Another colourful and fun one or two-player on-line one-switch game from Finland's Oivoi. The really nice thing about Mole Hammers is that in two-player mode the moles stay up until a player takes their turn. So slow reactions are not an issue here if the two-players are evenly matched.
This one-switch game by Jack le Hamster sees you in "the story of a paralyzed man who can only used his right hand." You fly his arm-chair from left to right, seeking to put some wrongs right in the world. Land in the right spot to give a person a lift then take them where they can do the most good.
Your control is the Space Bar to fly up and right-wards. Release to sink down and if over a level surface, land and stop. This does require a very high level of skill, but you can't die, and there's no time limit.
I am also impressed by the other two games also hosted at Dobuki.com being a manic one-switch chase game called OMGAF Dragon! and the point and click puzzle game World of Turtle which I think should be a great fit for eye-gaze play.
Via: Lundum Dare.
It looks like our 2010 Christmas wish (Number 9 at SpecialEffect) is coming true at last! A truly simple D.I.Y. build your own accessible game controller kit. What massive fun, and such huge potential.
Here's some MaKey MaKey ideas...Beach ball to play one-switch games, draw your own controls to play Pac-Man (or anything else), Banana piano keyboard, alphabetti-spaghetti keyboard, water bucket Dance Dance Revolution and Play-doh joypads.What particularly excites me, beyond how this could bring down the cost of accessible controls, is that it acts as a keyboard/mouse. This has me hoping that it will be possible to plug into game consoles too via an Ultimarc iPac interface. And that could change access for some forever in a positive way.Meanwhile, I may dig out my original 1996 PSone switch interface which used crocodile clips to see if it will work in a similar way whilst waiting impatiently for MaKey MaKey to go into production. Many thanks to Tam Toucan for the link.
It's been a bit of a labour of love getting a review up on the Skoog, at the Accessible GameBase. It's a musical instrument that would be as at home in the musical armoury of Bjork and Aphex Twin, as in schools and homes around the world. It's fantastic fun, and with the right set-up, really easy to create nice sounding music with.
Alongside a new Electronic Soup Podcast, there's some "Dice Music Systems" for Skoog users. These give people who are unable to make clear choices a way to randomly pick a musical starting point to perform within. Roll a die, follow the rule set, roll again to select a time-length guide, then perform. Easy!
Earlier this year, I was invited to share some thoughts as part of SpecialEffect, with the Tuke Sprint team. To cut a short story shorter, they created six interactive experiences for PC and Mac, which you can grab and learn all about over at the Accessible GameBase."Fluids" (pictured above) is a great place to start, which can respond to the most gentle of finger-tip movements within the range of a web-cam. It's other worldly and very impressive when set-up well.I really hope the team get to develop these further, because even as they stand (unfinished), they can be wonderfully accessible and highly effective activities for people of almost all abilities.
Every Day the Same Dream is a gloomy existentialist game, that's just perfect for Halloween. After clicking to start, three buttons or switches are all you need: Left and Right cursor keys and SPACE BAR.
Use the likes of JoyToKey to get this working with a joystick compatible controller or D.I.Y. switch interface. I recommend playing Fish Fish Bang Bang for the antidote.
Michi.nu have a reputation for producing games with some of the best thought out and diverse accessibility features seen anywhere. Their latest, To Hell with Johnny, goes even further, as demonstrated in the amazing top video. Great accessible fun for Halloween. Expect to see a review at the Accessible GameBase soon. Available to buy from Michi.nu for £10 ($15 USD) for PC with Mac version due soon.
Dream-like just about sums up Santa Ragione's Tales of Unspoken World (see top picture). Placed in a monochrome world, your controls are simple (once started). Stand still and you'll hear all manner of strange sounds, tap UP to take a somnambulistic wander. Hold to run at super human speed. Hold SPACE to take a super-human flying leap. Wonderful!Fotonica is the follow up to TOUW, this time with pure one-switch controls (SPACE bar) and beautiful Cinematronics inspired vector graphics. Play has been made much more game like this time around. Imagine mixing Tales of Unspoken World with Run Rabbit Run 3D and Canabalt and you'll be not too far away.This is a work in progress, with more accessibility features to come. As is, this is a brilliant one-switch game, and better than Canabalt. Can't wait to see this with easier play options. Fantastico!
Breathe in. Breathe out. pOnd is a one-switch game like no other. Your one-switch control is linked to inhaling (hold) and exhaling (release). It does require accurate timing, and some will find a latching switch helps. Later, JoyToKey's auto-fire could help those needing assistance in rapid-taps, without wishing to give too much away.
Many thanks to Gavin Philips for the tip-off.
AMAZE-O-Tron (PC): Simple, but really nice implementation of a maze game for various interfaces from TamToucan. The one-switch mode works very well.
Ashes to Ashes Zombie Cricket (on-line game): Good one for Halloween. Will require assistance to navigate the menu and between level option screens. Huge fun if you have a slightly sick sense of humour.
Blitz Bombing (on-line game): 1970's game "Air Attack" given a fresh lick of paint, and actually highly accessible once you get past the horrible amount of adverts. The aim is to clear a city of skyscrapers so that you can land your plane, whilst Louis Armstrong plays in the background. A bit sinister really.
Epic Coaster (on-line game): Also inspired by Canabalt, but with a fun fair theme. Probably a bit easier than Canabalt, and definitely easier than....
Hard Way (on-line game): Fast and difficult martial arts themed game also inspired by Canabalt. I found it plenty irritating to be honest.
Mouse Click (on-line game): Extremely simple race game. Gets very tough very quickly, but you're only in competition with your own scores.
Net Blazer (on-line game): Lone Basketball practice. Requires very quick timing skills. A huge jump up from Hoop Stars in difficulty.
Nano Ninja (on-line game): Fairly likeable retro martial arts themed game. Each floor poses a slightly different challenge, and a different way to use your one-button control. Requires accurate timing and rapid presses at times.
Prison Throw (on-line game): Another partially one-switch accessible Nanaca Crash rip-off. Needs mouse to navigate menus but SPACE BAR to play. Tap once to start power meter, then again to launch. Okay.
RetroVaders (PC): A re-jig of Taito's Space Invaders, including the ability to adjust the graphics to use Atari VCS invaders. Not bad.Runnerby (on-line game): Very tough high-speed puzzle game.You can slow it down with CPU Killer to make a bit easier though. No great shakes.
Strap On Bomb Car (PC): Partially one-switch isometric racing game. Another game requiring quick reactions. S'allright.
Switch Lanes (PC and Mac): 10-pin bowling for one to five one-switch players. The best one-switch bowling game available. Perhaps a little expensive in the UK at $70+ (with a horrible exchange rate at the minute) but nothing to match it.
Wave Spark (on-line game): Race your ball across mountains, using your single control to activate gravity. Try it! It's pretty fun, if very basic, providing you can grasp the control system.
SpecialEffect launch their Accessible Gamebase today and it's a big deal. They are hoping to build an active community and are actively encouraging people to contribute. After a little familiarisation you'll hopefully find it really easy to learn all about good accessible games as well as how to add your own content.
Here's some of my personal highlights: Bayonetta review, some one-switch games I'd never seen before, some excellent videos and the switch gamers group. That just scratches the surface. Be really good to see you over there valued blog-reader.
