Xbox 360: The Avenger
1 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at 3:18 AM.
N-Control's 'The Avenger' is a case that fits over any standard Xbox 360 joypad to bring controls into easier access. There's a great story at CBS Miami on the origins of this device and it enabling a young man who was unable to use a standard Xbox controller.
Link with thanks to Sheri Rubin. Added to the OneSwitch Accessible Gaming Shop.
Labels: Accessible Controllers, Xbox 360
New Wave of Evil Controllers
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 5:16 PM.
Adam from Evil Controllers recently sent me photos of a couple of his latest joypad accessibility adaptations, which I'm sharing with you above.
Top and middle pictures are of an Xbox 360 joypad tailor adapted for Randy Fitzgerald, a quadriplegic gamer known as N0M4D. The D-pad has been made easier to use and four metal buttons have been added to the faceplate. Those metal buttons and the thumb-stick clicks are reprogrammable where any push button can be reassigned. On top of this, Andy's enabled a "toggle" system so that Randy can just tap a button now to make it hold or release a game function. Stunning job!
The hacked in half controller pictured bottom, is a prototype and much like the HORI Separate in effect: Ideal for those unable to bring their hands together. I have to say as the HORI Separates have become so hard to find recently, this is really fantastic news. Read more at Evil Accessibility.
Labels: Accessible Controllers
Real Time Sensory Substitution
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Thursday, December 2, 2010 at 6:04 PM.
The video above shows the hurdles event in Kinect Sports made accessible to players who are blind, using a technique called real time sensory substitution. Using video analysis, visual cues that indicate when to jump are detected and then translated into vibrotactile cues provided with a Wii remote, which should allow someone who is blind to play this game without visual feedback.
I can see this system greatly assisting some learning disabled players in getting the timing of jumps right too. Fantastic stuff, with so many possibilities.
Read more at the SpecialEffect Accessible GameBase.
Labels: Accessible Controllers, Xbox 360
And if you'd like some more ideas, what about a "Final Boss" poster, something from the Accessible Gaming Shop or one of these fine accessible games.
Labels: Accessible Controllers
Guante Pulsador
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at 8:00 AM.
AccessAble Games have recently unveiled a simple touch sensitive switching system that can be stitched into the likes of gloves, sweat-bands and so on. It's an inexpensive solution that may well suit many. AccessAble Games are happy to support people around the world looking for alternative set-ups, as well as in helping them to find suitable games.
You can see more people who are offering a service to build Tailor Made Game Controllers at the OneSwitch.org.uk Accessible Gaming Shop.
Link via: Accessible GameBase forums.
Reconfigurable Controls
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 6:25 PM.
So few games offer reconfigurable controls, which is bonkers when you consider: 1. How many alternative controllers can be attached to modern games consoles. 2. How many different people there are in the world who may like to use a different set-up (small hands, left-handed, limited use of hands, those using one-handed controllers, etc.).
Really good to see on the Accessible GameBase that Gran Turismo 5 Prologue has a pretty versatile set-up system. Even better would be a latching accelerator and auto-braking, but even so, great work Polyphony! More please everyone else!!
Labels: Accessible Controllers, Campaigning, PS3
Kinect: Milo and what could be...
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 4:16 PM.
Avoiding any mean-spirited Charlie Brooker type-comments, that is a pretty fantastic looking game. I haven't been so impressed by a new style of game since I first saw Shenmue demoed in 1999. This said, there's virtually no thought for alternative access I'm guessing, but so much food for thought. Just imagine if you could use the Kinect as an additional accessible controller, alongside your alternative controller of choice. So many possibilities...
Via: TED Talks
Labels: Accessible Controllers, Xbox 360
"Stemming from years of military-based research by Accelerond, VisionPlay is a revolutionary new video game technology that allows any low-resolution, off-the-shelf webcam and low-end PC to do full-body positioning and motion analysis."
Link via: Videojuegos Accesibles
Labels: Accessible Controllers, PC
XCM were the first to crack Microsoft's anti-choice circuitry enabling gamers to connect just about any Playstation compatible controller, PC mouse and/or keyboard to an Xbox 360 and PS3 with their XFPS adapters.The latest XFPS 4.0 takes with one hand (PS2 controller compatibility removed - boo), gives with the other (PC reconfiguration tool for remapping controls) and promises something very exciting for the future in "Magic Link". Cribbed straight from their site:
"When using with our new coming product (Magic link), the remote player can help you to pass the game level via the internet from his PC." I wonder...
Tip via ErigBurger with thanks!
Labels: Accessible Controllers, PS3, Xbox 360
Pad Fynder Interactive from Italy are about to enter the field of accessible gaming controllers with their unique No Limit Pad for PS3 and PC.First impressions deceive with this controller. In their video you see that it's quite possible to play in a comfortable looking way thanks to a hand strap. With a claimed 11 different control configurations, motion control compatibility and a price of 95 Euros (use www.xe.com for a currency conversion) this is looking like a really good option.
See more one handed controllers at the Accessible Gaming Shop's one-handed controllers section.
Labels: Accessible Controllers
Global Assisitve Technology Wiki
2 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 4:09 AM.
AbilityNet have put together a wonderful open project called the Global Assisitve Technology Wiki or GATE for short. In their words:A really good place to start is their Switch Systems entry here. They are lacking their own accessible games section so hopefully someone (maybe me) will take up the gauntlet for that soon."GATE is actually a Wiki, which is a piece of server software that allows users to freely create and edit Web page content using any Web browser. It's a little like Wikipedia, but just concentrating on assistive technology. GATE is very simple to use, with a control panel enabling you to add content and more. More about Wikis . . .
This wiki has been created by AbilityNet, the UK's largest provider of advice and information on all aspects of Access to technology. The purpose of the wiki is to provide live and up to date information on all aspects of Assistive Technology."
Labels: Accessible Controllers, articles
Accessible Controllers Video
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Friday, January 30, 2009 at 2:56 AM.
Labels: Accessible Controllers, Videos
Alt-Controls.com and AbleGamers petition Sony
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Friday, January 23, 2009 at 6:30 PM.
Established Accessible Gaming site AbleGamers.com and new-ish kids on the block Alt-Controls.com have teamed up to launch a laudable petition aimed squarely at Sony's PS3 division. They want support built in at a firm-ware level for reconfigurable controls.The petition reads:
Please support the petition - and if you're this way Sony (and Microsoft) isn't it time to start making some positive moves instead of backward steps?We, PS3 owners and the members of Alt-Controls.com & AbleGamers.com, request that customizable controller settings should be added to the PS3 firmware.
Right now controller layout options are rather limited in most of the games available for PS3. Left-handed players, accustomed using the left analog stick to aim and also disabled gamers with specific needs in the controller setup would benefit from such a feature. Even "regular players" could take advantage by remapping the buttons to their taste. Not to forget about the players who are used to the legacy control layout.
Technically this should be feasible. For example, PSP received this feature in the 3.95 firmware for the PSone games: "While playing
PSone games on your PSP, you can now customize how the buttons are assigned by going to [Controller Settings] > [Assign Buttons] and select [Custom]."
Labels: Accessible Controllers, Campaigning
The on-line resource of accessible games NanoGames.com is slowly transforming into something very special indeed. Tweaking game settings has become easier, the web-site has been beefed up with helpful information: things are looking impressive.NanoGames.com owner and designer Dennis Asher had this to say:
"Still lots more planned (many more games, many more features) but I will get as much feedback as I can about the current version first."
Contact Dennis and NanoGames.com here.
Labels: Accessible Controllers, Accessible Gaming Sites, High Visibility, One Switch Games
Accessibility and Rock Band
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Monday, November 17, 2008 at 5:15 AM.
From AbleGamers: "The great people over at Harmonix have sent us two "ROCK BAND - SPECIAL EDITION", one for Playstation 2, and one for XBOX 360 for us to use in our fund raising efforts for GDC [promoting accessibility at the Game Developers Conference 2009].We are selling raffle tickets for each at the price of $10... We are only selling 50 tickets for EACH one, so there is a 1 in 50 chance to win (or more if you buy more). We will have the winner selected and sent out as close to Christmas as we can (We are shooting for Dec 15th)." More on the compo here.
Excitingly for OneSwitch is that Harmonix generously sent some kit my way to see what I could do with it to make it more accessible. Now my daughter and her friends are at school (presently known as "The Rockettes") I've got a chance to pull it apart and see what's what.
Great from the off is that any accessibility switch with a 3.5mm plug (that's almost all these days) can be connected to act as the bass-drum foot-pedal. So if you can't use your feet - you may still be able to use any other part of your body to play.
The next brilliant thing is in it's compatibility with a PC through the USB sockets. I've had the Guitar playing riffs via the Guitar Shred Show and drums playing my own samples quite easily using JoyToKey. Following recent accessible music work with William Pilgrim, we've got something else in the pipe-line that will work with Rock Band controllers and/or accessibility switches. More coming soon...
Labels: Accessible Controllers, rockband
Unique Custom Gaming Controllers - part 2
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 6:41 AM.
Mark Felling of Broadened Horizons and "KitsuneNoYume" worked together to build a pretty marvellous bespoke controller to suit Kitsune's particular abilities, much as MERU did for Frankie in the previous post.This fantastic work spread to the news portals of Kotaku. I can't say that I'm 100% impressed with the 'Handicapped PS3 Owner builds Frankenstein controller' heading - but the coverage this has garnered is a great thing. Now Sony - any chances of you lot doing anything for accessibility? Go on - you don't want to be last again do you?
Via: Playstation 3 forum - YouTube video here.
Labels: Accessible Controllers, PS3
MERU and others have created some fantastic bespoke controllers for people needing unique solutions. This from their Summer 2008 newsletter:"Nineteen-year-old Frankie has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive, muscle-wastin condition. As a result, he has severely limited mobility and this means he has to spend most of his time in bed.
During the few hours a day Frankie can spend in a chair, he enjoys playing on his Playstation. However his condition had progressed to the point where it had become impossible for him to use the conventional controller supplied with his console.
Cardiff University, near Frankie's home in Powys, Wales, tried to help by making a custom footswitch but his deteriorating condition meant that within a short time Frankie could no longer use it.
Although Wales is a long way outside MERU's usual area the charity became involved becuase no other organisation had the appropriate skills.
Over 17 months Project Leaders Graham Race and Hayley Smith made several visits to Wales and trialled different solutions.
Eventually they and volunteer engineers Adrian Fisher and Doug Sander devised and made a completely unique solution which would capture Frankie's movements, giving him full use of the Playstation's 18 controls.
It also has the flexibility to let a carer take over some of the functions if Frankie gets tired.
Frankie can now use his switches to play the games he loves."
Sadly Frankie recently died. Full respect to him, his family and MERU for what they strived for and achieved. Support MERU here.
Labels: Accessible Controllers, PS2, PS3
Let's Tap - SEGA/PROPE potential one-switch game
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Saturday, October 11, 2008 at 9:37 AM.
Let's Tap is a compilation of games and sensory activities made accessible on the Nintendo Wii by just tapping a box that a Wii-remote sits on. Some of the games are quite high-paced to look at, but the "visualizer" effects which include fire-work displays, art and a fish pond look potentially accessible to just about everyone.Can't wait to get hold of this game to see if a switch can be connected somehow via a simple hacked Wii-remote. Might be that it will work sitting next to any kind of switch that makes a clicking noise when you press it anyway. We'll see.
Meanwhile - a couple of YouTube videos here and here and photos at IGN.
Via: SEGA/PROPE.
Labels: Accessible Controllers, One Switch Games, Wii
There's a great update posted at cnet News on the "Vocal Joystick" (previously mentioned here). It's a really interesting device that could suit some people well. I can't help but think that the "Tongue Drive System" would be a faster to use option. Cost wise - the Vocal Joystick could be a winner though.Labels: Accessible Controllers
New Technologies - New Accessible Opportunities?
1 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 3:20 PM.
Lumisonic - "Deaf children have been testing software that enables them to see a visual representation of sound waves.Called Lumisonic the software translates sound waves into circles that radiate on a display. It creates a real time representation of sound and is designed to elicit responses quickly in the human brain." - Via BBC News Technology.
Brain Reading Music Machine - "Mick Grierson of Goldsmiths, University of London, has developed a system to play musical notes he thinks of." - Via BBC News Technology.
Gaming's New Sensory Reality - "Computer graphics already provide stunning visuals and now designers are trying to make the feeling of playing games as realistic as possible. This includes simulating what it feels like to be sliced with a sword or to have cockroaches crawling on your arm.
Designers Hirouki Kajimoto and Kanako Matsuo spoke to the BBC's Rajesh Mirchandani about this latest innovation at the 2008 SIGGRAPH Conference & Exhibition in Los Angeles." - Via BBC News Technology.
Labels: Accessible Controllers
