Hey guys Dazerin here with another Player Spotlight! This time I got to sit down with freestyler turned competitive player NytroDryft , who just recently took 2nd in the Mad City Summer Shootout and took some time to answer some questions so you all can get to know him better.

 

So we’ll start off with some quick background questions for those who don’t know anything about you.

 

Where did you get your name?

My name originates from my liking for cars. My first online username was banjo111, as some may already know, and as I grew older I realized I wanted a more professional name that correlated with who I was and expressed originality so that when my name was mentioned (or searched online) the only thing that would come to mind was me. I chose to base my name off of things that I enjoyed, so I slapped together a few racing terms and switched the i’s to y’s for that extra spice and originality.

 

How did you get into Rocket League? 

I found the prequel to Rocket League, Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle Cars, on PS3 when I first started to play video games. I've been hooked to the concept of car soccer ever since because it is physics based and requires mechanical skill rather than other sports games where it's a simple “press X to shoot”.

 

What’s the thing you like most about the game? 

My favorite part of Rocket League is that there are so many different ways you can play. You can keep it basic and just focus on rotations, you can try out new strategies and moves, and you can go for stylish goals using tons of air roll and boost. Personally, I love that feeling that rushes over me when I score something that exercises a lot of mechanical skill, such as a double tap or applying a new mechanic such as a jump reset to your play. Going for these kind of shots are risk/reward based, and often times it's based on your values. “Do I want to hit a sexy double tap or should I play it safe and pass it to my wide open teammate?” I often value trickshots and stylish goals more than I do playing it smart, which can sometimes end up biting me in the butt when it comes to tournament play.

 

What’s your favorite game mode in RL and why?

My favorite game mode will always be 2v2, it was the best competitive game mode in SARPBC and I feel that it holds much more competitive potential than what the community gives it credit for. I favor 2v2 because it allows for more individual opportunities to express mechanical skill such as dribbles, flicks, mind games, etc., all the while still incorporating pass plays and positioning/decision-making.

 

 

 

The last time I saw you was at the Mad City Summer Shootout. What did you think of that event and LAN events in general?

The Summer Shootout LAN was an absolutely amazing experience for me. Being allowed the opportunity to meet countless members of the community face-to-face on a personal level, meeting fans who watch my videos, and playing in a LAN environment is something I truly can't put into words. It was like I was in another world, surrounded by people who all shared the same passion as me. I'm so glad Dpants’ and Hanz0’s work was able to pay off. Generally speaking, LAN events are, in my opinion, the best thing a competitive gamer can experience, as it offers the opportunity to meet players and compete in a same-ping environment, allowing for the fairest gameplay possible.

 

What’s it like playing in the Mad City Summer Shootout with your teammate ‘Quality’?

Quality is a G. We both learn things from each each other while playing together. Additionally, he's a chill and funny guy with a great personality. Even in the finals when Laz and KingWizard were destroying us, we were joking around and just generally having a good time. That's the best thing I could ask for from a teammate. Not only does it make the experience 10x more enjoyable, it also allows me to maintain a calm mindset and perform at my best. I'm so happy I was able to partake in such an event with Quality.

 

What in the world prompted you to use the name Yeeterboi_is for that event? 

Y   E   E   T

 

 

 

You guys had a ton of support in Twitch chat, is that something you’re used to? 

The Summer Shootout was the first major competitive event I participated in. I never expected so many of my friends and fans to support my team, I was astonished when I looked back at the VOD and saw countless of my friends Y E E T ing for us throughout the entire tournament. I'm extremely grateful for that and I plan on doing them proud in the future.

 

What are your thoughts on the upcoming NBC tournament being in the 2v2 format? 

It's good that NBC is giving exposure to another game mode rather than 3v3 play. It allows for more variety from both the viewers’ and players’ standpoint. The viewer will now be able to watch the highest level of Rocket League in 2v2 and 3v3 format. On top of that, the player now has the option to choose between 2v2 or 3v3 play and can take different competitive routes, whereas before NBC came into the scene, all players were essentially forced into a 3v3 format if they wanted to play the game at a high competitive level.

 

What’s your Rocket League competitive background?

I don't really have one. I used to be close to a few of the pros, but I was left in the dust when I started freestyling just over a year ago. However, I realized how much freestyling hindered my competitive abilities and quit freestyling around November of 2016. I have been working on competitive play since then.

 

How devoted are you to practicing and improving your game? 

Dude. I would play this game every minute of every day if I could. It's a big part of my life and I've got big plans for my future with this game. Rocket League is the first thing I think of when I wake up and the last thing I think about before going to bed.

 

What are your plans for the upcoming RLCS season? Do you have a team?

I'll definitely be competing in RLCS S4. I don't have a team at the moment, but there are a few individuals I've been looking at closely and hope to team with in the future.

 

What’s been your toughest challenge in your Rocket League career?

My biggest challenge, hands down, has been switching from full-on freestyle to competitive. Freestyling benefitted my mechanical skill, sure, whatever, but it basically threw my rotational knowledge down the drain. Freestyling is repetitive, and it doesn't deal with opponents at all, so it's basically like playing the game mindlessly. It wasn't worth the loss of skill to me. I paid the price for freestyling when I made my comeback into the competitive scene. My decision making was horrid. I wanted to quit Rocket League altogether. Luckily, I found a few friends who kept me motivated and inspired me to get on every day and improve, they helped me become what I am today. I'm here to show them how far they've helped me come.

 

How do you feel about the season 5 competitive changes? 

What changes? 

 

What does the future of Rocket League look like for you and as an Esport?

I plan on making my mark in the competitive scene from this point on. I believe Rocket League is going to continue to grow as an Esport as more organizations continue to give it exposure as a competitive game with no skill ceiling. The NBC 2v2 tournament will be a big step for us in terms of exposure and future competitive events. I'm astonished to see this game go from a small (but tight-knit) community from the SARPBC days to a now tier-2 Esport of over 33 million copies sold with a community like no other.

 

Are there any shoutouts you’d like to give? 

I'd like to give a massive thanks to my brother-from-another-mother, Dicce. He was there for me when I was on the verge of quitting, and has supported me since. I aspire to be as great a person as him.

Thanks Nytro for the interview and again thanks to everyone who took the time to sit down and read this over I greatly appreciate it and can’t wait to bring you guys another spotlight as soon as I can!