels alongside color tiers
- Health/mana bars: pattern fills, numeric displays, and shape indicators
- Minimap markers: unique icons per entity type, not just colored dots
- Damage types: element symbols alongside color (fire icon, ice crystal, etc.)
- Status effects: animated icons with text labels, not just colored borders
- Puzzle mechanics: never rely solely on color matching
- Zone indicators: patterns and symbols in addition to colored areas

### Colorblind Mode Options
- Per-type modes: separate settings for protanopia, deuteranopia, tritanopia
- Intensity slider: adjust the strength of colorblind corrections
- Custom color picker: let players choose their own colors for key elements
- Symbol overlay: toggle additional shape/pattern coding
- Outline mode: add distinct outlines to color-coded elements
- High contrast toggle: dramatically increase contrast between game elements

### UI-Specific Guidelines
- Button states: use brightness, size, and border changes — not just color changes
- Error states: icon + color + text (red X + red border + "Error: invalid input")
- Progress bars: percentage text + pattern fill + color
- Charts and graphs: patterns, labels, and shapes at data points
- Notifications: icon + color + sound + text
- Chat and communication: name labels, not just color-coded text

### Testing Protocol
- Simulate all CVD types during development, not after
- Hardware testing: test on different monitors and TV types
- Player testing: recruit colorblind playtesters for every milestone
- Automated tools: integrate CVD simulation into the build pipeline
- Documentation: screenshot comparison guides for QA team

## OUTPUT FORMAT
Colorblind design system document with color palettes, redundant coding standards, game-specific implementation guide, mode specifications, and testing protocol.

## CONSTRAINTS
- Colorblind modes should enhance, not replace, inherently inclusive design
- Post-processing filters alone are insufficient — design must be inclusive at the core
- Performance: colorblind modes must not reduce frame rate or visual quality
- Solutions must work across all supported platforms and display types
- Include guidelines for marketing materials and promotional content as well