Category: Fighting Games

Daigo “The Beast” Umehara welcomes everyone in the FGC to make it “bigger and better” than ever before

Cygames Beast’s Daigo “The Beast” Umehara has had quite an interesting run in his Street Fighter V career for the past 3-4 years so far. Placing consistently high with Ryu in 2016, Daigo then switched to Guile in season two after his former main was weakened in the Season Two balance patch and hasn’t looked back since.

While in Season Two he still found some success with Guile, it seems like he has stumbled a bit in the past two seasons with lower and inconsistent placings. Regardless of whether he wins or loses, however, there’s no denying that “The Beast” is still respected and admired for not only his skills in fighting games but for his contributions to the community at large to this day.

In this interview that was conducted via email after Evo 2019, Daigo discusses his current views on the Capcom Pro Tour as well as his different playstyle with Guile. He also talks about his Evo 2019 performance as well as how he deals with critics who judge him based on whether he wins or loses.

Marcos Blanco: What is your current view on competitive SFV: AE and the Capcom Pro Tour in 2019? How do you feel about the game’s future in the competitive circuit? Anything you would like to see changed or improved for future CPT events for the rest of the year and beyond?

Daigo Umehara: I think it depends on whose perspective you’re speaking from. If you look at the game’s recent updates, even though they’re supposedly targeting a more mainstream audience, they seem to be made specifically for the segment of users taking an active part in CPT. From the point of view of the myriad average players who don’t take part in the pro tour, I imagine the recent updates feel somewhat lacking in terms of what they’ve changed. I think you could say the game’s gotten away from its original form as a piece of entertainment.

On the other hand, for pro players participating in CPT, I think you could argue that the relative lack of extreme changes has made it easier to get through the season.

MB: Do you think everything going on with the CPT regarding the format, payouts, and point distribution is fine the way it is and why?

Daigo: I can’t speak to how reasonable the payouts are so I’ll put that one aside. Players spend all year struggling to earn the right to compete in Capcom Cup, and then it’s over in a blink.

Considering how long the road to qualifying is when it comes down to the main event you have no idea who’s going to win and it all ends so abruptly, and that’s kind of a drag. Players work so hard to get the chance to compete in the main event; I’m sure I’m not the only one who wishes the fun lasted a little longer.

MB: How do you feel about your overall performance in the CPT so far this season with Guile? Do you still consider him a strong character despite some setbacks to his move set? It seems like you’ve adopted a more aggressive playstyle with him in tournaments as of late. Why is that?

Daigo: I still haven’t entered that many tournaments this season, so I’d call it a so-so run as of now.

For us, a year is short. The game balance receives frequent adjustments within that time span, meaning we have to pick things up in a short amount of time while attending CPT tournaments. I feel that Guile is the most viable character among those with which I have a high mastery.

Guile has gotten weaker so if I stick to playing him the way people know, I won’t get anywhere. It’s not that I’m specifically focusing on an aggressive play style. Likely, I’ve become more aggressive as a result of trying to incorporate newness.

MB: So Honda, Lucia, and Poison have been added to SFV: AE‘s roster. What are your thoughts and impressions of these characters so far? Of the three, who stands out to you the most as a competitively viable character and why?

Daigo: I haven’t tried out Poison or seen anyone who’s using her. I tried the others. Lucia is fairly strong and interesting. As for Honda…

MB: You placed 33rd at Evo 2019. What was your mentality and game plan going into Evo 2019 and how do you feel about your performance in the tournament? What do you feel like you need to improve on in order to try and win the remaining tournaments for the rest of the year?

Daigo: I can say that I was well prepared for Evo and had my sights on the top eight. It’s really just too bad I didn’t get there. I haven’t had a strong showing at Evo in a while now so I was determined to make this the year I got back into the top eight.

My physical condition took a dive right after I got into Las Vegas and in hindsight, I think it was due to a lack of nervousness, which comes with experience. The right amount of nervousness is necessary. No excuse though, this is my own shortcoming.

MB: You are currently ranked 16th on the CPT Global Standings. What are your goals for the rest of the CPT season to make sure you qualify and to get a higher seeding for Capcom Cup 2019 and to hopefully win that event as well?

Daigo: I want to do well in the coming tournaments and secure my spot in the main event. I’ve reflected on Evo and reclaimed my determination. I’ve refocused my energies and I am training hard so please keep an eye on me over the coming months.

MB: At this point you’re a very well known player all over the world and with that comes not only a lot of fans who admire and respect you for what you’ve done throughout your career, but it also comes with a lot of backlash from people who criticize you when you don’t place high or win a major tournament especially on social media.

What are your thoughts on the subject of these types of fans holding you and other longtime pro players to this high standard where if you don’t win every tournament, you’re not good enough anymore? Do you pay attention to these sorts of things regarding your status as a player in the fighting game community? If so, why and if not, why not?

Daigo: As I see it, even when I was winning frequently, I still went through slumps. Looking back, even though there were specific moments or matches of great renown, it wasn’t always so glamorous in real-time. I’ve gradually amassed a list of those highlight moments over many years, so I think the difference between “then” and “now” appears more extreme than it is (“now” is shorter than “the past,” after all).

My drive has never waned and I’ve been competing continuously for twenty years. With each new version that comes out, I’ve studied hard and honed my skills from scratch as best I can. With no false modesty, I can say my drive and perseverance toward gaming are second to none.

MB: Which tournaments will you be competing in next before the year ends? Would you like to give and any final thoughts or thanks regarding Street Fighter V, the Capcom Pro Tour, and the fighting game community in general?

Daigo: I’ve been given an environment where I can play the games I love to my heart’s content and I’m grateful for that every day. It’s a reality I never would have dreamed possible twenty years ago and it’s all thanks to the amazing community. You can’t get here alone. I’m also thankful to the sponsors who support me—HyperX, Red Bull, Twitch, and Cygames.

Now and then I see top players who are seriously considering quitting. It’s not my place to speak to their situation, but I can say that I’m always looking ahead positively. I’m an exception—in my ten years as a pro, I’ve never questioned it. I enjoy the growth. It’s what motivates me each day. Not the prize money. In this sense, I feel that I’m unbeatable.

Little kernels of passion and perseverance are what have made the FGC so big today. I’m going to keep going. Please join me and let’s make it bigger and better than ever!

Sources: Capcom Fighters, Capcom Pro Tour

Fuudo offers his insight on mentality and the new fighters.

First making himself known to the world with his dominant win at Evo 2011 in Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition with his explosive Fei Long play, Keita “Fuudo” Ai from Japan has become a household name in the fighting game community for the better part of almost a decade.

A former longtime Virtua Fighter 5 world champion, Fuudo has long been not only one of Japan’s best fighting game players alongside the likes of Daigo Umehara, Tokido, Momochi, Sako, and Haitani but one of the world’s best as well with multiple top eight placings and first place tournament victories.

That being said, while Fuudo has been currently one of the most consistent players in Street Fighter V since 2016 with his patient, but explosive R. Mika (currently ranked seventh on the Capcom Pro Tour 2019 Global Leader Board), he always seems to come up just a bit short when it comes to securing some first place Capcom Pro Tour wins that he is very capable of achieving.

I sat down with him the day before Evo 2019 to discuss this supposed “curse” he has when it comes to tournament placings as well as his thoughts on his CPT 2019 performance so far. the new DLC characters, picking up Birdie as a secondary, and his mindset going into Evo 2019. This interview was done through Shino, one of Cygames Beast’s translators.

Marcos Blanco: You’ve been one of the most consistent players since season one of Street Fighter V. However, getting first place always seems to be just out of your grasp. What do you attribute that to? Do you feel “cursed” sometimes for coming so close?

Fuudo: Yes (laughs). That’s why I went to the waterfall if you saw on my Twitter. I went three times. It’s a cultural tradition but not a common practice.

MB: You’ve been using Birdie as a secondary character to compliment your R. Mika play. Which matchups and players do you feel Birdie is strong against as opposed to R. Mika? What’s your decision-making process when it comes to switching between these two characters?

Fuudo: Before I go into matches, I already know which character to use. Especially in top eight, the characters you see are mainly Ibuki, Akuma, and Rashid. I feel Birdie has the strongest chance against those characters.

MB: Do you consider Birdie your main over R. Mika now?

Fuudo: Conceptually, I try not to have him as my main character. I just feel more confident with Birdie against those top three characters.

MB: What’s your mentality and game plan going into Evo 2019? Which players do you consider your biggest obstacles to overcome to advance in the tournament?

Fuudo: To win Evo 2019, I have been practicing Birdie. I don’t want second or third place. I’ve had enough of that. I’m focused on winning Evo this year. As far as specific players, I can name Fujimura. Historically and statistically speaking, I have been losing against him and I definitely want to beat him.

MB: So the trailer for the three new characters Lucia, E. Honda, and Poison were leaked and then confirmed. What are your impressions of these characters based on the trailers so far?

Fuudo: The first impression I had of Lucia was, “Who is this (laughs)?” Honda, I have been waiting a long time for. In my view, it’s not so much about how your character stacks up against another character, but it’s more about how strong your character is overall. I hope Honda goes back to how he used to be in Street Fighter IV. Poison seems like a new character now. I’m looking forward to it.

MB: Does that mean you’re thinking of picking Honda up for serious tournament play?

Fuudo: Yeah I’d like to try him out. He’s really simple and straightforward. I like that about him. As you know I’ve been using Birdie so I don’t care how he looks (laughs).

MB: So it seems like you will qualify for Capcom Cup 2019 since you have enough points. As a player, what are some areas you need to improve on to win Capcom Cup 2019 finals?

Fuudo: I’ll just keep practicing what I’ve been doing. I want to focus on just winning. That is the burning desire that keeps me going.

Source: Capcom Fighters, Capcom Pro Tour

This Marvel vs Capcom pro brings his expertise to the Power Rangers fighter you should be playing!

Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid was released was released on March 26, 2019, across all current-gen consoles with a PC release on Steam coming next week on September 24, 2019. A 3v3 fighter in almost the same vein as the Marvel vs. Capcom series, Battle for the Grid has had a couple of substantial updates adding new modes, characters, and balance changes to improve the game’s replay value and fun factor.

At Evo 2019, I talked to former MvC pro, Daniel Maniago also better known in the FGC as “Clockwork” who is now currently the lead combat designer on Battle for the Grid, about his involvement in the game’s development and future. In this interview, Maniago also shares how he came to work on the project, his input from years of pro gamer experience, and why skeptical players should give this game a chance.

Marcos Blanco: So first question: Are you a Power Rangers fan?

Clockwork: I was a huge Power Rangers fan when I was a kid. I think like a lot of people, I sort of fell off after the third season. I kind of grew out of it. The Green Ranger was my favorite before he turned good (laughs).

MB: I’ve read up on the storyline for the game and it seems to be centered around the Green Ranger. What went into deciding the Green Ranger turning evil and whatnot?

Clockwork: It’s based on the comic book story by Boom! Studios. Basically the idea is that there is a timeline in which the Green Ranger (Tommy) never turns good. He ends up becoming Lord Drakkon who is the main antagonist in Battle for the Grid.

MB: You’re the lead combat designer for this game. How did you get on board to work on this project? Did nWay Games approach you about it?

Clockwork: I got approached by a friend of mine that said that his friend was looking for a combat designer that specializes in fighting games. I applied, took the design test, and the rest is history.

MB: What was the experience like?

Clockwork: It was interesting. At the time I was interviewing at several places and it was really interesting to see the different sorts of design tests that these companies have their applicants go through. It’s interesting because usually, it’s under strict time constraints so I guess they’re trying to gauge how well you can work under pressure with a tight deadline. It really helped me to understand the pace that I was going to be moving at.

MB: Sounded like a good experience. So coming from the Marvel vs. Capcom series a seasoned competitor for many years, what sort of input did you have for the game’s development as the lead combat designer?

Clockwork: I’ll say that pretty much anything that has to do with the gameplay or the combat, I have touched everything. These days, Shady K takes care of a lot of housekeeping and janitorial work. Especially early on when we were gearing for release, we were pumping out characters and doing whatever we could to make the game as fun as possible. We’re continually improving on the game.

I will say that when I first got on board, the idea for their comeback mechanic was a bit stale. So I really pushed to have the Zords in the game.

MB: Oh, really? What was so stale about it?

Clockwork: It wasn’t really fleshed out. They were just thinking that we should have a mode where you power up or speed up–kind of like an X-Factor of sorts. We needed to do something a bit more on-brand.

MB: How did you decide which characters would be in the game? Also was there ever a point that maybe the game was going to be a regular 1v1 fighter instead of a 3v3 fighter? What was behind the decision to make it the latter?

Clockwork: I think by the time I had gotten on board, the ideas that they wanted it to be 3v3, but also accessible and something fun were there already. I think the idea for Power Rangers is that it’s constantly a team thing–the Power Rangers are always working together and all of that so it really makes sense to us that the game should be 3v3. Putting stuff in like Rangers who would never get to be on the show or Mega Force Yellow getting to team up with Jason. I feel like it was the right direction.

I can’t go too much into detail about how we choose characters, but I will say what’s really great about the Power Rangers IP is that there is so much to pull from as far as inspiration on how the characters should play. It’s almost as if some of the characters design themselves like oh that’s supposed to be a special move. That’s supposed to be a super. The Green Ranger should definitely have these attacks. He should be attacking with a sword most of the time and he can also use his blaster. It’s really fun to go through the source material and pick and choose what we want to use in the game.

MB: I might be prying a bit especially since the new DLC that includes Lord Zedd, one of the Gold Ranger, and one of the Pink Rangers is coming out soon but… is Rita Repulsa going to be in the game at some point (laughs)?

Clockwork: I can’t talk about any characters that aren’t in the game, but anything is possible (laughs).

MB: I mean Goldar is in the game so I have to expect Rita at some point, but I get it (laughs). So what is your team of choice to play as in Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid?

Clockwork: I really like Red Ranger, Zeo Gold Ranger, and Dragon Armor Yellow Ranger. I like how agile Gold and Red are. They feel really good to dash and jump around with. They feel very responsive. Trini’s assist is just so good with a laser beam which is easy to convert off and locks your opponents down. It’s sort of an all-purpose move. She’s a tank as well and works well as an anchor when she has her Zord out.

MB: For players that are on the fence about picking the game up, what would you say to them to convince them to give it a try and what to expect from it?

Clockwork: One of the biggest selling points of the game is that it’s $20, man! It comes at a discounted price, but I do feel the quality of the game as it keeps improving and improving, to me it’s worth way more than $20. So you can’t really beat that deal.

If you’re into fighting games, Power Rangers, and if you’re just into video games in general–I think the accessibility, frenetic pace, and action of the game–I think there’s something in it for everybody.

For more information on Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid, follow Clockwork and the game’s Twitter pages in the source links below.

Sources: Battle for the Grid (website), Level Up Series (YouTube), Clockwork (Twitter), Battle for the Grid (Twitter)