The Wheel Life Problems podcast is podcast hosted by Twitch streamers Brandon, Bill and Ricky, and accessibility advocate James. Each fortnight the team talk about accessibility in video games, tech-related disability issues and anything else that’s caught their attention.
In episode it's all hands on deck as the team sets sail into the murky waters of software piracy. Is it justifiable where accessibility is concerned or should software pirates be made to walk the plank?We also find out more about Brandon's recent trip to Tenno-Con, the Warframe convention in London, Ontario (that's in Canada!) and learn more about what Digital Extremes are doing to accommodate disabled attendees at their events.
It's Episode 17, and this time the team talk conventions and attending them with a disability. It's summer time again (at least for those of us in the northern hemisphere,) so travel and holidays are discussed. Also, why does James hate Shrek so much, what's up with Virginia Beach, and how does Ricky's butt work?
Gotta go fast! It's speed-running time as Summer Games Done Quick comes to Twitch with anotherfundraising event for Doctors Without Borders. In this episode The team talk about SGDQ, thepractice of speed-running videogames and what gamesthey would speed-run. There's talk aboutaccessible arcades and what can be done to make the experience more disability-friendly.
As mentioned:
* The SGDQ Youtube playlist:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-iuhGwCMjI&list=PLz8YL4HVC87USVEr0JdH8jvQhCoKjMR3G*
The wheelchair-accessible arcade cabinet:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n066nQ9ChqM
It's E3 time, which means a massive amount of new game announcements, trailers, footage andmore! In this episode Bill and James discuss what games they were most excited by. The episodewas also streamed live on Twitch, so there are contributions from thelive audience too.
As mentioned:
* Xbox Live at E3-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeYQ-kPF0iQ
* Bethesda live at E3-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C44eS4LyZJA
* Nintendo Direct E3 2019-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr9eAtwcYlo
* Ubisoft E3 2019-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHBpttdh24k
Episode 014In this episode of Wheel Life Problems we're joined by a guest, gamer and streamer Disabled Tronwho shares his experience with games, disability and streaming on Twitch.
As mentioned:* Disabled Tron's Twitch channel-https://www.twitch.tv/the_disabled_tron
It's all movies on this special film-themed episode of Wheel Life Problems. Ricky, Bill and James talk about Detective Pikachu and the new Sonc the Hedgehog film trailer. There's talk on which game to film transitions have worked the best, and which games would make excellent movies. What films would you like to see made into games? The team discuss this too. Finally the podcast covers representations of disability in film. As mentioned: * Disability, Representation and the X-Men - https://thebias.com/2017/10/31/disabilityrepresentation-and-the-x-men/ * Am I Disabled or a Mutant? - http://disabilityhorizons.com/2016/05/am-i-disabled-or-a-mutant/ * The Sonic the Hedgehog trainler - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvvZaBf9QQI
Episode 012Due to some actual Wheel Life Problems Brandon and Bill couldn't make the recording so it's justRicky and James this week having an unplanned and unstructured chat about whatever comes tomind. Topics covered include Transistor and being letdown by games you really want to like, Chessand Monopoly, Mortal Kombat's accessibility features compared to the previous versions, old sportsgames and why we do podcasts. Next week normal service should resume!
As mentioned:* Transistor-https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/product/transistor/home
Episode 011
In this episode we talk about the release of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and the subsequent furore over difficulty in games and how it relates to accessibility. We also chat about inter-able couples and finding love as a disabled person.
As mentioned:
* I beat Sekiro's final boss with cheats and I feel fine - https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/i-beat-sekiros-final-boss-with-cheats-and-i-feel-fine/
* An Easy Mode Has Never Ruined A Game - https://kotaku.com/an-easy-mode-has-never-ruined-a-game-1833757865
* We've Always Made Our Own Easy Modes. 'Sekiro' Is No Exception - https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/article/vbw9vb/weve-always-made-our-own-easy-modes-sekiro-is-no-exception
* easy mode is NOT a participation trophy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-11LhWC19TU&feature=youtu.be
* God of War director: accessibility isn't at odds with creative vision - http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/340383/God_of_War_director_accessibility_isnt_at_odds_with_creative_vision.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GamasutraNews+%28Gamasutra+News%29
* Terry Cavanagh, designer of Super Hexagon's thoughts on game accessibility - https://twitter.com/terrycavanagh/status/1115222285311463424
* Why We Turned Down Dr. Phil [CC] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prjdlTVT5uk
In episode 10 we discuss Google and Apple's plans to enter videogames with Google Stadia and Apple Arcade, and whether these will be accessible to players with disabilities. There's also some discussion on the EU's new Article 13 regulation and how it will affect fair use and copyright for vloggers and streamers. This episode was also the first so far to be recorded while simultaneously live streamed on Twitch.
As mentioned…
Google Stadia: https://store.google.com/magazine/stadia
Apple Arcade: https://www.apple.com/uk/apple-arcade/
Article 13 Explained (Wired): https://www.wired.co.uk/article/what-is-article-13-article-11-european-directive-on-copyright-explained-meme-ban
Article 13: Memes exempt as EU backs controversial copyright law (BBC News): https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-47708144
Music for the podcast is provided by Cathran Music - https://twitter.com/cathranmusic