Meet the gamer: Cupquake

Tiffany Herrera (a.k.a Cupquake) is a Hispanic artist, gamer, entrepreneur, and prominent YouTube personality, born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Her love for games started at a young age when she saw her older brother Anthony playing them. While she was reluctant to play, her brother would always encourage her to try. She’s been hooked ever since, and still hasn't given back the controller.

We spoke with Herrera to understand what Hispanic Heritage Month means to her, how she found her way into games, and her favorite games on Play for unwinding.

Tiffany Herrera: Being a third-generation Mexican American, I always had a disconnect with my heritage. I never really asked questions or sought answers until I was older and it wasn't until then that I understood how important it was. I had so many questions about where I came from and what my ancestors went through to make me the person I am today. I now take pride in my heritage as a Latina.

TH: I believe there’s always room for improvement. As long as we continue to push the envelope, the industry can only get better.

TH: I honestly can't remember my absolute first game since I was so young. I do remember loving Tetris and playing it all the time on our family Game Boy while on the road. I loved the music and puzzle solving.

TH: I’ve always wanted a career somewhere in games. When I was in college I wanted to create art for games but, during my Senior year, I fell into creating gameplay content on YouTube. I absolutely loved it.

Once I graduated, I decided to run wild with it and pursue it full time. I get to mix the best of both worlds – experience games while making art, inspired by the games that shaped my life.

TH: So many things! Aside from music, art styles, and design, I love how they encourage critical thinking. Of course, it depends on the game – but I love how games encourage puzzle solving, strategizing, increasing reaction times etc. I believe there are so many benefits to playing games. I also think it's wonderful how a game can immerse you in a world and a story. The possibilities are endless!

Since I was a child, art has been a central focus in my life; the art in the games I’ve picked to talk about all remind me of the shows I used to enjoy watching as a child. Some are extremely bubbly and cute, and others a bit cruder and silly, both have a place in my heart.

KleptoCats is a quirky little game that fulfills all of my collector needs. You collect cute cats and send them out to steal and bring items back for you to decorate your room with! Plus you can also dress them up! I mean, collecting cats and cute little outfits for them… need I say more?

A hilarious game full of funny characters and concepts. Play as a luchador as you fling yourself the furthest distance all while crushing gummy bears beneath you. Burritos and gummy bears, a combo I never knew I needed.

Bring back some childhood arcade nostalgia by playing Clawbert! Use a claw machine to collect eggs that hatch into silly collectibles. Complete a daily in-game checklist and feel accomplished!