Recently, there has been news regarding a video game controller that was originally designed to be used by gamers with disabilities. A scandal involving some less than polite statements from PR representative have taken the focus off the controller itself. Despite this, the Avenger Controller is still a useful tool for gamers to use, whether or not they have a special need.
David Kotkin is a teacher who created a new type of video game controller for one of his students. The student had a disability that made it difficult for him to use a standard X-Box controller.
The student, Danny Lamarca, was sixteen years old, and was born with a skin condition called Epidermolysis Bullosa. This is a hereditary condition. This condition causes a person’s skin to be especially sensitive, and to blister easily. It also can affect the size of a person’s hands.
Together, those two issues made Danny unable to play the video games he loves. The standard video game controllers were not something he could use for very long. So, David Kotkin created an altered video game controller that Danny could use. The controller had strings attached to it that made it easier for Danny to reach the controls and triggers on the controller.
David Kotkin named this adapted controller “The Avenger”. It encases a standard X-Box controller, in order to make it easier for gamers with disabilities to use. Gamers without disabilities are also interested in the device, because it allows them to have more control, and less finger fatigue.
In other words, there are plenty of gamers that are interested in purchasing The Avenger controller. It is currently being made by a company called N-Control. The demand for this new type of video game controller exceeded the supply faster than expected.
One of the customers who pre-ordered The Avenger controller sent an email asking when it would arrive. To make a long story short, N-Control had hired Ocean Marketing to answer emails for them. That marketing company turned out to be just one person, a man named Paul Christoforo.
Unfortunately, Mr. Christoforo chose to answer the customer’s email with many, less than polite, comments. Details of the email conversations have gone viral across the internet. As a result, Mr. Christoforo is no longer employed, in any capacity, with N-Control.
Parents need to know that the current scandal involving The Avenger video game controller has nothing to do with the device itself. If your child loves to play video games, and The Avenger controller seems like something that would help him or her to be able to play, then you should consider getting one.
The controller was designed for gamers who have disabilities. It would be sad if this useful tool gets ignored simply because of the nasty comments from a person who isn’t even employed with the company that makes the controller anymore.
Image by CrazySphinx on Flickr