Interesting link, Glic2003. Thank you.
Making computer games for the visually impaired is entirely possible. The main problem is that the current paradigm for computer systems is visual. Making games for the visually impaired requires thinking about basic issues such as how the player receives information from the game. It would require even rethinking what the game would be. Making control schemes and development tools for such games would not be easy or inexpensive.
On the other hand, now seems like the perfect time to advocate for developers to consider accommodating visually impaired players. With music games like Rock Band and systems like the Wii, companies are exploring different kinds of games and different ways of interacting with them. While I think lawsuits would be a bad idea, there's nothing wrong with advocating to be considered by the industry. The result could even be gaming experiences that are more immersive for everyone.

As Glic2003 has already pointed out, it's possible to make video games that are accessible to the blind, and it seems a niche market has sprung up to cater to the blind. However, it's important to realize that as the blind constitute only a small portion of the videogame market this niche market is probably going to be about the extent of what is economically sensible for companies to do. Now, since I haven't had a chance yet to read any of the actual statements by people advocating for greater accessibility for the blind this might have already been done, but what is more useful to the discussion than simply people saying "you need to work harder to cater to us" is to actually go into specifics on what kinds of changes they want to see made. From here it can be considered whether the potential increase in revenue would offset the cost of implementation, and if not then you're simply not going to see that change made. That's how business works. Petition for changes you'd like to see, but don't expect others to incur costs to cater to your desires.

The problem is that "video" comes directly from the Latin "videre," which means "to see."
That said, I'm sure the old text adventures such as Zork would work well for the visually impaired, using simple text-to-speech software. I'd be surprised if this has not already been done.

exactly, they are games for people who see.
maybe Stevie Wonder should finance Soundgames.

Oh yes, definitely. My blind co-worker said he was a big fan of all the old text adventures. Any blind computer user is already going to have the text-to-speech software, so (as long as the person can type) these kinds of games are totally accessible.
I think it is unrealistic to expect games in general to be made "more accessible" for the visually impaired. If you play any of the audio-only games that are out there, you'll quickly see their gameplay has a different focus than most video games.
For example, many games for sighted people involve moving a character through an environment. This is impractical, and not usually attempted, in audio-only games. So, audio-only game usually test other skills, such as reflexes, timing or memory.

Which is why I used the term "computer games." But as long as people's thinking remains so hide-bound, it will remain a problem.
"Sound games" doesn't work any better because it implies that sound is the only alternative to sight in experiencing games. It might be the cheapest and the thing that games do best besides visuals right now, but it's not the only possible interaction.

Or they could add an option for a short audio que before the colored notes. Instead of seeing an orange note you hear it and press the corresponding button.
Now that wasn't so hard was it? Blizzard added options for color blind players to show item rarity in text instead of color. Little things can go a long way.
Wrong.
http://www.brandoncole.net/

What would be better is to have each character voiced seperately and add a narrator for the non dialogue text. Recorded actors would also allowing emoting (unless they employ tom cruise or keanu reeves) and potentially reducing some of the work of the narrator
TTS is okay but the voices tend to be pretty shit unless you drop cash on a good one. I've used a lot of them in the last few years trying to make a program. The best I found was merely awful instead of utter shit

So what, you're playing guitar hero metallica and rocking out to... say One and you hear a tonal beep before the button you have to press which overrides the music? Wouldn't that kind of defeat the point?

Wonder how many people hate bananas as much as I do. Wonder if I should be requesting that games be catered to my specific needs.
Sadly thats 100% correct, if it won't make a profit then the company is basically going to say that people can get fucked. Same goes for people who like games that last longer than a sandwich...

Cool, thanks for that. Knew there would be some out there but haven't had the chance to research yet.

I'm sorry to say it but this is ridiculous. Being blind is an unfortunate disability. Video games the way they are is an extremely visual experience. It's like asking for movies for the blind, or music for the deaf. Or asking that football be made more accessible to the disabled.
I sympathise that these people are missing out on this wonderful entertainment, and that their situation is unfortunate. But it's just that, an unfortunate situation. And while you can go to some lenghts to work around the severe limitations of it, it's mostly... just impractical.

It's worth saying as well that 'old' text adventures are, in fact, alive and well, now remonikered as interactive fiction.
http://www.ifarchive.org/
New, amazing stuff coming out every year....[

I will never be able to fly a spaceship, and yet my petition to NASA keeps going ignored.
Likewise I will never be the fly an f22 raptor, just because my reaction time is not nearly as good as Joe Brown.
Or another example, I will never have the same skill nor will I be paid millions to do something like play football, baseball, cricket, or almost any other sport.
But here is the kicker I can focus on things I do know how to do and accept the fact there is always going to be something that so and so can do that I can not.

Just like man accepted the fact that we were never meant to fly among the birds, right?

Or communicate electronically over long distances...