For NBA fans, Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert is probably more known for his postgame banter than his stellar performance during this year’s playoff games. His commentary after the Pacer’s Game 6 victory, in which the 7-foot-2 player uttered a gay slur (“no homoâ€), followed by a profanity, resulted in a $75,000 fine. Hibbert later apologized for his postgame press conference remarks, and went on to score a reported 18 points and 8 rebounds in 38 minutes against the Miami Heat in Game 7.
Despite his recent hiccup, Hibbert has made news again…but this time for his game off the court. The Georgetown University graduate is a hardcore gamer, and we’re not talking just the NBA 2K series. Hibbert has been a hardcore Call of Duty player since his college days. He’s a good player and a big fan, too. So much so that video game company Activision brought him out to the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) to check out Call of Duty: Ghosts. BlackEnterprise.com caught up with the avid gamer at his first E3 to talk about his interest in gaming, what he hates about multiplayer video games and why he’d like to be a character in the next Call of Duty title.
BlackEnterprise.com: What are your thoughts on E3 2013?
Hibbert: It’s a lot of game designers and a lot of games out here. I’m just happy to be associated with one of the best franchises in the gaming industry, Call of Duty.
You’re a big Call of Duty fan and you play online regularly. Which Call of Duty iteration did you start off with?
I started off with Modern Warfare 2. I love all of them, I played them all, but that’s the one I started playing online with.
It was reported in the past that you put your gamertag out on Twitter and you had to change it because things got crazy. What happened?
It was an unfortunate event. I direct messaged my gamertag
to this girl and she went crazy, [saying] ‘if you don’t do this, that or the other, I’m gonna put your gamertag out there.’ So I took the power away from her and put it out there myself. Try to do something nice for somebody and this is how they treat you.How often do you have to change your gamertag now?
I’ve changed it a couple times. I’ve gone back to an original one before. It is what it is, though. I play people and for some reason people know who I am when I play.
What was it about Modern Warfare 2 that caught your attention and made you a hardcore fan?
To tell you the truth, I was in college and I “got” free Internet from someone next door. So that was the first time I could really play online, so that’s why I played so much.
What do you think of the next Call of Duty title, Ghosts?
I played it and I watched a lot of the gameplay and it looks awesome. I’m not kidding you, the detail they put into it in terms of how grass actually looks, the sky [is awesome] just human stuff. Like if you look in a dark area, and then look in a light area, the focus of your eye changes. It’s a lot of stuff in the game that you’ll appreciate.
What online modes do you normally play?
I like to play the campaign first. But when I play multiplayer, I play “Deathmatch†and “Kill Confirmed.†I like to play “Run and Gun,†I don’t just sit back. I’m a team player on the court, but off the court I’m not a team player. In Call of Duty, I like to go do my own thing.
Do you have certain people that you like to play along with?
I just randomly jump in, but every now and again a team will get a couple rounds in and I’ll play.
What is your weapon of choice in multiplayer?
I like the LSAT. I like to be able to run around and do what I have to do. I hate sniper rifles and I hate people who just run around with shotguns. [They just] run around and shoot people and run off. One shot kill. That’s my thing.
What other games do you like to play?
To keep it 100, I only play FPS (first-person shooter) and me and my boys just play Call of Duty all the time. I don’t play any third person games or anything like that.Â
Is there anything that you’d like to see in Call of Duty that hasn’t been inputted yet?
Obviously, me being a main character, I’d love to be a part of the game. I paid my dues and I’m happy to be here.