RotterDaM: In Grubby's Shadow

By .78 Chance

In this interview we have wildcard fnatic|RotterDaM. Materializing on the professional scene a short while ago at the ClanBase final of Netherlands versus France, he pulled out victories against names like Chobo and Shore. Now lately hailed as the prodigy of none other then fellow Netherlander 4K.Grubby, we ask about the truth to this widely made claim, and about his newly formed clan that's been shaking scenes, fnatic.

Name: Kevin van der Kooi
Age: 18
Home: Netherlands
Music-Artist: 2PAC
Current Pursuit: Warcraft 3, and ICT Education.
Interests: Snowsports, motorcycles, television.
Favorite unit: Wyvern
Favorite unit to kill: Fiend
Favorite hero: FarSeer
Favorite hero to kill: ArchMage~!

.78 Chance: Heya. This is .78 Chance of WCReplays. Thanks for doing this interview, bro. Let's start with basic stupid introductory babble - what's your name and age and stuff?

fnatic\RotterDaM: Hello, I am Kevin van der Kooi, better known as RotterDaM, an Orc player. I'm 18 years old, and live in the Netherlands.

.78 Chance: Alright sir Rotter, you just joined the newly created clan fnatic. So how do you feel about your new team and your clanmates. You know-- what happened with your old clan 3wD, and why did you join fnatic?

fnatic\RotterDaM: My old clan 3wD got disbanded because we didn't have enough players for the upcoming season. What happened is that when I was clanless, triMble contacted me about joining 64AMD, along with all the guys left over from 64AMD, to join - but since AMD's organization is fairly weak, and they had a lack of support and all, we changed names and organizations to fnatic. I personally joined fnatic because it's one of the worlds' fastest growing teams (with Painkiller and UT2K4), I think the players who are in the team are really strong players, and I'll be able to learn from them, and hopefully they can learn from me as well. So overall, the goal is to improve all aspects of our game and have some successful results. And I really have a lot of faith in fnatic; I'm pretty sure we'll have some good results.

.78 Chance: No kidding - you've already had some good showing with Bjarke at ESWC. Do you all practice together?

fnatic\RotterDaM: Yeah, unfortunately I haven't been able to practice too much lately because my internet has been really choppy the past few weeks, and I was moving into a new house and so on. But now, everything seems to be running smoothly at home, and with three Human players in the team, I should become better in the match up. Human is my LEAST favorite race to play against.

.78 Chance: I was wondering why we hadn't seen much of you in recent weeks, but you answered my question. At the Colloseum King of the Hill, you went all the way to the top and played Creolophus - now a teammate - but finally got brought down in a close 2:3 final. How did you feel about your performance in that event?

fnatic\RotterDaM: It was fun to play in it, but I really didn't worry about it too much, since it was mostly for show. But it was pretty fun to play, and it showed that Creo was the better player, which didn't really surprise me.


.78 Chance: What about Acon5? Did you feel that you were maybe underpracticed, since SK.miou ended up pushing you out?

fnatic\RotterDaM: Nah, miou knows how to play Lost Temple, but so do I, and it's my best map versus Human since it's very different to play on than other maps. But I think it shows that I missed some practice-game time the last couple of weeks, since I made some mistakes which are fatal versus Human on that map, whereas normally I know how to perform flawlessly on it. But when it comes down to it, I played a bit sloppy, and miou obviously played better and deserved the win.

.78 Chance: That's cool. It sounds like ACON5 was a good experience for you. Good times overall and tales to be told and stuff?

fnatic\RotterDaM: In fact, like the day that Acon5 tournament was over, we went to a restaurant to eat some food, and drink of course. The beer there was all for free, so there was like mass beer for each table, and the Russians also had a lot of vodka. So, first we went back to the hotel with more beer and vodka, and then we went to the KFC to eat something, because I didn't really like the Chinese food. But by then, Deadman had already drunk so much that he was running down the street and making weird noises, and then he jumped in front of a car and opened the door of the cab to shake hands with the driver. So then we get to KFC, and he tries to transform into a Demon Hunter, and he was making Warcraft 3 sounds like Roar and so on - he was so loud, he was disturbing girls who were eating in the restaurant. I was laughing so hard, I almost couldn't breathe. So then later that night, we all go to eTched's room, and we had more vodka... And TeRRoR drank a LOT. After a while he was so drunk, and we all wanted to take him back to his room, and he was like "NO NO, I WANNA SLEEP WITH ETCHED! He's my bitch!" and stuff like that all night long. And so finally, after a while Deadman just stands up, wanders into eTched's room and fell onto his bed, asleep.

.78 Chance: So does that kind of balls-out partying express how you view Warcraft in sorts? I mean, is it still just entertainment for you? Or could you ever consider this as an actual full-time job?

fnatic\RotterDaM: It is still just entertainment for me, as I couldn't make a full time job of it at the moment. And I also really don't think it's very possible here in the Netherlands unless you're VERY good. Germany might be more of a possibility, but not by much at all.


.78 Chance: Trying to be competitive in a country that only passively supports pro-gaming is mad difficult. But still, people think of you as "gosu", yeah? You have real life friends who know about this and what you do?

fnatic\RotterDaM: They make fun of me and say I never come outside, even though I do. I just hate the sun. But they don't really know how this gaming thing works, so when I tell them I need to play on a certain date they are like, "WTF, how does that work? How do you know he will be there to play you?" and stuff. They don't really get it, but that's ok.

.78 Chance: So, have most of your tournament play experiences been online so far? Not too many LANs?

fnatic\RotterDaM: Hmm, I think I've been to 6-7 national LANs, and one international LAN; so I think I'm pretty experienced at both, the exception being international LANs.

.78 Chance: With your APM hovering around 150 in most of your games, and upwards of 200 in some matches, do you feel you have a long way to go to improve? Or do you feel comfortable with your play ability?

fnatic\RotterDaM: I don't consider my APM as something I need to improve, since sometimes I have higher APM when I am really focused because you click everything two or three times to make sure everything plays out smoothly. I was around 209 APM versus Ciara at Acon5. It's just that online I'm less nervous when I play, so I just click less, I guess. But regardless, I know I still have a lot to learn.

.78 Chance: You find any players inspiring, or really intimidating, or in general helpful to your training?

fnatic\RotterDaM: Yeah, of course. I watch a lot of Orc replays of course, and I really like to watch replays from Grubby, Zacard and ElakeDuck. They do subtle, special things in a lot of games, sometimes a lot of players won't even notice - but it's those small things that matter and make me really enjoy watching their games.

.78 Chance: So then, how do you feel about the balance in Warcraft right now in 1.18? You said you have trouble with Humans, but do you still think Night Elf is overpowered? Or is it the players, more than the races, you think?

fnatic\RotterDaM: I think the players say more than the races indeed, but I don't think anyone can deny that Night Elf is very good versus Orc on some maps, and Orc is good versus Undead on certain maps, and so on. But it's also up to the player. A lot of Humans have trouble with Orc, while my weakest matchup is against Human. But I guess it's a personal problem and I need to solve it. Until then human is imba (jk!)


.78 Chance: You knew it was coming - getting around to 4K.Grubby...

fnatic\RotterDaM: Oh jeez, Mr. Grubs...

.78 Chance: A lot of people make similar comparisons between you to him, being both from the Netherlands? Do people ever ask you if he trained you? Do you ever feel as though you're trying to fight through the monolithic shadow he casts over the Warcraft scene?

fnatic\RotterDaM: Haha, no, not really. Grubby is a much better player than me, and I need to show much more than I have so far to say I could step through his shadow and stand on my own. I just play my game and I do my best, but I don't compare myself with Grubby. But yeah, because we come from the same country and both play Orc, when I was in China for ACON5, a lot of people would come up to me with questions: "Is Grubby your master?" "Grubby train you?" "Grubby teach you play yes?" It was pretty funny.

.78 Chance: So, he did teach you some?

fnatic\RotterDaM: Yes, he did. We practised certain maps and matchups, and since Grubby can play all races, he's the training partner of your dreams. I was already was a pretty ok player before I started to play with him, but he has helped to show me a lot, and I am very thankful for the things he has taught me so far.

.78 Chance: That's pretty awesome - did he just do it because you two are friends? Or because he wanted to help you train as a fellow Netherlander?

fnatic\RotterDaM: I can say we are pretty good friends now, but he started helping me as fellow Dutchie. He started to practice with me when we had the Nations War coming up, and he had a plan how we (the Netherlands) could win this war - so he'd say "Player A" wins on that map, then "Player B" wins this and so on. So we started to practice the maps and matchups I could possibly get in order to improve my chances of winning.

.78 Chance: Do you ever think you'll reach the same skill as Grubby some day? Or is it more a goal that you aren't sure if you'll reach, but want to work toward?

fnatic\RotterDaM: Hmm. It's hard to answer that. I don't know if I can ever be "on the same level" as he is; but my goal is that, when the time comes, I will be able to beat him when it matters. The best player doesn't always win.

.78 Chance: If all else fails you could always try cheating? Kidding, kidding! Actually, how do you feel about the MANY instances of cheating in the past couple months?

fnatic\RotterDaM: Actually I think it's a pity, what's happening in WC3L lately. The main problem as I see it is just little misunderstandings in clans who don't communicate well with each other. So then players fail to show up or are not able to show up when the date is set, and people see no other way, they fakenick, which is very sad. If the communication in clans improved a little, a lot of these cheating instances wouldn't have to happen. Like if you saw how the Boomtown and a-L.MSI thing went, time was running out and they had to make fast choices. And of course they know they're doing something that's wrong, but it's a snap-decision, and I think they just fail to see how wrong they are at the time.

.78 Chance: So... what's with the moniker? RotterDaM? I hear they make some mean Terrorcore and Speedcore techno around there.

fnatic\RotterDaM: Yeah; there's some club nearby here that plays Rotterdam Terrorcorps, but my nick is not related to that. I started using this nick along time ago when some friends who wanted to play 4v4 on Azeroth, and we all took city names or something with our hometown in it. I actually liked the name I chose, and so I kept using it.

.78 Chance: So, wait. Then what kind of music DO you listen to in the Netherlands?

fnatic\RotterDaM: It's different for each person, we have the same music like you; all the hip-hop stuff, plus the nice songs of Britney & Co.

.78 Chance: OMG. You listen to Britney Spears!?

fnatic\RotterDaM: I watch the videos...

.78 Chance: Ok ok. That's alright, then. So what does a normal day consist of for you then? Lots of Britney Spears videos? Work? You're 18 - did you just graduate?

fnatic\RotterDaM: Nah; I failed last year, so I moved on to a different education - damn Warcraft. My normal day? Nothing special - it's a normal day. I just wake up and go to school, and then when I come home I look at my homework. Then I stop looking and I go read some forums. If I am in the right mood I go play some, then I eat around 6 pm and after that I continue wasting my time by hanging around on MSN and reading websites. Then at 7:30pm my soap series starts, so I watch that. At 8:00 pm my other soap starts, so I watch that one too - I'M NOT GAY, I SWEAR! - and after those I go play some ladder or custom games.

.78 Chance: Ok, so on a normal day you do normal boring stuff. But what's an ABNORMAL day for you like?

fnatic\RotterDaM: WTF? You're calling my life boring? I take that as a serious insult, and I'm considering quitting this interview right now. Someone hold me... Haha, just kidding. Anyway, some days are different so it's hard to say, but sometimes I go outside, but that's really rare. Seeing sunshine = O_O, but not too much of course. And some days, I'll just chill with my friends - throw some darts (a couple of weeks ago my friend had a dart in his hand, and it was bleeding like crazy, haha), talk about random stuff and watch a movie, or put some music on or whatever. You know - chiiiilllll gangsta.

.78 Chance: Sounds OG, playa. What about family? Have any brothers or sisters? How do your parents view this whole Warcraft thing?

fnatic\RotterDaM: My parents didn't start taking it too seriously until I started visiting LANs, so now they think its pretty cool for me. My dad doesn't care that much, but when I was going to China he was pretty excited. My mom would rather have me outside than inside playing 24/7. I have one older brother; he's pretty cool about the whole thing, too - though, he used to give me a hard time when I was young. Playing a lot of SNES, and he is such a bad loser; he's ten times worse than me. When he'd lose to me in ISS or Street Fighter, he'd always start kicking me or hitting me, and I'd start running down the stairs by the time the match was almost over. But he's pretty good about it now.


.78 Chance: Since we've just about touched on everything crazy-interesting, let's finish it up with random questions of Justice. Ready? Ryu or Ken?

fnatic\RotterDaM: Ken - my brother always was Ryu.

.78 Chance: Pepsi or Coke?

fnatic\RotterDaM: Coke. Pepsi X rocks, but Cherry Coke more so.

.78 Chance: Pirates or Ninjas?

fnatic\RotterDaM: Ninjas (in pyjamas?)

.78 Chance: Great taste or less filling?

fnatic\RotterDaM: Great taste.

.78 Chance: Dubbed or subtitled?

fnatic\RotterDaM: Subtitled.

.78 Chance: Wide screen or full screen?

fnatic\RotterDaM: Full.

.78 Chance: And lastly, Starcraft or Warcraft?

fnatic\RotterDaM: Warcraft, never played Starcraft.

.78 Chance: Really!? You must be like, the only one!

fnatic\RotterDaM: Poor me, but I was pro in C&C. For the union! Oh wait... that's Red Alert. I rocked on that one too, though, so no problem.

.78 Chance: I never played either of those two; I've always been a Blizzard child.

fnatic\RotterDaM: OMG, you must be the only one.

.78 Chance: Ok, ok - last of all, if you had to choose your method of death - how would you go?

fnatic\RotterDaM: For the horde? Die with honour!

.78 Chance: That's hardcore. Any shoutouts or anything you want to say to people who might be reading?

fnatic\RotterDaM: Shoutout to Dreamland and Marc, two people who always motivated me and believed in me (god, that sounds gay), and I wanna thank my ex-teammates from Pentagram, and 3wD. And of course everyone in team NL who helped, and shoutout to Grubby and Marlon (my black sheep). And gogogo Fnaticccccccccc!

.78 Chance: Sick sick sick ~ hope to see more success for you in the future, man. Fnatic FTW!

Replays

RotterDaM has shared eleven replays to go with this interview, many of them from a tournament he participated in. Download the replay pack by clicking the link below.