Gone Accessible Fishing
By One Switch
It's not all accesible video games. We're interested in all kinds of leisure activities made more accessible. In the full post below, you'll find a few alternative ways to go fishing. If they're not enough, YouTube also has remote control boat and RC helicopter fishing. Poor fish...
'The Explorer and the Mystery of the Diamond Scarab' Launch
By BillGameBase
31-01-2012 | Huizen,
The Netherlands
The Nintendo wii game
The Explorer and the Mystery of the Diamond Scarab is available.
For the first time, children with and without visual impairment
can play together on an equal level. In addition to the positive
effect of playing unhindered with peers on the same level, this
game also contributes to improving motoric functions and physical
coordination. Royal Dutch Visio announced the game on March 25th
2011. Due to delay in the process of approval it was not
available sooner.
Skoog Musician in Mainstream Orchestra
By One SwitchSkoogmusic YouTube Clip
In the very early days of the Skoog, before it was called the Skoog, this was the hope: That this accessible instrument would be a way into the mainstream for otherwise disabled musicians. Looks like it's happening. Fantastic!
Mario with Muscles
By One Switch"Advancer Technologies' USB Biofeedback Game Controller harnesses the power of electromyography to allow players to directly control video games with their muscles."
Greedy Bankers (iOS)
By One Switch
Eurogamer Indie Games Arcade finalist Greedy Bankers vs The World (iPad) has just received its first update, which aims to make the game more accessible to colour-blind players.
The update adds symbols that can be optionally added to the coloured gems in the game to make them visually distinguishable without the need for colour vision. "Because the gameplay of Greedy Bankers is largely based on colour, there were some obvious difficulties for colour-blind players. I thought it was unfair that people should be unable to enjoy the game properly, especially over an issue that was so easy to fix," said the developer Alistair Aitcheson.
Alistair also cited the charity Special Effect [us!] as an inspiration for the change, having met them at the Eurogamer Expo and approached them for advice. "I'm still looking for feedback on the updates, so that I can improve these accessibility elements. Hopefully with each update I'll be able to improve them based on players' experiences."
Switch Accessible Dog Ball Thrower
By One Switch
We were delighted to read the latest update of The Sophie Story today, especially so linked to her new Dog Ball Thrower which we helped play a part in.
A while back Sophie's Mum and Dad asked us if we knew of any suitable ball throwing machines. We did (with thanks to moroQ in Japan), and pointed them in the direction of some in the USA. A friend over there kindly sent it over to Sophie as a birthday present.
Dad then adapted the device for switch use, and Sophie has been able to give her dog some exercise and fun ever since. We're impressed!
SpecialEffect iPhone App Launched
By BillGameBase
We are very proud to announce the launch of the SpecialEffect app
in the App Store today. It is launched with the aim of
keeping you up to date with the latest game accessibility news
and reviews as well as giving you access to SpecialEffect's
database of information on accessible gaming hardware and
software.
With articles and reviews of games across a wide range of
categories, from eye-controlled to switch playable, the app is a
great resource for anyone looking for information on how to get
themselves or someone they know playing.
The app was kindly created by Shane McCafferty at http://www.buildmeanapp.net/ who
volunteered his time and app making skills after meeting the
SpecialEffect team on their stand at Eurogamer Expo.
Download the SpecialEffect app for free onto your
iPhone, iPod touch or iPad here:
http://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/specialeffect/id480734293?mt=8&ls=1
Computer Games To Help Bored Cystic Fibrosis Kids
By One Switch"Computer games which help young people with cystic fibrosis cope better with treatment, and improve monitoring of their condition, are being developed by the University of Derby.
The life-threatening, inherited disease affects more than 9,000 people in the UK. Internal organs, especially lungs and the digestive system, clog with a thick mucus making it hard to breathe and digest food. Half those with cystic fibrosis don't live past their late thirties.
University Lecturer Dr David Day -- whose four-year-old daughter, Alicia, has cystic fibrosis -- and colleague and Computer Games specialist Dr Andreas Oikonomou, developed four prototype computer games to help young people cope better with the difficult daily breathing exercises to expel mucus from their lungs. The games will also aid monitoring of lung efficiency."
Skoog Skores
By One Switch
The latest free upgrade (1.30) to the Skoog musical instrument brings "Skores" to life. Within this new feature, you can select a song from a drop down menu, then play guided by a flow of coloured shapes. It works really well in practice and will help a lot of musicians who find traditional music scores far too difficult.
Excitingly, I hear rumours of a one-side to play musical Skores in the works. Can't wait to see and try that out.
Replay Expo 2011
By One SwitchReplay was an exhausting ear-blistering pleasure. It was a privilege to run the SpecialEffect stand populated mostly with games using simplified control methods mostly from my personal geek-a-tronic stash. So what did we have?
