[games_access] Harmonix needs our help!

[d. michelle hinn]

Yes I do -- but now I'm not home. :) I'll upload a couple when I get 
back later today. I had Rock Band on "pre-order" -- I'm a fan!

>Hi,
>
>*quote*
>I'm looking at the wired connection -- it really looks like one of 
>your controllers, Barrie, where you've drilled in holes to connect 
>switches to.
>*quote end*
>
>You have one at home? Or are you looking at a screenshot or 
>something? Either way, could you send a picture of it?
>
>Thanks
>
>Ries
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:hinn at uiuc.edu>d. michelle hinn
>To: <mailto:games_access at igda.org>IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
>Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 8:25 PM
>Subject: Re: [games_access] Harmonix needs our help!
>
>Yeah, a software solution would be nice and I think that's what's we 
>have time to get into the next version if I'm reading Alex correctly 
>and they can pull it off in time.
>
>For right now, though, the way the drum kit is set up it's just a 
>matter of stepping on it and not how hard/soft you step on it. I'm 
>looking at the wired connection -- it really looks like one of your 
>controllers, Barrie, where you've drilled in holes to connect 
>switches to.
>
>If I can get my hands on a pre-release (or release date) UK/Europe 
>version of "rock band" for you to mod, which console would work 
>best? I'm assuming PS2 because I know you work on controls for that 
>but I'm not sure if you work with Xbox 360 or PS3 as well. Given 
>that a large (most?) alt controllers have been modded for the PS2, 
>I'm thinking that would be the console to start with anyway.
>
>Also -- reduced controls mode -- sometimes you have to hit two drum 
>pads AND the pedal at the same time so there's one issue (three 
>arms?). But certainly if there were modes that could take away the 
>need to use the pedal and/or just, say, be about the rhythm and not 
>about the exact buttons/drum pads hit, that would probably help a 
>LOT of people. I mean, seriously, it took THREE people who did not 
>have any mobility limitations to make sure it wasn't the drumming 
>that knocked the band out of the game (if an instrument gets too low 
>on the "good" scale it gets knocked out and/or can knock you out of 
>the game entirely if the singer and the guitar player(s) are also 
>struggling) -- this was largely due to their not having any musical 
>training whatsoever so just hitting something/anything correctly was 
>a "win."
>
>Anyway...so that software solution idea may just help a whole lot of 
>people -- especially in a party situation where drinking is 
>involved... Some other things that they will be concerned with is 
>online play but it already tells others that you are playing 
>easy/medium/hard/expert mode so it could also say "modified." Not 
>sure if that an acceptable solution...just brainstorming.
>
>Michelle
>
>>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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