Week of October 13th to October 19th, 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.
Changes to FGW
- In an effort to better accomodate longer spotlights and generally cut down on bloat, I've moved game OTs and community resources to additional sheets on the FGW Archive file. Some more minor updates will probably be made across the week.
- Weekly streams have been given their own category/banner.
- The Steam Co. and BrokenTier present a multi-game tournament which serves as the final North American Capcom Pro Tour qualifier.
- Capcom Pro Tour Qualifier
- More information is available here.
- A multi-game Mexican tournament.
- Capcom Pro Tour Qualifier
- 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 the GAFer with the best avatar, SolarPowered!
What fighting games do you currently play, what is your all time favourite and why?
Skullgirls, BBCP and AE are the games that currently get most of my playtime. The first two are my real bread and butter. SFIV mostly gets play because I can play it on my laptop and I enjoy playing a simple zoning game with Cody that earns me way more wins than I deserve. If you asked me about the games I'd currently like to play aside from BB and SG I'd mention Arcana Heart 3 and UNiEL, but the lack of PC versions kills that opportunity. My overall favorite will always be Melee, but the game is over a decade old and it doesn't have online. It trips me up that I've had dozens of hours of online experience in Vampire Savior, but not in Melee, or any smash game... but I guess those are the breaks.
What are your favorite mechanics from the current selection of fighting games and why? What are your least favorite and why?
You'll see a lot of Skullgirls mentions in here thanks to the countless nights Mike Z spent slaving over his hot toaster in the middle of the night. The custom team system that boosts health/damage for solos who have to deal with teams is one of the highlights since dedicated solo players can stand a chance against crazy assist teams and duo teams can also fight against trio teams without feeling overwhelmed by two assists and higher health totals. Custom assists from Skullgirls also deserve major kudos because I no longer have to daydream about that awesome assist I can't choose like I do in MvC3. It can change up the game immensely for some characters like Parasoul who has a diagonal fireball assist in the lp version of her fireball special and a horizontal fireball assist in the mp/hp versions of her fireball specials. Some characters like Bella stand out even more since she has three different ground grabs that each offer differing amounts of damage, enemy placement and reset potential (anti air grabs). Fighting games with 3 assist slots are going to run into a wall in the long run and giving people the ability to pick what they like most is a breath of fresh air in this genre. The 360 protection in Skullgirls is also a welcome addition since it gives scrubs like me (who can't do anything past half circle if their life depends on it) a chance to use characters with 360 and maybe even 720 motions. MvC3's X-factor is is a double edged sword if I ever saw one. On one hand it changes the the game up entirely with the Roman Cancel and massive damage boosts but on the other the speed increases for some characters are just too out of control.
What got you into fighting games? Are there any other genre of games you play?
What got me into fighting games? I'd have to say it was the adrenaline rush of beating older kids in 'Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter' with Spidey and Ryu. Another game in the versus series that played just as big an impact was probably Marvel vs Capcom 1. Somehow everything on just clicked from a presentation and game play perspective and turned it into a beloved series that would forever cement it's place in fighting game history once MvC2 came out duck taped to hell and back haha. I also found Ryu's mode change ability in MvC1 to be the coolest thing ever since I could turn him dark at will. Unfortunately that didn't become a staple ability of his. Melee above all was the biggest local multi-player influence with me and all my friends crowding around a Gamecube whenever the opportunity appeared.
When it comes to video game genres I play literally everything. Shooters, strategy, simulation racers, kart racers, futuristic racers, RPGs, adventure games, princess makers and character action games have all gotten love from me. If you'd asked me a month or two ago I guess I'd mention that I've never tried visual novels, but I'm really enjoying Katawa Shoujo right now. Steam is getting more visual novel stuff (must try hatoful boyfriend) so I'll become more acquainted soon enough. As many of us found out recently... life is too short not to try new things.
What is your favorite fighting game character and why?When it comes to video game genres I play literally everything. Shooters, strategy, simulation racers, kart racers, futuristic racers, RPGs, adventure games, princess makers and character action games have all gotten love from me. If you'd asked me a month or two ago I guess I'd mention that I've never tried visual novels, but I'm really enjoying Katawa Shoujo right now. Steam is getting more visual novel stuff (must try hatoful boyfriend) so I'll become more acquainted soon enough. As many of us found out recently... life is too short not to try new things.
This is a really hard one. Maybe I should start by listing my favorite five and going from there. If I had to pick a top five they'd be Melee's Pikachu, GGAC+R's Anji Mito (Baiken is my overall favorite, but Anji is easier to use), Skullgirls' Parasoul, MvC3's Amateratsu and Vampire Savior's Lei Lei. After listing them out and thinking about it for a while I think I'd have to go with Lei Lei. Even in this unusual top five that tiny Jiang Shi stands out from a design and game play standpoint. She is a literal glass cannon with weak defensive options unless you are an exceptional character specialist, but her offensive game plan is explosive to the point that she can break down defensive walls in a game where half the characters each have several half screen normal punishes and insanely fast horizontal/vertical specials with stupid big hit-boxes and crazy fast recovery. Don't even get me started on guard cancels (essentially DP reversals while blocking) and how hard it can be on Lei Lei players when you've finally managed to lay down some Tenrai-Ha pressure on a Sasquatch with palms that could flatten a goddamn Volvo. I also find her pendulum swing game in the air cool because it is like someone said "hey why don't we take this tiny Chinese vampire ghost and make her air pressure game into something Peter Parker would be proud of"? I mean, who the fuck ever came up with a thought like that? She has got to be one of those most original characters Capcom has ever come up with.
Describe your style of play, and how do you play (local, online, etc.).
Back in the GC/Xbox/PS2 days it was all about the couch experience, but ever since the arrival of BBCT and SFIV I've been all about the online. I used to be more about rushing my opponent down, but after hundreds (if not thousands) of online matches with Parasoul in Skullgirls I've become accustomed to building a wall to force my opponent to come to me. This sure as hell doesn't work against Peacock players, but it works pretty well in most other fighters. People get flustered too easily nowadays and no one can handle fireball pressure or charge characters anymore. People forgot all about getting baited and they come in furious only to get nailed by a normal twice in a row. By the time they've figured out what to do it is already too late and those two normals will have led to combos that leave them with 30% health at best. You'd think "hey, my game plan worked five times already so things might not go smoothly next time", but nope... people who fall for it 5 times will fall for it 10, 20 and 40 times. The best part about this style is that the wall can consist of projectiles AND specials/normals. Knowing your characters normal/special ranges really changes things up and most people never think about it since they're trying to do the flashiest combos or they spend too much time sloppily imitating what they see from pros on youtube or twitch. Don't forget the basics, kiddies. Wax on and wax off before you try sweeping the leg.
What do you feel are your biggest strengths and weaknesses as a player?
I don't think I have any particular strengths. I'm an all around solid player. My biggest weakness is probably my lack of technical skill and knowledge. You may as well put a dunce cap on my head in a conversation about long combos, hitstun deterioration, links and anything involving technical jargon. Everything I do in fighting games is just a matter of pressing buttons by instinct. Somehow it has gotten me this far after fifteen years, but it means that I reach major dead ends in games that require finger dexterity and above average memory recall on the fly like SF or KOF XIII. It is kinda hilarious coming from a Hsien-Ko player, but you don't really require complicated motions with the character and VSav combos aren't long at all.
Best and worst moments in the your fighting game career?
I wouldn't call it a career, but one of my best moments is probably getting 40-0'd by MightMar in VSav and his rock bottom tier character, Anakaris. Unfortunately I never got to play him at my prime, but it was still a real learning experience. When you are truly up against one of the greats the matchup charts go right in the shredder. This is a rule you should always carry close to your heart whether you are online, at a local or at a tournament. You never know if the person sitting next to you is a wolf in sheep's clothing.
What do you want from future fighting games?
I want PC ports. I want to see announcements for AH3, UNiB and ASW games and I want to know that the existence of a PC version is merely routine procedure so I can play all the 2D sprite/handrawn games on my laptop. Japan should just let us love them already. Aside from that I would really like to see more 2D fighters going with GGPO as the standard online networking library. Adjustable ms delay settings and standard pings (and not freaking bars) should be the future. Anything that allows us to play people as far as Japan with relative ease is a plus for the genre and the only companies that have come close (ASW) still fall very short if you play long distance matches regularly. Most of the time I can't even get bar readings in BBCP so the matchmaking may as well be a crapshoot. You need to pay attention to Lab Zero and Capcom, ASW. Kudos to you and Lab Zero on the all play lobbies, though. Capcom and Namco need to make strides with lobbies like the ASW and LZG have.
Who should be on next week's GAF Player Spotlight?
Sloth would be a good candidate, but he has probably done it already. I've relegated myself to lurking for far too long so I don't keep up with the regulars much anymore...
Code:
10/15 Killer Instinct Season 2 (NA) (EU: TBD)
11/13 Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax (JP) (NA/EU: TBD)
11/21 Persona 4 Ultimax (EU)
11/21 Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (NA) (EU: 12/05, JP/AUS: 12/06)
12/04 Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign- (JP) (NA/EU: TBD)
Q4 Arcana Heart 3: LOVE MAX!!!!! (EU)
Q4 BLADE ARCUS from Shining
Q4 Rise of Incarnates
Q4 Skullgirls Encore
Q4 Yatagarasu: Attack on Cataclysm
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 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.
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.
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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.
