Today Kotaku reported that the Red Shirt Guy, who attended BlizzCon 2010 and rocked the World of Warcraft community with his mad lore skills, released a video where he explained that he was very nervous at the time of his question at the Lore Q&A Panel. He also revealed that he suffers from Asperger Syndrome which is a milder variant of Autistic Disorder.
In honor of the Red Shirt Guy’s unfailing courage to speak up in-front of thousands of people at BlizzCon and those watching via DirecTV pay-per-view at home, I’m going to donate $100 to the US Asperger’s Association which is a registered 501 (c) (3) charity here in the USA. I respectfully challenge Blizzard Entertainment to match or exceed this donation to this or any other Asperger or Autism charity. I also encourage everyone to help donate to any of these worthwhile charities to help fight these debilitating childhood and adult disorders.
Even though I am a frequent critic of Blizzard’s design philosophy, I want to acknowledge that Blizzard Entertainment is indeed a class act and has a gigantic heart when it comes to supporting worthwhile causes such as the Make a Wish Foundation.
A few years ago, Blizzard made little Ezra Chatterton’s wish come true when they flew him out to Irvine California to create his own permanent in-game NPC. Every time I pass his tauren character Ahab Wheathoof in Mulgore looking for his pet dog, I get all choked up. This is one the most memorable and touching moments of World of Warcraft that I’ve ever experienced. Ezra Chatterton has since passed away and his loving family and friends have created a wonderful memorial website in his name.
I’d also like to suggest that Blizzard should somehow honor the courage and dedication of this fine young man known as the Red Shirt Guy by either naming a dwarf character in WoW after him or inviting him down to Irvine and giving him a tour of the Blizzard campus.
As a shy and socially awkward kid growing up, I’d like to say that the Red Shirt Guy’s determination to stand up and make his voice heard despite being afflicted by this disorder has been an inspiration to thousands of WoW fans and gamer geeks around the world.
You rock Red Shirt Guy!!!
-Wolfshead
Here’s the YouTube video which the Red Shirt Guy released today:
Nice video, he’s a good kid. I think the reason it was funny was not so much his voice but the way in which his question utterly floored the developers.
Hopefully from now on quest designers on World of Warcraft will be expected to read the novels. It was unprofessional not to.
As the mom of a four year old with special needs, I love this! I really appreciate your willingness to donate and the sentiment you’ve expressed! I also appreciate that you’re using your platform to educate people! My son doesn’t have Asperger’s (he has a cyst in his brain that causes developmental delays and autistic behaviors), but we know several children in his class who do, and they’re amazing and often misunderstood kids. Please keep us posted on whether you ever receive a response from Blizzard. 🙂
Looks like he got his in-game appearance – not yet on beta, but word is he will be.
http://www.mmo-champion.com/content/2052-Falstad-Wildhammer-is-back-Season-9-Models-Blue-Posts
Yea, that guy was great. And it didn’t surprise me when he said he had Asperger Syndrome, my 21 year old son has it, and he reminded me of him in a way. I don’t know if this a hoax or not, but I found this on MMOchanmpion.com, so he may be in the game now.
http://www.mmo-champion.com/content/2052-Falstad-Wildhammer-is-back-Season-9-Models-Blue-Posts/
“I’d also like to suggest that Blizzard should somehow honor the courage and dedication of this fine young man known as the Red Shirt Guy by either naming a dwarf character in WoW after him…”
Apparently they already have!
http://i.imgur.com/FRLiJ.jpg
Thanks all for the links and great news folks! My apologies, I was traveling and didn’t have a chance to approve the new comments.
*cheers*
My beautiful son, who is five, has Aspergers. Like the red shirt guy, he is socially awkward. He excels in so many other things though. He’s incredibly articulate, bright, and is an expert on all things dinosaur and zombie. I know he’ll grow up to do some incredible things.
Thank you for this post. I confess, reading it made me tear up a little bit.