[games_access] Harmonix needs our help!

[Barrie Ellis]

Hi,

Depends on the individual's ability to be honest. It would need to be something that could be controlled quite deliberately with a quick on/off response. I don't think mind-control would be fast enough - I think I'd have a seizure trying to do it that way. I think sip/puff will be problematic for some people for all the reasons previously mentioned. I am aware of a fantastic blow switch that might work really well in this instance, but I've signed a non-disclosure with the inventor - might be worth contacting him if Harmonix are at all interested. It could be a good thing all round. A Blink switch could work but these are expensive (£200ish - see www.xe.com for a currency conversion).

I think an additional push button switch (of which there are many: http://www.oneswitch.org.uk/1/AGS/AGS-switch/1/switches.htm) might be the most affordable and acceptable solution - as you could position this to suit the individual - I guess in some ways, as Rick Allen has done so, as previously mentioned (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Allen_(drummer)). I'm not a drummer though, so don't know how much variation there is with a kick-drum. I guess you can use it fairly softly - up to a maximum stomp-thump of the drum.

What about a MIDI module for the games? Then you could connect any of a massive range of MIDI musical instrument controllers to suit the individuals:

http://www.midicreator.com/products/MIDIcreator.pdf 
http://www.soundware.co.uk/sc/sections/Midi%20Drum%20Pads
http://www.soundbeam.co.uk/
http://www.optimusic.com/

Not the cheapest solution perhaps, but likely the best.

Barrie




  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: AudioGames.net 
  To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List 
  Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 7:02 PM
  Subject: Re: [games_access] Harmonix needs our help!


  Hi,

  Thanks for your thoughts. I was wondering: let's say there is the possibility of your described hardware solution (3.5 mm mono socket and plug in any piece of trigger of choice). Based on your experience in this field, what kind of trigger solution (button, blink switch, head switch, flex switch?) would you recommend for this context?

  Greets,

  Richard
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Barrie Ellis 
    To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List 
    Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 7:50 PM
    Subject: Re: [games_access] Harmonix needs our help!


    My thoughts for Rock Band...

    Software solution would be very nice.

    Auto-Kick Drum would be pretty simple to implement (please don't shoot me, 
    Reid!) to my mind. As soon as a drum kick is called for - the software could 
    automatically trigger one in perfect timing.

    Reduced controls mode. Taking this further would be lovely too. Why not 
    allow the kick-drum to be triggered by any of the other controls? So if you 
    hit a snare (or any other drum control), if this is in time for the 
    drum-kick - that will be accepted.

    Super Reduced controls mode. I really liked Um Jammer Lammy for the PSone. 
    This was the follow up to Parappa the Rapper (the original inspiration for 
    all of these music based Simon Says games). This required about six or so 
    buttons to play the guitar. The simple mode allowed you to hit any button at 
    all - which if in time - would be accepted.


    Hardware solutions.

    What is the software looking for? An analogue pedal or a digital pedal. 
    I.e. - does it matter how hard you step on it - or is it a simple on/off 
    switch? If it's okay to be treated as an on/off switch this is pretty 
    simple. If they've not developed the hardware completely yet - why not make 
    it connect to the main drum kit via a 3.5mm mono socket and plug (the 
    accessibility switch standard) with the kick drum acting as a press to make 
    switch. >From there, users could plug in one of hundreds of different 
    accessibility controls (blink switches, extra head switches and so on).

    If it's analogue - you may still find that adding a 3.5mm stereo socket and 
    plug might offer a solution - if you can provide some compatibility with 
    standard accessibility switches.


    Finally - I'd be happy to look at the set-up - and even offer to adapt 
    existing set-ups. I'm sure there'll be others on this list and elsewhere 
    that would do the same too - perhaps following an easy D.I.Y. guide 
    somewhere....


    Barrie
    www.OneSwitch.org.uk




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