The latest challenger stands up, defeated. “Next victim,” says someone in the crowd. Another competitor trudges to the front of the room, sits in a black chair facing a large television screen and picks up a video game controller. Everyone knows it’s hopeless.
During a special Mortal Kombat competition on Sunday at the DogTags Gaming Center in northeast Lincoln, Brice Mellen effortlessly defeated one opponent after another as he rocked in his chair, his back to the television screen.
Brice wasn’t showing off by turning away from the video characters fighting on a platform under a rainy, overcast sky. He can’t see them.
Brice, 18, who has been blind since birth due to Leber’s disease, began attracting attention for his video gaming prowess last summer when he was featured on several television programs, including NBC’s Today Show.
Later this month the Lincoln East High School senior and his father will travel to Japan, where Brice will compete with some of Japan’s best Mortal Kombat players as part of a special for Nippon TV’s Power of Memory, Part III.
A Japanese film crew from Nippon TV came to Lincoln over the weekend to shoot footage of Brice at his home and at the gaming center.
Sunday’s special competition at DogTags was designed as a warmup to help Brice prepare for the tournament.
Brice trumped all challengers in best of three rounds competition — most were defeated in under three minutes. A couple managed to win their first round but Brice always came back to win rounds two and three.
Brice’s sister, 19-year-old Sharon Mellen, said they started playing Mario Brothers video games with their step-sisters about 10 years ago.
“We went through a lot of controllers,” Sharon said.
Eventually, Brice moved on to a Sega Genesis, Sharon said. That’s when he started playing Mortal Kombat.
“Then it was love thereafter,” she said.
Brice’s family didn’t realize how talented he was until he came to the DogTags, Sharon said.
“Kids don’t want to play him,” she said. “They’re scared to lose.”
By listening to the different sounds in the game, Brice said, he can anticipate what his opponent will do.
“But you’ve got to attack, too,” he said.
After Brice defeated all of his challengers Sunday, a member of the Japanese film crew asked him if he was confident he would always win.
“Who knows? There could be somebody out there better than me,” Brice said, rocking in his chair. “That’s why I’ve got to keep playing, so I can win if we ever meet.”
Reach Hilary Kindschuh at 473-7301 or hkindschuh@journalstar.com.
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