Gaming creator Ace of Spadess was tapped by IMAX as part of its campaign for the Resident Evil release.
He has long been vocal about his love for the platform, and notes that the older Resident Evil 4, the original, not the remake, was the installment of the game that got him hooked on the franchise.
On being a part of this generation of gamers
“It’s nice to see, because you know, it’s 2026, about to be 2027, now, but if you rewind the clock back to the early 2010s, and like the idea ofResident Evil and all of these video game adaptations being more and more popular, not just with gamers, but for audiences that aren’t familiar with the property,” he told AfroTech Culture in a recent interview. “It’s nice to see, but it’s also like being a Resident Evil fan, we’re finally getting the content that we wanted for so long.”
Designed by acclaimed horror filmmaker Zach Cregger, Resident Evil was shot using IMAX-certified digital cameras and is the first in the franchise to be filmed explicitly for the IMAX® program.
“I’ve been involved with them [IMAX] since 2022, so about four, almost five years now, and I’ve always loved IMAX,” said Ace of Spadess. “Resident Evil is something that means a lot to me. So when I pitched them the idea, I said, ‘Hey, what would be really cool to build up excitement is that you should let me play Resident Evil at your headquarters.’ They were like, ‘Sure, why not?’ And that was honestly, out of everything I’ve ever gotten to do within my career so far, playing Resident Evil and using their headquarters to play it on their screen is possibly the best moment I’ve ever had so far.”
As a gamer, Ace of Spadess says this is the best way to experience the game because IMAX now provides an enhanced visual experience.
The importance of inclusion for gamers like himself
Ace of Spadess is a Black gaming personality, and his path to this point has been an unconventional one.
Prior to jumping on the TikTok creator takeover during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he built an online presence from his running videos, he operated as a street magician primarily on the East Coast in cities like Philadelphia and New York, hence how he got the name Ace of Spadess.
His love of making something out of nothing fuels his passion for creating, and he noted that making money from it was a welcome bonus.
“I do hope, when it comes to gamers like myself, especially within the Black community, that this shows an example of, ‘Hey, if you want to work with a brand, or this is something you’re passionate about, you really got to just go for it.’ Make the connection, and most importantly, stay true to yourself.”
He added, “Because there are plenty of people who aren’t Resident Evil fans that would have probably tried and done this who don’t know much about the property, and they would have been larping, as people say these days. They would have been larping, acting like they’re a fan of the property. Versus, if you’re actually a fan of something, you care about a project that you want to do. You have to show the brand or any company that you’re trying to work with that you do care about this product, or whatever the project is. You do want to show them that, hey, this is what I’m into. I want to go above and beyond and even do something for you guys to show you that I can step up when I need to, and I can deliver when I need to as well.”
Streaming as the new wave
Ace of Spadess explained the concept of streaming for those less familiar with it.
“Think about watching your favorite sport, but less intricate,” he said. “Granted, there are levels to streaming because when you watch a football game, you’re watching players, but they’re professionals. Not to say game streamers are professionals, but it’s the effort and the stuff they have to do to bring in that audience. I would say it does take a level of professionalism.”
“For example, iShowSpeed. It may seem like it’s easy for him, that he’s just walking around with the camera following him, but what people don’t realize is there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes to make sure things go smoothly,” Ace of Spadess continued. “And even when he was just streaming in his room, there’s a lot that you have to make sure that goes well for yourself on your end. I try to explain to people that I understand the concept of watching someone maybe play video games might be like, ‘Oh, where’s the entertainment?’ Basically, there’s something for everybody in streaming or entertainment as a whole. I tell people you don’t only have to watch gaming. There are people that do IRL where they go out and explore. There are people who DJ. People who play instruments. I understand there’s a weird generalization sometimes from the older generation when it comes to streaming, but there’s so much to streaming that people don’t realize that it’s not just gaming. It’s not just people out there making a ruckus. So many talented people are doing things that can engage everyone. There’s an audience out there for everyone when it comes to streaming.”
Ace of Spadess also shared a piece of advice for creators: the algorithm rewards consistency, not quality.
