SpecialEffect's accessible GameBase

There aren’t as many accessible games available for Macs as there are for PCs, but if you dig around, you can find a few. Fortunately, most browser-based games (ones that play inside of Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera, etc.) will work on almost any computer, including Macs, and even some smart phones.

Several accessible Mac games are listed on the OneSwitch Blog, here:
http://switchgaming.blogspot.com/search/label/Apple%20Mac and here: http://switchgaming.blogspot.com/2007/12/apple-mac-one-switch-games.html

“Switch Curling” and some other Mac games are listed at the Special Effect Gamebase, though I don’t think you can search specifically for Mac games there. http://www.gamebase.info/magazine/read/switch-curling_228.html

Switch In Time sells some accessible Mac games here: http://www.switchintime.com/page1/page1.html, including “Switch Lanes,” which can be found here: http://www.switchintime.com/page1/page4/page4.html (they can be a bit expensive though)

Though not specifically made to be accessible, all games made by Popcap are designed to be played with a mouse, which means that adapted mice, joysticks, trackballs, head trackers, and even eye trackers may work with them. Their Mac games are here: http://popcap.com/allgames.php?p=mac (some are free, and some only have a free trial)

Popcap also has a selection of “online” (aka browser-based) games here: http://www.popcap.com/allgames.php?p=online

“Canabalt” is a very exciting browser-based game that can be played with one switch (the X or C key on the keyboard). It can be found here: http://adamatomic.com/canabalt/

There are many other sources of free, browser-based games. They are not designed to be accessible, but you may find some that work, if you are willing to spend some time experimenting. You will find many sites if you search the internet for “flash games.” A few good places to start are:

• http://www.newgrounds.com/
• http://armorgames.com/
• http://www.addictinggames.com/
• http://www.kongregate.com/

This list was originally formed by Gavin Philips of Assistive Technology Partners, and can be found here:

https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1Ttz2PPFA_ksN_I5fLGqleGl_Ay1YCofCV1hzlJAoHXY&hl=en&pli=1#

Fontonica is an on-line game, under development, and soon for Mac download. It's a 3D one-button game that requires very quick reactions at present. An easy version that is much slowed down is planned soon.

http://www.santaragione.com/fotonica
http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=15348.0

what do you have to do in it?

Good question. In Fontonica, the aim of the game is to run and jump to the end, without falling off the platforms. There's a video here: http://www.news.santaragione.com/. It's a tough game at the moment though. Use SPACE bar (or a switch hooked up to the SPACE) to play.

I can't connect a switch to my space bar!

my joystick plus has switch box and the options on that are left, right, drag, double click, axis lock.
I have thought of some kind of direct switch-USB to plug in, where would I find one with the 'connect to spacebar' option?

I'm on your oneswitch.org site on page that says 'switch puzzle and skill games' in the library.. think they are all free downloadbale games, are these all windows games or will any of them work on Mac with my set up (as mentioned in above post)

Kati

Hi Kati,

On my OneSwitch site, I'm afraid most are for the PC. If any are for the Mac, it will say so. I really must get around to knocking up a Mac section. Meanwhile, do check out Archaist and the soon to be released Johnny Goes To Hell from Michi.nu:

http://www.michi.nu/games/

Highly recommend Dennis Asher's NanoGames suite: http://www.arcess.com/ - which includes some card games and various fun puzzle and arcade type games.

There's also a possibility that Sensory Software's "Switch Friendly Games" might work out:

http://switchgaming.blogspot.com/2008/07/switch-friendly-games.html

I can't tell if it will work on a Mac though. I've left a message with QED, so hopefully they'll get back to me to let us know. I do have a PC only version, but that doesn't mean they didn't do Mac too.

Available from the UK (http://www.qedonline.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=101&products_id=455&osCsid=43e56205081e1dbc5eca645c33a9d232) and USA (http://zygo-usa.com/literature/2010_ZYGO_SF-CAT.pdf)

Can anyone else help us add to this list?

Barrie

I can't connect a switch to my space bar!

my joystick plus has switch box and the options on that are left, right, drag, double click, axis lock.
I have thought of some kind of direct switch-USB to plug in, where would I find one with the 'connect to spacebar' option?

Ah, a common problem for some. Not all games follow the one-switch standard for interfaces which is to allow for both the SPACE BAR and LEFT-CLICK to act the same to work a game. I'll buzz the programmers to see if they can add left-click functionality.

A really good switch interface box is the "Crick USB Box" available in the UK and USA which has sockets for up to four switches (http://www.cricksoft.com/us/accessibility/switchaccess.htm). You should be able to play most one-switch games with that.

An alternative is the tiny "Swifty" from Origin Instruments - which only has one-socket as standard, but is also an excellent device (http://orin.com/access/swifty/).

Hope that helps a little more.

Barrie

Cool.. the Nanogames one with 30 games and including single switch scanning looks good. Should be enough there to keep me busy this winter.. lol!! I'll contact them to find out about mac versions for download. I'll ask them first if my current set up would work before I bought another switch box as I got them working on SwitchXS.

I like that I can play those games other ways too as also want to keep fingers working for as long as possible so they would would work for exercise/training in both areas.

Thanks!!

Kati

I can't connect a switch to my space bar!

my joystick plus has switch box and the options on that are left, right, drag, double click, axis lock.
I have thought of some kind of direct switch-USB to plug in, where would I find one with the 'connect to spacebar' option?

Ah, a common problem for some. Not all games follow the one-switch standard for interfaces which is to allow for both the SPACE BAR and LEFT-CLICK to act the same to work a game. I'll buzz the programmers to see if they can add left-click functionality.

Great news in, as regards Fotonica:

we will add a "press any button to set action button" in couple of weeks.

Hi Kati,

This is the one we use:

http://www.qedonline.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=84&products_id=591

It is Mac compatible.

Regards,

Bill

useful one, thank you.