The free-to-play business model is something that fighting games are beginning to dabble in. Tekken Revolution was the first out of the gate, which provided a smaller Tekken experience that limited the number of times you could access each mode. Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate Core Fighters takes a different approach by primarily gating characters instead. Does this approach provide a less scummy experience?
One of the people I admire the most in the fighting game community is Ryan Gutierrez. Best known as Gootecks, he’s recognized as being a top Street Fighter III: Third Strike player, as well as a top Street Fighter IV player in the game’s early days. While he could have continued to pursue that path, he made a conscious decision to be a content creator with an eye on tutorials and advice for newcomers. Part of that decision probably was because he saw it as a more stable means of making an income from being a part of the FGC. However, he also recognized the importance of growing the community, which he’s most vocal about in the early days of his podcast. Without bringing new players into the scene, the FGC would have continued down the path of being a tiny niche market that was stuck playing the same old games for a decade. Without guys like Gootecks paying it foward, I may have missed out on some of the best and most rewarding times I’ve ever had playing video games.
Fraud detected! Though I may be lukewarm on Divekick, that doesn’t mean I can’t provide any useful tips for players looking to be the next Uncle Sensei. Head over to Splitkick for all of the details!
Check out the Kickstart Guide to Divekick on Splitkick.com
Buy Sony Playstation Network Card – $20 [Online Game Code] Now On Amazon.com
In my first attempt at a Let’s Play video, I take on the world in Injustice: Gods Among Us. I’ll be the first to admit that it is lacking on the production front, but I’m doing what I can with the tools I have. Hopefully it’s still an entertaining watch and I promise I’ll get better as I do more of these!
Fighting games are some of the most difficult and intimidating to learn. It’s very easy to get overwhelmed by all of the variables at play, from complex button inputs, to a seemingly endless stream of online competition ready to beat you to a pulp and brag about it. Even fights against the computer can prove difficult when it appears to have a counter to all of your tactics. How does one get better at fighting games?
Before the advent of training mode, all you could do was suck until you eventually didn’t suck. Then training modes became standard on console fighters, though it was mostly used as a place to practice combos rather than actually learning the nuances of combat. As a means of addressing this shortcoming, fighting game developers have implemented tutorial-like modes into their games. However, I still feel like they’ve all fallen short in some way or another. The end result is the fact that most games in the genre do an inadequate job of teaching players how to actually play, which will drive those dedicated enough to seek information elsewhere, or drive others (maybe most) away.
What can fighting game creators do to help players become better grasp their games? I think they’re almost there, but not quite. Why?
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is still one of the best and hottest fighting games around. If you’re a beginner-level player and are looking to improve your skills, my Kickstart Guide on Splitkick might be the boost you need!
Check out the Kickstart Guide to Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
A little while back, I ran a set with this Hulk player. I find the Hulk to be a weird match-up for Wolverine, as his standing H’s armor ability snuffs out a lot of his offensive options. In this video, we go almost 50:50, though the set ended with me winning 25-5. These are a mix of the more interesting matches in that set. Get hype!
At Fan Expo 2013, I got to play a pre-release build of Killer Instinct on the Xbox One. Though I wish I could have played the game on a fightstick, it did give me an opportunity to get a feel for the new Xbox One controller and my first new taste of Killer Instinct in over a decade.
The divekick maneuver is one of the most powerful in all of fighting games. Hurtling down from the skies at a sharp angle, most characters don’t have any sort of tools to deal with them. As such, those with divekicks tend to be some of the strongest. Whether it’s Kung Lao from Mortal Kombat, Cammy from Street Fighter IV, Dr. Doom from Marvel vs. Capcom 3 or Black Adam from Injustice: Gods Among Us, there’s no shortage of tangible evidence throughout the annals of fighting game history.
This insight is the driving force behind Divekick; a one-move fighting game parody that’s toys with the idea of being accessible to the masses. I’ve been excited to play this game since it’s initial trailer over a year ago and bought it as soon as I could. Having played through it, is the joke actually on me?
Continue reading
Assorted combos with assorted characters. These won’t make Justin Wong blush, but there’s a little swagger in my step (I think). Check it out!
In Third Person 