Yesterday, the PlayStation 4’s version 4.50 firmware update was rolled out to users, bringing a number of performances improvements and new features to the console. The most notable one, however, is “Boost Mode”–a new feature exclusive to the PS4 Pro console–which allows the Pro to provide better performance for games that aren’t already patched to explicitly support the console’s improved capabilities. Benefits include higher frame rates and faster loading times for all PS4 titles. Looking to see what this means for Street Fighter V, Xuses decided to run a series of tests to compare the loading times of the game in various situations, with and without Boost Mode enabled. These tests included booting up the game, loading up Training Mode, finding a match using Fight Request, and seeing how long it took to return to Training Mode after finishing an online match.
The results of these trials proved to be staggeringly in favor of Boost Mode, as all of the game’s load timers were reduced significantly when it was enabled. Specifically, the load times were as follows:
Launching the Game:
Normal: 1 minute, 35 seconds
Boost Mode: 1 minute, 23 seconds
Loading up Training Mode:
Normal: 24 seconds
Boost Mode: 17 seconds
Finding an Online Match from Training Mode:
Normal: 55 seconds
Boost Mode: 45 seconds
Returning to Training Mode after finishing a Match:
Normal: 53 seconds
Boost Mode: 48 seconds
It is unknown at this time if Boost Mode has any further effects on SFV’s performance, but this is certainly a great perk for those who can afford to drop the extra cash on this upgraded version of the console. With Capcom promising a Spring update to the Capcom Fighters Network (CFN), perhaps they can still reduce these load times for users on all platforms?
You can see Xuses’ tests running in full, in the video below.
Are you excited about these reduced load times, if you happen to own a PS4 Pro? Will this new development convince you to buy one? Give us your thoughts below in the comments section!
Fightcade is currently the most popular service for playing online fighting games, and other retro multiplayer games. Having picked up where an unstable GGPO server left off, the program features a new user interface, but the same netcode as before. Because it was a change in servers only, it was left with many of the bugs that GGPO had–primarily due to the version of the Final Burn Alpha emulator that was in use. As a result, Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike experiences glaring graphical and sound issues, and players on any operating system beyond Windows XP had increased lag and latency issues.
The development team is committed to porting Fightcade and the netcode to a better version, and began developing this a couple years ago. They recently released a preview video of the 4th beta version, which shows that a lot of the major issues revolving around the current public version have been fixed. The software also features an overlay that counts wins and losses in real time, eliminating the need for one of your own on your stream, if you are running an event using the service. Moreover, a look at the game list as shown on the screen while scrolling shows evidence that Fightcade will feature quality netcode for systems other than CPS2 and Neo Geo, now including the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive.
While no release date of the new version of Fightcade is yet announced, developer Pau Oliva states that the release will be “soon”–but cites that he cannot state exactly when, as development is done in the team’s own free time.
The Philocypher continues to chat with the author of Gief’s Gym on how your outlook on improvement affects your results in Street Fighter.
In the latest addition to his FGC Philosophy series, Tavian “The Philocypher” Napier continues his interview with r/StreetFighter moderator Joe Munday, known for his contribution to aspiring Street Fighter experts in the form of Gief’s Gym–a lesson-by-lesson guidebook to improving your Street Fighter V game.
In this interview, they discuss the meaning of the “world warrior” mindset–the willingness to travel and face new opponents to diversify and deepen your understanding of the game, and how sticking with a local scene and online play limits your ability to grow as a player. Is your focus only on gaining League Points and ranking up, or learning from your losses to build your skill level? They discuss and elaborate on those competing win/loss mindsets, the accessibility of fighting game competition as compared to professional sports, as well as the business aspects of esports today–financial considerations, versus doing what you love. Check it out below!
Be sure to check out the first part of the interview here; the second edition of Gief’s Gym is available in paperback or Kindle format on Amazon. Napier expresses some additional related thoughts–on the concept of doing more, by doing less–on his blog here.
On this week’s edition of Capcom TV, Tomoaki Ayano joined the show to discuss Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers‘ new touch screen control feature. Utilizing the Nintendo Switch’s touch screen, players will be able to have special attacks, such as the Shoryuken, Hadouken, Tatsumaki Senpukyaku and more right at their finger tips, simply by tapping an on-screen icon that seems to allow players to map up to four different special moves to the screen. This should prove to be an ideal feature both to newer players who may just be starting out with fighting games with USFII, as well as for world warriors looking to literally take the fight out into the streets.
Next, Ayano demonstrated one of the game’s new modes: Buddy Battle (otherwise known as Dramatic Battle). Similarly to the mode seen in the Street Fighter Alpha 3, Buddy Battle allows two players to team up together in a 2-on-1 handicap match against a computer-controlled opponent, with all three characters onscreen at the same time. The team shares a single life bar between themselves. In the video below, you’ll be able to see the iconic duo of Ryu and Ken do battle against M. Bison, and one of the Final Challengers, Violent Ken. Later on in the video, you can see a brief showcase of Street Fighter V‘s second Season 2 DLC character, Kolin. The action begins at the 16:30 mark.
Do any of these new features have you excited for USFII? Sound off in the comments!
Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers launches worldwide exclusively for the Nintendo Switch on May 26th.
Stakes seem higher than normal for tonight’s Super Steam Xrd Exhibition League. The FT7 online league, which features top and mid-level players with commentary, resumes this Thursday with a rematch. The recent Anime Ascension Guilty Gear Grand Finals displayed an epic showdown between KidViper’s Johnny and daymendou’s Slayer, and the same matchup is on the table tonight. The second set is between Kizzercrate and wne.
KidViper
On the match: “Honestly, I still don’t feel quite as comfortable as where I’d like to but I’ll do my best! I think writing out my thoughts really helped me to look at myself and how my focus needed some work. So with that in mind, I feel really refreshed going into the set!”
On his opponent: “He’s a very smart and diligent player. It’s definitely the type of knowledge that’s not for show as you can see most of it implemented in all his matches. Couple that with the character he plays, and you have a very scary combination. One wrong move against him and the payout is really high!”
On his own playstyle: “The way I try to play is with the intent of ‘I want my opponent to feel helpless at all times.’ Be it on offense, defense, or neutral, I want my opponent to feel suffocated no matter how much space or freedom they’re given. Because of this, I try to training mode and practice as many situations as I can to be comfortable at any point in a match. Most people just end up saying I’m more of a defensive player, but it’s not my intent!”
daymendou
On the match: “To be honest, I wasn’t really thinking of KV after winning [Anime Ascension], I was just happy to win for Norcal. I got a lot of luck and after the last moments of the last round, it was a relief to finally be able to relax. I did nothing in particular until the last 2 weeks. I played a lot with Brett yesterday to practice, about 60-70 games. I have turned down everyone asking me for netplay this week until the exhibition is finished. I made some notes based on the games and discussion with Brett.”
On his opponent: “He’s very motivated, he’ll probably try to surprise me with some stuff since we haven’t played since AA. I fully expect to lose the first 2 games. In general, he’s very good at focusing on small things to improve on.”
On his own playstyle: “It would be adapting to what the other player doesn’t want me to do. I try to adjust my pace and rhythm if I feel they wouldn’t be prepared for it in that moment. The effect is to be unpredictable and try to goad them into doing things. I can counter for high reward, while making it harder for them to prepare the correct punish.”
Kizzercrate
On the match: I’m excited for the exhibition itself and grateful for the opportunity as it’s the first time I’ll be able to show my hard work and skillset in a long set. However, I’m also anxious as I tend to get really bad tournament nerves, and I’m learning how to not tense up and play timidly in fear of making mistakes and losing because of them.
On his opponent: My opponent, wne, is very intelligent and solid. I’ll have to keep my play clean in order to avoid getting my life bar deleted by Sin.
On his own playstyle: I have a heavily read-based aggressive gameplan, and I’ve been known to go for flashy plays. The risks I take are calculated, but sometimes I’m really bad at math!
wne
On the match: I think this will be a good set overall since KY v SI is relatively close in my opinion. If I really was pressed I’d actually say Ky has a slight advantage over Sin since most of his buttons beat a lot of my approach options, so I have to play this matchup extremely patiently. Sin gets more reward but since these matches generally go for a longer time period, so food management is definitely an issue when both are sitting midscreen at neutral.
On his opponent: On Kizzer, I think he’s a really, really solid Ky that probably messes around a little too much with Instant Kills in my opinion, but it works well for him and he’s gotten notorious from it. IKing aside, I think he makes very smart decisions and is very knowledgeable about his character and specific matchups, including the one I have against him. I have nothing but respect for him however, and regardless of the outcome, am happy to get to play him.
On his own playstyle: Hmm, being self-critical I want to say I press way too many buttons for my own good. My GG training partner and the guy who helped me learn back in AC was fadooglee, and I probably picked up a few more aggressive habits from him than I should have. I’ve been trying to play a lot more patiently recently so I can see my gameplay changing, but I know I’m definitely more on the offensive side when it comes to US Sin players. But hey, I like big damage and big confirms, haha.
Don’t miss the show later tonight on silva_hime’s Twitch channel, at 8:00 PM EST/7:00 PM CST/5:00 PM PST. Commentary is provided by TSB|Blaze and Ryan Hunter.
Here’s the last week’s footage, which included Vevion vs. sweetxjam and Hamad vs. Foo.
More resources to aid you in your efforts to build Gill’s new world order.
This is Kolin’s second week in the wild, and she’s still proving to be one of the most interesting additions to Street Fighter V. If you’re considering picking up this character as a potential new main or pocket–or are already trying Gill’s assistant out–here’s a few more videos you’ll be interested in checking out.
VesperArcade is helping beginner Kolins out, with this breakdown of her normal attacks:
TrueUnderDawgGaming offers this guide to “everything you need to know” about Kolin, as well as a tutorial on some higher-difficulty combos:
Here’s a showcase of the upper limits in damage that can be achieved with Kolin’s combos:
Echo Fox|Momochi continues to work with Kolin, as shown in this video:
VesperArcade has also shared his efforts to rank up online with Kolin (while showing off a Jill BSAA mod for SFV on PC); watch it here:
To close, check out this highlight reel of HORI’s Sako tearing it up online with the Phantasm of Snow and Ice.
One of the easier mods to do with today’s 3D fighting games is swapping moves from one character to another. With Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 now on PC, it should come as no surprise that some players are trying out exactly that.
A player by the name of pat728 has been playing around with UMvC3 on PC, creating some move swaps for certain characters; now, as is usual with this these things, the swapping isn’t as straightforward as you think. In this case, some effects–and even entire moves–change quite drastically.
The most complete move swap in this collection is for Hsien-Ko, giving her Wolverine’s moves. Here, the former seems to take to the latter’s moveset naturally and with few issues, and being able to pull off one of Wolverine’s bread and butter combos perfectly. However, there are some differences, the most obvious one being how the Fatal Claw hyper combo acts differently, tracking the opponent instead of forming an “X” as it usually would.
Next up is something pat728 call’s “Artinel,” basically being Arthur with Sentinel’s moves. At this point the swap isn’t complete and Arthur isn’t able to call in drones like Sentinel–he performs the motion, but no drones are summoned. Despite this, it’s interesting to see how Arthur’s model actually works quite well with Sentinel’s animations.
This next move swap is even less complete. The swap involves giving Magneto’s moveset to the Mayor of Earth himself, Mike Haggar. The preview video only shows off his neutral stance and some moves, but with no effects yet, meaning he’s technically unplayable. What’s interesting, however, is how he now has the spinning speed line effect around him from his lariat move as a replacement for the trailing shadow effect on Magneto’s arms.
Pat728 isn’t the only person doing move swaps, Cole Diamond has also put up a couple of videos demonstrating some of his own move swaps. First up is a pretty straightforward swap with Nemesis using Super Skrull’s moves.
Less straightforward is the Mental Organism Designed Only for Kicking: M.O.D.O.K. with Chun-Li’s moveset, floating eyes, but without the rest of its face.
Of course, these aren’t the only mods that are being made for UMvC3 on PC. Check out our previous coverage of a stage mod that finally makes Galactus’ stage playable.
Last week we saw a fan take it upon themselves to create their own trailer for the coming Civil War exhibition set for #TeamZero vs #TeamAlly. That trailer seems to have inspired 2GGaming team to host fan trailers on their own YouTube channel; the latest is shown below, made by Panda Ken.
That was just one of many trailers they’ve hosted, as they’re now holding a trailer contest where the winner gets a cash prize. You can check out the strawpoll that’ll be deciding the winner here, and the rest of the submissions below.
Shattered Alliances, Part 2 is here: bringing us a new trailer showing off a lot of interesting plot details, along with some nice shots of a reformed Hal Jordan, Flash, Green Arrow, Captain Cold, and what may be Zoom.
As far as Captain Cold goes, he appears very briefly, and you’d be forgiven for missing him:
Green Arrow died before the events of the first game, so his appearance must mean he comes from an alternate timeline. This means a lot is up in the air, as far as who’s still around and what threat the heroes are facing–which is a threat that seemingly might require Batman to free Superman to handle.
As far as Green Lantern, he has a lot to atone for: he stood by and assisted Superman and Sinestro as they killed countless Green Lanterns, such as Kyle Rayner, John Stewart, and Guy Gardener, along with one of the Guardians. When he says he went through hell to get his ring back, one can only imagine the trials he needed to go through.
We do see The Flash fighting a villain who may be any one of several yellow archenemies of Flash; this villain’s appearance may be the reason some characters are alive, as well. One big recent storyline in DC comics was Flashpoint, in which Professor Zoom (AKA Eobard Thawne) was a major factor in the overall timeline being altered. While Zoom likely won’t be the main threat, it’s interesting to see him in a cutscene–as he appears as an alternate skin, this could mean that John Stewart and Powergirl could appear in the story as well.
Ghost Recon Wildlands, the new open world shooter from Ubisoft, is finally here! Who better to take down some drug lords than TheHiveLeader? Probably anyone else… But Hive’s all you got! So grab some friends and let’s take a look at this co-op focused shooter.
