Important Considerations for the Adaptive Gaming Assessment

Determining the best adaptive controller for an individual can be a tricky process and it takes a lot of trial and error. However, before trying different controllers with someone, it is important to get to know the gamer to help decide which controllers, games, and setup will be best for them. Below is some important information to gather from the gamer prior to trialing different controllers.

  • Experience with Gaming

    It is important to know an individual’s comfort and experience with video gaming. Those who have gamed more recently or currently game will typically adapt quicker using an adaptive controller. However, those who have not gamed in a long time may take longer to adapt since they will be learning to navigate the video game system in addition to learning a new adaptive controller. Those with less experience and comfort with gaming may need to start with a simpler game or gaming setup.

  • Gaming Goals

    It is important to know the individual’s goals for gaming. Some gamers would like to get back to gaming at a competitive level while others want to game more casually for a recreational activity. The gamer’s goals will impact their individual setup and training process.

  • Types of Games

    Different video games will be easier or harder to play using adaptive controllers based on the number of controls needed to play, gameplay speed, and gameplay complexity. Therefore, it is important to ask what types of games the user wants to play. Those who want to play more difficult games, such as first-person shooter games, will need more controls in their setup and may need more training with the controller. Please see the Choosing Games section for more information.

  • Consoles

    The console that an individual plays on will impact multiple factors. First, it will determine what additional parts may be needed to get their adaptive controller to work on the console (see the Controller Connect Tool for more information). Second, it will impact what games are available on the console. The Nintendo Switch typically will have simpler games with less controls compared to the Xbox or PlayStation consoles. Finally, it will impact which accessibility settings are available on each console. Please see the Choosing a Console section for more information on the differences between consoles.

  • Controller Access

    It is important to know how an individual’s disability affects their ability to access the controller to determine which adaptations may work well for them. Some individuals may have progressive disabilities, and their motor function is changing over time. Therefore, it is important to choose a controller that will be able to adapt with the gamer so they can keep playing as their motor function changes. Some individuals’ disability may affect their memory and cognition. These individuals may benefit from starting with less complex gaming setups and games.

Optimizing the Adaptive Controller Setup

The controller setup should be optimized based on the user’s abilities and the game the user is playing. If using the Xbox Adaptive Controller, the joysticks and switches should be placed in strategic locations to optimize gameplay. If using the Quadstick, the profile should be configured for the specific game being played. The two most important factors for deciding the placement of controls are below.

FREQUENCY AND SPEED

Controls that need to be accessed frequently should be placed in locations that are the least fatiguing and easiest to access. These include controls like moving, jumping, dodging, attacking, shooting, and sprinting. Many of these controls also need to be accessed quickly, so they should be placed in a location the user can access with enough speed to successfully play the game. These controls should be prioritized over less frequently accessed controls or controls that don’t necessarily need to be accessed to successfully complete the game (e.g. throwing grenades in a first-person shooter game).

FINE MOTOR CONTROL

Controls that require precise adjustments, such as aiming, should be placed where the user has the most fine motor control. The thumb and index finger have the most fine motor control on the body, so this location should be prioritized if available. Hand controlled joysticks should only be used if the user has good wrist movement, or they will be using the larger muscles in their arm to access the joystick. Using the large muscles in the arms will be more fatiguing for the user and will not provide good fine motor control. If the user doesn’t have good movement at the wrist, a mouth-controlled joystick will be the next best option for fine motor control.