Handheld games that require only one hand? (For a bedridden friend)

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He's in his early twenties and has been in the hospital with a serious headwound for about a month. He has some eyesight in both eyes, but at this point he can only open one eyelid, so his sight is limited. Until he enters the rehab stage (might be a while), he can only move his left side.

The nurse said that it would be a good idea for him to keep moving his hand to keep his dexterity up. She suggested a Gameboy. Looking at the list of original Gameboy games @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_games_for_the_original_Game_Boy I don't see any that fit the one-handed bill.

What I'm looking for is something simple, not too many buttons, maybe sound-based. He's pretty out of it (has a hard time getting words out) and probably won't remember his hospital time once he gets out, but he just kinda lays there all day and could use something to do to pass the time.

― mattc (Cheek0), Tuesday, 8 August 2006 03:10 (twenty years ago)

somebody has to be the douche who says masturbation so it might as well be me

― electric sound of jim [and why not] (electricsound), Tuesday, 8 August 2006 03:12 (twenty years ago)

fair enough

― Cheek0 (Cheek0), Tuesday, 8 August 2006 03:15 (twenty years ago)

most phone games can be played one handed i think right? i can't think of much else besides thumbwrestling though. i see various rinkydink sudoku videogame gameboy type things around - i'm sure one of these somewhere must be manageable with one hand. not remotely as entertaining but any of various grip exercisers might be useful. tell him good luck.

― j blount (papa la bas), Tuesday, 8 August 2006 03:17 (twenty years ago)

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0001GBRO6.01-AJQTG9J4M7YF8._AA250_SCLZZZZZZZ_V64235052_.jpg

Needs a tv though.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 8 August 2006 03:22 (twenty years ago)

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0001GBRO6.01-AJQTG9J4M7YF8._AA250_SCLZZZZZZZ_V64235052_.jpg

Needs a tv though.

And this is even better.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 8 August 2006 03:23 (twenty years ago)

If he can grip a thin stylus, take a look at a DS with maybe Animal Crossing or Electroplankton. You might have to rig a support under the DS.

― Jaq (Jaq), Tuesday, 8 August 2006 03:23 (twenty years ago)

Also, there's a thumb or fingertip stylus that might be useful if holding a skinny piece of plastic is difficult.

― Jaq (Jaq), Tuesday, 8 August 2006 03:31 (twenty years ago)

From what I've seen, Electroplankton seems just right. He's always been huge into listening to and creating music, mostly electronic. I've never played the game - is it the kind of thing you can play with one hand and not look at? Can you just kind of wiggle the stylus on the touchscreen and listen to the sounds? I ask because I'm not sure if the DS screen is large enough for him to see at this point.

The cell phone game recommendation is the right idea, but the screen may be too small and I can't think of a way to magnify it.

If we can get a TV next to his bed, the joystick would be great. It's big and simple. Pong only requires one hand, any others?

― Cheek0 (Cheek0), Tuesday, 8 August 2006 03:38 (twenty years ago)

Why not bring him a small keyboard with headphones? Electroplankton needs looking at - you have to make selections, change various points. Although two of the plankton (one looks like snowflakes, the other like wedges) are great for just dragging the stylus through - it could be a good thing if someone were there to set things up. The DS screens are small.

― Jaq (Jaq), Tuesday, 8 August 2006 04:00 (twenty years ago)

Cubefield - Not handheld but gameplay only requires two fingers. This could work for your friend because it demands a lot of dexterity but has a pretty sharp learning curve, so you soon start weaving like a cubemaster. It devours time.

― A Giant Mechanical Ant (The Giant Mechanical Ant), Tuesday, 8 August 2006 05:13 (twenty years ago)

At this point a laptop is out of the question, so until that's possible I'll probably check out the DS w/ Electroplankton and just have someone set up whichever minigame suits him best.

Thanks for the suggestions.

― Cheek0 (Cheek0), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 12:18 (twenty years ago)

If you want a thumb/finger stylus for him to try, drop me a line and I'll send off the one I've got. It came as part of an accessory kit and I don't use it.

― Jaq (Jaq), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 13:28 (twenty years ago)

THIS REQUIRES NO HANDS

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/5577/robvx7.gif

― heavyweight grebt (sanskrit), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 13:39 (twenty years ago)

Some rpgs would work, I've managed to play final fantasy 4 and final fantasy tactics on the GBA with one hand before. As long as the battles aren't time based it's no more difficult.

― Cressida Breem (neruokruokruokne?), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 14:04 (twenty years ago)

Maybe they are right about nu-ILX. This thread is disappointingly sober and helpful.

― Edward III (edward iii), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 14:26 (twenty years ago)

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