Steff and I were just two of the over 127,000 people converged at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre this year for Fan Expo Canada 2015. This year was our fifth consecutive year going and it was a good show. Definitely not my favourite Fan Expo, but one that was certainly worthwhile that kept me entertained throughout. Lots of stories and pictures to share with you, so let’s just get into it!
video games
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and Team Deconstruction
Imagine playing a game of Street Fighter where in the middle of the match, you break Ryu’s wrist and he can no longer throw fireballs. This would instantly change the dynamic of the match, as Ryu can no longer keep you at a distance with projectiles. While I’m not actively campaigning for breaking bones to be a feature in the next Street Fighter game, the concept of losing abilities as a fight is happening is a fascinating one. You can already experience this concept in action by playing Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.
Gaming in Montreal
Not too long ago, Steff and I packed our bags and boarded a train to Montreal for a weekend getaway. Though I was sad that our trip was scheduled at the same time as the Street Fighter V beta, I was excited to experience a part of Canada that I haven’t been to since I was a toddler. While we certainly had a wonderful time exploring the city, there was a surprising amount of gaming to be had that weekend.
I’m Going to Fan Expo 2015!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year for Toronto fans of all things nerdy, as Fan Expo Canada returns! If memory serves me correctly, this will be my 6th time going to the show. Here’s what I’m excited for this year!
Street Fighter V Beta Impressions Part 2: The Flow of Combat
1400 words in the first article weren’t even close to enough to covering my thoughts on Street Fighter V. Spoilers: this one won’t wrap things up either. This will though, cover my thoughts on the flow of the game. Let’s get to it!
Street Fighter V Beta Impressions Part 1: Gameplay Systems
Back in July, Capcom’s first attempt at a Street Fighter V beta was an abject failure. A handful of people got in and played some matches, but many (myself included) never even got past the start screen. About a month later, with some tweaks on their end and regional stress testing under their belts, the first round of the beta completed without a hitch. Between the stress test and the few days of the beta I got to participate in, I played as much of it as I could.
I have a lot to say on the subject. So much so, that the first draft of this post was over 2,000 words long and I had only covered about half of what I wanted to say. With this spiraling out of control, I’ve decided to break this up into a series of posts that will probably still be huge, but at least a bit more readable. Let’s get right into it by covering its gameplay systems!
Street Fighter V Beta Cammy Combo Video
Some basic and advanced combos with the Killer Bee in the beta version of Street Fighter V!
Street Fighter V Beta Ryu Combo Video
Some day one combos with Ryu. Tried to show off a range of easy and hard combos. Hope you enjoy!
Universal Fighting Game Guide: Character Variety is the Spice of Life
Becoming a master of every single character in any fighting game is really hard. Now that games have dozens of characters with nearly as many play styles and a countless number of moves to understand, reaching a peak level of effectiveness with everyone is prohibitively time-intensive for almost anyone. With only so much time one can spend on any given fighting game, most people lean heavily towards one main character and possibly a back-up.
I fully endorse the approach of learning every nook and cranny of one character. You don’t have to look very far for examples of people who have taken this approach, such as Smug of Dudley fame in the Street Fighter IV series. However, that doesn’t mean that any time you play with a character other than your main is a waste.
In this edition of the Universal Fighting Game Guide, we cover the virtues of character variety. No one will ever expect you to master every single character in a game, but so much can be learned by exploring the grass on the other side. Here’s how character variety can make you a better fighting game player.
Killer Instinct: In the Lab with Rash
Watch me go through the discovery process with the latest character in Killer Instinct. It’s also an opportunity to see how I learn a new character in a fighting game, which may give you a new perspective on the learning process. Check it out!
In Third Person 