By Warren Peasley

Dettson, 17, says he stumbled upon the game late one night over four years ago.

Using surround sound headphones and a high-precision gaming mouse, he booted up Illusions Soft’s 2006 title, Rapelay, and lost all track of time until he heard the sounds of birds chirping at sunrise.

Blind since a childhood illness, Donway Dettson knew he was different from other kids, but never considered himself less proficient, especially when it came to gaming.

“Even when a game wasn’t very blind-friendly, I always wanted to see how far I could push my boundaries,” says Dettson.

It wasn’t until he started playing Rapelay that something clicked and an obsession took form. Though others frowned upon Dettson’s choice and voiced their doubts:

“A lot of people on message boards tried to dissuade me from playing the game,” says Dettson,” I don’t think they understood what I was capable of. Now they see.”

Not discouraged by other’s pessimism, Dettson redoubled his efforts as the years went on.

Dettson’s mother was surprised to see him so impassioned: “He was very committed. He’d just sit up there in his dark room, letting his dinner go cold, trying to beat that game of his. He even skipped church a few times.”

While Dettson is proud of his accomplishment, he was annoyed by the fact that another blind gamer, Terry Garett, had completed the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time around the same time, and received far more media exposure for his efforts:

“I think blind gaming may be a growing phenomenon. It’s not fair that only certain blind gamers should get all the public exposure. Four years of Rapelay was no simple task.”

Despite his blindness, Dettson keeps an ear on the latest in gaming culture, not afraid to voice his opinions on the hottest topics.

Just recently he joined the outcry of gamers that criticized Blizzard for oversexualizing a female character in their game Overwatch, ultimately coercing them into altering the character model.

Dettson is unsure what his next gaming challenge might be, but he’s determined to make a name for himself: “I think I may tackle the Artificial Girl series next, for a change of pace.”

When I asked what is was like to be an inspiration to other people, blind and seeing alike, Dettson modestly shrugged his shoulders:

“I’m just doing what I enjoy.”

Warren Peasely is a man of consummate action. With perfect 20/20 vision, he holds an eagle eyed focus on the gaming world; and with his sensitive heart, writes down what he sees with breathtaking honesty. The industry would undoubtedly be a better place with more people like him.