One of the toughest parts of being a gamer is having to wait for highly anticipated titles. Like most entries in the series before it, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was revealed with an amazing trailer that excited millions of gamers around the world before telling them they would wait several years before getting their hands on it. For most of us that wait, while annoying, isn’t too bad because it is just a matter of waiting. Unfortunately, time isn’t on the side of every gamer.
Gabe Marcelo was one such example. Due to a heart problem he had from birth, Gabe’s life was a struggle and he was well aware that even at the age of 27, his time was short. Like many people, regardless of health, Gabe looked to video games as an escape from the world’s woes and the Legend of Zelda franchise happened to be his favorite, so he was quite understandably excited for Breath of the Wild. However, he didn’t know if he would live long enough to experience the adventure.
Gabe’s brother, Jaime, was well aware of this fact too and reached out online, hoping that Nintendo would be able to help realize his brother’s dream. Thankfully, someone at Nintendo took notice of the wave of support and was able to arrange for Gabe to visit Nintendo of America’s headquarters in Washington. The Zelda fan was shown around the facility and given some hands-on time with one of the game’s demos. Gabe and his family held onto the hope that he would get the chance to play the final game, but tragically he passed away on January 14.
It’s strange to think about it this way, but it can be quite easy for us to take video games for granted. Most of us eagerly await games and then enjoy them as a means of entertainment, but for some it’s not so simple. Running around Hyrule might not just be fun for them, but also an opportunity to experience running around and exploring the world, something that maybe health issues don’t allow them to do in real life. When Breath of the Wild comes out, take a moment to really appreciate that joy you feel and be thankful that Gabe was able to get a taste, even if just for a little bit, of that joy as well.
Source: Go Nintendo, Waypoint