Hey guys! Dazerin here with another Player Spotlight! I'm back from Dreamhack Atlanta which was an amazing experience and during that time I got to meet up with DudeWithTheNose who played for Renegades during the Dreamhack Rocket League event and had a phenomenal performance.

He's already been interviewed on RLCS Overtime, which, if you havent seen, you should check out. But, if you have seen it and want more DudeWithTheNose then this is the place.

 

How’d you come up with your name?

I came up with DudeWithTheNose at around 2008 as my PSN. It's really just something that 12 year old me came up with hoping for something unique.

 

Talk to me about your background as a player. When did you get started in competitive Rocket League and how has your journey been up to this point?

I've been on 2 teams since starting competitive Rocket League for RLCS 2. My first team was Wild Card with Laz and Skyzz (and later PrimeThunder) and my second gig was a sub spot for Ohana, which consisted of Moses HotWheelsSid and Darkfire. My experience moving through the scene has been incredible. Between meeting some of the nicest players and being able to track my improvement as I racked up more and more hours in the game, competitive Rocket League has brought me a lot of happiness.

 

 

Describe your Dreamhack Atlanta experience in terms of the event as a whole and then tell me what you thought about the Rocket League event.

 The Dreamhack Atlanta event was my first LAN, and it was the most fun I've had in awhile. I watch a fair amount of CS:GO and seeing a few of the personalities that I recognize was a blast. The Rocket League event itself was incredible, and I got to meet some great people and play some really enjoyable games.

 

What was your most surprising moment during the Dreamhack Rocket League event?

I think the most surprising moment during the event was just how far our pick-up team of Moses, HotWheelsSid, and I travelled through the tournament. I don't think any of us expected to make top 8 with the calibre of teams at the event but we came incredibly close to doing so.

 

What's it like playing with Moses and HotWheelsSid?

Playing with Moses and HotWheelsSid is great. Not only are they both hilarious and enjoyable to be around, but as players they have the potential to just flick a switch and dominate the entire game.

 

 

 

What was it like playing on a stage against some of the best teams in the world?

Playing on stage against Flipsid3 was an experience. These are players I looked up to when I first picked up the game, and that I still look up to now. I was content with just making it to the stage, but being able to take Flipsid3 to a game 5 was something I never could have imagined.

 

Thought on any notable performances from other teams?

I shouldn't be surprised, but SetToDestroy really impressed me with how close the kept their matches against EnVy. I also have to mention Ambition who showed up in spectacular fashion and made it to top 8.

 

What’s something you’d like to see in future Rocket League LAN events?

I really want to see a Rocket League LAN build or some form of that at future LANs. It's a little disheartening to be playing at a LAN and everyone in the lobby has 20ms or higher ping.

 

You and a bunch of other players who have been known as ‘bubble players’ are finally starting to break into the scene. What are your thoughts on that?

It's great to see some of the bubble players get their name out there, like the Ambition guys. I think it shows a lot of viewers that it doesn't matter how early you started the game, as long as you put in the hours and try your hardest to improve, there's nothing stopping you.

 

Is there any bubble player that you think is underrated?

I think Jstn is a player that a lot of people may not know yet. He can pull off some of the most insane individual plays. I think he needs to find a good team that can help him expand his game and incorporate more team plays and he will be unstoppable.

 

What are your thoughts on the skill between regions? Has NA improved or is EU still considered the dominant region? Do you think these LAN were able to show that or should we wait for RLCS to decide?

The skill gap between EU and NA has certainly shrunk since the early days of Rocket League, and I think it'll continue to shrink as time goes on. EU and NA are finally trading blows at the top level, as we just saw The Muffin Men take down Galeforce Esports in Atlanta, but EU still has the advantage in the number of top level teams they have.

 

Have there been any obstacles you’ve had to overcome through your competitive journey? If so, what?

Truthfully I haven't had very many obstacles at all. I've gotten incredibly lucky to be surrounded by previous and current teammates who are truly kind and welcoming to me, and I don't say often enough how much I appreciate it. The scene as a whole is remarkable.

 

What motivates you to keep grinding competitively?

When you're over 2000 hours in, motivation can be hard to find. I think playing in the weeklies and tracking your improvement is one of the things that made me so happy to grind when I was on Wild Card. I could notice myself getting better and better, and it's a wonderful feeling.

 

I was sitting with PrimeThunder during Dreamhack as he was warming up and saw him searching up music to warm up to which implies me to ask: Do you listen to music while you play? If so what are your Top 5 songs?

I usually listen to music when I play, which I’ve been told is a disadvantage. I don’t really have a top 5 songs, but some of the bands/artists I particularly like during rocket league are Alexisonfire, Beartooth, Dance Gavin Dance, Aesop Rock, and Denzel Curry. It’s an odd list but they all get me ready to play.

 

 

How has your experience been with the Rocket League community?

The Rocket League community has been fantastic. The volunteers who kickstarted Rocket League esports and who continue to be the heart and soul of competitive Rocket League don't get nearly enough credit for all the effort they put in for the players and the fans.

 

What’s your current team status? Are you still LFT?

I've got a nice surprise in the works at the moment and I'm a little hesitant to reveal it right now, but I'm sure if you dig around on twitter enough you might find a solid hint.

 

 

Thoughts on the future of Rocket League esports?

Rocket League esports has had it's growing pains as we continue to find out what is best for the scene, but I am certain that it's in good hands. While at Dreamhack Atlanta I was able to catch a couple minutes of the CS:GO Major tournament, and the venue there was incredible. All I could imagine was Rocket League players set up in their booths in the exact same scenario, and the thought alone made me want to stick around the scene for a long time.

 

Thanks DudeWithTheNose for taking the time to be interviewed and thanks for everyone who takes the time to read these!