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OneSwitch
09-07-2008, 09:37 AM
I'm working with the games charity Special Effect on their "A Game For Helen (http://www.specialeffect.org.uk/pages/helen.htm)" project.

It's likely that we'll be building a highly accessible PC based arcade machine - maybe a cocktail - maybe an upright - maybe both.

We'd love to have a way for disabled gamers to access a choice of games using the beautiful HyperSpin front end in the following ways:

1. Using a single button (SPACE BAR or LEFT MOUSE CLICK) to navigate menus. Tap to skip through games and hold for a period of time to select.

2. Using a mouse based navigation system. Move the mouse to the top part of the screen to scroll up through choices. Move the mouse to the bottom part of the screen to scroll down. Click on something centralised to choose the game.

This would enable gamers using a single switch to play - and those using a head-tracker or even eye-tracker to select from a range of games. And that would be pretty wonderful.

I think the exciting thing about this project is that it could tie up very nicely with the latest Retro Remakes competition - where we are looking for remade arcade games (including electro-mechanical) to be made accessible. Bit more here (http://switchgaming.blogspot.com/search/label/RR%202008).

The RR compo ends on December the 6th - but the Game For Helen project runs until 2010. I'd massively appreciate any help that anyone can offer on this. I guess my second request would be for any design help on getting some of my existing one-button games (http://www.oneswitch.org.uk/2/sd-various.htm) - kitted out with a theme.

Thanks for reading,

Barrie
www.OneSwitch.org.uk and www.specialeffect.org.uk
BadBoyBill
09-07-2008, 10:35 AM
Maybe set it up for 1 system (single mode), use 1 button to spin the wheel by tapping and hold that button down to select a game. Would be simple to do I think.

Mouse support is in the works.

Good luck with your project. Sounds really fun!
OneSwitch
09-10-2008, 10:35 AM
That would be exceptionally sweet if it could be put in place. Really would be grateful.

Hope to get a number of profiles to launch to suit certain kids - then go straight into your front end. One Switch Games (including modified Future Pinball tables - which should be perfect) - Atari Joystick Games (i.e. up,down,left,right,fire) - Head-Tracker and Eye-Tracker games.

Anyway - please, please, please!
Dazz
09-10-2008, 10:44 AM
Wow, now this sounds like an awesome project for what sounds like an awesome group. I don't see why we can't bind together as a community to help out with this. I'll see if I can rally the theme making troops...

Bill, how hard would it be to do a special build for this group? I think this is the perfect opportunity to make HyperSpin really shine and show what our growing community is really like.
billpa
09-10-2008, 10:52 AM
I am willing to help out on the themes. A few dozen games could be put together rather quickly. Artwork would be a bit subjective as I doubt there is anything available besides in-game graphics. But we could make something very cool anyhow.
billpa
09-10-2008, 10:57 AM
another thing...we could design a system for just accessible games that would sit in the main wheel. Then just edit the settings so HS loads in single menu mode (menu_mode = single) and change the single mode to the accessible games system (Single_Mode_Name = Accessible or whatever it ends up being called). That way, you launch HS and it goes right to your games.
Dazz
09-10-2008, 11:07 AM
another thing...we could design a system for just accessible games that would sit in the main wheel. Then just edit the settings so HS loads in single menu mode (menu_mode = single) and change the single mode to the accessible games system (Single_Mode_Name = Accessible or whatever it ends up being called). That way, you launch HS and it goes right to your games.Support is already in for this... Looking at the list of games it appears that these are PC games. So treating this like the PC Games setup wouldn't be difficult to do. It's the accessibility or single button navigation controls that would be nice to have for this. Setting up the wheel and themes wouldn't be difficult to do at all.
billpa
09-10-2008, 11:25 AM
yea...I dont think trackball support is working yet for HS, right? That would basically be treated as a mouse device. Hardest part would probably be the hold key for selecting games.
OneSwitch
09-10-2008, 02:07 PM
Really appreciate the support and thinking. This could be a big boon not just for the kids and young adults who will be affected by the Game For Helen project - but around the world. This could bring independent choice of games to kids who completely have to rely upon a helper otherwise - using a fun to use great looking interface.

Some beginning wished for themes...

A generic theme for one switch games.
A generic theme for eye-tracker/head-tracker games.
A generic theme for audio games (e.g. joystick connected to a pair of headphones).
A generic theme for a Future Pinball game.
1. Uo Poko (MAME)
2. Canyon Bomber (MAME)
3. Froggy Ribbit (PC one-switch - same as Frogger)
4. Run Rabbit Run (PC)
5. Strange Attractors 2 (PC)
6. Mini Golf 1 Button Style (PC)

What ever can be achieved would be really fantastic though for the project. Cheers guys - I really hope this will run.