Video game developer Trion Worlds has named Alex James Ryan as its winner of the AbleGamers fellowship, which aims to support students with disabilities in game development. The Trion Worlds website revealed that the studio will grant AJ $10,000 in scholarship funds.
According to the AbleGamers website, AJ was born with Arthrogryposis — a condition that resulted in weakened or missing muscles and nerves in his body. As a result, he learned to use his feet to play and develop video games, including Street Fighter 2, Marvel vs. Capcom 2, and Mortal Kombat.
Trion Worlds also revealed that AJ recently founded Inclusive Games, a game development studio that, in the fellowship winner’s words, “aims to create full experiences everyone can play.”
AJ elaborated on the rationale behind his work:
“As someone that’s disabled myself, it’s frustrating to see games ship without options that help me play games. Since I’m studying Computer Science and Media Informatics in my senior year of college, I now have the skills to make games … And make games I do.”
Trion Worlds COO Russ Brown had words of praise for AJ:
“Anyone who cannot use their arms and plays Mortal Kombat with their feet, and is setting up his own game studio is a winner. The world needs more Alex James Ryans.”
Interested readers can learn more about AJ on the AbleGamers site, and learn more about the initiative via the Fellowship website.
[Image Source: Trion Worlds]
