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Your typical videogame controller mod is usually for looks, style or function. But rarely are they ever for necessity.

Dedicated gamer KitsuneYume of the PlayStation boards had to mod his controllers, though, as his condition leaves him unable to use a regular hand-held game controller. Inspired by some of the hottest upcoming games, KitsuneYume made things work, working with an engineer to devise an adaptive controller to help him get his game on.

From his posts on the PlayStation message boards:

One day I was looking at a trailer for Final Fantasy 13, Killzone 2 and Mirrors Edge. I was like... I have to definitely play FF13 because I love it with all my heart... the series I mean. Ever since I played 2/4 I have been hooked. I sat there thinking of ways I could play it and finally came up with this. Me and a guy from Minnesota built and design this controller together. 

KitsuneYume worked with broadenedhorizons.com and a gentleman named Mark Felling of GimpGear to create his custom controller, which uses movements of his tounge and sips or puffs of air in straws to control games.  Fingers and toes help round out many of the other controls.

Kitsune's goal was to share the news with others that may be handicapped, letting them know that a solution is available. Good on him, and good on the the people that are helping him out, including an unnamed donor that paid for some special switches he needed.

In another post he says, "Since 1986 I have lived for gaming and will continue to do so for eternity."

KitsuneYume, you are an inspiration to gamers everywhere, living proof that you can't keep a good gamer down. See you online, man.


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20 comments | showing # 1 to 20

BlindsideDork's Avatar
BlindsideDork at 11/11/2008 13:19
It is amazing and really makes you think...
BlindsideDork's Avatar
BlindsideDork at 11/11/2008 13:26
I really don't think they should jump on this guy...First off you want to be careful with who you put in the spotlight

I think your heart might be in the right place (or not) but it probably isn't the best of routes. You really have to tread lightly in these topics.
kingnothing997's Avatar
kingnothing997 at 11/11/2008 13:29
That's really awesome, and I'm extremely happy that this worked out. It'll be a big help for all of the other handicapped gamers out there.
rpbowlinggod's Avatar
rpbowlinggod at 11/11/2008 13:30
call me inspired right now. Also, I'm going to take credit vicariously cause the guy that helped him is from MN. He also (if I remember right) helped another kid who likes pc shooters, designed him an apparatus to help him out with that.
Mushman's Avatar
Mushman at 11/11/2008 13:41
Now that's awesome. :)
Drach's Avatar
Drach at 11/11/2008 13:42
@_@ Wow.
When I was 12 years old my father had a stroke, and I've always wondered how I could still play a video game with him. Nintendo Power had a similar article years ago. The user rigged up a voice recognizer along with an analog stick that the kid controlled with his chin. (mind you I believe this was in the NES days, so your average game only had 2 buttons, 4 at most). I'm really impressed. Overcoming something like this and being able to play games must make this guy feel awesome. It made me a little happier inside to see that even a gamer who can't move his arms and legs too well is now set up to pwn some noobs!
BlindsideDork's Avatar
BlindsideDork at 11/11/2008 13:50
I just looked it up and turns out he has Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy in case you were wondering.
RoninZero's Avatar
RoninZero at 11/11/2008 13:58
this made my day when I saw this. Officially inspired and proud that gamers will over-come all obstacles, just to pwn n00bs. Keep gaming dude, you rock.

And special big thanks to the people that helped him out.
Mikey's Avatar
Mikey at 11/11/2008 13:58
Hah! Beat you to it!

But yeah, this kid is amazing.
Steve Vice's Avatar
Steve Vice at 11/11/2008 14:06
This is the most touching gaming "news" since the mother obsessed with animal crossing.
Drack48's Avatar
Drack48 at 11/11/2008 14:15
This guy is amazing, I've often thought that I could live with just about anything as long as I had my hands and eyes to play games..but this guys is an inpiration and makes me feel shame at all the things I take granted.
CALkulon's Avatar
CALkulon at 11/11/2008 14:17
@MotoRobo:

You'd have to be ridiculously naive to think it'd make sense to make a commericial version of this, it'd be a massive money sink.


Anyway, kudos to the guy. It's one hell of an effort, I can only admire him.
MisterMingo's Avatar
MisterMingo at 11/11/2008 15:06
It really makes me happy to see articles like this. I have the same condition as the guy in the video (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy) and am an avid gamer. I have to look around for alternative controllers for my gaming. Analogue triggers are too hard for me to push, for example.

I'm also familiar with Broadened Horizons and have been looking in to setups like this for myself when my disease inevitably worsens.

Awesome article. Thanks for posting this.
shinryu108's Avatar
shinryu108 at 11/11/2008 15:38
word. enjoy, K. you're #1.
myheadsonfire's Avatar
myheadsonfire at 11/11/2008 15:44
Wow, nice! Very impressive and resourceful. I hope other people can take advantage of this.
GohanGVO's Avatar
GohanGVO at 11/11/2008 15:55
Bravo. Keep on keepin' on, fellow gamer.
boatorious's Avatar
boatorious at 11/12/2008 05:49
Very, very cool. Although I can't believe the name of that website.
Batthink's Avatar
Batthink at 11/12/2008 06:37
Wow, he can play Wipeout in his condition, and play it well. O_O
Ninjasnake's Avatar
Ninjasnake at 11/13/2008 17:22
That's awesome. It's be really bad ass if he got onto killzone online and totally whooped every ones ass.
junglistgamer's Avatar
junglistgamer at 11/14/2008 12:19
So fucking amazing, i can't put into words how genuinely moving this news is. It would be an honour to have my ass kicked at Wipeout by such a man if what Batthink says is true :)
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