One of Indonesia’s major fighting game events is going down this weekend! Abuget Cup 2017 will be hosted in Jakarta and is a part of the 2017 Capcom Pro Tour as a Ranking Event and the Tekken World Tour as a Challenger Event. The event will feature Street Fighter V and Tekken 7 as headline titles, but also includes BlazBlue Central Fiction, Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2 and The King of Fighters XIV as side events.
If you want to catch the action, head over to AdvanceGuardTV on Twitch, viewable below.
Has Capcom got a big surprise in store for Street Fighter fans?
The recent appearance of a PlayStation 4/Xbox One listing for Street Fighter: Anniversary Collection — originally released for PlayStation 2, containing the SFII compilation Hyper Street Fighter II and a port of Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike — on a German website has started the rumor mill running on the possibility that we’ll be seeing a compilation package of some kind soon for Street Fighter’s 30th anniversary. You can see the listing below in a tweet from Gatoray:
This strange listing has started talk and speculation on this NeoGAF thread. While the listing references something that sounds like the old PS2 compilation, Maximilian discusses in his new video how insiders have stated that Capcom indeed has something more than a port of Street Fighter: Anniversary Collection (which was released for the 15th anniversary) in the works, and we’ll be hearing something more about it soon. It may even include Street Fighter Alpha titles, or a new port of 3rd Strike…
This is all in the wonder/speculation/rumor area right now, but with the actual anniversary date coming up late in August, the time is right for Capcom to show off whatever big release they may have planned, if any, for the 30th year. The PS4 has seen digital versions of many PS2 titles already, especially from SNK; while ports of Street Fighter: Anniversary Collection or Street Fighter Alpha Anthology would be welcome to many fans, there’s an opportunity to do better here that I hope Capcom capitalizes on. We’ll ideally find out soon enough.
Thanks to her strong neutral and versatile pokes, King has always been, at worst, a decent character in The King of Fighters XIV. Decent doesn’t necessarily translate to flashy, though, so when Persona Entertainment was tasked with making a combo video for the Queen King, they had to get creative.
While this is probably one of the most practical combo videos Persona has made in their long running KOF XIV combo video series, there’s still some entertaining gems here. Expect to see plenty of corner juggles, training mode only conversions off full-stage fireballs, and super whiffs mid-combo.
Registration is open for one of the fiercest stops on the Capcom Pro Tour!
Formerly one of the last remaining glaring “TBD” listings on the Capcom Pro Tour event webpage, the schedule and details for Japan Cup 2017 have now been announced. Organized by Shinobism Inc. and Capcom USA, this fight is set to take place at Hulic Hall in Tokyo, Japan on August 12-13, 2017. Expect to see some of the toughest Street Fighter V competition anywhere along the CPT circuit, right here in the center of the Japanese competitive scene.
There will be a 512-player cap. Entry for the tournament is free, but there is a ¥3000 venue fee. Schedule, rules, and registration information can be found on the official Japan Cup 2017 website. Registration closes August 7th!
In a surprise move that bears some resemblance to Pokkén’s last minute addition to Final Round 19 last year, BigEGaming has added an event for ARMS to Summer Jam XI, just a few weeks before the event opens.
We've officially added ARMS to the #SummerJamXI tournament games list. Players who plan to compete can sign up during on-site registration. pic.twitter.com/p5VV8mt3jW
While players can sign up on site to compete, there’s little info on the cost or prizes for the new Nintendo fighter either on BigEGaming’s twitter or their main site. As of this writing, there is also no time for ARMS listed on the official schedule — it’s possible this decision to run ARMS was as sudden as the announcement itself.
Want to quickly pick up Tekken 7‘s Bruce Lee stand-in, Marshall Law, but don’t know where to begin? YouTuber PepperBeef2Spicy — who you may remember as the creator of Tekken 7‘s ultimate prep guide — has made a great video series for the Dragon that’ll help you get up to speed.
His beginner video lays down the frame work for the character for new Tekken players…
But if you already know your basic Tekken gameplay, this 5-minute examination cuts to the chase.
And lastly, once you know your best moves, you’ll want to know your possible combos from them. PepperBeef has you covered there, too, with these conversions:
With the first season of FUSE wrapping up earlier this month, the Genesis Smash team have announced that they will be running a second season of the Super Smash Bros. doubles circuit. Along with Super Smash Bros. Melee, this second season will include Super Smash Bros. for Wii U as well.
Season 2 will kick off on August 1st, with it running until sometime in December. Low Tier City 5 will be the first event on the circuit, with it acting as a Bronze level event for Melee and a Gold level event for Smash 4. All events are graded based on their final attendance numbers, with The Big House 7 being the only fixed Major event. Any open Smash event is available to join the Season 2 circuit, as long as they are an open event with at least 16 teams in attendance.
We've got all the big events on board from the beginning! Smash Factor 6 and Low Tier City 5 will kick us off -next- weekend! pic.twitter.com/cYduOukLGz
We've also adjusted our points structure. All event values are based on final attendance numbers, except TBH7, the sole Major-level event. pic.twitter.com/e0GjsFGtW1
Like Season 1, the top teams from both the Smash 4 and Melee circuits will be invited to the final invitational, where pride and prizes will be up for grabs. For all the information on rules, tournament registration and bracket seeding, check the FUSE smash.gg page.
ZOWIE’s Bruce “GamerBee” Hsiang is a popular competitor, well-known for his Necalli in Street Fighter V, but even more so for his play in the Street Fighter IV series with Elena and Adon, earning spots in prior Evo finals. This year, he landed just shy of the Street Fighter V top 32, at 33rd place. He’s currently ranked #23 on this year’s Capcom Pro Tour leaderboard.
It was my pleasure to catch up with GamerBee at Evo, shortly before the Street Fighter V finals at Mandalay Bay on Sunday. Here’s what we talked about — he remains critical of Street Fighter V‘s mechanics while putting a positive spin on what the game means for the FGC as a whole. Replies have been edited for clarity.
Zavian “mushin_Z” Sildra: This is Street Fighter V‘s second year at Evo…
Bruce “GamerBee” Hsiang: Yes.
mushin_Z: How would you say the competition has changed overall from last year, to this year?
GamerBee: I would think that in the first year, a lot of people were still trying to figure out what is the most effective way to play Street Fighter V… In the first year, you know, the whole game balance was totally different. That year was more like a footsies game, and this year is more like “risk and reward”… so the top tier characters, they get more reward, and you can’t take less risks anymore, because you don’t have as much defensive techniques you can use anymore.
So, for the second year, I will say: we now see a lot of new persons coming out, because in first-to-two, anything can happen… and we see a lot of the younger generation, they don’t have to over-strategize, they only need to play by their instincts. And, also by their reactions. Maybe they have studied top players more, so they know their habits… So I think the second year is more difficult for top players, because we are targets.
mushin_Z: So you think the way the game has changed — between season one and season two — is definitely steering toward a particular kind of play that is encouraging newer players to come up and succeed, rather than older players continuing to adapt and hold their positions?
GamerBee: Yes, I feel like from what I see, the old player is still trying to figure this out… We choose one character, we figure out every possibility for this character, but for the new generation, I feel like for Street Fighter V and esports you now have to look at the whole game, the game balance, and choose the right character to counterpick, or to perform a certain strategy for winning. So, character loyalty will be getting less and less common in the future. That’s what I’m seeing right now.
ZOWIE|GamerBee vs. BX3|Phenom (Evo 2017 SFV top 64)
mushin_Z: So, you first got knocked into the losers bracket by Phenom, if I’m right…
GamerBee: Yeah.
mushin_Z: What can you tell me about that match? What are your thoughts and observations on how that particular fight/match-up turned out?
GamerBee: Well, for the past few months, I’ve lost to Phenom many times… but somehow, [smiling wryly] I still believe my Necalli is better than his!
mushin_Z: [laughs]
GamerBee: I really think so! And every time, I try to prove it. But I’m missing something. I haven’t figured out what it is yet — so I can’t stop him, or I miss something in the game. But I’m confident! I think I still can beat him in the mirror match.
mushin_Z: Phenom is part of that “younger generation” we’re talking about, so he’s approaching the game with a different perspective, he’s approaching Necalli differently than you’re approaching Necalli…
GamerBee: [nods] Yeah.
mushin_Z: I want to see more of how you guys take each other on in the future. Now, it was Machabo that eliminated you ultimately…
GamerBee: [nodding] Yeah!
mushin_Z: Tell me more about that match.
GamerBee: I think Machabo has a really simple playstyle — but, unfortunately, he also plays Necalli, and I played two different Necallis in a very short time… I didn’t transition very well between the matches, and it caused me to lose. And, of course in first-to-two anything can happen; I could have won that match, but Machabo took the risks, and I got hit. I lost.
mushin_Z: What are your thoughts on how Necalli feels now, compared to season one? Are you committed to sticking to him with the current situation? Do you think he’s stronger in season two? Weaker?
GamerBee: I would definitely say Necalli is weaker in season two. But he is still able to win, because he has the damage, he has the mixups. The only thing he has to do — you can’t play safe to win, with Necalli, you have to take risks. And that’s not really my style! Maybe I’m too “old school,” old-fashioned, but I totally think Necalli is still really strong in season two, he definitely can win tournaments. It’s just that now, every tournament is more like playing Poker. I know the strategy, I know what I can win with this “hand,” but still, when people go crazy, I still lose!
mushin_Z: Do you think it falls more into the realm of gambling, or is it more of a mind game, more of a “read”?
GamerBee: Hmm… mind games… It does have mind games, it’s just that the risk/reward is very high right now. It’s supposed to be high [in this game]. So in that regard, every decision becomes more like a gamble. I would say of course it’s a mind game, but on the other side, you have to make a bet with your instincts, so it doesn’t really feel like a mind game at the same time.
mushin_Z: On your SFV “wish list” — you’re talking about how the game forces one type of play — what’s one change you think Capcom needs to make, to make this the type of game you want to play? For you personally, not for the “scene.” What’s GamerBee want?
GamerBee: Let’s make Crush Counters… gone.
mushin_Z: [chuckles] You don’t want to see any Crush Counters? Or just less of them?
GamerBee: This is a really hard decision! I totally understand why Capcom did this. Because they’re making the game easier to play, to attract more viewers — because it’s easier to understand, easier to see upsets. But it seems with the Crush Counter, there’s no defensive option, and things like this make the game so you don’t have to be really skillful; you can still do damage — because in older times, if you wanted to do lots of damage, you needed lots of practice. There was a high skill cap. But now, everyone can do the same high-damage combos, the only different matter is how to hit it. In this game, certain characters have really good Crush Counters, and one Crush Counter can change everything. Even a new player, or one from the middle range… I’m “better” than you, but you can still beat me, because of Crush Counters, and the related knockdown pressure mixups. They can still win. If we take out that thing, it will become like an “older” Street Fighter V… the people like us will prefer it more, because you’ll have to work even harder to get damage and mixups, everything — but maybe some people, especially the younger generation, don’t want that, maybe Capcom doesn’t want that.
mushin_Z: Do you think they’re making a deliberate choice to move the game in a direction that will attract a new generation?
GamerBee: Yes, of course. I’m really sure that’s their strategy. The reason why they have to do this is that we’ve already seen this happen and happen again: every popular fighting game, they have to release a new version. The “Ultra,” the “Super,” and they get more complicated. But every time they get harder, the skill cap is slowly rising… of course people that have stuck with playing will still like the new, harder games, and it makes it more fun to play, for them — and you have to respect the top players, because you know how hard it is. Maybe, Capcom just wants to try something new. Let’s make the game simple, so everyone can get started, and you don’t have to worry about practice; I guess that’s their aim.
mushin_Z: How does it make you feel that there’s this game that you’ve put so much time and effort and focus into — this franchise, that’s now moving in this direction?
GamerBee: OK — the only downside is: I’m lagging, I’m still trying to adapt to a new system. But, but — I do like that Street Fighter V is bringing so many opportunities to the whole fighting game scene. It’s actually a big benefit for everyone. Though I am still struggling to figure out how to play this game — it’s OK, because we get more opportunities than ever before. So, looking to the future, I’d say this has been a good decision [smiling], it’s just I don’t like being the person that has to make the sacrifice!
mushin_Z: [laughs]
GamerBee: I still want to catch up to that boat, that plane, I want to go far with this opportunity! So even we who are struggling, I would still say: maybe we should keep this change right now, because it’s good for everyone.
mushin_Z: To wrap up, is there anything you’d like to personally add for SRK readers?
GamerBee: Hmm… for us foreign users, even though I can speak English, it’s still really hard to use the forum system. It’s a really good place to discuss tips in detail. I want to be part of it! So maybe in the future, how about a section in Chinese, or in Japanese? Every pro player is playing Street Fighter V… SRK is the most important fighting game forum in the world, so I wish we could all discuss the game in the same place. A forum that would be easier for every Mandarin speaker, or Japanese speaker, to use — that would be awesome. I’ve played fighting games for a long time, and we all play differently. If we really want to get stronger in the future, we should really combine everyone together. Like Evo! Every major fighting game is at Evo, we come together into a really strong force that can compete with other esports. In the future, I think we should do that more and more.
mushin_Z: Maybe Evo Japan is a step in this direction.
A while back, Marvel released previews of the Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite variant covers for a number of their books. Since then however, more previews for these variant covers have been released.
The covers in question are for the Amazing Spider-Man #31, theAvengers #10, Doctor Strange #24, Generations: Hulk #1, Generations: Unworthy Thor & Mighty Thor #1, I Am Groot #20, Invincible Iron Man #10, Mighty Captain Marvel #8, Mighty Thor #22, Rocket #4, Secret Empire #8, Spider-Man #19, and Venom #153. With these previews, there are only a few Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite variant covers that have yet to be revealed.
Check out these variant cover previews in the gallery below.
The issues with these variant covers are all supposed to hit this coming August. Meanwhile, Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite launches on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on September 19.
The “enthusiastic” motorist Abigail has just made his playable debut in the Street Fighter series this week. While fan reactions to the character’s design were mixed, I don’t think anyone anticipated the technicality and depth of his toolset. This naturally has made Abigail ridiculously difficult to optimize, but I’ve worked hard to compile only the most optimal practical combos, so that players can easily learn his combo routes and start focusing on his unique footsies. In addition to the usual demonsrtations for ideal anti-airs, punishes, confirms, counter-hit combos, crush counter combos, and juggles, this video features two new sections devoted to Abigail’s unique mechanics: Parry Confirms and Guard Crush Combos.
This video is merely centered around Abigail’s optimal combos. Consider this video a precursor to an eventual full Abigail character tutorial. The combos are all my own labwork, alongside a few things I’ve observed from other players. I’m fairly confident that most of these combos are fully ideal, but due to the precise nature of his juggles and abundance of conversion options, I’m sure I’ve missed some optimizations somewhere. For both me and the other players, I ask that those viewers somewhat acquainted with Abigail point out anything I might have missed in the comments, so that I can amend it into the final video when it comes out.
Zavian “mushin_Z” Sildra: This is Street Fighter V‘s second year at Evo…
GamerBee: I think Machabo has a really simple playstyle — but, unfortunately, he also plays Necalli, and I played two different Necallis in a very short time… I didn’t transition very well between the matches, and it caused me to lose. And, of course in first-to-two anything can happen; I could have won that match, but Machabo took the risks, and I got hit. I lost.
