Accessible Design at Global Game Jam 2013
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 5:29 AM.
Global Game Jam is an annual game hack weekend, where teams around the world are given a common theme to work to (this year's was 'heart beat'), and divide into teams to produce an entire end to end functioning game by the end of the 48 hours. Read on...
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Labels: Audio Games, GGJ, One Switch Games, PC
Slalom, the Videogame
1 Comments Published by Javier Mairena on Friday, September 30, 2011 at 7:15 AM.
Wheelchair Slalom is a sport for people with cerebral palsy, in which the players go through a course made up of various obstacles and tests in the shortest time possible.
'Slalom, the Videogame' provides an insight into the sport without the need for space, time and personnel required for its practice.
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Labels: AcceessAble Games, Closed Captions, Eye Tracker Games, Free games, Game Therapy, One Handed, One Switch Games, PC
Attractors is a simple puzzle game developed by The Game Kitchen with AccessAble Games as accessibility advisor. The game have special accessibility options like: no time limit, no death, possibility to restart a level at any time, change game speed, one switch mode, microphone control mode, high contrast and no-click mode.
You can play it for free at: www.thegamekitchen.com/attractor
Also, you can download it and place on our own web site. Take it from here: www.thegamekitchen.com/attractor/attractor-redis01.zip
While playing, press ESC to return to main menu; you will return to the level that you have left when you click play again on main menu. Main menu and between levels menu are also accessible for one switch and no-click mode.
Attractor's option screen:
Labels: AcceessAble Games, Free games, Head Tracker Games, High Visibility, One Handed, One Switch Games, PC
MLB11 The Show: Gets one-button accessible play mode
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 3:10 PM.
Really great news popped up in my inbox yesterday regarding Hans Smith one-man charm offensive to make one of his favourite PS3 games more accessible.
I could rabbit on here, but I'll simply pop you onto the first source of the news, GayGamer.net's excellent article on Sony's MLB11: The Show, so you can read it as fresh as I did.
Link via Sheri Rubin on the IGDA GASIG mailing list.
Labels: One Switch Games, PS3
To Hell with Johnny
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at 4:29 PM.
Michi.nu have a reputation for producing games with some of the best thought out and diverse accessibility features seen anywhere. Their latest, To Hell with Johnny, goes even further, as demonstrated in the amazing top video.
Great accessible fun for Halloween. Expect to see a review at the Accessible GameBase soon. Available to buy from Michi.nu for £10 ($15 USD) for PC with Mac version due soon.
Labels: Mac, One Switch Games, PC
"Your Mother, taught you well!" vs. "You were never much of any thing!", the goading is a huge part of the fun in Tig Duels: For Extraordinary Gentlemen and Such Etc.It's a really well balanced, thought-out, barmy fencing game for two one-switch players. Choose your control, choose your head, then duel. If that wasn't all good enough, you can also challenge people on-line by slapping their faces with a glove.
Can you think of any reason why all modern day fighting games could not have a one-button / one-switch game mode now?
Reviewed over at the Accessible GameBase with short video.
Labels: Campaigning, One Switch Games, PC
Gamma IV at GameBase
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 5:21 PM.
For those of you interested in one-switch / one-button games, please take a ride over to the SpecialEffect GameBase Gamma IV forum post (you may now breathe).Out of the 154 games entered I've managed to track down less than half. Wonder if we'll ever see them all. I've played about 50 of these and have made mention of my initial thoughts. No surprises: Some are great, some are not.
For your convenience I've listed the ones I think are best at the top. And my personal favourites so far (from the ones publicly available) are: Dracula Cha-Cha, Half-PI'D Mini-Golf; High High Rockets; Pax Britannica and Wheelchair Curling. Expect to see some reviews here and over at the GameBase switch area soon.
Labels: Competition, One Switch Games
Top 10 One-Switch Games: 2000-09
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Friday, January 8, 2010 at 5:25 PM.
I like one-switch games, you may have noticed. Satisfying the list-making-retentive in me, here's my personal top 10 one switch games of the last decade, 2000-09 (I'm trying not to say 'noughties'). Things have come such a long-way since 2000, but it wasn't until 2009 that the first ever mainstream game was released with a full one-switch mode. There's a long way to go, but in the meanwhile, let's go, SYNSO...10. Mushihime tama (2005 - CAVE - JAMMA coin-op): The follow up to Uo Poko, Mushihime tama is a match-three colours puzzle game for one or two players. As with Uo Poko, there is a collaborative two-player mode. Unlike Uo Poko, there are end of level big-bosses, potty infant-school-choir music and a strange woman with huge boobs. Wierd and wonderful.
9. Canabalt (2009 - Adam Atomic and Danny B - FLASH web-game): Panic-parkour game. For players with very fast reactions.
8. Gimme Friction Baby (2007 - Wouter Visser - FLASH web-game): Brilliantly simple and well-thought out Puzzle Bobble inspired game in black and white. Quite the time killer.
7. Shenmue II Darts (2001 - SEGA - Dreamcast/Xbox/Xbox 360): Highly addictive one-button mini-game of darts. You'll need to get someone to play a fair-sized chunk of the main game in order to play darts, especially if you want to find all the different opponents, but it's worth it. "Yeah! Let's Darts Man!"
6. Mystic Mine (2009 - Koonsolo - Windows/Mac/Linux): Brilliant multi-player fun for up to six one-switch players. Superb accessibility features include speed adjustment over the entire game.
5. SY!NSO! (2009 - Bagfull of Wrong - PC/Xbox 360): Squid Yes! Not So Octopus! and follow up Squid Harder show how bonkers-hard games can be made accessible too. Not for all players (you do need really good eye-tracking skills), but it's so sweet to have options these days. Shoot-em-up joy. Uses a wonderful William Pilgrim 4Noah utility to add one-switch access.
4. The Way of the Empty Hand 2 (2009 - Grame's Free Games - PC): A one or two-player martial-arts retro styled game with beautiful music and sound effects. Featuring a unique way to tailor-design your fighting technique all within a one-switch framework. I just love this game, it feels right, is huge fun, and shows all develoeprs of 2D and 3D fighting games how they could add a one-switch mode too.
3. Star Trigon (2002,2009 - Namco - JAMMA/PC/iPhone/iPod/FLASH web-game): Originally a super-obscure Japanese arcade video game, 2008 and 2009 saw Star Trigon released on more main-stream formats. The PC download features an accessibility mode that makes the entire game accessible using a single-button. An absolute first from a mainstream publisher. More please!
2. Strange Attractors 2 (2008 - Ominous Development - PC): Award winning gravity controlling game like no other (well, exluding Strange Attractors 1). Imaginative and impressive audio/visually. Suited best to players with precise switch skills and patience.
1. Aurikon (2005 - Aggressive Game Designs - PC): On the run in space with one-switch controls. Fantastic accessibility options and huge fun. Would love to see this crossed with Namco's Star Blade and some psychotronics.
Labels: One Switch Games
Gamma 4: One-Button Game Competition
1 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 5:14 AM.
Potentially very exciting news for game programmers and one-switch gamers alike. "Gamma 4" has just begun, a one-button game programming competition with games being unveiled at the prestigious Game Developer Conference in March 2010. My hope is that programmers will consider accessibility, by including difficulty level options in their games, and ideally take a peek at these One-Switch Game Design Tips and Gamma IV forum posts here. Thanks to RetroRemakes on Twitter for the tip-off.ONE-BUTTON GAMES
Gestural controls, multi-touch surfaces, musical instruments, voice recognition—even brain control. Games are moving beyond the iconic hand-held controller, and into the future. But is the secret to good games found in high-tech interfaces? Kokoromi proposes that game developers can still find beauty in absolute simplicity. On March 10th, Gamma 4 will unveil brand-new games that use JUST ONE BUTTON.
Gamma 4 invites software developers to push the limits of gameplay with a single input. Game developers, media, and industry luminaries from around the world, will join the general public to view and play the Gamma 4 games at at a party that bridges the end of the Independent Games Summit and the start of the main GDC. Following the event, all the games will be playable in a dedicated booth on the GDC Expo floor. Game creators whose games are selected for presentation at Gamma 4 will also be awarded free GDC All-Access passes.
THE RULES
•Use a single button as your player input, in a unique or experimental way. Be creative.
•The game must be “pick up and play.”
•The official controller is the Xbox360 controller. Player input must be assigned to the A button, which can be PRESSED or RELEASED. The Xbox360 controller is the only one used for judging, and the only one provided at Gamma.
•Your game can support any number of players up to 4. Each player may have their own controller.
•The game may be a Windows .exe or Mac .app, and must use an installer if ANY additional files are required to play.
•The game cannot rely on an internet or LAN connection (there will not be connectivity provided during the event).
•The gameplay cannot rely on audio information, since there will not be audio output provided during the event. Non-essential audio is permitted.
•The total gameplay session must be no longer than 5 minutes, including any intros, instructions, or credits. At the end of each session, the game must return to a “start” state for the next player/s.
•The maximum game resolution is 1024×768.
•The submission deadline is Jan 31, 11:59pm Pacific time. Submission instructions to follow in mid-January.
•Pre-existing games will not be accepted.
Labels: Competition, One Switch Games
SY!NSO! (Xbox 360) - With One Switch Mode
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Sunday, November 8, 2009 at 4:51 PM.
About time! The Xbox 360 gets it's first game with a one-switch mode. Forza 3 promised it, Bayonetta may deliver it, but indie title SY!NSO! has it right here, right now in the Xbox Live Indie Arcade.SY!NSO! is a frenetic arena shoot-em-up where the aim of the game is to score as close to 9 as you can. I've managed 1 and a half so far in one-switch mode, and it was huge fun. The game has some great accessibility features, previously seen in the PC version, including: a practice mode where you are invincible, zoom options and auto-fire modes. Marvellous. You can read more over at the Daily Rodent.
The lovely thing about Xbox Live is that you can try before you buy. From this I spotted another one button playable game in Fishing Girl. This is a pleasant enough fishing game where you can cast off and reel in using a single switch. Best played with a friend nearby to assist with the occassional extra buttons needed. See XNPlay for easy to digest reviews of the huge number of indie games.
Whilst I'm on the Xbox 360, thought I'd quickly share that the Playstation to Xbox 360 joypad converter from Korea, the Xconverter 360, works very well. It still needs a wired Xbox 360 joypad attached, which in this case, becomes inactive. The main downside with this is that you won't be able to use two controllers at once for the same player as is the case with the Max Shooter for joint play.
Labels: One Switch Games, Xbox 360
Retro You're Brand New
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 5:12 PM.
William Pilgrim has created a 4Noah utility aimed at making a number of Atari VCS (aka 2600) games playable with the SPACE BAR alone. Set an accessibility switch to this and you can make games, that were never designed to be, one-switch accessible.
Asteroids can be played in a few different ways. One way would be where you tap your switch to adjust your aim whilst auto-fire is locked on. It can also be played as a game of chicken, with your switch set to hyperspace, whilst 4Noah VCS triggers constant firing and rotation.
Bowling with 4Noah VCS allows you to aim, throw and even adjust your aim once the ball has been thrown.
Combat allows you to battle with Bi-planes or Jets using a single switch against a second human opponent.
Space Invaders allows you to play alone one-switch style and even co-operatively with a second player helping you to destroy the invaders.
All this doesn't just open up previously inaccessible games to some disabled gamers. It also offers a fun way to bring a new challenge to old games. For more late 70's early 80's nostalgia I've knocked up a little accompanying Spotify music playlist. For more William Pilgrim work, please visit the fledgling 4Noah Laboratory.
Post via the OneSwitch.org.uk Blog.
Labels: One Switch Games, PC
We Love Hideki Kamiya!
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at 5:51 PM.
Graeme Singh recently proved that a 2D one-switch fighting game was both possible and fun with his PC title Way of the Exploding Hand 2. Watching the video above, Japan's Platinum Games seem to have proven the same for 3D fighting games on mainstream games consoles. The game in question is their pending slash-em-up Bayonetta:
"Hi all. Bayonetta Director Hideki Kamiya here. At long last, here we go! Gameplay video of Very Easy Automatic Mode (AKA Mommy Mode)! Writing a ton of words would be a disservice, so instead, check out this video. Yep. This is the power of Automatic. Automatic can be used on Easy and Very Easy difficulties, and leaves the most complex controls up to the CPU. At the controls in this video is character designer Mari Shimazaki. All she is really doing in this video is pressing a single button, the Punch button. She may occasionally be pressing Kick, but only for the Torture Attack events.
With Automatic ON, the game will do the following things for you.
1) Attacks/Jump Attacks
Of course attacks go without saying, but automatic jumps are also included. Even if an enemy is in above Bayonetta, the game will jump you up and into a perfect position, then attack. Various combos are automatically triggered, allowing you to enjoy action rich in variety.
2) Dodging
This also takes place simply by pressing the Punch button. Of course, if you are caught flat-footed the game won’t forgive you; however, as long as you get the button press timing correct, you will automatically dodge. …Of course, as you can tell by watching the video, you will probably end up defeating the enemy before there is ever a need to dodge. (LOL)
3) Warp
I don’t really know what I should call this… Immediately after you’ve defeated an enemy, you will head towards a distant enemy and automatically jump off towards them. With this ability you can take down enemies from A to Z. To complement these, even when you are in Automatic mode, you can still move and dodge under your own control as normal, if you so choose. This means you don’t have to play one handed like in the movie. You can weave in your own movement, kicks, and dodges, enjoying a battle packed with originality. You can consider Automatic mode to be a helping hand from an incredibly skilled expert in the game.
By the way, you can turn Automatic mode on and off anywhere in the game, so you can try a few different play styles I think… If you want to turn it off and get some hands on practice, you can. If you are feeling like, “This is impossible!”Then just turn on Automatic, go back, and try again. Another thing to add, and this one is important. In the easiest mode of the game, Very Easy, we have included the ability to recover your vitality in a few short moments should you take damage. So just in case you happen to run out of health, try to get some space between you and your enemies. But even if you take damage, you won’t take that much, so I don’t think you need to worry about your vitality falling to zero. (LOL)
So even if you are a hardcore user or an absolute beginner, I hope you are all looking forward to getting your hands on a controller and seeing what it feels like to dive into the tempest of violence that is Automatic Bayonetta."
So! What's stopping SEGA and NAMCO and every other developer of quality fighting games from doing something similar? This is fantastic news! Accessibility switch users can get hooked up to an Xbox 360 in a variety of ways if they haven't already.
Quote taken from the Bayoneta blog. See the original video in high resolution here. All discovered thanks to Tera Kirk's excellent blog at GameCritics.com.
Labels: One Handed, One Switch Games, PS3, Xbox 360
Forza 3: One Switch Mode
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at 5:24 PM.
E3 witnessed the announcement of a "one-button driving assist" mode for Turn 10's Forza Motorsport 3 on the Xbox 360. That. Is. Very. Good. News. Can't wait to see if it is what I hope it is: A current generation racing game that is one-switch playable and fun.Part of Turn 10's Press release: It’s easy to go for a spin: “Forza Motorsport 3” redefines the racing genre. Simulation games can be too hard for some players. “Forza Motorsport 3” rises above the distinction between simulation and arcade games. Using a myriad of cutting-edge driving and gameplay assist such as auto-braking, gameplay rewind and auto-tuning, “Forza Motorsport 3” delivers an experience where everyone can have fun behind the wheel, regardless of your skill and dexterity. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned racing game pro, “Forza Motorsport 3” caters to how you drive and evolves with you over time as your skills increase.
Many thanks to RetroRemakes twitter for the tip.
Labels: One Switch Games, Xbox 360
The Factory: Game for Helen RR 2008 Winner
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 4:08 AM.
Within the blog pages of Australia's The Age is an interesting article on Retro Remakes competition winner "The Factory" by Shane Hockings. I personally find the game very tough, and sorely needing a tutorial with a few demonstration solutions (see the image above for some help).This said, I do think there's a lot of satisfaction to be had when/if it finally does click. Belated congratulations Shane. Uploaded to the OneSwitch gaming library here.
Labels: A Game For Helen, One Switch Games, PC, RR 2008
Mystic Mine - Multiplayer One Switch Game
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 3:14 PM.
Just released this February - Mystic Mine is now available to buy on-line at Koonsolo for $19.95 (use www.xe.com for a currency conversion). It's massive fun as a multi-player game and highly recommended by OneSwitch.org.uk. If I had an all time top 10 list of one-switch games this would be a strong contender to make the list. Free demo version available here. Sweet.Labels: One Switch Games, PC
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
Accessible Gaming - Living in the 80's?
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 9:00 AM.
Graeme's Free Games presently features some highly accessible versions of Namco's all-time classic Pac-Man. All feature the option to reduce the number of ghosts as well as giving the facility to adjust the speed of the ghosts and your Pac-Man independently.There's a really well thought out one-switch version that features the best solution I've seen yet to navigating a maze at speed. A mouse compatible version offers a way to play for head-tracker, eye-tracker and other users too. This too offers a really well thought out solution.
For those wanting to play the exact same version that Namco released in the arcades back in 1980/81 - take a look at 4Noah for a potential solution: One-Switch Pac-Man - Mouse controlled Pac-Man.
So when are main-stream developers going to start making their 21st century games this accessible? We're waiting...
Labels: Eye Tracker Games, Head Tracker Games, Mac, One Switch Games, PC
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
Strange Attractors 2
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 5:55 PM.
Strange Attractors 2 has arrived. It's possibly the most polished and ambitious one-switch game ever written. Kick the Tyres here (the demo) or buy the full game for $14.95 (£7.50 ish). It's superb. I love it. For those wishing to learn more, there's a great interview with Eric Walker of Ominous Development over at AbleGamers.com.
Labels: One Switch Games, PC
Design Tips For: One Switch Games
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Saturday, August 23, 2008 at 12:38 PM.
A pure "One Switch Game" is one that can be started, played and replayed using just one control. Typically that will be via the SPACE BAR and the LEFT MOUSE BUTTON (both doing exactly the same thing).For disabled gamers unable to use conventional mouse, keyboard or joypad controls, for what ever reason, one-switch gaming can bring independence and much greater fun.
Imagine these messages appearing in your favourite game, and you'll get part of the picture:
• "Press a key [that you can't possibly reach] to continue"...
• "HIGH SCORE! Now get someone else to enter your name on the keyboard because you can't play on until they have"...
Sticking to the SPACE BAR / Left Mouse Button control scheme also ensures compatibility with the maximum range of alternative controllers on a PC. These controls can then be positioned in such a way that each gamer can comfortably operate them, such as mounted by the head (example photo). For further info take a peek at these switches and switch interfaces to learn a little more on this "assistive technology".
One-switch standard game controls:
A. The SPACE BAR and LEFT MOUSE button should both function as the default player one control. A default PLAYER TWO control (if needed) should be operated via The RETURN key and RIGHT MOUSE button.
B. Ideally you should allow players to user-define their controls if they wish to break from this standard (as seen in the one to five player game, Scorch Went Bonkers). All this should ensure compatibility with vast majority of switch interfaces.
C. The ESCAPE key should function as a way to QUIT the game back to the front menu screen. From the front menu screen, pressing ESCAPE again should exit to windows. Ideally, a menu based system will be provided enabling gamers to exit to windows using the SPACE BAR or LEFT MOUSE button.
The following links provide some examples of how to get around the control restrictions but still offer fantastic fun games (by the way - not all follow the standards set out above).
Penalty Shoot Out - a game of luck - but once started - very, very clear.
Run Rabbit Run 3D - pure one-switch controls.
Strange Attractors - aimed at the top end of ability - but compelling and unique.
Orbit Racers - one switch accessible menus - hectic racing.
Alien Abduction - timed games give more play than lives based games for some.
Alice Amazed - highly polished one or two player game.
The Pyramid - a must see for the inspirational number of accessibility features.
Aurikon - difficulty level adjustment from super easy to super hard.
Eelke.com - one-switch research projects: FPS, Bejewelled, Super Monkey Ball, Second Life and Super Mario Kart.
UA-Chess - great examples of scan and select methods. rules a problem for some.
Switch Access to Technology - A pretty comprehensive guide from the Ace Centre.
Additional accessibility wants for a one-switch game?
1. Inclusive difficulty level options (see Aurikon). Easy should mean easy! Remember that the average person using their head to hit a switch won't have the reaction speeds of an average person using their finger on a small button. Rapid hits may be a problem too for some, as might holding a button for a long time. Give it some thought, as there's often a pretty simple solution.
2. If the game has a number of user-definable options (such a choice of playing interface, e.g. one-switch, joystick or mouse) allow the game to auto-save and auto-load the settings.
3. What ever else you can cram in...
But the main wish over all, is simply to see more fun and accessible one-switch games!
Retro Remakes, Special Effect, OneSwitch and the IGDA's GASIG are all very happy to take a look at any works in progress, to give support and ideas for tweaking and improving accessibility. Often times there might be just one or two things stopping an average game from being a really great game for disabled/enabled gamers. It would be great to have the opportunity to support people in getting the best out of their ideas.
Labels: Design Tips, One Switch Games, PC
