Users in Control: Episode 11 A Fresh Perspective on Accessibility

Game Access: All About EVE by Mike Phillips

I’m a sci-fi geek. I make no allusions toward oth- enormous variety of gameplay options, giving no erwise. I adored until Lucas went insane two players the same experience. So, what does and wrecked it. My girl and I fell in love watching that mean exactly? Well, in EVE, players take Battlestar Galactica and Doctor Who. I own Firefly on the role of pilot at the helm of their very own the complete series on DVD. I read Ender’s Game starship. Players can command anything from small in a crazy three-day marathon. I’ve seen A Scan- scout ships, to industrial mining frigates, to deadly ner Darkly sixteen times, fivein the theater. That’s battlecruisers. There are endless ways to live in right, I’m a lunatic. As far as Mac gaming goes, the world of EVE. For instance, one can journey however, sci-fi pickings have been historically slim, the galaxy smuggling contraband from one sector especially for SwitchXS users. There’s Starcraft, to another, mine asteroid fields for profit, or even then we have Starcraft. We also have Starcraft – oh, play the outlaw, killing other players in cold-blood. EVE Online lets players customize their ships to fit their and Knights of the Old Republic. Now, though, we The depth of EVE is absolutely amazing; there’s gameplay style have a brand-new contender, EVE Online. definitely no questioning it. Yet, gameplay aside, EVE Online is the most recent massively multi­ is it playable for SwitchXS users? Short answer: with the keyboard mainly reserved for interface player online game (MMOG) to hit Mac OS X. Set definitely! Even KeyStrokes usersshould be able shortcuts and in-game chatting. in a vast online universe, EVE promises players an to get in on the action. Speaking of chat, EVE Online offers a multitude First, players will need an -based of opportunities for individuals to interact. For Mac, as EVE Online is not a Univer­ new players, there’s a huge chat channel where sal Binary, nor will it ever be. Save for experienced Game Masters answer questions and a MacBook or Mac mini, any hardware offer advice to rookie pilots. Players can also band should run the game nicely. Next, players together in fleets to complete missions or simply will have to play in window-mode, wreak havoc on other pilots. Additionally, it is which is accomplished by pressing possible for players to form large Corporations, Command+Return just one time. EVE On­ which are groups working together to trade goods, line isn’t a “” game; it’s not about research technology for sale on the open market, how fast one can hit buttons. While the dominate through military action, or do anything game has some shortcut keys, it is truly else for profit. Corporations can even own their a mouse-based experience, as the mouse own space stations to serve as bases of operation. Live out your sci-fi fantasies in EVE Online is required to perform most commands, continued on page 2 Users in Control: A Fresh Perspective on Accessibility

As mentioned, everything from combat to aster­ example, industrial miners will simply want a ship This PDF and audio podcast is created by Mac users with oid mining is handled entirely with mouse clicks. that can quickly evade attacks, thus protecting their physical, speech, or vision impairments. Featuring their Players choosing a life of combat should be able precious cargo. In my opinion, players focusing experiences, it seeks to inform, inspire, and provide a to scan at a minimum of 17 steps per second or be on commerce should be able to scan at around 14 platform for new ideas. Once a year, some of the articles fairly proficient with a mouse. While one’s ship is steps per second. EVE Online is extremely flexible, appear in a PDF of the AssistiveWare Newsletter, found at steered by its on-board computer, the player still has allowing a player to perhaps begin as an economic www.assistiveware.com/newsletter.php. A video podcast to issue commands. In combat, this involves click­ tycoon, only to branch out into the role of a hired titled “Exploring the Frontiers of Assistive Technology” that ing targets, locking on weapons systems, issuing the gun. It can change as one’s proficiency with their features some of the contributors is also available. order to fire weapons, or warping out of situations assistive technology evolves. that get too dicey. While mainly about planning, EVE Online, available for download at strategy, and choosing the right ship with the right www.eve-online.com, costs $19.95 and includes the equipment, there’s still a certain degree of urgency first month’s subscription, after which it is $14.95 The audio version of this podcast was created on in combat. As a SwitchXS user, I lean toward ships per month. For those who like to try before they Mac OS X with GhostReader and the Infovox iVox voices employing long-range missiles and try to hit hard buy, a 14-day risk-free trial is offered. Remember, of the Acapela Group under a special license permitting and kill quick before the need to issue commands EVE Online is constantly growing, a game that professional use of the voices. becomes too frantic; however, players who build never ends. Aside from fine , Doctor Who, and their characters more toward scientific research the love of a good woman, what could be better or dominating EVE’s player-driven economy than that? q Editor-in-Chief: Joe Barnick will require far less “clicking under the gun.” For Layout and Design: Joe Barnick Publisher: David Niemeijer, AssistiveWare®

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Copyright: The copyright of this article remains with the author of the article. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. In games like Unreal Tournament 2004 and World of Warcraft, there’s “One thumb to rule them all” – mine! To see for yourself, Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the check out Episode 4 of the video podcast, Exploring the Frontiers entire responsibility of the author and the information of Assistive Technology. in this podcast in no way serves as an endorsement or guarantee by AssistiveWare®.

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