PlayStation

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Summary

‎PlayStation is a gaming brand created and owned by Sony. The PlayStation console has been around since 1994, and since then, the brand has grown into an ecosystem of consoles, games, accessories, and services.

Best Practices

This section includes tips and how-tos that have been used throughout different gaming programs. The following are only best practices and can be modified to best fit your programs needs and restrictions.

Popular Games

The following titles are widely used in hospital gaming programs. If included in this list, they are compatible with PlayStation 4 and newer generations, unless stated otherwise. For an in depth look at recommended games for specific therapeutic purposes, reference Child Play's Therapeutic Game Guide. For ratings of games based on age/developmental appropriateness, visit The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) website. For consumer-rated content, utilize Common Sense Media.

Minecraft | Rated E10+

Rocket League | Rated E

Madden NFL | Rated E

Fortnite Battle Royale | Rated T

Overcooked! | Rated E

Disney Dreamlight Valley | Rated E

Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales | Rated T

Fall Guys | Rated E

Policies & Procedures

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Sanitizing

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Account Settings & Management

PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts grant users access to online gaming, shopping, and connecting with friends across PlayStation services and consoles. To play on PlayStation, users must have a PlayStation Network ID. The account can be created using an existing email address (ie @gmail.com, @yahoo.com, etc.). When creating any new account, it is critical to keep track of IDs, emails, and passwords associated with each account to avoid losing access to content.

PlayStation Parental Controls

For the most control over the security, privacy, and content settings of a Microsoft account, PlayStation enables the creation of "family manager," "guardian," and "child" PSN accounts. These separate accounts are connected in a family group so that the "family manager" or "guardian" can set restrictions for the "child" account. Types of restrictions that these roles can enforce include: play time limits, spending limits, content rating limits, and social permissions.

Services & Subscriptions

To play most online multiplayer games on PlayStation consoles (PS4 and newer), a PlayStation Plus membership is required. Games can be purchased and downloaded from the PlayStation Store without a membership, however, will not be able to be played without a subscription active. Most free-to-play games do not require the membership.

PlayStation Plus

PlayStation Plus (PS Plus) launched in 2010 as a paid subscription service that offers gamers a catalog of games for one monthly price, as well as discounts on games and other exclusive benefits. Those benefits vary depending on the tier of PS Plus owned. The higher tiers of PS Plus are a cost-effective way of trying new and different games or widen the offering of game options to players of all backgrounds and experience. This service requires internet to operate. PS Plus memberships are applied to a single PlayStation Network account and cannot be shared between multiple accounts.

• PlayStation Plus Essential

This tier of PS Plus provides PlayStation players with access to online multiplayer games, select free games available each month to download and keep, discounts on buying games from the PlayStation store, online cloud storage for games, and Share Play.

• PlayStation Plus Extra

This tier of PS Plus provides PlayStation players with access to online multiplayer games, select free games available each month to download and keep, discounts on buying games from the PlayStation store, online cloud storage for games, Share Play, and a catalog of hundreds of games (think: the "Netflix" of PlayStation games). PS Plus Extra also includes access to Ubisoft+ Classics, a subscription service from developers, Ubisoft, that features popular Ubisoft games at no additional cost.

• PlayStation Plus Premium

This tier of PS Plus provides PlayStation players with the benefits of PS Plus Extra as well as the ability to participate in limited-time Game Trials, cloud streaming, and the Classics Catalog. Cloud streaming enables PlayStation gameplay streaming access, meaning the game does not need to be fully downloaded to the console in order to play. This also means that gameplay can be streamed onto a PC, picking up from where you left off on your PlayStation console.

Types of consoles

The generations of PlayStation consoles that remain widely used across gaming programs are the PlayStation 4 (PS4) and the PlayStation 5 (PS5). Previous generations that you may encounter less often are the PlayStation 3 (PS3), PlayStation 2, (PS2), and the PlayStation (original). To identify and differentiate between all PlayStation consoles, visit the Wikipedia PlayStation Console Comparison Table.

PlayStation 5

• PlayStation 5 Console
• PlayStation 5 Digital Edition

Compatible Accessories

Driving wheel & pedals

• Steering wheel and pedal accessories offer a different, engaging way to interact with video games, specifically games focused on driving.
• Steering wheels and pedals can be helpful accessories to utilize in situations where patients have low or poor fine motor skills, as it requires more gross motor skills to turn the wheel and press pedals with feet or hands. Although the accessory is not marketed as an adaptive tool, with creativity, it can be implemented into an adaptive gaming setup in many ways.
• If working in a healthcare environment, it is important to find device options with little to no leather components, as it is more difficult to sanitize. Look for options using plastic or silicone or opt for users to wear gloves throughout the experience.

Arcade fighting stick

• Arcade-style fighting sticks offer players an enhanced experience when playing fighting games of many kinds. The accessory uses a simplified layout of critical buttons and features to give players easy access to the buttons they'll need to use for combos.
• The fighting stick operates nearly the same as the standard PlayStation controller, with the only difference being the way it looks and the kinds of buttons available. They feature an analog, multi-axis joystick and several flat-face buttons.
• Fighting sticks can also be utilized in adaptive gaming scenarios, as well. They are simplified controllers with a larger joystick than what's provided on standard controllers, making it more accessible to use for players with low mobility or poor fine-motor skills.
• Most models are almost entirely plastic and easily wipeable.

Audio

• There are many different options for gaming audio. Depending on your program's restrictions (online vs. offline play, use of personal accounts on program-owned equipment, etc.), there may be better options than others.
• For programs that allow online play and communication with online players, an audio accessory with a microphone is critical. For programs that don't allow online play, but players are interested in playing video games with a headset, there are audio accessories without microphones or detachable microphones.
• For single-use options, simple earbuds with a microphone and a 3.5mm input can be inexpensive and serve the intended purpose.
• For multi-use options, wipeable materials are critical in healthcare environments. Many headsets use leather components, which are difficult to sanitize. Look for options with mostly plastic or silicone components or opt for users to wear gloves and hairnets.
• Having multiple options of audio devices is important to allow different kinds of players a positive gaming experience. Some players have restrictions with items that can be worn on or around their heads (incisions, sensitivity, halo-rings, etc.) and a smaller options like earbuds may work best for them. Over-the-ear headphones may be beneficial and sensory-friendly for players with auditory sensitivity.

Keyboard & mouse

• PlayStation consoles support the use of keyboard and mouse inputs in some apps and games, but not all features may be accessible while using the accessories. Not all games are optimized for keyboard and mouse input.
• Keyboards and mice can be either wired or wireless. Wireless options utilize Bluetooth connectivity.
• Keyboard and mouse accessories can provide an adaptive gaming experience to players that cannot use the standard Xbox controller.