Oddworld.com has a detailed interview with Garrett, who explains how playing Abe's Exoddus by sound is even possible, describing the set number of footsteps Abe has on screen, the trial and error process of finding game elements that don't have audio cues and all the sound design decisions that assist his gameplay. Check out the video after the break where Garrett explains what he sees while playing through his mind's eye.
Abe's Exoddus completed without benefit of sight
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We've seen incredible feats with feet, but a blind man completing Abe's Exoddus just by sound is pretty inspirational. Terry Garrett, a 23-year-old mechanical engineering student from Colorado Springs, can play the game based only on what he hears -- so, on that note, the sound design team should also take a bow.
Oddworld.com has a detailed interview with Garrett, who explains how playing Abe's Exoddus by sound is even possible, describing the set number of footsteps Abe has on screen, the trial and error process of finding game elements that don't have audio cues and all the sound design decisions that assist his gameplay. Check out the video after the break where Garrett explains what he sees while playing through his mind's eye.
Oddworld.com has a detailed interview with Garrett, who explains how playing Abe's Exoddus by sound is even possible, describing the set number of footsteps Abe has on screen, the trial and error process of finding game elements that don't have audio cues and all the sound design decisions that assist his gameplay. Check out the video after the break where Garrett explains what he sees while playing through his mind's eye.
Reader Comments (26)
Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 12:21AM The Aquacharger said
Amazing! I have trouble beating the game with sight.
Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 12:22AM TheRepublic said
1:05-1:22 "You need some actual intelligence to play."
Wow...a blind gamer can see right through Activision's business strategy...
Wow...a blind gamer can see right through Activision's business strategy...
Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 10:44AM thisredengine said
@TheRepublic
"You need some actual intelligence to play."
Dang, left out of the party again.
Reply
"You need some actual intelligence to play."
Dang, left out of the party again.
Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 12:22AM JnRx said
Sound only based games...very interesting :)
Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 12:33AM 8bitartist said
is this the blind dude that uses echo location?
Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 1:18AM 8bitartist said
@The Aquacharger
no, this is a real dude. he lost both his eyes when he was like 3 and can click his tongue and tell where shit is like a dolphin. he can apparently play video games as well (but im baffled how that works)
Reply
no, this is a real dude. he lost both his eyes when he was like 3 and can click his tongue and tell where shit is like a dolphin. he can apparently play video games as well (but im baffled how that works)
Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 7:48AM Design by Adrian said
@8bitartist if you don't know where your shit is, then it's not about eye-sight as how you were brought up...
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Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 5:52PM Tommy Gun said
@8bitartist I think you're talking about Ben Underwood. Unfortunately, he died in 2009. :(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_echolocation#Ben_Underwood
Reply
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_echolocation#Ben_Underwood
Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 12:49AM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
This guy is a star and this game is in my history books as one of my favourite of all time :D
Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 12:53AM ShadowOp814 said
BENEFIT? I thought it was damn necessary! Way to prove me wrong. lol
Also, is it just me, or did these games confuse the hell out of you, sometimes.
Also, is it just me, or did these games confuse the hell out of you, sometimes.
Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 1:08AM Basevi said
I felt so good after beating these games. They definatly take major skill and patience. Now this guy beat them while not being able to see the game? You are the hardest of the hardcore my friend!
Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 7:48AM Design by Adrian said
@Bielzer I'm sure he has a browser with screen reader :)
Reply
Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 1:38AM edit said
A testament to human capacity. Bravo, sir. I'll certainly be thinking about this any time I work on sound design for anything.
Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 2:07AM Zacmanman said
I had always wondered what I would do with video games if I went blind The thought scared me, but this makes me happy and gives me a lot of hope. An achievement for anyone to play this game well and beat it. It is legendary to do that while blind and with no help.
I bow down to such excellence.
I bow down to such excellence.
Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 2:27AM doreo said
That was actually very interesting, I'm glad I watched that. Even though the guy is proud of being blind, you can't help feeling sorry that this guy lacks something that a majority of us take for granted. Congrats to him, showing that everyone has the ability to overcome obstacles.
Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 5:39AM Maxamas2003 said
He should try out papa sangre on iOS, that game is pretty cool
Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 6:13AM SolidRevolver said
Always loved the sounds of Oddworld, but didn't realise they can help blind people 'see'... wow...
Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 8:44AM LoveYouSomeEric said
Does anyone know if the Oddworld HD remakes been confirmed for XBLA yet? Such good games...
Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 10:15AM Aerothorn said
Pretty impressive.
Though citing Zelda and Mario as examples of great narrative gaming strikes me as highly questionable.
Though citing Zelda and Mario as examples of great narrative gaming strikes me as highly questionable.
Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 10:28PM pmiddy said
@Aerothorn He didn't say they had great narratives, just that he liked games where there was an actual storyline behind it and had some great puzzles to solve. Then he cited Zelda and Mario as examples. Granted, Mario games are weak representations of this, I think it's fair to say Zelda meets both criteria.
Reply
Posted: Feb 22nd 2011 3:03PM iceveiled said
Pretty impressive to do this, but man, there have to be better games to play if you're blind. Those 2D abes games were an exercise of trial and error if you CAN see.
Also, who is blind and decides to take up martial arts? Kudos to the guy but if I was blind I'd blow my brains out.
Also, who is blind and decides to take up martial arts? Kudos to the guy but if I was blind I'd blow my brains out.
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