Decipher #6 - Matias Roa

Now! Step right this way. Read carefully! Don’t miss the next interview! I present to you... Boah!

Boah was a rather "unknown" player in the VGC community until he made his name known in NPA, going 9-2 in his first season. Besides that, he was placed well in several premier challenges, and got 2nd in the Winter Scramble on Nuggetbridge.

= Cypher = Boah (No Twitter)

 
Introduce yourself!
 

I'm Matias Roa A.K.A. Boah. I'm from South America, specifically from Chile, and I'm 21 years old and a fan of video games.

 
How did you feel about getting drafted in NPA?
 

Awesome! I never thought that I would be drafted, especially since I'm an "unpopular player" outside of Chile.

 
Well, now you're more known since you did incredibly well, going 9-2 as one of more successful players this season. How do you feel about your victory and helping the Ninjas get 1st place?
 

I feel great staying along with the Ninjas. At the beginning of VGC 15 season, I was playing horrible, and I thought that I must let go of Pokemon... But, somehow thanks to the Ninjas, I recovered some confidence in my playstyle so they helped me in that. And, the best way to be thankful I thought was winning for the team and helping my team partners. So, helping the Ninjas get 1st was great, since I did something good in this season.

 
That's great, and I hope you continue to do great and lead them to victory! What is your opinion on the competitive scene in South America, and do you plan to go to more regionals?
 

Well, I can't say too much about the competitive scene in South America since it started around 1 year ago, but I feel like this is gonna be tough; there are a lot of skilled players who plays constantly, and there are still a lot of unknown players who would shine this season. So, I think those who let down their guard will lose. That's why I'll go to more regionals, and go to Worlds, as that is my dream as well as for every competitive player, so I have to do my best!

 
Well, see you in San Francisco then! What lead you to start playing Pokemon and VGC?
 

I played Pokemon since I was a child, and I started playing VGC when I saw on Youtube, the finals from 2010. Seeing how Rizzo plays and how the people supported him, this gave me inspiration.

 
How did Pokemon affect your life?
 

Hahaha, I owe a lot to Pokemon, it being my entertainment for a lot of years. But, the most important way how Pokemon affected me was how it gave me the chance to connect with people around the world and somehow test myself

 
Outside of Pokemon, what do you like to do for fun?
 

Well, I like to spend time with my friends, camp in the nature, listen some OST, play with my puppy, play other video games likes Smash, Mario Party/kart, and watch anime.

 
What are you studying in school? And why? 


I'm studying engineering in renewable natural resources in college. I starting study this because I really likes the nature and I want new generations to enjoy and take care of it. I just want a better future for everybody so I thought that this is the best way to do that.

 
Oh, that's pretty sweet! What would you like to pursue in the future?
 

For now I just want to end my studies, have a family and play a lot of video games with my future son/daughter, and take care of the people that I love.

 
What is the origin of your username? 


In Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon, there is a character named Boah. I thought about how it sounded like my last name, and my friends started calling me Boah.
 
What is your favorite Pokemon and what is your favorite thing about it?
 

My favorite Pokemon is Torterra, i really love its design. And, my favorite thing about Torterra is the memories that it brings to me.


Thank you for the interview! Do you have anyone to thank/shoutout to?


Yes, I must say thanks to you and Daniel for make me part of the team, as well as thanks to everybody who gave me a little of their time to help me in team building and testing.


Thank you Matias for allowing me to interview! Having chatted with him before and looking at his replies, he's one of the kindest players I have had the pleasure to converse with! It's also pretty neat to interview someone who was "unknown" as well and to see him have a strong record! I wish him the best so that he'll be able to make Worlds!

Also, sorry for missing a week. I had exams last week so I had to focus on my studies instead of this. Though, in the end, I hope you guys enjoyed this week's article. If you liked this, please tweet/retweet/favorite it so others can enjoy it as well! If you have any criticisms, please post in the following thread: http://nuggetbridge.com/forums/topic/19772-cyphers-deciphers-interviewing-the-vgc-community/

Decipher #5 - Chase Lybbert

Now! Step right this way. Read carefully! Don’t miss the next interview! I present to you... I Am a Rookie!

I'm a Rookie has recently won San Jose regionals in the Masters division. He has also won Arizona regionals last fall, and has participated in Worlds 2015.

= Cypher = I Am a Rookie

 
First off, introduce yourself!

 
Hello everyone! I am Chase Lybbert, an Arizona resident that recently won the San Jose Regionals! I have been playing VGC for almost 2 years now.


Who is better, the rookie, or the rookie slayer?


Haha, well, I would say me and he [his brother, Rookie Slayer] would argue for himself. For an honest answer though: We have played against each other in several premier challenges and I have the winning record on him. We haven't played each other in any Regional level events or higher though. As far as results go, I would say he has more consistent finishes though.


What do you think about your success, winning a fall regional again, as well as being able to compete in worlds?

 
I am both proud and surprised of what I have done thus far. Winning my first Regional was a bit unexpected because I was still developing as a player, but when I won that I gained confidence in my play. Competing in Worlds was incredibly fun and the environment was even better than anticipated. Although I didn't do too well at Worlds, it gave me incentive to do even better this year so I can go back and have another shot. The San Jose regional was my first regional without my brother and I was using a team we built together, so I was happy I could do it justice. And, I consider that regional my biggest accomplishment.


How did you get into Pokemon and VGC?

 
I have been playing Pokemon since R/B/Y, but it wasn't until D/P/Pt when the WiFi capabilities were released when I started playing singles against others online. I don't know if anyone remembers the Xat chats, but I would always go around those asking for battles. I stopped playing when B/W came out. When X/Y came out, my brother and I decided we wanted to start EV training and battle people online because of Battle Spot, but we wanted to test our teams first. We stumbled upon Showdown, ended up in the VGC chat and redirected to Nuggetbridge, where we found a VGC tournament in Long Beach, CA which was only a 4 hour drive from us. We decided we would try it out, and we enjoyed the environment and community! Ever since then we have been making it to all of the other Regionals in our vicinity.

 
I heard of Team Tanktop. What is it? How did it get started?

 
Haha Team Tank Top!!!!! Team Tank Top is just a group of us Pokemon players who got to know each other pretty well over the last two years and often room with each other at events and hang out. It pretty much started off with an agreement between me, RastaCharmander, Primitive, pib319 and pimp shrimp deciding we were going to wear Tank Tops at Utah Regionals. From there, we coined Team Tank Top and we like being vocal about how we are apart of it, haha. Myself, along with the majority of the members, have not attended a bigger event without wearing a Tank Top; it's just our tradition.


How would you describe your relationship with your brother?


My brother and I don't have a whole lot in common. We usually are doing our own separate thing. As kids, we, as my grandma would put it, "rough housed" a lot, haha. Pokemon is one, among a few other things, that we share a common interest in.


Besides Pokemon, what kind of things do you like to do for fun?


I enjoy going to the gym, playing other various online games, and many computer related things! My old High School friends and I go on a biannual camping trip that I look forward to as well!


What do you plan to pursue in the future?


I am currently going to ASU for Computer Science. I am shooting for respectable finishes at both Nationals and Worlds, and taking up running to improve my cardio.


What is the origin of your username?


Haha, well I needed a username on Showdown, and at the time I was an ACTUAL rookie. It was a Showdown username anyway, and you can change it whenever so I just decided on "I Am a Rookie" for the time being until I got better. When I made a Nuggetbridge account, I figured I wouldn't be using it a whole lot so I just stuck with the same name. As time passed, I have been asked by several people if I ever planned on changing it. I do not ever plan on changing though because it has definitely grown on me and I will forever be a rookie. :D


What is the best thing you have gotten out of from playing Pokemon?


Pokemon, surprisingly, has given me a lot, and to single out one thing is difficult. It has allowed me to travel to places I normally have no business traveling to, like Indianapolis, Utah and Boston. It has introduced me to some amazing people who share similar interests and have unique personalities. Pokemon also has, oddly, improved my critical thinking skills because it requires you to assess a situation and conclude the best option. Finally, it has also strengthened my relationship with my brother.


Ayy, thank you for allowing me to interview! Any shoutouts?


Shoutouts to my brother, TEAM TANK TOP, the SoCal Crew(gengarBOI, LegacyVGC, DarkAssasin, Sweeper), the Arizona Crew, TFC, Stempe and anyone else I could have potentially missed. Also thank you for doing this interview Cypher it was fun and I appreciate it!


Ayyy! I really have to thank Chase for this interview! It's always interesting to hear from someone that has quickly broke out into the VGC scene, as well as hear from someone who has a relative that plays competitively as well! I hope you guys enjoyed this week's article as well. If you liked this, please tweet/retweet/favorite it so others can enjoy it as well!

If you have any criticisms, please post in the following thread: http://nuggetbridge.com/forums/topic/19772-cyphers-deciphers-interviewing-the-vgc-community/