Arma 3 hails people of every flavour from all over the world. To get to know them a little better, we're hosting a series of mini-interviews. These aim to give you a personal insight into their backgrounds, why they got into Arma, and how they typically experience the game. In this Community Profile, we interview a very special guest, our new Arma 3 Community Manager: Nillers.
BIO
Name: Niles
Nickname: Nillers
Age: 25
Location: Iowa, USA
Occupation: Community Manager, Arma 3
BASELINE
Can you provide us with one random fact about yourself?
I’m a proud nerd. Whether you want to talk about warp drive or D&D mechanics, I’d be interested. I have a passion for game technology, science fiction, art, and tabletop games.
What was the first Arma game you played?
Arma 2 - on an old, Dell laptop that could hardly run the game.
What is your current Arma 3 playtime?
Steam tells me 2500 hours.
What is your favourite game of all time?
Hate the word favorite, but if I had to pick only one it would have to be Arma 3. May be cliché, but it has always been the game I come back to and where I continue to be creatively inspired.
What is your favourite movie of all time?
I could never pick just one. My interests range too widely. A few I frequently quote though are Cool Runnings (really anything Disney), Starship Troopers, and Monty Python: Quest for the Holy Grail.
Do you eat pineapple on pizza?
Yes, and I’m not sorry for it.
Can you show us your PC setup?
5 QUESTIONS
1. How and why did you get into Arma?
Being pretty young, I came upon a few YouTube videos of Arma 2 by accident. If I remember correctly, I had been playing a lot of America’s Army and Ghost Recon at the time and loved the thought of using the editor to create my own scenarios.
2. How do you play or engage with Arma 3 nowadays?
I tend to play in either private groups or with friends, but my biggest involvement has always been making unique missions or gimmick style game modes for Arma. I’ve probably tried every way to play the game at least once, but personally focus on mission creation for multiplayer experiences.
3. Can you tell us about your most remarkable Arma 3 moment? (most funny, memorable, biggest achievement, etc)
There are way too many memories to account for just one, but I get the most satisfaction any time a mission I make goes exactly as intended, without any scripts breaking, and everyone has fun.
4. What is your favorite piece of Arma 3 user-created content (mod, addon, scenario, game mode, tool) and why?
There are many, but Advanced Combat Environment 3 (ACE3) would have to take the cake. Just for the mere modularity and amount of useful features.
5. Can you share your #1 pro-tip for any Arma 3 player?
Definitely remember to keep fun at the forefront of your mind whether you’re a player or a mission maker. If you’re not having fun, then don’t be afraid to explore other areas of Arma. There are so many playstyles, game modes, and groups that something is bound to meet what you enjoy.
BONUS: What is the most embarrassing thing to ever happen to you in public?
It was during my senior year of high school. We were performing a choreographed routine while singing “The Safety Dance” by Men Without Hats for our last show ever. During the last line of the song, a friend of mine accidentally knocked me forward off the stage. This resulted in me doing a tactical roll to save my skin. This show was fortunately recorded and this clip was immediately passed around after the incident. I still get people bringing it up to me even after seven years.
CLOSING
To finish the interview, do you have anything you'd like to share with the Arma community?
I know I have some big shoes to fill after taking over for Homesick. He's done an excellent job of growing the Arma community and I want to continue in much of that same regard. Obviously, I have much to learn from him. During this transition, it's my hope to get to know as many people in the Arma community as possible. So definitely feel free to reach out and say hello on Twitter or in Discord. I look forward to the road ahead and I am excited for the future of the Arma community.