Blind Teenager Amazes with Video Game Ability

[ezzkmo]

Check out this inspirational article here (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=540&Itemid=2).

Quote from the original Sioux City Journal:
Blind since birth when his optic nerve didn't connect due to Leber's disease, Mellen honed his video game skills over the years through patient and not-so-patient playing, asking lots of questions and paying particular attention to audio cues. He worked his way up from games such as Space Invaders and Asteroid, on to the modern, and more bloody, combat games.

While playing Soul Caliber 2, Mellen worked his way through the introductory screens with ease, knowing exactly what to click when to start the game he wanted. He rarely asked for help. Once the game started he was on his own. He didn't need any help. "I'll challenge them, maybe. If I feel like a challenge," he said, displaying an infectious confidence. "I freak people out by playing facing backwards."
I suck at soul caliber even with all my 5 senses.

[CapnBob]

Please tell me he plays Voldo. That would be too damn perfect.

...I mean, literally, tell me. I'm not paying $5.00 to read that article even if he's also missing his arms and legs and moves the d-pad with his tongue while pressing the buttons by wiggling his right ear.

[snubber]

Man what a cool party trick. "Hey, I bet I can beat you in Soul Caliber facing backward. 20 bucks, come on sucker!!!"

[ezzkmo]

whoa...that was NOT for subscribers an hour ago, cause i read it then and can't even see it now. but i fixed the link to go somewhere else that summarized it. sorry bout that.

[Savok]

He'd probably beat the hell out of me as well.

[Vandenh]

The force is strong in this one...

[TheEpicOfTyler]

teh button masher!1

Kidding of course. That really is amazing.

[ÜberJumper]

... I wonder if it's a combination of hearing what his opponent is doing and what he hears from the game's audio?

[Hewie]

whoa...that was NOT for subscribers an hour ago, cause i read it then and can't even see it now. but i fixed the link to go somewhere else that summarized it. sorry bout that.

You're right. I read the whole article too.

[Tyrant]

While playing Soul Caliber 2, Mellen worked his way through the introductory screens with ease, knowing exactly what to click when to start the game he wanted. He rarely asked for help. Once the game started he was on his own. He didn't need any help. "I'll challenge them, maybe. If I feel like a challenge," he said, displaying an infectious confidence. "I freak people out by playing facing backwards."

This is really interesting, but am I the only one who imagined him playing SC2 for the first time, mashing away at the buttons and yelling "awwwww yeah!" while at the options menu?

[El Gato]

I play just as well with my back to the screen too.

/masher

[RMan]

Hehe, well, if I was going to play a "competitive" game where seeing the game wasn't that important, SC2 would top my list.

[Mister Pie]

This is really interesting, but am I the only one who imagined him playing SC2 for the first time, mashing away at the buttons and yelling "awwwww yeah!" while at the options menu?

HAHA. Probably. :p

[Morrolan]

It would make for sense for him to be good at a FPS, or something else with positional surround sound audio. How in the hell he can tell what his opponent is doing by some non-specific grunts is beyond me. Let alone what side of the damned screen he's on.

But more power to him.

[Kefkataran]

That's really super-impressive. I have terrible eyesight and one of my greatest fears has always been going blind, at least in part because of how much it'd change my lifestyle as far as limiting my ability to game. It's really awesome to hear stories like this, even if I doubt I'd fare so well without the eyesight.

[Ludoc]

Ya, but can he play pinball?

[lowlevel]

Ya, but can he play pinball?

Heh ... exactly what I was thinking. Tommy!

[Justin_McElroy]

We may have found the only living person who can not be scarred by the filthy, filthy titties in GTA: San Andreas.

[OUX]

I would be more impressed to hear that he could snipe in Halo

[Testcase]

I would be more impressed to hear that he could snipe in Halo

Hell, Im impressed if I ever can snipe in Halo...

[51|RandoM]

I bet he kicks ass at dungeon siege.

[KarmaGhost]

He's like Woozie from GTA: SA.

[kickmybum]

I suck at Soul Caliber. Who ever heard of a fighting game without a jump button??

[Crabby]

Personally, I think one eye is more difficult. Stuck between worlds.

[Kefkataran]

Personally, I think one eye is more difficult. Stuck between worlds.

And with messed up depth perception and all. Would make it more difficult to get around, possibly.

[Mr.Green]

Calibur for f@%#'s sake.