Week of February 2nd to 8th, 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.
Shadowloo Showdown 6 [ Friday ] [ 5PM Melbourne | 1AM EDT | 10PM PDT Thursday ]
- Australia's marquee, multi-game tournament returns again, featuring exhibitions and side events on Friday and tournaments beginning Saturday.
- This event continues through Sunday.
- More information is available here.
- A&C Games will be hosting a two-day, multi-game tournament from the heart of Toronto.
- This event continues through Sunday.
- More information is available here.
- Hitbox Arena & Kick-Punch-Block will be hosting an event featuring Xrd, USFIV, Project M and UMvC3 out of New Jersey.
- 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 Smedwicks!
What fighting games do you currently play, what is your all time favourite and why?
Im currently only really playing Super Smash Bros. for Wii U right now, though I plan on picking up USF4 more and probably Persona 4 Arena Ultimax for Evo. My favorite is definitely Super Smash Bros. though, the original. That was my first fighting game experience, and even if I was a scrub who thought B moves were the best, hated A moves, and only used Thunder, it definitely had me hooked. It had a bunch of characters I loved, and was just accessible enough, and even playing it now, I love the high damage, high risk/reward of it all.
What are your favorite mechanics from the current selection of fighting games and why? What are your least favorite and why?
I think my favorite would be custom assists from Skullgirls and custom moves from Smash 4. I like the idea of the variety that you can have on variety, and I just wish it was easier to be able to do custom moves for competitive Smash 4 as that would definitely open up the game a lot more.
My least favorite are TACs, they are atrocious. I cant believe Niitsuma even thought they were a good idea, and as a lazy player with sub-optimal execution, I cant even make good use of them (and any time I really use them, its an execution error that normally screws me over).
What got you into fighting games? Are there any other genre of games you play?My least favorite are TACs, they are atrocious. I cant believe Niitsuma even thought they were a good idea, and as a lazy player with sub-optimal execution, I cant even make good use of them (and any time I really use them, its an execution error that normally screws me over).
Well, I watched a lot of the old MLG Melee videos back in the mid 2000s, and I always tried to emulate them by playing that way and trying to get good, even though I never entered tournaments or anything, but it made me want to take Brawl seriously (and, well, we all saw how THAT turned out
).
But about two weeks before MvC3 came out, I saw the Haggar and Phoenix trailers and I was sufficiently hyped up, and I watched a bunch of the other character trailers. A then-friend who worked at Gamestop got me an early copy once street date broke, and I played a bunch. The original BIONIC ARM moment got me to buy a fightstick and the rest is history.
As for other games I play, I play most anything asides from a lot of shooters (Splatoon tho) and sports games. My favorites would be any type of character action game (well, mostly) or RPGs or, shit, Nintendo games (not a genre, but I enjoy a lot of their games).
What is your favorite fighting game character and why?But about two weeks before MvC3 came out, I saw the Haggar and Phoenix trailers and I was sufficiently hyped up, and I watched a bunch of the other character trailers. A then-friend who worked at Gamestop got me an early copy once street date broke, and I played a bunch. The original BIONIC ARM moment got me to buy a fightstick and the rest is history.
As for other games I play, I play most anything asides from a lot of shooters (Splatoon tho) and sports games. My favorites would be any type of character action game (well, mostly) or RPGs or, shit, Nintendo games (not a genre, but I enjoy a lot of their games).
This is actually the hardest question for me to answer. My favorite characters (and the ones I tend to play) are the ones that are easiest for me to adjust to (in a game like Marvel or SF) or my favorite characters (in Smash). I think in something like Marvel, my favorite character would be Taskmaster, because even though I dont main him anymore, I love how he plays. He has all sorts of approaches he can go by, has great colors/costumes, and hes a pretty solid character without being too complicated. Thats basically my character.
For Smash, Id say my favorite character is Olimar or Villager, because theyre both characters from some of my favorite games/series, and they both have playstyles I really like in Smash (being able to hang backwhich is a stark difference from how I usually play).
Describe your style of play, and how do you play (local, online, etc.).For Smash, Id say my favorite character is Olimar or Villager, because theyre both characters from some of my favorite games/series, and they both have playstyles I really like in Smash (being able to hang backwhich is a stark difference from how I usually play).
I just rush down and give basically zero fucks. I go for the simplest combos because I have poor execution, and I generally try to go for things that players would never expect (thats why I was able to get so many Charging Stars on Chris G and Angelic, they wouldnt expect most people to do it). I like rush down like that because its easiest for me to comprehend as a battle plan. Ive tried playing zoning teams in Marvel before but didnt like it, and at one point I tried a Wolverine team and if I liked the characters more I wouldve stuck with it. In Smash, however, I mostly find my favorite characters, and then try to adapt to what theyre best atso it usually ends up in me being more zoning oriented.
I generally play online, as I dont know many people offline and its easier, even if sub-optimal for me to play online. Its sad because I live right where Super Arcade used to be but because of school obligations and general exhaustion that I have, I barely made it out.
What do you feel are your biggest strengths and weaknesses as a player?I generally play online, as I dont know many people offline and its easier, even if sub-optimal for me to play online. Its sad because I live right where Super Arcade used to be but because of school obligations and general exhaustion that I have, I barely made it out.
My biggest strength is that Im rather unexpected in what I do, if that makes sense? Like, it goes in tune with my whole Charging Star, give no fucks playstyle in UMvC3, since it generally works. I think Im really good at doing things that people dont expect and making it work, a sort of improvisational type of thing. In all honesty, I have no real clue what Im good at, so Im just giving my best guess.
My biggest weaknesses are definitely that I choke easy and I have really poor execution. I also get super salty/dejected after losses, which hit me hard at tournaments (especially Evo, and especially when I choke).
Best and worst moments in the your fighting game career?My biggest weaknesses are definitely that I choke easy and I have really poor execution. I also get super salty/dejected after losses, which hit me hard at tournaments (especially Evo, and especially when I choke).
One of my highest moments was the fact that I didnt go 0-2 in my first tournament. It was at WNF before they split Marvel off into TRB, and I managed to win my first match. Lost my second match though and since I had a quiz the next day, I left so I could sleep.
Probably one of my favorite moments of my fighting game career would be fighting Chris G at pools at Evo 2013. I even sort of held my own! I probably couldve gone 3-1 or, god forbid, 3-2 if I didnt have some bad chokes. That was also when I met some GAFfers for the first time (shoutouts to Rentahamster and Shouta!).
What do you want from future fighting games?Probably one of my favorite moments of my fighting game career would be fighting Chris G at pools at Evo 2013. I even sort of held my own! I probably couldve gone 3-1 or, god forbid, 3-2 if I didnt have some bad chokes. That was also when I met some GAFfers for the first time (shoutouts to Rentahamster and Shouta!).
Cross platform play would be fantastic. That and better tutorials (Skullgirls is definitely a really good start), and better netcode. I wouldnt mind something that would eliminate the need for button checks, but even with the USF4/Skullgirls/P4A/Anime game solution of doing it at the character select screen and people still doing button checks, who knows what the solution to that will be.
Who should be on next week's GAF Player Spotlight?
Im gonna recommend the only player who Ive ever sponsored, TWILTHERO. Just on the condition that he actually starts posting in this thread!
Since Dahbomb strongly encourages pre-orders, what games do you plan to buy that have been officially announced?
Right now my main pre-orders are Splatoon and Bloodborne (though I have Codename S.T.E.A.M. and Kirby and the Rainbow Curse pre-ordered too!), and although I havent pre-ordered SF5 yet, Ill definitely buy that.
And Persona 5 when thats out.
And Persona 5 when thats out.
Code:
02/04 Rise of Incarnates (Early Access)
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 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.
