A few weeks ago, our Galway offices were buzzing with excitement as we welcomed members of the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) to test out our new, still-under-construction gaming space and the of course, the Proteus Controller. The event was a fantastic opportunity to gather invaluable feedback and witness firsthand the impact of the Proteus Controller.

A Day of Discovery and Fun

Our visitors brought a range of experiences and use cases with them, making it a unique challenge to find the perfect controller configuration for each individual. The Proteus Controller, designed to be highly adaptable, allowed us to tailor each setup to the specific needs of all in attendance.

Memorable Moments from the Session

Abby’s Breakthrough

Some of the members just came to the session out of curiosity and were not expecting to find something to work for them. Abby had struggled to play games independently, as had given up trying as she often found it frustrating having to reply on someone to help her when she got to a part of a game that required her using buttons that she could not access on a standard controller.

Abby decided to give the Proteus Controller a go, and we whipped up a one-handed table top configuration and Abby was able to play her first game independently in 15 years! Her excitement was palpable as she shared, “It blew my mind, I didn’t even know there was such a thing! They built me a controller that fit me to-a-T!”

https://www.tiktok.com/@byowave/video/7390440494796377377?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7393374709553251873

Eoin’s Customisable Experience

Eoin has been a passionate gamer since his toddler years, he generally finds standard controllers ok to use, but struggles to press L3 and R3, which as any gamer knows, it be super frustrating when you’re setup just isn’t working for you.

Along with being a modular system, the benefit of the Proteus Controller is that you can add extra button peripherals and map them to any input. Where on a standard controller, you’re limited by the inputs that are on the controller, with the Proteus Controller, you can customise it to make it work for you.

Like many of our testers, Eoin started with a controller that was similar to a standard Xbox controller, because that is what he was used to but instead, he remapped L3 and R3 to two separate One Button Peripherals so that he no longer had to press down on the analog sticks.

Eoin also mounted his controller to a table and positioned it where it was easy to reach. As the session went on, we tried out different variations of his controller and eventually ended up with a configuration that had the analog sticks and triggers close together towards the front of the controller.

Eoin said it would take some time to get used to a new set up, but that it was refreshing to be able to adapt it to how he plays.

He said, “I really like the fact that I can build it to my needs rather than having to adapt to the actual controller itself. Being able to adapt the controller to myself is going to be so much easier.”

One Controller for Everyone

One of the coolest things about that Proteus Controller is that anyone can use it. We like to say it is an accessible controller, but it’s not only for accessibility. Some of the people who visited this week did not have disabilities that affected their ability to use standard controllers, but they still had a great time building a controller and finding a configuration that worked for them.

Looking Ahead

The feedback and enthusiasm from the IWA members were incredibly encouraging. We are thrilled to have them back on a regular basis to continue exploring the possibilities of the Proteus Controller and to enjoy gaming together. This event reaffirmed our commitment to creating inclusive gaming spaces and experiences for everyone.

We look forward to many more sessions and are excited to see how the Proteus Controller will continue to make a difference in the lives of gamers everywhere. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to develop and refine our gaming space and technology!

Thank you to the Irish Wheelchair Association for joining us and making this event so special. Happy gaming!

Pre-order a limited-run Proteus Controller kit today: https://www.byowave.com/product/proteus-controller-early-bird-price

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