The Risk Of Focusing On Competitive Gaming

A lot of people like myself suspected that Street Fighter V's launch was going to be epic, some may even say historic. The night before, an exhibition between an unlikely opponent in rapper Lupe Fiasco and fighting game legend Daigo Umehara ended in explosive vibrations that anyone in the building or watching on stream for that matter could feel. It was clear that there was an excitement in the air one that was full of bright lighted optimism.

Unfortunately, the optimism for some would dampen on the official day of its release. Reviews were already pouring in pretty harsh criticisms. Aside from a few game modes playable at launch, SFV felt very incomplete. While Capcom did let excited fans know that everything would not be available on release day, it didn't quite seem to dawn on everyone until people finally got their hands on the game. 

Now, some of this may have been quieted if a giant server issue didn't come up during the time of launch but it in fact did and this lead many to taking some time to try out the two game modes that were available and realizing that one of them was very much incomplete. Though it was announced that a big story mode would be coming in June, it didn't quite sink in that it would be directly tied to what they would be delivering initially and it certainly left a bad taste in the mouths of many.

Things have certainly improved over the first week but the resonance for lack of content during this launch of Street Fighter V has remained with two sides of an argument happening over the past week. My feelings on losing the narrative has not really changed any and so it didn't bother me much about the lack of content. I was more so let down with the lack of characters available at launch which, once again, was pretty much confirmed long ago. 

A franchise that has been near and dear to my heart has been receiving some very harsh criticism and because I genuinely adore and respect its producer Ono-San greatly, it hurts to see so many unhappy with what we know isn't the final result, but, I can agree it is definitely not something you would deem as a complete product. 

For those that sincerely want to know where Capcom went wrong, what happened here was a direct affect of something that has now become apart of gaming moving into a new generation, and that is the competitive arena. It has been apparent from the onset of Street Fighter V's birth that this would officially be the first game created with a competitive aspect in mind. 

While the mechanics would be fine tuned in hopes of bringing in a broader spectrum of gamers, the biggest goal of Street Fighter V would be the emergence of competitive gaming through their already cultivated creation, Capcom Pro Tour.   

The Capcom Pro Tour happened back in 2014 its sole purpose leading us to this moment where Street Fighter V would become the featured game for the next years to come.  The relationship with Sony in the development of Street Fighter V and the Capcom Pro Tour, pushed further this notion of a dawn of competitive gaming that would give pro players and up and coming competitors an opportunity to earn real life fight money and travel the world fighting new opponents similar to what protagonist Ryu has done throughout his gaming life cycle. 

The Capcom Pro Tour will be starting off officially this week at the Cannes Winter Clash in France. This isn't going to be obvious to the average gamer who has yet to understand the competitive world of the Fighting Game Community but those of us in the know understood the decision to release this game in its initial state was to make sure it was available at this said event and others like it in the coming weeks. 

While I'm excited about the Capcom Pro Tour and will be involved more so as a volunteer than a competitor, I get it, Capcom messed up..kind of. I haven't forgotten that before I ever thought about this being more than just a game, I was a 12-year old little boy playing with my friend, trying to beat the game with every character to see their ending, and for years this was the narrative until the emergence of online gaming. 

Whether this has hurt Street Fighter V and the initial new players that it had the potential to bring in doesn't quite seem apparent at the moment. What is apparent, at this point at least, is the fact that Street Fighter V is creating an all time high in the competitive scene. 

It has already eclipsed  the recorded attendance that Street Fighter IV had previously this year for EVO and the game has only been out for a week preceding the Betas that some initially had the opportunity to play.

Some are saying that this risk Capcom took may have been detrimental to the overall bottom line. After all, once the game has been reviewed there aren't any re-reviews. Despite, what I believe are some valid criticisms of its initial release, the game is, without a doubt, solid and I look forward to putting more time into it going forward whether I decide to compete or not. 

Whether in success or failure, I hope Capcom takes a look back at this release and remembers that despite their optimism about the future of competitive gaming, they remember there are still young and old who can and will enjoy the game for what it is. Whether they play it casually or competitive, it's important that one doesn't get alienated for the other. 

Celebrating 25 Years Of Fighting With Street Fighter II!!

On February 6th the original Street Fighter II arcade game would celebrate its 25th anniversary and like nostalgia always loves to do, it starts to float memories to the surface. Many of us have that first fighting game where we experienced that one on one competition that got us completely enveloped in the characters on screen as we externalized our game play using our controller of choice.

For me, Street Fighter II was that introduction and it was a day that I will never forget. A field trip to the bowling alley would eventually lead to an impromptu moment with this new game that I gravitated toward among the others surrounding the arcade area. I had no clue what I was in for as I was met with the character selection screen and a decision to make. 

Enthralled by the martial arts wearer of the red karate gi Ken Masters, I made my choice and waited patiently for my first opponent which was none other then the very monstrous ball of electricity Blanka. Having no clue about any of the controls, I frantically mashed as many beginners do some how pulling out a win and facing my next opponent, the guy with the funny do, Guile. 

He proved to be a little more challenging. Despite the loss, I was mesmerized by the astounding attention to detail during the match as I watched my character get tossed into a near by wooden crate only to have it be destroyed on impact all the while the background is populated with cheering on lookers and music setting off a tone which let's you know it's time to get busy(did I just say get busy?). 

By this time other classmates started to take an interest in the game as well and before I knew it I was facing off with one classmate in particular who I've, needless to say, traded a few punches with in real life. He went with Dhalsim who to my surprise had an uncanny ability of almost stretching his limbs the entire length of the screen to hit his opponent. I managed to pull out a victory sending my classmate into salt as he no longer had the will to fight and left dejected..I took much satisfaction in his defeat.

It was moments like these that would continue going into the home console version of the game. Despite the change of venue, the fight was the same. He who won the match kept the controller and when facing my overconfident pal among a group of friends, I once again felt extreme adulation after defeating him very convincingly even pulling off a combo during the fight.

While the Street Fighter series was not the game that I would eventually identify with the most, there is no forgetting the foundation that it laid for me and many others. From webpage creators(like myself) to game developers, legendary players, tournament organizers, and more, Street Fighter II has spawned a generation of inspiration that will never be forgotten. 

As with Ryu the next challenge is all that matters and I feel it my duty to make sure that where there is a will to fight their is a challenger to meet with them any where, any place, and I have Street Fighter II to thank for creating the spark in me that has lead to this point in my life.