AN INTERVIEW WITH COMMAND AND CONQUER RED ALERT MEGA PRO: NIKE1

Sup homies,

Here's an interview I dug up about Command and Conquer Red Alert mega pro Nike1.

Nike1 is one of the greatest players ever and known for inventing many of the build orders and strategies still used today. Nike1 was so good at the game he reached the top spot in a matter of months, and with no competition in sight he retired, but came back and dominated again! Keep in mind there were 60,000 active players back in 1997, which makes the feat even more impressive. And as the founder of "Building", he was literally unbeatable on the map 4c Niklas.

May 5, 1997 With Nike1

Nike1, an RA legend was nice enough to stop by the GameStats kali server and give me a few minutes of his time. It is not everyday that you can chat with a legend in the RA community. 

I think everyone will enjoy this little interview. Nike1 is from XX but his English is better than many North Americans I have chatted with. 

If there are spelling errors chalk it up to being his second language and try to type your next chat session in some foreign tongue. :) Here we go...

[Imperious-Rex] Please describe how you started in RA and a bit about yourself.

[NIKE1] well I am XX years old male from XX 

[NIKE1] I received RA 29 nov last year 

[NIKE1] 6 hours later I started on the ladder with my first match 

[NIKE1] we where atleast at week behind here in Europe 

[NIKE1] but I managed to win my first match so I therefore didnt show for 3-4 days to play the game through 

[NIKE1] to learn the units 

[NIKE1] I have therefore been in the RA world since the beginning and have seen all kind of tricks 

[NIKE1] I played the top players a few times to see what they did 

[NIKE1] then I improved their Ideas and building orders and moved up 

NIKE1] to take them over :) 

[Imperious-Rex] What strategies are your favourites from thoseyou have seen? 

[NIKE1] first time I saw the tank rush I got surprised, then I started to use it 

[NIKE1] and I kept it on until people learned to stop it 

[NIKE1] On more complicated maps I started out the thing with 

[NIKE1] alot of MCV's I builded like 4 in a game 

[NIKE1] the other called me nuts 

[NIKE1] but then I beat him with it 

[NIKE1] suddenly new things again was in the game 

[NIKE1] but I prefer now to do the tank rush 

[NIKE1] I can afford to do that since I got a pretty good defense 

[Imperious-Rex] What is your favourite map? Your least favourite? 

[NIKE1] my favourite map is 4 corner **** I totally rule on that 150-1-1 

NIKE1] my hate map has always been North by Northwest 

[NIKE1] therefore many wants to play me on it 

[Imperious-Rex] Why does 4 corners suit your style of play and not Nby NW? 

[NIKE1] because on 4 corners you get the chance to build alot of MCV's 

[NIKE1] things are going fast 

[NIKE1] and you have to think fast all the time 

[NIKE1] and keep calm to do my strat on it 

[NIKE1] many would go into panic with it 

[NIKE1] NBNW is more or less about placement 

[NIKE1] top part of the map got an advantage 

[Imperious-Rex] What players are your toughest opponents? 

[NIKE1] oh that is a good question 

[NIKE1] at the moment or through time 

[Imperious-Rex] How about both? 

[Imperious-Rex] The toughest now and the toughest ever. The legends. 

[NIKE1] well in the beginning it was JJ and Latta I had the most respect for since they where #1 and #2 

[NIKE1] but a man like Jackmin gave me some incredible matches 

[NIKE1] after I learned the game well JJ and Latta havent been a real competition, they are very good but I know how to deal with them 

[NIKE1] then I made the #1 spot and resigned from the ladder without any competion at that moment 

[NIKE1] but then came Tman747 in and took 1st 

[NIKE1] he was #1 when I restarted 

[NIKE1] I made it to #5 with 30-0 

[NIKE1] then I played Tman again and he won because I was stupid 

[NIKE1] I hate myself for not playing my best 

[NIKE1] but its a game 

[NIKE1] you will make mistakes once in a while 

[NIKE1] some more often then others 

[NIKE1] then there was a period where I couldnt see to get the chance to come back 

[NIKE1] only playing to stay up top 

[NIKE1] a lot of cheating was going on on the ladder at that time 

[NIKE1] I remember I went to #2 

[NIKE1] then suddenly #1 lost to #3 #5#7 in that order 

[NIKE1] within an hour 

[NIKE1] then came a guy with alot of names on the ladder 

[NIKE1] he took in 6 players infront of me 

[NIKE1] so back to #13 or so 

[NIKE1] that kind of stopped my single games 

[NIKE1] I had some terrible losses here lately in single games 

[NIKE1] people I should normally beat 

[NIKE1] but I will get back 

[Imperious-Rex] Tell us a bit about your team games with Team DK 

[NIKE1] TeamDK was created 14 dec last year 

[NIKE1] with me and BFB 

[NIKE1] we won our first 10 matches 

[NIKE1] in 5 hours or so 

[NIKE1] we played team games and learned from it 

[NIKE1] we added our friend TWS into the team 

[NIKE1] then we where all from the same city 

[NIKE1] and know eachother personally 

[NIKE1] we didnt really do much with the team in the beginning since both BFB and I wanted a good single spot 

[NIKE1] then I made the #1 and then team ladder was interesting 

[NIKE1] we started again to go for #1 and added in 5 extra persons 

[NIKE1] which later showed to be a big mistake 

[NIKE1] ok one withdrew then I deleted the rest 

[NIKE1] then we where stuck at #13 3 members almost dead as a team 

[NIKE1] but TWS and I sat down 1 weekend and pulled us up to #2 

[NIKE1] 2 days after #1 

[NIKE1] we lost it 1 time for 48 hours 

[NIKE1] took it back and we still got it for like 70 days now 

[NIKE1] in a row 

[Imperious-Rex] Do you prefer Team or 1 on 1 play now? 

[NIKE1] the problem team against single games is that there is a difference 

[NIKE1] different strat 

[NIKE1] we use it so the allied player is agressive 

[NIKE1] and the russian player waits and back up if needed and makes himself big 

[NIKE1] normally people wants the game on 4 corner 

[NIKE1] I am a totally team specialist 

[NIKE1] I can turn around a hopeless situation 

[NIKE1] because I got so much experience in it 

[NIKE1] just ask Team Canada :) 

[Imperious-Rex] What would be you #1 tip for any RA player? 

[NIKE1] #1 tip would be play your own game dont be afraid 

[NIKE1] I guess I have won quite a few games because people are afraid of the name 

[NIKE1] rule 1 for a RA player play your own game 

[NIKE1] of course if you suck totally ask for help 

[NIKE1] wrong building order etc. 

[Imperious-Rex] What do you feel would be a good addition to RA that it doesn't have now? 

[NIKE1] well I dont think RA needs anything infact I think there is getting to many keys involved in the game 

[NIKE1] I like a mouse game but now you have to push the keyboard all the time 

[NIKE1] one thing they could add to make the dumb harvester go right all the time 

[Imperious-Rex] Ok, silly questions time. 

[NIKE1] oh no 

[NIKE1] :) 

[Imperious-Rex] Muahahahaha 

[Imperious-Rex] If you could be any food. What would you be? 

[NIKE1] doh 

[NIKE1] hehe 

[Imperious-Rex] Would that be cookie doh or pizza doh? 

[NIKE1] well I would be a Big mac 

[Imperious-Rex] How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Do you have woodchucks? 

[NIKE1] hmmm I dont think so 

[Imperious-Rex] They are like a big rodent that eats grass and trees. 

[NIKE1] hmm not a normal animal here thats for sure 

[NIKE1] I dont think we got them 

[Imperious-Rex] Want us to ship you a few over? 

[NIKE1] Lol 

[NIKE1] dont think I need them here 

[Imperious-Rex] But seriously, :) Anything you want to end up this great interview with? 

[NIKE1] 1 thing 

[NIKE1] NIKE1 will find his former strengh and return so watch out !!! 

[Imperious-Rex] I'd just like to thank you again for the interview. 

[Imperious-Rex] Good luck in the future and lose to Team Canada ok? 

[NIKE1] well it was fun 

[NIKE1] no way we are gonna lose to them 

[Imperious-Rex] chuckle 

[NIKE1] that is not allowed