Super Mega Baseball 2: Mega Disappointment

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Short talks about baseball and how it along with Super Mega Baseball 2 has affected her life. Seen is the background for the game.

 

Super Mega Romance

Here is a personal story for you guys, I fell in love over baseball once. It was 2004, the Red Sox won the world series, and I met someone who was everything I was looking for. He was a geek, he was as much of a gamer as me, and he loved baseball with the same passion I did. We ended up with a Friday night tradition of playing MVP Baseball every week. It was a perfect combination of competitiveness, giggling, and trash talking. I looked forward to it every week. Doing this we knew the dynamic we had together and the rest is sappy/sad history.

 

Super Mega Backstory

Fast forward to a Cubs World series. Many things had changed. My disability had progressed past the point of easily playing console games. Here I was reconnecting with the man who I had played so much baseball with years before. There was only one logical thing to do. Play Baseball! Here was a problem though/ With me being a PC gamer only now, us actually finding a baseball game I could play was basically mission impossible. Seriously, EA, you have other sports on PC. Why no baseball?

 

Short talks about baseball and how it along with Super Mega Baseball 2 has affected her life. Seen a clip from Will Ferrell's Christmas movie "Elf"

 

Super Mega Baseball 2

I told you guys that story so you guys could understand how important the game Super Mega Baseball 2 is to me. Being a mouse only game and having multiplayer really was super important to me. It’s why I was so excited to recommend the original single player game to you. Sometimes a game is more than a game. I waited months for this game to release through delays and everything. I couldn’t wait to share the joys of a good baseball game with you guys and for my PC only gamers. To get to experience the bonding that I know a baseball game can bring means a lot to me.

 

Playing with Super Mega Friends

In May 2018 it launched and I bought it immediately! I checked the single player and it was still beautifully mouse only. I looked and one type of multiplayer seemed to be Steam friends only which can be problematic. If they’re people you would play with, but aren’t friends with like in my situation. I do love Ability Powered readers and play things with some of you, but I like having some privacy as well. But that wasn’t what saddened me… it was when I went to a mode called “Pennant Race”.

 

Super Mega Pennant Race

This mode has games to join with others of your skill then serves as a ranked play mode. I was immediately stopped by a pop up window saying that a controller is required for this mode. What? Did I seriously just buy a PC game that is trying to force me to play like a console? I reached out to Super Mega Baseball 2 developers: Metalhead Software.

 

Super Mega Outrage

I was told that this was due to, “..making sure the game was balanced..” since it was cross platform. I call shenanigans! As a disabled gamer, I know that you can actually play consoles with PC input. I also never have noticed another game having this issue. Do I score more goals in Rocket League using a mouse versus my peers on consoles using controllers? No way! Would I hit more home runs? No!

 

Super Mega Alienation

In “trying to balance” a game like Super Mega Baseball 2 by limiting inputs you are alienating part of your customers. I can not use a traditional controller to play games. Could I just play 2/3rds of a game and ignore the Pennant mode? Maybe, but no. I personally refuse to pay full price while being forced into a developer’s idea about what the right way to play a game is. Another concern is for PC gamers on a fixed budget  If you release a PC game, but require people to buy and use additional hardware, in this case a controller, why even release it on PC at all? For these reasons I can no longer recommend the Super Mega Baseball 2 series for you guys.

 

Super Mega Disappointment

At the end of the day limiting your player base into cookie cutter gameplay is just wrong, Requiring the purchase of additional hardware is just disappointing. Most importantly, alienating fans because they can’t physically use a controller is downright insulting. I hope you all out there contact Metalhead Software. Let them know how these developer behaviors are reversing accessibility efforts everywhere. If you feel the same betrayal let me know!

 

Find more Ability Powered opinions and thoughts here!

 

Global Accessibility Awareness Day

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Short explains the recent on-goings that help make the Global Accessibility Awareness Day even more important.

 

Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Hello, Ability Powered gamers! Global Accessibility Awareness Day is upon us once again. This year I can’t help, but think about how far accessibility has come since I was a baby gamer. I remember being at school playing on the Apple II. Since it was so far I’d have to hit the keys with a stick! Because not only was there no accessible computer software, but the computer desk wasn’t even accessible!

 

Accessibility Improvements

There is no doubt that we have come a long way since then. However, we still have so far to go! It seems like more and more often  I see companies making advances in inclusiveness. Microsoft developing Xbox’s Copilot mode, Special Effect developing EyeMine, and Electronic Arts launching an accessibility portal. All these things exist because of increased accessibility awareness!

 

Keep Up the Fight!

So keep up the good work humanity! Gamers, keep telling companies what we need and why it’s important. Companies and developers, keep listening to your customers and communities. Here’s to another amazing year of accessibility and to many more yet to come!

 

Find more Ability Powered News articles here!

 

World of Warcraft Castsequence Macro Concerns

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Short discusses the recent problems with World of Warcraft's Castsequence macro command. Seen is the Battle for Azeroth theme teaser.

 

A Developing Issue…

Hello, Ability Powered gamers! I thought it might be getting close to time to make an address. There’s been a growing concern hitting parts of our community in a big way. If you are fortunate enough to be in the World of Warcraft: Battle of Azeroth Beta, you may have noticed there is something still missing.

 

But What Is That?

Castsequence macros still have not been enabled. This is a huge problem for gamers’ with disabilities who rely on these macros to play. It is certainly not easy to test a game without the tools you need to properly play! However, it is not uncommon for a company to disable certain parts of a game for testing purposes. Previous World of Warcraft (WoW) Betas have definitely disabled macros and addons. There is rising concern in the community about their return.

 

Is It Time to Panic?

No. However, it is time to voice your concerns! Castsequence macros are an amazing accessibility feature for so many people in Azeroth. They allow players who have limited movement and energy, or gamers who play with pain issues the ability to navigate Azeroth easily. These players will be able to enjoy the game, and be active members of guilds; raid teams; and the overall community.

 

Do Castsequence Macros Make Players Overpowered?

Absolutely not. These macros can seldomly be used in a way to optimize any specialization’s rotation. They simply allow people to condense a few spells into one button. This is wildly important when you are playing WoW with limited range of motion.

 

Do Many People Actually Use This & why?

Well, let’s take a look

 

Short discusses the recent problems with World of Warcraft's Castsequence macro command. Seen is the Short in the WoW forums making her macro plea.

 

Short discusses the recent problems with World of Warcraft's Castsequence macro command. Seen is "Rockford" in the WoW forums supporting Short's macro plea.

 

Short discusses the recent problems with World of Warcraft's Castsequence macro command. Seen is "Blind Ryan" also stating about the need for macro support.

 

Short discusses the recent problems with World of Warcraft's Castsequence macro command. Seen is "Ewing" in the WoW forums supporting Short's macro plea.

 

Short discusses the recent problems with World of Warcraft's Castsequence macro command. Seen is "Minaah" in the WoW forums supporting Short's macro plea.

 

But What Can I Do??

First, don’t panic! We are still in Beta and it may be a temporary change, but definitely do start asking for conformation! Hit the forums, Tweet @WarcraftDevs, let your concerns be heard. Remember to keep it civil! Just ask when Castsequence macros are expected to be enabled and let them know why they are important to you. Why you need them to enjoy Azeroth to the fullest.

 

Commending Castsequence

Short in her custom World of Warcraft wheelchair as she discusses the issues with Castsequence macro losses.

Castsequence macros are an amazing accessibility feature in WoW. The effects of its removal would definitely be a tragedy for many Ability Powered gamers across Azeroth. But don’t take my word for it, read other gamers’ concerns and post your own! Check out more on-goings with WoW Alpha/Betas here!

 

 

 

 

Switch ‘N’ Shoot – Options for Accessibility

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Short show us the options for accessibility in the Steam game Switch 'N' Shoot. Seen in the game's main space invading screen.

 

Hello, Ability Powered gamers! Today’s game on Options for Accessibility is the Steam game of Switch ‘N’ Shoot. You can access its options by clicking or pressing the “A” button. This game can be played with only one button which is perfect for switch interface users!

 

Switch ‘N’ Shoot In-game Options:

Short show us the options for accessibility in the Steam game Switch 'N' Shoot. Seen is the in-game options that allows for color changing within making this good for those with visual impairments.

 

You can change the color of each aspect of the game in this menu improving accessibility for those with visual impairments.

 

Short show us the options for accessibility in the Steam game Switch 'N' Shoot. Seen is the in-game options that allows for color changing within making this good for those with hearing impairments.

 

It also has standard options for volume settings!

 

And there you have it, the accessibility options! You can find many other options for other games here! Have more questions? Ask in the comments!

 

Finding Paradise – Options for Accessibility

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Short displays the options for accessibility in the Steam game known as Finding Paradise. Here is the main loading screen featuring distance urban buildings

 

Hello, Ability Powered gamers! Today we’re checking out the Options for Accessibility for the Steam game Finding Paradise. The game starts in fullscreen and has no options on the main screen. You can force window mode by pressing “Alt+Enter” in Windows. It can NOT be done with On-screen Keyboard.

 

Finding Paradise In-game Options:

Short displays the options for accessibility in the Steam game known as Finding Paradise. Here we see the game having NO options available.

 

Right clicking opens this menu for saving, items, ect. THERE ARE NO OPTIONS!

 

And there you have it, the lack of accessibility options. You can find many other options for other games here!