Week of December 29th to January 4th, 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.
Jersey Shoreyuken 14: The Rebirth [ Saturday ] [ 5PM EDT | 2PM PDT ]
- Jersey's UMvC3 and SF4 tournament series hammers on, featuring a free venue fee and $200 guaranteed pot for it's 14th iteration.
- More information is available here.
- FGC-GAF's own SixFortyFive is streaming this Georgia tournament featuring UMvC3, USFIV and USFIV Omega Mode tournaments.
- 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 this guy named That Dude John!
What fighting games do you currently play, what is your all time favourite and why?
At the moment, Guilty Gear Xrd pretty much takes center stage with sprinkles of Killer Instinct, Yatagarasu, and UltraOmega Street Fighter IV in between. Likely gonna return to Injustice given that it's on PS+ Plus.
My all time favorite fighting game has to be Utimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Yes, it's broken. In fact, it's beyond broken. Even though it's years old, it seems like every couple of months somebody finds another broken thing. And I'm okay with that. I'll admit: part of the allure is just the spectacle. The are fireballs, beams, lasers, flying, teleporting, air dashing, transformations, characters cartoonishly bouncing off walls and floors, and saying cool things like "Time to die!", "So, long sucker!" and the ever-classic, "You like that?!" But at it's core, UMvC3 is simply a fun, frantic experience. The fact that it somehow ended up being more functional than it's team-based 3v3, 48-character, multiple system mechanics-styled gameplay should allow is just an amazing feat to me.
What are your favorite mechanics from the current selection of fighting games and why? What are your least favorite and why?My all time favorite fighting game has to be Utimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Yes, it's broken. In fact, it's beyond broken. Even though it's years old, it seems like every couple of months somebody finds another broken thing. And I'm okay with that. I'll admit: part of the allure is just the spectacle. The are fireballs, beams, lasers, flying, teleporting, air dashing, transformations, characters cartoonishly bouncing off walls and floors, and saying cool things like "Time to die!", "So, long sucker!" and the ever-classic, "You like that?!" But at it's core, UMvC3 is simply a fun, frantic experience. The fact that it somehow ended up being more functional than it's team-based 3v3, 48-character, multiple system mechanics-styled gameplay should allow is just an amazing feat to me.
I've become quite a fan of BlazBlue/Injustice design of having three main attack buttons and a fourth dedicated to something character-specific. It encourages diversity in playstyles, even among characters of a similar archetype. Highlights would include: The slow down of Flash's Speed Zone, the weak points of Azreal's The Terror, and the risk-reward of the varying levels of Bane's Venom.
My least favorite at the moment has to be Reversals in Xrd. The window to do it is abnormally tight, you're better off going for a grab, and while there might be a reason, I can't tell, so I don't like it.
What got you into fighting games? Are there any other genre of games you play?My least favorite at the moment has to be Reversals in Xrd. The window to do it is abnormally tight, you're better off going for a grab, and while there might be a reason, I can't tell, so I don't like it.
Waiting for pizza. There was a place we called "Best Pizza" that my folks would go to often that had a few arcade machines. I spent the most time with X-Men vs. Street Fighter and the first Marvel Vs. Capcom.
As of late, I've really been into RPG's, TellTale's narrative-based games and what GAF calls "Character Action".
What is your favorite fighting game character and why?As of late, I've really been into RPG's, TellTale's narrative-based games and what GAF calls "Character Action".
Phoenix Wright. It is an utter thing of beauty to see a player scrambling on the defensive before going on an assault with their gathered evidence and the most accusatory finger point in all of gaming. The animations and voicework sell that character, making him extremely fun to watch. Maya's pretty dope, too.
Describe your style of play, and how do you play (local, online, etc.).
My style is heavily influenced by momentum. I'm not too afraid of slowing down if I feel my opponent pressuring me, but I have no qualms pressing buttons and mauling the enemy if possible. Just depends of the flow of the match.
And I'm mostly online even if that powerline adapter has been really sketchy. I just started hanging out with my local FCG about a week ago.
What do you feel are your biggest strengths and weaknesses as a player?And I'm mostly online even if that powerline adapter has been really sketchy. I just started hanging out with my local FCG about a week ago.
My biggest weakness is getting too caught up in my own patterns: being content with blocking when jumping or using a reversal would gotten me out, or not knowing when to stop my own pressure and getting hit out of my offense.
My biggest strength is that usually I tend to play with most of a cast to some degree in games that aren't Tekken, and that familiarity helps down the road with match-up experience and the like.
Best and worst moments in the your fighting game career?My biggest strength is that usually I tend to play with most of a cast to some degree in games that aren't Tekken, and that familiarity helps down the road with match-up experience and the like.
My best moment is that I defeated Shadow Jago in Killer Instinct.
My worst moment is that over the course of five hours and well over 100 matches, Shadow Jago beat me like a drum.
What do you want from future fighting games?My worst moment is that over the course of five hours and well over 100 matches, Shadow Jago beat me like a drum.
I'd like to see more exploration into what can be acheived in the 3D space. While that is speaking more towards the Gundam VS, J-Stars, and Dissidia style of games, I'd also be interested in seeing a more thought-out "Street Fighter"-ish take and how they might alter the strategic function of a sonic boom or shoryuken to account for three axes as opposed to two even if hypothethically it's never actually used with SF characters.
Also, I'd like to see more cool, unexpected licenses in use. I was pleasantly surprised by the first Persona 4 Arena and what CyberConnect2 continues to do with Naruto even if the gameplay ain't quite all there. I hope Netherrealm, Capcom, Arc System Works, and Bandai Namco have some cool stuff in the works that we just don't quite know about yet.
Who should be on next week's GAF Player Spotlight?Also, I'd like to see more cool, unexpected licenses in use. I was pleasantly surprised by the first Persona 4 Arena and what CyberConnect2 continues to do with Naruto even if the gameplay ain't quite all there. I hope Netherrealm, Capcom, Arc System Works, and Bandai Namco have some cool stuff in the works that we just don't quite know about yet.
I would like TheChits for $200, Alex.
Since Dahbomb strongly encourages pre-orders, what games do you plan to buy that have been officially announced?
Fighting game related, MKX is the next big thing for me. I still can't believe they are bringing J-Stars over, so I'll probably cop that. In other genres, I'm looking at The Order:1886 and Bloodborne.
Code:
WINTER The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match
02/17 Dead or Alive 5: LAST ROUND (EU: 02/20)
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 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.
- 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.