The Hunchback of Killcam

It suddenly dawned on me yesterday - as I've grown older, I've evolved. Not just mentally (which is sometimes questionable) but from a physical perspective. From kneeling excitable four-year old, through slouching laid-back teen, to a hunched over sofa-edger. As cutesy platformers made way for the intricate complexities of FPS control, I've adapted my playing style. Languid became lucid. Disinterested became determined. I now sit coiled, eager, ready to pounce, elbows rested on knees, leaning forward as if trying to engage as closely as possible with my on-screen persona (well, my hands and my AK47). I've tried sitting back, chilling out, getting into the zone, but realistically I only perform well when I'm concentrating and adopting the position, hunched over my sofa-edge perch, directly in front of the television.

Which is fine. Ok, it could be better - but realistically my marathon gaming sessions are now interspersed with other hobbies and half-hour sessions can cope with the awkward positioning. But by the end of the week, I'll be the proud owner of a knee with precious little cartilage in it. Far from an upgrade, I'm being whittled down to the bare essentials. A solid 5 days of bed/sofa-rest beckons, but I'm slightly concerned about how I'll get on, lay on the sofa, in an unfamiliar configuration.

I must admit I picked up on some recent stories which referred to the needs of handicapped, disabled or lesser abled gamers struggling with non-configurable control setups. Whilst I'm certainly not suggesting I'll be anything other than inconvenienced by my leg issues, it provided me with some food for thought. To have to endure an uncomfortable position for a few days is a small price to pay - but are developers doing all they can to enable the maximum number of people to enjoy their wares given much more serious and longer term restrictions? Or are they just taking the easy option - the path of least resistance? I can see their point of view, trying to minimise cost and maximising utility, but it's a small price to pay to give a little extra, surely?

For me, I'll try the laid back approach and see how I go. Somehow, I think I'll revert back to the menacing hunch when the physio lets me, but it will be interesting to see if the forced change alters my playing style. It will certainly change my lounge configuration - my sofa needs to get much closer to that TV...