KNALLER: "I still hate CoD4!"

Hello Alex, first, introduce yourself to our readers.
Oi, I’m Alexander, 19 years old, live near Eindhoven, NL. I’m studying applied physics at uni. I go to gym, drink beer with friends, and do some web developing occasionally.

When did you start with your gaming career?
I don’t remember anymore when it was exactly, to be honest. I started off with playing fifa online, was pretty sick at it, but it got boring quickly. Then I started playing cod1 during 1.3 patch or something. After that just cod2,cod4.

Which was the first game, that you played on higher level?
As I mentioned before, I was good at fifa :D but that’s pointless to discuss now. Ehm in cod1 I was pretty good already, despite huge fps problems. I played with some good teammates too, some of whom also got “known” later (eg. wiz, vasquez, mow) Then in cod2 I joined dfiance (sko, mitox qwerty, moma) and people started really noticing me.

How did you join to the TEK-9? And what was the line-up?
I was playing with dM or H2k at that time, don’t remember. Shortly before that, check6 had split up, and some of my ex-teammates joined up with tek9. They told me to come to tek9 also, and that sounded pretty darn good to me.

(ozwald, dfb, Davy, mitox, KNALLER, sko)

I think everyone knows you mainly from Call of Duty 2, Could you shortly describe your career in this game?
I was playing with about 25 fps from the start of cod2, with pure esports, I believe. Then I got a new pc and started dropping loads of 30bombs. I also merced around with some better known people so they noticed me too. And after I merced some cup with dfiance, sko asked me to join them as a full member.

Call of Duty 4, you didn't like this game and I think it was the main reason, why you ended in TEK-9, am I right?
After that actually TEK-9 ended with supporting gaming teams, could you explain us why? Yeah I hate cod4, and I wasn’t the only one in that tek9 team. So after we had some very unlucky important matches, our last bits of motivation were gone. I’m not entirely sure why tek9 stopped directly supporting teams after that, but I believe it was because Steven (dfb) shifted his focus towards gamevibes and other things. Also there were already plans to go for Benelux teams in the future, and that’s why Antwerp Aces was created. (disclaimer: This is the way I remember it, maybe not entirely correct :p)

We know, that your more favourite game was Call of Duty 2, why? And why is it better than CoD4?
Cod4 requires more geekness and teamplay, it rewards discipline and motivation. Cod2 was better for raw skill. Eg: A group of not-so-talented gamers can make a few smg running routes and combine that with some sad nades, and perform relatively well against a so called “top” team, in cod4. This is, however, better for spectators or the competition in general, as it can cause many surprises. So I’m not saying cod2 is a better game in general, that depends on your interests, but it is better for the individually more skilled player.

Now you are back in action in upcoming Benelux EPS, what did you do meantime, almost nobody heared about you?
Let me quote myself from the first question: “I’m studying applied physics at uni.I go to gym, drink too much beer with friends, and do some web developing occasionally.” Also, I played some Quakelive.

(KNALLER)

Let's go back to your comeback, what's your reason to make it once again? Don't tell us, that it’s just only because the ESL!
I’m sorry to disappoint you then :P but I still strongly dislike this game and play it just for the ESL competition.

I've just seen the team list to AeF 2010, You're there in the team called 5ND together with davy, kammyz, mark and revoltz. Is this absolutely new team or just for fun mix? Your AeF's goals?
Well they are all former teammates of mine, and we know we will fit together just fine. Lans are good competition and have a chance of boosting motivation for a while. However, nothing is certain yet, so this is all I can say about it now.

How do you think you will be succesful in Benelux EPS, your goals and could you describe your team members?
We have to get top8 to qualify for something first, right? :P I’m positive we will reach that goal of course, but we haven’t played a lot together yet so I can’t say how we will do in the later stages. The goal is to win, of course. We have a great mix of Belgian prides!

Davy is our raging bull
Stevy is the racist sniper
Cozje doesn’t even use a primary weapon, deagle only
Delroo is my quakelive padawan.
And I just glue the whole bunch together with “dry” remarks & randomness ;D.

(KNALLER a Davy)

With which gun we can see you now?
I am currently wielding the BIG AK.

So it’s just comeback to CoD4 or you just want to play it sometimes for fun?
Well I’m only playing EPS now. If things somehow work out positively I might go to some lans, SEC & AEF or whatever, but yeah, time will tell.

Were you watching the CIC7 - your opinion?
I have not watched any matches :P Just happy for the reasonboys for getting so far.

Currently the best three CoD4 teams and players in your eyes?
I haven’t followed the scene whatsoever, so I can just say stevy is really good. Probably someone like soclon or paradox if they are still on same level as they used to be? But that’s just a guess. Teams top3: fnatic, reason, pwr? :) 

Do you know any Czech players, who interested you and why?
Of course I know paradox, maza, lubo, lucker. Just “known” players. And beaster, he’s funny ;D

Okay Knaller, thank you for your time, any last words?
Op n ouwe fiets motte t leren.