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Blind man excels at videogames

Out of this world and out of sight

A blind man has stunned the gaming community by flawlessly churning through levels relying solely on sound effects.

23-year-old Colorado student Terry Garrett has beaten 2D platformer Abe's Exoddus several times despite his visual impairment.

In an interview with Oddworld, Garrett said he followed sounds and memorised the areas.

"I have a great sense of the mind's eye. Once I know what is in an area and how they are laid out, I can make a real time picture of what is going on in front of me just through sound. even in 3D."

Of course, his own environment is crucial to the experience. Garrett tapes speakers to the arms of his chair, so they're exactly the same distance from him and produce a perfect stereo sound.

Here's a video of how he plays the game:

Occasionally his brother helps out to explain some visual stuff, especially in games that have less helpful sound design than the Oddworld series. This includes the Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Metal Gear Solid and the Super Mario collection.

Garrett is in his fifth year of a mechanical engineering degree in aerospace engineering and plans to be a designer, integration and testing engineer. He is also 18 months away from a Karate black belt and plays guitar. Someone give this guy an award.

Anonymous Coward

Tagline

Surely "he's the real pinball wizard" is more appropriate?

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In other news, Chuck Norris

... was reported to have said he's a bit worried about this guy. Apparently his guide-dog can roundhouse kick you through a wall too.

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Awesome

Yeah, is there such a thing as a "genuinely awesome dude" award? If not, there should be!

Pint for him.

3
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Something something...

...pinball

What, I'm not the first? Whodathunkit?

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Pinball Wizard!

Springs to mind.

Goes to prove, no matter what your disability, you can do anything you put your mind to. He isn't super human, just super determined, there are a lot of 'able bodied' people that could learn at lot from this, rather than sitting around saying 'oh wow is me!'

Good on him, wish him well finding work, sadly there is still a lot of prejudice our there, despite achievements.

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