More than a billion people are declared in a situation of handicap worldwide. In France only: 12 million people live with a disability (INSEE 2020), 20% of French people, in need of some adaptive solution if they want to access video games.
With the HitClic company, known for its HandiGamers project, Blacknut has worked in providing a liable platform and guaranteeing compatibility to adaptive controllers.
According to numerous studies, the cognitive, therapeutic and educational virtues of video games are well established. They are also a real means of escape for gamers with disabilities.
This is the reason why Blacknut wanted to make sure to make its Cloud Gaming service, and all 500 games in the catalog, were fully compatible with all the gamepads developed by HitClic.
Controllers are still a mass market standardized today for players with two hands and ten fingers. At Handigamers the mission is to provide a solution adapted to the needs of each one.
From the simple reassignment of keys, to a complete tailor-made controller, the solutions are just as numerous as the cause of handicap. The challenge is to figure out how to play with one hand, with the feet, the chin or even the mouth.
Explains David Combarieu, founder of Handigamer and HitClic.
He has developed a range of game controllers: digital or analog, in shapes and sizes adapted to the motor skills of each player.
New console releases often come as ablow to players with disabilities. Following the example of what happened with Sony. Even when they had invested in fitting solutions and used tailor-made peripherals to enjoy a PS4, handigamers discovered that this technology would no longer be compatible with the new PS5. Players who feel forgotten in this evolution and who must order new controller upgrades if they still want to enjoy the latest games.
Cloud gaming, an alternative for disabled gamers.
Blacknut’s team was able to benefit from David's expertise to ensure that the interface of their Cloud Gaming application is easily accessible to as many people as possible. After numerous tests and corrections, Blacknut can now guarantee a solution compatible with all gamepads developed by HitClic, either directly wired to the computer or by plugging them into the Microsoft Xbox Adaptive Controller, itself 100% compatible with Blacknut’s platform.
Our mission at Blacknut has always been to simplify access to video games. Controllers compatible with Blacknut games will remain so and players with adapted needs can enjoy the entire existing catalog, as well as the new games added. every month, without fear of having to find new technical solutions.
Explains Olivier Avaro, founder of Blacknut.
While video games can never become 100% accessible to everyone, since each disability situation is unique, Blacknut and HitClic are proud to offer a solution that offers video games for all ages and the whole family to as many people as possible.