An Evil Problem Takes An Evil Solution.

{sidebar id=1}My name is Scott Hedlund and I’m an Assistive Technology Specialist. I've been gaming since the old pong systems were out.  I have Cerebral Palsy on my left side; because of this I am unable to control my finger movements. Doing the simple task of touching each finger with my thumb is very difficult. Despite this, I was able to use simple joysticks of the time to spend hours of my childhood playing in local arcades. 

Later on in life I was able to do some console gaming but my last console systems were the original Nintendo and Sega Genesis. I used one handed joysticks or an arcade stick to play games on these systems. Life was good until these companies and others decided to move away from the traditional gamepad. My gaming life went south fast, for the first time I was left on the side lines unable to play video games with friends.  The closest I could get to the simple D-pad with two buttons days was by gaming on my PC, but as more and more friends switched to consoles instead of PC gaming I became a lonely isolated gamer.

It was an evil problem that would take years before someone came up with an evil solution.

Several months back I was searching for able gaming on the web and stumbled across a website called Ablegamers.com.  I read about a company who was launching custom accessible controllers for the Xbox.  I had a Playstation 3 thanks to a controller designed by Ben Heck, but since all of my friends played Xbox I was still a lonely isolated gamer. I wanted to play co-op games with my friends and for that I needed an Xbox. I liked my access controller, and with an adapter I could hook it up to the Xbox.

After trying to adapt the Access Controller in multiplayer first person shooters, I was disappointed. I couldn't play very well; it wasn't a natural way for me to control my character.  I tried using a regular controller and found I could play better, but I was unable to access the left buttons.  I needed a configuration of where the buttons were located on the left side.

This is where Evil Controllers came in, a small company with a passion for what they do, modding regular controllers.  Evil Controllers decided to venture out into a new frontier, where few have gone before.  For years, I was struggling to find anyone to make a controller that could be adapted to me and not the other way around.

I contacted Evil Controllers with the hopes that they could do what no one would done for me, make a controller that was natural for me to use. I had an idea that I got from my modern warfare 2 controller made by Mad Catz.  The controller had two extra buttons located underneath the controller, these buttons where able to duplicates other buttons on the controller.  I emailed Evil Controllers explain my disability along with pictures of how I hold a regular controller.  I express to them my thoughts on locating two buttons underneath so my right hand could access them.  Jonah, of Evil Controllers was on the same page; he agreed that relocating the LT and LB would be the best solution.

I was excited but nervous about paying for an expensive controller ($175-$225), which may or may not work for my needs.  I decided like so many other things to try it and see. This controller was going to be “basic” for what I needed, I was lucky I got my wife to give me the “ok” to buy it.

My order was placed and in a short period of time my baby came.  It was black just like any other Xbox 360 controller; it took me awhile to see the buttons that were added for me.  They were tiny, but it was perfect for my needs.  I felt child-like as I tested it out.  I played for hours with friends, and as I did, they too started realizing my skills drastically improved.

The controller worked! I was happy my money was not wasted on this custom controller.

As time has passed, I started to realize I wanted not just a controller that worked but one that looked cool and unique.  My parents live close to where Evil Controllers are located.  What better time to get an upgrade on my controller and meet the wonderful people who made gaming possible for me again.  I emailed Adam Cole, President of Evil Controllers, wondering if he remembered my custom controller they built for me and if I could get a few custom upgrades added to it.   Of course he remembered my controller; they are like parents, when it comes to their controllers.

How can parents ever forget one of their kids?

The plan was set. I was going to meet them and upgrade my controller. I went on vacation to see my parents.  It was Monday, November 22, 2010. I was so excited when we left Colorado at 2:00 am!  We arrived at Evil Controllers HQ at 1:15 pm.  I can’t express the feelings my inner nerd felt, as Adam showed me the inner lair, where nothing but evil things happen to controllers.

I can tell you this, Adam and the crew at Evil Controllers are always improving their ideas and products.  Adam talked me into replacing the buttons they originally put underneath on the right side.  The new ones were bigger and had half the pressure needed to press, something that could help you not to tire after several hours of intense gaming.  I had them add a blue LED to the center Xbox button, instead of the traditional green.  I wanted something different, then the regular black casing, so they added their awesome Skullz case.  Adam said it would take fifteen minutes to do.

In the mean time, he fired up the table arcade that was sitting in their main room.  After five minutes, I was still trying to figure out how to operate the darn thing; finally my wife and I were able to play some old classics from my childhood.  Time passed, I think more than fifteen minutes, but no worries I could have spend hours playing 1943.  He finally emerged with the new controller that I had envisioned.  What really impressed me about Adam was his need to make sure I was truly happy with the changes.  Wow, what awesome service!  I said, I believe it's all good, but time would only tell.  Whenever you change something your use to it can be hard to get use to the new change.

It’s been several weeks, since I trekked to the Evil place and I’m still reflecting on the visit.  My abilities have grown, while using my controller.  I have come to look at this controller as my best friend.  The feelings have yet to wear off.  I still get mad just like anyone else playing when you feel like you digital death was unfair or you felt like the controller rebelled against what you told it to do.  The difference is unlike my friends, I can’t throw my controller – it is too expensive to replace.

They really love what they do.  Adam has a heart to bring able gaming to those that were denied it before now. With the broad ranges of different disabilities, Adam and his crew have their work cut out for them.  I know this for sure, for me I got what I needed.  My skills are now only limited by my true ability and imagination.  I have evil intension, because of an Evil Controller, which I have dubbed Skull One.  This may sound like an advertisement for Evil Controllers, but I’m just a disabled gamer with the help of Evil Controller became an able gamer.  If anyone needs custom controller like mine, contact Evil Controllers and let Adam and them see what they can do for you.  I’ll see you all on the battlefields.