Week of December 1st to the 7th, 2014.
Fighting Games Weekly is the weekly discussion thread for all things fighting games. News, events, streams, videos, players, drama, everything fighting game related.
Don't know what to watch right now? Check the FGCPros Twitch Group or Jaxel's Stream Viewer. If you want to watch multiple streams at once, you can use Jaxel's customizable multiviewer as well.
New to FGC-GAF is the FGC-GAF Index which lists the fighting games GAFers plays as a neat reference with some rough statistics to boot. To add yourself to the index, quote this post and use the survey link below. Please remember to save/bookmark the "Edit your response" link so you can edit your responses if/when you buy a game already on the list or a new game that releases in the future.
Last week's thread. An archive of previous FGW threads is available here.
Fighting Games Weekly is the weekly discussion thread for all things fighting games. News, events, streams, videos, players, drama, everything fighting game related.
Don't know what to watch right now? Check the FGCPros Twitch Group or Jaxel's Stream Viewer. If you want to watch multiple streams at once, you can use Jaxel's customizable multiviewer as well.
New to FGC-GAF is the FGC-GAF Index which lists the fighting games GAFers plays as a neat reference with some rough statistics to boot. To add yourself to the index, quote this post and use the survey link below. Please remember to save/bookmark the "Edit your response" link so you can edit your responses if/when you buy a game already on the list or a new game that releases in the future.
Last week's thread. An archive of previous FGW threads is available here.
The Game Awards [ Thread ] [ Friday ] [ 9PM EDT | 6PM PDT ]
- Out of the ashes of the VGAs rises The Game Awards, an attempt to reform the idea of video game awards, and one that promises multiple game reveals.
- NEC 15 celebrates it's 15th anniversary, featuring the first major Xrd side tournament, the latest Curleh Mustache Battle Royale and being the last big event before Capcom Cup.
- This event continues through Sunday.
- More information is available here.
- Rumours are swirling about this mysterious Playstation event Sony is hosting, which will feature a multitude of new reveals. Several fighting game developers are in attendance and rumoured to have reveals, including Aksys, Capcom, Bandai Namco, Warner Brothers, Iron Galaxy & SNK Playmore.
- This event continues through Sunday.
Every week, FGW will spotlight one GAFer to get a better picture of their history with fighting games, their preferences, and much more. For this week's FGW Player Spotlight, we will be taking a closer look at #1 ghost, casperOne!
What fighting games do you currently play, what is your all time favourite and why?
As I have severe constraints on my time (because of my own choices, mind you), I don’t play as much as I used to, but when I do, it’s usually Super Turbo (via GGPO, I haven’t tried Fightcade yet, as everyone says it’s the truth) or SF4.
I’d really love to play XRD when it comes out, the game looks gorgeous and I’d like to get into a fighter other than the Capcom fighters I’ve been playing all of my life (not that I think that's a bad thing).
What are your favorite mechanics from the current selection of fighting games and why? What are your least favorite and why?I’d really love to play XRD when it comes out, the game looks gorgeous and I’d like to get into a fighter other than the Capcom fighters I’ve been playing all of my life (not that I think that's a bad thing).
I really enjoy when a game has a solid juggle system that isn’t out of control, but isn’t too constrained.
While SF4 engine rewards strict execution, (with one frame links
being the key to optimal damage), I very much enjoy finding out how I can keep a character in the air and maximizing opportunities off a tatsu, SRK, etc (Ryu main, Sagat in Vanilla).
I know it’s trendy to hate on TAC in Marvel, but I don’t hate it as much as everyone else does. The game didn’t suffer horribly as a result. Could it be better? Of course, but it doesn’t irk me like it does others.
I look at fighting games as black boxes where everyone is on a level playing field, so I accept the possibilities and constraints of those black boxes (and feel it’s our duty as fighting game players to exploit them) no matter what the game. Because of that, it’s difficult for me to pin down a least favorite.
Since I have to pick something, I’d say the block button in the MK series is my least favorite thing. I don’t dislike the series, but to me there’s a natural, semantic feeling to holding back to block. Using a button goes against decades of muscle memory and actively works against me.
What got you into fighting games? Are there any other genre of games you play?While SF4 engine rewards strict execution, (with one frame links
(no pun intended)
I know it’s trendy to hate on TAC in Marvel, but I don’t hate it as much as everyone else does. The game didn’t suffer horribly as a result. Could it be better? Of course, but it doesn’t irk me like it does others.
I look at fighting games as black boxes where everyone is on a level playing field, so I accept the possibilities and constraints of those black boxes (and feel it’s our duty as fighting game players to exploit them) no matter what the game. Because of that, it’s difficult for me to pin down a least favorite.
Since I have to pick something, I’d say the block button in the MK series is my least favorite thing. I don’t dislike the series, but to me there’s a natural, semantic feeling to holding back to block. Using a button goes against decades of muscle memory and actively works against me.
I don’t know that there was anything that “got” me into fighting games, as I’m old enough to have been there in the arcades when the genre started. I just happened to be an arcade kid who loves games and played them all.
I played all the side-scrolling beat-em-ups when they were in the arcade, but I remember Karate Champ and the feeling of playing against another person was more satisfying than playing with them towards a common goal.
Even though it was a one-hit-one-kill game, I loved beating other people at it; it stoked that competitive fire within me and I gravitated towards other games of that nature. What we know as fighting games today was born from games like that.
But I remember the moment I saw and played World Warrior for the first time and it how absolutely mind-blowing it was (even though I didn’t understand the reasons why back then) as it set the standard for fighting games we have today. It was no longer two characters with the same moveset but a cast of characters, each with its own unique moves that pose situational strengths and weaknesses, establishing the fundamental paper-rock-scissors type choices that have to be made many times over in every fighting game match.
As for other genres, I’m very much a fan of the MGS series, as well as open-world games such as GTA (please forgive the egregious sin of not playing V yet). Anything with a great story/mechanic/system will get me. I’m currently playing “The Walking Dead - Season 2” and am a big fan of the story of those games (as well as the comic and the tv series).
What is your favorite fighting game character and why?I played all the side-scrolling beat-em-ups when they were in the arcade, but I remember Karate Champ and the feeling of playing against another person was more satisfying than playing with them towards a common goal.
Even though it was a one-hit-one-kill game, I loved beating other people at it; it stoked that competitive fire within me and I gravitated towards other games of that nature. What we know as fighting games today was born from games like that.
But I remember the moment I saw and played World Warrior for the first time and it how absolutely mind-blowing it was (even though I didn’t understand the reasons why back then) as it set the standard for fighting games we have today. It was no longer two characters with the same moveset but a cast of characters, each with its own unique moves that pose situational strengths and weaknesses, establishing the fundamental paper-rock-scissors type choices that have to be made many times over in every fighting game match.
As for other genres, I’m very much a fan of the MGS series, as well as open-world games such as GTA (please forgive the egregious sin of not playing V yet). Anything with a great story/mechanic/system will get me. I’m currently playing “The Walking Dead - Season 2” and am a big fan of the story of those games (as well as the comic and the tv series).
I'd have to say Claw. There's something so sick about having that Wolverine-style claw and being able to reign death from above.
I was a huge fan of Guile when World Warrior came out, he was one of the characters that made me think "nailed it" when looking at him. I don't think that of him in SF4 now, but I think of Claw that way (even though I dislike his playstyle in 4).
Describe your style of play, and how do you play (local, online, etc.).I was a huge fan of Guile when World Warrior came out, he was one of the characters that made me think "nailed it" when looking at him. I don't think that of him in SF4 now, but I think of Claw that way (even though I dislike his playstyle in 4).
In terms of where/when I play, it’s usually old-man games at 2 Old 2 Furious. I don’t play much CvS2 or Alpha 2, but I enter because I enjoy the games. However, I get extremely salty if I don’t win at least two in Super Turbo though.
Once in a blue moon I’ll pop on GGPO or Ultra.
As for the type of player I am, I play defense very well (I'm a turtle) but at times I'll overdo it to the point where it works against me. As a Claw main in ST, Art (correctly) pointed out that I needed to be more aggressive on knockdown, and that generally translates into SF4 as well. As a Ryu/Sagat main there, I prefer to have the opponent a ways away from me and keeping them constrained in the box that I define.
However, once I get them in that box, I'm usually pretty good at keeping them there.
What do you feel are your biggest strengths and weaknesses as a player?Once in a blue moon I’ll pop on GGPO or Ultra.
As for the type of player I am, I play defense very well (I'm a turtle) but at times I'll overdo it to the point where it works against me. As a Claw main in ST, Art (correctly) pointed out that I needed to be more aggressive on knockdown, and that generally translates into SF4 as well. As a Ryu/Sagat main there, I prefer to have the opponent a ways away from me and keeping them constrained in the box that I define.
However, once I get them in that box, I'm usually pretty good at keeping them there.
Biggest weakness is not being aggressive enough. There are a number of times that I should be pushing an advantage but I back off in favor of the neutral game, where I feel I have better control. The characters I tend to play have rush down options, but I don't utilize them nearly enough for fear of it turning horribly on me very quickly.
My biggest strengths are patience, fundamentals and not jumping.
I'm willing to let every round run the full amount of time if it means I pull out the win. The downside of this is that I will let the opponent back into the game, but if I feel I control the pace of the match, I'm not worried about it; from my perspective, they aren't really "back" in it.
For SF4, my execution can be better (I mentioned one frame links being king in this game), but you'd be surprized just how far fundamentals can take you; blocking correctly, anti-airs, good command of normals, footsies and range. Take a player like John Choi in SF4; as we've seen at Evo, he sticks to the fundamentals and controls the match through fundamentals, nothing that's really exlusive to the SF4 engine.
If you play ST (or at least, WW, where Ryu and Ken started out with invulnerable DPs), you know that jumping is a death sentence. It's something that I've never seen give an advantage in any game that doesn't have air blocks (because of chicken blocking). If you play me, I'm only going to leave the ground when I'm sure I can get in on you. If anything, I'm going to try and get you to leave the ground so I can juggle you around as much as I can off an lp SRK.
Best and worst moments in the your fighting game career?My biggest strengths are patience, fundamentals and not jumping.
I'm willing to let every round run the full amount of time if it means I pull out the win. The downside of this is that I will let the opponent back into the game, but if I feel I control the pace of the match, I'm not worried about it; from my perspective, they aren't really "back" in it.
For SF4, my execution can be better (I mentioned one frame links being king in this game), but you'd be surprized just how far fundamentals can take you; blocking correctly, anti-airs, good command of normals, footsies and range. Take a player like John Choi in SF4; as we've seen at Evo, he sticks to the fundamentals and controls the match through fundamentals, nothing that's really exlusive to the SF4 engine.
If you play ST (or at least, WW, where Ryu and Ken started out with invulnerable DPs), you know that jumping is a death sentence. It's something that I've never seen give an advantage in any game that doesn't have air blocks (because of chicken blocking). If you play me, I'm only going to leave the ground when I'm sure I can get in on you. If anything, I'm going to try and get you to leave the ground so I can juggle you around as much as I can off an lp SRK.
Player-wise, my best moment is my Evo 2009 performance in SF4, I went 3-2. My worst moment was going 0-2 in ST in the last 2O2F.
As a non player, I’ll start with my worst moment, something near and dear to all of your hearts: doing commentary at Devastation 2010. I
got ripped apart by the community at large for it. What most people don’t know is that I was actively trying to defend sf4answers (the site) from well-known people in the community who were spamming it while I was delivering commentary at the event.
I stayed away from commentary shortly after that (after ECT 2), realizing it wasn't a good medium for promoting sf4answers. To be clear, I never wanted to be a commentator (although I enjoyed it when I did it), I only did it when asked and as a mechanism to raise awareness for sf4answers at the time.
Now, it's good to be able to get a laugh about when interacting with the community-at-large, whether on the mic, or front of a cam. I thought pointing out the stream monsters in the promo video for UMvC3 at Capcom Cup 2013 was a good example of this.
I think the best moments in the community are where One Frame Link sponsors events; while I love the promotion OFL gets, being able to work actively work with an event and make their production better (through sponsorships, tech, services) is something I take a lot of pride in.
As for my best moment, player or otherwise, it would easily be Evo 2014, where One Frame Link provided live statistical support for the majority of games throughout the event. It required months of planning and work (starting in November of 2013) as well as three days with almost no food or sleep during the event, but it's by far the thing I'm most proud of/single best/most significant thing that I’ve done in the community to date.
While common in productions in other fields, to be the one to do this for the first time in our community at the scale that I did and on its largest stage was an accomplishment that I’ll always cherish and never forget.
What do you want from future fighting games?As a non player, I’ll start with my worst moment, something near and dear to all of your hearts: doing commentary at Devastation 2010. I
rightfully
I stayed away from commentary shortly after that (after ECT 2), realizing it wasn't a good medium for promoting sf4answers. To be clear, I never wanted to be a commentator (although I enjoyed it when I did it), I only did it when asked and as a mechanism to raise awareness for sf4answers at the time.
Now, it's good to be able to get a laugh about when interacting with the community-at-large, whether on the mic, or front of a cam. I thought pointing out the stream monsters in the promo video for UMvC3 at Capcom Cup 2013 was a good example of this.
I think the best moments in the community are where One Frame Link sponsors events; while I love the promotion OFL gets, being able to work actively work with an event and make their production better (through sponsorships, tech, services) is something I take a lot of pride in.
As for my best moment, player or otherwise, it would easily be Evo 2014, where One Frame Link provided live statistical support for the majority of games throughout the event. It required months of planning and work (starting in November of 2013) as well as three days with almost no food or sleep during the event, but it's by far the thing I'm most proud of/single best/most significant thing that I’ve done in the community to date.
While common in productions in other fields, to be the one to do this for the first time in our community at the scale that I did and on its largest stage was an accomplishment that I’ll always cherish and never forget.
Better netplay, lobby system, uploads to YouTube (this 360p upload stuff is abysmal), training mode, etc. Pretty much the standard stuff that everyone else wants.
What I’d like in the community (and something I'm working on) is getting better data collection around the matches at our tournaments; more information about our players and how they perform, as well as capturing more granular detail is necessary.
I’d like to see data capture taken to a new level in 2015 (and be there to consume it of course); One Frame Link will definitely be a driver for this.
There’s a tournament that absolutely nailed it in 2014, which you’ll hear more about in the upcoming weeks (which One Frame Link had the pleasure of working with).
Who should be on next week's GAF Player Spotlight?What I’d like in the community (and something I'm working on) is getting better data collection around the matches at our tournaments; more information about our players and how they perform, as well as capturing more granular detail is necessary.
I’d like to see data capture taken to a new level in 2015 (and be there to consume it of course); One Frame Link will definitely be a driver for this.
There’s a tournament that absolutely nailed it in 2014, which you’ll hear more about in the upcoming weeks (which One Frame Link had the pleasure of working with).
If they haven’t done one yet, I’d like to see TheBesteban, Delerium (sp), Thehadou, enzo_gt (yes, you, I don’t think you’ve done one yet) in that order, if they haven't done them yet.
Since Dahbomb strongly encourages pre-orders, what games do you plan to buy that have been officially announced?
I don’t get to play many games, but I’ve really enjoyed playing both seasons of "The Walking Dead" by Telltale Games. The third season was announced at SDCC 2014, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be picking that up on pre-order.
That and whatever fighting game has Steam support (it’s just so much easier for me on PC right now, it's not a PC master race thing) as well.
That and whatever fighting game has Steam support (it’s just so much easier for me on PC right now, it's not a PC master race thing) as well.
Code:
12/04 Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign- (JP) (NA: 12/16)
12/12 The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match Final Edition
12/06 Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (JP)
Q4 Arcana Heart 3: LOVE MAX!!!!! (EU)
Q4 BLADE ARCUS from Shining
Q4 Rise of Incarnates
Q4 Skullgirls Encore
Q4 Yatagarasu: Attack on Cataclysm
WINTER The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match
SPRING Dead or Alive 5: LAST ROUND
04/15 Mortal Kombat X
2015 Dragon Ball Xenoverse
2015 Rivals of Aether
2015 Under Night In-Birth (NA/EU)
TBD Beast's Fury
TBD Next The King Of Fighters Title (tentative)
TBD Tekken 7
TBD Tekken X Street Fighter
TBD Yatagarasu: Legend of Raven
Super Desperation Radio [ 9:30PM EDT | 6:30 PDT ]
- Hellpockets and various other members of the KoF community discuss KoF and happenings in the FGC.
- Out of the ashes of The BOX Arena, comes the San Diego FGC's newest organized weekly for UMvC3.
- Weekly FGC show dedicated to match analysis, teaching, commentary, news, debates, and more! Hosted by UltraDavid and James Chen.
Kachitagari TV (JP) [ 9PM JST | 8AM EDT | 5AM PDT ]
- Bon-chan, Kazunoko and Fuudo's new show, focusing primarily on SSFIV AE ranked matches but is branching off into other games as well.
- NYC VF crew presents VF5:FS tournaments casuals out of The Next Level arcade in Brooklyn.
- New Jersey's largest weekly featuring UMvC3 and Injustice.
- JamessMK & DarKNaTaS host a raw and uncut weekly talk show discussing events in the FGC with various FGC personalities.
- Weekly FGC show dedicated to match analysis, teaching, commentary, news, debates, and more! Hosted by UltraDavid and James Chen.
- iPlaywinner hosts a weekly talk show featuring alpha stream monsters Harrison and Honzo Gonzo.
Game Spot Versus KoF Casuals (JP) [ 7PM JST | 6AM EDT | 3AM PDT ]
- KoF 1998UM, KoF 2002UM and KoF XIII C action from Japan.
- Description needed.
- NYC's biggest weekly at The Next Level Arcade in Brooklyn featuring SSFIV AE, UMvC3 and TTT2. If the Teamsp00ky link is not working, it is likely on the backup stream on Arturo's channel.
- Often, WonderChef will stream Injustice pools up until Top 4.
- SoCal's biggest weekly at Super Arcade in Walnut, featuring Injustice and SSFIV AE. Season details are available here.
HBTB Live [ 8PM EDT | 5PM PDT ]
- Hold Back To Block hosts a weekly roundtable discussion of various happenings in the FGC.
- A bi-weekly Smash podcast discussing recent events, news and issues in the Smash community, hosted by Scar, Prog, Cactuar and Sheridan.
- Galloping Ghost Arcade presents an Injustice weekly out of Chicago.
- A weekly FGC talk show hosted by iPlaywinner, featuring a varying, ensemble cast of prominent members of the fighting game community.
- Aris' new weekly show, discussing whatever he wants to! The format resembles old ATP podcasts.
- The UMvC3 and KoF XIII branch of Wednesday Night Fights also hosted at Super Arcade in Walnut, California.
The Smash Break Bi-Weekly [ 6PM EDT | 3PM PDT ]
- The Break hosts a new Melee bi-weekly to replace Rokunaya Bi-Weeklies which are ending.
- Arturo streams a BlazBlue and Guilty Gear bi-weekly out of Next Level arcade in Brooklyn.
- For those who know how to use Nico Live, also join the GODSGARDEN community page on Nico to know when Ura KaoTV! goes live.
- A bi-weekly Skullgirls event hosted by members of the Skullgirls development team, often featuring preview builds of the game.
Rebel Up [ 7PM EDT | 4PM PDT ]
- Super Arcade's anime bi-weekly, featuring GG, BB, P4A, SG, Gundam and older anime games as well.
GGPO VanBats [ 4PM EDT | 1PM PDT ]
- Weekly GGPO Vampire Savior ranbats streamed by GAFer Rotanibor.
- Level|Up and Team OXY partner up to create a new weekly for the SoCal Melee community, featuring doubles and singles.
On GAF we have various members that stream fighting games from time to time too. If you would like to add your channel to this thread, send me a PM.
Often, some fighting games can seem intimidating to players new and old. Below are a bunch of resources that may be of aid to new players, or handy as references.
- Learn How To Play Fighting Games Free eBook from Shoryuken is a fantastic primer for new players to the genre.
- Footsies Handbook is a guide to the potentially elusive, but integral part of doing well in any fighting game.
- NeoGAF's Arcade Stick Thread is the place to go for questions about anything arcade stick-related.
- Step Up Your Game is an editorial series by Justin Wong that covers a multitude of topics, notably focusing on strengthening your mental game and playing smarter instead of harder.
- Tips for first time competitors will help you straighten out those nerves and expectations when you head out to your first tournament.
- Domination 101 is almost a cult classic article in the FGC, which has Seth Killian telling us how he really feels about the idea of "cheapness" in fighting games.
- Team-building Guide by our very own Karsticles, which helps make it easier to approach team-building in MvC games, and games with similar synergistic elements.
- - -
If you have any suggestions for the OP, please do not hesitate to post in this thread or (preferably) PM me to let me know.
