On November 24th 2024, the Zero Day Camp teamed up with Adaptive Design Association and the NYC Metro Chapter of Makers Making Change to host a unique hackathon event. The goal? To create accessible arcade machines that would empower individuals of all abilities to experience the joy of gaming.
Why Accessible Gaming Matters
Gaming is more than just entertainment; it’s a powerful tool for learning, socializing, and creativity. Unfortunately, many games are designed with able-bodied players in mind, leaving out a significant portion of the population. By making games more accessible, we can open up new worlds of opportunity for people with disabilities.
The Power of Makecode Arcade
One of the key tools used during the hackathon was Makecode Arcade, a user-friendly platform that allows anyone to create their own games. This platform is particularly well-suited for accessible gaming because it offers a high degree of customization. By modifying the code, developers can:
- Simplify game mechanics: Reduce the number of buttons required or slow down the pace of the game.
- Adjust difficulty levels: Tailor the challenge to the player’s skill level.
- Implement visual and auditory cues: Provide additional feedback to help players understand what’s happening on the screen.
- Integrate assistive technologies: Connect external devices like switches to control the game using alternative access methods and body parts.
- Variety of hardware options for game play: Makecode Arcade games may be played on a variety of DIY hardware options including web browsers, xBox consoles, and Raspberry Pi computers. Making this a cost efficient platform to access games.
Building Accessible Arcade Machines
During the hackathon, volunteers worked together to construct cardboard arcade machines and modify them to support switch access. This involved:
Cardboard Console Build
Using 3- ply cardboard called Triwall and high heat glue guns, the arcade cabinets were fabricated to house 2 player joystick layouts, the Raspberry Pi Zero computer, as well as a standard monitor. Thank you to Materials for the Arts for monitor donations for this event!
Wiring Up the Joysticks
The Raspberry Pi Zero board served as the gaming console running a custom image of the Makecode Arcade platform. Volunteers soldered headers and wired connections between the gaming buttons and joysticks to the Pi. With a bit of hiccup along the way, apparently the Pi Zero 2 W does not support this image at this time.
Soldering Mono Jack Connections
To make the console accessible to users who utilize custom switches, volunteers soldered connections to mono jack plugs that are added to the front of the cabinet to allow access to the AB and joystick buttons.
Final connections
Once the wiring is secured in place, the controller segment and monitor are inserted into the cabinet and fastened.
Custom Game Coding
Volunteers were introduced to the Makecode Arcade development environment. This web based environment supports block based coding allowing for a novice friendly introduction to creating games. Additionally, there are a variety of self paced tutorials on the main page to learn development. We managed to port one of the developed games onto the arcade; a remix of space destroyers featuring pizzas and sharks in space.
A Call to Action
Thank you so much to all the amazing volunteers who came out to make this project happen. The consoles will be polished up over the next few weeks and will be delivered to various schools throughout the NYC metro area.
Please consider making a financial contribution to continue these types of projects to Adaptive Design Association and the NYC Chapter of Makers Making Change.
If you would like to build one of your own arcades, build instructions are available here. Thank you to BPL Incubator for supporting this project, Microsoft for the initial instructions, and rolfebox for the arcade pattern.