Audiorun
By BillGameBase
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.
In The Pit
By BillGameBase
XBox 360 (XBox Live) - Studiohunty
'In The Pit' is an audio only game on the XBox 360 available via XBox Live. You play the part of a monster which disposes of the ill-fated victims of the evil king. You live a pit which has no light so neither you nor the victims can see. Therefore, you have only audio and tactile feedback to guide you.
To move you use the left control stick. The further you push it the faster you move, but moving quickly will cause you to splash about in the pit alerting your prey to your whereabouts. To seek out people you must listen out for their breathing, as you face the correct direction you will hear the breathing centre in your speakers or headphones. When you are close you will also be able to hear their heartbeating and your controller will start to vibrate. Your controller will also vibrate when you come up againt a wall. To eat the victim press the 'A' button.
Top Speed 3
By BillGameBase
PC (opens in a window) - Playing in the Dark/RubyAccess
Top Speed 3 builds on the strong base that versions 1 and 2 offered by making tweeks and additions to create the most complete version of this audio only racing game yet.
The most noticable additions to the casual player are the new tracks (including a rally through the desert and a race through rush hour traffic), vehicles (including an old schoolbus and a chopper motorcyle) and ambiences (including new title music).
Vi Bowling
By BillGameBase
PC using a Wiimote (opens in a separate window) - Vi Fit
Bringing the immediate fun of Wii Sports' Bowling to a new audience, Vi Bowling offers a new gameplay mechanic allowing it to be played without a need for visual feedback.
The feedback you use to control the gameplay is audio for instructions and touch from the Wii remote for in-game directional awareness.
V.I. Tennis
By One Switch
PC Windows - VI Fit (freeware)
VI Tennis brings a Wii Sports like experience to blind players. Using Wii remote controllers, sound, vibration and a little imagination.
Options are easily navigated, and include a one player against the computer, or a two player game. Players can also adjust the speed of the game, which is a must for beginners.
Street Fighter II - Mousou Contoller
By BillGameBase
Bandai
The Mousou Controller
'Imagination Sound Game' is a keyring shaped like a mini console
controller and is available in 3 different game versions: Street
Fighter II, Xevious and Famista (Look out for Xevious and Famista
reviews to come once I have translated the Japanese and worked
out how to play them!).
The Street Fighter II device is then available in 3 colours, with
each different colour containing 3 unique Street Fighter
characters to play as (blue = Ken, E Honda,
Guile, red = Ryu, Blanka, Sagat, black = Dhalsim,
Balrog, Chun-Li).
There are 3 game modes. The First, is simply to enjoy making a
noise and playing with the sound effects (though I'm not sure
this can be strictly counted as a game mode). The second is
playing against an AI opponent, after which 'You Lose!'
or 'You Win!' Thirdly, If you have two controllers you can 'play
against' (I use this term loosely) by starting a fight at the
same time and seeing who gets the win first.
Mach 1
By One Switch
PC Windows
- Kitchen's
Inc (freeware)
Mach 1 is an audio
game heavily influenced by the Namco classic Pole
Position 3D Formula 1 race game.
As with most Kitchen's Inc games, this is fun and has a good
sense of humour. It must be said that you will need to
familiarise yourself with the controls and audio cues before you
will be able to play this well. It's worth the effort
though.
Your Mach 1 race car will start and
automatically accelerate. When you hit about 75 miles per
hour you will want to shift into high gear by pressing the up
arrow key. As you move left or right on the track you will
hear the echo of your car off of the wall. The closer you
get to either wall the louder the echo sound will be.
If you are right in the center of the track you will hear no echo
sound at all. When you hear a whooshing by sound out of the
right speaker it means that a right turn follows. The same
but opposite applies when you hear a whooshing sound out of the
left speaker. You will
hear a stereo sound out of both speakers to mark the end of each
turn. If you hear a bumping sound out of one speaker it means
that you have gone off of the track and onto the gravel on
that side of the track. Turn away from the sound to get
back into the center of the track. If you get too far off
the road you will hit the wall at which point you will
crash. After a crash you will want to shift-down and turn
back towards the center of the track.
Terraformers
By BillGameBase
PC - Pin Interactive
Terraformers is a visual/audio
hybrid with full accessibilty features for visually impared
gamers including full menu interaction and gameplay allowing the
game to be played entirely using just auditory feedback.
It is instantly engaging, with the tutorial
helping you quickly get to grips with the gameplay mechanics and
control method.
Top Speed 2
By BillGameBase
PC - Playing in the dark
Top Speed 2 is an audio only
racing game. The controls are simple: left/right cursor keys =
steer left and right, up cursor = accelerate and down cursor
= brake. You are given directions by a co-driver, but in addition
to these you must listen to the sounds of the cra on the track
e.g. hear it moving to the left = steer your car to the left
etc...
Top Speed 2 may be found to be quite difficult to initially
get to grips with, but take it slow to begin and you'll soon pick
up speed.
GMA Tank Commander
By BillGameBase
PC - GMA Games
Using auditory feedback only, you must complete missions radioed into you in your tank. There are three different levels of difficulty to choose from. The game is produced to a very high level with excellant audio creating an engaging atmosphere. The basic controls are: up cursor key = speed settings for moving forwards e.g. press once for each change: quarter speed, half speed etc... Down = Reverse e.g. slow reverse and fast reverse. Left and right cursors are directional. Numerical keys switch between weapons and space fires the selected weapon.
