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Quadriplegic Gamer Petitions For Remappable Controls
A petition has been issued that encourages game developers and console manufacturers to incorporate custom button mapping for game controls, specifically Zipper, Infinity Ward, Treyarch, Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. A feature prevalent in PC titles, remappable controls allow players to assign action buttons to specific controller buttons in a way that suits the person's play style.
This petition was created by Chuck Bittner, a gamer who is quadriplegic. The appeal states:
"This is a request for the ability to change video game button configurations in today's games. Remapping is the choice to move button commands (jump, duck, attack etc.) from A to button B. The time for full button customization in games is here. This petition is from my perspective as a disabled gamer who finds many games unplayable because of my inability to reach buttons, but also for millions of gamers who find today's game presets don't meet their needs."
So why not just get a custom controller made? They're expensive; some at a cost much higher than the console itself. The petition has already received nearly 1,400 signatures.
In order to play games, Bittner uses his face to control joysticks and press face buttons on a standard controller. Watch him get a few kills in Call of Duty.
Recently, Randy Fitzgerald, or "NoM4d" as he is known in the Major League Gaming circuit, struggled with aiming in Call of Duty with the game's default controls because of his disability. Infinity Ward released a patch that assisted with aiming and named it after his Gamertag. The pro gamer also plays with his mouth and chin.
What do you think? Should standard console games include remappable controls?
Thanks for the news tip, Chuck!
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