Continuing our series of interviews from CEOtaku, Shoryuken grabbed the opportunity to speak to another Japanese player attending the event. Like Taka, Kedako has also been sponsored by the r/Kappa crowd. Kedako is famous for his signature character pick, May, and strong play in both Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2 and its predecessor Guilty Gear XX Accent Core +R. Kedako is the Accent Core champion this year, and last year. In 2016, he also won the -REVELATOR- competition.
And yet there’s another service he’s done for the fighting game community at large; with the release of -REVELATOR-, he became something of a frame data guru for the anime community.
Thanks to Brett for helping translate the conversation at CEOtaku. The interview has been slightly edited for clarity.
Woocash: You triumphed at CEOtaku last year, and you did it this year again in Accent Core +R, how do you feel?
Kedako: I’m glad! First of all, I’m just glad. Last year, I went by myself. I was able to win both +R and REV 2, I was glad about that. This year, I got sponsored by r/Kappa. I feel like the results matter more. I do want to leave some good results, not just for myself. There’s a responsibility. I’m glad that I was able to get the win for +R.
Woocash: What was it like to fight Taka in the Grand Finals?
Kedako: We always meet in tournament, Taka and I. That match-up is pretty difficult for Anji. It’s very explosive, very volatile. Taka is always annoyed at bumping into me and having to play that match-up! I always try to put pressure on Taka to make it difficult for him to get out.
Woocash: How much do you practice +R? Do you play with a lot of regularity, or just before tournaments?
Kedako: Recently, I’ve been going to Mikado to play +R casuals the day before tournaments. Also, I practice on the airplane by using my Vita. But because I live in the Kansai region, I can’t go to Mikado often. There’s really not a scene for +R in Kansai. I just fly from my region to Mikado and stay there one night, in Tokyo, to practice +R. It sucks when I can’t do what I want to do, when I’m not well-practiced.
Woocash: I’ve heard that you research frame data. Can you talk about how you got into that and about your methodology?
Kedako: When Xrd first came out, [I realized that] May was completely different. I honestly felt pretty bored of the character; I wasn’t very interested in her. But I like Guilty Gear. The previous versions of Guilty Gear had all the frame data published in mooks [official books], but not Xrd. I took a break from focusing on May, and I started trying to figure out frame data. I dedicated that time to do my own research.
I do it all by eye. I record at 60 frames per second, and I look at it, frame by frame. That’s how I researched all this stuff.
[Kedako found out things like invincibility on YRC, start-up on YRC and RC, how long is Blitz, etc., according to Brett.]
Woocash: I was curious about your thoughts on tag games, like Dragon Ball FighterZ and BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle. Are you interested in them?
Kedako: Yeah, I played the closed beta of DBFZ, I’ll probably play BB Tag when I can. I have played a little of BlazBlue. DBFZ is a really responsive game in which it feels good to move around. Just playing it feels fun.
Woocash: What are your future plans? What’s the next event you’re going to?
Kedako: I definitely want to attend Evo 2018, if I can.
Woocash: What about some other US events, like NEC or Frosty Faustings?
Kedako: As far as the financial matters, I want to attend the biggest tournaments that I can, so for now, just planning on Evo.
Woocash: And if r/Kappa sponsors you again?
Kedako: I would like to, if I get sponsored again, but it’s hard for me to take days off. Generally, it’s not as much of a finance issue, but with work. It’s not a problem with my interest.
Woocash: Any closing thoughts?
Kedako: Unlike Japanese tournaments, the overall environment at international tournaments like CEOtaku is so different. Everyone is playing everything, having fun all the time, it’s really different from Japanese events. It’s a different experience from normal tournaments. Every time I go to one of these events, I get really motivated to go to more. I really like this kind of stuff. I want to go to more events like this.
Read up on CEOtaku 2017 results as well as our other interviews featuring Dora_Bang and Taka.
Source: CEO Gaming