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Chalet Zermatt Peak, Ski Zermatt, Switzerland https://eremass.blogspot.com/2019/02/chalet-zermatt-peak.html

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Tournament Review: New Challengers 4

I had a blast and I’m going to go to the next one. You should too. https://twitter.com/goldenapexnc/status/1094390076660957186

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Event Organizer Spotlight: New Challengers

Your Name: Eric Kinney Handle: Mastermind Name of Series(es): New Challengers, Support Staff for  Type of Event: Fighting Games Founded In: 2018 Games You Currently Host: Street Fighter V, Tekken 7, Soul Calibur VI, Under Night In-Birth Exe: Late[st], BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Location of Event: Varies City and State: Charlotte, NC Frequency of Event: Monthly Times: Doors open at 12pm, games start at 3pm Link to Organization Page: https://www.facebook.com/NewChallengersNC Twitch: twitch.tv/mastermind6000

Tell us more about yourself. What got you into fighting games in the first place? I was 8 or 10 when I saw Street Fighter in arcades with its huge rubber buttons. It was weird, but kung fu guys punching each other was rad. A few years later Street Fighter 2 seriously refined kung fu guys punching each other and I fell in love forever.

What prompted you to create your own event series? Someone had to. Events around the region were folding or declining. I was getting involved with running parts of those events, and when they were discontinued I joined the force to replace them.

What were your goals and expectations for your event? To restore the good ol' days of tournaments in the area. People used to travel here, big names included, and it was a much larger factor than it is now. I want to bring that back so the people who didn't know that era can have their own.

What are some of the challenges you face as a tournament organizer? Support from anyone not involved in the community and outside parties. Venue owners and promoters and the like are not reliable for anything but their own business, and it is very difficult to count on the consistency of things you cannot control. For example, If the coffee shop you run events in closes or sells, you suddenly have nothing. 

What do you like the most about hosting and organizing events? The connectivity. All kinds of people play games and I constantly get to meet new ones. I love it when a person I've heard about or seen online is at an event in person. There's such a huge number of people who all share the same passion. What is one thing you wish players would know or keep in mind about hosting and running an event? It's for them. We kill ourselves to run events and people love to jump on complaints when they have the anonymity of online. People will talk about “building their scene”, then ignore the events that exist, then complain that no one supports the scene. That's true of anything, really, but FGC players often don't realize what is done FOR them. Finally, what is one advice you'd give for any newcomers as well as for anyone looking to organize their own event? Plan everything. Schedule, staff, parking, equipment, electrical layout, space, internet, social media, promotions, cost, rules, lineup, weather. All these things are factors and you must be prepared for the worst. Do not expect to just set up five Playstations and expect a tournament to just happen. Practice makes perfect, but there is PLENTY you can do to learn how to be ready.

For more information about New Challengers, check out the links below: New Challengers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewChallengersNC Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/NewChallengers2 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/NewChallengersNC Email: NewChallengersNC@gmail.com

Mastermind6000 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermind6000 Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mastermind6000 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mastermind6000 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/mastermind6000 Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mastermind6000

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The State of Charlotte FGC

If you build it, they will come, or so this saying goes. But what if no one does? I found myself asking this question while I was playing Tekken at a poke bowl restaurant at a shopping center located across the street from UNCC. The restaurant was hosting SetPlay, which is a bi-weekly FGC meetup in Charlotte. However, the set-up was lacking, to say the least. Essentially, we were corralled into a corner of the restaurant with three different set-ups for three different games. At the most, there were only five people there in total - including both hosts. While the setting was reminiscent of a bunch of guys crowding around the arcade cabinets at a restaurant in the 90s, I can’t help but think about the state of affairs. Meanwhile, other fighting game communities have not only been thriving, but they are also outright growing with attendance and viewership numbers. Yet, our community seems to be fading further and further into obscurity. Though I do understand that people are just exhausted, which is no one’s fault, I feel there are other factors in play. Factors that have been plaguing the Charlotte FGC for some time now, which can be remedied. Below here are some of the key factors I feel that has brought the fighting game community to this state:

Fighting games are not easy to pick up and play, or people just really don’t like what’s out there at the moment:

I’ll be the first to admit that our particular genre is not the most beginner-friendly competitive genre out there. You essentially have to spend hours mastering a specific set of skills as well as train your muscle memory, and that’s just to master the basics. With fighting games, there are a lot of nuances and situational-specific aspects that has appealed to its fans. However, the same things that have brought people into the genre, are also the same things that have kept people away from the genre. Which is a natural thing, so no fault there. That being said, fewer people playing fighting games translates into having a smaller and stagnant scene. That being said, the latest modern fighting games have taken a much more beginner-friendly approach, with making the game as accessible as possible so that more people are playing. On paper, this should translate to having more people in the community playing games. In reality, not only is Charlotte missing out on the new boom of fighting players, but it is also alienating the older fanbase. Thus, not only are we not having much of a new blood surging, but the older vanguards are retiring from fighting games and moving on from the genre. Obviously, we can’t do much about the current games that are out there right now. And those that genuinely enjoy these games do face some ostracization from the older players. This is very counter-productive, which often results in losing more players. Instead, perhaps setting up some sort of system of support would help out Charlotte. In which the older players can teach and cultivate the newer players with fundamentals and experience, all while encouraging the new players to check out some of the older games. That way, the new players can develop the skills they can learn from older games while gaining a sense of appreciation and understanding of fighting game history. Personally, I am guilty of this. I don’t enjoy these new modern fighting games anymore and I don’t feel the same kind of joy that I get from playing some of the older games. That being said, I do my best to encourage the newer generation to continue playing if it is something they enjoy.

Lack of quality players with a competitive drive to get better:

We have some local players that do come out to tournaments throughout Charlotte and North Carolina. And for the most part, some of them place fairly well, even winning a few tournaments. However, the other players that come out don’t seem to have the that competitive drive to improve their play as time goes on. Unfortunately, this lack of drive is causing a lack of growth in our community on several fronts. First, the stronger players would have less incentive to come to the local tournaments if they keep placing up top all the time. Granted, while some may not see this as a bad thing, over time it will become stagnant and repetitive. Soon, going to tournaments would seem less like a place where you can prove your worth and more of a tedious chore that most would not look forward to. Eventually, these stronger players may end up dropping out or opting to spend their free time elsewhere. Of course, if these stronger players venture to other regions instead to improve, then all the more power to them. But if the other players remain stagnant with their own skill level, then that would give the better players even less reason to come out and play. But at the same time, I do understand how difficult it can be to grow as a player and get your skills to the next level. And I do also understand that there are people in our scene that have placed a lot of time both playing games and learning different concepts to improve their play - and it could still translate into going 0-2 at the next local. And I definitely understand those kinds of frustrations. However, if you have trained and practiced, your gameplay will improve, despite your results. Still, the main issue is that the better players are mostly sticking to playing online rather than coming out to play offline. Despite the fact that most modern fighters have an atrocious netcode (unless you are playing on PC), the better players in Charlotte and surrounding prefer this over going to a local training session. The only exception I’ve seen to this is with Zonk and JKDamon. From what I understand, Zonk has taken in Damon in some sort of apprenticeship, in which Zonk has been training JKDamon and coaching him. This, in turn, has caused JKDamon to improve dramatically in his game, in which I feel he will end up placing in a lot of tournaments in 2019. Perhaps the other players could foster this example and help those that want to improve. This will end up encouraging stronger competition, which will then strengthen this scene and strengthen their own gameplay as a result.

Lack of a proper, adequate venue that can host sessions and tournaments:

It seems that no matter what, Charlotte FGC simply cannot find a suitable venue that can handle the many challenges and needs in order to create a suitable event. Understandably, finding a venue that has a reasonable rental space price with great internet for streaming, plenty of space to accommodate people and setups, all while having decent food options nearby is pretty much a unicorn here. Not to mention, most tournament organizers would often venture outside of Charlotte, which often leaves some group in an inconvenience. Worse is, that it seems that we tend to bounce around from place to place with no permanent or fixed location. Unfortunately, there is no immediate fix for this one. We are at the mercy of the owner of these venues - be it a gaming shop, LAN center, restaurant, hotel, etc - as to how they want to conduct their business and if they even want to open up to the FGC. Again, finding a venue that would offer a lot of these perfect conditions is next to impossible to find. Worse, is if each event organizer is trying to find the perfect venue on their own.

Maybe, instead of each event organizer trying to tackle this on their own, they should try to band together as a collective. Perhaps, through this collective, they can afford to look at some of the better venues that the city has to offer and perhaps stay there permanently. Unfortunately, the last point that I am about to make touches on the reason why this hasn’t happened yet...

General community drama is killing the overall growth of the community:

This is honestly the dumbest part of this post. But it is one that has to be said in order for everyone to move ahead: The drama between event organizers and players/event organizers and event organizers is killing the Charlotte scene. The Charlotte FGC, unfortunately, has had its share of unnecessary drama that has effectively crippled the community to its current state. Unfortunately, none could have seen the bigger picture, only short-term endeavors, and goals in which it fizzled out and did not amount to taking Charlotte to the next level. The bigger picture would have been a prosperous community, in which there would be no shortage of players and in which our scene would have been a prominent and recognized scene of not only the Southeast, but possibly throughout the entire United States. We are very, very far from it. Right now, the current scene as it stands can’t take much more of unnecessary drama. Otherwise, we are not going to be left with much of a scene. And that is no good for anyone involved. We need to do better. We need to be better, on all fronts. We have to improve on these things and get better at being an actual community, instead of being a fragmented and divided set of pockets with no cohesion. Or, we can just only play online and not have an offline community. I’ll leave that up to you all.

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I'm definitely going to have to write about my experiences in Colombia. Stay tuned.

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Blog Update

Hey, Josh here.

Sorry about a lack of updates here. Unfortunately, real life took precedence and lately my motivation has been running a bit dry. On top of that, I am taking a bit of a FGC hiatus until Spring 2019. That being said, I'm still going to be promoting NC/SC tournaments for the rest of the year on Twitter. And, I'm also thinking of expanding my social media presence as well so I can reach out to more people. But I gotta figure out a gameplan for that.

But for now, it's going to be a semi-hiatus until Spring 2019. Then, I'll start to release more content such as local and FGC news as they come.

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Critique: The Fall Classic 2018

***DISCLAIMER: I personally volunteered at The Fall Classic 2018 by running both Pool A1 and A2 in Street Fighter V as well as providing commentary for Street Fighter V Top 16 and Top 8. That being said, this review is independent of those factors as I am only viewing it from a spectator’s standpoint as an attendee of the event. I was not contracted anyone on staff to do this review and I am not receiving any monetary compensation by The Fall Classic, Final Round, Big E Gaming, or any of its subsidiaries, its successors and/or assigns, as their interests may appear.***

The Fall Classic is a collaboration project between Final Round, based out of Atlanta, GA, and Big E Gaming, based out of Philadelphia, PA. Spearheaded by its respective owners, Larry “ShinBlanka” Dixon and Eric “Big E” Small, The Fall Classic came together under one goal - “Unite the East Coast under one banner.” This mantra has defined everything about The Fall Classic, even down to where it is held every year.

The tournament has been held in Raleigh, NC since it’s inception. Hosting the tournament in the Mid-Atlantic region creates a middle point for both the Southeast (Final Round) and for the Northeast (Big E Gaming) to meet together. In addition to this primary objective, The Fall Classic has created an opportunity for competitors in the Mid-Atlantic and the Carolinas, whom may not have the same opportunities to showcase their skills as their other East Coast brethren, to prove their mettle against the best of the region.

This review will use my Tournament Rubric, which can be found here.

Venue/Location: The venue was located at the Marriott Crabtree Valley Hotel, a four-star resort which was right across the street from the Raleigh Crabtree Valley Mall. The hotel had stellar amenities and features that you would expect from a Marriott. Though the main crowning feature was the fact that the mall was across the street. Food was never an issue and was readily accessible with a short walk. And if none of the food court restaurants struck your fancy, or if the mall was closed when you were ready to eat, Door Dash and Uber Eats were available for delivery.

As for the ballroom, the venue was nice and spacious for competitors and spectators. There was plenty of space for all attendees. Outside of the venue, vendors were stationed neatly and next to the tournament registration table. In addition, Tony Majors returned with his candy cabs, all of which were lined up neatly throughout the hall leading into the ballroom. The venue was clean and neat with no glaring flaws. Water was readily available at all times, thanks to the excellent service staff at the Marriott. The best part is that there were no issues with the internet, I was able to stay connected using the room Wi-Fi. Kudos to the Marriott for making sure I did not have to use my own mobile data for that.

This has been one of the nicest ballrooms that I have ever been in and the venue was essentially perfect in both location and amenities. I would be more than content if The Fall Classic stays in this venue for the foreseeable future. 5/5

Layout/Floor Plan: The floor plan of the main ballroom was set up with about twelve to fourteen. Each table had four gaming setups located at the corner of each table. Street Fighter V and Tekken 7 each had two tables while the rest of the games had at least one table. I do believe that DBFZ had two tables as well but I am not entirely too sure about this. Outside of the ballroom, there were three head-to-head Versus City cabinets and several side-by-side candy cabs, though one of them was connected together as well. But this was mostly used for either Marvel vs Capcom 2 or Capcom vs SNK 2.

At the front of the ballroom was the main stage, with a dedicated spectator section for viewing the main games on stage. Bifuteki’s streaming and commentary station were set up off stage right. The tournament organizer’s station was set up off stage left, with another screen in between that. Funky P’s streaming station was set up on the far right of the ballroom, complete with a stage, commentary table and seating for spectators.

This floorplan ensured that there was plenty of stations to play on as well as providing an area to watch the games that were being streamed in a comfortable setting. Also, by keeping the arcade cabinets and vendors outside, there was little to no congestion in any given area of the venue. Again, the venue was set up perfectly and I highly recommend for other tournament organizers to take some of these cues for their own tournaments, if applicable. 5/5

Equipment Setup and Availability: I already how the stations were set up and how many tables did a particular game have. So this section is going to mostly touch on availability as well as how the stations were set up.

Under my own personal experience, there were zero issues on having a station available at any given time. Granted, there were some people waiting to play next for some of the more popular games. But the classic first to one/first to two/first to three rule was employed. Therefore, there was a regular rotation of players, which ensured that people were given fair and ample game time. That being said, I was able to play to my heart’s content. The only reason I stopped play was due to my own exhaustion at the time. But, considering the ease of access and availability, it made me question as to why I brought my own setup to my room, which is honestly the best kind of annoyance that I’ve had.

By setting up the gaming stations on the corners, the entire table was used efficiently as possible. The cables were clear and out of the way from any chance of accidental disconnects and having the monitors on the corners ensured that both players and spectators have even viewing angles. And though there was no headset provided at the regular gaming stations, that had zero effect on hearing the game in front of me.

Again, all tournament organizers should employ this set-up method if the layout of the venue and if your own resources allow it. 4.5/5

Tournament Efficiency: Each table had two pools each, meaning that larger games had four pools running at the same time while the smaller games only had two per block. Normally, tournaments are run with one pool per table. But considering that each bracket only had eight players, there was not much of an issue in terms of getting a bracket run in an efficient and timely manner. The only time there was a delay was as a result of some matches being played on stream, which is expected to happen.

However, there were at least of two accounts of some inconsistencies that I’ve heard.

The first one was where a player was waiting for at least 1 hour for his match in Blazblue Tag. From what I’ve understood, Blazblue Tag was going way ahead of schedule due to the unanticipated quick pace of the game. Therefore, the runners at the time decided to have all matches to be hosted on stream. While this is great from a spectator’s standpoint, you can see how this can be an issue from a player’s standpoint. Regardless of the scenario or situation, no player should not have to wait one hour to play his next tournament match in the same pool on the same block.

The other instance was a player being misinformed about him being needed for further play in Top 16. At the time, he was advised by a bracket runner that he qualified for Top 8 and was no longer needed for the day. He went to get something to eat, considering it has been several hours since he last ate. After having dinner with friends, he came back only to find himself completely disqualified and out of the entire tournament. This unfortunate miscommunication ended up costing him a chance to appear on Sunday for Top 8 finals as a result. Obviously, the tournament organizers cannot control every little thing that happens. Eventually, there was a resolution presented by the organizers when this was brought to their attention.

Despite these two instances, the tournament was run as efficiently as possible all the way up to Sunday finals. 3.5/5

Fun Factor: To me, The Fall Classic has always been a bit of a homecoming, in which I am able to see a lot of my friends in the fighting game community in one sitting. It’s a place where most of North and South Carolina come together and unify under one banner - essentially becoming a microcosm of what The Fall Classic is about. In essence, I felt like I came home after being away for such a long time. That alone made this tournament worth attending and I’ll be happy to come back to The Fall Classic 2019. 5/5

Final Score:  4.6/5

Final Thoughts: Look, it is no secret that The Fall Classic has been on a decline since its inception. Attendance and competitor numbers have been declining ever since 2015, in which at that time was a Premier on the Capcom Pro Tour. Due to tournament circuit changes, The Fall Classic seemed to have been left out of these tours altogether, which further hurts attendance numbers as time went on. In the end, it’s not about if the event has any backing from any other entity other than the community itself. It’s not about whether or not it is a part of some sort of tournament circuit for a particular game. It’s not about if the tournament has any household names competing. What tournaments are about is coming together as a community and enjoy fighting games together. Whether you want to prove that you were the best man on that day, a spectator rooting and cheering your friends on, or doing your part to ensure the tournament runs great, the only thing that matters is that you show up and support these tournaments. After all, if a hurricane back in 2016 didn’t stop people from playing, then what’s stopping you from coming? You can follow The Fall Classic on Twitter here! For Shin Blanka: @ATLfinalround For Big E: @bigegaming

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My next post, hopefully by next week, will be a review of The Fall Classic 2018. Stay tuned.

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Player Spotlight: That_Masher

(That_Masher(left) with Peter “Combofiend” Rosas(center) and Mike “Mike Ross” Ross(right) at a San Diego Comic Con. Courtesy of That_Masher.)

Name: David Najara Handle(s): That_Masher Current City and State: Raleigh, North Carolina Games You Play: 3rd Strike, USF4, SFVAE, Tekken 7, UMVC3 (Click the link below to see an epic comeback from That_Masher!)

Don't ever give up, don't ever think you can't win a match. Always believe you can win even if the odds are very stacked in your favor. That's the magic of @StreetFighter and fighting games in general. It's not over until you hear the KO so keep fighting. #AlexNation @DemonDan14 pic.twitter.com/ioI0Oz2b5B

Tell us about yourself. How did you get your start into fighting games? I got into fighting games at a young age with kids in my neighborhood in Hialeah, Florida. We would play SF2 for hours on end and I just always wanted to go back and play more.

In your game of choice, which character(s) do you play and why specifically those characters? I tend to play grappler characters. For me, the goal of a grappler is to get someone to limit their options to the point of being put into a corner. I feel like I’m able to impose my will in a way that can make people make simple mistakes. It’s always a thrill having to earn my hits and grabs and not rely on long distance play.

What is your approach to the way you play your game? What do you tend to go for and what do you tend to look for in your opponents? I wouldn’t say for much that I have an exactly easy to explain approach, I really try to figure out where my character excels and work around it. While I play many grappler characters they all have different rules on getting in so it really just depends on the mobility of my character on if I will play a bit faster and loose (T.Hawk USF4) or slow and calculated (Alex SFV).

As for what I look for in opponents I tend to wanna find players who are strong in the longer set plays to get better at keeping my cool as well as seeing how others can keep up with such long sessions and still be able to play at 100% What are some things that you like about being a part of your fighting game scene? What are some things you wish could change? I love that we have such a vibrant scene in North Carolina that there are so many players who are from different walks of life. I’ve never been anywhere else or seen any other place with such a broad variety of players for not only my game but for plenty of others.

One thing I would like to change is the lack of communication between scenes and players. A lot of he said she said style drama has happened in NC for years and it just seems like there have been more egos that vie for control of what is going on in the scene.

What is the match you remember the most and what made it so memorable? The most memorable match would be at the original Carolina Clash tournaments that were at NC State at the time. It was against PacStrife, NC’s best Ken is SF4. It was my first tournament in a few months and was not expecting to do well. I ended up going up against him and won a very hard set. It was the first time people were not only cheering me on but it was the first time I actually had an upset occur due to me winning the match.

Finally, any advice for any of the newer players looking to join their local scene? Don’t come to tournaments with the thought you will be doing bad, never sell yourself short because that only creates a wall for you keeping you from growing as a player. If you lose, take that loss and run with it but always go into a tournament with the intent of winning it all. You can follow That_Masher at: Twitter: That_Masher Twitch: That_Masher Youtube: That _Masher

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Player Spotlight: Sweet JP

Name: E. Joshua “JP” White Handle(s): Sweet JP Current City and State: Charlotte NC Games You Play: Primarily Dragon Ball FighterZ now. In the past, I played games like BlazBlue, Guilty Gear, Persona 4 Arena, and SFIII: 3rd Strike.

Tell us about yourself. How did you get your start into fighting games? I’m 24 now, a full-time student seeking his B.A. in Japanese studies. If that “JP” wasn’t a hint, I have a large interest in the country, language, and culture. Although, the handle comes from a movie character I felt like I really identified with. I have vague recollections of playing Killer Instinct on SNES with my friends growing up, and remembering how much cooler I thought it was than Street Fighter II (despite still liking both). Didn’t really get started in a competitive sense until I met some people who got me into BlazBlue Calamity Trigger in 2010 and they turned me on to the idea of tournaments and such. Fell off a couple years later when I noticed how some people acted in the overall community didn’t necessarily align with what I was alright with, but as of 2016, I met some good-hearted guys who showed me it wasn’t just grown men fighting over or taking video games too seriously. In your game of choice, which character(s) do you play and why specifically those characters? In Dragon Ball, my main team consists of Bardock, Yamcha, and Super Saiyan Vegeta. When the beta came out in January of 2018, I decided to try it out on a nostalgic whim for DBZ and attempted to pick my favorite characters hoping they could work together as a team. Originally, Goku Black was in Bardock’s place as point character before we all knew DLC was coming; but when I heard my favorite character from Tenkaichi 3 was coming to the game I had to say ‘goodbye’ to Black since he didn’t contribute hardly anything to my childhood with him being such a relatively new character. Haha. Luckily each of these characters matched aspects of my playstyle from different games I’ve played before.

What is your approach to the way you play your game? It depends on who I’m playing against and what kind of team they’re running, usually. If I think I can overwhelm someone with my offense, I’ll try to get away with it. If they seem like they want to be the aggressive one, I’ll try to get them to waste their resources before they touch me.

What do you tend to go for and what do you tend to look for in your opponents? A lot of the time when I start my offense, I’ll attempt to take advantage of people who aren’t comfortable with blocking. I think that’s why people have problems with my team, as it’s pretty oppressive if you let me get started.

What do you like the most about being a part of your fighting game scene? The friends I’ve made since my return to playing these types of games regularly. I’m not a huge fan of the concept of the FGC still, but they proved to me that there are good, genuine people out there who will support you and ask little in return. These people I want to support in return.

What are some things you wish could change? Unfortunately, Dragon Ball isn’t huge in NC, and Charlotte is one of the places where it’s smaller than you’d expect. I understand people have justifiable problems with the game, or that it’s just not their cup of tea, but I do wish we had more to players to speak of in that regard. What is the match you remember the most and what made it so memorable? I remember playing my friend KnowKami at The Fall Classic in September 2018 (only the past weekend as of this interview) [Editor’s note: Sorry I couldn’t get this out sooner!]

 I tried my best, but he outclassed me for sure. Both in Winners side Top 16, and Grand Finals, I enjoyed myself the most when we got to play again in real life opposed to online games we play every so often. The support my friends gave me was crazy, and even infected people I didn’t know to root for me too. I have a medal to remember that event, and let me tell you: I never had so much fun much getting 2nd at something. Finally, any advice for any of the newer players looking to join their local scene? Don’t be afraid to approach people who may have a similar interest to you. Obviously, just because you have similar interests with people, doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll agree about everything; but having a diverse set of friends is an important aspect of character building, I think. Charlotte, in particular, is pretty welcome to newcomers, and I think that’s true for most other scenes too. You can follow Sweet JP at: Twitter: @318Newtype

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SFV:AE Pool A1 Matches @ TFC 2018

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Behind the scenes at TFC 2018

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Man, TFC was hella fun this year! I’m going to be doing a write up about it soon. But for now, I’m going to post some pics and upload some matches.

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Player Spotlight: Lord Yellacake

Name: Marquis Reid

Handle(s): Lord Yellacake

Current City and State: Charlotte, NC

Games You Play: Tekken mostly but I do fiddle with other games as well.

Tell us about yourself. How did you get your start into fighting games? I was over my dad's visiting and we were playing the Playstation and a certain two games caught my eye. He had a copy of Tekken 1 and I started playing it and was hooked. The other was the 15 anniversary of Street Fighter II. I tried everyone before I sided with Ken. Ever since then my love for fighting games grew. From Tekken to Street Fighter and every game I can get a hold to.

In your game of choice, which character(s) do you play and why specifically those characters? When I first started playing Tekken I played the character Law. He mostly reminded me of Bruce Lee and I mostly played the character throughout my tenure until Tekken 5. From there I played many other characters until I came across Tekken 6 and took up the character Lars. Since then I've been playing the character ever since.

What is your approach to the way you play your game? What do you tend to go for and what do you tend to look for in your opponents? The way I play is somewhat methodical. I play a “pokey” style of play. I like to see what my opponents like to do and make my defensive adjustments. Since Tekken has three rounds I typically use a round for recon and then decide whether to go in or play defensive.

What do you like the most about being a part of your fighting game scene? What are some things you wish could change? The most thing I love about my scene is that we feel mostly like a family and we are always striving to be better players.

The thing I hate most is the bashing within our community. A lot of things has changed since I've been in the scene. More players are hungry and want to get better but some of these players either “go Hollywood” or fill the own egos to make themselves feel they are hot shit. I want us all to grow in be players, TOs and even people. We all need to get into the habit of helping and not hurting. Everyone enjoys a meme but let's not make it a constant thing, ya know?

What is the match you remember the most and what made it so memorable? My most memorable match was when I played against AceUnlimited in a tourney. It was during the Tag 2 days and I had been playing the best I had ever played that day. I used my secondary team of Armor King/Jinpachi and was doing really well. Then it was my time to play him. I was already hella nervous and the few people that were there started to crowd us. The match starts and I take the first game. People start to talk and I start to think maybe I can do this..maybe I can topple a respected top player. He takes the second game and now we are 1-1. I only got one shot to stay in Winner’s and make it to Grand Finals on Winner's side. So third game two rounds a piece and final round both low on life and one combo away from victory or defeat. He got the better of me that day and I ended up getting third that day losing to another well-known player, SmallWonder. Even though I lost, I wasn't that hard on myself but rather proud that I went toe-to-toe with him and almost won.

Finally, any advice for any of the newer players looking to join their local scene? Play a game/character you love and don't be afraid to take losses. Losses only help strengthen the player you become. Also don't be afraid to ask for help with your game. We are all here to help. So be it man, woman, or a part of the LGBTQ community we want you here and we also want to you grow with us as well.

You can follow LordYellacake at: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Slim_Bucha

[goldenapexwrites-blog]

Player Spotlight: AI|Ord3rz

Name: Micah Smith

Handle(s): Ord3rZ/MarchingOrd3rZ

Current City and State: Charlotte, NC and Columbia, SC

Games You Play: Tekken

(Footage courtesy of Mastermind6000)

Tell us about yourself. How did you get your start into fighting games? I started playing fighting games around the age of four with my Dad in arcades. My father played and competed in arcade scenes in Street Fighter II Turbo, Tekken 3, Tekken Tag, and Tekken 5. I used to go with him all the time, he used to set aside time between his sets to teach me how to play. We got a PlayStation in 1999 and from there he always taught and mentored me and all of my siblings in Tekken. Tekken is literally a family affair.

In your game of choice, which character(s) do you play and why specifically those characters? I play Claudio and Alisa in Tekken 7. I started using Alisa in Tekken Tag Tournament 2 because of her special win animation she had with Jack-6. The more I used her, the more it just stuck.

I like Claudio’s character design and his really good hopkick is very entertaining to hit people with.

What is your approach to the way you play your game? What do you tend to go for and what do you tend to look for in your opponents? I love humiliating my opponents. When in a particularly easy match, I tend to taunt and go a little crazy to entertain myself and whoever is watching. I make sure that I have the fundamentals to back it up as well. I am constantly practicing setups and options.

What are some of the things you like the most about being a part of your fighting game scene? What are some things you wish could change? I like being surrounded by people who are into the same thing I am. Especially since joining Arcade Impact, I have really gotten more comfortable in my own skin when it pertains to being a competitive gamer.

I wish I could change a lot of the patronizing attitudes in the community. There shouldn’t be an issue with me telling you that you are bad, and vise-versa. I’m not going to sugar coat why I beat you and how you’re bad and I don’t expect you to do that either. I believe that’s the only mentality that breeds improvement.

What is the match you remember the most and what made it so memorable? My tournament win at Salt @ Firefly in July 2017. I had taken a couple years off competing and I won the tournament in a decent field despite not owning Tekken 7 yet. I operated solely on my research and watching some of my opponents play.

Finally, any advice for any of the newer players looking to join their local scene? Be honest with yourself! It’s OK being bad as long as you aim to improve. Have realistic expectations. Remember that it’s a grind, a long hard road, to become a consistently good player. A lot of top players still struggle with this, so don’t feel bad if you’re struggling. Also, TAKE NOTES! I carry a notebook with me that I scribble things in to remember [for later].

You can follow Ord3rz at: ArcadeImpact Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArcadeImpact Ord3rz’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/ord3rz

[goldenapexwrites-blog]

Event Organizer Spotlight: SetPlay

Your Name: Alonzo Cunningham

Handle: A-Zoramon

Name of Organization: SetPlay

Type of Event: Bi-weekly sessions and Tournament Organizer

Founded In: 2015

Games You Currently Host: All Games

Location of Event: 

Get Some Games 1224 Commercial Ave Charlotte, NC 28205

Frequency of Event: Bi-weekly on Friday nights

Times: 7pm-12pm

Link to Organization Page: https://www.facebook.com/SetPlayCLT/

Tell us more about yourself. What got you into fighting games in the first place?

First I played at the arcades back during Tekken 5 DR and DOA2. Then joined my first tournament for DOA at a local GameStop. I swept everyone I played in the tournament and figured I was pretty good at fighting games so I started playing them all. I was in for a rude awakening.

What prompted you to create your own event series?

I was tired of not having anyone to play with, and I decided there should be a consistent place where everyone could play. I found that house session was hard to get into if you didn't know anyone and I wanted to create a place where new players felt welcome.

What were your goals and expectations for your event?

My goal was only to provide a place where people can level up through playing live sets.

What are some of the challenges you face as a tournament organizer?

Finding a space that everyone is comfortable with. There are a lot of different demands coming from all angles. On one hand, you have the people you are doing this for. Their concerns are usually that the venue is not too confined or the place is too hot or cold. On top of that, it takes the correct power capability from the venue to hold all the systems so games don't turn off unexpectedly. Which adds to the issues of the players feeling comfortable. Since venues are slim to none for FGC events, (at least in this area) a lot of organizers will take what they can get. There is always some miscommunication between what an organizer is trying to accomplish and what the player expects.

 What do you like the most about hosting and organizing events?

Seeing everyone I know all in one place doing what we all love. Knowing that there is a place so diverse and so filled with love and salt but constantly keeps players coming back.

 What is one thing you wish players would know or keep in mind about hosting and running an event?

Keep in mind that every organizer is doing there best to take care of you as an attendee. We are players as well, so we come to the table with the same concerns in mind and we do our best to make everyone happy, from venue owners to players, as well as other TOs.

 Finally, what is one advice you'd give for any newcomers as well as for anyone looking to organize their own event?

For newcomers, it as simple as “keep coming out.” Remember that the scene grows because of you. Don't get frustrated about the losses you may take the first time around, most of us are here and willing to help the new players out so don't be afraid to ask questions.

To those who want to organize, always invest in yourself first. Yes the scene itself is a community effort, but in order to drive it as far as you can you have to be willing to make the sacrifice before anyone else does. That is how it grows and that is how you grow, inevitably, players will see your dedication and have your back In some cases you may be seen as a leader who represents your scene. It will take longer than you want it to but if you are patient it will all be worth it.  

You can follow Alonzo and SetPlay at: Twitter: AlonzoRamon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SetPlayCLT/

[goldenapexwrites-blog]

Player Spotlight: AI|BlackGazeebo

Name: Cameron Trey Vincent

Handle(s): AI|BlackGazeebo

Current City and State: Raleigh, North Carolina

Games You Play: Street Fighter V, Tekken 7

(Courtesy of FrameZeroGaming)

Tell us about yourself. How did you get your start into fighting games?

My name is Cameron. I’m 23 years old. I live in Raleigh, North Carolina. My favorite foods are definitely cereal, sushi, and pizza.

I first touched a fighting game when I was four, but I did not become an enthusiast until I was 14 (when Street Fighter IV dropped). I was content being an enthusiast for a while until I felt a real competitive drive burn within me when Street Fighter V released. Honestly, it was something that my brothers and I enjoyed playing together and we thought that the characters looked really cool and interesting! I remember when I was little we would try to mimic what they did on screen (we failed most of the time).    

In your game of choice, which character(s) do you play and why specifically those characters?

In Street Fighter V, I mostly play Boxer. However, I also play Ken, Urien, and am looking to pick up Kolin. I choose to play these characters because I enjoy the particular options that the characters emphasize using. For example, with the exception of Kolin, the characters I play can reliably link overheads into other normals.

Another critical point (that I cannot stress enough) is the character design and their overall aesthetic. For the most part, I actually really disliked Boxer in previous games. But in Street Fighter V, I really enjoy his redesign.  

What is your approach to the way you play your game? What do you tend to go for and what do you tend to look for in your opponents?

My approach is to try and play “neutral” and “out space” my opponent. I’m not a mix-up heavy player, so I prefer to take guaranteed damage when I can get it. I try my best to play safe and not make an excessive amount of risks. Naturally, because I play Street Fighter V mostly, I am used to making certain risks. Still, my goal remains to eliminate and relieve myself from making risks I don’t actually need to take. I tend to look for when my opponent “whiffs” and I attempt to “whiff punish” them. When facing an opponent, another important aspect that I pay attention to is their patterns. Specifically, their jumping and mix-up patterns. Because even though I don’t mix-up my opponent that much, I have to try and be prepared for my opponent's attempts at mixing me up.  

What are some of the things that you like about being a part of your fighting game scene? What are some things you wish could change?

What I like the most about being a part of the fighting game scene is the community aspect. I really enjoy being a part of this community because the sense of humor and the kind of jokes that are made can be easily understood and don’t have to be explained all the time. It really does feel like a “second family” to me and I appreciate that aspect the most.

Even though I love the community, I think there some things that should change. I am totally understanding of people who want to critique and judge a game. People will always question topics such as balance, viable, competitive scene, legitimacy, player skill required--all of that. I really hope that one day, however, that we come to an understanding that a game will be the game that it will continue to be. And that people who don’t appreciate or like the game, have to just accept that for what it is and move on. Unfortunately, it does very little to improve a situation if the only discourse to be had is hearing complaints from players of a particular game over and over and over again. Even if they are valid, the design philosophy of a game will be what it is and if whoever doesn’t like it doesn’t have to like it. Not every game is made for everyone. The point here is that despite grueling discomforts and rejections of design philosophies, we should be accepting of people that continue to play the games they love with passion.  

What is the match you remember the most and what made it so memorable?

Honestly, I know this is going to sound super scummy and disrespectful, but my first ever money match with Togaa “ReSe|IAmSimba” Lavien was (and continues to be) the most memorable match in the career. There are a couple of factors that go in this.

First, it was the first time that anyone had “called me out” before and I felt obligated to take up my first real challenge.  

Second, even though I felt confident because I had beat the previous tournament, I began to feel a different and new kind of pressure. Like, something different was on the line. Not just winning or losing in a ⅔ set in tournament and not getting pot money, but something more important.  It was the first time that I felt a sensation of pride for myself as a player. I had to prove to myself, and my opponent, that I was a skilled competitor.  

Lastly, it was the first time I “teabagged” in a proper offline set before. I have never felt compelled to do such things offline, but I felt passionate about this bout and I had to get into my adversary’s head somehow. So, a good friend of mine suggested that I “teabag” him to try and psych myself up while trying to put Togaa in a mental frenzy. Lo and behold, it worked and here we are today! On that day, there were a lot of “firsts” for me, and I’ll never forget those feelings.

Finally, any advice for any of the newer players looking to join their local scene? Advice?  Get out of your comfort zone. Talk to people. Make connections and establish friendships. Try to be inclusive rather than exclusive. Get yourself noticed: either by being extra humble and producing solid results or by talking some of that good ol’ smack!  Don’t forget why you play fighting games. Along the way to trying to produce results, there may come times when you get frustrated and may even want to quit. But never forget your love and passion for the fighting games that you decide to play. And most importantly, always do your best at every event you go to no matter what! Even when life tries to get you down, remember why you’re here!   You can follow AI|BlackGazeebo at:

Facebook: Cameron Vincent

Handle: AI|BlackGazeebo

Twitter: AI | BlackGazeebo

Twitch: black_gazeebo