Trading Card Spotlight "Rewind" - Brooke Mitchell-Wurr

This week we look back at an interview I did with Brooke Mitchell-Wurr. This interview was done on October 30, 2020. Brooke was on one of the original sets of cards for the Walter Day Collection.  Thanks again to Brooke for doing this interview.

Our next Trading Card Spotlight features Brooke Mitchell-Wurr, who is displayed on card number 57, from the Superstars of 2011 Collection.  In 2010 Brooke was breaking all sorts of records on the game Just Dance.  She would play as often as she could to break her own records each time. Her system of choice was the Nintendo Wii version. She also broke a record on the Hula Hoop Aerobics game on the Wii that year.  Brooke was seen at the 2010 Big Bang award ceremony taking the Hula Hoop championship in that tournament that weekend. More recently Brooke has been playing games like FarCry and Alan Wake.

What advice do you have for gamers out there who want to be a world record holder on a video game?

Don’t give up! When you are tired of practicing, grab a coffee or energy drink and keep going. I remember playing Wii Hula Hoop with my best friend every weekend for hours and hours on end trying to beat each other until 4am the next day then taking a nap and doing it all over again. Turns out I was practicing breaking a world record and didn’t even know it!

What made you go for a world record on the Hula Hoop game for the Wii. 

I used to play this game a lot with family and friends and me being competitive I would always try and beat my highest score. Going for the world record was just me being in the right place at the right time. Luckily, I had plenty of practice! I don’t own a Wii anymore, so I haven’t played it in a while. I felt as though I can’t get better than a world record, so I moved onto new games to obsess over and get good at.

Did you ever think when you were younger you would be on a video game trading card? 

No (haha). To this day it still cracks me up. I remember going to the Big Bang International Video Game event, just because my high school boyfriend was there. I wasn’t really into video games that much but wanted to see him. He was in a Halo match and I was so bored so I went to the Wii station that was set up and did some Wii hula hoop… next thing I know I had a crowd surrounding me watching as I broke a World Record...WHAT??? and then a trading card…?!?! This can’t be real, and you can bet your bottom dollar this is always my “fun fact about me” when asked.

What games today do you play and what are your favorite genres of games?

Although my records are in “active” games I love my fair share of “sit on the couch for hours” video games. Some of the games you would catch me playing today are fallout 3 (my personal favorite), COD, Hello Neighbor (kind of advertised to kids, but it’s a great game), and Minecraft. My favorite genre is RPG’s. I love the story lines and getting lost in the game by trying to do every side quest. No side quest should ever be ignored!!!

Do you remember your first video game / arcade you played and what do you remember about it?

The first game I remember playing was probably Spyro! I loved the “feeling” of flying and remember feeling like I was in a different world. To this day that is my favorite feeling, pausing real life to jump into a pretend one.

What are your opinions about today’s generation of video games?  How do you compare them to older, classic games?

I have a spot for both in my heart. I love the advancement in graphics and how in-depth new games can be. You can really get consumed by today's generation of video games, which can be good and bad, but sometimes it’s nice to just play a simple game like frogger.

When did you first meet Walter Day and where was it at?

I believe it was the event I broke the Wii Hula hoop record, Big Bang in Ottumwa, IA.

Who is your favorite video game character and what makes that character special?

Three Dog from the radio in Fallout 3. He plays the best music, and the game wouldn’t be the same without 40’s music playing in the background. I will listen to 40’s music at work because it brings me back to the days where I would binge play Fallout 3 every day after highschool… Those were the days.

What was your opinion of the success of dance games and should there be more?

Well, considering some of them are listed on my trading card you could say I like them. I’ve always loved dancing and I'm also very competitive. A game where I can do both (dance and kick some butt)? Sign me up! I definitely think there should be more. It is a great way to have fun with friends and get a little workout in!

What did you want to be when you grew up as a kid?

I wanted to be a truck driver… I thought it would be so cool to just listen to music and eat junk food all day. I did not follow my dreams, I’m an engineer lol.

What was your impression when you first played ‘Just Dance”?

I was very excited and felt like I was in my element. I didn’t want to stop playing.

Are video games good for relieving stress?

Absolutely! Any time I'm stressed or anxious if I play a video game, I almost immediately forget about what I was worried about. Video games are a great way to destress! That being said I have definitely played games that made me stressed like FarCry or Alan Wake, so it depends on the game for me.

Do you still play dance games today, and what are you favorite?

I do every now and then and when I do it is one of the Dance Central games. I love their song selections and the levels of difficulty. Their moves seem a little more realistic to me than “Just Dance”.

Where do you see video gaming in the next 20 years?

My hope is VR becomes way more advanced and affordable. VR is such a cool concept and has so much potential. It puts a whole new meaning to jumping into a new world.