It’s easy for those who play or watch the best movies based on video games to want to be immersed in that fictional world. Imagine what that must feel like when you live with a physical disability and are faced with severe limitations. It wasn’t until I watched the 2024 Netflix movie The Remarkable Life of Ibelin that I felt so moved to see how role-playing games can empower people with disabilities like they did for Mats Steen.
Ultimate Freedom is Achieved In Virtual Worlds Away From Real-Life Limits As told in the Netflix documentary through interviews, archival footage, and animated video game reenactments, Norwegian native Mats Steen was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy when he was four. Due to rapid muscle degeneration, Mats was confined to a wheelchair by the time he was 10. With only the use of his fingers, and being required to wear a tube to clear his throat, Mats missed out on typical activities that people his age would do, like playing outdoor sports or hanging out with friends.
Mats' parents became worried when he spent 12 hours a day playing World of Warcraft. It wasn’t until his death at the age of 25 that Mats left his parents a password to his blog where they were introduced to their son’s whole other life within the realm of the online role-playing game. After Mats' parents posted in his blog about their son's passing, they were incredibly surprised to discover all of the friends he made who were quick to express their condolences.
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