Author: Corey "Missing Person" Lanier

PG|Rayniel “RayRay” Hidalgo is no stranger to the biggest stages of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Having twice made the game’s top 8 at Evo, his highest finish was runner-up to Kane Blueriver at Evo 2015.

While last year saw him focus on Street Fighter V, the quest to be the final champion of UMvC3 at Evo has driven him back into the title. He has shown that he is serious in his efforts, winning 1st place at Naptown Clutch 6. While at the Indianapolis tournament, I talked to him about his sponsorship with Panda Global, as well as his plans for Marvel this year.

Corey “Missing Person” Lanier: Ray, how has your training in Street Fighter V been going? Are you ready for this season of Capcom Pro Tour?

Rayniel “RayRay” Hidalgo: I honestly have stopped playing the game almost entirely. It’s not for any specific reason, but it’s just something where I just lost interest in the game.

Missing Person: Do you feel like the Chun-Li changes in Season 2 added to the disinterest?

RayRay: I don’t think that’s it. I feel like overall, Chun-Li is still fine and will continue to be a strong character in the meta. It’s mainly that they added a lot of things to the game that I didn’t like. They nerfed a lot of the defensive options that characters had, including universal ones like the V-Reversal. They also gave a few more characters legitimate mix-ups, which makes having defensive options all the more important. In Season 1 it was a bare-bones game, but it did allow for more mind games and truly allowed individual player strength to shine through. Now, the game feels more about set plays and doesn’t allow for that to happen.

Missing Person: Has the shift from Street Fighter V allowed your focus on Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 re-emerge?

RayRay: Definitely. After Marvel won the Evo Player’s Choice donation drive, my focus has increased on the game.

Missing Person: You’ve been known for playing a relatively standard team of Magneto, Doctor Doom, and Sentinel. How do you keep it fresh when you know players know the matchups against all of these characters, as well as combined as a team?

RayRay: It’s a little more standard, but the game still allows for creativity to flow, especially in the neutral game. I feel like Marvel 3 is a game where you can play the majority of the cast and still excel just by understanding the core mechanics and the flow of the game. Especially when you break it down to playing just the top 15 players, you can just get by simply on knowing how the game works and executing properly.

Missing Person: With Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite on the way, what are your initial reactions to what has been revealed so far?

RayRay: I hate the fact that there are no assist calls in the game. I feel like that assist calls are the most creative things within the fighting game genre, and by not implementing them, they have ruined the Marvel series. We’ll see how the game shapes up, though. I’m forcing myself to remain optimistic. I’m going to play it either way. There’s no reason to be angry with their design choices.

Missing Person: Are there any characters that you have on your wish list for Infinite?

RayRay: I want to play Star Lord [from Guardians of the Galaxy]. Other than that, I’d be happy with anybody on my team in Marvel 3.

Missing Person: If there is a deep divide in player preferences based on the differences in mechanics between Marvel 3 and Marvel Infinite, do you believe that Marvel 3 still has some life left in it?

RayRay: People will still play Marvel 3 no matter what. It’s in the same boat as when Marvel 3 released and players were still playing Marvel 2. However, the top players will move on. I think the lack of high-level competition will take me away from taking Marvel 3 seriously. However, the sandbox approach of the game will still be loved by fans and make it hard not to keep playing.

Missing Person: How has your sponsorship been with Panda Global in the year that you’ve been with the team?

RayRay: It’s going great. I’ve been able to travel a lot because of them. I was also able to do well in Street Fighter V since Evo.

Missing Person: Do you feel like the diversity in the fighting game roster of Panda Global encourages you to pick up more games?

RayRay: Coach Steve in particular really drives me. He’s from my area, and he plays every fighting game known to man. He makes me want to pick up more games.

Missing Person: What games are piquing your interest?

RayRay: I might try Injustice 2, but I almost feel like I’m lying even as I say that. The NetherRealm Studios titles tend to feel too stiff for my tastes.

Missing Person: How do feel with the lead up to Evo in Marvel? Are you optimistic of your chances to make top 8, and possibly win?

RayRay: After the donation drive, not only did my interest become rekindled, but so did everyone else’s. The last few months of Marvel are not at all indicative of what we’re going to see at Evo. Everyone else is going to be at their highest levels in July, so it’s really anyone’s guess how it’s going to shape up.

Missing Person: Having played as many tournaments as you’ve had, are there any specific demons you have in competitive play?

RayRay: Actually, one of my biggest demons is Flocker. I have actually never beaten him. In 2012 to 2014, there were what people were calling the Five Gods of Marvel. I beat every one of them except for Flocker.

Missing Person: What does Flocker do that gives you the most trouble?

RayRay: I would have to say that his Vergil causes a lot of problems for me. He is able to open me up with him and get a lot of hits in with Vergil. The ironic thing is that most people believe that his Vergil is bad, and even Flocker himself says the same thing. I don’t understand what specifically about his Vergil gets to me, but it does.

Missing Person: Do you feel like it’s his Vergil alone that is the problem, or is it Vergil in general that causes you problems?

RayRay: I feel like it’s Vergil in general. I like to move around a lot and use normals that cover the whole screen. Vergil is very good at preventing me from playing that way.

Missing Person: Have you been making any adjustments to counter Vergil?

RayRay: I’ve actually been taking pages out of Filipino Champ’s strategies. I’ve been staying in flight mode near the top of the screen. I usually stay around normal jump height, which is not where Magneto is strong. I learned to play the game like that, and it became habit. Thus, I haven’t used flight as much as other Magneto players have. However, I’m working to add some more defensive styles to my game, and hopefully that will work better against Vergil.

[Feature image by Corey Lanier]

Sponsors need to take heed, because Joshua “Wolfkrone” Philpot is putting his name on the free agency map this season. Having placed 3rd at Frosty Faustings IX, 2nd at Naptown Clutch 6, as well as strong results at Final Round 20, he had already shown himself capable this year. His meteoric rise to the top of the charts at ELEAGUE, finishing at #1 in Group C–which was considered the pool of death–has cemented his place as a player to be feared.

While at Naptown Clutch, I talked to Philpot about his feelings on Street Fighter V’s Laura this season, his chances on making Capcom Cup this year, and his ever-growing rivalry with EG|Kenneth “K-Brad” Bradley.

Corey “Missing Person” Lanier: Josh, congratulations on your success at Naptown Clutch. 2nd was not what you were looking for I’m sure, but run me through the match with EG|NYChrisG in grand finals.

Joshua “Wolfkrone” Philpot: I definitely need more Guile experience. The Guiles that I find online are pretty easy to beat, but I believe they’re not on the same level as Chris. During the first game with Chris, he turtled the whole time, moving back and throwing Sonic Booms. During the second game, I realized that’s what he was doing, and adapted. I went in a lot more. It worked and I won that game. During the third game, he adapted as well, and started pressing more normal buttons in the neutral game. I didn’t anticipate that, as it’s easily punishable on whiff. He won the third game off of that. In the final game, I re-adapted and started punishing the normal moves he was throwing out. He immediately switched it up again.

That’s one thing that online players struggle with doing is the constant adaptation. We were both constantly adapting to each other over the course of the set.

Missing Person: How are you feeling with Laura? You were one of the holdouts last year, even though she was considered bad last season.

Wolfkrone: I like the adjustments that Capcom made that made her tournament viable. The main thing that I didn’t like in Season 1 were V-Reversals. Whenever you applied pressure and were at an advantage, various characters could just V-Reversal and make it their turn to do the same thing. I felt like it was unfair for most of the cast to make you work your way to get in, then off one safe block string, they can knock you down, and it would be their turn to apply pressure.

Also in Season 1, a lot of characters were using [invincible] DPs to get out of my setups. Now they actually have to block. I feel like they actually have to fight me instead of just doing DP.

I feel like Laura is viable now, and doesn’t have to deal with abuse from the rest of the cast anymore.

Missing Person: Do you worry that the new patch may flip it back around, or do you think that Laura will stay viable?

Wolfkrone: I haven’t felt any sort of worry about it this time. I would actually even be happy if they reverted the changes. My main concern was DPs. I actually like Season 1 Laura. I was actually peaking near the end of Season 1 just before the patch took effect. I think I would’ve done well this season in spite of DPs. I was actually getting better with my reads on when to apply pressure. Even if they reverted her changes, I would be happy.

Missing Person: Will we see you travel more this year on the Capcom Pro Tour?

Wolfkrone: Well, you know we all have real life responsibilities outside of the game. But as time permits, I plan to travel as much as I can, and hopefully qualify into Capcom Cup.

Missing Person: What do you feel will be your biggest hurdle in doing so?

Wolfkrone: After playing some of the pre-season tournaments, I’d say my biggest challenge so far is Guile. I’ve lost two tournaments to Guile. I’m confident that Laura can beat any character in the game. It’s just very difficult for her to get to him.

Missing Person: So do you feel like it’s adapting your mobility and approaches then?

Wolfkrone: That would be great, but that matchup still favors Guile. It’s one of those bad matchups where she just simply can’t get her way. He doesn’t really have to play footsies; he can spend the entire match playing keep away from her. You can die just trying to get to him.

Missing Person: At Frosty Faustings, we saw a bit of a pop-off from you against K-Brad. What’s the background on that one?

Wolfkrone: I have historically always beaten K-Brad, even in Street Fighter IV. All of a sudden in Street Fighter V, he started acting like he wasn’t used to losing to me. He acting like he was shocked to lose to me. So I just wanted to send a message and tell him, “I’ll always beat your ass.”

Missing Person: Do you think there could be an exhibition between the two of you at some point?

Wolfkrone: There’s always the possibility of it. Shinblanka offered to hold one at Final Round, and I declined; I want him to earn his chance at redemption. Until then, he can hold the loss. I know at Final Round, I’ll be up there alone on the stage, and all his little friends will run up there to try to coach him. I don’t want to worry about that. My sights are set on the CPT. That’s more important to me. He can hold that grudge.

Missing Person: Something that was discussed shortly after that by Yahoo! Esports was how rivalries in the FGC were necessary, and how they were diminishing. Do you feel like the FGC is being whitewashed to the point that they are disappearing? Do you feel like they should actually be common?

Wolfkrone: I feel like they should be common. It rids the scene of contentment. You shouldn’t be thinking that you beat someone or got beat by someone and be happy either way. When someone beats you, you should never be happy about it.

I don’t want to generalize and say that it’s like that across the board. But when someone bodies you and you smile and shake their hand like it’s okay, I can’t stand it. It’s not okay. It should never be okay.

People keep saying, “Well, you have to be a good sport.” But those people are likely being eliminated in pools. They don’t know how it feels to be up on that stage to lose like that. It doesn’t always hurt to express how you feel, and I don’t feel like you should be punished by the public for that because of how they feel you should act. I feel like players should always be able to express themselves, and rivalries are part of that expression.

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While Philpot lost to K-Brad at Final Round 20 in one of the most infamous popoffs to date, he currently has the last laugh in his performance against his rival at ELEAGUE. We’ll see how this growing feud develops over the course of the season.

Jose “Romance” Navarrete’s trip to Indianapolis was born out of a friendship in the FGC with one of the top players in the world. Several weeks before the event, it was announced the Echo Fox|Justin Wong was sending him out for Naptown Clutch 6 to test his mettle in Street Fighter V and The King of Fighters XIV–the two titles he has been training in recently.

The result of that partnership showed potential, as Romance took 1st in KOF and 5th in SFV, showing that he’s a force to be reckoned with in both titles. While at Naptown Clutch, I sat down with him to talk about his progress with the games, and how his partnership with Justin came to fruition.

Corey “Missing Person” Lanier: Congratulations on your win at Naptown Clutch. You looked like the man to beat during the top 4. How did you feel going into it?

Jose “Romance” Navarrete: I have to admit I felt a bit of nerves at first. I had to play against my teammate, TCYoshi, who is a really strong player. It could have went either way.

Missing Person: At the start of Grand Finals, you made a switch off of Nakoruru to Leona. What prompted that change?

Romance: I actually put Benimaru as battery and put Leona in the middle, and wanted to test out Leona. I don’t really like the character, or play her a lot. However, she’s really strong and I felt like it was worth it to try her out as a pocket character.

Missing Person: When you brought Nakoruru back in, you put her as anchor, as opposed to battery in winners finals. Was there a specific reason for this?

Romance: I feel like Nakoruru is one of my best characters. When I play someone who isn’t used to her, I try to use it as a strategy. If they’re not ready for my style of Nakoruru, they’ll be in trouble with her as my battery. In the case of TCYoshi, he knows the way I play her. But since she is my best character, I can leave her as an anchor to finish off what’s left.

Missing Person: With the recent patch to The King of Fighters XIV, how do you feel about the game?

Romance: I am super excited about all the work that SNK Playmore has put into the game. Everyone has noticed how active the company has been in patching the game. They have been giving a lot of support, including into esports. They’ve also been assisting various tournaments, including giving pot bonuses. I’m still looking forward to one more patch prior to Evo. If they release another balance patch, it’ll be helpful.

Missing Person: I actually had talked to Xiaohai in Canada, and he had talked about preferring KOF XIII to KOF XIV. Do you have a preference?

Romance: To be honest, KOF XIII was where I first got my name out there. I traveled a lot for the game and won a few tournaments and made top 8 at Evo twice. So KOF XIII definitely has a special place in my heart. At the same time, I want to play KOF XIV. I really want to support SNK Playmore for doing a good job in working on the game. It’s about adapting to the new mechanics rather than saying, “I don’t like this game. I would rather play KOF XIII.”

I actually like the mechanics that KOF XIV has to offer. I know it requires different strategies than KOF XIII, but I’m just putting in the time to adjust and enjoying the game. I want there to be more titles in the franchise. Especially with all the promotional effort they’re putting forth, including the KOF World Cup.

Missing Person: What would be the biggest adjustment you’ve had to make coming from KOF XIII?

Romance: I feel like the damage you get is different. With Max Mode in KOF XIV, you can get 30-40% damage from one bar of meter. You can get more damage with one bar in KOF XIV than with KOF XIII.

Missing Person: You actually got sponsored by Justin Wong personally to come out here to play. How did that deal come about?

Romance: Justin actually invited me to go to Canada Cup 2016. But because of work and other commitments, I was unable to make it out. But a few weeks ago, he texted me and said that he still wanted to send me out to an event to show me and King of Fighters some love. So I told him I wanted to go to Naptown Clutch because I had never been to Indianapolis, and I have a few friends that live here. He told me he believed I could take it down, and thanks to the effort, I proved him right.

Missing Person: With this win, do you believe he’ll be showing more support down the road?

Romance: I am more than thankful for what he’s already done, and he’s helped me a lot. Even in Street Fighter V, we both play Karin, so he always gives me advice on my play. I would never put my hand out asking for him to give me more than what he already willingly gave.

I’m actually moving to Las Vegas very soon to start a new job. So I’m going to try to manage my time and resources and try to do it on my own. I will be keeping my eye out for sponsorships, but regardless, I will be doing my best in KOF no matter what.

Missing Person: With Street Fighter V, how much time are you putting into Street Fighter with your main focus being KOF?

Romance: For the two weeks leading up to Naptown Clutch, I was at least playing a couple hours a night online.

Missing Person: And it paid off, as you made it to top 8 on the winner’s side. But you have Wolfkrone and NYChrisG still in the bracket. How do you feel about your chances?

Romance: I’ll be honest that I’m still a bit nervous. I’m just focusing on doing my best. I actually sent Wolfkrone to losers bracket. The hardest match on winner’s side is NYChrisG, and I have him to start things off. It’s no disrespect to anyone else in the bracket, but he’s well-known and I know his playstyle. I’ve played him a lot in many games. He’s a really smart guy and a smart player. I’m going to be trying my best.

Note: Romance lost to NYChrisG in winners semi-finals, then was eliminated by Wolfkrone—whom he had put into losers bracket—in the very next match.

Missing Person: With Evo coming up, given your experience, you’d be a favorite to make Top 8. But you also have to deal with the world’s best coming out, including Xiaohai. How do you prepare?

Romance: I’ll just keep practicing with the people around me. I play a lot with some of the best in the region, including TCYoshi and Luis Cha. I’ll be playing as much as I can to gain experience.

Missing Person: Who do you feel is your biggest demon in KOF?

Romance: The player who has been getting the best of me the most lately has been Reynald. But at the same time, I feel like he’s my teammate in trying to defend the US in the game. So while he’s my demon, I feel like it’s more of a friendly rivalry.

[Feature image by Corey Lanier]

One of the surprise entrants in the top 8 at Evo 2016 for Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 was NetBattles|Kevin “DualKevin” Barrios, hailing from Indianapolis, Indiana. The Midwest region had not had much to hang their hat on in terms of big event finishes, and the player with a unique team in Deadpool/Dante/Hawkeye proved to be proper inspiration for their scene.

At Naptown Clutch, the Midwestern hero proved clutch in an exhibition match against Evo 2015 champion Kane Blueriver, dispatching him 10-3. He also finished in 4th in the main event, losing to EG|NYChrisG and eventual champion PG|RayRay. He also took a respectable seventh in Street Fighter V at the event, losing to Wolfkrone and Tech-Bandit.

While at Naptown Clutch, I spoke to him about his experience at Evo 2016, and what has driven the Midwest to strength in Marvel.

Corey “Missing Person” Lanier: Kevin, you had an amazing set with Kane Blueriver at Naptown Clutch. In the exhibition, you made it look really easy. How did you feel during that match?

Kevin “DualKevin” Barrios: I just had to play my game. First of all, my team beats his team easily. It is too much of a struggle for him to get in close. On top of that, I completely understand the ways he’ll want to approach. If I throw a grenade with Deadpool, he’ll want to jump. Then, I can just call my assists and dash under him. I studied the match-up a lot, and knew I was going to come out on top.

Missing Person: When he switched teams midway through, did that throw you off?

DualKevin: He was able to get one game, but otherwise, it wasn’t much of an issue. When I brought it back after that game to go up 9-3, I went to character select myself for him to show him he ought to just play his main team. Naturally, the match-up with Hulk/Haggar/Sentinel is in my favor, but he can make it more difficult for me by merely changing his playstyle.

Missing Person: At 8-3, when he only had Shuma Gorath left, and you kept zoning, was there anything he could do to get in on you, or was it over?

DualKevin: I think he mentally just broke himself at that point. When he had the exhibition against Filipino Champ, he did the same thing, and it ended in the same results. I didn’t think it would get him anywhere here as well.

Missing Person: You also had some close matches in the Curleh Mustache exhibition at Naptown Clutch. What are your thoughts on that bracket?

DualKevin: It was rough—I ultimately finished fourth. I have to give respect to JDM, he came back out of nowhere to beat me 3-0, and then Static Alpha beat me 3-2. JDM has always been one of the biggest threats in the Midwest Marvel scene since the beginning. I believe he placed in the Top 16 at one of the earlier Evos for Marvel 3. He always has a great neutral game. The only thing that has held him back is that he isn’t cheap enough.

Missing Person: Speaking of Evo, how was it for you to be playing on the stage at Mandalay Bay at Evo 2016?

DualKevin: It was crazy to think that I was playing on a stage that so many performers had been on, and having my character on the stage as well was just incredible. It was an amazing once in a lifetime chance.

Missing Person: And to make it there coming from the Midwest, which is heavily underrepresented in majors.

DualKevin: Exactly. JDM was honestly the one that held down the Midwest scene for a long time. We were known for a long time as being one of the worst regions ever. When he quit for a while, there was nobody to represent us. I tried to do it, and with Elithecurry and other players grinding out practice sessions, it helped. So to be able to do that and put the Midwest on the map felt great. It’s now to the point that people say that we are one of the best regions. But we had to start from the bottom and work our way up.

Missing Person: So with the representation that you brought at Evo, do you feel like the Midwest will be more sought after in the grander scope of the FGC?

DualKevin: Definitely. It’s already starting to happen. You have players like Static Alpha and Imanariesbaby showing up to events and doing really well. I am so proud of them. I don’t want to be big headed about it and say that I solely revived the Midwest scene. However, when I beat Filipino Champ, that set the wheels into motion, and it’s great to see them follow up on it.

Missing Person: With Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite coming out later this year, what are your thoughts on it?

DualKevin: It’s too early to say what I expect. I want to see a lot more movement brought into the game. They haven’t shown much movement yet. I hope that Deadpool and Dante are in the game so that I can play them again. I feel like they’re going to be there. I love that team shell. If they are in the game, I will play the hell out of Infinite.

Missing Person: With the system changes between Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 and Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite, do you feel like there could be a divide between players who prefer each game?

DualKevin: I was originally afraid of that. I remember for the first year of Evo, there were 1,000 players, then the player count slowly dwindled. But with Yipes, Persia, and Kinderparty taking the lead on building up the community, I believe that they have enough ideas to keep people involved in the game. I don’t think that we’ll see a decline in any way.

Missing Person: How do you feel about your chances of getting back on the main stage at Evo 2017 on finals day?

DualKevin: I’m definitely going to be trying hard for it. What excited me about the donation drive was that got everyone excited to play Marvel again. It was able to get Filipino Champ talking about it again, and you even see Justin Wong streaming it again. What I really want is everyone to be excited about Marvel again, and that’s what it did. I want the best players to be at their prime in July.

Missing Person: What prompted you to play a unique team like Deadpool/Dante/Hawkeye?

DualKevin: I initially started playing Spider-Man with Deadpool as anchor, and it started out with Taskmaster in the middle. It sucked. I just wanted to make Deadpool work on a team in the worst way. I went through so many characters to do so. I settled with Dante and Hawkeye, but I initially thought that Deadpool and Hawkeye had no synergy. I stuck with it because I knew Dante and Hawkeye was strong. Eventually I found more tech with it, and I really like it now. It especially works with my dirty Quick Work with Jam Session assist setup that I do on incoming. I can’t give up that team.

Missing Person: Do you feel like having such a unique team with a low tier point character actually benefits you in tournament, as far as match up inexperience goes?

DualKevin: I would’ve said yes a couple of years ago when no one knew me. Now that I’m a force to be reckoned with, I don’t think so. If you have heard of me, you are likely to know what works against Deadpool and understand what he is capable of. So I don’t think it helps me that much anymore. I feel like some people have caught on to it.