Week of February 16th to the 22nd, 2015.
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. If you are looking to see what events are coming up past this week, check out the FGC Event Calendar that our own Malice215 put together.
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. If you are looking to see what events are coming up past this week, check out the FGC Event Calendar that our own Malice215 put together.
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.
Competitive Super Smash Bros. Melee Discussion Thread
- Fellow GAFer Anth0ny put up a thread for discussing and breaking down competetive Melee in what can be described as being nothing short of epic and comprehensive.
- The East Coast's prime winter major returns with Smash and a host of anime games in tow.
- This event continues through Sunday.
- More information is available here.
- Out of Madrid, Spain comes the second Sonic Boom tournament featuring BlazBlue, Xrd, USFIV and 3S. Also featuring an appearance from Dogura!
- This event continues through Sunday.
- More information is available here.
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 a Marvel vs. Capcom legend, Clockw0rk!
What fighting games do you currently play, what is your all time favourite and why?
I currently play UMvC3, MvC2, and a teen-c bit of GGxrd. I can play SFIV and I'll play if someone asks me to but I never play it on my own accord. Favorite of all time is Marvel Vs. Capcom 2. It's the most fun of them all, has great pacing, has the most variety overall (YEAH I SAID IT), and Strider/Doom just feels so good ;0
What are your favorite mechanics from the current selection of fighting games and why? What are your least favorite and why?
I don't really like to single out mechanics in games. For example, you could make a legitimate argument against X-Factor but I think in the context of UMvC3 it works well and adds an understated, flexible strategic element to the game overall. I don't really care for any Burst mechanics but at a high level in those games (of which I'm not familiar) I bet it probably fits well in the grand scheme of things.
I will say in UMvC3 I don't think assists are as interesting as they are in MvC2. The way assists are punished and protected in 2 (being vulnerable while taunting) is just way more fun and leads to way more interesting situations than in 3. Punishing in 3 is more read reliant, though the payoff is often much bigger. A big problem too is the screen-freeze produced while assists are getting hit which makes intercepting a punish properly near impossible due to the freeze affecting your controls.
What got you into fighting games? Are there any other genre of games you play?I will say in UMvC3 I don't think assists are as interesting as they are in MvC2. The way assists are punished and protected in 2 (being vulnerable while taunting) is just way more fun and leads to way more interesting situations than in 3. Punishing in 3 is more read reliant, though the payoff is often much bigger. A big problem too is the screen-freeze produced while assists are getting hit which makes intercepting a punish properly near impossible due to the freeze affecting your controls.
My two older brothers got me into fighting games. I'd tag along with them to the donut shop or RoundTable Pizza to play SF2. The first games I played at a truly competive level were MvC1 and T3/TTT at Golf N' Stuff in Norwalk. The thrill of competition at the arcade became the thing I loved to do most. Once I got exposed to Southern Hills Golfland and what it meant to play at a high level, I never looked back.
If I had to choose genres I'm partial to, I'd say strategy tactics, 3rd person action, and JRPGs.
What is your favorite fighting game character and why?If I had to choose genres I'm partial to, I'd say strategy tactics, 3rd person action, and JRPGs.
Strider because he's too cool and he fits me better than any other character I've ever played. I'm especially confident in Marvel 2 Strider, which you really have to be in order to win with him consistently (same for MvC2 Doom). I have to admit, my best character in UMvC3 these days is probably Vergil, though I'm trying to get my Strider caught up.
Describe your style of play, and how do you play (local, online, etc.).
I suppose I'm very much a "feeling/emotional" player and was influenced a bit by Valle when I was younger. I play heavy rushdown with a mix of slight technical ability, sponteneity, and major risk-taking. I'm a momentum-heavy player, both in game and in sets. If I'm "started" or "hot", I'll often play as wild as possible just to keep my pace sharp. I'm playing my best when my heart is pumping and I can feel my adrenaline going (I get a very specific feeling of warmth in my arms). I try to find the "essence" of a character's design so that I can play it to its maximum potential.
I feel fighting games are the best way I know to express my creativity so I often try whatever comes to mind mid-match to see if something cool or interesting happens. For example, a regular BnB combo like Vergil's is pretty standard: confirm to Rising Sun, use ground bounce, use wall bounce, end in cr.H > Spiral Swords or High Time > Dimension Slash. If at the end of the combo you end with a Stinger in the corner, there are actually heaps of things you can do right there. In situations like this I'll often try something I've never tried before mid-match to see what happens, sometimes even tournament matches. Most of the time I won't find anything good but sometimes I hit gold and it's awesome haha. Kind of like browsing music or old DVDs at a flea market or something! Anyway, if the parts to a combo are A > B > C, I'll switch out J R or Z for C to see what happens. Given this idea, I try to broaden my understanding of a character or my own game so that I can simplify it to A > B > C (aka footsies) and do the same sorta substitution thing.
I actually don't mind online play too much. I used to play CvS2 online with a fuckin Xbox brick controller so I can do Marvel 2 or 3 online (PSN is Strider_Doom, Xbl is StriderDoom though I don't have live right now). I hardly do training mode and learn mostly through playing good players offline. Would play online a lot more (and maybe even stream) if my internet was better.
What do you feel are your biggest strengths and weaknesses as a player?I feel fighting games are the best way I know to express my creativity so I often try whatever comes to mind mid-match to see if something cool or interesting happens. For example, a regular BnB combo like Vergil's is pretty standard: confirm to Rising Sun, use ground bounce, use wall bounce, end in cr.H > Spiral Swords or High Time > Dimension Slash. If at the end of the combo you end with a Stinger in the corner, there are actually heaps of things you can do right there. In situations like this I'll often try something I've never tried before mid-match to see what happens, sometimes even tournament matches. Most of the time I won't find anything good but sometimes I hit gold and it's awesome haha. Kind of like browsing music or old DVDs at a flea market or something! Anyway, if the parts to a combo are A > B > C, I'll switch out J R or Z for C to see what happens. Given this idea, I try to broaden my understanding of a character or my own game so that I can simplify it to A > B > C (aka footsies) and do the same sorta substitution thing.
I actually don't mind online play too much. I used to play CvS2 online with a fuckin Xbox brick controller so I can do Marvel 2 or 3 online (PSN is Strider_Doom, Xbl is StriderDoom though I don't have live right now). I hardly do training mode and learn mostly through playing good players offline. Would play online a lot more (and maybe even stream) if my internet was better.
Hard to objectively say. People who play against me can answer these better but for sake of the spotlight I'll try!
STRENGTHS
+hit-to-kill ratio is probably pretty decent, which went up considerably when I switched to Vergil
+good "button presser"
+no fear
+quick thinking
+confidence
+intimidation factor = taking advantage if they're nervous or show too much respect
+crowd is usually on my side (not always!)
+decent clutch. I'm no JWong but I feel I get a power boost when my back is to the wall
WEAKNESSES
-too many unnecessary risks (no fear to the point of recklessness)
-sometimes autopilot or playing absent-minded
-lazy to learn/practice tedious but necessary stuff
-pressing offense and forcing situations even when I don't have advantage, leading to happy bdays
-absent-mindedness = often times unable to adapt (see me vs RayRay last EVO)
-emotional player; if I eat a bad loss or get sent to losers early, it often affects my game heavily
-defense could be better
-not as confident in 3 as I was in 2. Confidence was like 85% of my game in 2
-not enough execution practice
-insufficient matchup experience in 3
-ah man. just overall a bunch of bad habits that I have trouble stamping out
Best and worst moments in the your fighting game career?STRENGTHS
+hit-to-kill ratio is probably pretty decent, which went up considerably when I switched to Vergil
+good "button presser"
+no fear
+quick thinking
+confidence
+intimidation factor = taking advantage if they're nervous or show too much respect
+crowd is usually on my side (not always!)
+decent clutch. I'm no JWong but I feel I get a power boost when my back is to the wall
WEAKNESSES
-too many unnecessary risks (no fear to the point of recklessness)
-sometimes autopilot or playing absent-minded
-lazy to learn/practice tedious but necessary stuff
-pressing offense and forcing situations even when I don't have advantage, leading to happy bdays
-absent-mindedness = often times unable to adapt (see me vs RayRay last EVO)
-emotional player; if I eat a bad loss or get sent to losers early, it often affects my game heavily
-defense could be better
-not as confident in 3 as I was in 2. Confidence was like 85% of my game in 2
-not enough execution practice
-insufficient matchup experience in 3
-ah man. just overall a bunch of bad habits that I have trouble stamping out
This one is tough. I've been around way too long to narrow this down to best and worst and there's some important stuff I probably won't remember till long after I've submitted this and will hate myself for not including. Off the top of my head, some of the best include winning my first SHGL MvC2 tournament, beating Dark Prince ft10, my first EVO top 8 (which was the first EVO, 2002), discovering bomb xx ouro vs Cable, playing the Neo match ft15, getting SICK fan art like this, seeing books I helped write on store shelves, getting employment with the help of my fighting gaming, getting the chance to travel (EC/NW/AUS were awesome), being treated like royalty upon first visit to any scene not CA (especially EC). Also, anytime someone asks for an autograph or tells me I'm their hero or reason they started playing or something similar, is super humbling and really means a lot to me.
Some of the worst moments include many, many losses (B5, EVO 2003, AUS, all 9th place EVOs, many more), being in a MvC2 diss video, not having Strider in MvC3, not having time to play much UMvC3 from 2012-2014 which hampered my game considerably, not ever visiting East Coast during any of MvC2's peaks, not switching to Vergil at Ultimate's release like originally planned, not having won a major yet, not streaming, not producing more content, having been playing for so long and not being at the top level. I guess my list is more like fighting game career regrets, and the moments are mostly just bad losses heh. I could go on forever about the highs and lows really.
What do you want from future fighting games?Some of the worst moments include many, many losses (B5, EVO 2003, AUS, all 9th place EVOs, many more), being in a MvC2 diss video, not having Strider in MvC3, not having time to play much UMvC3 from 2012-2014 which hampered my game considerably, not ever visiting East Coast during any of MvC2's peaks, not switching to Vergil at Ultimate's release like originally planned, not having won a major yet, not streaming, not producing more content, having been playing for so long and not being at the top level. I guess my list is more like fighting game career regrets, and the moments are mostly just bad losses heh. I could go on forever about the highs and lows really.
Legitimate/fully functional online play
More Marvel games
More fighting games from NEO_G
A Soul Calibur game to get big
Competitive environment implemented in-game from day one and supported regularly by developer
Strider in the roster somewhere
A good Street Fighter game I enjoy
From the scene, I would like
People of integrity and intelligence who love fighting games to be leaders, organizers, and faces
Better commentary overall
Competitors being the #1 priority at competitions
Prize distribution not being so top heavy
Better run events overall
A dominant female top player
Also, in the distant future when I can no longer play competitively, I hope to train someone to eventually keep the "Clockw0rk" name going in fighting games. Either train someone or someone who play similar to me or something. Ideally it'd be a son or daughter I guess. What if the next Clockw0rk was a foreigner, or a woman, or a Martian? OR ALL THREE? That'd be awesome. Then they could train the next Clock and there could be a Clockw0rk lineage. Is this weird?
Who should be on next week's GAF Player Spotlight?More Marvel games
More fighting games from NEO_G
A Soul Calibur game to get big
Competitive environment implemented in-game from day one and supported regularly by developer
Strider in the roster somewhere
A good Street Fighter game I enjoy
From the scene, I would like
People of integrity and intelligence who love fighting games to be leaders, organizers, and faces
Better commentary overall
Competitors being the #1 priority at competitions
Prize distribution not being so top heavy
Better run events overall
A dominant female top player
Also, in the distant future when I can no longer play competitively, I hope to train someone to eventually keep the "Clockw0rk" name going in fighting games. Either train someone or someone who play similar to me or something. Ideally it'd be a son or daughter I guess. What if the next Clockw0rk was a foreigner, or a woman, or a Martian? OR ALL THREE? That'd be awesome. Then they could train the next Clock and there could be a Clockw0rk lineage. Is this weird?
Am I supposed to pick just one? Would like to hear from Tesseract if he/she counts, otherwise any of dmr87, Fersis, Parallax Scroll, Solune, or ViewtifulJC!
Since Dahbomb strongly encourages pre-orders, what games do you plan to buy that have been officially announced?
Dragon's Dogma Online
Final Fantasy XV
Final Fantasy Type-0 if I had a PS4
Arcade Dissidia assuming it comes to console
Final Fantasy XV
Final Fantasy Type-0 if I had a PS4
Arcade Dissidia assuming it comes to console
Code:
02/17 Dead or Alive 5: LAST ROUND (EU: 02/20)
02/27 The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match
04/15 Mortal Kombat X
2015 Dragon Ball Xenoverse
2015 Rivals of Aether
2015 Skullgirls Encore
2015 Under Night In-Birth (NA/EU)
TBD Beast's Fury
TBD JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven
TBD Next The King Of Fighters Title (tentative)
TBD Rise of Incarnates
TBD Street Fighter V
TBD Tekken 7
TBD Tekken X Street Fighter
TBD Yatagarasu: Attack on Cataclysm
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.
- Logan Sama, organiser of the old WSO weeklys in London, invites some of London's finest to Capcom UK HQ for first to 5 sets in USF4.
- 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.
- A weekly show featuring Mago, Tokido, and Momochi. They go over the tournaments they will participate and have participated in overseas and in Japan, as well as the general news in SF. For long periods of the year, there is a student-teacher session involving one of the 3 Topanga members taking a player under their wing and teaching them how to play SF. The show features rank matches (sometimes random char. matches) and ends with a 8 man online tournament featuring players around 4.5kpp such as Poongko, Inco, and more.
- 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.
- SuperDojo 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.
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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.
