A couple of nights ago, I popped out the back of my house to water my tomatos (yes I live an exciting life), and there jammed part way under the decking steps was a huge hedgehog. I thought it must be very ill, as it wasn't moving, so I scooped it up into a box, and popped it in my garage. I didn't want it to become rat/fox fodder, and I fully expected it to be dead in the morning.Next day, I pop in the garage. The hedgehog had cleared off to hide under my broken pinball machine. It looked a bit less dozy and spent some time sussing me, my wife, daughter and her friend out as we peered at it, and named it Harry. Quick trip down to the wonderful South East Essex Wildlife Hospital, saw Harry turn into Harriet. They said they'd check her out properly, but thought she looked fine. They wondered if we'd like to take on two new hedgehogs for our garden in the near future, as they had 200. We're looking forward to the phone call and saying yes. Have I become completely middle-aged now?
Whilst working on the SpecialEffect Accessible GameBase ratings system, I've been scratching my head over one thing. What symbol might best represent Game Accessibility. Something you might see on the box or web-site of a game, that will tell you straight away, this game has accessibility features, and without too much effort, I should be able to find out more about them.
The internationally recognised symbol for accessibility is presently a wheelchair user on a blue back ground. This is an imperfect symbol of course, but what might be better? And what might be better to represent game accessibility?
Some really interesting concepts have come my way. Top left was a 1996 competition winner to represent Web Accessibility. Middle left is a very clever concept from Dimitri Gramenos explained from slide 187 here. The Pac-Man ghosts representing four categories of disability and the joystick on a wheelchair came from Richard Van Tol's efforts at Game-Accessibility.com.I'm still not sure though on what might be the best. Any other thoughts would be much appreciated...
Please do not watch, nor listen if easily offended by the Beastie Boys, because they are rude. Thanks to Cassie for the tip off via Facebook.
Potentially huge fun for alternative-mouse pointer users too with a microphone or alternative sound source. See more at Native Instruments.
Johnny Chung Lee has posted a short video of some of the weird and wonderful Kinect projects that have turned up in the past five months.
And below is a video from 1985 showing some early VideoPlace work by Myron Krueger whose work clearly inspired EyeToy and Kinect.
Really chuffed that Atari have given the okay for their lovely old Teddy Bear symbol to be used with SpecialEffect's brand new accessible game rating system.
Atari were the first game company to label their games for having additional accessibility options back in 1981 marked as having a "Special Feature". SpecialEffect are using the bear in a different context, using it to mark games that have "content unlikely to cause offence".
The ratings system is under development, but will be tying up with the on-line Wish List for Accessible Game Design. Watch that space...
N-Control's 'The Avenger' is a case that fits over any standard Xbox 360 joypad to bring controls into easier access. There's a great story at CBS Miami on the origins of this device and it enabling a young man who was unable to use a standard Xbox controller.
Link with thanks to Sheri Rubin. Added to the OneSwitch Accessible Gaming Shop.
