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NBA All-Star Rudy Gay Goes Virtual

Memphis Grizzlies star talks videogames and going virtual in NBA Live 10
Article | 02.12.10 | By John Gaudiosi
NBA All-Star Rudy Gay in action

DALLAS, Texas -- EA Sports set up shop at the snow-covered NBA Jam Session in Dallas over the weekend to showcase NBA Live 10. One of the athletes who provided motion-capture for the current game is NBA All-Star Rudy Gay. Gay has emerged as the leading scorer of the youth-driven Memphis Grizzlies. The former UConn star has transferred his scoring prowess from the college hardwoods to the NBA quite seamlessly. And the NBA All-Star has stayed in touch with fans using the latest technology. In 2008, he teamed up with YouTube to get video of dunks that he could use as inspiration for his own performance in the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest. Gay also is an avid gamer. The NBA All-Star talks about his gaming habits, getting his moves motion-captured for NBA Live 10 and the impact of Synergy in the NBA in this exclusive interview. 

 
What games did you play back in the day?
 
I played Tecmo Bowl, Super Mario Bros, and of course Duck Hunt. Everybody played Duck Hunt. I still play Duck Hunt.
 
Do you play that on the Wii?
 
No, can you do that?
 
Yeah, on the Virtual Console you can download 64 old games on there.
 
I’m going to download that as soon as I get home.
 
Did you know they’re bringing back Tecmo Bowl for Wii?
 
I just heard that. Is it going to be the new players or the old guys, because nobody could stop Bo Jackson back in the original game.
 
They can’t have the current players because EA Sports has them locked up with the NFL exclusive. What are your thoughts about Dynamic DNA?
 
It’s just more realistic. The game keeps getting more and more realistic. After a while you’ll be playing with what looks like pictures of us on the court. Moving pictures of us. It’s crazy right now to look at the game and say, If I force the guy this way, he has less of a chance of making a basket then if he goes this way. It’s just different. It’s great to be in this era where people can do different things with videogames. 
 

Does your team actually use Synergy?
 
Yeah, we do.
 
What’s your experience been like with Synergy?
 
It just shows you what guys are less comfortable doing and we try to force them into those situations.
 
How has it impacted your play?
 
For me, it’s helped me a lot because it showed what I needed to work on in my game.
 
What impact do you see the daily update of NBA Live 10 having the whole notion of playing a videogames?
 
It’s great because two years ago, people would play with Portland and Greg Oden was on the team and he’d kill me. They can’t do that any more. If you’re hurt, you’re hurt, buddy.
 
How popular are videogames in the NBA?
 
They’re very popular. I remember one time at the foul line I was talking to Brandon Roy about Live and I told him I was going to come over to his house and beat him.
 
Who are the big gamers on your team?
 
I’d say Hakim Warrick, Mike Conley definitely is. He has like a game console in each room, which is weird, right? Those are the guys I know are gamers. I’m not sure about OJ (Mayo).
 
Where do you rank amongst the gamers?
 
Mike Conley, after seeing the things he has in his house and how often he plays, I’d say I’d be behind Mike, Hakim and then me.
 
Do you have a game room on your house?
 
Yeah, but I only have one game room. Of course, I have my chair and my controller, so nobody can touch that. I have all of the systems, I just don’t have them in each room of my house. I have the PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360.
 
What do you like to play outside of NBA Live?
 
I play Call of Duty 4 all of the time. I love Fight Night Round 4.
 
What’s it like to see yourself in the NBA videogames today?
 
The first time I saw myself in a game I was just…every game I played it was me. And I tried to score 100 points every time with my player. It was great to have my little cousins saying, Is that you in the game? Yep, that’s me. It was just cool.
 
What’s it like to know your moves are in NBA Live 10?
 
I think that’s cool. It’s going to be good to see how you move plays out on the court. It’s going to be fun to see how they do that whole process.
 
What are your thoughts on how they make the NBA players look in theses games. I mean, you guys now sweat.
 
I know. Before, guys used to just have their legs moving and their top halves just were straight. They didn’t have any necks. Now they’re moving their legs and bodies just like me. In the future, the games will probably look just like me.
 
Is there any input you’d like to give EA on the game?
 
They’re the creative people behind it, but we like to tell them how the NBA life is. I know Andre was telling them earlier today, they should have like appearances in the videogames. I was like, Come on, that’s too crazy. There are kids six years old playing this game.
 
They should put the mo-cap of you in the next game.
 
Yeah, put the mo-cap of you playing in the game. Come on, Jay.
 
When it comes to the new NBA games coming out, how big a deal are the player ratings?
 
For me, it’s basically what people think of you, so it’s important. I’m hoping next year I have 100. They haven’t had 100 yet, have they?
 
Not yet, only in Madden last year with Devin Hester.
 
That’s what I’m shooting for. 100.
 
Does EA Sports give you an extra 5 player rating points for doing the mo-cap here?
 
I don’t know about that. I think I should talk to someone about that. I’m better than this guy. Maybe they should have us play against each other and the best guy gets a 90.
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