Going to Great Lengths to Play A Game

If a picture is worth a thousand words; what are videos worth?  After a tip from a fellow AbleGamer, we decided to check out a post listed on the PlayStation forums about a gentleman who managed to create a gaming rig for a PlayStation 3 out of switches.

Enter KitsuneNoYume aka Kit Windsor, a 27-year-old from Northridge California with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.  Kit had a dream, being a huge fan of the final fantasy series; he was determined to be able to play the next installment due out in 2009/2010.  However, with limited mobility, how would this be possible?

Kit began contacting engineer after engineer, hoping that one of them would come up with an idea to be able to play a console game with the limited mobility that he has.  At first, the mission seemed almost impossible.  No engineers wanted to tackle the problem and the ones that did want to try, would charge Kit thousands of dollars.  Those on government disability checks simply do not have that kind of money to spend on a console gaming system.

Just as all hope seemed be lost, Kit found a website devoted to selling equipment to the disabled to improve their quality of life called Gimp Gear that quoted a price of around $600 for what he wanted.  An engineer named Mark Felling from gimp gear sat down with Kit to go over the switch designs that could possibly allow him to get back in the game.  Kit had his own design, which would eventually be improved upon by Mr. Felling in order to accomplish the dream.

The design works off the abilities that Kit still has, such as foot movement that allows him to use the directional controls.  There are several switches at work in the system including a few drilled into a cutting board for use with his right hand, some on each foot, a clicker in his left hand, a switch next to his cheek, as well as a sip and puff switch.

There are several videos, which demonstrate the use of his system that can be seen on YouTube.  He can use approximately 16 switches simultaneously with this setup as it was originally designed.  However, this system was just not good enough for him!

Thanks to the generous donations of people just like you watching his amazing determination to realize his goals, Kit was able to purchase a P switch.  Sometimes known as a muscle twitch switch, the P switch is a very simple device that places sensors in a headband or wristband, which can tell when a user is firing that particular muscle.  The sensor acts as another button that can be assigned to aid his gameplay.  Kit demonstrates the use of the P switch in his latest YouTube video.  Fortunately, the annoying sound on the device can be turned off.  The piercing shrill signaling the activation of the sensor every time you jump would be enough to turn the device off if there was not a silent mode.  The total cost of the entire system comes in at just over $1200.

Kit is not just another lazy gamer, he also runs his own blog named The Gaming Kitsune where he does reviews on video games, which he plays with his gaming rig.  His philosophy on games is that "games can have a very positive effect on people, even people with no limitations whatsoever."

When asked how much the ability to get back into the game means to him, his response was "It means a lot and I am ridiculously into final fantasy and (that) was the inspiration to work so hard to build a solution.... There is always a solution to accomplish anything you are truly dedicated to even (if) not in a so-called normal kind of a way."

AbleGamers believes that everyone deserves a chance to play whatever videogame he or she is into no matter his or her disability.  It is truly inspirational to see someone have enough determination to continue reaching for a dream that is nearly impossible without technological aid, despite the naysayers.  Kit's final sentiment to me was that "If you try hard enough and are willing to make reasonable compromises you can accomplish just about anything you want. My belief is that to respect life is to never give up and keep pushing forward until you collapse."

We hope you will take the lessons taught to us by this resilient individual as a wakeup call.  If you have a disability that can be aided by technology, never give up on figuring out a way to achieve your goal.  Design a system, think of an idea, and dream a dream.  Then find someone to work with you to make it happen.  Nothing in life that is worth doing comes easily.  Feel free to contact us if you need help coming up with a system that is right for you.

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kru5Gbx1awk]