Wow, what a great press release to wake up to. Benjamin Heckendorn (BenHeck) and eDimensional, Inc. have teamed up to offer the Access Controller, a mass-produced video game controller that only requires one hand to operate.
This modular controller features everything you’d find on a regular one, from analog sticks to shoulder buttons and a d-pad. Each module can be repositioned depending on gaming style or the user’s specific needs and it even comes with a built-in wrist guard.
The Access Controller’s concave bottom is designed to rest on a table or one’s leg and is also said to be well-balanced for optimal responsiveness. It also uses 2.4 GHz wireless technology for added convenience.
Michael Epstien, CEO of eDimensional stated “We could not be more pleased to team up once again with Ben to make his vision of a readily-available single-handed controller a reality. It has become a mission for our company and a truly rewarding experience that we are fortunate to be a part of.” Heckendorn and eDimensional previously teamed up to offer the AudioFX Pro 5+1 headset system.
The Access Controller is currently available for pre-order at the eDimensional website. It is expected to ship in August of this year. It supports PC, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 gaming and will sell for $129.95 USD.
That may sound pricey, but I’m sure it will help many gamers become a little more able to enjoy their favourite hobby with more ease and less frustration. Also, a portion of all proceeds from sales of the Access Controller will be donated to Children’s Hospital and Veteran Affairs Medical Centers.
I’ve already pre-ordered one of these to test out and review. Even though I’ve gotten used to two-handed gaming over the years, there certainly are times I wish I could do it with one hand without having to contort myself.
Let’s hope Microsoft and Nintendo allow these guys to produce controllers for their systems as well, the demand is obviously there and great enough for a company to invest in.