Artiz Acevedo is in Valencia to join DreamHack, an immersive experience in the ‘player’ lifestyle where the community comes alive. Content creator Acevedo is known as Moyorz.
Many people know that he is a creator, but they do not know that he suffers from osteogenesis imperfecta, or crystal bones. Can you explain what this disease is?
This disease is mostly due to brittle bones. There are different degrees. There are people who have it and don’t know because they can walk, and among the serious ones, I have the most serious one. I’m in a wheelchair, I have some deformities due to fractures I’ve had all my life. You have to be careful on a daily basis to avoid getting hit and making sudden movements.
He made a video of how he played. As are?
A picture is worth a thousand words and that’s why I made this video. I have an adaptation with a small table above the chair. That’s where I put the keyboard. I play with my right hand backwards as seen in the video. I hold the mouse as best I can with my left hand. I play games like everyone else because you can set the keys however you want and that’s how I defend myself.
Did it have much of an impact?
Yeah, I think so too. More than one million views. In that video, I tried to convey the message that if I can do it, you can too. If I can play Fortnite and win a game, anything is possible in this life. There were people who got the message that if I win a game, you can win too, but other people got the message I wanted to convey.
How did you decide to become a publisher and content creator?
I was at an Aspace job center. I liked what he did, but it didn’t satisfy me. I would come home in the afternoons and start playing the game and watching videos. One day I thought why not do it myself. I started doing it because I love editing and clip art, but I was also having fun. I started little by little until it had more impact and then the video came along and I had a blast there. I went to many places.
How is your day today?
My day is like any other streamer. I have the most normal schedule. I usually get up at eight or nine and start streaming on Twitch. I eat at one and get some rest. I’m back on the air at three, five or six. At six o’clock, if I have nothing to do as a broadcaster, I’m usually with my son, hanging out with my family or friends. I do what others do. Go out, for something… Get out as much as you can because if you’re a streamer or youtuber, you need to be connected 24 hours a day. I love being aware of what’s going on. If I have power at night, I broadcast live before I go to sleep. I wear it for a few hours.
Aren’t you tired of all this technology?
The truth is, no. I have always been interested in video games since I was little and I never get bored. I’m doing many things with technology that I couldn’t do before.
What if you need to shoot a video and you have no idea?
Many times you are blocked and don’t know what to do. Most of the time I prefer to have fun, be myself, play the game that is trendy or that I love. to be myself
How is your relationship with other content creators? is there competition
The truth is, no. I have very little contact with other creators because I go to my prom. If they invite me to an event, I accept and have a good time with them. I now have more connections.
Have you ever felt down because of your condition?
There are times in everyday life when you feel inferior and people are unable to empathize with disability. You need to normalize everything and gradually try to normalize it.
Do you think the barriers have been overcome?
Yes, the subject has changed a lot in the last twenty years, but there is much more to be done. This is something that will never end, you always have to improve the architectural barriers, the adaptations so that people can see that it is normal to use a wheelchair. When I was little I noticed they were looking at me on the street and now they’re stopping me to ask for pictures. Thanks to my influence, people still see people with disabilities as something more normal. Earlier, I noticed that people were looking at me strangely. Now there are people too, but I think there are less. It has become normal, but obviously it is necessary to continue to progress on these issues.
These platforms are a good showcase for making this issue visible.
Yes, the Internet is a huge platform and it gives a lot of visibility on all social networks and if you do something viral… As I said, they know me by walking.
Have you been exposed to any negative comments on the networks?
Yes, obviously like everyone else. There are “haters” who often humiliate you. People will attack your weak points. If someone is obese, it attacks their obesity. There are people who insult me in the normal way, and there are people who insult what they see. I bought everything. The first comment that struck me at first and now I’m sweating. I was scared because in Pamplona, where I live, they said they’d kick me out of the chair if they saw me. I was a little scared. Then those people will definitely see me on the street and ask me for a photo. I’m sure some “hater” asked me for a photo at an event.
What would you say to those people?
That everyone behind a curtain is very brave but never knows what might happen to him. Let them have some empathy because you could have an accident or get depressed. Depending on how you are, a comment can affect you a lot.
How do you try to avoid being influenced?
We are human. There are days when it affects you more and days when it affects you less. You get used to the bad reviews a little bit because you’ve been on this earth for so long. People give more importance to one bad review than 10,000 good ones. You should try to see more good comments, but if you have a bad day and someone touches your balls, it will affect you.
Many parents believe that video games are not a good alternative for leisure. What would you say to them?
For me, video games have been a part of my life and I am where I am because of them. I met my wife, the love of my life. People believe video games are a bad thing, and it depends on how you use them. Everything has a limit. They can be of great help to you. I’ve met a lot of people on the internet where I talk more to people I know physically.