​With EVO come and gone, I have seen a lot of interviews from a lot of pros in it's wake. They've given brilliant new insight on the game, the current meta and on the event itself. But what about the slightly above average player? I wanted to know what somebody who knew the game, but wasn't quite at the top level, had to say.

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​So, I looked to an acquaintance I had known for several years. Chris Pak currently studies computer science at the prestigious University of California, Los Angeles. Home to a powerful football team and high placings in academia, UCLA also has embraced a diverse Smash scene. I attended a party, where I got marvelously drunk and almost got two-stocked by a beefy, frat bro. Chris, who goes by Cpak, is currently ranked third on campus. I asked him a couple questions regarding Melee, Smash 4, and the community at UCLA.







​ Okay, you're a veteran Melee player that's not quite Mang0 or Armada level yet. What, in your eyes, make these players top tier? What are your greatest struggles being in the Smash community at this level?

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​ The thing that separates local talent from the top 50 in the world is probably your 'download time.' Melee is such a complex game that there are nearly limitless micro-situations you can find yourself in during the heat of the moment, or what we call the "scuffle." A big part of making the right decisions during a game is situational awareness and the ability to adapt quickly accordingly to what your opponent does. As for the top ~10 players like Mang0/Armada, to get to that level, I believe that you need not only awareness, but patience and a strong desire to win on top the already necessary talent.





We are in what is arguably the second Golden age of Smash. What made you originally enter the Smash community?





I dipped my toes in the competitive scene after watching EVO 2013 on the big stage, and I was like, "I'm pretty sure I could do that." Little did I know how complex Melee was as a 2d fighter.







Why did you get back into the scene? What makes this community and game so great?





I started going to tournaments during late high school, and I still go to tournaments with my friends when I can. The thing about Melee, as trite as it sounds, is that personally it is the game in which I can fully express myself. No other game has movement quite as fluid as Melee, and fighting games are all about outmaneuvering your opponent for the win. The sick combos and aesthetic appeal don't hurt either. On top of that, Melee isn't an online game like most, and so in order to find new people to play with, you need to reach out in person and make new friends, which really enriches the community/social aspect of the game. There's nothing like going to a tournament with your boys and cheering each other on in super close matches.

You place very well at UCLA ranking #3. What is the Smash scene like at college campuses? Do you think people around you have a shot at going pro?





The biggest smash scene is probably in UC Irvine just because their Esports scene is so big. As far as college smashers go, pretty much all of us are ways off from the level of the pros. Most top players are older, being that Melee came out in 2001. The practice and dedication you need to make it to the top level is insane, and making money off of Melee is still something foreign to many smashers because we play Melee primarily to have a blast.





This is the first era of Melee that has been mainstream, and it's sequel Super Smash Bros. Wii U is also quite popular. How do you feel about Smash 4? How does it differ from Melee?





Smash 4 is a fun game, but Melee players have a special spot in their hearts for competitive Melee. Smash 4 just isn't as fast, and I feel constrained by the game engine itself, whereas Melee will allow me to go as fast as my hands can move or my mind can think.





There have been controversies surrounding Nintendo not supporting its professional scene, especially Melee. What are your thoughts as a competitive player?





I hold the view that Melee should be treated, at the end of the day, as a fun, competitive game. I'm not sure that we're at the point where we can be asking Nintendo for support. We are, after all, playing Melee for the love of the game. It would be nice to have our own company's support, especially for the top players who put in so much work to the game, but Melee will live on indepedently with its support and the sheer willpower and dedication of people in the community.