Wild Wallice

Thursday night is ok with me, I can probably make it. I'll be dead tired though. EDIT: We posted at the exact same time. Get out of my head Ichi.

Shtkn usually starts later, at around 7, because he has work.

So when are these gonna start up again or are we done forever and ever?

Haki, if you're available Wednesday you're free to come over and practice on Extend if you want. Alternatively if you can get off earlier Friday I can hook you up for a few hours before we go to Shtkn's.

Good shit tonight guys. Nice to be back in action after the holiday downtime. Sanoshi, thanks for the heads up. I'll probably be able to make it out, but only for Saturday. Shtkn also said he might go and we may end up bringing more of the SD crew with us. Get hype.

To make up for not being productive earlier, I want to say that I support the idea of netplay events that would provide the winners with hotel rooms or travel expenses to go to majors and think that it could definitely increase interest and turnout. But a concern I have is that it would be possible for people who would have the resources to go to tournaments on their own would end up dominating an online event just so that they could get a free ride. In that case the outcome wouldn't be any different than normal, and of course if we try to constrain who can enter it might not be seen as fair.

You're absolutely right. And I will do something right this very second. I'll play King of Fighters 13 instead.

Stickbug, I read the entire thing and really appreciate the fact that you sat down and spent the time you did to write this. Good on you. I've only started trying to play fighting games, BB specifically, in a competitive way relatively recently. All in all I've been playing fighting games in general for about 2 years. GGXX:AC was my first 2D fighter but the first fighter I played on my own initiative wanting to get better was BB, and from day one I have felt the problems mentioned in your article. The people who had introduced me to GG absolutely refused to play BB when it hit, constantly citing that it was “too anime,” and the “character design is terrible.” They wouldn't even give it any sort of consideration based on aesthetics and I have since had an extremely difficult time trying to get any of my other friends to play it either because of those reasons or they simply don't “get” fighting games. I can also admit that I was part of the problem for a little while. When I started in CT, I was netplay exclusively. To me, the people who played in tournaments were like some kind of wizards. Untouchable. It was unthinkable for me to go to a tournament even though I could have, because I would just be ripped apart and if you get ripped apart people don't give you the time of day, no matter what game it is you're playing. So I sat in an IRC channel and played friends and random people over the internet on red connections and not really taking the game seriously. I played a lot of stuff on GGPO too at the time, satisfied I could just hop on and leave when I felt like it and this only added to the problem. But then a friend and I decided to stop by Arcade Infinity one day, despite neither of us knowing how to play stick. While he walked away from the experience relatively bitter, for me it was a real come to Jesus moment. It had felt like a completely different game (it was technically, it was CS1), filled with new experiences. I went home, spent about a month learning to play stick, quit netplay, and then spent 6-7 hours every Friday for around 6 months on that BB machine until Arcade Infinity closed down. When it did close, and lacking any other outlet for BB, thats when I finally started going to tournaments, out of desperation to play the game and to try and get better. I wasn't anywhere near ready, I still got destroyed just the way I thought I would when I started playing. But it was different now. It was ok for me to get destroyed if I could play. Because then I would get to see people I had met at AI at the tournaments, ask them how they did, hang out with them, and not be salty alone. So I think that one of the problems for building a scene is that few will be able to have an experience like I had, due to the dwindling number of arcades. Its pretty easy to go from netplay warrior to someone who stops in at an arcade to play games once in awhile. I'd say its a lot more difficult for people to make a decision to start going to local casuals at somebody's house in an area they potentially don't know with a bunch of people they have never met, than to go to a specific location they've heard about and had people vouch for, scope it out and slowly start meeting people at their own pace. The sad thing is that nobody can really do anything about this since arcades are going the way of the dodo, but I really do think it would light a fire under some people to start seriously going to events if they had a chance to experience playing a fighting game in an arcade setting. As for me, I've only gone to four tournaments so far. I've gone to Socal Regionals twice, Revelations, and I finally traveled for the first time to go to Evo2k11. I spent a lot of money on gas and rooms, just to get eliminated quickly, but it didn't matter. I still had fun. Now I'm trying to do everything in my power to try and make it to Final Round this March, and even without BB on the lineup I will be there for Evo2k12 and I happen to be one of those broke college students you were talking about. I think there is precious little excuse for people not to come, because once I started caring about it enough, I've found ways to make it out. If I can do it, I'm sure everyone else can put for a little more effort and make it to more events too. One last thing I'd like to say is that I don't think separating is the right decision. Even people who don't play fighting games, but just video games in general tend to know that Evo is a bit of a big deal. We shouldn't be walking away from that, especially as it keeps getting bigger. It seems to me that withdrawing and making our own thing would just be running away, admitting defeat. But I don't know if the community would have the stomach or the means to do otherwise. Anyway, thanks for the great article. I for one will try to make it to as many majors as possible this year. I want to see the community grow.

He doesn't. Thats the problem. Roa, I got your PM, and I'll send you my address. Coming around at 9 is not a problem, but you'll only have a few hours to play. Ok, so the plan is the usual, start at 5 PM. We can end at either 11PM or 12AM, depends on you guys. If we want to all go out and get dinner like usual we should end at 11, otherwise I'm fine with ending at 12 so that we can squeeze in more time for everyone. I realize that pretty much everyone has said they're gonna be late, but I've got plans for the day after so I need to get up early and can't keep everyone around till 2 in the morning because of that. See you guys here on Friday.

Ichi, it looks like they plan on doing it Sunday, so yes there will be a gathering at my place on Friday.

Not Gilman, the other one. There is a third one called the Pangea structure, but that one does not offer buyable permits so don't go to that one either.

Ugh, looks like I'm gonna need to make a facebook to keep up to date with stuff thats going on now. Anyway, a couple of points: 1. Watermelonz, I actually go to UCSD so thats +1 to people who play BB at UCSD. I've looked to see if there were any gaming clubs or whatever, and all I could find was the sixth college technical club or whatever it is that has random gaming sessions in the Sixth college lounge. Since it seemed like all they did was play random games and not dedicated Blazblue or even any other kind of fighter, I never bothered pursuing that further. If there are any kind of regular events or get-togethers on campus, hit me up. I will probably be able to make it to at least a few of them. 2. I remember talking about Winter Games Fest before but when I saw that it wasn't gonna have BB on the lineup I never bothered bringing it up again. I've actually made plans for Saturday so I won't be able to attend this BB tournament if it materializes UNLESS it is on FRIDAY. And if that happens then there will be NO MEETUP, since I will not only be going to the tournament but bringing my setup to contribute as well. If we can nail down what day this is going to happen before Thursday evening that would be really great. 3. Shtkn, parking isn't free on weekdays no. The best place to get parking would be the parking structure located in the middle of campus near the library. Parking in the green spaces on the upper floors costs 8 dollars for a whole day, but thats better than 16 dollars for a day in white visitor spaces in other places that are further away. I'm guessing that the event will be held in the Price Center Ballroom like it was last year and the year before, and its a relatively easy walk from that parking structure to the Price Center. 4. We should probably start looking into an actual venue for our gatherings. I don't know how that would work out since I have no experience with renting places out or whatever, but recently we've seen our scene go from 4 regulars to a 5th who comes once in awhile, several more potentials and now 3-4 people in Watermelonz's crowd who might start showing up on a regular basis. I feel like my apartment won't have enough room for all these people and/or setups, and soon maybe Shtkn's place won't either. Not something we need to get on right away but we might want to start considering before it becomes an issue.

Ok, so I'll be back as of Sunday evening, and yes plan is to have the next session at my place. I see we've got a another new person so thats awesome. PM me for my address if you plan on coming and I'll get back to you. Current plan is from 5 PM to 10 PM like before. However, my schedule is pretty different this year. I have absolutely nothing for Friday so we can start earlier if people are free at an earlier time on Fridays. Wednesday is also completely open for me, but for the time being I'm not available on that day, we'll see what happens. Hope you guys have enjoyed the break and are ready to get into Extend!

No BB on the main stage at evo. Kinda disappointing. I guess we should all learn how to play Street Fighter x Tekken instead.

I won't be back until the 9th so I won't be able to make it this friday. Have fun guys.

So to let you guys know. I ordered Extend a week before SCR, so by the time I get back down to San Diego I may just be lucky enough to have actually had it shipped to me. I hope you guys are ready for the new game!

Looks like nothing is gonna happen. Oh well. See you all at SCR.

Speaking of things at UCI, I went to the "Fighting Gamers @ UCI" thing tonight. One thing I noticed was that even with several setups and a stream station, there was still a decent amount of room for more. They're planning to have another one on Thursday and I'm going to see if I can bring a console setup. So the question to all of you in the neighborhood for SCR is, if they let me bring a setup for BB, would you guys show up and play? The event I went to tonight was supposed to run from 5:30 to 11:30 PM. I've still gotta check to see if they'd be down with it, but I think it would be nice to have a pre-SCR warmup. That is unless people already have something planned, and I don't know about it because sadlife.

Sorry about that Shtkn.

Still, its kind of useless anyway. There is a way to play Accent Core with netplay now too. If you're interested I'll try and set it up again so we can play. Also, yeah, if there is a Friday session this week, it'll be Shtkn who is hosting it and I won't be there.

Too bad. I would have been able to make Sunday. Oh well. I'll look forward to the next one after the holidays are over. See you all at SoCal Regionals.

Good shit tonight guys. Despite my sleep deprivation I ended up talking about bullshit for an hour so I thank you guys for putting up with me. Hopfully by the next time we see each other we'll have gotten rid of all that rust. See you guys in January, merry Christmas and happy holidays and all that.

Another update. I've pretty much spent most of the night up studying for my last final but it appears I WILL get some sleep before I have to go to it, so we are still on for tonight. I was considering cancelling and did post saying I would, but getting at least a little sleep changes everything. The one thing I will be doing though is ending this at the normal time, 10PM. I don't think I'll be able to keep myself awake for much longer than that. So to confirm, today from 5-10. I know glod is coming since he posted, and shtkn is not. Haki and Ichi, please let me know if you can make it out.

Updating so you guys don't think I'm dead or something. This Friday, the 9th, at my place. 5PM to whenever. Since finals are over as of that day I'm free to have you guys over for extra time, but at the absolute latest I'm gonna have to kick you guys out at 2AM. See you guys on Friday!

Hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving. Unfortunately I've gotta cancel the gathering next Friday, Dec 2nd. I'm taking the lsat in Irvine on Dec 3rd so I will need to be in that area on Friday both to last minute cram and to be on time the day after. I'll be able to host on Friday Dec 9 from 5 PM to whenever, since that will be the last day of finals for me. After that though, I will not be in San Diego again until the next quarter starts at the beginning of January. But I will probably be going to SoCal Regionals at UCI on Dec 17, so hopefully I'll see some of you there. See you guys in two weeks!