Week of March 3rd to the 9th, 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 Gauntlet [ Saturday ] [ 4PM WIB | 4AM EDT | 1AM PDT ]
- KaneBlueRiver hosts an 8-man Marvel invitational exhibition in Indonesia, featuring talent from all over the East and worldwide representatives.
- Location and more information is available here.
- Control Gaming hosts the latest in a long-running series of Melee events in NY, featuring top talent.
- This event continues through Sunday.
- Location, fees, schedule, rules and 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 alstein!
What fighting games do you currently play, what are your all time favourites and why?
As for what I'm currently playing- right now it's just kinda AE, though I'm not playing super-seriously. Much of it is me wanting to move away from console gaming because I just don't like paying for online play. I tried Skullgirls, but as much as I love the art/music/engine, I just don't like the gameplay. I'm looking forward to Yatagarasu (all on PC), and curious about Chaos Code.
My three favorites of all time are Samurai Shodown, KOF98, especially Ultimate Match, and VF4Evo. Samurai Shodown was the game that got me into fighters, not Street Fighter. I went to Governor's School in 1994, and there was an arcade machine and nothing else to do, and I saw Galford and thought hitting someone with a dog was the coolest thing ever, so I started playing that game, and got completely addicted to fighting games over the next twenty years. Later on I got to play Samurai Shodown 2 in college, and that led me to some of my college friends- who were guys who were huge into shoujo anime such as Cha Cha and Marmalade Boy, so that explains my poverty side.
KOF98 I got into from my college days, where I spent a ton of quarters and missed a bunch of classes on KOF97, bought the Saturn Import, and then I found out the next version had the Sports Heroes and Saishu, who I thought were awesome characters, and fixed the infinites from KOF97. The arcade refused to get it, so I got it the only way I could- even if it took 5 minutes to load on my poverty PC. I kept playing my roommate in college at the time (who I met through Tekken 3, and got him as a roommate through a bet match where I beat his Hwaorang 20 times straight)- and I just remember beating him. Later on, when I was in the military (see not hitting enough classes- don't be like me), and was working nights, I'd grind out Kaillera sessions with Mexican/Chinatown KOF players, to the point where one of them refused to believe I was American.
As for VF4Evo, that was also military, during a time I was in a dark place. I finally got to go out at Keesler, and saw vF4Evo for cheap, and remembered that VF AI was usually awesome, and I never expected to find any comp at Keesler (I was wrong). I thought the AI was good enough to teach me the game, then I ran into someone who was there for 4 weeks, who played me a couple of times before he left, and he destroyed me with Jacky. That game got me through a dark time in my life.
What are your favorite mechanics from the current selection of fighting games and why? What are your least favorite and why?My three favorites of all time are Samurai Shodown, KOF98, especially Ultimate Match, and VF4Evo. Samurai Shodown was the game that got me into fighters, not Street Fighter. I went to Governor's School in 1994, and there was an arcade machine and nothing else to do, and I saw Galford and thought hitting someone with a dog was the coolest thing ever, so I started playing that game, and got completely addicted to fighting games over the next twenty years. Later on I got to play Samurai Shodown 2 in college, and that led me to some of my college friends- who were guys who were huge into shoujo anime such as Cha Cha and Marmalade Boy, so that explains my poverty side.
KOF98 I got into from my college days, where I spent a ton of quarters and missed a bunch of classes on KOF97, bought the Saturn Import, and then I found out the next version had the Sports Heroes and Saishu, who I thought were awesome characters, and fixed the infinites from KOF97. The arcade refused to get it, so I got it the only way I could- even if it took 5 minutes to load on my poverty PC. I kept playing my roommate in college at the time (who I met through Tekken 3, and got him as a roommate through a bet match where I beat his Hwaorang 20 times straight)- and I just remember beating him. Later on, when I was in the military (see not hitting enough classes- don't be like me), and was working nights, I'd grind out Kaillera sessions with Mexican/Chinatown KOF players, to the point where one of them refused to believe I was American.
As for VF4Evo, that was also military, during a time I was in a dark place. I finally got to go out at Keesler, and saw vF4Evo for cheap, and remembered that VF AI was usually awesome, and I never expected to find any comp at Keesler (I was wrong). I thought the AI was good enough to teach me the game, then I ran into someone who was there for 4 weeks, who played me a couple of times before he left, and he destroyed me with Jacky. That game got me through a dark time in my life.
My favorite mechanic is the way inputs are handled in Skullgirls. Mike Z really understood input in a way I think no one else has when it comes to fighters, and he really did a great job with that aspect of the game. I really think he made the best engine in the history of 2D fighters.
As for bad mechanics- I'd argue SF4's input system is the worst mechanic. So many avoidable option selects that the game feels like it's how many things you can do from one input. One of my all-time what-ifs would be what SF4 would be like if MikeZ got to design how the game controls- I think AE would have gone from a very good game to one of the greatest ever just from that change alone.
What got you into fighting games? Are there any other genre of games you play?As for bad mechanics- I'd argue SF4's input system is the worst mechanic. So many avoidable option selects that the game feels like it's how many things you can do from one input. One of my all-time what-ifs would be what SF4 would be like if MikeZ got to design how the game controls- I think AE would have gone from a very good game to one of the greatest ever just from that change alone.
Governor's School as listed above, and going to uni and not liking my classes and wasting my time at the arcade- those games are what made me a huge fan of SNK instead of Capcom, which makes me a bit of a weirdo for an older American FG player. As for the other genre of games I play heavily- I got big into turn-based strategy games starting with the original Age of Wonders (and I get a new one of those real soon- thanks Notch!) and the original GalCiv (and GalCivIII alpha also comes next month!). 2014 for TBS games is looking like 2012 for fighters- I'm stoked!
What is your favorite fighting game character and why?
Visually- Aoi from VF. Gameplay-wise, Charlotte from SamSho.
Describe your style of play, and how do you play (local, online, etc.).
My style of play is pretty well, random. One of my friends watching Hajime no Ippo, and pretty much said, you're Aoki (from Ippo). I often look for things that break the normal rules of the game, and try to take those farther than you should.
As for how I play- I played online back when it was kaillera, and my job keeps me from traveling on weekends and they no longer hold locals here, so I pretty much play entirely online. The folks who really taught me were online players who never hit any tournies.
What do you feel are your biggest strengths and weaknesses as a player?As for how I play- I played online back when it was kaillera, and my job keeps me from traveling on weekends and they no longer hold locals here, so I pretty much play entirely online. The folks who really taught me were online players who never hit any tournies.
My biggest weaknesses are easy: I have really terrible execution, to the point where I make Andre look like Desk. I can't even do low jab into fierce hands despite years of trying, and EDC is something I can only get like 10% of the time. I don't have the patience to grind out execution on top of that, which doesn't help- I just have the mentality that a fighting game is to be played, not studied.
Other weakness- I fall apart mentally when I get hit by a big combo. I blame my poor execution and my playstyle for this.
As for strengths- I think being nontraditional is a strength. I often can see weird properties in moves, and come up with some silly stuff. AE has taught me over the past few months how to play much more orthodox when I need to, though I feel like I'm weaker when I play orthodox. I had to learn to play this way due to growing up outmatched in arcades.
Best and worst moments in the your fighting game career?Other weakness- I fall apart mentally when I get hit by a big combo. I blame my poor execution and my playstyle for this.
As for strengths- I think being nontraditional is a strength. I often can see weird properties in moves, and come up with some silly stuff. AE has taught me over the past few months how to play much more orthodox when I need to, though I feel like I'm weaker when I play orthodox. I had to learn to play this way due to growing up outmatched in arcades.
Best moments:
100 game win streak in an arcade- though I ended up missing 3 classes due to this
Getting 3rd at a major in 1996 in Alpha 2 by just frauding out upset after upset
Worst moment:
MLG in 2012 for VF5. Had a chance to win $500, got destroyed on stream. Thanks GentlemanThief.
What do you want from future fighting games100 game win streak in an arcade- though I ended up missing 3 classes due to this
Getting 3rd at a major in 1996 in Alpha 2 by just frauding out upset after upset
Worst moment:
MLG in 2012 for VF5. Had a chance to win $500, got destroyed on stream. Thanks GentlemanThief.
Quality PC ports so I don't have to buy a console. Really hope Sega makes a PC port of the new Koihime and VF6, and the rumors of SNK going PC heavy for new titles are true. I also hope the current trends away from long combos and high execution in Japan continue- the FG population is aging, and I want games I can play in my 40s- I'm not papa Valle (even if my first tourney match vs John Choi)- I wish I could do what he could.
Who should be on next week's GAF Player Spotlight?
Going to pick my polar opposite as a player, and someone who also streamed VF a couple of times. I pick Juicebox.
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 Cross Counter Live rises a new discussion show from Gootecks and Mike Ross!
- 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.
Melee It On Me [ 9PM EDT | 6PM PDT ]
- 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. P4:A is usually streamed on CounterAssaultTV until Top 3.
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.
- 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 weekly Skullgirls event hosted by members of the Skullgirls development team, often featuring preview builds of the game.
None at the moment.
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.
Additionally, if you want to really get involved, you may want to check out the various OTs for specific games:
Additionally, if you want to really get involved, you may want to check out the various OTs for specific games:
- BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma
- Chaos Code
- Darkstalkers: Resurrection
- Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate and Core Fighters
- Divekick
- Gundam Extreme VS Full Boost
- Injustice: Gods Among Us
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle
- Killer Instinct
- The King of Fighters XIII
- Marvel vs. Capcom: Origins
- Mortal Kombat
- Persona 4: Arena
- PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale
- Project M 3.0
- Skullgirls
- Soul Calibur V
- Street Fighter X Tekken v.2013
- Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition v.2012
- Tekken
- Tekken Revolution
- Tekken Tag Tournament 2
- Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
- Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown
- 8WayRun - Soul Calibur franchise community
- DOACentral - Dead or Alive franchise community
- Dream Cancel - King of Fighters franchise community and resource, more US-centric
- Dustloop - Forums/community for Arc System Works-developed games
- Eventhubs - Frequently updated news blog, resource and forums for all things fighting games
- FreeStepDodge - Dead or Alive franchise community
- Homing Cancel - Arcana Heart community
- iPlaywinner - Large fighting game news site and resource, and the home to Teamsp00ky and iPlaywinner
- Jet Upper - UK-centric news source and community
- Mayonaka Midnight - Persona 4 Arena community and resource
- Melty Bread - Melty Blood community
- Mizuumi - A resource for various "poverty" games
- Orochinagi - King of Fighters franchise community and resource, more EU-centric
- Reddit Fighters t- Reddit's own fighting game community subreddit
- Shoryuken - Mainly 2D, Capcom game centric hub, and probably one of, if not the largest FG community on the internet
- Skullheart - fan Skullgirls community and resource made official
- TekkenZaibatsu - Tekken franchise community
- Test Your Might - Mortal Kombat and Injustice community and resource
- UKFGC - UK-centric news source and community
- Smash Boards - The largest Smash Bros. Community
- VFDC - Virtua Fighter franchise community site
- - -
If you have any suggestions for the OP, please do not hesitate to post in this thread or PM me to let me know.
