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Gaming With A Physical Disability by Andrew Stratton
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Gaming With A Physical Disability |
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Education
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It wasn't that long ago when video games were mostly relegated to arcade halls and pizzerias. In an attempt to keep things simple and accessible while making as much money as possible, arcade games typically only had one button. As home gaming became more popular, control schemes had to be expanded. With that expansion, however, a portion of the gaming population was left behind. Gamers with a physical disability may have had issues with home console controls, but over the years they have found ways around these limitations to enjoy their favorite pass time. One way these gamers are working around issues with a controller is a specific type of gaming called "one-switch". This is a type of control method where players adjust the control scheme within the game to group as many of the important buttons together as they need. There are also specialty controllers that are actually fabricated so that buttons are already grouped together for ease of use. Some video game consoles are designed in such a way that gamers with a disability may use them with relative ease. For example, the Nintendo Wii's default controller only has 4 buttons and utilizes motion subtle motion control. Some gamers who play more on personal computers have come up with software that allows them to re-map the interface of a game to allow on the fly adjustments. While playing a game that may have more complex controls because of the multiple mechanics at play (walking, running, shooting and flying), a player with a disability cannot change what buttons do what actions at different times. As time goes on, more and more games are being developed with certain kinds of disabilities in mind. The Nintendo Wii is one, but there is also the Microsoft Kinect, which uses a full range of motion controls that can be adjusted to fit certain situations. There are also games that can be played almost completely with voice control for disabled players, including those with forms of paralysis. As of right now, many of these players have to have controllers and rigs specially made to play their favorite games, but there are organizations that take donations to fabricate these accessories. The truth is that they need more support. More than 33 million people in this country identify as a "gamer with a disability" and aside from well known but small organizations, not nearly enough is being done for that population. Hopefully designers and manufacturers become a little more proactive. Until then, the ingenuity and imagination of these people is truly remarkable. When looking for help with any element of living with a disability, Southwest Michigan residents turn to the Disability Network Southwest Michigan. Learn more about their services at http://www.dnswm.org/servicesindividuals.
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