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A new Xbox controller to make gaming accessible to more people with disabilities

news.microsoft.com

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Re: A new Xbox controller to make gaming accessible to more people with disabilities

#51

Post by maccard »

jdietrich wrote: post #40
jrs95 wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think we all know that, but that doesn't necessarily mean Satya isn't putting in the effort. Apple has kept accessibility in mind for a lot long than he has been CEO of Microsoft.

Accessibility is a much harder problem for the Windows and Android platforms, because they're dealing with a bigger and more open ecosystem with a lot of legacy baggage. Apple's very tight APIs make it much easier for software to be accessible by default.

I know you're talking about windows, but remember this controller is targetted at xbox, which is even more locked down than any of Apple's platforms.

Re: A new Xbox controller to make gaming accessible to more people with disabilities

#52

Post by OskarS »

radiorental wrote: post #16
iicc wrote: post #5

>$99.99 That's incredible :) It's USB, so this is going to end up being used for far more than gaming.

Here, let me save you $50. It's the same principle, just a USB breakout box. But one better - capacitive input instead of just switches (of course, switches work too) https://makeymakey.com/

It's not just a USB breakout box. On the back of it, is has standard inputs for assistive devices that map directly to Xbox controller buttons, as well as settings for different input profiles. $100 is a totally reasonable prize, especially in this market.

Re: A new Xbox controller to make gaming accessible to more people with disabilities

#53

Post by bitwize »

MartinCron wrote: post #49
M_Bakhtiari wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, passive voice is poor style. And there's no guarantee it will last long before someone decides to be offended by that too.

It looks like the passive voice is not something that is well understood by you.

What was done by you there has been seen by me.

Re: A new Xbox controller to make gaming accessible to more people with disabilities

#54

Post by arkh »

donatj wrote: post #20

This is a very heart warming development for me. My dad has one hand, and only one finger on the hand he does have. He LOVED playing Atari 2600 and NES when I was a kid and I have very fond memories of playing games with him. After the SNES though he completely stopped playing games out of frustration, angry about why they needed so many buttons. I don’t think he ever even attempted to play our N64, let alone later c…

You may want to let him try some "simple" games : things like super hexagon or one finger death punch require only 2 keys. And some reflexes.

Re: A new Xbox controller to make gaming accessible to more people with disabilities

#55

Post by vingiesel »

donatj wrote: post #20

This is a very heart warming development for me. My dad has one hand, and only one finger on the hand he does have. He LOVED playing Atari 2600 and NES when I was a kid and I have very fond memories of playing games with him. After the SNES though he completely stopped playing games out of frustration, angry about why they needed so many buttons. I don’t think he ever even attempted to play our N64, let alone later c…

> I don’t think he ever even attempted to play our N64

Understandable, since the n64 controller was designed for people with 3 hands.

Re: A new Xbox controller to make gaming accessible to more people with disabilities

#56

Post by kingbirdy »

donatj wrote: post #20

This is a very heart warming development for me. My dad has one hand, and only one finger on the hand he does have. He LOVED playing Atari 2600 and NES when I was a kid and I have very fond memories of playing games with him. After the SNES though he completely stopped playing games out of frustration, angry about why they needed so many buttons. I don’t think he ever even attempted to play our N64, let alone later c…

Outside of this controller, if you and your dad have any interest in fighting games, you could check out Dive Kick - it's a two button fighting game, and they sell (sold?) a special controller with only two buttons.

Re: A new Xbox controller to make gaming accessible to more people with disabilities

#57

Post by nickthegreek »

scarface74 wrote: post #13

I can only use one hand. I use to play video games all of the time but once game controllers started requiring two hands and shoulder buttons, I couldn't play most games. I could play some games with fighting controllers ( https://www.amazon.com/HORI-Fighting-Commander-Officially-Li... ) I also tried one of these - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-Playstation-handed-Dragon-cont... - but could never get the hang of it. I…

Ive done 3D printing for Able Gamers, a group looking to help provide assistive technology to those in need. I recommend check them out and if you have a 3d printer and want to help, send them an email.

check out thingiverse.com for freely available designs.

http://www.ablegamers.org/

Re: A new Xbox controller to make gaming accessible to more people with disabilities

#58

Post by sangnoir »

kelukelugames wrote: post #36
myth_drannon wrote: post #22

There is also a personal angle to Microsoft involvement with these type of initiatives. The CEO has two children with disabilities and it looks like he is pushing for an inclusive company more than any other CEO. There is also Gobabygo which is an open source organization that modifies toy cars for children with disabilities http://sites.udel.edu/gobabygo/

I work on accessibility. Apple has always been the recognized leader.

Their eyes are not always on the ball though. How is the touchbar working out for accessibility?

Re: A new Xbox controller to make gaming accessible to more people with disabilities

#59

Post by FreezerburnV »

scarface74 wrote: post #13

I can only use one hand. I use to play video games all of the time but once game controllers started requiring two hands and shoulder buttons, I couldn't play most games. I could play some games with fighting controllers ( https://www.amazon.com/HORI-Fighting-Commander-Officially-Li... ) I also tried one of these - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-Playstation-handed-Dragon-cont... - but could never get the hang of it. I…

To hopefully give some encouragement: you can for sure play all modern games on a game controller with only a single hand, but it might take time to learn how to do so. There is a speed runner (who holds at least one world record) that has a disability preventing him from using more than one hand when gaming, and he regularly used modern controllers. You can see his Twitter here: https://mobile.twitter.com/halfcoordinated and can easily look up recordings of him playing (with a camera focused on his hand) at games done quick. I recommend his Vanquish run.

Re: A new Xbox controller to make gaming accessible to more people with disabilities

#60

Post by vanderZwan »

All of the four controllers shown seem to be great, but it's funny that the joystick is basically just the Wii nunchuck. That's not a dig against Microsoft, I suspect Nintendo just really hit it out of the park with their Wii-mote design and that there isn't much else to improve.

I'm left-handed, and I remember realising that without thinking, I had switched to using my right hand for the analog joystick instead of the left one. This was months after I got a Wii - it was so natural that I hadn't even noticed. I don't recall anyone ever giving Nintendo credit for this, but their nunchuck-controller was pretty much the first mainstream controller for a console that was fully ambidextrous.

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