Before Bama smashed Tennessee, the Vols were playing Super Smash Bros.
Nintendo offered tailgaters an opportunity to test their popular fighting game, Super Smash Bros., before the matchup on Saturday. Attendees sampled both the Wii U and 3DS versions of the game as they competed with fellow gamers in a tent adjacent to the Humanities and Social Sciences Building.
These demonstrations aimed to promote the video game as a part of Nintendo’s “Tailgate Tour” for college campuses across the country. The booth gave players the option to compete with rival schools on the big screen or simply play with friends on the smaller screen of the 3DS.
Hashem Gray, assistant tour manager of the event, said he hoped the event would excite both football fans and video game lovers alike.
“We’re just here to bolster support and spirit for every single college campus we go into,” Gray said.
Describing Smash Bros. as the “game everyone loves and knows,” Gray expressed his desire to contribute to the atmosphere of UT in a unique way.
“We just try to bring a good fighting game to bring up the spirits before everyone hits the stadium,” he said.
For senior in psychology Ashleigh Kraus, the addition of the GameCube controller to Wii U gameplay stirred her inner sense of nostalgia.
“I’ve been playing the series since it was on the N64, so I’m incredibly excited,” Kraus said. “I really like everything they did with this game.”
Morgan Walters, a graduate student in nuclear engineering, thoroughly enjoyed the new experience, ascribing to “team megaman” after testing the new character. Although Microsoft and Sony dominate the console market in terms of sales, Walters sees a difference in quality when it comes to Nintendo products.
“Nintendo has a bigger focus on the games,” Walters said. “Nintendo has thoroughly avoided trying to use their consoles to do other things.”
The differences extend beyond quality. Walters said he sees the company that produced Mario and Pikachu as having an entirely differing demographic.
“Nintendo does tend to be a bit more family friendly,” Walters said. “Whether that’s a pro or con obviously is based on the individual.”
While Alan Odom, an attendee at Saturday’s tailgate and video game enthusiast, admitted to not currently owning Nintendo’s latest console, his enthusiasm for the game has inspired him to change that.
“I will buy the Wii U for this game,” Odom admitted.
Super Smash Bros. is set for a Nov. 21 release on Nintendo’s Wii U system and is currently available for the Nintendo 3DS.
