Arcade Machine Handicapable Redesign

[p1899m]

I would basically make the game a table. Like a standard table that you can sit at with your legs under it. The table top would be thicker than a normal table and would flip up and open. this is where the main board and wiring for the controls would be. The controls would be built into the table top. This table design would have a back to it that had maybe 4in of depth. This area would house the power supply and the rest of the wiring. The monitor (if using a CRT) would be [part of the table top but would be angled sort of like a red tent housing with the monitor sitting on the table top.

 

[Phetishboy]

Yeah, you just need to make the controls accessible to a seated person without undue stretching or reaching, and the monitor at a height that makes viewing easy.

I patterned this (below) after the Space Invaders cab, with a wider front and a shorter height. Depth would be about the same. Coin slot moved up next to the monitor to be more accessible. Inset monitor allows control panel to be mounted in front without extending out from the cab. Control panel height would be about 2.5-3' off the floor, about the same height as a table. Should allow enough room for chair and legs underneath. Speakers above monitor like most cabs. Enough room up top for a marquee, and room around the monitor for a bezel. Adapt different classic cab artwork designs for the sides (Stargate, Pac-Man, etc) and you're good to go.

(I suck at sketchup - which is why there is no art on it - and apparently I can't share it for others to modify for their own use as I apparently either don't have a Google account or have forgotten how to login. if you'd like a copy of this to modify with art and such, pm me an e-mail and I'll send the file.)

Holy shit Stevie, you've outdone yourself. That looks awesome (and huge). [Yeah, that's what Fritz said.] And you asked earlier about what type of handicap. I was thinking paraplegic/can't walk stand but have the use of your arms. As a side note, Fritz is the only person in the world qualified as 'Uniplegic'.

 

[modessitt]

huge). [Yeah, that's what Fritz said.]

In that model, it's about 42" wide, 54" tall, and 36" deep. Could make it thinner or shorter. Depth would depend on the monitor size. Top angle could be changed for more monitor space, too...

 

[Tighe]

Hey Phet, there was a thread started about a Unique Ms Pac cabinet. Seems to me that it is very wheelchair accessible!

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=200440

 

[RalphT3]

Hey Phet, there was a thread started about a Unique Ms Pac cabinet. Seems to me that it is very wheelchair accessible!

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=200440

If you are in a wheel chair, depending how you sit-you'll be so far back from the screen all you see is ceiling. Plus there isn't much leg room.
That practically looks like a cocktail with a marquee installed at the 2nd player position.
The cocktail version of John Elway's Team Quarterback (or was it American Football, I know it was a football game) would give better leg room.

 

[AtariShag]

Among kids cabinets that have already been made, I've noticed that either a cocktail the size of Warlords works well or a Candy Cab as mentioned. I have kids bashing those machines all the time, especially the candy cab.

I've never seen one in person but there was that company from the 80s that made arcades just for kids that also included the pull out base so they could get higher.

Not many people know this but most racers since the late 90s have included an auto-gas function for people in wheelchairs or kids who can't reach the pedal. SF Rush2049 is the first I know of to do this.

My skills in autocad type programs sucks so I'll just have to share some other stuff I've seen to maybe provide some ideas.

Taito has a new game that's mostly for kids but adults can play too, kind of gets into the exergaming category:

Here's some modded NeoGeo cabinets seen in South Korea:

In Japan they still have a market for kids cabinets. Here's a pair of cabs made for Transformers:

One by Sega called Let's Go Elephant Bus

Taito's Hopping Road Kids

Andamiro's Pump It Up Jump

 

[Tighe]

If you are in a wheel chair, depending how you sit-you'll be so far back from the screen all you see is ceiling. Plus there isn't much leg room.

How is sitting in a wheelchair any different than sitting in a regular chair? It a person in a wheelchair sees the ceiling so would a person in a regular chair. Seems to me there is plenty of leg room.

6'3" dude playing it:

 

[JTVK]

Okay, as someone who has been in a wheelchair for most of his adult life... I believe I can contribute to this topic with some "insider perspective".
Here are some situations I have encountered at my local arcade.

- Controls too darn high!
Granted some uprights don't suffer from this, but the older games such as the streetfighter 2 CE's are tough without switching to a high barstool to play (which most of "us" can't do too easily.) Most Neo Geo cabs are cool in this area.


- Monitor too "deep" or at a bad angle

Think some versions of Time Crisis. (here is a pic: http://www.wailee.com/sys/lpic/Time_Crisis.jpg I can't seem to embed images)

With a monitor like that it is impossible for someone at the height of a seated person to see all areas of the screen.

Also forget about cocktails -- there was an old Arkanoid and Galaga '88 cocktail I used to enjoy, but everytime I wanted to play it I had to have help to transfer to a high Stool just to see the screen at all.

The leg room issue has alrady been discussed and solved to my satisfaction

Let me also just say that I fully support this project, and also think a Wheelchair Accessible Pinball would be a very nice project as well.

If there is any other way I may be able to contribute, let me know.

 

[Tighe]

Okay, as someone who has been in a wheelchair for most of his adult life... I believe I can contribute to this topic with some "insider perspective".
Here are some situations I have encountered at my local arcade.

- Controls too darn high!
Granted some uprights don't suffer from this, but the older games such as the streetfighter 2 CE's are tough without switching to a high barstool to play (which most of "us" can't do too easily.) Most Neo Geo cabs are cool in this area.


- Monitor too "deep" or at a bad angle

Think some versions of Time Crisis. (here is a pic: http://www.wailee.com/sys/lpic/Time_Crisis.jpg I can't seem to embed images)

With a monitor like that it is impossible for someone at the height of a seated person to see all areas of the screen.

Also forget about cocktails -- there was an old Arkanoid and Galaga '88 cocktail I used to enjoy, but everytime I wanted to play it I had to have help to transfer to a high Stool just to see the screen at all.

The leg room issue has alrady been discussed and solved to my satisfaction

Let me also just say that I fully support this project, and also think a Wheelchair Accessible Pinball would be a very nice project as well.

If there is any other way I may be able to contribute, let me know.

What do you think about that Ms Pac above?

 

[modessitt]

What do you think about that Ms Pac above?

I'd think it would be a better design if the monitor was tilted up more to make it more viewable and the CP stuck out a little more so that the person in the chair didn't have to lean forward to play. Not every handicapped person is completely mobile enough above the waist to lean forward for optimal viewing and playing posture...

 

[Tighe]

I'd think it would be a better design if the monitor was tilted up more to make it more viewable and the CP stuck out a little more so that the person in the chair didn't have to lean forward to play. Not every handicapped person is completely mobile enough above the waist to lean forward for optimal viewing and playing posture...

It would be awesome if the game could use the wheelchair's joystick if it had one!

 

[modessitt]

It would be awesome if the game could use the wheelchair's joystick if it had one!

If you disabled it so the player didn't drive all over.

Better might be a couple of arms that stick out with controls on each like the Star Trek Captain's Chair...

 

[Alpha-tron]

When Billy was alive, I talked to his father about hanging a LCD from the ceiling. Billy had MD.
Building a tiltable LCD tied to the ceiling wasn't hard to do. If you made a joint in the ceiling mount you could push it out of the way. As for the Control panel something wireless would have worked. This set up was for home use and for a PC.

I think building something Custom for one kid is easy. Building something custom to fit all handicapped people would be hard depending on their physical problems.

 

[Alpha-tron]

It would be awesome if the game could use the wheelchair's joystick if it had one!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wheelchair-...758?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aae593cce

 

[JTVK]

I'd think it would be a better design if the monitor was tilted up more to make it more viewable and the CP stuck out a little more so that the person in the chair didn't have to lean forward to play. Not every handicapped person is completely mobile enough above the waist to lean forward for optimal viewing and playing posture...

In addition to that, which is exactly what I would've said by the way... those of us who can lean forward, can't stay like that for an extended length of time; so no world records there.


I have no real artistry skills, so I can't draw you a picture of what I have in-mind other than my words.... but my ideal cab would actually have adjustable monitor and control-panel heights. Not possible when I was growing up because monitors were huge back then, but with todays' flat-panels... it's doable I think.

 

[modessitt]

Something like a Beachhead 2000 Deluxe setup with a screen that lowers down to the players height and position from above and an adjustable height/position control panel that extends out to their lap would probably be the ideal setup. It would easily be the best at adapting to various handicap levels...

 

[JTVK]

Something like a Beachhead 2000 Deluxe setup with a screen that lowers down to the players height and position from above and an adjustable height/position control panel that extends out to their lap would probably be the ideal setup. It would easily be the best at adapting to various handicap levels...

YES! Exactly!

 

[RalphT3]

Thread resurrection.
Saw this one on E-Bay and thought of this thread:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Magic-2-Ste...ps=63&clkid=6467222714373830902#ht_683wt_1185