Smashboards Username: Aniolas
Region: Sweden, Europe
Primary Character(s): Sheik
Secondary Character(s): Peach and Marth
REQUIRED
1. Q. How long have you been playing competitive melee?
A. I went to my first tournament in feb 2005 (RoS)
2. Q. How often do you attend tournaments? How familiar are you with your local scene? Your regional scene? The national/international scene?
A. I try to attend every tournament in europe (as long as it's somewhat a major tournament and not just a smashfest). I went abroad ten times last year (two times to US) and minor tournaments and smashfests in Sweden. Due the fact that I travel very much and been around for a long time I'm familiar to the whole Melee scene.
3. Q. How would you classify yourself as a player relative to the current metagame? (beginner, average, high level, pro, etc.)
A. In teams, my brother and I have won 7 consecutive tournaments in europe, and placed 3rd at APEX. With those results I consider myself a pro in teams.
Singles on the other hand, I see myself as average or high level.
4. Q. Do you think the other individuals in your region would support you being a member of the MBR? Why?
A. I think so. I've been around for a long time, I often help people improve their game and often seen as somewhat of a leader in the swedish scene. I can't come up with a reason why they wouldn't support me.
5. Q. Do you consider yourself a discussion leader? Why?
A. I study law, I love to debate.
6. Q. Are you an active Tournament Organizer? If Yes, what are some recent tournaments you have hosted? If No, what are some ways you feel you contribute to your local scene despite not being a TO?
A. I'm one of the organizers in the BEAST-series. BEAST was in january and is the biggest tournament in europe this year so far. BEAST II will take place in august and hopefully be even bigger, and some north americans have shown their interest.
7. Q. Do you feel that the current tier list is accurate? Why?
A. It's hard to make a really accurate list, because the meta game change all the time, and so does the list. After I've entered a couple of US tournaments I do feel that the list is more accurate then I did before.
8. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended stage list is fair? Why?
A. It's ok, but I prefer to play with the european standard stage list. RC gives Fox so much advantage, especially in NTSC, and all neutrals aren't really neutrals against Fox. But, if we still would allow stages like PPC and Onett (were legal in some countries in europe not that long ago) we wouldn't have seen the jiggz domination the last two years.
The discussion about stages need more space than in the application, but overall, it's ok.
9. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended rule set is fair? Why?
A. I do. Melee wasn't created as an balanced tournament game. It is a party game. In order to make the game as competitive as possible, we had to make a lot of rules. I guess topics like wobbling and stuff is still somewhat up to debate, but overall, I like the rule set.
10. Q. What is more important to you: Tech Skill or Strategy? Why?
A. As almost everything, you need the balance (yin and yang). You won't be able to become the best with just one, but if I had to choose one, I would say strategy. Good tech skill only takes you so far, then people will start to see your pattern and punish you all the time. Sure, strategy without proper tech skill will make it hard to win, but you have a decent chance to trick the opponent and punish his mistakes better.
11. Q. What is more important to you: Maximizing Punishments (Combos) or Initiating Punishments (First Hits)? Why?
A. The metagame today, which is less aggresive then before, I think that first hit is more important, because you have less opportunities nowadays.
12. Q. Does SSBM have a limited lifespan as a competitive community due to its age or any other factor? Why or why not?
A. The lack of online gaming is a problem. And it's harder to find copies of SSBM and controllers. People that compete today won't compete forever, in order to make the community continue, we need new players aswell. It's up to the community, we have to show people that we exist.
13. Q. What do you think could be done to expand our community?
A. I, and some other guys, hosts tournaments at DreamHack every summer and winter. It's the worlds biggest LAN-party, it's mostly computer games, but some big tournaments in video games is hosted aswell (SSFIV). It's a lot of potential players that doesn't know about the swedish community, and every time a couple of people later join our forum and starts to attend tournaments.
As I said before, we have to show ourselfs to people so they know we exist. We're trying really hard with that in Sweden.
14. Q. What do you think the MBR could do to stimulate the community?
A. MBR has helped the scene to make tournaments more competetive with the rule set etc. Before the release of SSBB everyone was saying that we should say goodbye to SSBM, and it wouldn't survive. People had wrong. Even though very much in the game has been discovered, the metagame will change, and theories in matchups and about character will continue to be discussed. MBR can help with new rules (if it's needed in the future) tier lists and advice/information about the game.
15. Q. How do you think the MBR would benefit from your input?
A. Recently a tier list of teams have been posted. I'm glad that teams is more acknowledged than before, it's not just a side event, it's much different from singles. As one of the best teams players in the world I think I can give good inputs in future discussion about teams. Not just tier list, but match ups and strategies.
OPTIONAL
1. Please provide up to 5 examples of contributions you have made to the melee community. Links to exceptional, informative posts are highly valued here.
Sorry to say that I can't come up with any good posts. The contributions I have made is mostly private messages to other smashers that wanted advices in teams.
2. List up to three players you feel demonstrate good discussion ability or have outstanding contributions to the community and explain why you think they are a good example.
1. Player: Marc
i. Reason: The one we have to thanks for not playing with items in europe. From the start Marc has shown a good amount of logic and reason behind his contributions to help the scene and make the game evolve to a more competetive game.
2. Player: Amsah
i. Reason: In a thread about coaching he was the voice of reason that made me change my mind and a lot of other players.
3. Player: KirbyKaze
i. Reason: He has been very active in the Sheik section and helps a lot of people how to improve.
3. Have you read Sirlin's theories regarding "Play to Win"? Do you agree or disagree? Why? How do you think these theories affect and apply to the Melee community?
1. Answer:Havenät read the book.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS/FINAL WORDS:
Active since 2005, travel to all tournaments there is, organize tournaments aswell and know a lot about the game. I hope that's good enough to be accepted to the MBR.
