THOUGHTS FROM A LEGALLY BLIND GAMER

[ghostnineone]

Originally Posted by aieeeee

I have to ask. Just how blind is legally blind?

anything over 20/200 is legally blind.

that means you have to stand 20 feet away from something to see it with the same clarity someone with 20/20 can see at 200 feet.

[Mangajedi]

Originally Posted by ghostnineone

anything over 20/200 is legally blind.

that means you have to stand 20 feet away from something to see it with the same clarity someone with 20/20 can see at 200 feet.

Your exactly right. To explain my eyesight. I'm holding my ipod touch right now and if I hold it from elbow length away from my face I can read NOTHING on it. It's VERY hard to judge how for, what, and what I can not see....I've been like this my whole life so I have not known how far "NORMAL" is.

And yes "Legally blind" is a funny term. I am practically blind. i do have a "Bioptic" license where I have a little scope thing on my glasses when i drive. I can see ppl, objects, cars, and lights, and buildings fine. I can't READ any of the signs so that's the most important part when driving.....only thing I hate about this license is not all states acknowledge BIOPTIC licenses so that means I have to make sure they have them if I move to New York, Chicago, or any of the places I am interested in. I live in Indiana.

[Zorvan]

Originally Posted by Mangajedi

Your exactly right. To explain my eyesight. I'm holding my ipod touch right now and if I hold it from elbow length away from my face I can read NOTHING on it. It's VERY hard to judge how for, what, and what I can not see....I've been like this my whole life so I have not known how far "NORMAL" is.

And yes "Legally blind" is a funny term. I am practically blind. i do have a "Bioptic" license where I have a little scope thing on my glasses when i drive. I can see ppl, objects, cars, and lights, and buildings fine. I can't READ any of the signs so that's the most important part when driving.....only thing I hate about this license is not all states acknowledge BIOPTIC licenses so that means I have to make sure they have them if I move to New York, Chicago, or any of the places I am interested in. I live in Indiana.

The bioptic thing sounds cool, but it also sounds dangerous. I understand you can see everything clearly that the scope is actually pointed at, but what about peripheral vision? What if a kid darts in front of you?

[Mangajedi]

Originally Posted by Zorvan

The bioptic thing sounds cool, but it also sounds dangerous. I understand you can see everything clearly that the scope is actually pointed at, but what about peripheral vision? What if a kid darts in front of you?

I can see that. I have just enough peripheral vision to drive. The scope is mounted ABOVE the glasses. lol sorry I wasn't clear on that. They train you to only look in the scope for a sign you absolutely need to see. My life has a LOT of memorization in it. I have to learn a lot more rules of the road and HINTS so I know something is coming up. ...lol prepare for a long post.

You're all inspirations to me. A lot more than me. I have ROP Retinopathy of Prematurity and there's no cure. I'm legally blind It's nice to see people out there overcoming disabilities like myself. I feel alone a lot of the time. My friends don't understand sometimes how hard it is to explain why i can't see something because I have no way to base it off of anything. I've never had normal vision sicne I was born.

Like in my older post the only way I can explain it this minute is that if I hold my ipod away from my face I can't read it even at elbow length away. I'm at my laptop right now and lets see..........this is gonna sound stupid but at the length of a 30 oz soda cup (laying horizontally) from my screen to my face- I can't see any of the words on my laptop.....anyway, here's a perfect example. I'm typing and i'm about 4 inches or 5 away from the screen. It would help if your posts were bigger (NO PROBLEM IF YOU GUYS DON"T WANT TO.) but that's just me lol.

Like Adam says (super corny for me to say it) but "I never asked for this." It's hard to deal with this disability but imagine if my eyes were cured I'd be able to do everything I haven't been able to...get a normal license, join the military, be a cop, I would LITERALLY do every job possible in 24 hours if my eyes were fixed I'd have a new lease on life. ....

But the game also makes you realize people adapt and overcome as well. I blend in with people even at work because soemtimes so I don't stand out I ACT like i can see something or pass it off like I can. Sometimes I use a LOT of memorization or common sense. I'm a graphic designer so symbols, colors, etc come easy as far as memorizing things. I've also been told back in high school i had the most muscle memory and best reflexes of the wrestlers because I had to depend on learning the technique more and memorizing ten times harder in order to do what's normal. That's even true with my job. I sweeep popcorn working as an usher at the movie theater part time while in college and I clean a lot quicker then most because I bust my butt to do it. (sorry I am NOT being concieted or anything) it's just hard to explain how I do things without having to see something.

You work wiht what you have, just like you do, just like i do, and (lol) Adam Jenson works with what happened to him it's silly and I know we face real challenges and Adam is a character but this game has enough reach and depth into the story. It's very controversial and I love it for that.

Take care. Sorry I posted such a long rant. But I want to get into game design and DEUS EX: HR is EXACTLY the kind of games I have in mind.

[Mangajedi]

O MY GOD. I JUST thought of a perfect example of my sight. Last night I popped in Crysis 2 and on XBOX 360 if you look REALLY closely the enviornment has to "fill" in. I forget what the technical term is so don't hate.

It's kind of like that. I have a certain "DRAW DISTANCE" that things appear clear to me, farther away they get blurry. Kind of like the textures fill in as I walk up to them. So in a crowd if I have to pick a friend out I base them on what I KNOW they wear most often.....Sadly I've had exe's who learn about my eyes and take advantage, they'd change clothes or something....one ex even KNEW I couldn't read her cell when she sat in front of me and would text other guys while sitting in my lap.....anyway those are small examples....I'm SUPER excited for tuesday. Hope to see some of you on xbox playing DEUS EX

[ghostnineone]

its really hard to explain exactly what your vision looks like to someone, i dont even know how to illustrate it :/

[KnightRobby]

What a great post. I was so surprised to see so many posters dealing with chronic illnesses/diseases - you really would have had no idea that so many people deal with this.

Well, I too am one of them. I just want to cheer on all of us disabled individuals or those going through physical ailments to keep moving forward, though it can be difficult.

As I said, I suffer - I have been in severe chronic pain since I was 13 years old. The pain is CONSTANT - from the moment I wake up to the moment I lie down. I can't express how difficult it has been - you would really have no idea. My family and God are to thank. I love graphical work to, on the computer, and I co-founded my own gaming website with my twin bro Ryan Most of the time I am either in bed, on the couch, or sitting at the computer for a moment. Typing this alone is straining, my left eye is killing me, my jaw hurts like hell, my neck is hurting...and I think I am going to have to take a break here lol In all seriousness, it is rough.

However, like Mangajedi, I still love my passions though my body blocks me from doing them a lot of the time. I know this may sound a bit odd, but even when not being able to work on music, art, or whatever I still try to visualize it, come up with ideas, and journal them. I fight this and I am hoping to get better (long story there). My journal, as I see it, is going to pay off in the future...

Deus Ex - and even Blade Runner - recently have had some odd impact on me. I am completely for augments, especially in terms of disability. However, I can't imagine supporting individuals using it just to have more strength, etc. It would be rather odd - and selfish - to completely augment your arms over something like this, especially if it meant losing your original arm - lol Can you imagine that? And then there is the whole discussion on some weird augments - haha

So to keep this from being a novel, kudos to the OP and other posters for talking about this, etc. I find writing to be MUCH easier than talking because of my pain. So, it is good to be among those that understand certain limits applied by disabilities.

Thanks for making this thread and to all who replied!

[Mangajedi]

Originally Posted by KnightRobby

What a great post. I was so surprised to see so many posters dealing with chronic illnesses/diseases - you really would have had no idea that so many people deal with this.

Well, I too am one of them. I just want to cheer on all of us disabled individuals or those going through physical ailments to keep moving forward, though it can be difficult.

As I said, I suffer - I have been in severe chronic pain since I was 13 years old. The pain is CONSTANT - from the moment I wake up to the moment I lie down. I can't express how difficult it has been - you would really have no idea. My family and God are to thank. I love graphical work to, on the computer, and I co-founded my own gaming website with my twin bro Ryan Most of the time I am either in bed, on the couch, or sitting at the computer for a moment. Typing this alone is straining, my left eye is killing me, my jaw hurts like hell, my neck is hurting...and I think I am going to have to take a break here lol In all seriousness, it is rough.

However, like Mangajedi, I still love my passions though my body blocks me from doing them a lot of the time. I know this may sound a bit odd, but even when not being able to work on music, art, or whatever I still try to visualize it, come up with ideas, and journal them. I fight this and I am hoping to get better (long story there). My journal, as I see it, is going to pay off in the future...

Deus Ex - and even Blade Runner - recently have had some odd impact on me. I am completely for augments, especially in terms of disability. However, I can't imagine supporting individuals using it just to have more strength, etc. It would be rather odd - and selfish - to completely augment your arms over something like this, especially if it meant losing your original arm - lol Can you imagine that? And then there is the whole discussion on some weird augments - haha

So to keep this from being a novel, kudos to the OP and other posters for talking about this, etc. I find writing to be MUCH easier than talking because of my pain. So, it is good to be among those that understand certain limits applied by disabilities.

Thanks for making this thread and to all who replied!

I cheer you on to this game is making me meet a lot of new ppl you guys can add me on xvox if you have a Gamer tag. Mine is my forum name.

My girlfriend has something similar to you. She has lupus and it flared up and she had an attack while at walmart. She sill drove to the hospital and I had to sit in a waiting room while she hunched over sobbing in pain. She described it as her joints stiffening and all her muscles feeling like needles were being pushed through them. I'd give up my broken eyes and be completely blind ignite meant stopping people from feeling pain like that. Seeing her in that much pain made me feel for ppl like her....I mean yeah I am legally blind and es my eyes strain easy and I deal with a migraine almost every week by it's nOTHING compared to what you or m girlfriend must feel. A lot of us could benefit from augmentations huh??

BUT like my earlier posts you think it would change you??

If my eyes were fixed I'd be scared of being to cocky of letting it go to my head that I was invincible or perfect- but I do t think t really would change me. I've struggled this long all ly life and I think my eyes being fixed would be good: I'd put my new eyes to good work I'm a stealthy splinter cell type so I usually at the deus ex human revolution beta (early build for preview purposes only) as stealthy as possible. Ghosting the levels. Although the beta only let's you play 2 story missions and about 4 side ones...and the augs are there but don't work. All you can do is upgrade hacking, health, energy, and strength

[KnightRobby]

Originally Posted by Mangajedi

I cheer you on to this game is making me meet a lot of new ppl you guys can add me on xvox if you have a Gamer tag. Mine is my forum name.

My girlfriend has something similar to you. She has lupus and it flared up and she had an attack while at walmart. She sill drove to the hospital and I had to sit in a waiting room while she hunched over sobbing in pain. She described it as her joints stiffening and all her muscles feeling like needles were being pushed through them. I'd give up my broken eyes and be completely blind ignite meant stopping people from feeling pain like that. Seeing her in that much pain made me feel for ppl like her....I mean yeah I am legally blind and es my eyes strain easy and I deal with a migraine almost every week by it's nOTHING compared to what you or m girlfriend must feel. A lot of us could benefit from augmentations huh??

BUT like my earlier posts you think it would change you??

If my eyes were fixed I'd be scared of being to cocky of letting it go to my head that I was invincible or perfect- but I do t think t really would change me. I've struggled this long all ly life and I think my eyes being fixed would be good: I'd put my new eyes to good work I'm a stealthy splinter cell type so I usually at the deus ex human revolution beta (early build for preview purposes only) as stealthy as possible. Ghosting the levels. Although the beta only let's you play 2 story missions and about 4 side ones...and the augs are there but don't work. All you can do is upgrade hacking, health, energy, and strength

I'll definitely add you to my friend's list on XBL.

And I feel for your girlfriend. If I have learned one thing from my illness, it is to never say you understand. Even I cannot understand what your girlfriend is going through, but I am telling you that she needs someone to be with her. I recently found a girl out on Yahoo Answers that was - oh 13 years old - and has started suffering from terrible migraines. The thing is, her father does not believe her. These people - including me - need people to believe them. Believing in each other leads to trust, which imo leads to commitment to understand and then help. It is good you are there for her.

You lucky duck :P How are you getting access to the beta? So unfair man! lol In all seriousness, to answer your question if it would change me to be healthy through augments...Well, you know what? I've honestly asked myself that question a lot (the healthy part at least)! It's strange that you bring it up. I always go back in time and think to when I was thirteen. I strongly believe, like I've told my family, that if I hadn't gotten sick I'd still be the same person, more active of course. This is what I have big problems with...I just wish I had not gotten sick. I really was on the right path in my life, both in terms of who I was, in private and public, seeking my passions, being a good person...and yes, loving video games - haha

I don't know if you have heard of Chronic Lyme Disease - I only found out about it in the last year and a half, which is disturbing. The movie "Under Our Skin" (which is on Netflix btw) sheds a lot of light on it, though it can be depressing. Just beware of ticks/fleas, alright? Don't be paranoid, just be smart of course.

Like I said earlier, Augments I would fully support, especially for those with disabilities. I just CAN see contreversay on the subject, especially when military get involved...wow, that's a whole other story! PMC's, the black market, scary things still come with such technology. Still...I just see it being far too important for the disabled too ignore... I haven't read too much on any advancements, so you if or anyone finds anything, please share...

Thanks for replying, really appreciate it a bunch...I really mean this: I really hope your girlfriend can find some sort of relief from any type of pain or discomfort. I know she appreciated you being there for her at the hospital...

PS: My XBL gamertag is BOVG . Add me if you get the chance

[KnightRobby]

Originally Posted by Mangajedi

O MY GOD. I JUST thought of a perfect example of my sight. Last night I popped in Crysis 2 and on XBOX 360 if you look REALLY closely the enviornment has to "fill" in. I forget what the technical term is so don't hate.

It's kind of like that. I have a certain "DRAW DISTANCE" that things appear clear to me, farther away they get blurry. Kind of like the textures fill in as I walk up to them. So in a crowd if I have to pick a friend out I base them on what I KNOW they wear most often.....Sadly I've had exe's who learn about my eyes and take advantage, they'd change clothes or something....one ex even KNEW I couldn't read her cell when she sat in front of me and would text other guys while sitting in my lap.....anyway those are small examples....I'm SUPER excited for tuesday. Hope to see some of you on xbox playing DEUS EX

She would really sit in your lap and text to other guys?! Wow, what kind of horrible person does such a thing! Sorry, but anyone that takes advantage of those with some sort of handicap I never understand.

You know what they say: You can't make sense out of nonsense.

[Mangajedi]

The beta was an early version someone put on the Internet. My room mate got it on his computer and. Got to play it: it's a preview version that is basically a demo. Trust me it was great- although the augs didn't work because I guess in that version they weren't showing off augmentations yet: either way I treated it as a demo and paid off deus ex yesterday and picking it up tomorrow on Tuesday as soon as gamestop opens and I live right across from it haha.

[KnightRobby]

Wow, I imagine having that Gamestop across from you has you pumped - haha On a quick note, I recall the only time doing a midnight pick-up was for GTAIV and boy, was it fun! I stayed up all night! I've never done it since! lol It's truly tiring playing a game late into the night...lol

Back on topic, I've only been a part of official betas, and they are fun to get into. It's still unfair that you've played the beta, but it is good that you got too. You seem like a big fan of the game after playing it. The funnest one in recent memory has to be Gears 3 with my twin bro Ryan. Wow, that was crazy - that game is marked on my calender!

I cannot believe it...one more day!

[KingNL]

Yep my only ever midnight pickup was GTA IV too with a buddy, there was a crazy line there but luckily an old friend of mine was already at the front and he waved for us to come over.
Got my copy there with everybody else in line getting pissed while I was thinking, today was a good day.

[Mangajedi]

That's cool. LOL. I went to the midnight releases of Halo Reach, Resident Evil 5, Star wars the force unleashed, and Assassin's creed 2. They were all pretty fun. I am surprised Deus Ex isn't having one tonight. BUT my gamstop told me at each individual store it's up to the manager and this one actually isn't having one even though I know the staff and every one of them already has their copies paid off as well.....lucky gamestop people...they probably already have their copies.

[Jewseph]

AMAZING READ SIR! I totally agree with you. With many of your points. I too suffer from impared sight. Without glasses or contacts I can't read anything over 5 feet away. I mean I can easily distinguish things but words are just too damn blurry. I too am a graphic design major and the beta showed me some insane talent by artists creating a beautiful and almost realistic prediction of the future. That Beta leak... After several playthroughs made me preorder the game in FULL almost a month ago.

[Mangajedi]

Me too. I can't wait to pick it up. I'm getting up at 10 AM tomorrow to go pick it up and play it. Hope to see you all online if your on LIVE. I am more of a stealthy gamer so i play with a lot of those augs.