LotRO Dance of the Dwarves (because I can't...)

I love the mellow yet challenging world of the online game Lord of the Rings Online. Yet, it reminds me how it allows me to do things that I couldn't normally do. While this is true for certainly all of the people who play games such as these, I started to think even deeper about what such a world would mean to those who, like myself, have suffered some sort of debilitating injury in their life. While, yes, you are defeating fell beasts, you are also doing something that most people take for granted: that is, walking, running...just going places where you might not be able to right now since you are confined to a small room.

While the technology to allow those with total immobility to participate in these virtual adventures might not quite be here, it is not too far away. I just wanted to let anyone out there who might be wallowing in despair to know that, yes, we can run and interact with others. While it might be a virtual world, the people that you interact with are in fact real. Real just like you and me.

While I'm not sure that many "normal" people will "get" this video, it is really intended for those who might want to join me online but currently feel like they can't effect change. I think the visage of my character "standing up" midway into the video should be reason enough.

While I don't want to get too "preachy", I do want to give credit where credit is due. Congratz to the designers of LOTRO and also those few individuals who are responsible for the music in this game. The music alone makes me want to just sit and fish in the virtual world that you have created...

Anyhoo... To any sad soul that comes along...hang in there! Contact me if you want too! And to everyone else...enjoy the good graphics and awesome music to a great online game!

Peace...

-Cybershaman

Obligatory Legal Disclaimer: This is a "fan made video" and as such is in no way endorsed by the actual makers of the Lord of the Rings Online game. All images and texts are in no way implied to be or are typical of the actual Lord of the Rings Online gameplay experience. For the purposes of this video, the visible user interface was removed along with all other in-game sounds, be they ambient or interactive.

The sole purpose of this video was to inspire those with disabilities to not give up hope. The statistics regarding the number of people with a disability were from the US Census website. It should give one pause to consider that there are many more millions of people around the world who have a disability. It has been noted in archaeological evidence that a hallmark of our species is the desire to take care of those members of our society who may have been too ill or injured to physically "contribute" to the general society at large. Keep this idea alive today by always remembering this: it could be you sitting in that wheelchair or bed...

Help me help others to fight evil...virtual or not...any way that we can...

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• LOTRO
• Dance of the Dwarves
• music
• disabled
• disability

[CybershamanX]

@Malrodxx Thank you so much! But... The weird thing is... This is the LEAST favorite video I've posted so far. Very heavy handed, kinda thrown together without fleshing out the idea, bla bla bla. The spirit is there, the idea, the video, heck, the audio (I actually thought of this after recording the Dance of the Dwarves in-game with all other sounds turned off). It has a good message but it lacks soul. I will think on these things... Again, thanks for the kind words! :)

[Malrodxx]

I really like the discription :) I'm glad your enjoying the same and that it is allowing you to feel this way.

In a way, Lotro for me helps me with leadership skills and of course social interaction.

Yes, it is more than just a game

[CybershamanX]

@Extr3Meris2 Credit goes to Chance Thomas (music.ign.com/articles/791/79­1216p1.html). As a person who has music that runs in their blood, I have to say that what is heard by the players of LotRO is NOT mere "fluff". My wife often gives me a hard time about who or who has not been "classically trained". While I do not have a link to such information, I truly believe that Mr. Thomas and the other people involved with the music of LotRO are or at the very least simply gifted...

[Extr3Meris2]

the music is nice