| Written by Mark C. Barlet, on 31-10-2007 20:40 |
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 Benjamin Heckendorn, inventor, film maker, uber-blogger, podcaster and creator of many portable gaming mods takes the time to have a chat with us, adding AbleGamers to the long list of great publications-- including Wired, Popular Science, and Maxim-- in which he has been featured.
AbleGamers
- Ben thank you for taking the time to chat with us here at
AbleGamers. Allow me to tell you a little us, we are gaming site that
focus much of our content for the disabled gamer. There are somewhere
between 18 to 20 million disabled people in the US, many are gamers.
Ben,
can you tell us a little about yourself, what is your claim to fame?
Ben
Heckendorn - Well several years ago I built a portable Atari 2600,
and shortly thereafter realized a lot of people were interested in
such a thing. I've continued to experiment and build projects since
then. Lately I've been working on mods and projects for mostly
current-gen systems, quite a bit of Xbox 360 stuff.
AG -
Ben, I think the first question we should ask is, Why a one handed
controller?
BH -
Originally it was someone coming back from Iraq, emailed me asking if
I could build a single handed controller since they had lost the use
of an arm. It seemed like an interesting challenge, as well as a
helpful one, so I took the job.
AG -
Well you must be on to something because I have received the
announcement of your controller from 2 different sources, an email, and Engadget. Have you
thought about this as a tool for disabled gamers?
Indeed
that is the main purpose! We're also talking about extension
modules, or including pinouts so people or friends can build
extension modules. These could plug into an empty slot and be used
for foot pedals, tilt sensors, etc.
AG -
What is in your Xbox right now?
BH -
Halo 3 I believe. Got Crackdown for my birthday, guess I'll have to
plow through that soon. I've also been playing Orange Box on my PC.
Gotta love that weighted companion cube!
AG -
Do you have any other gaming systems? What will we find in tray of
those things?
BH -
Well hooked up in the living room I also have a NES, SNES and PS2.
Don't play those very often, but I'm sure they contain, in order,
Contra, Star Fox and God of War 2.
AG -
Do you plan to make a Right and Left handed version of the
controller?
BH -
The module-based unit can work with either, just swap the modules
around to match your thumbs.
AG -
Just the other day there was a story in the New Your Times about our
wounded soldiers returning from overseas, and looking to games to
heal, readjust, and forget. Did you think that a device like the one
you have here would help that process?
BH -
I'd hope so. I've often heard from people I know who have been
over there that Halo games are a favorite pastime [while there] so to
be able to continue their love of gaming, even with a disability,
allows them to keep enjoying an aspect of their lives.
AG -
Do you have any idea what a production model of this controller will
cost? Or do you have a target price?
BH -
I can't say for sure, though most likely more than a standard
controller since it is a smaller production item. Should still be
affordable though.
AG -
Do you have any other thoughts about disabled gaming? Has it ever
been something you thought about before AbleGamers reached out to
you?
BH -
Mostly I just hope this device can help people and also find a large
enough market to make it sustainable and justify the manufacturing,
which in turn will allow it to propagate and help more people. It's
important to keep in mind that this isn't a government grant
program, and extension of a hospital or the result of a foundation,
or any of those things. Instead it's a company, eDimensional, who
was kind enough to consider making such a device in the standard
free-market world. So spread the word and help us help you. ;)
Recommend this article... Last update: 22-12-2007 13:08
Users' Comments (2) 
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Looks fantastic!