[games_access] "The disabled and the Wii - an open lettertoNintendo"

[Reid Kimball]

Here's an idea for a more accessible Wiimote device. Instead of
holding a Wiimote, I think wearing a motion sensored hat, or a halo to
keep it lightweight on your head could be helpful. It could have a
microphone and sip/puff straws attached. The game could have an option
to take input from a head worn or hand held Wiimote.

About the comments, some sure were infuriating. More so because I've
heard developers say those same things, such as thinking adding
accessibility features will hurt the game.

-Reid

On 12/9/06, Barrie Ellis <barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk> wrote:
>
>
> I must admit, some of the comments people left after the main letter made me
> want to slap them into seeing sense. So frustrating when people take such a
> selfish attitude.
>
> As regards the old accessible Nintendo controller, it did exist (in very
> small numbers). It was called the "NES Hands Free", and was controlled via a
> chin guided joystick and a sip/puff switch. More on it here:
>
> http://www.oneswitch.org.uk/2/pioneers.htm
> http://www.nesplayer.com/database/accessories/neshandsfreecontroller.htm
> http://play.tm/story/7943
>
>
> Name: NES Hands Free Controller
> Company: Nintendo
> Console: NES
> Year: 1989
>
> Price: $120 standalone kit or $179 including the console and a game.
> Nintendo's philosophy has always been that its games should be available to
> everyone, not just children and spotty teenagers - or as the case was in
> 1989, not just to able bodied individuals either.
>
> The NES Hands Free Controller consisted of a back-to-front backpack-type
> device that strapped onto the front of the player and was compatible with
> all of the console's games (multiplayer an' all) except those that required
> the NES' light gun or zapper. The directional pad was replaced by a chunky
> joystick that could be manipulated by the player's chin whilst the functions
> of the 'A' and 'B' buttons were carried out by softly 'sipping' or 'puffing'
> from and into a bendy tube that stuck out from the top of the chunky piece
> of kit. Meanwhile, the 'Select' and 'Start' buttons could be activated by
> sipping or puffing more forcefully. In addition, two dials on the front of
> the unit enabled the sensitivity of the breath inputs to be tinkered as well
> as switching around the sipping or puffing functions.
> The Hands Free Controller was a non-profit device sold directly through
> Nintendo's Customer Care line and made available in three sizes. Due to its
> target audience it was distributed in limited numbers, but the idea behind
> it was certainly both heartfelt and novel.
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Robert Florio
> To: 'IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List'
> Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2006 8:56 PM
> Subject: Re: [games_access] "The disabled and the Wii - an open
> lettertoNintendo"
>
>
> It was great to read this letter and the comments some people suggested
> Nintendo created a controller in the past with sipping and puffing but I
> don't think so haven't heard of the doing the anyway others say can't please
> everyone and one person even mentioned something about, how can you expect
> to do something in the game world if you can't even do it in the real world
> which is the point to do it in a game world because you can't do it in the
> real world.  The whole world needs a wake-up call and I can't wait until one
> of these days some of us get that huge opportunity to speak to the world
> where everyone is, for example widely aware of recycling the need for
> reducing greenhouse effect I think it will take that awareness for people to
> know when they say things like that it's a no-brainer to the rest of the
> world foot in mouth thing.
>
> Robert
> www.RobertFlorio.com
>
>
>
>
> From: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
> On Behalf Of Barrie Ellis
> Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2006 1:18 PM
> To: IGDA GA mailing list
> Subject: [games_access] "The disabled and the Wii - an open letter
> toNintendo"
>
> Are Kotaku trying to redeem theirselves?
>
> http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/wii/the-disabled-and-the-wii-an-open-letter-to-nintendo-216826.php
>
>
> Some of the comments from their readership are great - and predictably some
> are from turds. However, good to see this sort of thing in Kotaku.
>
> Barrie
> www.OneSwitch.org.uk
>
>
>
>
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