[Audyssey] consoles
Do you have any idea of the cost? pcs failed ages back. I know that reality gaming or a branch of them are trying again with the aim of shifting full time to the console. However, all thats known internally is a secret code and some really basic specs. I don't even know what the status of that is, or in fact the console of the company and the branch thats working on it. I must say it would be nice to be up with the play though. At 04:01 p.m. 27/10/2014, you wrote: how about basing it on a custom console debian with a custom menu for games and stuff. and then you buy your games over a server also running debian console or grml based on debian. On 10/26/2014 10:50 PM, Tim Chase wrote: It sounds like a $25 or $35 Raspberry Pi unit could serve as a custom console. You'd need to hook up a USB power supply (such as certain phone-chargers) and a USB keyboard, then either plug in some headphones or connect the HDMI output to your home stereo system. Depending on the game, you could also add a mouse or USB game-pad. Game authors could either provide the game's image file and have you write it to your own SD card, or they could charge more for pre-formatted SD cards much like the old Atari or NES cartridges. You'd then just plug in the card, power on the system, and you're right into the game. The $35 unit has a built-in network adapter which could provide for networked games. The common hardware along with the included Linux system image would allow the game authors to ensure the same experience for everyone. Authors could even release multi-game packs that would boot into a menu where you can choose one of multiple games and then have that game launched. Just throwing ideas out on the table... -tim On 2014-10-26 21:17, Josh k wrote: too bad there's not some sort of custom console OS that you flash onto your console and once flashed, the console is accessible with accessible games you can buy from between $5 and $20 or so. I would love that! On 10/26/2014 7:35 PM, Thomas Ward wrote: Hello Josh, Actually, they do mod the console games in a lot of cases. More and more console games are being modded and customized than you might think. Cheers! On 10/26/14, Josh k joshknnd1...@gmail.com wrote: but the hard core gamers cannot mod their games with a console. you cannot make game mods. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles was Re: Mysteries of the Ancients News
Hey Yohandy and all. Oh there's definitely truth to that, this new stuff seems to be made as cheap as possible while staying within certain tolerances. I suppose you just have to decide what you want, 20 or so years ago you would pay several hundred bucks for a 20 or 40MB hard drive, yes that's right folks I said megabyte. This is certainly outrageous by today's standards, however I still have some of those old units I've kept around more as curiosities than anything else, I think the oldest drive I have is an old Corvus drive for Apple computers, that sucker litterally weighs in at about 40 pounds, it's in a big steel box. My point is these old units still run. Now you can pick up a terabyte drive for maybe a hundred and a half or less. The thing is, anyone care to lay odds that any of them will be working in 20 or 30 years? Of course this is all academic anyway because the technology has changed so radically in the last 20 or 30 years that you can't really use that old stuff any more except maybe the Apple drive if you still have an old Apple computer and I am sure in 30 years the technology will be changed even more. That's a discussion for another time though. Game on. Tom - Original Message - From: Yohandy yohand...@gmail.com To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2012 1:52 PM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Consoles was Re: Mysteries of the Ancients News Thanks. will keep that in mind in case I take the console back out one of these days. haha. Thing is it's not a matter of taking good care of it, lots of people take great care of their new gen consoles. but they still break. not just consoles, but most things in this modern age appear to be made to break in a short amount of time, so that you're forced to cough up some money for a new item. -- Sign up to bing, and earn rewards simply by browsing the web. Easiest way I've found to get free stuff! Please use this link if you're planning to sign up: http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9778718rrid=C714DC93-BC0B-4441-AD27-F345856231A1 - Original Message - From: Tom Randall kf6...@comcast.net To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2012 3:30 PM Subject: [Audyssey] Consoles was Re: Mysteries of the Ancients News Hi Yohandy and all. If you are having problems with the console thinking there is no game inserted try blowing out the cartridge slot with some compressed air if you have access to that, if that doesn't help you may need to get in there with some 90% isopropyl alcohol and clean the contacts in the cartridge slot, how hard this is to do varies with the console. Be sure you use 90%, not the usual 75% rubbing alcohol you get at the store, you can get the 90% at electronics stores or most pharmacies just ask them for it. Just put some on a q-tip and wipe out the cartridge slot as best you can. Some guys I've known use a pencil eraser to clean these kinds of contacts however I have had mixed results with this myself so don't do it or recommend it. As someone else mentioned yeah it is funny how these old consoles just keep going and going, I still have my original Atari 2600 that I bought in 1980 or 1981 when I was in high school, you can do the math on how old that thing is and it still works perfectly. Like Clemant I am reasonably confident my ps3 will be running in ten years, I have had zero problems with it, I take good care of it, keep the vents and the unit clean and so on, and besides I am sure I don't run it as much as some of you guys run yours. I am however pretty sure it will not be running in 30 plus years. Game on. Tom - Original Message - From: Clement Chou chou.clem...@gmail.com To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2012 10:56 AM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Mysteries of the Ancients News Clean the inside of it a bit and check your cartriges... it should work fine. Mine worked for over 12 years with no hitches... we got it before I began my existence. lol - Original Message - From: Yohandy yohand...@gmail.com To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2012 10:42 AM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Mysteries of the Ancients News I still have my snes. doesn't work too well, but thing's super old anyway. could be the cartridges and not the console itself for all I know. -- Sign up to bing, and earn rewards simply by browsing the web. Easiest way I've found to get free stuff! Please use this link if you're planning to sign up: http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9778718rrid=C714DC93-BC0B-4441-AD27-F345856231A1 --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can
[Audyssey] Consoles was Re: Mysteries of the Ancients News
Hi Yohandy and all. If you are having problems with the console thinking there is no game inserted try blowing out the cartridge slot with some compressed air if you have access to that, if that doesn't help you may need to get in there with some 90% isopropyl alcohol and clean the contacts in the cartridge slot, how hard this is to do varies with the console. Be sure you use 90%, not the usual 75% rubbing alcohol you get at the store, you can get the 90% at electronics stores or most pharmacies just ask them for it. Just put some on a q-tip and wipe out the cartridge slot as best you can. Some guys I've known use a pencil eraser to clean these kinds of contacts however I have had mixed results with this myself so don't do it or recommend it. As someone else mentioned yeah it is funny how these old consoles just keep going and going, I still have my original Atari 2600 that I bought in 1980 or 1981 when I was in high school, you can do the math on how old that thing is and it still works perfectly. Like Clemant I am reasonably confident my ps3 will be running in ten years, I have had zero problems with it, I take good care of it, keep the vents and the unit clean and so on, and besides I am sure I don't run it as much as some of you guys run yours. I am however pretty sure it will not be running in 30 plus years. Game on. Tom - Original Message - From: Clement Chou chou.clem...@gmail.com To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2012 10:56 AM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Mysteries of the Ancients News Clean the inside of it a bit and check your cartriges... it should work fine. Mine worked for over 12 years with no hitches... we got it before I began my existence. lol - Original Message - From: Yohandy yohand...@gmail.com To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2012 10:42 AM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Mysteries of the Ancients News I still have my snes. doesn't work too well, but thing's super old anyway. could be the cartridges and not the console itself for all I know. -- Sign up to bing, and earn rewards simply by browsing the web. Easiest way I've found to get free stuff! Please use this link if you're planning to sign up: http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9778718rrid=C714DC93-BC0B-4441-AD27-F345856231A1 --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles was Re: Mysteries of the Ancients News
Thanks. will keep that in mind in case I take the console back out one of these days. haha. Thing is it's not a matter of taking good care of it, lots of people take great care of their new gen consoles. but they still break. not just consoles, but most things in this modern age appear to be made to break in a short amount of time, so that you're forced to cough up some money for a new item. -- Sign up to bing, and earn rewards simply by browsing the web. Easiest way I've found to get free stuff! Please use this link if you're planning to sign up: http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9778718rrid=C714DC93-BC0B-4441-AD27-F345856231A1 - Original Message - From: Tom Randall kf6...@comcast.net To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2012 3:30 PM Subject: [Audyssey] Consoles was Re: Mysteries of the Ancients News Hi Yohandy and all. If you are having problems with the console thinking there is no game inserted try blowing out the cartridge slot with some compressed air if you have access to that, if that doesn't help you may need to get in there with some 90% isopropyl alcohol and clean the contacts in the cartridge slot, how hard this is to do varies with the console. Be sure you use 90%, not the usual 75% rubbing alcohol you get at the store, you can get the 90% at electronics stores or most pharmacies just ask them for it. Just put some on a q-tip and wipe out the cartridge slot as best you can. Some guys I've known use a pencil eraser to clean these kinds of contacts however I have had mixed results with this myself so don't do it or recommend it. As someone else mentioned yeah it is funny how these old consoles just keep going and going, I still have my original Atari 2600 that I bought in 1980 or 1981 when I was in high school, you can do the math on how old that thing is and it still works perfectly. Like Clemant I am reasonably confident my ps3 will be running in ten years, I have had zero problems with it, I take good care of it, keep the vents and the unit clean and so on, and besides I am sure I don't run it as much as some of you guys run yours. I am however pretty sure it will not be running in 30 plus years. Game on. Tom - Original Message - From: Clement Chou chou.clem...@gmail.com To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2012 10:56 AM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Mysteries of the Ancients News Clean the inside of it a bit and check your cartriges... it should work fine. Mine worked for over 12 years with no hitches... we got it before I began my existence. lol - Original Message - From: Yohandy yohand...@gmail.com To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2012 10:42 AM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Mysteries of the Ancients News I still have my snes. doesn't work too well, but thing's super old anyway. could be the cartridges and not the console itself for all I know. -- Sign up to bing, and earn rewards simply by browsing the web. Easiest way I've found to get free stuff! Please use this link if you're planning to sign up: http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9778718rrid=C714DC93-BC0B-4441-AD27-F345856231A1 --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blindgaming comunity.)
On Thu, Feb 17, 2011 at 09:13:00PM -0800, Tom Randall wrote: many though certainly not all linux users tend to come off with a kind of superior or arrogant attitude that tends to drive people, particularly newbies away. [My Reply:] for graphics in `25000_web_pages` ; do switch-to xmas_decorations ; done cron the job for Dec 1st thru Dec31st Tada! -as opposed to - Open word processor and file. Search for text and replace. Save and open the next of 25000 web pages repeat until complete. Do it all over again next year. In the first example, the Linux user learns all the commands in linux and teaches the computer to do their work for them, and in the second example, the Windows user learns all the commands in Windows and continues doing the job manually. This is why Pixar, the makers of the movie, Toy Story, uses Linux to render their graphics, because their Windows NT machines cannot do it themselves without some human sitting before the screen, clicking the mouse to answer every question Windows NT cannot be taught to answer on it's own. .shrugs. Even the US Navy has ditched Windows for Linux. It's not a matter of thinking we're superior, but of having had our eyes opened to infinite possibilities, while Mickeysoft keeps adding more blindfolds. You have to understand, I've watched computing go from a fully stocked, fully equipped gourmet kitchen to a McDonalds drive-thru. Windows is like having to take public transportation, with it's routes and pre-arranged stops, and the advertizing on the ceilings. Richer folks who can afford the software, get to take the taxi. The rich get a limo and a driver to carry their shopping in for them. Linux users own their own cars and think it's the best of all worlds, because in the end, we can teach the car to drive itself. Just the other day in IRC (can your screen reader do IRC?), for instance, a friend asked what kind of music I listened to, and since I didn't have some kind of playlist generator software installed on my system, I simply typed: ls -R /pub/Audio/* music.txt ...and emailed it to them as an attachment, because Linux can generate a recursive directory listing and save it to a file, and Windows cannot. ls -R /pub/Library/* | grep txt | wc -l ...will give me the number of books in my extensive ebook library )3573) And because I've saved the command to a script called ebooks,, I can just type the name and get the current number. What kind of hopefully accessible program do you have to pay for for Windows to get that kind of service? I have a similar command to tell me how many mp3s I have, and another for vids. Press tab twice and it asks me if I want to see all 3632 software program names, so I don't need a script for software on the system. How much would you have to spend to put 3632 programs on Windows, and can you bring them all up to date and current with a single command, bug fixes, security patches and all? Don't get me wrong, Windows is great for helping you navigate around the web, showing you all the spam the business world has to offer, in ever flashier displays, and you pay out the nose for it in ever-increasing increments, and while Windows continues offering you fancier graphics and less control over your computer, Linux offers even more control and is catching up on the flashy graphics. Not that I will ever be needing them. I may occasionally have to type out a somewhat elaborate command to rename a file, either singly or en'masse, but how often is that when I usually only type m for mail, b to browse the web, g to google something, i for IRC or e to edit a file. I LOVE the command line, and all the non-hidden background processes that do what I've asked while I do more important things! Linux makes my computer, *MY* computer! AND! I installed and operate it without ANY sighted assistance! .flexes. .poses. .preens. Michael -- Linux User: 177869 # Powered By: Intel # http://rivensight.dyndns.org Postings Copyrighted 2010-2011 by: Michael Ferranti --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blindgaming comunity.)
Hi Tom, Tom wrote: While yes in theory everything should work and you have a completely accessible system from the getgo, the getting there is not easy in the slightest for a blind user, the learning curve is quite frankly pretty horrendous and unless this changes then the situation of people not wanting to use it and considering it just another thing that the nerds and geeks like to play with is going to remain the same. My reply: I don't know what information you are basing your opinion on but it isn't correct. The modern Linux operating system like Ubuntu, Vinux, whatever is very user friendly from the Gnome desktop environment. In fact, a modern Linux operating system is as easy to use as Windows if you are using it via the graphical user interface. I think the main source of confusion here, the reason people think Linux is so hard to use, is the Linux shell environment. There are plenty of Linux users like Michael who love the Linux shell and constantly brag about what they can do in the shell, about how they can type this or that command, and bingo they have a superior experience to that of Windows. While that might be true a lot of Windows users are going to listen to that and think to themselves they aren't going to want to learn a bunch of shell commands, type everything into a console, just to run the entire operating system. What people like Michael seam to miss is through bragging about how cool the Linux shell is they often forget maybe somebody new to Linux might not just want to jump into that kind of environment and will want to use a graphical user interface. There are a couple of really good ones for Linux called Gnome and KDE that are extremely popular with sighted users for that reason. Since Gnome is the most accessible desktop for Linux right now lets talk about it a bit. The interface is very much like the Windows desktop. You have a main panel, kind of like the taskbar at the bottom of the screen, a desktop like Windows, and you have an application menu that resembles the Windows start menu. There are dozens of graphical Windows-like applications for Linux such as gedit that is like Windows Notepad, there is Open Office that is a lot like Microsoft Office before they switched to the menu ribbons, there is Mozilla Firefox for web browsing, there is Evolution which is like Microsoft Outlook, there is the Calculator which is like the Windows Calculator program, and there is a media player called Totem which is like Windows Media Player. So when you come down to it if you install Linux and you have setup to start directly into x-windows with the Gnome desktop a person coming from Windows to Linux will not have a very big learning curve at all. It is not this horrendous learning curve you are talking about. Unfortunately, as I said before, Linux users often tend to put the cart before the horse so to speak. Instead of bragging about how easy Gnome is, that they can run apps just like Windows, they tend to run off on a tangent and talk about the shell or some other advanced aspect of Linux a newby isn't ready for. I've been on Linux mailing lists were a few die-hard users go on and on about how if they don't get the source code for a program they don't want it etc. They go on and on how they can modify everything, recompile everything, and they tend to talk right over the heads of Mr. and Mrs. Smith who only wants to use the operating system for basic day to day tasks. They aren't out to build the OS from scratch, script this or that, or anything like that. Some of these Linux geeks really need to come back down to earth for a minute and talk about the operating system in terms that the average Joe or Jane can understand and will be actually interested in. It is as though some of these Linux geeks have lost touch with the fact maybe not everybody wants to use this or that advance feature they are bragging about. For instances, in the prior e-mail Micahel was talking about how many tasks he can perform fromt he shell like getting a list of mp3s in his music directory and have it save to a text file. That's fine and dandy, but even though I'm a Linux user myself I generally do not see a need to do that. In fact, 99% of my time is in Gnome using Firefox, as I am right now, using Gedit which is better than the text editors like Nano, listening to audio books in Totem Movie Player, and things like that. About the only time I use the shell is to play text adventure games because Speakup is better than Orca when it comes to that sort of thing, and when I'm compiling programs since the GNU development tools are commandline programs. What turns me off with some of the Linux geeks out there is because I use Gnome I've had a few die-hard Linux users come out and call me names because I choose not to use the shell. Those are the kind of Linux geeks who give Linux a bad name because they only want to talk about what they like about Linux rather than what someone else might like. Why does it
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blindgaming comunity.)
Hi Michael, Michael wrote: It's not a matter of thinking we're superior, but of having had our eyes opened to infinite possibilities, while Mickeysoft keeps adding more blindfolds. You have to understand, I've watched computing go from a fully stocked, fully equipped gourmet kitchen to a McDonalds drive-thru. My reply: Well, as a Linux user myself I certainly understand where you are coming from. I've been there done that, and there is no argument from me that Linux gives the power user infinite possabilities so to speak. Although, I will admit I'm not as much a fan of the Linux shell environment as I am with using the Gnome graphical desktop. I am much more comfortable in a graphical user interface and tend to use that more than the shell. Although, I had Unix admin courses in college, and know my way around the Bash shell pretty well. However, that's not really my point. The thing I wanted to stress, the point I wanted to get across, is the majority of computer users are not power users in any way, shape or form. I work in the private sector as an independant tech support person/computer programmer, and many of the cliants who call me for help are fairly inexperienced computer users. It might be a middle aged couple who just perchaced their first computer from Wal-Mart, Best Buy, etc for the soul purpose of reading/writing e-mails, getting on Facebook, and more or less staying in touch with their kids who have grown up and moved away from home. Such people aren't interested in hearing about how they can type a long string of commands and find out how many mp3 files they have on their computer or to print out a list of music tracks etc. Most of the time the computer is a glorified web browser/e-mail client. Nothing more and nothing less. What I'm talking about basically is Mr. and MRs. Smith who are comfortable with what Microsoft is doing because that is all they know. For example, the most common issue I have with cliants is security related issues. Most people don't know spit about system security. Especially, if they are new to computers. They aren't aware of viruses, spyware, trojans, addware, and all the other garbage that infects millions of Windows PCs daily. I usually get called to go out on site to clean up the mess. I've seen enough of messes like that to not hold any respect for Microsoft Windows, and think the operating system is a piece of trash. However, I don't believe it is my place to start in on my cliants about their choice in operating system. What I do is make suggestions and let them pick up the ball or not. For example, I come in, install a screen reader like NVDA on the computer, use a free antivirus program like AVG, clean up the mess, and then sit down with the family and discuss security options. I of course give them a list of good antivirus programs, spyware cleaners, and things like that. However, I also mention there is another operating system like Linux that is more secure, and if they want me to install and train them for the OS I would be available to do it. Those who seam interested ask me to show them what Linux looks like and I boot my laptop, log into Gnome, and show them what a fully operational Linux PC can do from Gnome. I'll show them some of the flagship applications like Firefox, Thunderbird, Evolution, Open Office, Totem Movie Player, etc. The one thing I don't do is come in acting like this is superior than Windows, but treat it as a possability or option. People are more receptive of that approach rather than the Linux guy who starts bragging how great and awesome his favorite operating system is. A big reason for that is Mr. and Mrs. Smith isn't necessarily interested in the same things you and I are. Here is a case in point. Let's create an average couple called Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Mr. Smith uses the computer to read the news paper online, checks the latest sports scores, maybe reads the weather report, and copies his cds/records to mp3s. Mrs. Smith likes to get on Facebook, share pictures with her family, sends and recieves cookbook recipes with her grown daughters and girlfriends, and plays games like Solitaire, Freecell, Hearts, and Mahjong. Admitedly these are general activities that Windows and Linux can do equally well. If they like to use open source applications like Firefox, Thunderbird, Open Office, etc it doesn't really make that much a difference weather it is running on Windows or Linux from a general operational standpoint. So how are you going to convince the Smiths, just your average American middle aged couple, that Linux is better for them? Well, to begin with I don't start off by telling them all of the things I personally like about Linux. I'm admitedly an advanced power user so there are certain aspects about the OS I like that would not be of any interest to Mr. and Mrs. Smith. I like the fact the operating system is fully open source, I can modify any application, recompile it, and fully create a
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gamingcomunity.)
On Mon, Feb 14, 2011 at 01:14:58PM -0800, Matthew Alvernaz wrote: Hi, I definetly would be interested in something like that. [My Reply:] Not me, really. Not for something cartridge-based, and not 8 bit. I recently just spent $1000 on a Core-Duo Windows laptop, and $3500 on a Quad-Core Linux desktop, and going back to the 1980's for processor speed and power when there are already two well-established 64-bit platforms to write for doesn't really appeal to me. While 8-bit systems can do alot, you really have to get down to writing in assembly language again to bring out what they can really do, because of memory limitations. By the time you got the speech synthesizer core installed, there would hardly be any room left for games or much else. Spending $200 to play Pong, Asteroids, or Space invaders when those programs are already on Linux is kind of like putting the cart before the horse. With a little creative editting, the linux games could be made accessible and ported to Windows, though how you'd make a popular side-scroller like Defender accessible, I dunno. Sorry, but I just can't see spending money for a well-outdated platform, when I'd rather see the software on platforms I've already paid out the nose for. Michael -- Linux User: 177869 # Powered By: Intel # http://rivensight.dyndns.org Postings Copyrighted 2010-2011 by: Michael Ferranti --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gaming comunity.)
On Thu, Feb 17, 2011 at 01:46:27AM +, Scott Chesworth wrote: Dunno if it's fair to say that Linux is the only market trying to make their system fully accessible, Oh, I know Mac and Windows are working toward the same goals, but since I know little about it, I feel I don't really have the right to comment. I can see what the NVDA project is doing for Windows, but I haven't really seen what JAWS and Window Eyes can do for Windows, except in brief demonstration snatches, and I think Mickeysoft dropped the ball NVDA has taken up for them, especially since Mickeysoft is trying to rule the Internet for the big-business pukes. Narrator is only a drop in the bucket, and shipping Windows only with their disgusting Microsoft Sam voice when there are much better voices available for free from their website, just makes me want to shove their Installation CD's where the sun don't shine. I had to spend $150 for Win XP Home from Comp USA, because I didn't have Internet access to Amazon, so I don't feel I owe them one thing more for the piece of crap they sold me. Especially when you can hack their licensing configuration and have it access 128G's of RAM and who knows how much in memory stick size, rather than being stuck with 4G's of RAM and 32G's of memory stick size. They did it so they could sell the exact same program to someone else for thousands, making them feel like they've been sold something special, when it's just the same thing everyone else has with the locks removed. Microsoft is pulling off the biggest rip-off of the public ever made, and I hate, Hate, HATE swindlers. Michael -- Linux User: 177869 # Powered By: Intel # http://rivensight.dyndns.org Postings Copyrighted 2010-2011 by: Michael Ferranti --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gaming comunity.)
Hi Michael, Michael wrote: Eventually you guys are gonna wake up and smell the roses and realize that Linux is the only market out there that's even trying to make their system fully accessible. My reply: Well, as an avid Linux user myself I do agree with you that in terms of low-cost accessibility Linux is the way to go. However, I would not go as far to say it is the only market or operating system that is trying to make their operating system fully accessible. I have used several different operating systems, and most of the Unix-based operating systems FreeBSD, Linux, Solaris, have fairly decent accessibility right out of the box. Of course, Solaris is primarily for businesses, but there is no reason you couldn't use it at home on a PC. Same goes for FreeBSD. I've actually used a Solaris workstation via the Gnome desktop, Orca screen reader, and in terms of accessible apps it has pretty much everything Linux has. The Sun Java desktop and Staroffice Sweit makes it a great business platform, and it is certainly possible to get accessible multimedia software too. Then, of course, there is Mac OS. I don't know if you have looked at what Mac is doing, but every time Apple updates Mac OSX VoiceOver and the general accessibility of the OS itself continues to improve. It has great software TTS voices, much better than Eloquence or ESpeak, and most additional voices for the OS are pretty affordable. If someone is willing to pay the upfront cost of the hardware like a MacBook Pro or something you definitely end up saving money in the long run, because you don't have to pay for screen reader SMAs etc. At any rate you are right about one thing. Windows isn't the only market in town for a blind computer user, and it is actually the least affordable and in some ways least accessible of the three choices. The only reason people continue to hang onto it is because that's what the state agencies buy, that's what they are taught to use, and they don't want to have to reinvest time and money into a different technology. Michael wrote: You can't even use it to go on the web to find something better like You can't even use Narrator to help you install Windows, unlike Linux, which has many distributions with accessible installation setups. My reply: Definitely true. One of the reasons I personally made the switch from Windows to Linux was for that very reason. I've had some horror stories where my Windows OS got messed up, wouldn't boot for some reason, and I had to find sighted help to help me reinstall it. With Linux that is no longer the case. If I want to reinstall the OS, upgrade the system, install a brand new hard drive it is a snap. Just insert the Linux cd, select the talking installation, format the drive, install it, and in about 45 minutes or less I have a freshly installed OS from scratch with absolutely no outside help. Mac OSX also has this feature as well. The days of having to find sighted help or use an unattend script are history with those operating systems. Michael wrote: The developers of the Orca screen reader for the Linux GUI have also come a long way. I only have a monitor still, because I only occasionally need sighted assistance for something, and with a little scripting in a few other languages, they're working on supporting it all, and they're not charging anyone a cent. My reply: Yep. I use Orca all the time and it is a fairly decent screen reader for what it does. One of the things I like is because it is written in Python it is easy to add your own modules, AKA scripts, to extend screen reader functionality to support appplications. Unlike Jaws, which has a proprietary scripting language, Orca is open source, well documented, so scripting Orca is extremely simple to learn and use. I've been able to make Orca do all kinds of awesome things through scripting. At one time I built a custom build of Orca that used Window-Eyes keyboard commands since that is the screen reader I use on Windows. It was a simple update and allowed me to essentually make a seamless transition from Windows to Linux. If I wanted too I could have mapped the keyboard to Jaws commands, Hal, or anything else. This is the power of open accessibility products and standards you don't generally get on a closed source platform like Windows. Michael wrote: When I hear you folks discussing writing for other platforms, I can only wonder how insane it all sounds. If you want to pick up your brooms and continue sweeping up the sighted community's messes, feel free. We Linux converts will just sit back and laugh and shake our heads. My reply: I have to say it, but I think it is exactly that sort of superior attitude that drives people away from Linux. One of the reasons I say that is because when talking to someone about an operating system, any operating system, it is more fair/realistic to give people both sides of the story. Like not only talk about what is so great about it, but give them a
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gaming comunity.)
On Thu, Feb 17, 2011 at 03:56:44PM -0500, Thomas Ward wrote: Well, as an avid Linux user myself I do agree with you that in terms of low-cost accessibility Linux is the way to go. However, I would not go as far to say it is the only market or operating system that is trying to make their operating system fully accessible. [My Reply:] Hi Thomas, Well, true, but it seems with every new release of Windows, for instance, You have to spend another $1000 for JAWS or Win-Eyes to go along with it, where the Linux console and GUI essentially remain the same, as does the software being supported. The major problem, as far as I can see is in keeping up with Firefox, which is chasing Mickeysoft, who only wants to bog everyone's system down with yet more eye candy graphics. Gotta keep that customer base going somehow. Me, I'm waiting for the heat sinks required to cool the monster computers we're running now to get too big to fit inside their cabinets and it becomes too expensive to run for the home user, so Mickeysoft no longer has new platforms to exploit, all so they can rip us off yet again. Microsoft is slowly nudging everyone toward Java-based services for everything, so you have to go to this website to get a virus check, or that website to run that game, and you wind up paying out the nose, just to use your own computer each month. I still remember the big stink over Win XP requiring a valid credit card number to install it, on the very first release of it. They recalled that pretty quickly ans swept the story under the rug. Anyway, I'll continue giving my full support to Linux, where nobody is trying to stab me in the back every chance they get for a buck. Call me one of those Old Testament Justice types. I just don't like seeing criminals prosper. Michael -- Linux User: 177869 # Powered By: Intel # http://rivensight.dyndns.org Postings Copyrighted 2010-2011 by: Michael Ferranti --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blindgaming comunity.)
Hi all. I agree with you completely Thomas, while I agree in principal with the both of you that linux is a very attractive option for some, in fact I am investigating the possibility of setting up a spare box I have here using vinux, many though certainly not all linux users tend to come off with a kind of superior or arrogant attitude that tends to drive people, particularly newbies away. This is unfortunate as it will further limit the number of people willing to put the time and effort into learning it. This brings me to my other point, while yes in theory everything should work and you have a completely accessible system from the getgo, the getting there is not easy in the slightest for a blind user, the learning curve is quite frankly pretty horrendous and unless this changes then the situation of people not wanting to use it and considering it just another thing that the nerds and geeks like to play with is going to remain the same. I know you and I have discussed some of this before, as an access tech instructor I have to keep up with the latest greatest windows crap whether I like it or not because I can gripe all I want but that is where the money is and that's where it is going to stay. 99% of my clients want to learn windows, they are not interested in learning anything else, I have had a couple ask about the mac but unfortunately not enough for me to justify going out and spending the money to get one. I've actually mentioned Linux recently to a couple of clients who I thought might be able to handle it, I told them the good points that it is free and that the accessability while maybe not quite up to the standards of the latest greatest Jaws or hal is free and pretty universal. I also was honest and told them of what I consider to be some obstacles that the learning curve is fairly steep and that you have to sometimes go through quite a few hoops to get something that seems fairly simple to work right. Unfortunately there has been no interest as yet, this is partly why I've not put more time and effort into getting a box going myself. Well I think I've gone on about this long enough we're kinda straying far afield from gaming so I will end now. Tom -Original Message- From: gamers-boun...@audyssey.org [mailto:gamers-boun...@audyssey.org] On Behalf Of Thomas Ward Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2011 12:57 PM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blindgaming comunity.) Hi Michael, Michael wrote: Eventually you guys are gonna wake up and smell the roses and realize that Linux is the only market out there that's even trying to make their system fully accessible. My reply: Well, as an avid Linux user myself I do agree with you that in terms of low-cost accessibility Linux is the way to go. However, I would not go as far to say it is the only market or operating system that is trying to make their operating system fully accessible. I have used several different operating systems, and most of the Unix-based operating systems FreeBSD, Linux, Solaris, have fairly decent accessibility right out of the box. Of course, Solaris is primarily for businesses, but there is no reason you couldn't use it at home on a PC. Same goes for FreeBSD. I've actually used a Solaris workstation via the Gnome desktop, Orca screen reader, and in terms of accessible apps it has pretty much everything Linux has. The Sun Java desktop and Staroffice Sweit makes it a great business platform, and it is certainly possible to get accessible multimedia software too. rest of long message snipped --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles
not to be rood or anything, but by your description this console would only be able to do simple bleeps n beeps and can't play sounds. even if itt could the cartrige size is really small, so I don't exactly see how you could adapt this for VI use. - Original Message - From: Travis Siegel tsie...@lothlorien.nfbcal.org To: gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2011 7:50 PM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Consoles Let me answer some of the questions raised here about the console system I'd proposed earlier. First off, the games that would be available (initially) are the demo games that come with the system, modified of course to be compatible and playable by the blind user. There's a list of them, and I've not looked recently, so don't remember what they all are, but based on their sources, it doesn't look too terribly difficult to add audio cueues to the games to make them at least mostly accessible. As to the question about programming, the console's cartridges are programmed in either a form of assembly, or a basic-like language, both of which are used liberally in the demos that come with the system, as well as an entire programming book, in ascii form on the cd that ships with the development system, so it's all accessible. The games themselves will need to be written to the cartridges before distribution, and the cartridges can be given the ability to allow writing by the console (for saved games and the like) Understand, these games are not going to be up to the quality and standards everyone is used to on the pc, it's an 8-bit (or 16-bit) processor, and can multitask, but these capabilities aren't state-of-the-art (it uses a tv for output for god's sake). The basic consoles as sold to end users will have all the capabilities of the developer ones, only they won't have blank cartridges, or the programming languages, or the manuals describing the hardware and/or software used for programming. The cartridges are rather small by today's standards (128K is the default one, though I think there's a larger one available which has 512K of memory on it) This would be truly a console system, and all limitations thereof, this is not a pc, with gigibytes of ram, and terrabytes of storage. On the other hand, it is cheaper than a pc ($200 for the entire system) and it would allow a lot of visually impaired folks to experience the thrill of having their own console system that needs no visual assistance, though the games would be playable by sighted folks as well, since that's where it's being targeted for now anyway. I've personally not (yet) seen one of these systems, but I'm told they're aproximately the size of a playstation 2 (the early models, not the compact versions that came out later) After having gone over the source code that comes with the demos, and read the manuals for the programming languages (both assembly and basic-like languages) it looks to me like it is perfectly adaptable to our usage. I just wasn't sure there would be a call for such a console device in the current blindness community. I honestly have no problem with anyone who decides this is too limiting, and says no deal, that's fine, that's why I asked first. I was probably going to get one anyhow, because my 9-year-old son would absolutely love to have uch a gaming console, one that we can program ourselves. I have no doubt he'll get his 200 bucks worth of enjoyment out of it. If folks on list think this is worth persuing, then I'll definitely look into what it would take to do the job. If it isn't, then I'll just leave it alone until my son and I get around to working on it for our own use. Me personally, I'd love to have a console game system of my own that I know I can play, even if it doesn't have the latest and greatest hardware/software/sound built-in to it, just because I had fun with our atari 2600 system, and I think allowing others to experience similar joy would be well worth the time and energy to implement it, but that could be just me. Anyway, thee it is, nothing special, just something to have a lot of fun with, so again, if anyone thinks it's worth persuing, let me know, and I'll consider it as a whole when sufficient replies have come in. :) Hope this sparks some discussion, I'd be interested in the plus/minus debates that arrise from it. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. __ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 5266 (20100709) __ The message
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles
Hi Travis, Well, to be honest I think while it is a nice idea in concept I also think it is way too limiting. The reason is that I've been exposed to the current gen consoles like the XBox, Play Station, etc and if I were going to support any game console it would be something like that. This idea you are proposing sounds a lot like going back to the Atari/Original NES days and that isn't something I'd really have any interest inpersonally. I'm looking forward to more accessible first-person games, withrealistic sounds, music, and basically any games on par with the mainstream games of today. Not necessarily going back and playing arcade games like Pacman, Asteroids, Space Invaders, blagh. I think the only way we might have a chance at a real console is to retrofit one of the existing consoles, IE install our own operating system on it, and then build games using that platforms APIs. For example, take a PS2, remove the host operating system, install Linux on it, and then use SDL, OPenAL, whatever to build high-performence titles in C/C++. That's a more realistic approach in my opinion. Cheers! --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles
On Wed, Feb 16, 2011 at 01:03:06PM -0500, Thomas Ward wrote: I think the only way we might have a chance at a real console is to retrofit one of the existing consoles, IE install our own operating system on it, and then build games using that platforms APIs. [My Reply:] Hi Thomas, That's basically what the developers of the GameShark did with the PSX and the new PS1, the latter requiring a disk to be loaded for the GameShark card to work. I'm assuming it re-wrote at least part of the Playstation's operating system to get it to recognize the GameShark after Sony modified the OS for the PS1. Then again, I never tried the old GameShark in the newer machines. A Yaroze model of the Playstation, along with game development software can be had for $800, last I'd heard. Access rights to publish Playstation software might be another story once the software had been developed, and might cost an arm and a leg. Adding audio to game menu selections would be a nice benefit on some of these fighter games. I know I'm getting another PS1 and another copy of Soul Blade and Tekken 3 to mess around with again. I used to kick major butt on Soul Blade, and would love to give my nephews a run for their money here soon. Michael -- Linux User: 177869 # Powered By: Intel # http://rivensight.dyndns.org Postings Copyrighted 2010-2011 by: Michael Ferranti --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gamingcomunity.)
Hi, I definetly would be interested in something like that. Although as someone mentioned before, it would be nice to still be able to play games with my sighted friends. On Feb 14, 2011, at 1:04 PM, Mich wrote: Hi. O yes I would be for sure Interested. I would gladly pay 200 for a consul that was accessible. from Mich. - Original Message - From: Travis Siegel tsie...@lothlorien.nfbcal.org To: gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Monday, February 14, 2011 7:15 AM Subject: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gamingcomunity.) Speaking of console games. Would there be any interest in a console built with the blind gamer in mind? I have access to something that could easily be turned into a console with games built from scratch that could easily be played by blind and visually impaired users. There would be games like asteroids, space invaders, and the like. (yes, all your old favorites) built for a console, and completely accessible. I could do this, but I'd have to know there would be an interest for such a thing. The consols would cost roughly $200, and the games would be on cartridges just i like the cartridge systems out there now. And, a developer kit could be sold so others could develop games as well. It would plug into your tv, (not your computer) but it would be a true console system, and would be as acessible as I could make it. With the cost of the initial console and programming hardware and such though, it couldn't really sell for less than 200, and even then, I'd only be making $31 on a sale, which really isn't much all things considered. But, I'd do it if there would be an interest in such things, as I believe it would be a great thing to have a console system we could play ourselves. Anyone else interested? --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gaming comunity.)
Hi Michael, Dunno if it's fair to say that Linux is the only market trying to make their system fully accessible, nor whether it's fair to say it's the perfect platform for us. I'd touche with Mac OS and iOS. VoiceOver and Zoom are fully integrated into both OSs, aren't going anywhere, and both seem to move forward with each major revision of the OS. True, the initial price you have to shell out for the hardware is higher than you'd need to shell out to get a bare bones Linux system up and running, but the advantage you gain is a more consistent GUI on top of equal access to the command line. I'm not dumbing down what's happening on the Linux front at all man, far from it, just felt it necessary to say that there's more than one variety of rose to smell in this space, should anybody feel like waking up and taking a good long snort. Scott On 2/16/11, Frost znvyyv...@gmail.com wrote: On Wed, Feb 16, 2011 at 11:01:24AM +1300, shaun everiss wrote: on that note we almost want to build the console round a preexisting engine. Yeah, but how is the majority of the blind community going to pay for all of this, especially in this economy. If we're not on welfare, then we're spending the majority of our money on accessibility items to try to keep current with our work environments. $1000 for a screen reader, $2000 for an accessible PDA or smart-phone, $4000 for an accessible GPS, $10,000 for a braill display... Windows and the game console market simply doesn't want to deal with us. We're an unprofittable nitch market, and they have to charge us 10 times the going rates just to break even on any project. Eventually you guys are gonna wake up and smell the roses and realize that Linux is the only market out there that's even trying to make their system fully accessible. The SpeakUP screen reader is now part of the Linux kernel, making the text console fully accessible. It will remain part of Linux from now on, unlike Windows Narrator, which only supports the Windows operating system itself, and nothing else. You can't even use it to go on the web to find something better like NCDA. You can't even use Narrator to help you install Windows, unlike Linux, which has many distributions with accessible installation setups. The developers of the Orca screen reader for the Linux GUI have also come a long way. I only have a monitor still, because I only occasionally need sighted assistance for something, and with a little scripting in a few other languages, they're working on supporting it all, and they're not charging anyone a cent. Have a problem? File a bug report and watch it get fixed. Like Thomas said, the game console development market just blew him off when he assed for more support for accessibility. It's only recently since they started adding wheelchair ramps in standard design for public access. You're not going to find it for the home design market for a long time to come, let alone the kitchen appliance market. I hope you folks wake up soon and see what Linux is doing for us, and doing it in a big way, and doing it all free of charge. If there's any platform out there made for us, it's Linux. Yes, there's a steep learning curve, but DOS had the same curve in the beginning. Without our support and input, Linux just may end up being another Windows Narrator, and that would be a shame. All I know, is that my Linux console is accessible from power-on to power off now, and when I hear you folks discussing writing for other platforms, I can only wonder how insane it all sounds. If you want to pick up your brooms and continue sweeping up the sighted community's messes, feel free. We Linux converts will just sit back and laugh and shake our heads. You're only hurting yourselves, bashing your brains against the wall again and again. Michael -- Linux User: 177869 # Powered By: Intel # http://rivensight.dyndns.org Postings Copyrighted 2010-2011 by: Michael Ferranti --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gaming comunity.)
HI Travis, Well, before I say yes/no I'd like to know all of the technical specifications of such a console. What operating system will it use? What programming languages will be available for development? How are you going to redistribute games like Asteroids when last I checked the copyrights are still held by Activision? Basically, what I'm saying is I'm interested, but before I were to stake a financial commitment on something like that I'd like to have full technical details and specifications on something like that. Plus I want to know if any game developer can port games to it or if it is just going to be for the technical elite that know C/C++. One of my major concerns is that not many blind developers will step up to the plate to create games for it, because they are still hanging on to old outdated Windows tech like Visual Basic 6 which is a road to nowhere when we talk about something like a propriatary console probably running a non-Windows OS. Cheers! On 2/14/11, Travis Siegel tsie...@lothlorien.nfbcal.org wrote: Speaking of console games. Would there be any interest in a console built with the blind gamer in mind? I have access to something that could easily be turned into a console with games built from scratch that could easily be played by blind and visually impaired users. There would be games like asteroids, space invaders, and the like. (yes, all your old favorites) built for a console, and completely accessible. I could do this, but I'd have to know there would be an interest for such a thing. The consols would cost roughly $200, and the games would be on cartridges just i like the cartridge systems out there now. And, a developer kit could be sold so others could develop games as well. It would plug into your tv, (not your computer) but it would be a true console system, and would be as acessible as I could make it. With the cost of the initial console and programming hardware and such though, it couldn't really sell for less than 200, and even then, I'd only be making $31 on a sale, which really isn't much all things considered. But, I'd do it if there would be an interest in such things, as I believe it would be a great thing to have a console system we could play ourselves. Anyone else interested? --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gaming comunity.)
on that note we almost want to build the console round a preexisting engine. Bgt for example or even better the new g3d. Which is still in development which means its still open to adding new stuff into it. Though tom is right. A lot are still on vb 6, a few are in the dotnet and a couple are on the c++ language. At 06:42 a.m. 16/02/2011, you wrote: HI Travis, Well, before I say yes/no I'd like to know all of the technical specifications of such a console. What operating system will it use? What programming languages will be available for development? How are you going to redistribute games like Asteroids when last I checked the copyrights are still held by Activision? Basically, what I'm saying is I'm interested, but before I were to stake a financial commitment on something like that I'd like to have full technical details and specifications on something like that. Plus I want to know if any game developer can port games to it or if it is just going to be for the technical elite that know C/C++. One of my major concerns is that not many blind developers will step up to the plate to create games for it, because they are still hanging on to old outdated Windows tech like Visual Basic 6 which is a road to nowhere when we talk about something like a propriatary console probably running a non-Windows OS. Cheers! On 2/14/11, Travis Siegel tsie...@lothlorien.nfbcal.org wrote: Speaking of console games. Would there be any interest in a console built with the blind gamer in mind? I have access to something that could easily be turned into a console with games built from scratch that could easily be played by blind and visually impaired users. There would be games like asteroids, space invaders, and the like. (yes, all your old favorites) built for a console, and completely accessible. I could do this, but I'd have to know there would be an interest for such a thing. The consols would cost roughly $200, and the games would be on cartridges just i like the cartridge systems out there now. And, a developer kit could be sold so others could develop games as well. It would plug into your tv, (not your computer) but it would be a true console system, and would be as acessible as I could make it. With the cost of the initial console and programming hardware and such though, it couldn't really sell for less than 200, and even then, I'd only be making $31 on a sale, which really isn't much all things considered. But, I'd do it if there would be an interest in such things, as I believe it would be a great thing to have a console system we could play ourselves. Anyone else interested? --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gamingcomunity.)
If you decide to do this, would love to somehow work on that. Dunno in what capacity I could help, but... -Original Message- From: gamers-boun...@audyssey.org [mailto:gamers-boun...@audyssey.org] On Behalf Of Travis Siegel Sent: Monday, February 14, 2011 6:15 AM To: gamers@audyssey.org Subject: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gamingcomunity.) Speaking of console games. Would there be any interest in a console built with the blind gamer in mind? I have access to something that could easily be turned into a console with games built from scratch that could easily be played by blind and visually impaired users. There would be games like asteroids, space invaders, and the like. (yes, all your old favorites) built for a console, and completely accessible. I could do this, but I'd have to know there would be an interest for such a thing. The consols would cost roughly $200, and the games would be on cartridges just i like the cartridge systems out there now. And, a developer kit could be sold so others could develop games as well. It would plug into your tv, (not your computer) but it would be a true console system, and would be as acessible as I could make it. With the cost of the initial console and programming hardware and such though, it couldn't really sell for less than 200, and even then, I'd only be making $31 on a sale, which really isn't much all things considered. But, I'd do it if there would be an interest in such things, as I believe it would be a great thing to have a console system we could play ourselves. Anyone else interested? --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles
Let me answer some of the questions raised here about the console system I'd proposed earlier. First off, the games that would be available (initially) are the demo games that come with the system, modified of course to be compatible and playable by the blind user. There's a list of them, and I've not looked recently, so don't remember what they all are, but based on their sources, it doesn't look too terribly difficult to add audio cueues to the games to make them at least mostly accessible. As to the question about programming, the console's cartridges are programmed in either a form of assembly, or a basic-like language, both of which are used liberally in the demos that come with the system, as well as an entire programming book, in ascii form on the cd that ships with the development system, so it's all accessible. The games themselves will need to be written to the cartridges before distribution, and the cartridges can be given the ability to allow writing by the console (for saved games and the like) Understand, these games are not going to be up to the quality and standards everyone is used to on the pc, it's an 8-bit (or 16-bit) processor, and can multitask, but these capabilities aren't state-of-the-art (it uses a tv for output for god's sake). The basic consoles as sold to end users will have all the capabilities of the developer ones, only they won't have blank cartridges, or the programming languages, or the manuals describing the hardware and/or software used for programming. The cartridges are rather small by today's standards (128K is the default one, though I think there's a larger one available which has 512K of memory on it) This would be truly a console system, and all limitations thereof, this is not a pc, with gigibytes of ram, and terrabytes of storage. On the other hand, it is cheaper than a pc ($200 for the entire system) and it would allow a lot of visually impaired folks to experience the thrill of having their own console system that needs no visual assistance, though the games would be playable by sighted folks as well, since that's where it's being targeted for now anyway. I've personally not (yet) seen one of these systems, but I'm told they're aproximately the size of a playstation 2 (the early models, not the compact versions that came out later) After having gone over the source code that comes with the demos, and read the manuals for the programming languages (both assembly and basic-like languages) it looks to me like it is perfectly adaptable to our usage. I just wasn't sure there would be a call for such a console device in the current blindness community. I honestly have no problem with anyone who decides this is too limiting, and says no deal, that's fine, that's why I asked first. I was probably going to get one anyhow, because my 9-year-old son would absolutely love to have uch a gaming console, one that we can program ourselves. I have no doubt he'll get his 200 bucks worth of enjoyment out of it. If folks on list think this is worth persuing, then I'll definitely look into what it would take to do the job. If it isn't, then I'll just leave it alone until my son and I get around to working on it for our own use. Me personally, I'd love to have a console game system of my own that I know I can play, even if it doesn't have the latest and greatest hardware/software/sound built-in to it, just because I had fun with our atari 2600 system, and I think allowing others to experience similar joy would be well worth the time and energy to implement it, but that could be just me. Anyway, thee it is, nothing special, just something to have a lot of fun with, so again, if anyone thinks it's worth persuing, let me know, and I'll consider it as a whole when sufficient replies have come in. :) Hope this sparks some discussion, I'd be interested in the plus/minus debates that arrise from it. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gaming comunity.)
On Wed, Feb 16, 2011 at 11:01:24AM +1300, shaun everiss wrote: on that note we almost want to build the console round a preexisting engine. Yeah, but how is the majority of the blind community going to pay for all of this, especially in this economy. If we're not on welfare, then we're spending the majority of our money on accessibility items to try to keep current with our work environments. $1000 for a screen reader, $2000 for an accessible PDA or smart-phone, $4000 for an accessible GPS, $10,000 for a braill display... Windows and the game console market simply doesn't want to deal with us. We're an unprofittable nitch market, and they have to charge us 10 times the going rates just to break even on any project. Eventually you guys are gonna wake up and smell the roses and realize that Linux is the only market out there that's even trying to make their system fully accessible. The SpeakUP screen reader is now part of the Linux kernel, making the text console fully accessible. It will remain part of Linux from now on, unlike Windows Narrator, which only supports the Windows operating system itself, and nothing else. You can't even use it to go on the web to find something better like NCDA. You can't even use Narrator to help you install Windows, unlike Linux, which has many distributions with accessible installation setups. The developers of the Orca screen reader for the Linux GUI have also come a long way. I only have a monitor still, because I only occasionally need sighted assistance for something, and with a little scripting in a few other languages, they're working on supporting it all, and they're not charging anyone a cent. Have a problem? File a bug report and watch it get fixed. Like Thomas said, the game console development market just blew him off when he assed for more support for accessibility. It's only recently since they started adding wheelchair ramps in standard design for public access. You're not going to find it for the home design market for a long time to come, let alone the kitchen appliance market. I hope you folks wake up soon and see what Linux is doing for us, and doing it in a big way, and doing it all free of charge. If there's any platform out there made for us, it's Linux. Yes, there's a steep learning curve, but DOS had the same curve in the beginning. Without our support and input, Linux just may end up being another Windows Narrator, and that would be a shame. All I know, is that my Linux console is accessible from power-on to power off now, and when I hear you folks discussing writing for other platforms, I can only wonder how insane it all sounds. If you want to pick up your brooms and continue sweeping up the sighted community's messes, feel free. We Linux converts will just sit back and laugh and shake our heads. You're only hurting yourselves, bashing your brains against the wall again and again. Michael -- Linux User: 177869 # Powered By: Intel # http://rivensight.dyndns.org Postings Copyrighted 2010-2011 by: Michael Ferranti --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles
hmmm where did you go to get the consoles etc. How would you upload to the cartrages. The console looks to be a little limiting but if you can make music files on the console and can somehow have them extract to mods or something or whatever its in and play it on a standard media player like winamp I know there are people that would like to program music for it. Its a bit small though we really need to make something which will do a bit more than play simple arcade stuff. At 07:50 a.m. 16/02/2011, you wrote: Let me answer some of the questions raised here about the console system I'd proposed earlier. First off, the games that would be available (initially) are the demo games that come with the system, modified of course to be compatible and playable by the blind user. There's a list of them, and I've not looked recently, so don't remember what they all are, but based on their sources, it doesn't look too terribly difficult to add audio cueues to the games to make them at least mostly accessible. As to the question about programming, the console's cartridges are programmed in either a form of assembly, or a basic-like language, both of which are used liberally in the demos that come with the system, as well as an entire programming book, in ascii form on the cd that ships with the development system, so it's all accessible. The games themselves will need to be written to the cartridges before distribution, and the cartridges can be given the ability to allow writing by the console (for saved games and the like) Understand, these games are not going to be up to the quality and standards everyone is used to on the pc, it's an 8-bit (or 16-bit) processor, and can multitask, but these capabilities aren't state-of-the-art (it uses a tv for output for god's sake). The basic consoles as sold to end users will have all the capabilities of the developer ones, only they won't have blank cartridges, or the programming languages, or the manuals describing the hardware and/or software used for programming. The cartridges are rather small by today's standards (128K is the default one, though I think there's a larger one available which has 512K of memory on it) This would be truly a console system, and all limitations thereof, this is not a pc, with gigibytes of ram, and terrabytes of storage. On the other hand, it is cheaper than a pc ($200 for the entire system) and it would allow a lot of visually impaired folks to experience the thrill of having their own console system that needs no visual assistance, though the games would be playable by sighted folks as well, since that's where it's being targeted for now anyway. I've personally not (yet) seen one of these systems, but I'm told they're aproximately the size of a playstation 2 (the early models, not the compact versions that came out later) After having gone over the source code that comes with the demos, and read the manuals for the programming languages (both assembly and basic-like languages) it looks to me like it is perfectly adaptable to our usage. I just wasn't sure there would be a call for such a console device in the current blindness community. I honestly have no problem with anyone who decides this is too limiting, and says no deal, that's fine, that's why I asked first. I was probably going to get one anyhow, because my 9-year-old son would absolutely love to have uch a gaming console, one that we can program ourselves. I have no doubt he'll get his 200 bucks worth of enjoyment out of it. If folks on list think this is worth persuing, then I'll definitely look into what it would take to do the job. If it isn't, then I'll just leave it alone until my son and I get around to working on it for our own use. Me personally, I'd love to have a console game system of my own that I know I can play, even if it doesn't have the latest and greatest hardware/software/sound built-in to it, just because I had fun with our atari 2600 system, and I think allowing others to experience similar joy would be well worth the time and energy to implement it, but that could be just me. Anyway, thee it is, nothing special, just something to have a lot of fun with, so again, if anyone thinks it's worth persuing, let me know, and I'll consider it as a whole when sufficient replies have come in. :) Hope this sparks some discussion, I'd be interested in the plus/minus debates that arrise from it. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __
[Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gaming comunity.)
Speaking of console games. Would there be any interest in a console built with the blind gamer in mind? I have access to something that could easily be turned into a console with games built from scratch that could easily be played by blind and visually impaired users. There would be games like asteroids, space invaders, and the like. (yes, all your old favorites) built for a console, and completely accessible. I could do this, but I'd have to know there would be an interest for such a thing. The consols would cost roughly $200, and the games would be on cartridges just i like the cartridge systems out there now. And, a developer kit could be sold so others could develop games as well. It would plug into your tv, (not your computer) but it would be a true console system, and would be as acessible as I could make it. With the cost of the initial console and programming hardware and such though, it couldn't really sell for less than 200, and even then, I'd only be making $31 on a sale, which really isn't much all things considered. But, I'd do it if there would be an interest in such things, as I believe it would be a great thing to have a console system we could play ourselves. Anyone else interested? --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gaming comunity.)
Hi, I'd say i'm interested. Thanks. Dave. On 2/14/11, Travis Siegel tsie...@lothlorien.nfbcal.org wrote: Speaking of console games. Would there be any interest in a console built with the blind gamer in mind? I have access to something that could easily be turned into a console with games built from scratch that could easily be played by blind and visually impaired users. There would be games like asteroids, space invaders, and the like. (yes, all your old favorites) built for a console, and completely accessible. I could do this, but I'd have to know there would be an interest for such a thing. The consols would cost roughly $200, and the games would be on cartridges just i like the cartridge systems out there now. And, a developer kit could be sold so others could develop games as well. It would plug into your tv, (not your computer) but it would be a true console system, and would be as acessible as I could make it. With the cost of the initial console and programming hardware and such though, it couldn't really sell for less than 200, and even then, I'd only be making $31 on a sale, which really isn't much all things considered. But, I'd do it if there would be an interest in such things, as I believe it would be a great thing to have a console system we could play ourselves. Anyone else interested? --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gaming comunity.)
I would as well... but I'm a bit curious to know as how you'd go around building the whole thing from scratch. At 12:31 PM 14/02/2011, you wrote: Hi, I'd say i'm interested. Thanks. Dave. On 2/14/11, Travis Siegel tsie...@lothlorien.nfbcal.org wrote: Speaking of console games. Would there be any interest in a console built with the blind gamer in mind? I have access to something that could easily be turned into a console with games built from scratch that could easily be played by blind and visually impaired users. There would be games like asteroids, space invaders, and the like. (yes, all your old favorites) built for a console, and completely accessible. I could do this, but I'd have to know there would be an interest for such a thing. The consols would cost roughly $200, and the games would be on cartridges just i like the cartridge systems out there now. And, a developer kit could be sold so others could develop games as well. It would plug into your tv, (not your computer) but it would be a true console system, and would be as acessible as I could make it. With the cost of the initial console and programming hardware and such though, it couldn't really sell for less than 200, and even then, I'd only be making $31 on a sale, which really isn't much all things considered. But, I'd do it if there would be an interest in such things, as I believe it would be a great thing to have a console system we could play ourselves. Anyone else interested? --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gamingcomunity.)
It would be a start toward having something sort of like what sighted people are using, although these titles are quite old. Like I say, though, it would be a start. I know it would be too early to probably know, but what about hardware and software updates to make the console able to be played by both blind and sighted gamers on an equal basis? The games for sighted gamers would be far in the future, and, by that time, we would still be left in the dust. Even so, I think I would be interested, particularly in sports games, trivia games, and strategy games that are totally blind friendly. --- Shepherds are the best beasts! - Original Message - From: Travis Siegel tsie...@lothlorien.nfbcal.org To: gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Monday, February 14, 2011 6:15 AM Subject: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gamingcomunity.) Speaking of console games. Would there be any interest in a console built with the blind gamer in mind? I have access to something that could easily be turned into a console with games built from scratch that could easily be played by blind and visually impaired users. There would be games like asteroids, space invaders, and the like. (yes, all your old favorites) built for a console, and completely accessible. I could do this, but I'd have to know there would be an interest for such a thing. The consols would cost roughly $200, and the games would be on cartridges just i like the cartridge systems out there now. And, a developer kit could be sold so others could develop games as well. It would plug into your tv, (not your computer) but it would be a true console system, and would be as acessible as I could make it. With the cost of the initial console and programming hardware and such though, it couldn't really sell for less than 200, and even then, I'd only be making $31 on a sale, which really isn't much all things considered. But, I'd do it if there would be an interest in such things, as I believe it would be a great thing to have a console system we could play ourselves. Anyone else interested? --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blindgaming comunity.)
Hi O yes yes yes I am interested. I would gladley pay 200 for a consal that was acccessible. from Mich. - Original Message - From: David Mehler dave.meh...@gmail.com To: Gamers Discussion list gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Monday, February 14, 2011 3:31 PM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blindgaming comunity.) Hi, I'd say i'm interested. Thanks. Dave. On 2/14/11, Travis Siegel tsie...@lothlorien.nfbcal.org wrote: Speaking of console games. Would there be any interest in a console built with the blind gamer in mind? I have access to something that could easily be turned into a console with games built from scratch that could easily be played by blind and visually impaired users. There would be games like asteroids, space invaders, and the like. (yes, all your old favorites) built for a console, and completely accessible. I could do this, but I'd have to know there would be an interest for such a thing. The consols would cost roughly $200, and the games would be on cartridges just i like the cartridge systems out there now. And, a developer kit could be sold so others could develop games as well. It would plug into your tv, (not your computer) but it would be a true console system, and would be as acessible as I could make it. With the cost of the initial console and programming hardware and such though, it couldn't really sell for less than 200, and even then, I'd only be making $31 on a sale, which really isn't much all things considered. But, I'd do it if there would be an interest in such things, as I believe it would be a great thing to have a console system we could play ourselves. Anyone else interested? --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gamingcomunity.)
Hi. O yes I would be for sure Interested. I would gladly pay 200 for a consul that was accessible. from Mich. - Original Message - From: Travis Siegel tsie...@lothlorien.nfbcal.org To: gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Monday, February 14, 2011 7:15 AM Subject: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gamingcomunity.) Speaking of console games. Would there be any interest in a console built with the blind gamer in mind? I have access to something that could easily be turned into a console with games built from scratch that could easily be played by blind and visually impaired users. There would be games like asteroids, space invaders, and the like. (yes, all your old favorites) built for a console, and completely accessible. I could do this, but I'd have to know there would be an interest for such a thing. The consols would cost roughly $200, and the games would be on cartridges just i like the cartridge systems out there now. And, a developer kit could be sold so others could develop games as well. It would plug into your tv, (not your computer) but it would be a true console system, and would be as acessible as I could make it. With the cost of the initial console and programming hardware and such though, it couldn't really sell for less than 200, and even then, I'd only be making $31 on a sale, which really isn't much all things considered. But, I'd do it if there would be an interest in such things, as I believe it would be a great thing to have a console system we could play ourselves. Anyone else interested? --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gamingcomunity.)
My only question is.. what about legalities? You can't just redistribute those games without permission especially through the market. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gaming comunity.)
TRAVIS i WOULD BE INTRESTED IN SUCH A PROJECT. i'D EVEN CONCIDERING BUYING A CONSOLE. i DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF CASH RIGHT NOW BUT i'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT SOME HOW, i CAN TEST, NOT PROGRAM BUT i HAVE A FEW PLACES i CAN RUN REVIEWS, ETC. i COULD EVEN BUY EVENTUALLY TO. At 01:15 a.m. 15/02/2011, you wrote: Speaking of console games. Would there be any interest in a console built with the blind gamer in mind? I have access to something that could easily be turned into a console with games built from scratch that could easily be played by blind and visually impaired users. There would be games like asteroids, space invaders, and the like. (yes, all your old favorites) built for a console, and completely accessible. I could do this, but I'd have to know there would be an interest for such a thing. The consols would cost roughly $200, and the games would be on cartridges just i like the cartridge systems out there now. And, a developer kit could be sold so others could develop games as well. It would plug into your tv, (not your computer) but it would be a true console system, and would be as acessible as I could make it. With the cost of the initial console and programming hardware and such though, it couldn't really sell for less than 200, and even then, I'd only be making $31 on a sale, which really isn't much all things considered. But, I'd do it if there would be an interest in such things, as I believe it would be a great thing to have a console system we could play ourselves. Anyone else interested? --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gamingcomunity.)
WHAT OS WOULD WE BE RUNNING THIS ON. wOULD WE USE LINUX OF SOME SORT OR WINDOWS OR WHAT AND HOW ABOUT LICENCING. tHIS IS A MAJOR PROJECT. At 09:56 a.m. 15/02/2011, you wrote: It would be a start toward having something sort of like what sighted people are using, although these titles are quite old. Like I say, though, it would be a start. I know it would be too early to probably know, but what about hardware and software updates to make the console able to be played by both blind and sighted gamers on an equal basis? The games for sighted gamers would be far in the future, and, by that time, we would still be left in the dust. Even so, I think I would be interested, particularly in sports games, trivia games, and strategy games that are totally blind friendly. --- Shepherds are the best beasts! - Original Message - From: Travis Siegel tsie...@lothlorien.nfbcal.org To: gamers@audyssey.org Sent: Monday, February 14, 2011 6:15 AM Subject: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gamingcomunity.) Speaking of console games. Would there be any interest in a console built with the blind gamer in mind? I have access to something that could easily be turned into a console with games built from scratch that could easily be played by blind and visually impaired users. There would be games like asteroids, space invaders, and the like. (yes, all your old favorites) built for a console, and completely accessible. I could do this, but I'd have to know there would be an interest for such a thing. The consols would cost roughly $200, and the games would be on cartridges just i like the cartridge systems out there now. And, a developer kit could be sold so others could develop games as well. It would plug into your tv, (not your computer) but it would be a true console system, and would be as acessible as I could make it. With the cost of the initial console and programming hardware and such though, it couldn't really sell for less than 200, and even then, I'd only be making $31 on a sale, which really isn't much all things considered. But, I'd do it if there would be an interest in such things, as I believe it would be a great thing to have a console system we could play ourselves. Anyone else interested? --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
Re: [Audyssey] Consoles (was Re: my frustration with the blind gaming comunity.)
Something like that would be nice to see, and play. At 07:15 AM 2/14/2011, you wrote: Speaking of console games. Would there be any interest in a console built with the blind gamer in mind? I have access to something that could easily be turned into a console with games built from scratch that could easily be played by blind and visually impaired users. There would be games like asteroids, space invaders, and the like. (yes, all your old favorites) built for a console, and completely accessible. I could do this, but I'd have to know there would be an interest for such a thing. The consols would cost roughly $200, and the games would be on cartridges just i like the cartridge systems out there now. And, a developer kit could be sold so others could develop games as well. It would plug into your tv, (not your computer) but it would be a true console system, and would be as acessible as I could make it. With the cost of the initial console and programming hardware and such though, it couldn't really sell for less than 200, and even then, I'd only be making $31 on a sale, which really isn't much all things considered. But, I'd do it if there would be an interest in such things, as I believe it would be a great thing to have a console system we could play ourselves. Anyone else interested? --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. Tim trouble Never offend people with style when you can offend them with substance. --Sam Brown Blindeudora list owner. To subscribe or info: http://www.freelists.org/webpage/blindeudora --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
