Blind teenager amazes with video game ability

[norml]

Blind teenager amazes with video game ability

Associated Press
Jul. 25, 2005 10:15 AM

LINCOLN, Neb. - Brice Mellen sure plays a mean pinball.

More precisely, the 17-year-old Mellen is a whiz at modern video games such as Mortal Kombat and Soul Caliber.

In that regard, Mellen isn't all the much different from any other kid his age.

Except for one thing: He's blind.

And as he easily dispatched foes who took him on recently at a Lincoln gaming center, the affable and smiling Mellen remained humble.


snip


http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0725blind-gamer25-ON.html

[dajoki]

1. he's a pinball wizard

there has to be a twist:applause:

[brainshrub]

2. I don't believe this story.

It is not physically possible for a blind kid to be that good in video games. It's like claiming a lame man won the Boston Marathon.

[norml]

3. I'm in Lincoln. It's for real.

Web Results 1 - 10 of about 492,000 for blind video game lincoln. (0.16 seconds)
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Blind teen amazes with video-game skills - BusinessWeek - 21 hours ago





Sioux City Journal: Blind teenager amazes with video game ability
LINCOLN (AP) -- Brice Mellen sure plays a mean pinball. More precisely, the
17-year-old Mellen is a whiz at modern video games such as Mortal Kombat and ...
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Blind teenager amazes with his incredible video game skills Lincoln, Neb.
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snip


http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=blind+video+game+lincoln&btnG=Google+Search

[Skinner]

6. Has the possibility of fraud been ruled out?

I don't want to smear a blind kid, but it seems to me that with a few cables, a spare TV, and an accomplice you could pull this off.

[norml]

9. Here's the article that was in Business Week.

The Associated Press/LINCOLN, Neb.
By SCOTT BAUER

Blind teen amazes with video-game skill

JUL. 27 5:25 P.M. ET Brice Mellen is a whiz at video games such as "Mortal Kombat."

In that regard, the 17-year-old isn't much different from so many others his age.

Except for one thing: He's blind.

And as he easily dispatched foes who took him on recently at a Lincoln gaming center, the affable and smiling Mellen remained humble.
"I can't say that I'm a superpro," he said, working the controller like an extension of his body. "I can be beat."


snip


Blind since birth when his optic nerve didn't connect because of Leber's disease, Mellen honed his video game skills over the years through patient and not-so-patient playing, memorizing key joystick operations and moves in certain games, asking lots of questions and paying particular attention to audio cues. He worked his way up from games such as "Space Invaders" and "Asteroid," onto the modern combat games.


snip


http://www.businessweek.com/ap/tech/D8BJVNJ81.htm?campaign_id=apn_tech_down&chan=tc

[norml]

7. Here are the news search results. It's not getting much press yet

but it will. I see a made for TV movie coming out of this, maybe even an appearance on Leno.

Results 1 - 4 of 4 for blind video game lincoln. (0.05 seconds)



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Tucson Citizen Teen video-game whiz is... Blind
Electric New Paper, Singapore - 3 hours ago
... Mellen said in jest as he won game after game. Blind since birth when his optic nerve didn't ... of Leber's disease, Mellen honed his video game skills over the ...
Blind teen-ager is a whiz at video games WHO-TV
Blind teen amazes with video-game skills PhysOrg.com
all 172 related »
Blind teenager amazes with video game ability
AZ Central.com, AZ - Jul 25, 2005
... and then some wise guy will come in and think he can easily dispatch the blind kid. ... He will be a senior in high school next year in Lincoln. ... video game design ...

Where's Abe Lincoln when you need him?
Gloucester Daily Times, MA - Jul 4, 2005
... Well that stinks, who wants to see us continue this blind vanity to the temple of ... Will your 15-year-old male teen turn off the video game and not stay up ...

Warriors triumph despite Raiders' spark
ABC Online, Australia - Jul 23, 2005
... was awarded the team's first try via video replay, scoring ... minutes later to score off a fantastic blind-side pass ... The home-side put the game beyond doubt when ...

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[norml]

23. USA Today: Blind teen amazes with video-game skills

Posted 7/28/2005 10:52 AM

By Scott Bauer, Associated Press


LINCOLN, Neb. — Brice Mellen is a whiz at video games such as Mortal Kombat. In that regard, the 17-year-old isn't much different from so many others his age. Except for one thing: He's blind.


Mellen intends to use his prowess at games such as 'Mortal Kombat' to study video game design at college.
Bill Wolf, AP

And as he easily dispatched foes who took him on recently at a Lincoln gaming center, the affable and smiling Mellen remained humble.

"I can't say that I'm a superpro," he said, working the controller like an extension of his body. "I can be beat."

Those bold enough to challenge him weren't so lucky. One by one, while playing Soul Caliber 2, their video characters were decapitated, eviscerated and gutted without mercy by Mellen's on-screen alter ego.


snip


http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2005-07-28-blind-gamer_x.htm

[MN ChimpH8R]

4. Tommy, can you hear me? nt

[WeRQ4U]

11. Beat me to it. - LOL

"How do you think he does it?" - "I don't know"

[Skinner]

5. I'm highly skeptical.

I'm not going to rule it out completely, because I don't know how good the audio cues are on these games. Perhaps it's possible on fighting games because many people who play them just mash the keys at random. To be honest, I think it's likely that a blind person with a knowlege of the combos could pretty easily kick my ass in Mortal Kombat.

Has anyone forwarded this one to Snopes yet? I searched their site and I don't see it.

[norml]

10. Here are the 46 Web Results for "Brice Mellen". USATODAY.com is there.

Web Results 1 - 10 of about 46 for "Brice Mellen". (0.14 seconds)
Tip: Save time by hitting the return key instead of clicking on "search"

Article Online: Home of the Couch Sessions
Brice Mellen is your ordinary 17 year old kid from Nebraska. He plays video games
and can kick ... 17 year-old, Brice Mellen, has been blind since birth. ...
articleonline.net/blog/ - 58k - Jul 26, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Red Devil Games | Red Bank, NJ
As reported in Next Generation Online Brice Mellen, who has been blind since
birth, is dominating the Soul Calibur 2 machines in Lincoln, Nebraska. ...
www.reddevilgames.com/ - 33k - Jul 26, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Funny News - Funny Stories - Strange and Bizarre News Stories and ...
Brice Mellen sure plays a mean pinball. Submitted By: Matthew (unregistered) -
Clicked 1394 Times. Funny (Click for more), Improper Attire Could Mean Court ...
www.davesdaily.com/ - 35k - Jul 26, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Funny Stories - Strange, Bizarre, Funny News Stories and Hilarious ...
Brice Mellen sure plays a mean pinball. Submitted By: Matthew (unregistered) -
Clicked 1464 Times. (Click for more), Hot Bombshell ...
www.davesdaily.com/funny.htm - 37k - Jul 26, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages
< More results from www.davesdaily.com >

Moz La Punk - For your gaming lifestyle - web-log.nl
Brice Mellen is a 17 year old boy that is blind since his birth. His disability
doesn’t mean this kid can be the best Soul Calibur player. ...
mozlapunk.web-log.nl/ - 74k - Jul 26, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

FOK!games - Blinde jongen ster in Soul Calibur 2
Brice Mellen, een 17-jarige jongen uit Nebraska, is al vanaf zijn geboorte blind.
... Heeft iemand foto's of een video van deze Brice Mellen in actie? ...
games.fok.nl/news.php?newsid=5575 - 55k - Cached - Similar pages

USATODAY.com
Lincoln - Brice Mellen is a whiz at video games such as Mortal Kombat and Soul
Caliber. Mellen, 17, though, is blind and has been since birth. ...
www.usatoday.com/news/states/nemain.htm - 42k - Jul 26, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Blind Teen is Video Game Wizard
17-yr-old Brice Mellen has been blind since birth, but that hasn't stopped him
from doing one of the things he loves most: playing video games. ...
www.klkntv.com/Global/story. asp?S=3633930&nav=5UXecVio - 65k - Cached - Similar pages

Gameguru Mania - Gaming, Software, Hardware and Technology News
... be willing to blast off even if a balky fuel sensor fails again; Blind Boy
Masters Video Games - 17 year-old, Brice Mellen, has been blind since birth. ...
www.ggmania.com/ - 94k - Jul 26, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

RedTram News Search Engine | News on Interesting Fact everywhere
Blind teenager amazes with video game ability. 17:49 | azcentral.com. LINCOLN, Neb.
- Brice Mellen sure plays a mean pinball. ...
www.redtram.com/catalogue/ world/interesting-fact/20050725/ - 40k - Cached - Similar pages


http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22Brice+Mellen%22&btnG=Search

[norml]

12. Here's the contact information for DogTags Gaming Center where he plays.

You could call them and ask if it's true.

Background Information

DogTags Gaming Center LLC is a Nebraska based company formed by Marshal Rogers and his partners in January of 2005. The first location was opened on June 20th, 2005 at 942 N 70th St in the Meadowlane Shopping Center.

This location features a wide selection of games installed on 36 custom built high performance computers that are connected to the Internet via a T-1 line. A full selection of snacks and drinks is also available for purchase in the center.


Corporate Contact Information

DogTags Gaming Center, LLC
942 N 70th St.
Lincoln, NE 68505

Phone: (402) 489-GAME (4263)
Email: [e-mail]


Employment Information

We are not currently accepting applications.
http://www.dogtagsgc.com/about.asp

[pitohui]

14. there are degrees of blind

steve wynn is blind and collects art although it's well known he can barely see his fork in front of him

a friend is blind, was sent to the blind school, but tho counted as legally blind can still see well enough to play video poker

a friend who has macular degeneration still drives -- i don't approve of this -- she's legally blind -- but in practice she has not killed anyone yet

i imagine this kid is not pitch-black blind, he's getting some visual cues and the story exaggerated for the media

[norml]

16. His optic nerve didn't connect, so he's totally blind.

The story isn't being exaggerated.

[mike_c]

25. if his optic nerves did not connect, he's stone pitch-black blind....

No visual information whatsoever.

[norml]

26. Now 534 Web Results for "Brice Mellen". Yahoo News covered it too.

Web Results 1 - 10 of about 534 for "Brice Mellen". (0.05 seconds)
Tip: Save time by hitting the return key instead of clicking on "search"

Computer Games
Brice Mellen is a whiz at video games such as 'Mortal Kombat.' In that regard,
the 17-year-old isn't much different from so many others his age. ...
www.saversoftware.co.uk/news_Computer%20Games.htm - 43k - Jul 27, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

AP Online - Weather
Blind since birth due to Leber's Disease, Brice Mellen of Lincoln, Neb., ...
Brice Mellen is a whiz at video games such as "Mortal Kombat. ...
dsdsdemo2.ap.org/aponline/tech_stories/9_ds_966822.html - 12k - Jul 27, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Blind teen amazes with video-game ability - Games - MSNBC.com
Brice Mellen's ability to play video games isn't much different from so many
others his age. Except for one thing: He's blind.
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8731861/ - 53k - Jul 27, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Blind Teen Amazes With Video-Game Skills - Yahoo! News
Brice Mellen is a whiz at video games such as "Mortal Kombat." ... Blind since
birth due to Leber's Disease, Brice Mellen of Lincoln, Neb., ...
news.yahoo.com/.../ games_blind_gamer;_ylt=Aq6ujc1s38bYwDnISzFcbQGs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3cjE0b2MwBHNlYwM3Mzg- - 29k - Jul 28, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Blind teenager amazes with video-game ability
Brice Mellen is a whiz at video games. ... AP Photo/Bill Wolf Blind since birth,
Brice Mellen of Lincoln, Neb., demonstrates his mastery of video games. ...
www.azcentral.com/ent/vgames/ articles/0728blindgamer0728.html - 57k - Jul 27, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

BETA - Novinska agencija
Naslov / Headline: GAMES BLIND GAMER Podnaslov / Subtitle: BRICE MELLEN Mesto /
... Blind since birth due to Leber's Disease, Brice Mellen of Lincoln, Neb., ...
www.beta.co.yu/ default.asp?m=,pho&j=en&h=English,en - 56k - Jul 27, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Blind teen amazes with video-game skills
Blind since birth due to Leber's Disease, Brice Mellen of Lincoln, Neb., ...
(AP) - Brice Mellen is a whiz at video games such as "Mortal Kombat. ...
24hour.startribune.com/24hour/ technology/story/2587384p-11028654c.html - 18k - Jul 28, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Blind teen amazes with video-game ability
Blind since birth, Brice Mellen of Lincoln, Neb., demonstrates his mastery of
video games. ... Brice Mellen is a whiz at video games such as "Mortal Kombat. ...
www.tucsoncitizen.com/breaking/072705blind_gamer.php - 59k - Jul 27, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Article Online: Home of the Couch Sessions
Brice Mellen is your ordinary 17 year old kid from Nebraska. He plays video games
and can kick ... 17 year-old, Brice Mellen, has been blind since birth. ...
articleonline.net/blog/ - 59k - Jul 27, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

RockSolid Computing - The Web Design Company
Provides internet, intranet, networking, and e-commerce solutions for today's
businesses. .
www.rocksolid-computing.com/ - 40k - Jul 27, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages


http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22Brice+Mellen%22&btnG=Search

[norml]

27. Web Results 1 - 10 of about 3,790 for "Brice Mellen". (0.07 seconds)

Web Results 1 - 10 of about 3,790 for "Brice Mellen". (0.07 seconds)
Tip: Save time by hitting the return key instead of clicking on "search"

CNN.com - Blind teen amazes with video game ability - Jul 28, 2005
Brice Mellen is a whiz at video games such as "Mortal Kombat." ...
vert.blind.gamer.ap.jpg. Brice Mellen demonstrates his mastery of video games. ...
www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/fun.games/07/28/blind.gamer.ap/ - 38k - Jul 28, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Blind teenager amazes with video game ability
LINCOLN, Neb. - Brice Mellen sure plays a mean pinball. ... Brice Mellen sure
plays a mean pinball. More precisely, the 17-year-old Mellen is a whiz at ...
www.azcentral.com/news/ articles/0725blind-gamer25-ON.html - 55k - Jul 29, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

iWon News
(AP) Blind since birth due to Leber's Disease, Brice Mellen of Lincoln, Neb.,
... (AP) - Brice Mellen is a whiz at video games such as "Mortal Kombat. ...
apnews1.iwon.com/article/20050728/D8BK3OOOI.html - 24k - Jul 28, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

NGI - the e.sport Xperience - Brice Mellen, non-vedente ma campione -
NGI the e.sport Xperience: videogiochi, multiplayer, server file, news, forum.
www.ngi.it/ news-115787-brice-mellen-non-vedente-campione.html - 17k - Jul 28, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Proliphus Video Game News Search Powered by Yahoo!
Brice Mellen is a whiz at video games such as ''Mortal Kombat. ... Summary: Brice
Mellen demonstrates his mastery of video games. ...
search.proliphus.com/ - 13k - Jul 28, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

AP Online - Weather
Blind since birth due to Leber's Disease, Brice Mellen of Lincoln, Neb., ...
Brice Mellen is a whiz at video games such as "Mortal Kombat. ...
dsdsdemo2.ap.org/aponline/tech_stories/9_ds_966822.html - 12k - Jul 28, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Blind teen amazes with video-game ability - Games - MSNBC.com
Brice Mellen's ability to play video games isn't much different from so many
others his age. Except for one thing: He's blind.
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8731861/ - 53k - Jul 28, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Blind Teen Amazes With Video-Game Skills
(AP) - Brice Mellen is a whiz at video games such as "Mortal Kombat. ... (AP)
Blind since birth, Brice Mellen, left, of Lincoln, Neb., makes short work of ...
www.freenewmexican.com/news/30643.html - 29k - Jul 28, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Blind Teen Amazes With Video-Game Skills - Yahoo! News
Brice Mellen is a whiz at video games such as "Mortal Kombat." In that regard,
the 17-year-old isn't much different from so many others his age.
news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050728/ ap_on_hi_te/games_blind_gamer - 32k - Jul 29, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages

Article Online: Home of the Couch Sessions
Brice Mellen is your ordinary 17 year old kid from Nebraska. He plays video games
and can kick ... 17 year-old, Brice Mellen, has been blind since birth. ...
articleonline.net/blog/ - 56k - Jul 28, 2005 - Cached - Similar pages


http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22Brice+Mellen%22&btnG=Search

[Shell Beau]

8. How in the world. Pin ball I could kind of understand, maybe

his hearing is so exceptional that he can use that. But video games? That is extraordinary if true!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

13. Use the Force, Brice...

The WP article said that he uses audio cues to help him determine his moves. This makes sense to me. Since he wants to get into video game design, I hope his ideas will inspire other game manufacturers to create all their products with visually impaired people in mind.

[sakabatou]

15. I can see pinball, but MK and SC?

[Kraklen]

17. I believe it.

Mortal Kombat and Soul Caliber are button mashers.

[northzax]

18. yup, the games are key

the head to head fighting games are all about getting the combinations right, always have been. It's remarkable that he's put this much effort into it, but it's more a weakness in the games than anything else. Since the combinations are all that matter, he's not distracted by flashing lights or movement on the screen. it works.

[Mutley]

28. But you can only go so far by button mashing.

I know, because that's how I tend to play fighting games. :rofl:

[MadHound]

19. Being legally blind without my glasses, I can see how this works

I wasn't diagnosed until I was eight, and yet I managed to play baseball, learn how to ride a bike(even though I ran into parked cars), and do all the rest that normal kids do. I found out early on that it comes down to a matter of two things, routine and hearing.

SC and MK have some pretty distinct sounds, and they have set moves and are something of a button mashing game. I'm sure that it took this fellow a good while to get the timing down, but once he did, he's hell on the game. If you put him on a new game though, you'll kick his ass until he figures it out.

I don't find this impossible, and good for the kid. Hopefully he gets into game design, and helps other blind people along the way.

[norml]

20. I could almost say that too due to thick glasses, but that's not what this

is.

His optic nerve didn't connect.

[MadHound]

21. I understand that he is completely blind

However I can see how he achieves these feats based on my own experience of being nearly blind. Hearing and timing that is what it takes.

[norml]

22. Sorry, I thought you might have missed that part.

Playing video games by the audio cues might even work better for some games.

It's not that hard to understand.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

24. Having played a little MK back in the day, I could actually believe this.

2-d fighters you can get a lot of mileage out of knowing the combos and how to mash, and it's not like a 3D shooter like Quake etc. where I'd say "no way".