 | 12:48 pm - ASCII Grip Playstation controller
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Since I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel in '92 I have paid attention to computer ergonomics. I don't do much typing now, and drawing has become quite a pain. But I'm not ready to give up gaming; I don't know how I would survive all the long evenings on my own without Japanese RPGs. So how to make gaming more ergonomic?
Back in the heyday of console gaming, a number of little companies made all manner of special controllers. The intent was not always to provide alternatives for people with disabilities, but some of these controllers are useful for single-hand playing, or playing with minimal use of the thumbs.
This is the ASCII Grip by Asciiware, a company that seems to have vanished without a trace. I bought it in mint condition for $20 on Amazon Marketplace. (Less than I've paid for some wrist braces.)
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This is a Playstation controller, so there is no provision for L3/R3, and obviously there are no analog sticks. In all the games I play, the functionality of the left stick is identical to the arrow pad. In early Playstation 2 games, L3 and R3, if used at all, merely provide short-cuts for actions that can be performed through menus. Sometimes the right stick is also used for short-cuts. In later games, the right stick and R3 often have to do with camera movement. (Camera movement can be useful, but it is rarely essential.)
With standard Playstation 3 controller; with Dragon Quest Playstation 2 controller.
My gaming area.
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