Hello, Ability Powered gamers! I had an exciting September. Thanks to being double featured as guest on two of my favorite podcasts!
Me and Leeta hung out and talked about World of Warcraft (WoW) in all its glory! Listen to us here: Behind the Avatar
Me, Stone and Leeta talk WoW and recent WoW Challenges rule changes! Check out these challenges here!
Find more of Ability Powered’s on-goings on our Short Notes column.
Better late than never! I just earned the [Level 110] Achievement! #Warcraft pic.twitter.com/ANP3WsAi3b
— Short (@AbilityPowered) September 5, 2016
Hello, Ability Powered gamers! Let’s talk a minute about World of Warcraft (WoW) expansions. Most of you guys know I spend the majority of my time in one place: Azeroth. I have been playing WoW for almost 10 years now. During my time in Azeroth, I have seen many expansions come and go. I was there through Wrath of the Lich King’s zombie invasions, Cataclysm’s elemental battles, and I have spent my fair share of evenings in Karazhan. An expansion always brings new things to see and opens your eyes to new adventure. Legion has been no exception.
Everyone is discovering new lands, dungeons, and features. Getting your artifact weapon opens your eyes to new powers. For me, it’s been different discoveries. Expansions come out about every two years which can be a pretty big span of time in the world of progressive disabilities. I started playing during the Burning Crusade, so Wrath was my first expansion launch. We rushed to Northrend and hit the content hard. We were questing, running dungeons, and exploring. Soon the guild started seeing level 80s. I was number 5. The 5th we needed for dungeons. During Cataclysm, Mists of Pandaria, and Warlords of Draenor I was progressively falling behind a little every expansion, but always within the top 10. The raid team marker. This time though, I wasn’t.
Starting Legion in Highmountain, I decided I was dedicating the day to leveling. I started a few hubs of quests and after an hour or so I noticed my arm was tired. I thought, eh no big deal. I mean I was doing lots of clicking, it’s expected. I kept going. Another quest hub and even moving my mouse was becoming harder. My poor night elf druid was having to stand around in dangerous areas with rapidly respawning enemies while I sat there to rest. Thankfully, group tagging in Legion saved her a few times. I eventually finished the quests, and made my way back to turn them in. Next I did what any druid with hurt pride could do. I fished!
Legion’s definitely pointing out how much my disabled has progressed since WoD. Leveling slower & taking more breaks but my fishing skill
— Short (@AbilityPowered) September 1, 2016
Fishing gives one lots of time to think. If I am getting tired just questing, can I complete my dungeons? I mean, I am a healer, I can’t slack in a dungeon. What about raiding? I have had at least one boss I really struggled with for TWO expansions. Is this going to be the expansion I have to hang up my tier? While everyone else was discovering new zones, I was discovering how much my Spinal Muscular Atrophy had progessed in two years. You don’t really notice any changes day to day, but comparing expansion to expansion it’s pretty apparent.
I don’t put this all out there to be a downer (I think we have had enough sad stories in Legion, right?) I do it because I know I’m not alone. I know people who are struggling with their own progression and game changes that are amplifying changes even more. If you are having problems in Azeroth, you aren’t alone. I understand how a new expansion can point out how things have changed in two years. I know it is borderline terrifying to start questioning your future in Azeroth.
I also write this because thinking and fishing aren’t always a bad thing. I made some more realizations between casts. This expansion is bringing new adventures for everyone, but even more so for me. It’s not the end of my adventure, it’s a more profound start. I am still going to complete my dungeons. I’ll just have to make sure I run with a group that doesn’t Leeroy Jenkins and force me to superman heal. I am still going to raid. But I’ll just have to really analyze mechanics and how to outsmart them. I am still going to quest and explore, but I’ll be spending a little less time keeping up with my own expectations of what I “Should” be doing. Instead, I’ll keep up with my personal pace instead.
So, Ability Powered gamers, I hope if you are struggling with changes you do something for me. Take a moment to find a bank and cast your line. Use this time to think about your own adventure. Remember that an adventure can come in any shape or form. This expansion may be like a raid boss. How? Well, each of us may use different strategies to get through it. Some may go at a slower pace or faster pace. Some may even wipe a few times, but we will get up; rebuff; and adjust strategies. We are a team and you are not alone.
Find more of Short’s on-goings over on the Short Notes section!
Gotta catch them… well… none of them. I have mostly not mentioned Niantic’s Pokémon GO for a pretty good reason. I can’t play. The game itself may be the biggest thing in my social media feed, but it’s not for everyone. Many Ability Powered gamers haven’t caught many, if any Pokémon. Why? Lack of accessibility options.
Photo courtesy of kegonline.com
The accessibility problems aren’t hard to find. The Daily Dot and Geeky Gimp have both covered Pokémon GO‘s issues perfectly. Social media has also been hopping with people who are outraged that there isn’t accessibility in the game. I say rage on! Let developers know you want accessibility in the game, but please keep in mind this isn’t an issue that is new. This is one game of many that need your rage, your voice. Don’t jump on the Pokémon GO bandwagon, jump on the game accessibility bandwagon. We have plenty of room!
I said I can’t play earlier, and I should clarify a bit. I could play. But I refuse to. My whole thing here at Ability Powered has always been trying to find any way I can to get you playing the games you want to play. Sometimes through tips or tricks and sometimes through addons or accessibility hardware. In Pokémon GO there is something that will help some Ability Powered gamers play the game at a very, very limited level. In the game it’s called “incense”.
Photo courtesy of kegonline.com
For gamers who can’t get out, incense can be used to bring Pokémon to you. There is a problem with this. Incense isn’t free. They start you out with one or two from what I am told and you have a chance at getting more when you hit certain levels. Hitting those levels would require extremely good luck with the incense supplied. And don’t get me started on Pokéballs. You need these things to play from your house. And this is where I am against encouraging people to do this.
Using this method you will have to pay for incense and eventually Pokéballs. They don’t refresh after a time period or have other methods of earning them from your home. At the end of the day, you are rewarding a company for excluding players. You are paying for a free game. You are paying them money for being bad. I refuse to do this or promote doing this.
I know this may be the first game that many are feeling excluded from, but this isn’t my first rodeo. Before starting Ability Powered I sat here watching friends post pictures of their amazing Minecraft creations and I wanted to play so bad. I Tweeted Notch begging for PC to add a move pad like the mobile version had. I looked for addons. Basiclly I tried everything. I understand how it feels to be the only person you know not playing a game. It takes me back to being in Junior High. One time while at the fair, a girl told me to go to the exhibits while her and my friend went to ride the rides since “I couldn’t ride any way”.
Exclusion sucks and that’s why I refuse to pay a company who has ignored an outpouring of requests for accessibility. I will enjoy seeing other peoples’ catches and turf wars… errrr gym control. Personally. I am not angry that people are playing, I want everyone to play and have fun. I also hope that this ends up being the game that brings so many voices saying “Game accessibility isn’t optional!” That it will be a roar in game developers’ ears. So dear Ability Powered gamers, don’t open your wallets to Pokémon GO… raise your voice for game accessibility!
Find more of my thoughts and opinions here!
Logo Property of Game Skinny
We are beyond honored to be featured by Game Skinny in their article: “Disability and the Power of Gaming: Four Organizations or Groups That Should Be on Your Radar“. Special Effect has always been a Tweet away any time I have questions and to be listed beside them is… well, speechless! Check out the article now!
Find more Ability Powered updates on our Short Notes section!
Hello, Ability Powered gamers! It’s that time again! The time of year when your wallet better run and hide. The Steam Summer Sale 2016 is here and it is wrecking wallets everywhere! So if you’re a mouse only gamer wondering if you should get in on some of these sweet prices you should! Now you won’t have the fear of having a game that isn’t friendly to mouse only gamers! Here’s my list of the Top 5 Mouse Only Games to Buy During Steam Summer Sale 2016!
You guys know I have a guilty pleasure of playing quick little casual games while I am playing other games. Like if I am waiting for my World of Warcraft game to start, I like to be playing something to occupy the time. Turbo Pug is definitely a go to! You play it with one button! You left click to jump and that is it! Your pug automatically runs through the stage and it’s your job to help him jump over things that will kill him. You do have to quickly click occasionally. You can check it out here: Turbo Pug
I can’t explain how great and what a surprise this game was. I have been burned by so many pinball games. “Press A and L” Are you kidding me?!? I can’t simultaneously press two on-screen keyboard buttons! I picked up Rollers of the Realm since a pinball role play game was way too interesting to pass up. I started checking out options (video coming soon) and I was floored! Fully remappable?? FINALLY a developer that gets it! I have spent hours in this game and can’t praise it enough! Check it out here: Rollers of the Realm
A mouse only platformer. Sold? I was! Beatbuddy is an adorable game where you swim your way through levels. You actually play with two mouse buttons! It’s the first platformer I had played in forever, and I am impressed at how well you can do with just a mouse. Check it out here: Beatbuddy:Tale of the Guardians
This game is hard. This game is brutal. This game is unbelievably mouse only friendly! I could sit here and tell you all about how accessible it is, but I already have! Here is my full accessibility report! You can check out the game on steam at: Darkest Dungeon
Oh Don’t Starve, how I love thee. Let me count the ways. I love thee click to move. I love thee mouse only combat, crafting, building, and well everything! It doesn’t matter if you want Don’t Starve and expansions, Don’t Starve Together, or Don’t Starve Shipwrecked they are all super mouse only friendly! They also let you make the game as easy or hard as you want since you can customize the worlds! Check it out here: Don’t Starve
There are my top 5 mouse only games to buy during the Steam Summer Sale 2016. What are some of your suggestions? Leave me a comment below and let me hear your suggestions! What are you picking up during the sale?
If you wanna find more of my thoughts and opinions then find them here!