Mike Begum is out to become one of the best Street Fighter players in the world.
And he doesn't even need hands to do it.
Born with arthrogryposis, Begum has limited muscle development, so he plays the game using his face. The 28-year-old from Texas, better known as BrolyLegs, rose to become the top-ranked Chun-Li player online in Ultra Street Fighter IV and obliterates most opponents in his path.
He's one of the 33 million disabled gamers in the US who have found a way to thrive in today's sophisticated competition, according to the AbleGamers foundation. Because, let's face it, video games have come a long way from text-based adventures that had you slowly type in commands on a keyboard. They move faster, require split-second reflexes and run on complicated controllers packed with buttons and joysticks.
Fortunately, gamers like Begum aren't alone. Organizations around the world like AbleGamers work to help disabled people find new adventures through video games. People with disabilities are also finding workarounds, whether through custom-built hardware or software tricks, to ensure that they can stay competitive with the best players out there.
One in five gamers is disabled, according to a 2008 study, using games to improve their lives at home. For those who can't leave their houses, games are a way to explore and go on adventures without going anywhere. Video games also offer a chance for players to be on an equal playing field, regardless of their disabilities. That's one of the reasons Street Fighter pulled Begum in. People would give confused looks to Begum when they were matched up but then desperately scramble in fights once they started losing.
"Once you're playing, it's like the gloves are off," he said. "I appreciate that more, because that's what I'm there for, the competition."
https://www.cnet.com/news/street-fi...gamers-xbox-special-effects-software-players/