I decided to start watching speedrunning live right as Niftski started his TAS tie (basically playing as well as a carefully programmed computer) Super Mario Bros attempts and oh man it's fascinating.
Like, he gets really negative on himself when he messes up. And I know it's because he made a mistake on something that he knows he can do, that he's done countless times before, and now he has to start the attempt over. That can be really frustrating! But he's also like "UGH I suck SO MUCH I should have gotten that 15th millisecond perfect button press that until very recently people thought was impossible for humans to do."
Also his mom watches his livestreams and is in the chat. She really supports him. He lives with his parents and will quietly ask them to turn down the TV or the AC and they do it because they're watching?? After that I had to go have a quiet moment because, well, my parents. I couldn't have imagined parents that would do more than reluctantly accept that their son was good enough to make apparently decent money playing video games really fast. Last night he got a new world record and she said she and his dad are really proud. I'm happy for him? But also I didn't know that was possible.
I think my favorite part is that he and the other front runner, LeKukie, are friends and really supportive of each other. They're competitive and supportive at the same time! Especially after the scandal where another top runner abused his position as a mod to change the rules in hopes of preventing Niftski from progressing and out of jealousy for Niftski's popularity, it's so nice to see two people trying to beat each other being just really positive.
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