Essay

Looks like we're back to two setups. Any interest in playing the Skullgirls beta on my laptop?

Should get to Dev's around 1PM tomorrow with setups. Anyone else driving in, be warned there's a small detour all day tomorrow at the Kirkwood/Carling overpass.

Nope, it's a new feature. Which one? The screen-centring move? Maybe I'm wrong but it just seems like a ghetto version of magneto's attraction that only works when the opponent is full-screen.

Squiggly IS neat. Gotta rework my BnB on her though. Thankfully I wasn't using Fortune's s.HK as a launcher because that got flat-out replaced by a new move when she has her head! She freaking breakdances now! EDIT: Ooo, and that new s.HK makes it easier to extend my combo! Not that it matters because the IPS change now means that the Cerebella-portion of the combo doesn't get to go very far. You'll be happy to hear, Johnny, that I also have to jump higher if I want my triple overhead. Means it'll start up slower, and she'll take more execution with her head-on. (Head-off, it's just as easy as mashing up+LP+MP > LK > MK.)

Practice, research, and meticulous record-keeping to keep track of all the character-specific stuff. I'll show you my maze of notes some day.

I vote Saturday afternoon, which will let me bring in Matt's Xbox in addition to mine. We'll just have to make sure we have enough controllers (and chairs). Klaige is actually just starting to put out some great content for beginners. In the last few weeks he's recorded a GG Basics 101 video and a Character Play Styles video. Check out all the Guilty Bits episodes too. They're about half-way done summarizing the cast, with a new episode coming out each week or so. You might like Testament for a few superficial similarities to Arakune (curse state, quick overhead starter, crazy ground projectile), but he's getting changed a lot in the next patch. I'm probably just suggesting him because I want experience in that matchup though. He's been top-tier for years, but no one plays him.

Yeah, she's a pretty heavy homunculus for how skinny her hurtbox is. I at least don't feel so bad sacrificing some damage for a knockdown when I touch her out of the hope of getting that damage back should her meter run out. I can understand it boiling down to your May having to land more hits than some other matches though. No word yet about casuals. You willing to host again, @Rigel, if we can't get our fix at HQ? EDIT: We might be able to even get a third setup to Rigel's place, courtesy of Matt. The setups would outnumber the seats!

Man that was a blast. MTL is free at Guilty Gear random-select Team Vs. Now to celebrate Canada Day by sleeping in past noon.

GG's to the Gore GG crew. The four of us agree it was an absolute blast. Nothing will top the hype of that random-select Team Vs. tournament. Damn Brice's mojo with selecting Potemkin on his first try. Look forward to the next time we can all get together.

6428C - That means all's green. I'm off to a wedding. See you guys tomorrow morning.

What is being proposed instead as an input? I've played Vega for 15 years and have had less trouble with his super than double QCF's. Hell, I'd argue that Guilty Gear's common 632146x overdrive input is easier than both. I even find it easier to input 23632167+S in a flash for an instant air super like I-No's than trying to TK off double QCF's in other games, which usually sees me jumping too early if I'm in a rush. Until you get down to Marvel super inputs or NetherRealms super inputs, very little is getting objectively easier, and both of those systems introduce limitations in terms of Guilty Gear's design principles. Anyway, I'd argue that the biggest group that Guilty Gear could do with attracting (and that it probably will attract, if the next-gen competition stands as it is) is experienced fighting game players who have only shied away from Guilty Gear until now because of it having not been on an HD console they had arcade sticks for, and, now that it is, there being little motivation to play because it'll soon be out of date with two new versions on the horizon.

Can you confirm you're still coming, Rigel? 8:45 fine to leave? I can't really tell if Dustloop is sending my PM's, and you were saying your phone situation was iffy. Got them right on my desk here, so I shouldn't forget this time.

^But that's subject to change if Rigel vetos I suppose. We're already probably running early as it is. I'll be unreachable from 3PM until I get home to sleep tonight though, so text me if you've got concerns and I'll text you in the morning if I'm running late.

Yes. Should I just call your number when I get there?

...

The main thing for me is still the issue of feeling like we're participating as much while on the defensive, which none of the other combo-centric fighting games I've played really allowed for in the way that GG does. I can't really say I like how Persona lets it boil down more to another layer of mix up, like how you said. It's too simple, and stops feeling like two players locked in an active struggle. In this sense, GG appeals to me in much in the same way that Vampire Saviour does: I'm less encouraged to sit back and watch the opponent go. It becomes more than just a correct guess to turn things around – it becomes a physical interaction. Part of what I've seen sell people on Guilty Gear over Persona is the "adrenaline-factor". Never have I heard someone argue that they want this game to be less adrenaline-filled – not even aspiring players. Would taking away the agency of teching hurt the adrenaline aspect? Isn't that what happened with Persona?

Could pick you up at your place no problem. Was thinking of stopping by around 9, to get to the lakehouse around 11. Let me PM DerQ to make sure the timing works. Yeah, and I'm guilty of confusing him with Athena because of it. At least Japan's got plenty of men's names ending in a's I guess... Kenta, Akira, Ryota....

Trying every timing in the book until you start to really get accustomed to 5K>HCL>6FRC6: 3 months. Discovering that, when successful, the inputs on your arcade stick play out to the tune of "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo": Priceless. I-No is such a witch.

Hmmm. It's probably from playing I-No, but I actually like that black beat combos are common enough. For example, I'm always making a risk-reward calculation every time I go for this 1 (?) frame 5P j.P extension already, and if you just had to hold a button, I'd be surprised if I ever attempted it. But once I know that my opponent knows that the combo black beat at that point last time, I can start to get tricky with my tech chase game. If they could just always tech on the first frame, it would be too risky to go for the extension in most cases, and I'd feel pressured to always tech chase because it's was easier for them to tech. Plus, there's something satisfying about pianoing to tech and immediately acting, vs holding a button (or, god forbid, auto teching like in marvel) and forcing the defender to react. I'd say it's more active and less jarring, which, for me at least, allows GG to hold my attention for longer than other games.

Could still cram one more person into my hatchback for our trip this Sunday if anyone is dyying to play with the MTL players (unless the other 3 think that would be too cramped... I've never sat in the back of my car with 2 other guys. xD) More random details from their thread about the venue to follow. Keep in mind we're not worrying about staying the night. Getting there in the morning, and driving back after sunset. No swimming for me.

Sounds like you'll have 4 Ottawa GG players in Gore on the Sunday now. Hope MTL GG is coming out.

I'm kind of amazed at how many players of other fighting games in my city are looking at our group playing hardcore GG and wanting to be a part of it, to the point where I'm starting to consider overseeing GG meetups specifically for newer players to help them break in. It's been kind of a weird dynamic until now around here with myself and the other main players kind of losing ourselves in competition with each other for hours at a time, while some of the more motivated newer players cut in occasionally to take their lickings to glean us for bits of knowledge. However, at the end of the day, the up-and-comers all main other games—usually at the same gathers—and it can be difficult to get them to stay on the GG setups with each other when the dedicated GG players are hovering. So, yeah, my hunch: keep these newer players at it by facilitating their own dedicated beginner/intermediate GG meetups, maybe something like the way that Cross Counter Afterhours seems to be giving lots of screen time to their newer players, with a more advanced player or two looking on and contributing. I mean, it's not how I learned the game or anything, but I'm wondering if it might help our long-term retention rate. Anyone have experience with such an approach and reflections to contribute?

I can't really say. Sometimes I just keep my distance and I'm fine, while sometimes just being around them makes me sneeze. It's when they've licked me that things have really gone to shit, so that's what I try most to avoid.

You should send a message to Kurushii to get on the Dustloop Twitch.tv Team!

At least two of us Ottawa GG players are down for driving out to Gore that Sunday morning, and back that night. I say no: I'm dayum allergic. Like, talking hives and airways fucking up.