Pre-E for All: Corey Maggette and Derek Fisher Talk Games, Fatal1ty, and More
By Louis Bedigian

“Once you become a part of video game production and design, it’s like another feeling of confirmation and affirmation that I’ve made it to the highest level.”

This Friday, Los Angeles Clipper Corey Maggette and Los Angeles Laker Derek Fisher will step off the court and onto one of the game stages at E for All in the Los Angeles Convention Center. Both are gamers, but they’re not coming solely for the purpose of playing some of this year’s most anticipated titles. Before playing anything just for fun, Corey and Derek will arrive with one goal in mind: to defeat world-renowned game player and champ Johnathan Wendel, AKA Fatal1ty.

The three will battle in NBA Live 08, but it’s not the only basketball game Corey and Derek cherish. “I have an old NBA game, the actual arcade game,” Corey told GameZone during our interview. “I still play that. I’m a big fan of the old basketball game called Arch Rivals.”

“The first game that came to mind was Double Dribble,” said Derek, referring to his old-school gaming days. “That was a classic. It was so exciting. At the time it was the closest thing to real basketball.”

That, he adds, “and Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out. There are a lot that are just classic games that played an instrumental part in everyone’s development. It was all fun. I mean the games now, they’re almost like artificial intelligence, like playing for real. Back in the day it was really like a video game. It was so much fun. Anybody can recall those great memories from when they were kids.”

As for modern-day gaming, Derek thinks they’re getting closer to the real thing in a “fun and scary way.” “I think they do an excellent job of taking reality and [player] statistics and what guys do on the court and combining it with a simulation in the video games,” he says. “It’s amazing the movements the players are able to make now. A couple years ago when they started making the games where you could see the guys sweat… That’s going to another level.”

When playing NBA Live and other basketball games, Derek said that he prefers to pick teams other than his own. “If you pick your own team, you’re going to try to be yourself. Most of the time when we play we pick another team and just want to have fun. Take advantage of other guys in the game. It’s always cool to see the personalities out there and see a lot of the similarities in guys’ real movements and things like that.”

Though they may not play as themselves, both Derek and Corey are overjoyed by their presence in video games. “You look at yourself and say, ‘I made it, I’m in a video game,’” Corey said excitedly. “You go back to your hometown and your face is in a video game. That’s one of the greatest feelings.”

Derek agrees, adding, “That first time you see it or experience it, or someone says what they did when they played with Derek Fisher, it really does feel like an honor. Even though it’s a video game, it’s almost another right of passage. Once you become a part of video game production and design, it’s like another feeling of confirmation and affirmation that I’ve made it to the highest level. That’s a cool feeling.”

What are your gaming habits? What games do you play? Also, what are you looking forward to at E for All?

Derek Fisher: I play a little bit of everything. I’ve played a lot of the basketball games over the years. Where my interest has really grown has been the football games. For many years I’ve been an overall fan of video games. I’m just excited about the opportunity to be around a lot of the gamers and a lot of the fans in the gaming industry. It’s a big segment and a big market – there are a lot of basketball fans that are gamers, and a lot of gamers that are basketball fans. It should be a cool night.

Corey Maggette: Personally I’m a big basketball fan. Playing NBA Live, and the video game I’ve been playing now is Tiger Woods, a game not only myself but all my teammates are playing on PS2, PS3, and the little pocket PlayStation.

Are you guys a little fearful of the competition with Fatal1ty? You both know the game of basketball. He’s typically a first-person shooter player but he’s crossed into other worlds. Do you think this is going to be a pretty well matched up fight?

Corey: I don’t know. He’s the Michael Jordan of the video game world. We’ll definitely have to step our game up.

Derek: I think it’s gonna be a fun night. I think Corey and I will get a taste of what it’s like when people watch us do what we do, that’s what we’ll find ourselves in. Playing games against Fatal1ty, the guy that’s the best in the industry. It’ll be fun and video games should be fun. You take it seriously and you want to win… We’ll have to step our game up with him.

Will you practice in the days leading up to the competition?

Corey: Uhh… Hopefully. I’ll have to work my skills a little bit.

Derek: Yeah, I will definitely try to get some games in before playing against the best gamer in the world! Even though you know skill-wise you can’t match up with him, you still have to come in and have confidence – you have to be able to play. Between now and next week, finding that time at home to get some games in is going to be fun and is going to be important. Otherwise I might not last long!

Have you met Fatal1ty yet or will this be your first time?

Corey: This will be my first time.

Derek: My first as well.

Thanks for your time guys. I’ll see you Friday!

Note: The competition will take place October 19 at 3pm at the Los Angeles Convention Center. To enter, you must purchase a ticket to E for All. More info: http://www.eforallexpo.com/  

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