I could start this article with a literary presentation of the protagonist, one of those that we journalists like so much. And that was my intention until my eleven-year-old son looked at my computer screen and exclaimed excitedly: 'But it's Brianeitor!' So I'm afraid that with Brian Albacete Oliver, better known as Brianeitor2002 or Brianeitor, there are too many presentations. The protagonist of the latest installment of Mejor Conectados, a Telefónica initiative to make talent visible and inspire connections so that people feel capable of achieving what they set out to do, is only 21 years old. He is a gamer, streamer and has more than 3 million followers on social networks. For those not familiar with the world of social networks or video games, suffice it to say that he is the revelation actor of CampeoneX, the sequel to the successful and award-winning Campeones, by Javier Fesser.
He downplays the issue and introduces himself only as “a guy who plays video games because I'm good at it and I share it with my community.” He says it with a sincere smile and mischievous look, like he's the most normal thing in the world. But he is not. Brianeitor lives bound to a wheelchair due to degenerative muscle atrophy. “My muscles and bones atrophy as time goes by. It's getting more and more. That does not mean that I use video games to live experiences that I will not be able to live in real life. I play because it is my passion,” he explains.
I could have been just another gamer. One of some. But Brianeitor has two qualities that make it unique. The first is that he is a born communicator, sincere, direct and playful. The second, being a tireless fighter. One day he decided to play Fall Guys, a video game where some curious creatures have to jump between platforms to reach their goals. He got hooked – he's said before that he wasn't bad at it – and started creating content about the game. Between games, I talked about him. About his life, his difficulties, his values and how he approaches life with a positive attitude despite his difficulties. It was March 2022. The rest is history.
The message spread like wildfire. His live broadcasts gathered more followers every day, he signed for Team Heretics, an e-sports team and content creators, and in less than a year and a half he has become a star. “Having such a large community in such a short time is crazy. And more so because the majority are people without disabilities ”, he emphasizes. Brianeitor exudes a contagious energy and his acid sense of humor captivates you beyond repair. “Many times I read comments from people with a disability who have changed their attitude towards life thanks to what I tell. People who until now had a sadder attitude and who confess that my live shows help them move forward. Achieving that connection is incredible, ”he acknowledges.
Sometimes they invite him to try a game, but he leaves empty because it is not adapted for people like him. Something as simple as not being able to configure which letters on the keyboard can be played with according to the motor skills of the player, leaves them out of their reach. “It makes me angry. Not just for me. These companies lose many potential buyers, because there are many people with disabilities. Furthermore, if we cannot participate in that experience, in that game, we are being excluded and limiting our possible social relationships. It is as if you do not make a cinema accessible: you lose viewers, but you also prevent those people from staying chatting with others commenting on the film”.
Without intending to, Brianeitor is taking giant steps to make all these barriers known. “If they know our reality, game designers can make them accessible. And that will be thanks to social networks. Without technology there would be no social networks. I myself would die much sooner than I should, because it is my life, it is all I can do to entertain myself,” he points out.
Still, he's not one to sit still either. “I researched the Internet until I found a guy who made joysticks for people with accessibility problems like me.” Since he is not one to keep secrets to himself, he shared the discovery with his community. “Many thanked me, because this way they could play without restrictions. It's cool to know that you are helping other people,” he acknowledges.
Assume that your reality is different. “Different is scary. But it doesn't have to be scary. They can be beautiful things, other paths. You don't have to be afraid of them. I always tell myself to keep going and whatever has to happen happens,” she exclaims with that overwhelming drive that made her the protagonist of the film Campeonex, by Javier Fesser. “I never imagined that they were going to give me the role. I had only been a content creator for three months when they called me. And it was one of the best experiences of my life! Filming a film, living two months in Madrid during filming…”, he recalls of its premiere on the big screen.
It will not be the last, because in October a documentary about his life directed by the Goya winner, Álvaro Longoria, will be released. The premiere will be at the San Sebastian Festival. A new opportunity to break down prejudices and connect the entire society with the universe of those who live with some type of functional diversity.
