Accessible Gaming at EuroGamer Expo 2010
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at 7:57 AM.
Accessible Gaming will be making a showing at the public EuroGamer Expo 2010 in London's Earls Court thanks to the fantastic Accessible GameBase.
If you'd like a sneak preview of the accessible gear that will be on show between Friday the 1st and Sunday the 3rd of October, just click the large picture above.
Labels: Campaigning, Shows
The photos above are just a small sample from the hundreds taken at the AbleGames 2010 event. Following last years amazing event, I was really curious to see if Assistive Technology Partners' could live up to the 2009 show. They definitely did and more!Here's a run down of the equipment used, and how things went.
6 Nintendo Wii stations
Each projected onto a wall for the “big screen” effect.
2 with our “seating system on a Fit Board” contraptions.
2 with switch adapted Guitar Hero (one with drums and microphone).
2 with WiiMotes strapped to hats, arms, etc. for racing and sports.
6 Computer stations
Each with a switch interface and switches, a variety of adapted mice/joysticks and head trackers. One with a cardboard carrel to block light/glare and remove distractions, for kids with vision impairments.
Each with the following games: Aurikon, Hoop Stars, Mario Dash, One Switch Mini Golf, Star Wars, TIG Duels, Sonic Zoom (for kids with vision impairments), Peggle, SEN Switcher, Whack-A-Monty-Mole.
2 Switch adapted Nerf machine-gun stations
Both with Velcro tipped darts, targets, and vests for moving targets to wear. Mounted on “universal mounts” (Bogen arms).
2 Switch adapted pinball tables
Stern's Spiderman and William's Medieval Madness. One standard height, one with legs cut down to kid/wheelchair height. Adapted so that one switch jack controlled both flippers.
1 “Splatball” station
A homemade slingshot that could be fired by pressing a large board, which shot paintballs at targets. Several people recommended paintball for kids with vision impairments, due to the sound, smell, and tactile feedback.
Plus a large variety of switch toys, iPads with games and other fun apps, switch adapted “colour spinner” painting toy, etc.
"A local Boy Scout troop served lunch, and one of them helped organize for his Eagle Scout project. The daughter of one of our therapists ran a “kids corner” for siblings of participants and children of staff and volunteers. Two retired NBA players from the Denver Nuggets came to play Hoop Stars with the kids, pose for pictures, sign autographs, and play as Nerf gun targets. At the end of the day, each participant got a certificate with his or her personal title (Best Smile, Basketball Champ, etc.), a trophy, and a CD with all of the computer games and some other resources. We gave away the computers from the computer stations, and are keeping a list of people who want computers, so that I can continue to prepare donated ones as I get them, and give them out.
Everyone seemed to have a great time, and I think we had something that each participant could enjoy."
Labels: Shows
Game Accessibility Train
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 5:36 AM.
A few quick links to recent Game Accessibility conferences gone by - with plenty to delve deeper into:HCT of University of Sussex, UK - May 2008 Game Accessibility Workshop report. My quick personal write up.
Games for Health 2008 - Slideshare.
Michelle Hinn's write up of the event.
Games Accessibility Workshop: Play, Discuss, Design
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Monday, May 5, 2008 at 5:48 PM.
This workshop will bring together professional games developers, accessible games designers and disabled gamers to play, discuss and design accessible games.A variety of accessible games will be available for demonstration. Barrie Ellis of One Switch will be showing some of his unique one-button controllers for use with consoles such as the Sony Playstation. Richard Vahrman of Locomatrix will be talking about his GPS games and Jez Harris from Relentless will be talking about their hit game Buzz!
Discuss the games with the interdisciplinary audience. Experts in the areas of games technology, accessibility and human-computer interaction among others will be present.
Do you have an idea for a game? Feel free to sketchconcepts, create storyboards or propose new concepts ingames design aspects such as controllers, graphics or sound.
SPACE IS LIMITED!. E-mail Hilary Smith to reserve your place.
Via: Interact Lab - University of Sussex
Labels: Press Release, Shows
Games for Health 2008
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 10:57 AM.
Mark Barlet, Editor-in-Chief of AbleGamers.com, is participating in the Games for Health 2008 Pre-Conference workshop May 7, 2008. Mark will be speaking at 11:10am on the subject "Games Accessibility from the Players Standpoint" at the Baltimore Convention Center. The day will be filled with speakers from all over the accessibility in gaming field, including Dr. Michelle Hinn, Ben Sawyer, Ben Heckerson, and more. "I think it says a lot about how far AbleGamers has come for us to be invited to Games for Health. The real winner in this is the disabled gamer, the more people are aware of the issue, the more game we will see open up to everyone who wants to play them.See AbleGamers for more.
Labels: Press Release, Shows
Emotiv Mind Control
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Friday, February 22, 2008 at 4:51 AM.
Fancy controlling games with your mind? Emotiv Systems are taking this principle to the main-stream with their proposed $299 (£150) head-set. Read more at AbleGamers.com who are hoping to try this out at the Game Developers Conference being held right now.Labels: Accessible Controllers, brain control, Shows
Game Accessibility Arcade to be Presented at Game Developers Conference 2008
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 5:43 PM.
Game Developers Conference 2008 event to Showcase Solutions for Creating Accessible Versions of Commercial and Independent Games and Game Controllers for Gamers with Disabilities.
IGDA Game Accessibility Group to Host; Corporate Participants Include Emotiv, NaturalPoint, and more.
The Game Accessibility Special Interest Group (SIG) of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) will be presenting its popular Accessibility Arcade session at the Game Developers Conference 2008 in San Francisco at the Moscone Center, February 18 - 22.
SIG members hope that these sessions will provide the opportunity will help raise awareness amongst game developers and the gaming media that people with disabilities also want the chance to play commercial games and game controllers that have been re-designed for computers and the latest console systems. “The message we hope to convey at GDC 08 is that games are for everyone and are an important part of life today that cannot continue to be inaccessible for people with disabilities,” said Michelle Hinn, chairperson of the Game Accessibility SIG, game design instructor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and Game Accessibility Researcher at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. “The majority of games on the market remain unplayable by up to 10-20% of the population. This is not only an opportunity for developers to increase revenue - it is an issue of social injustice that must be corrected.”
SIG members also want to convey that Game Accessibility does not mean non-creative, non-innovative games. Hinn welcomes both skeptics and supporters of game accessibility to see the opportunities for fostering a more socially aware industry and “to educate themselves and help break down preconceived notions about configuring games and controllers that can also include gamers with disabilities.
Come take a look at some of the incredible next generation controllers that we'll have on display from Emotiv, Natural Point, One Switch, as well as game accessibility solutions such as Doom3 and other games with complete closed captioning by Reid Kimball of Games[cc] and “Blind Hero,” which allows the blind to play guitar hero using a haptic device developed by SIG member Eelke Folmer at the University of Nevada, Reno. And find out more about our partner sites, AbleGamers.com and One Switch, to see how we are getting information not just to the game development community but also out to gamers with disabilities themselves about games and controllers that are or can become accessible at one of the kiosks we'll have to showcase these web communities. These are just some of the many examples we'll have for session goers to interact with. And, hey, who doesn't want to do the Jedi Mind Trick?” Commercial controllers that help represent the future of accessible game play and controllers that will be shown include those by:
Emotiv: A pioneer in brain computer interface (BCI) technology, Emotiv Systems creates technologies that allow machines to take both conscious and non-conscious inputs directly from your mind. Currently focused on the gaming industry, its Emotiv EPOC wireless nueroheadset enables video games to respond to players' emotions and expressions and allows players to manipulate objects in the game using the power of their thoughts. This entirely new interface will dramatically change the gaming experience by making it more immersive, intuitive and personal.
NaturalPoint: NaturalPoint's SmartNav™ has been making gaming possible for people with physical disabilities around the globe for seven years. Complete computer independence is achieved with this hands-free ergonomic mouse by using only slight head movements. Elizabeth Ryan, SmartNav Marketing Director, says “Optical head tracking has been a breakthrough in assistive technology, making PC gaming accessible for those that can only move their heads.”
Oneswitch.org.uk: One Switch is a UK-based organization/web site that reaches out to gamers with cognitive and mobility disabilities throughout the world. One Switch provides controllers that have been “rerouted” in order to allow gamers with disabilities to play commercial computer and console games, as well as Do-It-Yourself guides for those who want to modify their own controllers to make them accessible.
The response by the industry toward adding in game accessibility features into their products “…has been dismal. The gaming industry cannot just assume that because these controllers hacks exist that they are off the hook,” Hinn added. “There are many types of disabilities that impact game play in different ways. Even if someone is using these controllers, many are quite costly - often more than a game and even a console system - and many games still remain impossible to play due to issues such as button combination choices that seem to be complex just to be complex and cannot be reconfigured.
But this criticism has not only been made by disability advocates - Industry veterans such as Ernest Adams and Peter Molyneux have also spoken out on the game complexity control issue for gamers in general. Solutions that help gamers with disabilities can enhance the game play experience for ALL gamers.”
The Game Accessibility SIG will be presenting the following sessions at GDC: Accessibility Arcade: Or How to Do the Jedi Mind Trick (Day One): Wednesday (Feb 20nd); 4:00pm - 5:00pm; Room 121, North Hall Accessibility Arcade: Or How to Do the Jedi Mind Trick (Day Two): Thursday (Feb 21st); 9:00am - 10:00am; Room 121, North Hall Dynamic Closed Captioning for Your Game Date/Time: Thursday (Feb 21st); 1:00pm - 2:00pm; Station 2, 2nd Floor Game Accessibility & Developers with Disabilities Group Gathering Date/Time: Thursday (Feb 21st, 2008); 2:30pm - 3:30pm; IGDA Booth, West Hall For more information about these sessions, the SIG, or to schedule an interview about any of the sessions or game accessibility in general, contact Michelle Hinn, IGDA Game Accessibility SIG Chair, at hinn{at]uiuc.edu -- Members of the SIG will be available the entire week of GDC.
IGDA Game Accessibility Group to Host; Corporate Participants Include Emotiv, NaturalPoint, and more.
The Game Accessibility Special Interest Group (SIG) of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) will be presenting its popular Accessibility Arcade session at the Game Developers Conference 2008 in San Francisco at the Moscone Center, February 18 - 22.
SIG members hope that these sessions will provide the opportunity will help raise awareness amongst game developers and the gaming media that people with disabilities also want the chance to play commercial games and game controllers that have been re-designed for computers and the latest console systems. “The message we hope to convey at GDC 08 is that games are for everyone and are an important part of life today that cannot continue to be inaccessible for people with disabilities,” said Michelle Hinn, chairperson of the Game Accessibility SIG, game design instructor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and Game Accessibility Researcher at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. “The majority of games on the market remain unplayable by up to 10-20% of the population. This is not only an opportunity for developers to increase revenue - it is an issue of social injustice that must be corrected.”
SIG members also want to convey that Game Accessibility does not mean non-creative, non-innovative games. Hinn welcomes both skeptics and supporters of game accessibility to see the opportunities for fostering a more socially aware industry and “to educate themselves and help break down preconceived notions about configuring games and controllers that can also include gamers with disabilities.
Come take a look at some of the incredible next generation controllers that we'll have on display from Emotiv, Natural Point, One Switch, as well as game accessibility solutions such as Doom3 and other games with complete closed captioning by Reid Kimball of Games[cc] and “Blind Hero,” which allows the blind to play guitar hero using a haptic device developed by SIG member Eelke Folmer at the University of Nevada, Reno. And find out more about our partner sites, AbleGamers.com and One Switch, to see how we are getting information not just to the game development community but also out to gamers with disabilities themselves about games and controllers that are or can become accessible at one of the kiosks we'll have to showcase these web communities. These are just some of the many examples we'll have for session goers to interact with. And, hey, who doesn't want to do the Jedi Mind Trick?” Commercial controllers that help represent the future of accessible game play and controllers that will be shown include those by:
Emotiv: A pioneer in brain computer interface (BCI) technology, Emotiv Systems creates technologies that allow machines to take both conscious and non-conscious inputs directly from your mind. Currently focused on the gaming industry, its Emotiv EPOC wireless nueroheadset enables video games to respond to players' emotions and expressions and allows players to manipulate objects in the game using the power of their thoughts. This entirely new interface will dramatically change the gaming experience by making it more immersive, intuitive and personal.
NaturalPoint: NaturalPoint's SmartNav™ has been making gaming possible for people with physical disabilities around the globe for seven years. Complete computer independence is achieved with this hands-free ergonomic mouse by using only slight head movements. Elizabeth Ryan, SmartNav Marketing Director, says “Optical head tracking has been a breakthrough in assistive technology, making PC gaming accessible for those that can only move their heads.”
Oneswitch.org.uk: One Switch is a UK-based organization/web site that reaches out to gamers with cognitive and mobility disabilities throughout the world. One Switch provides controllers that have been “rerouted” in order to allow gamers with disabilities to play commercial computer and console games, as well as Do-It-Yourself guides for those who want to modify their own controllers to make them accessible.
The response by the industry toward adding in game accessibility features into their products “…has been dismal. The gaming industry cannot just assume that because these controllers hacks exist that they are off the hook,” Hinn added. “There are many types of disabilities that impact game play in different ways. Even if someone is using these controllers, many are quite costly - often more than a game and even a console system - and many games still remain impossible to play due to issues such as button combination choices that seem to be complex just to be complex and cannot be reconfigured.
But this criticism has not only been made by disability advocates - Industry veterans such as Ernest Adams and Peter Molyneux have also spoken out on the game complexity control issue for gamers in general. Solutions that help gamers with disabilities can enhance the game play experience for ALL gamers.”
The Game Accessibility SIG will be presenting the following sessions at GDC: Accessibility Arcade: Or How to Do the Jedi Mind Trick (Day One): Wednesday (Feb 20nd); 4:00pm - 5:00pm; Room 121, North Hall Accessibility Arcade: Or How to Do the Jedi Mind Trick (Day Two): Thursday (Feb 21st); 9:00am - 10:00am; Room 121, North Hall Dynamic Closed Captioning for Your Game Date/Time: Thursday (Feb 21st); 1:00pm - 2:00pm; Station 2, 2nd Floor Game Accessibility & Developers with Disabilities Group Gathering Date/Time: Thursday (Feb 21st, 2008); 2:30pm - 3:30pm; IGDA Booth, West Hall For more information about these sessions, the SIG, or to schedule an interview about any of the sessions or game accessibility in general, contact Michelle Hinn, IGDA Game Accessibility SIG Chair, at hinn{at]uiuc.edu -- Members of the SIG will be available the entire week of GDC.
Labels: Press Release, Shows
Special Effect - Accessible Gaming Charity
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 5:40 PM.
"SpecialEffect is perhaps the only charitable organisation dedicated to helping ALL young people with disabilities to enjoy computer games. GASIG member Barrie Ellis of OneSwitch.org.uk is presently working with Special Effect on their latest exciting project to bring accessible games to disabled children in and around Oxford (UK).Barrie is helping initially to gather four different accessible gaming set-ups based around a Laptop (XP), Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360 and a Playstation 2. The next step is to find and train a small group of passionate volunteers to take this equipment out to clubs, schools, hospitals and so on.
The plan is for the project to run until around June/July this year, but the hope is this will be just the start and that this work will spread to other parts of the UK and beyond. Read more on the Special Effect Facebook page.
Some great gaming gear has been pledged so far from generous companies and organisations, which shall be detailed later. If anyone wishes to donate games or anything that might help - please visit the Special Effect web-site or contact Barrie directly through OneSwitch.org.uk.
Labels: Press Release, Shows
Games for People with Disabilities to Make Showing at E for All 2007
0 Comments Published by OneSwitch.org.uk on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 5:10 AM.
This Event Marks the First Game Industry Consumer Expo to Include A Group Advocating Awareness of Gamers with Disabilities.
The Game Accessibility Special Interest Group (SIG) of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) has been invited to participate as exhibitors at next week's E for All Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center, October 18 - 21.
SIG members hope that this opportunity will help raise awareness amongst game consumers and developers that people with disabilities also want the chance to play commercial games designed for computers and popular console systems.
"The message we hope to convey is that games are for everyone and are an important part of life today that cannot continue to be inaccessible for people with disabilities," said Michelle Hinn, chairperson of the Game Accessibility SIG and game design instructor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. "The majority of games on the market remain unplayable by up to 10-20% of the population. This is not simply an opportunity for developers to increase revenue - it is an issue of social injustice that must be corrected."
SIG members also hope that their participation in the first annual E for All will raise awareness amongst potential gamers with disabilities who want to learn more about game hardware alternatives - often created by hobbyist supporters and SIG members - that already exist to make game play possible for some people with certain types of disabilities, usually mobility disabilities. But there are many other types of disabilities - learning, auditory, and visual disabilities - and people with these disabilities require other solutions, such as closed captioning.
"The gaming industry cannot just assume that because these controllers exist that they are off the hook," Hinn added. "There are many types of disabilities that impact game play in different ways. Even if someone is using these controllers, many are quite costly and many games still remain impossible to play due to issues such as button combination choices that seem to be complex just to be complex. But this criticism has not only been made by disability advocates - Industry veterans such as Ernest Adams and Peter Molyneux have also spoken out on the game complexity control issue for gamers in general.
Solutions that help gamers with disabilities can enhance the game play experience for ALL gamers."The Game Accessibility SIG will be exhibiting at booth #1056 in the Los Angeles Convention Center. The SIG will be presenting games, game mods, and game hardware designed for gamers with disabilities.About the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) The International Game Developers Association is a non-profit professional society that is committed to advancing the careers and enhancing the lives of game developers by connecting members with their peers, promoting professional development, and advocating on issues that affect the developer community.
For more information on the IGDA, please visit http://www.igda.org/
About the IGDA Game Accessibility Special Interest Group (SIG): The IGDA Game Accessibility SIG is a game industry advocacy group formed to promote awareness of the issues that gamers with disabilities face and to help provide solutions that can be used to design games that are accessible to all.
Press inquires should be directed to the SIG chairperson Michelle Hinn at hinn@uiuc.edu
For more information on the IGDA Game Accessibility SIG, please visit www.igda.org/accessibility.
The Game Accessibility Special Interest Group (SIG) of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) has been invited to participate as exhibitors at next week's E for All Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center, October 18 - 21.
SIG members hope that this opportunity will help raise awareness amongst game consumers and developers that people with disabilities also want the chance to play commercial games designed for computers and popular console systems.
"The message we hope to convey is that games are for everyone and are an important part of life today that cannot continue to be inaccessible for people with disabilities," said Michelle Hinn, chairperson of the Game Accessibility SIG and game design instructor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. "The majority of games on the market remain unplayable by up to 10-20% of the population. This is not simply an opportunity for developers to increase revenue - it is an issue of social injustice that must be corrected."
SIG members also hope that their participation in the first annual E for All will raise awareness amongst potential gamers with disabilities who want to learn more about game hardware alternatives - often created by hobbyist supporters and SIG members - that already exist to make game play possible for some people with certain types of disabilities, usually mobility disabilities. But there are many other types of disabilities - learning, auditory, and visual disabilities - and people with these disabilities require other solutions, such as closed captioning.
"The gaming industry cannot just assume that because these controllers exist that they are off the hook," Hinn added. "There are many types of disabilities that impact game play in different ways. Even if someone is using these controllers, many are quite costly and many games still remain impossible to play due to issues such as button combination choices that seem to be complex just to be complex. But this criticism has not only been made by disability advocates - Industry veterans such as Ernest Adams and Peter Molyneux have also spoken out on the game complexity control issue for gamers in general.
Solutions that help gamers with disabilities can enhance the game play experience for ALL gamers."The Game Accessibility SIG will be exhibiting at booth #1056 in the Los Angeles Convention Center. The SIG will be presenting games, game mods, and game hardware designed for gamers with disabilities.About the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) The International Game Developers Association is a non-profit professional society that is committed to advancing the careers and enhancing the lives of game developers by connecting members with their peers, promoting professional development, and advocating on issues that affect the developer community.
For more information on the IGDA, please visit http://www.igda.org/
About the IGDA Game Accessibility Special Interest Group (SIG): The IGDA Game Accessibility SIG is a game industry advocacy group formed to promote awareness of the issues that gamers with disabilities face and to help provide solutions that can be used to design games that are accessible to all.
Press inquires should be directed to the SIG chairperson Michelle Hinn at hinn@uiuc.edu
For more information on the IGDA Game Accessibility SIG, please visit www.igda.org/accessibility.
Labels: Press Release, Shows
"E for All" takes place on October 18-21 - at the LA Convention Center in North America. It will be jammed packed with video gaming companies with a ton of games to play. What's really exciting for accessible gaming, is that the organisers really mean it - and have invited us along to promote accessible gaming. See you there?
Labels: Shows
