"Meet Your Mod" Episode 9: TaoFTW

This week: the man behind the :3

TaoFTW

[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

- Why did you choose that particular handle, is there a story or reference you'd like to explain?

I was formerly MayFTW before I became TaoFTW. When I first started playing May, the first thing I thought of was, "Hey, I win with her so I might as well just put something like FTW." When I started playing Blazblue, I changed my handle to TaokakaFTW. Veteru suggested that I put something simple like, 'TaoFTW.'

- What is your background with fighting games...Did you start with BB or are your OG like SFII?

I first started playing fighting games when my friend introduced me to GG slash back in 2007. It wasn't until I had the rare opportunity to play with Nerina and Kennyon while they were in Santa Cruz that driven me to become a competitive fighting gamer.

- What competitive scene are you involved with? (Ranbats, Arcades, XBL, PSN, Reload Online etc.) Would you elaborate the benefits of this particular scene?

I retired from competitive gaming, but I used to play in the BB NorCal Sunnyvale Golfland Arcade ranbats and monthly NorCal Install ranbats. The best attribute about the scene is the consistency; there is always someone to play against every week.

- How strong do you feel your nation is as a whole, what is the next step to strengthening it?

I feel we are very weak as a whole. Everybody focuses on strengthening their gimmicks and execution that we lose focus of the most important fundamentals in FGs: Strong mixups, footsies, yomi, pressure and -above all- our ability to adjust to our opponents. The very fact was proven when Tokido won SCR. Second to that is that is our lack of matchup experience. The solution is simple; think about what we're doing wrong and fix it.

- Which player(s) give you the most trouble and why?

Players who are patient and never lose their cool. If I can't get them impatient, then matches comes down to whomever has stronger fundamentals and defense.

- What has been the most helpful tool while growing stronger in BB?

Playing against the best. Back when Ricky Ortiz was still playing Blazblue, I had to make my gameplay solid in order to win - footsies, mixups, yomi, you name it. If I didn't overcome this hurdle, then I would be stuck paying $20 every week for as long as I played the game.

- Is there anything you'd like to share regarding your respective character or Dustloop in general?

You can win matches with Taokaka if you just focus on mixups, gimmicks and random attacks. You can only win tournaments if you use everything she has in her arsenal to win. You can jump higher than any character and you can force them in situations no other character can do. There's no reason to be flashy and do reckless moves. If you can control the pace of the game, then you've already won.