 Arcess.com has relaunched as an online Accessible Games Lab. Visitors to the website are able to play with snippets from our upcoming games, and provide feedback on accessibility issues.
Our Original Games
Our old games (below) now over ten years old, are still available as a free download but will eventually be replaced by new versions with many new features.
Accessible Bridge Games and Interactive Lessons
Arcess is working with Grand Master Bridge Player Graeme Tuffnell to produce an accessible* version of his new Contract Bridge learning system. The system includes interactive Contract Bridge lessons and tutorials, online solo games (play against the computer), play Bridge games live on the Internet and a competition ladder. If you can already use the mouse and don't require large characters then you can probably already use the current version to learn bridge online. * low vision, expanded keyboard and switch scanning will be supported.
 Accessible
Single Switch Games
and Switch Activities
Arcess.com
will soon be releasing new single switch games and activities
for Mac and Windows. Until then members can still download
our original single switch games - Alien Invasion, Ruby Ridge
and Brickout. Designed for children and adults with disabilities,
these games can be adjusted for players with a very wide range
of abilities. Member
Benefits
- Free membership
- Download 3 accessible games free
- Accessible games and activities newsletter
- Early preview of new games
- Special discounts on new games and subscriptions JOIN
NOW
Accessible Games
These simple switch games
are easy to play and are designed to be widely accessible for players
who have Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, Spinal Injury, Head
Injury or other physical disabilities. They can be played as single
switch games, speech recognition games,
expanded keyboard games (Intellikeys,
Unicorn Keyboard, Concept Keyboard, Mini Keyboards),
Who plays Arcess games?
Games for Children
with Disabilities
Kids just want to have fun, and arcade games really are fun. Arcess
games are used in:
- pre school years when physical access
to toys is not possible
- schools for recreation time or as
a reward for good performance
- therapy as a fun way to learn and
improve skills
- community recreation centers
- recreation in hospital settings
- and of course at home
Games for Adults
with Disabilities
The fun doesn't stop just because you are an adult. Computer
games are enjoyed just as much by adults as they are by children.
Games for Seniors
Many computer games are often suitable for any age, but if reaction
times or vision have reduced with age then traditional computer
games may have become impossible to play. However, Arcess games
feature high contrast with large clear characters, yet without the
"children's" themes that would make them inappropriate
in this environment. The speed and difficulty of the games can be
adjusted through a very wide range to ensure almost anyone can play.
Easy or difficult?
The choice is yours.
Traditional computer
games assume both players have similar physical abilities and reaction
times, but the flexible Arcess games allow players with different
abilities to play - each with a fair chance of winning.
Choose your access method. These
accessible games are designed to work with a very wide range of
assistive technologies:
- single switch
- expanded keyboard (eg. Intellikeys)
- keyboard
- joystick
- mouse
- trackball
- touchscreen
Arcess has been providing accessible
switch games through the Internet since 1997. The focus of the games
has been to overcome the physical barrers to playing Arcade Games.
This is achieved by:
- providing panels which give the
user very wide control over the major game elements - speed, power
etc.
- supporting a wide range of access
methods.
- Including high contrast graphics
and large characters.
eg. A player who is
having difficulty with the speed of the game can slow the alien
rate of descent, increase firepower, or adjust any of the 10 parameters.
Changes can even be made while the game is being played. If two
players are playing against each other, then each player can have
his/her own settings. This allows two players of quite different
abilities to compete successfully
Arcade Games are played
by people of all ages.
Alien Invasion - The control panel allows players to adjust
the speed and strength of the major game elements - player speed,
player fire strength, alien speed, alien fire rate and alien descent
rate. The Firepower is fully adjustable from a 1- 8 missile spread.
Large character sizes are also available for low vision players.
Because Alien
Invasion is so flexible, the game can be played at any
level from a "Cause and Effect" game
(press the switch and watch and listen to the fireworks) through
to a full "Invaders" style of game. This flexibility is
particularly important when games are being played by a group of
players with a wide spread of abilities.
Supports keyboard,
joystick, expanded keyboard, alternative access, switch
and can even be played by some speech recognition programs.
 Brickout: A new "Bat and Bricks" game
with incredible flexibility. Choose the bat size
(from small through to very very large), bat speed and the ball
speed. Brickout now includes a "Level Editor"
for designing your own levels.
Supports keyboard,
joystick, expanded keyboard, alternative access, switch
and can even be played by some speech recognition programs.
 Ruby Ridge - A challenging platform game almost
anyone can play. Move your skate-boarding character across
platforms, up ladders, and down slides, collecting Gems along the
way. Using the Level Editor you can create
Game Screens as simple as a single row of bricks or as complex as
the multi level platform system shown above.
Supports keyboard,
joystick, expanded keyboard, alternative access (eg. Intellikeys),
switch (scanning) and can even be played by some speech recognition programs.
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WEBSITE FEEDBACK
Arcess
games are played by a very wide variety of people of all ages. Here
are just a few examples from recent emails.
I just thought
I'd drop you a line to let you know what a valuable resource you
are supplying. I've been searching the net high and low for games
for the handicapped guys I work with, to no avail..... until today.
So thanks for providing a much needed product. I look forward to
seeing what other games you are working on.
I received
a password from you last week to dowload your arcade
games. I wanted to let you know that they are far better than any
I have purchased (and I have purchased many).
I am
a speech-language
pathologist who works with severely impaired teens. It is so hard
to find games appropriate for my population. Your games are terrific--the
kids love them, and they encourage switch use! In addition, they
allow
the kids to play with other "typical" students in a competitive
way.
THANK YOU!!
"Congratulations
for your wonderful idea to create those accessible games. I'm partially
sighted and I think it's unfair that people like me can't play games
because of their disabilities. I downloaded the games and they are
really good. I suppose it all depends of the kind of low vision
but for my vision they are just perfect."
"My
son is is 9 yrs old, has quad. cp, uses a Tracker for his computer
and communication device. He wanted to thank you for the games--mom."
"....I
need a second set for my other school. Thanks. One of my girls said
her first word after playing Ruby Ridge."
"I
have just tried out your games and they will be great for our students
particularly with teenagers. it is so great to get some age appropriate
games that are easy to play."
"A
big thank you for the games. They are already up and running, and
are marvellous for a certain young man, brain damaged from a car
accident. He is playing Bricks right now, as I type this."
"My
daughter is 15 yrs old with CP...she really enjoys these games."
"What
a great idea! Now, my sister can play games like I do!"
JOIN
NOW and download the 3 free accessible games. |
