Category: Fighting Games

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Is Smash Director Masahiro Sakurai a Liar? Source Gaming Investigates

Among video game fans, Super Smash Bros. series director Masahiro Sakurai is often called a “troll,” or one who deliberately misleads someone (in this case, the Smash community) with false information. Whether done playfully or with complete seriousness, these accusations always seem to stem from a misunderstanding of Sakurai’s statements, mistranslation by a news outlet, or other factors he himself can’t control.

In their latest article, the fine folks over at Source Gaming have tackled the notion of Sakurai lying at one time or another during Smash development, finding the original accusation, and investigating its veracity.

Some of the topics include Sakurai’s statements concerning each Smash installment being the last in the series (featured below), his opinion on introducing traditional fighting game characters, Ridley as a playable character, and more.

‘Last Smash Game’

Sakurai has claimed this numerous times. I believe he states this because he approaches every entry like it will be his last game. It’s worth noting that even after he left Hal Laboratory he said he wasn’t sure if he was going to come back to Smash.

“When I made the second one, I thought, there’s no chance there’s going to be a third one, but I did make a third one. So I do think there is a possibility for a fourth. But I think actually making it would be very difficult.” – GSL on Brawl (Translation in the works for Source Gaming. Stay tune for the full text. Translation done by Soma.)

He has said this even in regards to Smash for Wii U/ 3DS. If you read past the headline, then you will actually discover that he said, “I doubt” (でしょう) (Column #482 for reference, Source Gaming has not translated it yet) in regards to continuing making games in the series.

Regardless, most recently in his Fire Emblem 25 Anniversary Interview, Sakurai has since seemed optimistic about his future involvement with Smash.

Even if you believe there’s some bias here, the fact that Source Gaming has revisited old articles and interviews to provide better translations definitely makes this worth a read. Check it out and let us know what you think of their findings.

Source: Source Gaming via NeoGAF, featured image c/o Polygon

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Smash @ Xanadu feat. Super Smash Bros. Melee Streaming Live

After taking last week off, the folks over at VGBootCamp recently went live with another installment of Smash @ Xanadu from Xanadu Games in Baltimore, Maryland. These weekly broadcasts provide a great look at the region’s Smash community, and tonight’s installment will feature competition in Super Smash Bros. Melee.

If you’re interested in some Smash Bros. action, be sure to tune in. The stream is live below, but you can also head on over to Twitch to join the chat.

Watch live video from VGBootCamp on www.twitch.tv

Source: VGBootCamp

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Next Level Battle Circuit #154 feat. Ultra Street Fighter IV, Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- Streaming Live

This week’s installment of Next Level Battle Circuit is now streaming live courtesy of Team Spooky. As usual, the event is being broadcast from its namesake, Next Level Arcade, in New York City. Tonight, they’ll be running Ultra Street Fighter IV and Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-, featuring some of the best players on the east coast.

If you would like to check out these weekly tournaments, be sure to head on over to Next Level Arcade and take part every Wednesday. The address has been included below.

4013 8th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11232

The stream is currently live below, but you can also visit Twitch to join the chat. Full brackets will be made available through Challonge.

Watch live video from TeamSp00ky on www.twitch.tv

Sources: Team Spooky

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Luffy Left Meltdown to Pursue Other Sponsorships

News broke last week that French competitor Olivier “Luffy” Hay was leaving Meltdown, his sponsor since 2014. As details weren’t provided, no one was quite sure if he parted ways of his own accord or was dropped from the organization, but the folks over at Best of III got to the bottom of the situation during a recent interview.

According to Hay, the decision to split from Meltdown was entirely this own. While he achieved some notable feats thanks to their sponsorship, namely taking home first place at Evo 2014, he was ready to move on despite the organization’s interest in renewing his contract for the next few years.

“For 2016, I got some good offers from other sponsors,” Hay explained. “I have some really good stuff going on right now, but I guess I’ll announce it in the near future.”

Near the end of the interview, it becomes clear that Hay may have already signed with someone else. Details are still sparse, but he was able to say that his new team is not Team YP and that they have already built up a roster of Street Fighter players.

The full interview can be found below, so check it out for talk of why Hay doesn’t compete in games like League of Legends and Dota 2, his thoughts on Street Fighter V, and more.

Best of III’s main show also featured an interview with Team Spooky’s Arturo Sanchez. During his time on the show, Sanchez discussed the next installment of Team PIE’s King of New York tournament series, how Dhalsim performs in early builds of Street Fighter V, and more, so check that out as well.

Source: Daily Dot Esports

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Support Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 at Undefeated 2016

Last year, Undefeated of the Southwest Vol. 2 was able to crowdfund over $700 for their Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 pot bonuses, and they are looking to do it all over again for the next installment…with a couple of twists.

Undefeated 2016’s organizers recently opened another YouCaring drive (this time with a goal of $1000), with an alternate donation path available through Teespring. Using the latter will net you a limited edition shirt designed by Northern California artist Joelyn “Shunao” Lai specifically for this event. Better yet, all of the proceeds from these sales will go directly to the aforementioned fundraiser, meaning you can show your support for the tournament and grab a spiffy tee at the same time!

The event will also feature a first-to-fifteen Marvel exhibition, with participants decided on by the community. Voting isn’t open yet, but early choices include notable players like Brokentier’s Daniel “Clockwork” Maniago, Kumite in Tennessee’s Jonathan “Cloud805” Morales, and more.

Undefeated 2016 is scheduled for February 20-21 in Tempe, Arizona. Aside from Marvel, it will also feature competition in Street Fighter V, Ultra Street Fighter IV, Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-, and Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late. More details can be found here.

Source: r/MvC3 via IFC Yipes

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Ono: Capcom Looking to “Reset” with Street Fighter V

During their visit to PlayStation Experience last month, Vice Gaming was able to catch up with Capcom producer Yoshinori Ono for a discussion of all things Street Fighter. Naturally, conversation gravitated towards Street Fighter V, and Ono was rather candid regarding their goals with the upcoming title.

“Now, as [Street Fighter IV] has grown and it’s matured, that core group of people is maybe about 1,000 people who can compete at a really high level. That’s where [Street Fighter V] comes in,” Ono explained. “We’ve made plans to try to grow the community at an exponential rate. We’re doing that by resetting the game and evening the playing field, so that it’s approachable whether you’re new or old to the series.”

Ono was quick to promise that they won’t be actively working against experienced players when it comes to their decisions for Street Fighter V, but reiterated their desire for newcomers to be comfortable, whether they’re competing or just watching.

While not interested in completely doing away with the work they’ve done on past installments, Ono sees Street Fighter V as its own separate entity, similar to how Street Fighter II was different from Street Fighter, Street Fighter III was different from Street Fighter II, and so on. “People are starting to remember that Street Fighter isn’t a series where every new game just rides the coattails of the previous entry,” he continued. “Part of the fun is going back to zero and everyone growing from the same point.”

For more of Vice’s interview, which also touches on Ono’s hand in bringing the Street Fighter franchise back to prominence, the groundwork they’ve laid for the genre, and more, be sure to follow the link below.

Source: Vice

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ESL Mortal Kombat X Pro League Season 2, Week 8 Streaming Live

Editor’s note: Due to various circumstances, North America is currently one week behind Europe, while the Commonwealth of Independent States has completed their season.

ESL’s Mortal Kombat X competition returns for another installment of its second season. Similar to the previous season, the first few rounds of this online tournament have narrowed the playing field down to eight competitors in each region, who will be going at each other’s throats today to earn their way towards the grand finals event next year and its $100,000 prize pool.

Some of the more notable players you’ll see participate this week include cR|Sonic Fox, Pig of the Hut, cR|WoundCowboy, A F0xy Grampa, Madzin, and Xarakamaka, among others.

The stream is live below, but you can also visit Twitch if you prefer to chat with fellow viewers. You’ll also find a table of start times for each of the three regions involved further down.

Watch live video from NetherRealm on www.twitch.tv

Schedule

Event PST EST GMT
European Finals 11:30 AM 2:30 PM 7:30 PM
North American Finals 5:30 AM 8:30 PM 1:30 AM (Thu)

Results

mkx-mortalkombatx-tournament

North America – Week 7

First Round

cR|Sonic Fox vs. YOMI|Slayer
dsv black vs. Pig of the Hut
cR|WoundCowboy vs. cR|Biohazard
God of Destruction vs. UA|Showtime

Europe – Week 8

1.
2.
3.
3.
5.
5.
5. AT|nindo (Summoner Quan Chi)
5. Kostasandharris (A-List Johnny Cage, Thunder God Raiden, Grandmaster Sub-Zero)

Match Log

Sources: ESL, NetherRealm

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James Chen Talks Fighting Game Sub-Genres in Latest Hold Back to Block Doc Preview

The folks over at Hold Back to Block recently dropped another preview for their upcoming documentary, FGC: Rise of the Fighting Game Community. Here, commentator and analyst James Chen discusses the various types of sub-genres found underneath the fighting game umbrella and what sets them apart.

While probably not as informative for longtime fans of the genre as it is for newcomers, this clip does provide a quick look at what folks can expect from this documentary. Check it out and let us know what you think.

FGC: Rise of the Fighting Game Community is scheduled to release on January 12.

Source: Hold Back to Block

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Get Street Fighter V for Only $45 at Green Man Gaming

Street Fighter V’s release is just a little over a month away, and those of you thinking of picking up the PC version have yet another deal to make that easier on your wallet.

By pre-ordering through Green Man Gaming and using the promo code 25PERC-2016GM-WTHGMG, you can grab the game for just $45, a 25% discount from its regular price

Take note that purchasing the game this way will still net you all the pre-order bonuses, including Chun-Li’s alternate battle costume and access to any stress tests they may conduct before launch.

Street Fighter V is set to launch for PlayStation 4 and PC on February 16.

Source: Green Man Gaming, thanks to Exia 00 for the tip.

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HORI Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai Available for $100 at Fry’s Electronics, Wednesday Only

As part of their weekly sales, Fry’s Electronics will be offering a rather hefty markdown on HORI’s Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai. Normally priced at $149.99, a promo code will knock that down to $99.99, a 33% discount.

Compatible with both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3, the Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai makes use of HORI’s Hayabusa lever and Kuro buttons, a similar setup to Taito’s Vewlix cabinets. Other features include a touchpad panel, carrying handle, and more.

It’s worth noting that previous testing has pointed towards this arcade stick having a significant amount of lag, so your mileage may vary.

In order to take advantage of this deal, you will need to sign up for Fry’s mailing list, which will net you a personal discount code as soon as the offer goes live. Please be aware that this sale will only be available tomorrow, January 6, while supplies last, and is limited to customers in the United States.

Source: Fry’s Electronics via Wario64