Disabled Gamers

K.Jack said:
I've never revealed to anyone on GAF, that I'm in a wheelchair. Why not now?

I was in a car accident back in '03, in which my spinal cord was bruised at the C5 level. Fortunately, it wasn't a complete severing. The accident left me with all of the feeling in my body, but all I can move below the waist is some of my toes. I also have little gross motor function in my fingers, so I'm technically diagnosed as a quadriplegic, as I have little to no dexterity.

You'd think that this would stop me from gaming. But I said HELL NO. I just realized that there will come a game which I haven't enough function for, and that would be OK.

When I first got out of the hospital, after 3 months, I started off with the PS2, playing JRPGs. I beat the Xenosaga series, then my first real challenge was Odin Sphere. Beat that. GrimGromoire. Beat that.

So I eventually bought a cheap Toshiba laptop, with a crap GMA950 integrated gfx. I downloaded the Dawn Of War demo, and was shocked that the laptop could run it, but more shocked that I could handle the online micro. I ended up playing DoW at the 1500 level (Necrons lol). The game ran at like 15fps though, so I upgraded to a Dell with an 8600M GT.

Now mind you, I can only use my index fingers, so using a standard computer mouse is out. That's why I have to stick with using the touchpad.

Since then, I've successfully played/beaten:
Entire Dawn Of War series
Mass Effect 1 (on Insanity)
Mass Effect 2
Dead Space
Dragon Age: Origins
Alpha Protocol
Borderlands
Crysis
Crysis Warhead
Dark Sector
Fallout 3
Front Mission Evolved
Risen

I could go on with a few more but it's getting excessive. All I'm saying is, if I can play games with just my index fingers, a laptop, and a touchpad, there are no excuses left.

My brother saw me playing Mass Effect 2 the other day, an he's like, "Dude, how do you play so well?" Honestly, I don't know. My mind runs calculations fast enough to keep me in it, I guess.

If the people I beat in RTS knew that I play with one finger on the toouchpad, the other on the keyboard.... oh man it'd be embarrassing :lol

tl;dr - Don't give up. I'm nearing 30 and will never stop gaming, even if just with two fingers.

The downside is that I'm now addicted to having the latest notebook gaming technology. It's an expensive habit.

EDIT: and while we're tossing around figures for wheelchairs, I got DAT M15 E-MOTION set up. We roll like five figure ballers.
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Sucks to hear about the accident, but at least you've made the best out of your situation. Kudos to you for that! But now that you've revealed you're in a wheelchair.. Could you please reveal exactly what is going on in your avatar? I've been wondering about it for a long time :lol
 
Combichristoffersen said:
Did a Google image search for cane. This is what I got

cane20di20Berlusconi.jpg


wtf
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cane=dog, in Italian.
 
Though I don't have a disability, I can relate to this thread as I have some deaf friends. More games could really benefit of having environment captions, like the subtitles on Half Life 2 for example, or the special-colored halos for colorblind people on Left 4 Dead.

Also, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ok1Xc01oJ4
 
Mr Nightman said:
017_SLVR_SP_FRNT_3-4_TILTD.jpg


This is just like mine, only difference it the seat is a nicer one fit to my size and the foot rest is one single platform. Also has tilt and lift features, really nice fucking chair, cost more than the van that transports it :lol
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You know what would be awesome for you? If the chair connected to your pc and tilted in racing games and flight sims :D
 
Mr Nightman said:
http://peoplescaremedicalsupply.com/images/017_SLVR_SP_FRNT_3-4_TILTD.jpg
This is just like mine, only difference it the seat is a nicer one fit to my size and the foot rest is one single platform. Also has tilt and lift features, really nice fucking chair, cost more than the van that transports it :lol
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Seriously wheelchairs like this make me wonder, why are there not more games with disabled characters. Just put some guns, rockets, lasers, a boost and fly device on it and you got a bad ass hero.

Combichristoffersen said:
Could you please reveal exactly what is going on in your avatar? I've been wondering about it for a long time :lol
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Its from the anime FLCL and the short series is pretty much as crazy as the avatar.
 
Definitely feel for ya, OP. While I'm not disabled, I have a hardcore gamer friend who is legally blind. I forget what he has exactly, but all I know is that he has to be right up on something in order to see it. For instance, when he comes over my place to game on my 32" LCD, he can't be more than about half a foot away from it in order to make out what's going on, and even then he often struggles.

He also does game design (graphics mainly), which he's pretty damn good at from what I've seen. I can somewhat imagine what that must feel like since I have a horrible astigmatism. If I take out my contacts anything more than a few feet away is completely blurry. :S
 
Maybe to ease to my mind but how do other disabled gamers do with the Wii? I finally got one and some of my original concerns are realized. With MS my hand shakes and/or goes numb alot and I find Wii nunchuk alot harder to use then the usual control pad. Playing Twilight Princess and I find instead of climbing up I am going side ways alot and having a really hard time on some of mini games, like snow racing. Kinda freaked out to try Mario Galaxy if zelda mini games is example of what to expect. Really wish jrpg wasnt a dying breed.
 
I have cerebral palsy that affects the dexterity of my left side and some nasty arthritis in most of my joints.

I've had trouble with Wii (and now Move), but I do have some ways of coping. Check out this blog post I whipped up during a particularly rough week a while back.

I run a site that addresses Game Accessibility concerns, as well as things like healthy gaming, serious games and educational stuff.

I've met and befriended alot of great people in the "field", like the people that run The AbleGamers Foundation and The Accessible Gamebase

Glad to see this thread pop up, I've been meaning to get one going for a while.
 
Mr Nightman said:
017_SLVR_SP_FRNT_3-4_TILTD.jpg


This is just like mine, only difference it the seat is a nicer one fit to my size and the foot rest is one single platform. Also has tilt and lift features, really nice fucking chair, cost more than the van that transports it :lol
Click to expand...

Does it have CFW?
 
I know it's unrelated, but I've just remembered watching a youtube vid of a disabled guy that was posting a vid of how hard it was to play COD with his condition and it was like some sort of plea to dev's in trying to make the controls changeable for the disabled.

It was an amazing watch, especially when he got some kills. I think he just held the controller with one hand and used his chin? for all the buttons including turning and running forward. Can't quite remember. Good for him though.
 
Combichristoffersen said:
Sucks to hear about the accident, but at least you've made the best out of your situation. Kudos to you for that! But now that you've revealed you're in a wheelchair.. Could you please reveal exactly what is going on in your avatar? I've been wondering about it for a long time :lol
Click to expand...
FLCL.gif


There's no logical explanation to go along with this gif.

Buy Fooly Cooly immediately.

madara said:
Maybe to ease to my mind but how do other disabled gamers do with the Wii? I finally got one and some of my original concerns are realized. With MS my hand shakes and/or goes numb alot and I find Wii nunchuk alot harder to use then the usual control pad. Playing Twilight Princess and I find instead of climbing up I am going side ways alot and having a really hard time on some of mini games, like snow racing. Kinda freaked out to try Mario Galaxy if zelda mini games is example of what to expect. Really wish jrpg wasnt a dying breed.
Click to expand...

I don't do well, outside of the Wii Sports, Wii Play games. The button placement is too awkward.

I just ignore my Wi, for the most part, but I need to get on some JRPGs, eventually.
 
K.Jack said:
I just ignore my Wi, for the most part, but I need to get on some JRPGs, eventually.
Click to expand...

Maybe you can try Opoona, as it can be controlled exclusively with the nunchuck.
 
beje said:
Maybe you can try Opoona, as it can be controlled exclusively with the nunchuck.
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*youtubes*

Not violent enough. I like killing things with weapons.

I'll pick up Last Story one of these days.

I can play most any RPG, regardless of controls, but anything that requires the Wiimote and the chuck's analog in real-time battles will be an issue. I'm good with the PS2/PS3 controller, because the analog sticks are so close together with proximity to the buttons.
Combichristoffersen said:
I'm trying to make any lick of sense of your gif, but I can't :lol
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Yup, sounds like Fooly Cooly.
 
madara said:
Maybe to ease to my mind but how do other disabled gamers do with the Wii? I finally got one and some of my original concerns are realized. With MS my hand shakes and/or goes numb alot and I find Wii nunchuk alot harder to use then the usual control pad. Playing Twilight Princess and I find instead of climbing up I am going side ways alot and having a really hard time on some of mini games, like snow racing. Kinda freaked out to try Mario Galaxy if zelda mini games is example of what to expect. Really wish jrpg wasnt a dying breed.
Click to expand...


I cant really play on the wii at all. Which really sucks as I would love to play the mario games once again. All this motion controller crap is annoying me and worrying me. I just hope PC's stay away from that stuff forever so I may keep gaming on them.
 
i'm not a disabled gamer but i do hope we see more of them. the more people playing games, the better and i hope new tech will introduce a bunch of new people to the hobby
 
Terproerg said:
I cant really play on the wii at all. Which really sucks as I would love to play the mario games once again. All this motion controller crap is annoying me and worrying me. I just hope PC's stay away from that stuff forever so I may keep gaming on them.
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You and me both, compatriot. Motion controllers are an imminent threat to my life as a gamer.

Bottom line is that motion gaming just doesn't have us in mind, so the closer consoles get to pure motion, the closer I get to being 100% PC.

Try to not let it dampen your spirit though.
 
Sorry K.Jack, but I spammed your post in the NBA thread. Much respect to you (not that I didn't already in the first place... :p).
 
aktham said:
Sorry about your condition OP. If you're into fighting games, add me on PSN or XBL : Aktham :D
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The man is a PC gamer and sits atop a $20,000 throne. Don't you be sorry as he's doing better than the both of us.
 
<--points to tag. Since that's an active thread again I'm not going to bla bla bla here about my own condition but hell yeah, disabled gamers unite!

I'm not often in a wheelchair but most of this generation's motion control games are out of the question for me. I can't stand up while gaming and I can't move anything higher than my elbow with enough speed or force. Can't really play the drums on Rock Band, either, which I must confess was kind of a huge letdown. =/

It's cool though, I used to be strictly a PC gamer and I find myself drifting farther away from consoles as they become more alienating. Whatevs, PC gaming is where it's at anyways :D

I'm echoshifting on Steam, add me sometime...I'll be adding you guys as well. :D I play a lot of WoW, too, when the pain + meds combo leaves me with the motor control and mental coordination of a dead walrus (here, have some ammunition, wow-haters).

Anyway, cool idea for a thread Nightman...subscribed.

edit: Had to wipe away a little disabled-geek drool over your wheelchair there. I desperately need a chair that can tilt back like that. Trade you my robot parts?

K.Jack said:
If the people I beat in RTS knew that I play with one finger on the toouchpad, the other on the keyboard.... oh man it'd be embarrassing :lol
Click to expand...

:lol :lol

K.Jack said:
Bottom line is that motion gaming just doesn't have us in mind
Click to expand...

Unlike the rest of the world, right? ;) :D
 
if anyone wants to add me on steam, the name is the same as on here. I play alot of games. But right now mostly wow. Use to play SC2 but i suck at it right now :(. Dropped from diamond to plat blah.
 
Meadows said:
You probably know about this already but:

http://www.ablegamers.com/

There's a specialist gaming website for every sub-community out there! Gay, Disabled, Deaf people and many more!

Plus that wheelchair is pimp as fuck.
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Edit: Read that post wrong.

Serious question, if you could walk and that, do you think you would be interested in playing Kinect, Wii or Move? Or does it not appeal to you?

Sometime we forget what we have and take it for granted.
 
echoshifting said:
<--points to tag. Since that's an active thread again I'm not going to bla bla bla here about my own condition but hell yeah, disabled gamers unite!

I'm not often in a wheelchair but most of this generation's motion control games are out of the question for me. I can't stand up while gaming and I can't move anything higher than my elbow with enough speed or force. Can't really play the drums on Rock Band, either, which I must confess was kind of a huge letdown. =/

It's cool though, I used to be strictly a PC gamer and I find myself drifting farther away from consoles as they become more alienating. Whatevs, PC gaming is where it's at anyways :D

I'm echoshifting on Steam, add me sometime...I'll be adding you guys as well. :D I play a lot of WoW, too, when the pain + meds combo leaves me with the motor control and mental coordination of a dead walrus (here, have some ammunition, wow-haters).

Anyway, cool idea for a thread Nightman...subscribed.

edit: Had to wipe away a little disabled-geek drool over your wheelchair there. I desperately need a chair that can tilt back like that. Trade you my robot parts?



:lol :lol



Unlike the rest of the world, right? ;) :D
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Haha, now what kind of robot parts we talking here?

ViolentP said:
The man is a PC gamer and sits atop a $20,000 throne. Don't you be sorry as he's doing better than the both of us.
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:lol This got me haha


Squire Felix said:
Edit: Read that post wrong.

Serious question, if you could walk and that, do you think you would be interested in playing Kinect, Wii or Move? Or does it not appeal to you?

Sometime we forget what we have and take it for granted.
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Still debating getting a wii actually, would enjoy mario galaxy and donkey kong
 
I have MD as well you pretty much got the same outlook as I do :lol

Fuck the disability that's not gonna stop me from having fun and owning people :D

Reminds me of a guilty gear tournament I went to, not only did people make snark ass remarks cause of well ya, but also cause I was on pad. After near perfecting the first few people, ya they shut the hell up and eventually my final match had the most OMGs and cheers, was semi-finals and down to the final round and lost by pixel hp. The finals with the same guy was over in less than 3 minutes :lol

or the time I owned everyone that came up to the machine at tekken 5, had a nice 32 win streak before I had to go to the bathroom :lol Funny thing was some guy threatened to kick my ass sometime during the win streak and :lol :lol :lol well let's say he got dragged away outside and I never seen him again.

But ya glad to see someone else keeping things positive :D

fake edit: I like smileys
 
Mr Nightman said:
Haha, now what kind of robot parts we talking here?
Click to expand...

A spinal cord st-errrr I mean laser beams. I'll trade you my laser beams.

Seriously, brush off all the internal-echo goop and it'll be good as new. There's like six figures-worth of this junk stuffed in there, I'm sure I can pull out enough to make the trade equitable

Seriously though how much did your insurance shell out for that thing? I'm....kinda fixating on it. I've only ever used the low-tech kind and they suck balls.

QisTopTier said:
fake edit: I like smileys
Click to expand...

I clutter many a post about this stuff with smileys, otherwise people can't seem to tell if I have a positive outlook or am suicidal. ;)
 
echoshifting said:
A spinal cord st-errrr I mean laser beams. I'll trade you my laser beams.

Seriously, brush off all the internal-echo goop and it'll be good as new. There's like six figures-worth of this junk stuffed in there, I'm sure I can pull out enough to make the trade equitable

Seriously though how much did your insurance shell out for that thing?



I clutter many a post about this stuff with smileys, otherwise people can't seem to tell if I have a positive outlook or am suicidal. ;)
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I have been wanting lasers lol
 
Amazing stories in here, to the OP and everyone else with a positive attitude, my hat's off to you.

Also, to all of you who hated not being able to play Rock Band drums: You didn't miss much at all, trust me.
 
anonymousAversa said:
Amazing stories in here, to the OP and everyone else with a positive attitude, my hat's off to you.

Also, to all of you who hated not being able to play Rock Band drums: You didn't miss much at all, trust me.
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Yea I know, just wanted to at least try them lol
 
It's damn cool to hear that you dudes aren't letting this get you down.

I wonder how many gaffers are colourblind? Just as a side thought.
 
Deaf/Hard of hearing here. Probably a less severe disability when it comes to games but I miss out on the vent/TS/mumble antics.

It's both a blessing and a curse.
 
Well my GF and I got into a pretty serious accident that left me with foot drop(not able to lift my foot) on my right foot with major trauma to my head, torn ligaments in the same knee, and C1-C2 fractures on my spine. My GF had her leg amputated and its tears at me seeing what she has to deal with day by day. Made a previous thread about our situation:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=416732

I know that my disability isn't as serious as others here, but it's good to see you guys/girls still gaming despite what you have to face day to day. It gives me hope to see my GF play dancing games and the like in the future.
 
Halycon said:
Deaf/Hard of hearing here. Probably a less severe disability when it comes to games but I miss out on the vent/TS/mumble antics.

It's both a blessing and a curse.
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Also deaf here and I agree with what you said. I'm lucky to have better speech than others but people like my brother who is also deaf can't use speech recognition - kinect fail
 
sca2511 said:
Well my GF and I got into a pretty serious accident that left me with foot drop(not able to lift my foot) on my right foot with major trauma to my head, torn ligaments in the same knee, and C1-C2 fractures on my spine. My GF had her leg amputated and its tears at me seeing what she has to deal with day by day. Made a previous thread about our situation:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=416732

I know that my disability isn't as serious as others here, but it's good to see you guys/girls still gaming despite what you have to face day to day. It gives me hope to see my GF play dancing games and the like in the future.
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Maybe she can try DDR when she regains mobility. I personally knew a guy that was able to play (though not at the highest level) with an artificial leg and was pretty damn good.
 
I'm not disabled, but my wife has been for the last six months to a year. We're still not sure what's wrong with her, but she has constant pain in her hands and neck, so much so that she had to quit after playing only five minutes of LittleBigPlanet 2 last night. She basically can't play any games any more (aside from singing on Rock Band), or draw (which she loves to do), or drive a car, or work a job :(.
 
@JeTmAn81 ^

Check out fibromyalgia for what your wife's symptoms are. My wife has been diagnosed with it as she exhibited the very same symptoms > radiating pain in neck and arms. Of course the Doctors wanted her to take a slew of different meds to see what works. Instead we found out that smoking Weed does best to keep the pain away :) without any of the side effects than lets say all the pills they wanted her to take. Hope it helps.
 
esk1mo420 said:
@JeTmAn81 ^

Check out fibromyalgia for what your wife's symptoms are. My wife has been diagnosed with it as she exhibited the very same symptoms > radiating pain in neck and arms. Of course the Doctors wanted her to take a slew of different meds to see what works. Instead we found out that smoking Weed does best to keep the pain away :) without any of the side effects than lets say all the pills they wanted her to take. Hope it helps.
Click to expand...

Thanks, fibromyalgia has definitely been tossed around but so far nobody's been willing to give a real diagnosis. She's been for x-rays of multiple areas, blood tests, an MRI of the spine, a nerve study, etc. etc. but everything comes back "normal". Not to mention massage, chiropractor appointments, acupuncture and physical therapy for the symptoms.

It doesn't really give me a lot of faith in doctors, to be honest. If the experts have no clue, what do you do? Anyway, our plan is to continue to see as many people as we can to track this thing down. Hopefully someday we'll get it figured out and we'll be able to play NSMBWii again, not to mention do all the other ordinary things in life.
 
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