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Hacks Allowing Disabled Gamers To Play Guitar Hero

Posted by Soulskill on from the getting-out-of-hand dept.

angrymilkman writes "Here are two interesting new approaches where researchers modified the popular Guitar Hero game so it can be played by gamers with disabilities. Air Guitar Hero modifies the Guitar Hero controller so someone without limbs can play it by using electrodes attached to the user's residual arm. Blind Hero is a mod for Frets on Fire that uses a haptic glove that can turn visual feedback into haptic feedback, allowing blind gamers to play Guitar Hero songs." There have been a variety of Guitar Hero hacks in the past, including a custom drum pad for playing the guitar part, using the plastic guitar as a real instrument, and rocking out with your bike, but it's nice to see some more serious modifications showing up.

8 of 94 comments (clear)

  1. Brainless by isBandGeek() · · Score: 5, Funny

    What about people like me, with no brains, you insensitive clod!

    1. Re:Brainless by dontmakemethink · · Score: 4, Insightful

      What about people like me, that can actually play guitar!! Do you realize how hard it is to ignore the music I know how to play and instead play Simon Says?

      --

      War as we knew it was obsolete
      Nothing could beat complete denial
      - Emily Haines
    2. Re:Brainless by travbrad · · Score: 5, Informative

      +1

      I tried guitar hero and there were notes to play that weren't even in the song, and notes in the song that you weren't required to play. That's was very strange for someone who actually plays guitar. I even chose the 2 songs I knew how to play on a guitar, and failed miserably on both of them in guitar hero.

      Oh, and that new Best Buy commercial I saw tonight was pretty funny too. The chick says something about "I've always wanted to be a musician". I was thinking, "well gee maybe you should ya know..learn to play an instrument, instead of playing videogames".

    3. Re:Brainless by MistrBlank · · Score: 4, Insightful

      That's the point. Many people don't want to learn and/or are self conscious while trying to learn. A video game or simulation that makes it feel easy, while still emulating the motions and producing more pleasing results.

      Guitar Hero really is the next step in air guitaring... with a score.

    4. Re:Brainless by Cowmonaut · · Score: 4, Funny

      Whoa...

      Didn't realize Vorgon's came to Slashdot.

  2. Check the EULA for Guitar Hero 3 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Last time I checked, the EULA on the loading screen explicitly states that you are only licensed to use the software with an official Guitar Hero controller.

    I really like cool hacks like this, but I wonder how long it will be before someone starts to enforce it..?

    1. Re:Check the EULA for Guitar Hero 3 by joemod · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Maybe the EULA explicitly states that because Activision wants to stop 3rd companies from creating controllers for the game without getting a licence. 3rd companies can create unlicensed controllers but if users are not allowed to use them they are not going to buy them (at least that's the legal way). Anyway Activision may license controllers which are designed for impaired players free of charge or for very low fee.

  3. Hmm... non-blind might benifit from haptic too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I ponder if the haptic glove would help dyspraxic people like me play Guitar Hero. My hand-eye co-ordination leaves something to be desired; thusly Guitar Hero is impossible for me to play.

    What if there's any other such devices to replace dual-stick console controlers. Things like the 360 or Playstation 2 & 3 controler cause no end of problems to me (movement being one stick, looking being the other, but since they're the same motor action I often mix them up).

    Anyone else out there stuck with the same problems?