A former William & Mary student is premiering his documentary Friday about the history of a video game and the local people who play it.
The game is Super Smash Brothers Melee, released nearly 17 years ago by the Nintendo company.
In Melee, gamers play as characters from Nintendo’s other franchises like Mario, Donkey Kong and Pikachu. They fight using a variety moves and attacks with the goal of knocking the other player off the stage to win.
Despite being an old game, Melee has dedicated players all around the world. Some of the biggest tournaments of the last few years have drawn thousands of people seeking to win prizes in the tens of thousands of dollars. Much of the competition is fostered through college clubs who host small weekly tournaments.
William & Mary’s club is no different.
Arjun Malhotra, who competes under the name “Llod” and one of the most recognized Melee players in the world, helped found William & Mary’s club just before his rise to prominence in early 2016.
Just over a year ago, Thomas Roche set out to tell Malhotra’s story and the ups and downs of the early days of the club.
What resulted is “Llod’s Army” a documentary of curated footage and interviews which Roche shot, edited and produced.
“It’s the story of how the club itself was built and its also partly the story of the players who were there during that time,” Roche said.
Roche said Malhotra worked with a handful of other players to coordinate weekly tournaments at the college.
Because technology has changed significantly since the game was released, Melee can only be played accurately using discontinued Nintendo consoles and old, heavy CRT TVs. Malhotra and his friends lugged the heavy machinery onto campus each week, and helped organize and mentor a growing number of entrants.
Just as the group was granted official club status by the school, Malhotra was listed on the “Melee it on Me” worldwide top 100 rankings, cementing his status as one of the most talented players in the world.
“That was the culmination of his efforts to build up the scene at William & Mary, but also to help foster the growth of the players,” Roche said.
John Svoboda, the club’s president, said the documentary is a chance to highlight the journey of a tight-knit subculture.
“People take road trips to compete in other tournaments, practice with each other, or hold tournaments in their houses, so everyone comes to know each other really well,” Svoboda said. “When you put all these moments together it gives the club a special history and community.”
While many video games are played in solitude or over an internet connection, Melee tournaments are a face-to-face experience. Roche said his enjoyment comes in part from his love of competition, but more importantly from the friends he’s made along the way.
“I enjoy hanging out with the people that I’ve met through it,” Roche said. “I’ve made a lot of friendships through smash and I very much expect to continue with those friendships in the future.
“Llod’s Army” will have a free screening Friday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Blow Memorial Hall. It will also be live streamed online on the club’s Twitch page.
