HLTV.org sat down with NiP captain Robin "Fifflaren" Johansson for an in-dept interview in which the Swedish player touches upon a wide variety of topics.

Although being an unknown name for the general Counter-Strike 1.6 community before joining the ranks of NiP, Johansson has made a name for himself by playing Counter-Strike: Source and boasts a resume that is nothing but admirable.

Johansson started playing Counter-Strike: Source in 2005 and has normally wore the captain's band in teams he has been a part of. The Swedish ace has donned the colors of squads such as zEx, Check-Six, NoA and even Berlin Allianz during the CGS era.

When he played in the Championship Gaming Series, his team came in 3/4th in both seasons. Their performance during the league's short lifespan earned them a stunning total of $140,000 - $70,000 each season. Berlin Allianz was then managed by former NoA and Catch-Gamer member Jonas "bsl" Alsaker Vikan.

Moreover, he was the first draft pick in the second season, a nifty accolade. Johansson's Berlin Allianz were also crowned European champions of the two seasons after beating Stockholm Magnetic, the team managed by Emil "HeatoN" Christensen, in both. 

Johansson now leads NiP's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive team, and we sat down with him to hear him out on several topics less than a day before leaving for DreamHack Valencia. In this interview, the team captain talks extensively about Valve's new title, the NiP squad and its players, VeryGames and a lot more.

What is the story behind NiP's lineup? How did the five of you come together?

Well, Heat-Gaming approached GeT_RiGhT and wanted him to make a CS:GO team for them. He got f0rest to join him and they were both in talks with Xizt at the time, who also wanted to make the switch over to CS:GO. I think that all three of them felt that they wanted some Source blood with them from the start of this new journey with a new game that's based on the Source engine. This is where me and friberg came in to the picture.

We were already playing Source under the Heat-Gaming organisation, and I've been a part of the scene since 2005, being the in-game leader on pretty much every single team I've ever played for. I think that's one thing that they were looking for. And friberg, who's been my teammate and also roommate for over 2 years time, came in as the last player to fill the gap. They all felt that it was also really important to try and bring the two scenes together, and there isn't really a better way to do so than to join forces and create a new team consisting of both CS 1.6 players and Source players. 

Coming from different version of Counter-Strike, how has it been playing alongside GeT_RiGhT and f0rest? Have there been any differences between you that has been shaped by the two games?

GeT_RiGhT and f0rest are two exceptional players. They were amazing at CS 1.6 and deserve all the respect in the world. But not once have I felt that they look down on myself or friberg because we come from Source. We all understand that this is a new game and we all need to learn it. It doesn't matter if you are crowned the best player in the world in CS 1.6 or if you come from a CoD background.

The only difference I can tell you would be in-game wise. CS 1.6 and Source are both a lot different in comparison to one another. In Source, you really need to work a lot more with flashbangs and smokes - it's a lot more of tactics involved. You can pretty much compare it to how CS 1.6 was back in the days, when teams used a lot of tactics.

Now in 1.6 it's mostly pure skill that will win you the games. It's not like that in Source or in CS:GO. You need to work with each other in a different perspective. Smokes need to be placed perfectly and flashes need to be thrown correctly; if you fail to do that, then you will most likely run into a wall. I've also heard sometimes from my CS 1.6 teammates that Source players tend to play differently, which is given!

How is it like working with HeatoN? Could you elaborate on his involvement in NiP?

HeatoN is a great person to be around. He loves Counter-Strike and he would even sacrifice his own living over it. HeatoN's involvement in NiP is that he's our manager. He deals with the back office stuff. He's also our backup player if one of us can't play! (he's still got it!)

He's also someone that's great to have around, given his past. He knows what we need to do as a team to succeed and he knows how it's like to be a player in an organisation, which is a great thing to have in a manager!

Before you officially became NiP, you were supposed to represent HeatoN's own brand, Heat Gaming. What changed?

Well, I don't have too much information about this, really. It is true that we were suppose to play under Heat-Gaming. We all met up for a photo shoot when they told us that we would be playing under the NiP tag instead of Heat-Gaming.

NiP means a lot to HeatoN and he really wanted to make this move over to CS:GO into something even more special, which was to bring NiP back to life!

You and Friberg are the only former Source players in NiP. How is your relationship with him, and what does he bring to the team?

I've known friberg for a long time now. I had him join a team of mine back in late 2009 / early 2010, but I've known him since before that. We also used to be roommates up until one month ago, when I decided to move back to Sweden.

Friberg is an amazing person both in-game and outside of the game. I consider him a very close friend of mine and I will still consider him a close friend even when we stop playing with each other. I'd say that in-game we tend to argue a bit from time to time, but it's never been on a personal level. I think when f0rest, Xizt and GeT_RiGhT first heard us quarrel with each other they were a bit shocked. But I love this guy and once the game is over, we are back to our normal selves.

As for what friberg brings to the team, he's one of the best fraggers that I've ever had the pleasure to play with. He's the guy that you send first to peak a spot or to get the entry frag. Amazing aimer, he doesn't get the respect that he deserves, but I hope that people will come to realize that he's here to stay and that he's a great addition to the team both in-game and outside of the game.

Speaking of qualities, you boast a very impressive CV as a team leader. How would you define your leadership style in NiP?

Well, I'd say that it's a lot different now compared to before. It's a new game and we have players from both scenes. The CS 1.6 players are used to do it their way and, of course, us Source players are used to do it our way. But it's all in the learning process!

I'd say that my leadership style now is pretty strict, but also lenient. I mean, try to control people like GeT_RiGhT and f0rest; they are machines and cannot be put on a leash. (f0rest's own words.) But jokes aside, they all respect me as an in-game leader and they do what I tell them to do. If they want to do it their way, that's completely fine by me, as long as the tactic gets done correctly then they will not hear my whiny voice over Mumble.

More and more teams are shifting their focus to the new game, and VeryGames is obviously a side to be reckoned with. What other teams do you see as possible contenders for the throne?

I think that we will see a lot of contenders for the throne within the near future. There's a lot of teams switching over eager to be one of the top teams that the scene has to offer. Of course, there's a lot of improvements needed for some of the teams but in my opinion the teams that will pose a big threat to us would be mTw, ESC, fnatic and Na'Vi (if they do decide to switch over), mousesports... the list goes on.

Everyone has their fair shot of the throne, it will be really exciting to see how the scene progresses and how it will look like in a few months from now.

You have obviously embraced Global Offensive. Has the rest of the Source community been as receptive as yourself?

I think that most of the Source community has already switched over. Especially now when most tournaments decide to switch over to CS:GO as well. Pretty much everyone in the German scene, French scene, Danish scene, UK scene (the list goes on) has switched over already. And there will most likely be a lot more to come. The competitive scene is getting bigger and bigger each day, despite what the Steam stats show.

Many in the CS 1.6 community have been pretty conservative in supporting the new game. How do you feel about this, and do you think Global Offensive needs the CS 1.6 community to succeed?

I really do understand the CS 1.6 community, they just don't want their beloved game to die - which it will NEVER do! No one can ever take away what CS 1.6 has done for the FPS scene and I am truly amazed how loyal people are to the game!

I honestly believe that we do need the 1.6 community to succeed in keeping CS alive in general as a major tournament title. Don't compare CS:GO to 1.6, you just can't. But I really feel that we need to embrace this change to keep our FPS scene alive in this DotA / SC2 / LoL e-sport dominated world.

The Source community has been somewhat outspoken on CS 1.6 players who opt against making the switch. Do you see Global Offensive as the game that could unite the two communities?

Yes, I really do see CS:GO as the game that will unite the two scenes. When Source was first released it got picked up by WCG, which was a shame. Because the game was nowhere near ready for competitive play. I'd say that because of this, Source as a game has always gotten the bad end of the stick, but this time around I feel that CS:GO is in a way better position than Source ever was.

It's really not that buggy, I think that the main thing the game is lacking right now is an AMAZING spectator client, which I know that Valve is working hard on. It's a shame that it didn't come out earlier, and I hope that it comes out soon. Because it really is needed for the game to grow into a bigger e-sport title and unite not just the 1.6 and Source community, but also bring in new communities, such as CoD 4 and other FPS communities.

Some will argue that Source players have an advantage in playing Global Offensive compared to those who play CS 1.6. Do you share this sentiment?

I think that during the beta Source players did have an advantage. The smokes were like Source, it is run on the Source engine, the movement was fairly similar etc. But if you compare Source to CS:GO at its current stage. I'd say the only thing that's alike would be the engine. Dust2 is also very similar, but the other maps changed for us as well!

As for some of the updates I mentioned, things that did change that would favor the CS 1.6 players more would be: The "bobbing" and how people get slowed when shot. These are two things we never had in Source. When you got shot at in Source, you did not suffer in speed or in accuracy; this is something that's been a hard hit to the Source players.

The movement also changed, as well as the nade physics. In Source, you didn't really have a recoil pattern. It could go either right or left; in CS:GO you have a pattern. Sure, the recoil on some weapons has been increased. Look at the AK-47 for example. But again, this is a part of the learning process we all have to go through to improve in the new game. So to answer your question, no, I do not share that sentiment. We all need to learn.

Global Offensive's launch, in all honesty, has been fairly mediocre, but Valve seem to be committed to their new title. What potential do you see in the game?

I think that people tend to look at the amount of players each game has a bit too much. Sure, CS 1.6 and Source both have more players on an average day than CS:GO, but this is because CS 1.6 and Source have a lot of public players who do not play competitively. Most of the competitive scene from both 1.6 and Source moved over to CS:GO, so if you check the stats on the amount of competitive players each scene's got, then I am sure that CS:GO would be on top right now.

But of course, the game needs work. There are still some things that we need fixed for the game to grow even more. In a few months, I think that all of this will look very different. Of course, by the help of the community AND the professional players.

I think this is something that's been a bit different in Source compared to 1.6: I feel that the professional players from Source are a lot more helpful than the ones from 1.6. Now I totally understand that the CS 1.6 community is bigger and more demanding, but this is something that I feel needs to change in CS:GO if we want to take it to the next level.

If Valve asked you to help them make it the ultimate game we all want to see, what changes and features would you suggest?

That is really a tough one, but I really do share the same ideals Valve has. They don't want the FPS scene to be shattered the way it is now; they want a scene that's united. And I think that they are on the right path with that, with CS:GO. But if they asked me for my input for the game I'd tell them the following:

 - A spectator client needs to be done ASAP. We cannot expect the scene to grow without proper spectating measurements.

 - Some pistols are just way too overpowered. And quite broke. This needs to be adjusted a little bit. The way it was in CS 1.6 and Source was good. But right now, I really do not appreciate getting my head blown off by a glock from 100 ft with helmet armor after only two shots to the head.

- The pistols, at the moment, seem to just penetrate armor and it's really much of use when you get completely run over anyway by angry glock players. It's not just the glock, though. P250: way too good. P2000: way too weak. Dual Berettas: way too good. The list goes on.

- I actually like the money system right now. There are some adjustments that can be made, of course. But all in all, it gives a new aspect to the game and I enjoy it!

- A better and easier demo client is needed.

- P90 is insanely overpowered, needs to be nerfed!

- Also, something that doesn't do that much, but really sets apart being CT and T is the silencer. Where is it? We want it, and we want it now!

These are only a few from my list that I feel Valve should prioritize. I'd be happy to take their call.

The former 3D player Volcano has actively been trying to improve CS:GO by making the maps more competition friendly. Do you think we're going to have to rely on the community for better maps, or are you happy with the official ones?

I'm happy with some of the official ones. I really don't want to see remade CS 1.6 maps come into play in most cases - the same goes for Source maps. We want something new and fresh! If the community creates new, unique maps that's good for competitive play, then I can really see them being played in tournaments.

I think that the work Volcano put down on de_nuke_ve is amazing, but it's not perfect yet. There are still some things that need to be fixed, but even without these fixes, I still think that his version of the map will take over in most tournaments. This is mainly because Valve's de_nuke is just not good enough for tournaments.

I feel that Valve did a great thing with remodelling de_train_se and moving the outside bombsite to the middle. I really like it! But that map also needs some loving. The inner bombsite is way too empty and some other adjustments can be made.

Fast-forward a couple of years, where do you see Global Offensive?  

That's really hard to say. I think that this really comes down to the community. The problem CS 1.6 had, and also Source in most cases, was that we didn't get a lot of new blood to the scene. At the end it was just pretty much the same. We constantly need fresh blood to pick up the game for it to keep growing. If this is accomplished, then I can really see CS:GO as one of the major e-sport titles the world has to offer.

Looking ahead to DH Valencia, how do you think that NiP will fare against VeryGames? Also, will a victory in this tournament give a considerable boost for the rest of the tournaments this year?

I think that it's a very anticipated game, but we try to take it one match at a time. There are other good teams going to DH Valencia as well, some of which we haven't even practiced against. If we end up meeting VeryGames, we will do our best to come up on top. But VeryGames deserves all the respect in the world, they are a great team with five great individuals and truly a force to be reckoned with.

This is also our first international event as a team so winning DH Valencia would mean a lot to us and would for sure give us a considerable boost for upcoming events later on this year.

What events are next up on NiP's schedule? Will we perhaps see you at NorthCon or PGS?

We will try to attend everything that we possibly can. It's not about the money for us. But events that we really want to attend this year would be ESWC, NorthCon, PGS and many more. New events pop up every week so it's hard to really get a grasp on which one we will try to attend. But once we know, we will announce it. 

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