Wow. Best gamer ever?

[Technical Ben]

For effort at least.
http://www.reghardware.com/2011/02/22/blind_man_plays_videogames/

Blind man plays computer games by listening to the sound effects. Even 2d platformers.
He does have to learn some of it by trial and error. Die after 3 seconds? Then there is probably a pit fall there, try jumping next time. etc.

[Rik]

I wonder how much satisfaction he gains, being unable to get the visual experience.

[Technical Ben]

He likes it. He can use his imagination. So the world can be as vibrant as the sound effects allow. Bear in mind most of these games are purely fictional and fanciful too.

[Rik]

I have always had an attitude of "what's the point?" when it comes to games, so I guess I'm prejudiced, but I can't help feel he could use his imagination without playing the game.

[gizmo71]

but I can't help feel he could use his imagination without playing the game.

You could use your imagination without reading books.

[Niall]

Well I think it's totally pointless playing games unless you can see what's going on. Unless he's got a sound based set up to allow him to use his PC, which I'm assuming he has, and then he plays an adventure game that has an audio narrative throughout to support such disabilities, I cannot possibly see what he gains from this.

It will just be a case of hearing noises, wondering what's gone on, die, start again and repeat. If by some total freak accident he completes a game, he'll never know what he did to actually do it.

[Rik]

You could use your imagination without reading books.

I do.

[Technical Ben]

Well I think it's totally pointless playing games unless you can see what's going on. Unless he's got a sound based set up to allow him to use his PC, which I'm assuming he has, and then he plays an adventure game that has an audio narrative throughout to support such disabilities, I cannot possibly see what he gains from this.

It will just be a case of hearing noises, wondering what's gone on, die, start again and repeat. If by some total freak accident he completes a game, he'll never know what he did to actually do it.

That is harsh. The story is driven by spoken word. "I'm trapped, I need to get out".
Yes. Games are "a waste of time". But so is polishing your car. So is posting on a forum, browsing the internet. None of these things could be considered "productive". He is also getting an engineering degree in avionics. Probably the first blind person to get such a high degree.
If you watch the video, he comments on all of the characters. He knows almost exactly what is going on. He knows when he is being chased by dogs, with stereo, he knows which direction they are etc.
Games are half narrative (books/movies) half game (solitaire/catch/football). So your either getting lost in a story, or doing some mundane "play" to relax. To say "games" are pointless is to say all fictional books and sports are pointless too. I'd agree on that, but it is something we still like to do!

[Niall]

I'm not sure how, but you've somehow read my post and missed my point. I don't think I can really say it any clearer than I did, but here goes:

A video game is a visual game, unless it has sound aid to the extent that you do not need the screen to play it. There are very few of these games (that I'm aware of) but as I don't check for visually impaired gaming there could be more.

Most scripted games like FPS games have major parts where having sound alone would get you absolutely nowhere. So saying it's harsh to say it's pointless is not true, it's a fact. Unless you have a game SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED for visually impaired gamers, then the entire point of the game is going to be missed. Sure you may be able to stumble around a game with next to no idea what's going on, and if you do want to do that then fair enough, but you are totally wasting your time from the point that you're not playing the game how it's intended. Yeah, sure you can do what you want in some games and not complete them, and if you like that fair enough, but it's not the point of the game .'. pointless.

I honestly can't think of a single game that I own that you could even get off the first level, or progress in, if you can't see anything.

I wasn't talking about the game that the person can and obviously does play, I'm talking about games in general.

[Technical Ben]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1gWRqN8B38

It's not about the target audience. It's about those who can enjoy it. Abes Oddessy has as much effort in the sounds, as in the artwork. The game is mainly a snakes and ladders with some puzzles. It's not hard for a blind person to remember which box has a snake, which one has a ladder. The rest is all in the "game" play. 

[gizmo71]

Yeah, sure you can do what you want in some games and not complete them, and if you like that fair enough, but it's not the point of the game .'. pointless.

Thank goodness there are plenty of people who don't agree with your definition of pointlessness, Niall - we'd be seriously short on innovation if they did.

[pctech]

I personally like racing sims. beat 'em ups and  shoot 'em ups.

racing sims because you get to 'drive' cars I could never afford and the other two because they are great stress relievers.

[Niall]

Thank goodness there are plenty of people who don't agree with your definition of pointlessness, Niall - we'd be seriously short on innovation if they did.

Seriously? You're trying to tell me that the point of a game isn't to finish it? Really? Wow...

You can have fun messing around in a game, and not complete it, granted. That is NOT the point of the game though, as all games have a final goal, or target. Just to be clear here (which quite frankly I'm amazed that I'm having to explain this anyway), a game is a challenge set by the creator of the game for you to complete it, with problems to solve along the way. If YOU decide that the goal is something else, fine, great, marvellous. That isn't the point of the game though, thus making the actual point of the game redundant, so again, pointless.

[Niall]

I personally like racing sims. beat 'em ups and  shoot 'em ups.

racing sims because you get to 'drive' cars I could never afford and the other two because they are great stress relievers.

I suck at racing games. My eyes always get done in by the scenery flying past and I crash I have the same thing happen on those guitar hero things. It just kills my eyes watching all the everything flying past. I used to struggle playing Micro machines against all my mates on the Playstation years ago

I'm actually pondering getting the marvel Vs DC (I think that's it) for my Xbox on payday as it's pretty cheap, just for something different. I used to love playing Tekken on the Playstation too. I can't remember the last shoot em up I played, but I used to have great fun in primary school playing Zalaga

[Technical Ben]

http://www.kongregate.com/games/Mazapan/you-have-to-burn-the-rope

Music is great!

I have one answer for you Niall. MINECRAFT. No point what so ever.

[Technical Ben]

Another kid.
http://www.gametrailers.com/user-movie/blind-kid-plays-video-games/273745
same here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR1iv7P3P14
Granted, it is limited to the game. He could play your Marvel Vs DC game. Yes. Even a blind person. Is that wrong to you?  

[edit added youtube link]

[Niall]

Granted, it is limited to the game. He could play your Marvel Vs DC game. Yes. Even a blind person. Is that wrong to you?  

Yes, because that's the point I was making wasn't it? Forum trolling is a bit lame really. You can obviously see my point, so why bother making a stupid statement like that?

[gizmo71]

Seriously? You're trying to tell me that the point of a game isn't to finish it? Really? Wow...

You can have fun messing around in a game, and not complete it, granted. That is NOT the point of the game though,

Yes it is - the point of a game is to have fun.

You think the point of a mountain is to climb it?

A car driven from A to A for pleasure pointless?

Is stopping to listen to the beauty of a lark's song a waste of time, because it's only intended for another lark?

What a terrible, drab, utilitarian existence you'd impose on the rest of us.

[Niall]

Oh what a load of rubbish. I was clearly talking about the point of a game, not mountaineering, or any other activity for that matter (how are they relevant to a blind man playing a game?). All points have already been covered, and I'm clearly talking about gaming in general and have clearly and repeatedly pointed out the areas where there are exceptions.

I fail to see why people are kicking up a fuss here (other than to forum troll) when it's plain to see the point I was making, as I've clearly made it in previous posts. If you can't see that, re-read it; specifically the parts where I say you can do what you want, but the point of a game is to complete it as intended by the company that made it (yes, whilst having fun! Shocker, games are meant for fun too! WHO KNEW!?).

I think I'll just start quoting my previous posts if no one is bothering to read them.

[gizmo71]

Oh what a load of rubbish. I was clearly talking about the point of a game, not mountaineering, or any other activity for that matter (how are they relevant to a blind man playing a game?).

Niall, what you don't seem to have grasped at all is that using something, anything, be it a game, a mountain, or indeed some chocolate sauce, for a purpose other than its intended one isn't some incomprehensible form of deviancy. The day the "not being used for its intended purpose police" start battering down doors and carting off miscreants to their Conformancy Assurance Centers is the day the human spirit dies.

[Niall]

So you're just going to completely ignore the fact that that isn't what I was talking about then? Why didn't you just say that and move on then?

[gizmo71]

So you're just going to completely ignore the fact that that isn't what I was talking about then? Why didn't you just say that and move on then?

We don't actually know what you're on about, Niall. To paraphrase your first post in this thread, you can't see what pleasure the blind person can possibly derive from playing a game not designed for blind people, and therefore it's pointless. A position you've essentially restated ad nauseum.

To quote from your opening salvo, "I cannot possibly see what he gains from this". That's a failure of your imagination, not the blind person's rationality.

[Niall]

Well I obviously cleared that up in later posts, as maybe that wasn't clear enough initially. {edit} Actually, looking at my first post, I couldn't possibly have been clearer, and you've chosen to only quote a part of it to make it support your comments, which is a bit strange.

I really can't see the point in you continuing to pick holes in everything when it's all been said and done, unless you just want to argue for the sake of it, which is exactly what it seems like? If that's the case, feel free to argue with yourself as I've said what I meant. I feel that repeating myself over and over is the only way as people like yourself generally seem to want to create arguments and confrontational situations just to satisfy themselves, rather than ignore a progression of a thread.

If it pleases you I'm sure you can get an admin to delete all the posts after the corrections/updates, and just have one post from me which contains the sum total of the thread, allowing you to only have to read the one post.

[Technical Ben]

Wow. I did not realise pointing out something some one else has achieved, despite all the obstacles could cause such and argument.
Remind me not to post about anyone solo flying/sailing or climbing any mountains... I know all those things are pointless. You gain nothing, but it's still an achievement. Especially if they are blind.   

[Niall]

[Simon]

Have we finished?   

[Technical Ben]

You had the best, and safest, seat there Simon!

[Simon]

I was busy dodging the handbags. 

[Lance]

Indeed it's a good thing that dawn isn't too early at the moment!