SpecialEffect's accessible GameBase

PC (opens in a browser) - OnlineGames.com

Simple and addicting gameplay, slick stylised graphics and competitive multiplayer contests make this browser based Basketball game a 'must play' for pointer control gamers.

Played in an immersive full screen mode, the aim is to use your cursor to control the tradjectory of the ball, with a click of the the left mouse button (or equivelant) launching the ball. The controls suit any method of accurate pointer control, with the additional neccessary ability to use a controlled mouse click (or equivelant selection method).

Before each contest, between either friends (all don't have to be online at the same time) or a worldwide game between approx 150 players at the same time, you have the chance to warm up with free play.  Once the buzzer goes though it's every man for himself, as those with the steadiest nerves and straightest shots progress in real time through the rankings.

Play for free here.

PC - Sports Interactive/Sega

Football Manager Live is not simply a direct transfer of the FM 2009 game to an online version. It is focused on the idea of online game play and built out from that. This has resulted in a standalone game, which offers a new experience from the offline versions.

The game is based on a subscription system of 21 day seasons, with an off season of 7 days in between. Players are divided in to different Football Assosiations within a Gameworld both of their choosing. At the beginning of your first season you must create your team name, kit etc and are given a randomly selected squad of players and some cash to start to build on and improve your team via the transfer market. Before your league starts you are given a period to play friendlies and to try out formations, tactics and learn about your team and which areas need to be improved deciding who will stay and who will go. During the season you can continue to play friendlies as well as play in user created competitions or create your own.

The game is pointer controlled and is based on opening and closing folders, clicking on icons and dragging players to switch their positions. The game well suited for all methods of pointer control including head and eye providing you have accurate control of your pointer. Using a zoom tool with eye control will help. FM Live offers an engrossing challenge to those looking for an online gaming experience, which relies on studied tactical thought rather than quick button presses, with an inclusive and friendly online community. For those unfamiliar with the Football Manager series this game should come with a warning: Beware Highly Addictive! You can subscribe and download the game here: http://www.footballmanagerlive.com/

PC - Scawen Roberts, Eric Bailey and Victor van Vlaardingen

Live for Speed is a racing simulator using pointer control in which the user settings can be changed within the game to allow it to used with eye control or with a head mouse.

You can start on the Kyoto Ring, which is an oval track to practice before moving onto some more difficult ones. There are varying levels of ability for the computer opponents also. The game has been designed to be raced over the internet, therefore this is easy to set up. The same is true to set up a host computer and play your friends in your own race.  You can download the game from http://www.lfs.net/?page=downloads

PC - Pop Cap

PC - Amanita Designs

I've been looking forward to playing this for more than a year, since I first tried it at the Indicade event at GameCity in Nottingham. At the time everyone was struck by the way it looked and the way this, and simple game mechanics, created an instantly involving gaming experience.

It is pointer controlled, with the dominent selection being a left click with some dragging required. The targets are usually of a scale to be selected with reasonably control of the cursor, making it playable with all fairly accurate methods of pointer control, including eye and head.

Being a point and click puzzle/adventure game the aim is to find your way through scenes completing puzzles along the way. Only items within your characters reach can be interacted with. To move yourself closer to something you move the cursor to a position where the 'walk' symbol appears and click.

The game uses no written or spoken words and instead uses images in the form of thought bubbles.

Try a level online for free at:

PC (opens in a separate window)

This website offers loads of great games such as jigsaws (of which you can choose the number of pieces they are made up from), dominoes, darts catapulting frogs and loads more, most of which can be played with either switches or pointer control. The website has an easy to follow layout and the games are thoughtfully made.

Go to http://papunet.net/games/ to have a go.

PC (opens in a separate window) - Amanita Design
Czech design team ‘Amanita Design,’ who, among other things, make point and click flash games. The idea, generally, with them is to travel through the scenes in the imaginative worlds they have created to the next. To do this you explore the scenes for hidden interactive elements some of which will help you onto the next page.

Their games are visually interesting and beautifully illustrated and animated. Some of their games include ‘Questionaut’ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/games/questionaut/pop.shtml), which was created for BBC bitesize, Samarost 1 (http://amanita-design.net/samorost-1/) & 2 (http://amanita-design.net/samorost-2/) and ‘The Quest For The Rest’  (http://amanita-design.net/thequestfortherest/) made for the band The Polyphonic Spree.

PC (opens in a separate window) and PS3  - JenovaChen

A relaxing Flash game which can be a great way to try out or practice a new pointer control method such as head/ eye control due to it’s lack of restrictions or time elements. The aim is to swim around (at quite a leisurely pace) and eat various other water living life forms to help you evolve and develop as a sea creature.

PC (opens in a separate window) - Smila and Stu 

A really fun and very accessible version of the funfair game, in which you hit moles over the head with a mallet as they pop up from the nine holes. The game offers one switch, two switch, pointer controlled and pointer with automatic hammer mode play settings.

Difficulty can be selected, Scanning speed can be changed and screen size can be chosen from the fully scannable or pointer controlled menus. There are three modes of gameplay to chose from: Arcade, Endurance and Whacka Light for squeamish player, in which the moles are replaced by lights. Simple controls and simple gameplay make this an accessible easy to pick up and play entertaining activity for a wide range of players.

PC (opens in a separate window) - Big Fish Games

Paris: Explore Paris in 360 degrees. You must find the hidden objects progress through the street, monument and shop scenes. This game works on pointer control, with a click and drag action, which lends itself to a rollerball as this reflects the spherical onscreen compass, which is used to navigate the screen.

It is also ideal for use with a head mouse as it plays within a separate window so you can keep your on screen mouse options to hand to use the drag function. If you wanted to play a similar game with eye control the Rome version ‘Curse of the Necklace’ and ’London Mystery’ work well as you can use another type of navigation method for looking around the scenes, whereby you click on four arrows to either look to the right, left or up and down. With eye control you can use an on-screen magnifier to good effect on these arrows to help with accuracy. You can get a 60 minute free trial of these three games:

Paris 360: http://www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/1238/travelogue360paris/index.html

London Mystery: http://www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/2425/mystery-in-london/index.html

Rome Curse of the Necklace: http://www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/1697/travelogue-360-rome-the-curse-of-the-necklace/index.html