Our next Trading Card Spotlight features Sashaun “Empr3ss Nile” Bailey, who is displayed on card number 2417, from the Superstars of 2016. Originally competing at Cyberbox tournaments as a competitor for Empire Arcadia in 2015, Empr3ss always knew she was a gaming competitor. When Cyberbox closed, she looked for a new way to contribute to eSports as a competitor. Nile was one of the top eSports competitors for Just Dance in the country. She has won the National competition at Cyberbox for Just Dance in Jamaica. She also is a part of the Tetris Team trying to win a title for the Empire. Other games Enpr3ss like to compete in are League of Legends and Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft.
Who is your favorite video game character and what makes that character special?
It would have to be a tie between PAC-MAN and Lara Croft. I like PAC-MAN because he’s simple and you can power him up easy with the energizer. I like when the ghost think they’re about to kill you and you get the power up and they start running. I use to laugh all the time as a kid when I saw that, I still do sometimes. I like Lara Croft because she’s a bad-ass and to some degree she’s independent. She doesn’t work for anybody. She has guns can kill bears, wolves, people. She’s a super version of Indiana Jones.
Do you remember your first video game / arcade you played and what do you remember about it?
My first video game experience was when my mother bought Ms. Spider Tea Party, Tomb Raider and one of the collection packs that had Tetris and Galaga for PlayStation in 2003. I’m my mother’s first child so it’s not like she bought it for my brothers who were born in 2008 and 2015. She literately bought it for me and we played some of games together.
What are your opinions about today’s generation of video games? How do you compare them to older, classic games?
Today’s games are challenging to me because they put in a bunch of tasks that make you think. I feel like you have to use more strategy to play today’s games over yesterday games. I also play games like Tetris, Centipede and Galaga. I like those types of games because they’re more simplistic is task and not as hard as the way games are made today.
Did you ever think when you were younger you would be on a Video Game Trading card?
Nope. I never knew about video game trading cards and eSports until I went to Cyberbox and I met Triforce in 2015. I know I’m the only girl on the Island that got a Trading Card so that feels good and bad. I feel privileged to be the only girl with a video game trading card on the island, but at the same time I hope other girls get one too.
What is your favorite portable gaming device and why?
My phone is my favorite portable gaming device because it has everything on it.
Do you prefer PC or Console gaming and why?
I honestly prefer console because I like to use controllers and touch screen rather than a keyboard and mouse.
What games today do you play and what are your favorite genres of games?
I play Tetris on fiancé’s Nintendo 3DS, Candy Crush and Best Fiends on my phone. I still play some console and PC games like Hearthstone, League of Legends (although I’m not good at them, I just like them) and Just Dance. I like First Person Shooters, Moba’s and Puzzle games the most.
If you could own one arcade game or pinball game, what would it be and why?
I would love to have a PAC-MAN arcade machine. It’s my childhood favorite although I never got to play the actual arcade version. My mom bought us one with the controller where you can plug into the TV and play. We use to play it all the time. I saw videos of Billy Mitchell with Triforce playing a version that had a messed-up screen. I found out later that it was the last board in the game. I eventually will go to the United States and I want to actually play an arcade version. As long as I have been alive, I’ve never seen an actual “ARCADE” machine of any kind in person.
Growing up were you team Sega or Nintendo and why?
I would have to say team Nintendo because I like Super Mario Bros. and Tetris.
Are video games aimed mainly at children, adolescents, or adults?
I think video games is aimed for everyone. I don’t think they make them for any one set type of people. That’s like saying ice cream is only for kids but everyone eats it.
Do you believe some Video Games are too violent and lead to violence in America today?
I think video games are too violent. I don’t know how it affects people in America but here in Jamaica games like Mortal Kombat I think will mess up kids minds, making them imagine they can go around and kill people like in the game.
Do you prefer playing video games alone, against friends or online against the world and why?
I prefer to play video games alone. Even though I’ve competed in the past, I really don’t like it. If I compete I want to win, I hate the feeling of losing. It really puts me in a very bad mood so I rather just play just to have fun.
Which company makes the best games and why?
Nintendo. They make simple and fun games, both old and new.
Do you learn anything from playing video games?
I learn patience, temperance and it helps me think better to solve problems. I think this is something everyone in the world learns from videos games so that’s a good thing.
Are video games good for relieving stress?
I think video games can be good for relieving stress and anger. It’s just another activity to distract you from things that causes stress and anger. That’s why a lot of people play futbol here in Jamaica.
Do you like it when Hollywood makes a movie from the video game?
I’ve only seen one video game movie in my life and that was Pixel’s back in 2015. I think it was a good movie. Very funny and I like it a lot because PAC-MAN was in it. I don’t mind when Hollywood makes video game movies as long as they stick to how the game is made.
What springs to mind when you hear the term ‘video games’?
Console and controllers come to mind when someone says video games to me. Fun, I guess.
Of these five elements video games, which is the most important to you and why? Gameplay, Atmosphere, Music, Story, Art style?
I always like gameplay over everything. If it has good gameplay that means I can keep playing more and more. I don’t like games that just have good graphics and story, music etc. because once you experience them one time or so, that’s it. With gameplay, you’ll be able to play the game many times over as long as the gameplay is good.
Do you find boss battles to be the best part of a video game?
I like Boss battles because it brings a sense of facing a test after coming so far in the game. That excitement makes you feel like this the moment of truth and when you beat the boss you really have a sense of accomplishment. I don’t think it’s the best part of the game but it is one of the better parts.
What is your favorite single player game and favorite multiplayer game?
I would have to say Tomb Raider is my favorite single player game because I like the adventure of the game. I like PAC-MAN as a single player game as well but in the context of the question it’s too simple for me to include. In Tomb Raider, there is a bunch of task to do and the adventure of doing that task is what makes it my favorite single player game. My favorite multiplayer game is Just Dance. I like dancing with my friends especially when there is a scoring system. Believe it or not I’m not a great dancer. I don’t think I’m a good dancer but I learn some dance moves from Just Dance and it just feels fun. Dancing is a big think here in Jamaica so the game compliments our culture big time.
If you can design your own game, what would it be about and who would be the main character?
If I was to design a game it would have to be a mixture of PAC-MAN and Tomb Raider. Imagine PAC-MAN having weapons to fight enemies while their alive and when he kills them he can use store up energizer power ups to then eat the ghost. All the while he is jumping and running through levels collecting power ups and fighting bosses. I think this would be a cool game. You can even play online 2 players with Ms. PAC-MAN.
Are you still involved with gaming today, and what role do you play?
I’m still involved with gaming today because I’m represent my team Empire Arcadia here in Jamaica. I use to compete at Cyberbox and I even won a couple of their big tournaments but they closed down on December 2015. I haven’t been to a big tournament since Spring of 2016 and I was just a spectator. I’m hoping to get back into it this year. I’m working on a couple of things and hopefully it works out.
Where do you see Video gaming in the next 20 years?
I think it will be just as big as Futbol and Basketball because of the whole eSports thing.
Todd Friedman is heavily involved in the retro gaming community and has co-promoted the Video Game Summit in Chicago, IL for the past 16 years. He also has published 2 books and written for various different gaming magazines including Old School Gamer.
