Blind Nintendo fan receives a thoughtful response to his touching letter
A fifth grader named Hibiki Sakai has been completely blind since the age of two, but that doesn't stop him from playing video games. He sent a touching letter to Nintendo to ask them to make more Rhythm Heaven games -- one of the only series he can really play. A week later, Nintendo thoughtfully replied with a letter written in braille.
Sakai's father shared the story of his son's correspondence with Nintendo on Twitter, translated by SoraNews24:
My son Hibiki is blind and has perfectly cleared every game in the [Rhythm Heaven] 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!
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In his letter to Nintendo, Sakai said he's gotten perfect scores on every version of Rhythm Heaven and he really (really) wants Nintendo to make more Rhythm Heaven entries and other games for people with disabilities.
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 Heaven]. 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 Heaven] 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
Rhythm Heaven relies on audio cues to tell players when to press different buttons in rhythm-based minigames, meaning Sakai doesn't really have any disadvantage due to his blindness.
Nintendo, a master of customer service, sent a personal response to Sakai, both in script and in braille so Sakai could read it. Nintendo said Sakai's letter was heartwarming and that the company passed his letter onto the developers.
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 Heaven], [Rhythm Heaven Fever], and [Rhythm Heaven Megamix].
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.
While Sakai waits for a new Rhythm Heaven game, he has a drumset to keep him occupied. His father has posted videos of Sakai playing the drums, sometimes in front of live audiences.
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Sakai's love for rhythm can't be stopped.
