Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Going to do a small piece on both SCR and the Hong Kong FGC scene.
Let me know if you know any writers, ha.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Don's Arcade
Carol Drive is hidden. The nickname “Sleepy Hollow” suits it well, with its surrounding barrier of small hills and its blanket of overarching leaves and trees. The only life on this cold October evening is the roving fog that is accompanied by the rhythmic chirping of crickets. The neighborhood is already fast asleep at six p.m. Nestled in the middle of the street sits an unassuming one-story house with a two-car garage. The small windowpanes of the garage are streaked with glimpses of light, illuminating the dark concrete sidewalk outside.
At seven p.m., the garage of Don Dapo, 30, hums to life. The roars of several arcade machines from inside break the night’s silence with each in-game narrator introducing each specific game title with a different opening cinematic and song. “So, what’s it going to be? The Third Strike, ya’ll, it’s Street Fighter Three,” one machine’s introduction music blared out.
Outside, a combination of light and fog glide toward the entrance of Dapo’s house. The beams from the headlights of various cars greet the closed twin garage doors. A dull crunch of pavement and tire signals the end of each car’s journey. The click of engines stopping, static noises from the radio and car door slams provided the background noise for the neighborhood. Passengers from inside the cars emerge and walk on the pathway along the side of the house. They move toward an old weathered brown door at the end of the trail. The door opens after a few knocks and light floods the group of travelers. Inside the garage, a tall, burly man sporting a leather jacket and an equally impressive handlebar mustache welcomes these passengers of the vehicles. The door is propped open and the people file into the bright caverns of Dapo’s double roomed garage. The arcade is open again.
From outside, any passerby listening in can make out the sounds of buttons mashing and exciting chatter. The sound contained inside by the closed garage and backdoor, barely escapes the driveway of Dapo’s home. Outside, he stands and looks on to the lit windowpanes of his garage, his breath visible in the cold night air. Dapo sighs contentedly at the current state of affairs: many players from the Southern California area are here in his home.
The unique appeal of Dapo’s arcade came from the fact that it doesn’t cost the players anything to come and play. The sessions are every week, on a Friday night, and players are alerted with a text message. Everything is on “free play” and players take advantage of this by playing until four a.m. “The crowd is separated by times,” Dapo said. “There is a crowd that comes in at nine p.m. and also one at 12 p.m.; that’s why I keep it so late.” Each space for the “Super Street Fighter Four” (SSF4) console set-up (there are eight set-ups, total) has a person either sitting down or peering over the player’s shoulder and lounging. Players either wait to play or watch the game. Each player reacts to the other’s moves, some in silence from concentration and others more vocal about their accomplishments.
“That link was so crispy,” an onlooker compliments the combo attack put together by one player.
“Man, that guy is too free,” another onlooker comments on the lopsided result of another match. Most players take their punishment in silence and the winners generally stay humble, even offering advice to others in defeat. It is two a.m. and the controller is still being passed around to the onlookers sitting behind them. The losers at each station happily pass on the arcade stick or point silently to the controller to encourage the onlookers to take their turn.
At seven p.m., the garage of Don Dapo, 30, hums to life. The roars of several arcade machines from inside break the night’s silence with each in-game narrator introducing each specific game title with a different opening cinematic and song. “So, what’s it going to be? The Third Strike, ya’ll, it’s Street Fighter Three,” one machine’s introduction music blared out.
Outside, a combination of light and fog glide toward the entrance of Dapo’s house. The beams from the headlights of various cars greet the closed twin garage doors. A dull crunch of pavement and tire signals the end of each car’s journey. The click of engines stopping, static noises from the radio and car door slams provided the background noise for the neighborhood. Passengers from inside the cars emerge and walk on the pathway along the side of the house. They move toward an old weathered brown door at the end of the trail. The door opens after a few knocks and light floods the group of travelers. Inside the garage, a tall, burly man sporting a leather jacket and an equally impressive handlebar mustache welcomes these passengers of the vehicles. The door is propped open and the people file into the bright caverns of Dapo’s double roomed garage. The arcade is open again.
From outside, any passerby listening in can make out the sounds of buttons mashing and exciting chatter. The sound contained inside by the closed garage and backdoor, barely escapes the driveway of Dapo’s home. Outside, he stands and looks on to the lit windowpanes of his garage, his breath visible in the cold night air. Dapo sighs contentedly at the current state of affairs: many players from the Southern California area are here in his home.
The unique appeal of Dapo’s arcade came from the fact that it doesn’t cost the players anything to come and play. The sessions are every week, on a Friday night, and players are alerted with a text message. Everything is on “free play” and players take advantage of this by playing until four a.m. “The crowd is separated by times,” Dapo said. “There is a crowd that comes in at nine p.m. and also one at 12 p.m.; that’s why I keep it so late.” Each space for the “Super Street Fighter Four” (SSF4) console set-up (there are eight set-ups, total) has a person either sitting down or peering over the player’s shoulder and lounging. Players either wait to play or watch the game. Each player reacts to the other’s moves, some in silence from concentration and others more vocal about their accomplishments.
“That link was so crispy,” an onlooker compliments the combo attack put together by one player.
“Man, that guy is too free,” another onlooker comments on the lopsided result of another match. Most players take their punishment in silence and the winners generally stay humble, even offering advice to others in defeat. It is two a.m. and the controller is still being passed around to the onlookers sitting behind them. The losers at each station happily pass on the arcade stick or point silently to the controller to encourage the onlookers to take their turn.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Run it back: The road to SCR (Southern California Regionals)
Great documentary made about Alex Valle, the renewal of the West Coast rivalry through Street Fighter 4, and THE big event in Southern California everyone is looking forward to, Southern California Regionals.
Part 1: http://www.vimeo.com/16293297
Part 2: http://www.vimeo.com/16817571
Part 3: http://www.vimeo.com/18430319
Part 1: http://www.vimeo.com/16293297
Part 2: http://www.vimeo.com/16817571
Part 3: http://www.vimeo.com/18430319
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Surrounded by the veterans
MILPITAS, Calif. – This new generation of fighting games was supposed to bring out all sorts of different players, from young ones to semi-young ones. With that, the newcomers were supposed to take over and start history.
But old history won't go away. There’s the small group of players that won’t let their own game get taken away from by all of these rookies. These guys have arguably been more consistent than most other communities out there. Well, to be honest, they’ve had their game for more than a decade; it was only a couple years ago where their game went through a few tweaks.
Out of all the games that have seen the spotlight in the past year and a half, it’s the Super Street Fighter II Turbo: HD Remix group that has maintained its veteran dominance. At NorCal Regionals 8, it was one of the three games on the main roster. And then it had five of its top eight finalists from NorCal Regionals 7 make an appearance this time around; no other game had as many returning players.
This is not a fluke; it’s happened in a lot of major tournaments in 2010. There’ll be one or two newcomers that edge their way into the top eight, but they’re surrounded by the known names.
But old history won't go away. There’s the small group of players that won’t let their own game get taken away from by all of these rookies. These guys have arguably been more consistent than most other communities out there. Well, to be honest, they’ve had their game for more than a decade; it was only a couple years ago where their game went through a few tweaks.
Out of all the games that have seen the spotlight in the past year and a half, it’s the Super Street Fighter II Turbo: HD Remix group that has maintained its veteran dominance. At NorCal Regionals 8, it was one of the three games on the main roster. And then it had five of its top eight finalists from NorCal Regionals 7 make an appearance this time around; no other game had as many returning players.
This is not a fluke; it’s happened in a lot of major tournaments in 2010. There’ll be one or two newcomers that edge their way into the top eight, but they’re surrounded by the known names.
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