Audiorun
By Bill (R&D, SpecialEffect)
iPhone/iPad - Shen Games
Audiorun's gameplay is in the same style as games like Canabalt , Hard Way, Epic Coaster and the recently released Fotonica, but played using audio feedback alone.
Your aim is to run as far as possible along rooftops, jumping when you come to a gap between them. To jump, you listen until the ambient city sounds fade away and all you can hear is the beat of your heart, then tap anywhere on the screen.
From launching the app all the text is read aloud and interaction is done throughout, both in the menu and during gameplay, by tapping anywhere on the screen.
Fotonica
By Bill (R&D, SpecialEffect)
PC (on-line demo or PC
download) - Santa Ragione"A first person game about jumping, sense of speed and discovery. The key is timing, the goal is exploring and traveling flawlessly through the environment."
Fotonica uses one button gameplay to heighton the sense of freedom and immersion of its thoroughly absorbing gameplay.
To play, hold any key or mouse button to run and then release it to jump. The menu's can be navigated using one button (press to scan, hold to select). At the end of your go either press 'R' to restart or wait a short while for it to automatically restart.
One Handed Play with an 'XCM Re-Mapper'
By Bill (R&D, SpecialEffect)
PS3/XBox 360 - Farmer
Previously on the SpecialEffect accessible GameBase we featured the XCM-Re-Mapper; an external device which sits between your wired PS3 or XBox 360 controller and allows you to re-map the button and control stick functions.
The discovery of this excellant, reasonably priced bit of kit (thanks Barrie 'One Switch'!) warrants plenty of ongoing experimentation.
It struck us that using the device you could make accessing various different types of games (when using a standard controller) easier when using just one hand to play simply by moving some button functions around and/or swapping the controls sticks over.
Orthos - One Handed Controller
By Bill (R&D, SpecialEffect)
PS3 - Lepmis
Orthros is a one handed controller which can be used with either the left or right hand to play on a Playstation 3.
The layout allows you to play games using one or both of the control sticks. One is placed on top to use with your thumb, whilst the other is positioned on the bottom and is controlled by placing the Orthros on a surface and moving the whole controller around.
Alongside the control stick on the top of the controller are what appear to be two sets of 'action' buttons as well as a d-pad. Four of the action buttons are used for their intended function and can be switched for comfortable use with the right hand (by using the ones on the left) and the left hand (by using the one on the right). The buttons on the side not being used can then be programmed to be used for Home, Start and Select. On the back of the controller are located the trigger and bumper buttons.
SpecialEffect to Attempt World Record Attempts at Eurogamer Expo
By Bill (R&D, SpecialEffect)SpecialEffect invite you to make history at this year’s Eurogamer Expo
Video games charity SpecialEffect invites guests at this year’s
Eurogamer Expo to participate in two Guinness World
Record™
attempts
Visitors to this year’s Eurogamer Expo will be invited to set a new Guinness World Record for the fastest time lap time in a racing game using only eye-movement sensing controllers. By participating, all guests will also become part of SpecialEffect’s second record attempt; the greatest number of people competing in a videogames tournament using only eye control technology.
Visitors will need to register at the SpecialEffect stand and then set their time around the track using just their eyes. The participant with the fastest lap time over the duration of the Expo will be crowned the new Guinness World Record holder and considered for inclusion in the next Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition.
It is hoped the record attempts will showcase the advances SpecialEffect have made in designing and adapting technology to enable those with a disability or severe illness to be able to play videogames, whether for therapy, rehabilitation or fun.
XCM Re-Mapper/Swapper
By Bill (R&D, SpecialEffect)
XBox 360/PS3 (XBox 360 version tested) - XCM
This adapter allows you to re-map the button functions on official wired XBox 360 controllers (PS3 version also available known as an 'XCM - Swapper') allowing you to choose your own button layouts regardless of whether a game offers this option in-game or not. It also lets you swap the left and right thumbsticks over for when a 'Southpaw' i.e. left handed layout is not available in a games options.
Re-mapping is done on the adapter itself e.g. if we wanted to move the 'RT' function to the 'A' button we would press the program button ('P') then press the button we want to use, in this case 'A' then the button who's function we want it to emulate, in this case 'RT.' When you have finished re-mapping press the 'P' button again. To swap the thumbsticks over simply press 'P' then move one of the sticks to kick in this option.
XCM Cross Battle Adapter Pro 2.0
By Bill (R&D, SpecialEffect)
This adapter enables the use of a wired XBox 360 controller on a PS3 console. It also has the added bonus of allowing you to re-map button functions aswell swapping the left and right thumbsticks functions over.
Located on the face of the adapter are also turbo fire functions and a flick switch which allows for the use of the thumbsticks to replicate six-axis gameplay.
See the video below for a re-mapping demo:
Sniper: Ghost Warrier - Re-mapping/Controller Game Options
By Bill (R&D, SpecialEffect)
Title: Sniper:
Ghost Warrior (City
Interactive)
Tested
On: XBox 360.
Full Re-mapping: No.
Button Layout Options: 2 options available,
including 'Southpaw' (left handed) option. Button
layouts are displayed in the video below.
Stick Layout Options: 2 options available:
Default (left stick = aim/look and right stick = move)
and Southpaw (swaps stick functions over).
Stick Sensitivity Options: Combined horizontal
and vertical sensitivity for both sticks with 10 different levels
of sensitivity to choose from.
Look type: Normal and
inverted are available (vertical).
Other
notable features:
Auto Reload Option
Crouch and Prone Toggle On/Off (no need to hold 'B'
down).
The Tiny Bang Story
By Bill (R&D, SpecialEffect)
PC (& Mac) - Colibri Games
After an asteroid hits 'Tiny Planet' you must help put it back together by finding hidden objects and completing puzzles.
As a point and click puzzle game the controls are cursor movement and left click (no keyboard use is required except 'esc' to bring up the menu). Objects can be very small, so accurate control of the mouse cursor is neccessary as are timed button presses. Whilst the majority of the gameplay can be carried out at your own pace, some tasks will require quick reactions.
Some puzzles also require repeated use of dragging to complete them i.e. holding the left mouse button down whilst moving the cursor.
Shodan 'Virtual Gamepad'
By Bill (R&D, SpecialEffect)
PC - www.graemesfreegames.com
'Shodan' is a free on-screen virtual gamepad designed to enable people to play fighting games using cursor input alone.
By moving your cursor over the on-screen buttons you can emulate keyboard button presses and combinations of keyboard presses. You can choose your own actions for the buttons (go to 'Configure Controls') and then you can make combo moves from these by selecting on-screen buttons such as '1+3' to combine those two buttons. A (free) game to test this with, as recommended by Graeme of www.graemesfreegames.com, is M.U.G.E.N.
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