[games_access] IGDA GA meeting: thoughts from OneSwitch

[Thomas Westin]

Hi Barrie,

Great list of thoughts.

I think we need some place to store and edit our thoughts without having it 
publicly availabe for everyone to read at the IGDA wiki - giving away too 
much before GDC I think...

I can setup a MediaWiki at pininteractive.com with password login for 
readers as well which we can use for our internal notes for GDC and also the 
book as we go forward. Would that be OK with you all?

Also, if you want to upload stuff to my FTP for the CD, please e-mail me 
personally and I'll give you the details - I just want to have some control 
of who gets access to the server.

I can present your stuff Barrie, if it is just talking about it with 
slides/images (to present some actual tech demos demands more preparations I 
think)

I'll upload Terraformers of course :) and will also tell Brainfingers.com to 
upload some of their games, which will also need some hardware explanations. 
Perhaps they can also upload some video for those who can't get the hardware 
(Cyberlink). I'll also ask if they can lend a device for the accessibility 
arcade, would be really cool to let people try controlling games with 
biofeedback themselves... (I can't afford having my own Cyberlink hardware 
at the arcade if it breaks I'm afraid; it costs about 2000 USD)

Further, I'll notify AGRIP to upload Accessible Quake. I think we have a 
quite extensive list of games and people to contact in our white paper 
appendices also. I'll see what I can do about that.

Regarding the 100 USD for the VINE package; yes I think it would be really 
cool if we could let people try games out with these. - Michelle, have you 
heard anything from IGDA about having some Paypal Donate thing on the SIG 
site? Would be great if we can have some funding from people to pay for 
stuff like this.

Also, I'm thinking about printing some T-shirts with the IGDA logo + text 
"Game Not Over - Expanding the Market through Game Accessibility. Game 
Developers Conference 2006". Would you be interested in getting a T-shirt? 
Please let me know, and I can make one exclusive conference t-shirt for you 
:) and you just pay the t-shirt + printing cost when we meet at GDC or buy 
me some beer :)

We (the SIG) could also sell similar t-shirts with some added / modified 
text, saying "I'm an active sponsor of Game Accessibility" to people and get 
further funding for things we need to buy etc.

Merry Christmas to you all

/Thomas

9 years of development and education with Director 2D/3D
Award at the Independent Games Festival: www.terraformers.nu
http://www.pininteractive.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Barrie Ellis" <barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk>
To: "IGDA GA mailing list" <games_access at igda.org>; <ominousdev at gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 6:48 PM
Subject: [games_access] IGDA GA meeting: thoughts from OneSwitch


> Ah well - can't get on line, so I'll jot down some thoughts.
>
>
> Accessible Arcade / Inaccessible Arcade: Simulation glasses:
> -------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I've looked into borrowing a set of glasses that simulate to some extent 
> various sight impairments. Not managed to borrow any yet, but we could buy 
> a set from www.vine-simspecs.org.uk/simspecs.htm:
>
> "The cost of 1 duplicate VINE Simulation Package is £100.00 NO VAT 
> includes postage and packing, it would consist of
> the 10 pairs of simualtion spectacles and instruction booklet.
>
> If you decide to go ahead send your cheque payable to "V.I.N.E."  and your 
> full postal address to:- V.I.N.E.  c/o Pearey House, Preston Park, north 
> Shields NE29 9JR."
>
> Do people think it's worth clubbing together to get these, then sent onto 
> the most appropriate person attending GDC 2006?
>
>
> CD for GDC 2006
> -------------------
>
> I've uploaded six one switch games, plus a few audio games. I'd like to 
> include some kind of README explanation to the oneswitch games. I 
> understand Richard has uploaded the excellent Drive too. Are there any 
> subtitled freeware / abandon ware games in existance we might be able to 
> use? What else might be good for the disk?
>
>
>
> Tie in with 7th Independent Games Festival: "Strange Attractors" by 
> Ominous Development
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Eric Walker of Ominous Developments has gladly offered to advertise our 
> accessible arcade at their booth at the IGF. He's asked "Are there any 
> special posters or signs or anything you want us to set up? Also, we would 
> also be thrilled to have our game handed out on a disk at the show." 
> (http://www.ominousdev.com/)
>
>
>
> Accessible hardware for show
> ------------------------------
>
> I will contact NAMCO to see if they might lend us one of their 
> "barrier-free Playstation controllers" 
> (http://www.oneswitch.org.uk/IMAGES/5/NAMCO/Barrier-free%20controller.jpg). 
> I'll also try to get some plug in switches / alternative controllers too 
> for loan. I'm working on a very promising switch interface at present for 
> PS2 and X-box at present that is very light weight. Should be ready very 
> early next year in prototype form. Will aim to get them to Thomas in good 
> time.
>
> Any more thoughts on the machines and what games they should show? Perhaps 
> a mix of accessible and inaccessible? "Destruction Derby" is on it's way 
> to you Michelle by the way.
>
>
>
> My presentation on games taking into account mobility/learning 
> disabilities
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Need to firm this up a bit. Thinking about having a load of images to back 
> up some written info, linking to the accessible arcade. Would someone be 
> able to read this out in my place?
>
>
> HAPPY CHRISTMAS! AND ALL THE BEST IN 2006
>
>
> Barrie Ellis
> www.OneSwitch.org.uk
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access