Welcome
Fighter Interviews
Here are some interviews of some fighters from around the country sharing their thoughts. This will be a weekly thing.
07/21/2009 Interviewee
Name
Since the first time I saw Street Fighter 2 at the local store in the Bronx. I think I was around the age of 11. I thought the graphics were mind blowing. I first witness a Chun Li vs Blanka match. I had no idea what was going on but it just drew me in so fiercely. I remember playing afterwards and I ended up spending the only $10 I had in my pocket. Best $10 I ever spent as a child. Ever seen those days, I haven’t stopped.
What is your favorite fighting game?
At the moment I love SF4. I am planning to jump on KOF12 in the near future.
Stick or Pad?
Stick, after years of being a pad scrub. This is funny because I started playing SF at the arcades. I got really serious with Street fighter Alpha, Marvel Super Heroes and Xmen vs Street Fighter. I was actually good with stick by this point. Then the Playstation/Saturn era started, I started to hit the import scene pretty heavy with Saturn. The Saturn pad spoiled me like no other.
What kind of player are you; reckless, smart, turtle, aggressive?
It really depends on whom I’m playing with and who I am fighting. I try to have a mix of turtle to aggressive play style. I do get inpatient at times which happens to be my weakness. I’m working on it and learning to use the clock more and making the other player make a mistake instead of always trying to create an opening.
How good to do you consider yourself of a player?
I think I’m a solid player. I know I can compete with good players. I made the transition from pad to stick 100% last December so I’m still working on perfecting my execution.
How far do you see yourself going in competitive playing?
My goal is to be able to play on a higher level. If I can go to a tournament and lose to my opponent because he was better than me but I was able to play to my best of my ability. That right there would be a great and rewarding feeling. Once I achieve such a state, the next logical step is to win tournaments.
Who is your favorite character from any fighting game?
I’m a big Ryu fan but I do not play him in Street fighter 4. I currently enjoy the game with M.Bison (Dictator), and Akuma. I normally gravitate towards characters that people don’t use as much as others. I also enjoy Gouken and Sakura. I have always loved Guile since Street Fighter 2. Its kind of depressing that he isn’t that good in that game. Hopefully in the next Street Fighter 4 alteration Guile gets some nice buffs to his game. In the Alpha series, I love Charlie. Dude was the truth in that series. I would love to see him make his way into the Street Fighter 4 universe. Karin in the alpha series is a pretty amazing character. I wish she was in Street Fighter 4. I always liked Terry Bogard, Kyo, Ryo, Rugal, Butts, Heidern, and Leona from SNK as well.
Who is your least favorite character from any fighter?
I always thought Twelve was a waste of character that should have never been created for 3rd Strike. Not only is he dead last on the tiers and un-useable in tournament play. He is yet another freak in the 3s universe. While I play Remy for fun, I don’t like his graphical design too much. He has clown shoes on. I also think Dan shouldn’t be in Street Fighter 4. I like Dan, he is a funny character but I think joke characters shouldn’t be in the main series. The character slot he took up could have been reserve for better characters such as Karin. Especially since Sakura is in Street Fighter 4. I would of love to see where their rivalry is current at.
What fighting game are you currently playing?
I am mainly playing SF4. I’m starting to get deeper with HD Remix and currently waiting for King of Fighters 12 for Xbox 360. On 2DF, I play Street Fighter Alpha 1-3, Street Fighter 3, and all the Marvel games, KOF98, KOF2002 and Garou.
How many hours do you play or practice?
I put in a few hours a day. I try to shoot for 5 hours a day.
How do you train?
I practice my execution in training mode and play friends that also take fighting games serious. I look at player footage that are better than me to see if I see a combo, strategy, or links that I didn’t know worked. This year’s EVO was a great learning experience.
How often do you attend tourneys?
Not enough, I was heavy into the scene 3 years ago but due to personal reasons I dropped it all my training and playing for a few years. I stop attending gatherings, going to tournaments and hosting my own fighting gatherings. I would follow it still but I wouldn’t play. Street Fighter 4 kind of rekindles my love for the genre and the timing was just about right for me to jump back in.
What event would you like to go to showcase your skills?
Ever since I learned about how deep this fighting community scene is. I always wanted to go to EVO and play at the world’s stage. I know I need tournament experience so in the next year I’m going to attend as much tournaments as I possibly can. My next tournament is Who’s Got Next tournament on August 15th. My good friend Laughingheyna is throwing it can’t wait to see you there dude. I also plan on compete at EVO 2k10.
What players who do you look up to?
I really like Edma’s Akuma. He does amazing FADC combos for major damage. I’m really trying to get my Akuma on that level. Daigo Umehara is just an amazing player. The level of concentration, execution, nerves of steel, knowledge and the perfect clutch player.
Do you feel that fighting games players have to work harder to earn the respect of other genre gamers?
Absolutely, other genres get a lot more recognition than the fighting genre. People are hung up on 3D graphics with all those bells and whistles. FPS, sports games, RTS, and other genres get more coverage and respect than fighting games do.
With Street Fighter 4 out and with the upcoming fighting games that are coming out (KOF, BlazBlue, MVC2 (rerelease), Tatsunoko vs. Capcom) are fighting games making a comeback and bringing life into the Fighting Era as it was back in the early 90’s?
For a few years there, the fighting genre was dying and the niche community that I’m proud to be part of continues to keep it alive. Regardless of how dimmed it was of us getting a sequel to Street Fighter we held on to our games and cherish the events. 2009 has become the year of the fighter and I’m happy to see our community grow and the industry that once forgot us taking notice. This years EVO was absolutely amazing with 4000 attending the event and over 20k viewing it live on stream. It’s truly a great time to be fighting game. I don’t think the genre would match what it did in the early 90’s due to the changes of the industry we have today. However, there will be more growth and we will witness a similar level to the 90s but in today’s era.
What player that you know that you think that has that the skills, passion and desire to make to the top?
Rellmane, Shinwar, Laughingheyna, Hold Dat, Elrick40k, and CapcomKillah, these guys are good friends and they are excellent Street fighter players. They have what it takes to go to the next level. I would love to see them play along side myself at a major tournament.
What player who you would like to have the opportunity to play against?
Edma, Gootecks, Daigo, Justin, Alex Valle, and John Choi.
What player who you would like to take you under their wing?
Would love to get pointers and some training matches from all the guys I want to play against, especially Daigo.
If you would pick a fighting game that you would like to see in the main circuit, what fighting game would that be?
Well Street Fighter 4 is already there. So I would love to see King of Fighters 12 be taken more serious by North American players. SNK has done a wonderful job at creating a beautiful 2D painting in motion. The game play engine looks awesome and fresh with new ideas. While at the same time the take the game back to its roots and bring it forward to today’s standards. Keeping 2D alive with today graphical standards is a daunting task which should be supported by the fighting community. I hope we see a big following for this game and at next year’s EVO.
Where do you see fighting games going?
I see the fighting genre growing bigger and more popular. I have seen ESPN cover dart, poker and many orthodox tournaments games. I would love to see ESPN cover major tournaments such at EVO, SBO, NEC and others. I want the world to appreciate what is going on in this niche community of ours. The passion we all have to better ourselves and to continue to entertain others. I will always play fighting games till the day that I die. I love it and will always appreciate it for bring me all the joy that it has.
Since the first time I saw Street Fighter 2 at the local store in the Bronx. I think I was around the age of 11. I thought the graphics were mind blowing. I first witness a Chun Li vs Blanka match. I had no idea what was going on but it just drew me in so fiercely. I remember playing afterwards and I ended up spending the only $10 I had in my pocket. Best $10 I ever spent as a child. Ever seen those days, I haven’t stopped.
What is your favorite fighting game?
At the moment I love SF4. I am planning to jump on KOF12 in the near future.
Stick or Pad?
Stick, after years of being a pad scrub. This is funny because I started playing SF at the arcades. I got really serious with Street fighter Alpha, Marvel Super Heroes and Xmen vs Street Fighter. I was actually good with stick by this point. Then the Playstation/Saturn era started, I started to hit the import scene pretty heavy with Saturn. The Saturn pad spoiled me like no other.
What kind of player are you; reckless, smart, turtle, aggressive?
It really depends on whom I’m playing with and who I am fighting. I try to have a mix of turtle to aggressive play style. I do get inpatient at times which happens to be my weakness. I’m working on it and learning to use the clock more and making the other player make a mistake instead of always trying to create an opening.
How good to do you consider yourself of a player?
I think I’m a solid player. I know I can compete with good players. I made the transition from pad to stick 100% last December so I’m still working on perfecting my execution.
How far do you see yourself going in competitive playing?
My goal is to be able to play on a higher level. If I can go to a tournament and lose to my opponent because he was better than me but I was able to play to my best of my ability. That right there would be a great and rewarding feeling. Once I achieve such a state, the next logical step is to win tournaments.
Who is your favorite character from any fighting game?
I’m a big Ryu fan but I do not play him in Street fighter 4. I currently enjoy the game with M.Bison (Dictator), and Akuma. I normally gravitate towards characters that people don’t use as much as others. I also enjoy Gouken and Sakura. I have always loved Guile since Street Fighter 2. Its kind of depressing that he isn’t that good in that game. Hopefully in the next Street Fighter 4 alteration Guile gets some nice buffs to his game. In the Alpha series, I love Charlie. Dude was the truth in that series. I would love to see him make his way into the Street Fighter 4 universe. Karin in the alpha series is a pretty amazing character. I wish she was in Street Fighter 4. I always liked Terry Bogard, Kyo, Ryo, Rugal, Butts, Heidern, and Leona from SNK as well.
Who is your least favorite character from any fighter?
I always thought Twelve was a waste of character that should have never been created for 3rd Strike. Not only is he dead last on the tiers and un-useable in tournament play. He is yet another freak in the 3s universe. While I play Remy for fun, I don’t like his graphical design too much. He has clown shoes on. I also think Dan shouldn’t be in Street Fighter 4. I like Dan, he is a funny character but I think joke characters shouldn’t be in the main series. The character slot he took up could have been reserve for better characters such as Karin. Especially since Sakura is in Street Fighter 4. I would of love to see where their rivalry is current at.
What fighting game are you currently playing?
I am mainly playing SF4. I’m starting to get deeper with HD Remix and currently waiting for King of Fighters 12 for Xbox 360. On 2DF, I play Street Fighter Alpha 1-3, Street Fighter 3, and all the Marvel games, KOF98, KOF2002 and Garou.
How many hours do you play or practice?
I put in a few hours a day. I try to shoot for 5 hours a day.
How do you train?
I practice my execution in training mode and play friends that also take fighting games serious. I look at player footage that are better than me to see if I see a combo, strategy, or links that I didn’t know worked. This year’s EVO was a great learning experience.
How often do you attend tourneys?
Not enough, I was heavy into the scene 3 years ago but due to personal reasons I dropped it all my training and playing for a few years. I stop attending gatherings, going to tournaments and hosting my own fighting gatherings. I would follow it still but I wouldn’t play. Street Fighter 4 kind of rekindles my love for the genre and the timing was just about right for me to jump back in.
What event would you like to go to showcase your skills?
Ever since I learned about how deep this fighting community scene is. I always wanted to go to EVO and play at the world’s stage. I know I need tournament experience so in the next year I’m going to attend as much tournaments as I possibly can. My next tournament is Who’s Got Next tournament on August 15th. My good friend Laughingheyna is throwing it can’t wait to see you there dude. I also plan on compete at EVO 2k10.
What players who do you look up to?
I really like Edma’s Akuma. He does amazing FADC combos for major damage. I’m really trying to get my Akuma on that level. Daigo Umehara is just an amazing player. The level of concentration, execution, nerves of steel, knowledge and the perfect clutch player.
Do you feel that fighting games players have to work harder to earn the respect of other genre gamers?
Absolutely, other genres get a lot more recognition than the fighting genre. People are hung up on 3D graphics with all those bells and whistles. FPS, sports games, RTS, and other genres get more coverage and respect than fighting games do.
With Street Fighter 4 out and with the upcoming fighting games that are coming out (KOF, BlazBlue, MVC2 (rerelease), Tatsunoko vs. Capcom) are fighting games making a comeback and bringing life into the Fighting Era as it was back in the early 90’s?
For a few years there, the fighting genre was dying and the niche community that I’m proud to be part of continues to keep it alive. Regardless of how dimmed it was of us getting a sequel to Street Fighter we held on to our games and cherish the events. 2009 has become the year of the fighter and I’m happy to see our community grow and the industry that once forgot us taking notice. This years EVO was absolutely amazing with 4000 attending the event and over 20k viewing it live on stream. It’s truly a great time to be fighting game. I don’t think the genre would match what it did in the early 90’s due to the changes of the industry we have today. However, there will be more growth and we will witness a similar level to the 90s but in today’s era.
What player that you know that you think that has that the skills, passion and desire to make to the top?
Rellmane, Shinwar, Laughingheyna, Hold Dat, Elrick40k, and CapcomKillah, these guys are good friends and they are excellent Street fighter players. They have what it takes to go to the next level. I would love to see them play along side myself at a major tournament.
What player who you would like to have the opportunity to play against?
Edma, Gootecks, Daigo, Justin, Alex Valle, and John Choi.
What player who you would like to take you under their wing?
Would love to get pointers and some training matches from all the guys I want to play against, especially Daigo.
If you would pick a fighting game that you would like to see in the main circuit, what fighting game would that be?
Well Street Fighter 4 is already there. So I would love to see King of Fighters 12 be taken more serious by North American players. SNK has done a wonderful job at creating a beautiful 2D painting in motion. The game play engine looks awesome and fresh with new ideas. While at the same time the take the game back to its roots and bring it forward to today’s standards. Keeping 2D alive with today graphical standards is a daunting task which should be supported by the fighting community. I hope we see a big following for this game and at next year’s EVO.
Where do you see fighting games going?
I see the fighting genre growing bigger and more popular. I have seen ESPN cover dart, poker and many orthodox tournaments games. I would love to see ESPN cover major tournaments such at EVO, SBO, NEC and others. I want the world to appreciate what is going on in this niche community of ours. The passion we all have to better ourselves and to continue to entertain others. I will always play fighting games till the day that I die. I love it and will always appreciate it for bring me all the joy that it has.
