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[maxcriden]

I thought this was a heartwarming story and wanted to share it with you all.

Dear Nintendo,

Hello. My name is Hibiki Sakai and I am in fifth grade. I am blind, but I’ve always wanted to play video games like everyone else. But there aren’t many games I can play at all. The one game I can really play is Rhythm Tengoku. It’s the only game I can enjoy together with others, and I never lose at it. I’ve gotten perfect scores on all the versions on the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Wii, and 3DS too.

So I really, really want you to make more Rhythm Tengoku games. And it’s perfectly fine if you make them a little harder too!

I think that there are a lot of other kids with visual impairments who want to play video games but can’t. So I’d love for you to develop more games for people with handicaps to enjoy playing with others.

I will always support you, Nintendo.

From Hibiki Sakai

My son Hibiki is blind and has perfectly cleared every game in the Rhythm Tengoku series, the only games he can play. He sent Nintendo a letter and they actually responded! Them sending such a sincere correspondence to just one person is truly divine customer service. Nintendo, we’re anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series!

Nintendo's reply:

Thank you so much for sending us here at Nintendo your heartwarming letter.

We are so happy to hear that you’ve perfected and enjoyed Rhythm Tengoku, Rhythm Tengoku Gold, Minna no Rhythm Tengoku, and Rhythm Tengoku The Best.

We have passed on your letter to Nintendo’s development department. We want to keep making games that everyone can have fun playing, so thank you for your support.

-

And while waiting for new releases, Hibiki is keeping busy. He’s talented not only at music games, but at playing the drums too. You can see a video of him showing his impressive skills [at the link]. Since hearing about his story, Hibiki has been invited to play the drums at big events in Osaka.

Hibiki’s father has said that his son undergoing surgery was nothing but “days full of pain and tears,” but seeing Hibiki persevere has taught him that “it’s not having a disability that causes sorrow… but letting the disability hold you back that causes it.”

Full article here:

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2017/05/...rming-thank-you-letter-gets-amazing-response/ (via GoNintendo.com)

--

Bonus Content

That article also links to an interesting story about "divine customer service" in Japan from Nintendo and other companies:

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/12/...nintendo-disney-and-other-companies-in-japan/

Here are a couple choice excerpts:

This dedication has been shown to extend all the way to the top at the company. In the early 1990s, an elementary school student was riding his bike when he was hit by a car. During his subsequent stay in the hospital, the boy wanted to play some games, but his Game Boy had been in the basket of his bike at the time of the accident, and was so damaged it had to be sent to Nintendo for repairs.

The maintenance department, shocked at the abuse the handheld system had taken, called the boy’s mother to inquire about how it had ended up in such a state. She told them about the accident, and a few days later the boy received a new Game Boy, along with a note telling him to watch out for cars signed by “Yokoi,” ostensibly Game Boy designer Gunpei Yokoi.

Similarly, another Nintendo fan recalls saving up his allowance and buying a Famicom game on the day of its release, but accidentally breaking the cartridge in less than a week. Distraught, he sent it to Nintendo to be fixed. One week later, a box came for the boy, containing a new copy of the game, repayment of the initial shipping fee, some Mario merchandise, and a handwritten letter, saying:

“
“Thanks for buying our game, and sorry to hear about it breaking just when you were having fun with it. Try to be more careful, but since you’re still in elementary school, I’m guessing you don’t have much money to pay for repairs, so this time Uncle Miyamoto will take care of it for you.”

 

[Waluigilicious]

That's really sweet!

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

I always thought HD Rumble would be an interesting way to help blind gamers navigate the game world, if done right.

 

[Krappadizzle]

Really awesome.

 

[Kain-Nosgoth]

That's really cute!

And this child knows, we all want more rythme tengoku!

 

[Dark Cloud]

I feel like every few months we get a new heartwarming story about Nintendo and someone who is handicapped or ill. These things are way more important in life than video games.

 

[Orayn]

I always thought HD Rumble would be an interesting way to help blind gamers navigate the game world, if done right.

Especially if you combined it with some of the concepts found in sound-only games on mobile platforms.

 

[Platy]

I always thought HD Rumble would be an interesting way to help blind gamers navigate the game world, if done right.

Not sure about HD Rumble, but I heard more than one story about blind people loving 12Switch since it don't require looking at the screen

 

[Lights and Waves]

I'm crying. What a beautiful letter.

I wish more developers actually put in an effort to make their games more accessible. Button mapping and subtitles for speech, music cues and sound effects should be standard by this point.

The fact that deaf gamers don't even have decent accommodations for gaming is whack as it is. I can't imagine how tough it must be for blind folks.

 

[Cosmonaut X]

Fantastic story - these kinds of gestures can make a huge difference to children, and they're always good to see.

Must admit that this was a little spooky though, given what happened to Yokoi:

The maintenance department, shocked at the abuse the handheld system had taken, called the boy’s mother to inquire about how it had ended up in such a state. She told them about the accident, and a few days later the boy received a new Game Boy, along with a note telling him to watch out for cars signed by “Yokoi,” ostensibly Game Boy designer Gunpei Yokoi.

 

[radcliff]

Fantastic story - these kinds of gestures can make a huge difference to children, and they're always good to see.

Must admit that this was a little spooky though, given what happened to Yokoi:

Yeah, that is eerie.

 

[Mael]

Woah that's all kinds of cool!

This dedication has been shown to extend all the way to the top at the company. In the early 1990s, an elementary school student was riding his bike when he was hit by a car. During his subsequent stay in the hospital, the boy wanted to play some games, but his Game Boy had been in the basket of his bike at the time of the accident, and was so damaged it had to be sent to Nintendo for repairs.

The maintenance department, shocked at the abuse the handheld system had taken, called the boy’s mother to inquire about how it had ended up in such a state.

Wait, you can break a gameboy?

She told them about the accident, and a few days later the boy received a new Game Boy, along with a note telling him to watch out for cars signed by “Yokoi,” ostensibly Game Boy designer Gunpei Yokoi.

-_-'

 

[j0hnnix]

That is super sweet! Beautiful Nintendo!

 

[LordKasual]

This actually is very heartwarming.

Now if only they'd stop sending letters to fangamers

 

[Peltz]

There was a story about how a blind person played 1-2-Switch with his or her family. I forgot the details but it was really heartwarming.

 

[Kalor]

That's cool. Now they have to make more Rhythm Heaven so that they don't let them down.

 

[Budi]

Video games are okay =)

 

[psychowave]

This is why making games more accessible is so important. Everyone deserves to be able to just pick a game up and have fun, especially kids.

D'awwed out loud at the Uncle Miyamoto thing too.

 

[VLQ]

-_-'

indeed.

 

[AquaWateria]

The saddest part is that there are people that call themselves hardcore gamers are against games that are accessible to everyone because its too kiddy for their tastes.

 

[Possumowner]

That is fantastic

 

[Deleted member 57681]

-_-'

Whoah I totally read that as a threat at first.

 

[Wolf Dawgz]

Woah that's all kinds of cool!


Wait, you can break a gameboy?

-_-'

Damn that took me a second.

 

[Steiner]

I love this. The Rhythm Heaven games are very near and dear to my heart -- the exemplify exactly what makes Nintendo so special, in my opinion. They're delightful, surprising, challenging, fun for friends to enjoy together, and the developers always go out of their way to make players smile. Rhythm Heaven Megamix is a masterpiece, and one of my top 5 GOAT on any platform.

Seeing Nintendo acknowledge this fan with their heartwarming response just makes me so happy. Everything about this series is magical. I'm genuinely happy for that boy, and I can't wait to see Rhythm Heaven on the Switch.

 

[moeman]

Great story. And man Hibiki is a great drummer.

 

[dallow_bg]

Those two anecdotes at the end are sweet.
RIP Yokoi.


Very nice for this kid. If he's responsible for the next Rhythm Heaven game then he's in my debt.

 

[boiled goose]

There are lots of possibilities of interesting games without visual input.

Hd rumble can provide haptic feedback.

 

[Gleethor]

Yokoi letter is ominous af

 

[UltimaWeapon]

The "Uncle Miyamoto" part makes me feel like we all have that 'uncle that works at Nintendo'

Great stories. Thanks for sharing OP!

 

[The Hermit]

-_-'

Whoa. God have a dark sense of humour.

 

[Tom Nook]

Awesome story.

I always thought HD Rumble would be an interesting way to help blind gamers navigate the game world, if done right.

That would be really cool.

 

[Kamek]

The fact that Yokoi wrote that to that young child gave me chills. Damn.

 

[Struct09]

That's awesome. And I can kind of relate, sometimes I do my best in Rhythm Heaven when I close my eyes.

 

[Neoxon]

That's awesome. And I can kind of relate, sometimes I do my best in Rhythm Heaven when I close my eyes.

Same here. It's how I got half of my perfect scores in Fever. I need to try it with Megamix.

 

[Jockel]

I half expected them to send the kid a copy of Soundvoyager. They should have.

 

[foxuzamaki]

Woah that's all kinds of cool!


Wait, you can break a gameboy?

-_-'

Oh, oh god, oh godamn

 

[JohnTinker]

along with a note telling him to watch out for cars signed by “Yokoi,” ostensibly Game Boy designer Gunpei Yokoi.

Oooof

 

[Zee_truly evil]

That's really awesome of Nintendo.

inwas expectong someone to spin this into a negative .

 

[Memory]

Story actually brought a wide smile to my face.

 

[DMONKUMA]

That's awesome.

 

[City 17]

Try to be more careful, but since you're still in elementary school, I'm guessing you don't have much money to pay for repairs, so this time Uncle Miyamoto will take care of it for you

I think we found the guy whose uncle works for Nintendo.

 

[DanteRavenkin]

Reading this story brought a smile to my face. I feel like, if any company can truly make games for everyone, it'll be Nintendo. Maybe they already have a team working on fully accessible games. If not, they probably will soon enough.

 

[pinkurocket]

I'm amazed at his sense of rhythm, he must be an amazing drummer.

 

[Blizzard]

I'm amazed at his sense of rhythm, he must be an amazing drummer.

You can decide for yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evshvUpbIjM

Check the really fast rolls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ2a_2ldldc

 

[Rösti]

“Putting Smiles on the Faces of Everyone Nintendo Touches.” exemplified really well. A very nice story.

 

[-duskdoll-]

Awwww :') Good job Nintendo.

 

[LegendofLex]

There are lots of possibilities of interesting games without visual input.

Hd rumble can provide haptic feedback.

True! I think this idea ought to be applied beyond just games, too, and maybe that's something Nintendo might help pioneer.

 

[PSqueak]

it's funny too, given that i have read impressions of people saying a good bunch of the mini games in 1,2, switch! are very blind friendly, so that kid is getting more nintendo stuff he can play.

 

[Barrel Cannon]

Well that's a touching story. Good Guy Nintendo

 

[Currygan]

That's really awesome of Nintendo.

inwas expectong someone to spin this into a negative .

let's hope we can't sink that low

amazing gesture by Nintendo