Full Results: Smash League 2.5 (November) - Iowa City, IA - 11/15/14

This Smash League debuted version 3.5 of PM a mere day after its release. Also, the USF4 tournament was turned into the DSM ranbats 1.4. Here are the results.

Project M

1. BlankM (Charizard)
2. Jazz (Fox)
3. Ellis (Mario)
4. Schizm
5. Dehund
5. Wyckoff
7. Mick
7. Spicy
9. NGamer3k
9. Brickstone
9. Omnitech
9. KEEN
13. LatinoLink
13. Slop
13. Do-B
13. Catfood
17. Wompshmack
17. Napz
17. Daveman
17. Dysfunkti0nal
17. Sniper
17. s1a1m
17. Bauz
25. Space Jam
25. Clutzy
25. Gog
25. Psvrex
25. Umbar
25. Chef

Melee

1. Jazz (Fox)
2. Catfood (Sheik)
3. Dehund (Marth)
4. Ellis
5. Bauz
5. Skyzim
7. Wyckoff
7. Porkyz
9. Blank
9. Sniper
9. Munchies
9. Sniper
9. Spicy
13. Omnitech
13. KEEN
13. Brickstone
13. Do-B
17. SK1
17. Dysfunkti0nal
17. Umbar
17. Mick
17. s1a1m
17. Brad
17. Ross
25. Daveman
25. Toilet Paper

Smash 4 3DS

1. Wyckoff
2. Clutzy
3. Latino Link
4. Omnitech

USF4 - Part of DSM Ranbats

1. NGamer3k (Sakura)
2. Kemps (Boxer)
3. Grog (Honda)
4. Blank
5. OhYou
5. Hogosha
7. TopHat
7. Lation Link
9. Spicy
9. IowaNa7ive
9. Mute

3rd Strike

1. Hogosha (Twelve, Elena)
2. Grog (Ken)
3. TopHat (Makoto)
4. NGamer3k
5. OhYou
5. Kemps
7. IowaNa7ive
7. Latino Link

Full Results: UMSK - Omaha, NE - 11/8/14

Brackets are here. Videos are here.

USF4

1. TeQneek (Yun)
2. NGamer3k (Rose, Sakura)
3. Eratik Menace (Akuma)
4. FamilyMan
5. Datrick
5. Uli
7. Jamarrvelous
7. Simon
9. Shatter
9. Cue
9. Danny
9. Colt
13. Grant
13. Keith
13. Tom Sam
13. Hieu Do
17. Evil Joe
17. Cam
17. Mark
17. Damien
17. Joseph
17. Twig
17. Synapsse
17. Jeffy
25. Mario
25. Devon
25. WP
25. Blank
25. Will
25. Dozer
25. Kenshiro

3rd Strike

1. Jamarrvelous (Chun-Li)
2. Cam
3. Simon (Ken)
4. Datrick
5. Mario
5. Rocha
7. NGamer3k
7. MKL
9. Danny
9. Synapsse
9. Cue
9. Jimmy

Guitly Gear AC+ R

1. Cue (Eddie)
2. Jamarrvelous (Potemkin)
3. Simon (Sol)
4. Keith
5. Jeffy
5. Mario
7. Staphf
7. Synapsse
9. Nurse Joy

Soul Calibur V

1. MKL (Viola?)
2. Silver (X)
3. Josh
4. Staphf
5. Eric
5. Danny
7. Synapsse

Project M

1. BlankM (Charizard)
2. TVR JBM (Lucas, Fox)
3. Smeesh (Captain Falcon)
4. Kirby
5. Joker
5. Cue
7. Froakie
7. Jester
9. Bclymer
9. Roshi
9. Dudler
9. Schizm
13. Fsink
13. Culprit
13. Christian
13. Wesley
17. Amy
17. Rex
17. Gary
17. Rocha
17. GFX
17. Cumbi

Melee

1. TVR JMB (Marth)
2. Cue (Falco)
3. Noah (Captain Falcon)
4. Smeesh
5. Schizm
5. Froakie
7. Jester
7. Bclymer
9. Wesley
9. Roshi
9. Braq
9. Fsink
13. BlankM
13. Christian
13. Rex
13. Kumbi
17. Maiik
17. GFX

Smash 4 3DS

1. Jester (Yoshi)
2. Dudler (Pac-Man)
3. Froakie (Greninja)
4. Marcelino
5. Joker
5. Silver
7. BlankM
7. Josh
9. Culprit

Full Results: October Smash League (2.4) - Iowa City, IA - 10/25/14

Another month, another Smash League hosted by Game Geeks and Cody Pirko. This monthly series did not take a break this month despite having King of Ring just a fortnight prior. Neither I nor Blank were at this tournament as we decided well in advance to attend Kansas City Onslaught one of the premiere midwest regionals. Here are the results.

PM Singles

1: Ellis (Mario)
2: Joker (Link)
3: Sothe (Ivysaur)
4: Fox Life Chose Me
5: Catfood
5: CBK
7: Skizm
7: SK1
9: Mick
9: GQDang
9: Jun
9: Mixwell
13: KingS
13: Do-b
13: Mintygreen
13: Spicy
17: Dysfunkti0nal
17: wompshmack
17: Intern
17: Sniper
17: GOG
17: Omnitech
17: Bauz
17: Latino Link
25: RockLobsta
25: Slop
25: Mittenz
25: Keen
25: KC
25: Reginald Sullivan III
25: Umbar
33: Brickstone

Melee Singles

1: RockLobsta (Falco)
2: Catfood (Sheik)
3: Sothe
4: Ellis
5: Bauz
5: Skizm
7: Spicy
7: Fox Life Chose Me
9: Dysfunkti0nal
9: Brickstone
9: Reginald Sullivan III
9: CBK
13: Omnitech
13: AllProCro
13: GQDang
13: Sniper
17: Mintygreen
17: Mick
17: Psyrex
17: SK1
17: Do-b
17: Keen
17: Umbar
17: Mittenz
25: Steve

Melee Doubles

1: Asian Cracker (GQDang, Skizm)
2: Forgive Me Father For I Have Shined (Catfood, Lobsta)
3: H A R V A R D B O Y Z (JJRockets, Mintygreen)
4: Sweet N Spicy (Spicy, SK1)
5: Last Minute (mittenz, CBK)
5: Ganja Hoss (Do-b, Bauz)
7: Dynamic Duo (Brick, Sniper)
7: Team Co-op (Keen, Intern)
9: Shaved Kittens (Dysfunkti0nal, Omnitech)
9: Fox and Falco (Reginald Sullivan III, KingS)
9: AllPro Steve (AllProCro, Steve)

USF4

1: Latino Link
2: Trey
3: Mad Abbas
4: Mute
5: Spicy
5: White Fury
7: Zero
7: Conman

Sakura Guide to be Updated for USF4

Stemming from a new comment I received on my Sakura guide, I took a look at it and it is in need of another update. I will be working on this as well as my other guides to add to the blog. The guide just needs a bit retouching since some of the information is somewhat dated.

Results - King of Ring - Des Moines, IA - 10/17/14

This past weekend saw one of the biggest Iowa tournaments ever to be held and the biggest since the Brainshock events. They were hosted by Cody of Game Geeks based in Iowa City who has done a lot of work organizing all kinds of events for us. This time he hosted an event in downtown Des Moines that drew nearly 60 entrants for Project M from all over the midwest.

Videos from the Smash tournaments can be found on YouTube at the Iowa Smash channel.

I recorded the grand finals for all the Capcom games that were run and those will be up at the Des Moines Fighting Games channel.

PM Singles

1: chexer (MK)
2: father strong bad (Wario, G&W)
3: frizz (Fox, Captain Falcon)
4: sothe (Ivysaur)
5: Ayman
5: blank (Charizard)
7: aarosmashguy
7: mjg (Ivysaur, MK)
9: dmx
9: smeesh
9: amanze
9: davidcue
13: eggman
13: JJFOXBOX!!!!!1one
13: ellis
13: tyser
17: cbk
17: bpow
17: linko
17: ngamer3k
17: joker490frozen
17: wang
17: bc
17: spicy
25: zeal
25: sinnyboo242
25: coast
25: ikey
25: schizm
25: page
25: buzzrule
25: eric
33: zomg
33: mrgr33n
33: mushroom
33: latinolink
33: rocklobsta
33: apoc
33: omnitec
33: saproling
33: mittenz
33: ke$haqt
33: misterintern
33: denec
33: keenfrizzle
33: jester
33: hellsing
33: der hund
49: samokegreen
49: slop
49: fydees
49: nls silentprotagonist
49: kiwi
49: b@mf
49: monk
49: ion
49: aetherlord
49: dysfunkti0nal

PM Doubles

1: Death of a Lobster (MJG, Bpow)
2: Team First Place (Father Strong Bad, Frizz)
3: Arks in training (Blank, Joker)
4: Cobra Kai (DavidCue, Smeesh)
5: We're the melee kids (Sinnyboo242, MK)
5: Chexr + Aron (Chexr, Aaron)
7: Bairly Fair (Sothe, Zeal)
7: Dark Horse (Katy, Perry)
9: MariOP (Linko, IBC)
9: Team Proficient (BC, CBK)
9: Gold Team (RockLobsta, Ellis)
9: AYMANZE (Amanze, Ayman)
13: Pokemon (Schizm, Mushroom)
13: Chains and Whips (Dysfunkti0nal Sapprolling)
13: Two Swords One Cup (Buzzrule, DMX)
13: Team legend (Spicy, Apoc)
17: All Holla fo' a dolla (Fydes, MrGr33N)
17: Free (Slag, Omnitech)
17: Mad Cuz Bad (Dr. Passion, PF)

Melee Singles

1: aarosmashguy
2: frizz
3: buzzrule
4: chexer
5: father strong bad
5: smeesh
7: tyser
7: Jazz
9: amanze
9: der hund
9: eggman
9: davidcue
13: schizm
13: rocklobsta
13: Uli
13: ellis
17: denec
17: 0013
17: linko
17: zomg
17: dmx
17: sothe
17: ibc
17: hellsing
25: coast
25: zeus
25: cbk
25: samokegreen
25: tort
25: sinnyboo242
25: monk
33: bw
33: dysfunkti0nal
33: ikey
33: zeal
33: mittenz
33: JJFOXBOX!!!!!1one
33: keenfrizzle
33: omnitec
33: jester
33: passion

Smash for 3DS

1: chexer
2: father strong bad
3: JJFOXBOX!!!!!1one
4: pf
5: mushroom
5: nls silentprotagonist
7: joker490frozen
7: eggman
9: coast
9: saproling
9: dmx
9: kamig
13: dysfunkti0nal
13: epona
17: samokegreen
17: latinolink
17: omnitec
17: monk

USF4

1: ngamer3k (Sakura, Rose)
2: figgy (Honda)
3: BobbyJAY (Ibuki)
4: latinolink
5: kemps
5: tophat
7: grog
7: hogosha
9: father strong bad
9: Uli
9: aetherlord
9: davidcue
13: kdotlo
13: spectrumpigg
13: seanovan
13: kamig
17: dollar
17: whitefury

SF3: THIRD STRIKE

1: hogosha (Elena, Twelve)
2: ngamer3k (Chun-Li, Ken)
3: 765pro im@s sondogg (Urien)
4: grog
5: dollar
5: tophat
7: latinolink
7: BobbyJAY
9: kdotlo
9: figgy

SSF2: TURBO

1: grog (Dhalsim, Honda)
2: ngamer3k (Chun-Li, O.Ken, Ryu)
3: hogosha (Claw, Cammy)
4: latinolink
5: BobbyJAY
5: 765pro im@s sondogg
7: kdotlo
7: figgy

VAMPIRE SAVIOR

1: tophat (QBee)
2: grog (Sasquatch)
3: 765pro im@s sondogg
4: latinolink
5: figgy
5: hogosha
7: dollar
7: kdotlo
9: BobbyJAY
9: aetherlord

Iowa Ranbat 1.3 Results - Full Standings

I actually forgot about this so it actually took place a few weeks ago. For the sake of quickness, I am simply copy-pasting the facebook post about it from Curtis "TopHat."

With the third ranbat finished we are now halfway through the season. Thanks again everyone who came out and helped make things happen.

The full results from yesterday (since I was too lazy to make a post last time) -
1st. NGamer3k
2nd. Bobby 
3rd. Grog
4th. Blank - Top Hat
6th. Sondogg - Matt - JubaTuba
9th. Mario
10th. Mike

And with that the point rankings are now:
Ngamer3k: 15 Skillion
Bobby J(ay): 8 Skillion
Sondogg: 5 Skillion
JubaTuba: 4 Skillion
Grog: 4 Skillion
Top Hat: 3 Skillion
KdotLo: 2 Skillion
Doller: 2 Skillion
Kamig: 2 Skillion
Spectrum Pig: 2 Skillion
Blank: 2 Skillion
Mario: 2 Skillion
Dibble: 2 Skillion
Vampirella: 1 Skillion
Bo Lo: 1 Skillion
Captain Love: 1 Skillion
JD ThunderHawk: 1 Skillion
JinxU: 1 Skillion
Matt: 1 Skillion

Blake has a commanding lead, Can he ever be caught!? Can Curtis ever place higher than 4th!? And can Iowa survive this new wave of T.Hawks!?
These questions and more will be answered at "Ranbat #4: Ranbat harder"

P.S: The Kumite lives

PxG Online Championships

I'll be competing in this event today. It starts at 2:00 PM CST with 16 pools. Two players advance from each pool to make up the top 8. There will be two streams: pandaxgaming and pandaxgaming2. I'm in the D block pool at 6:30 PM CST. Wish me luck.

Support Blank Mauser at Big House 4!

This weekend, one of the best Smashers in Iowa is attending Big House 4 in Michigan, which is shaping up to be a Major tournament in the Smash Community. He was awarded top seed in his pool for Project M and is expected to make some noise. Project M will be streamed by TourneyLocator. Please watch and support Blank.

The action is set to start 11 AM EST on Saturday. Blank is in the C Block for his singles pool which starts at 3 PM EST.

Tips for Beginner Players to Level Up Quickly (USF4 Guide)

For those beginning to learn Ultra Street Fighter 4, it can be difficult to know where to begin to become better when so much is out there bombarding the newcomer given the series' long lifespan. I have compiled five quick tips for beginners to get a jump start to learning solid fundamentals. This guide is intended for complete beginners or those that are struggling mightily to win a single match against their local competition.

The Death of KOFXIII and the Rise of Anime?

As I and other predicted, KOFXIII has seen a dramatic drop in participation after this past EVO. It's an unfortunate consequence of the changing climate in the FGC. The release of USF4 coupled with the growing disinterest in KOF has spelled its ultimate demise. Thus, I have all but dropped it myself. I no longer practice the game nor have I taken the initiative to enter tournaments, and many seemed to have followed suit. Last month's Maxout in Kansas City, a place with a seemingly rich KOFXIII community did not draw enough interest to warrant running a tournament for it. For what it's worth, I really enjoyed my time playing KOF and found it more than worthwhile even though I never attained a sterling record of success.   -RIP KOFXIII -

The search for a new fighter or fighters to focus my attention and skills on is well underway. Unfortunately, I have been disheartened by the options in front of me. As I wrote a while back, UNiB held Iowa's attention span with admirable fortitude. Our community, including myself was really enjoying the game and personally myself and Blank had been taking it very seriously with extending practice sessions. But with the Japanese release of P4AU, our wandering eyes were powerless to resist the allure of the next shiny update to one of the most prolific anime fighters ever released.

Alas, Persona as a game has seen better days in our humble eyes of judgment. Since the game's Japanese release, we have barely touched the game in favor of laying around the apartment like a Narutard awaiting the latest fansub to be released. It's a sad sight indeed.

Results - 9/7/14 - Des Moines USF4 Ranbats 1.2 with Standings

Format- RR 2/3 games, Winner of each match gets a point, points are totaled and placement is determined. All ties are settled with another 2/3 game set between the tied players.

First- 5 points
Second -3 points
Third - 2 points
Rest -1 point

Results 1.2 - 16 man double elim bracket

1. NGamer3k (Sakura, Rose)

2. BobbyJay (Ibuki)

3. Jubatuba (Viper)

4. TopHat

5. BoLo

5. Grog

7. JDThunderHawk

7. Sondogg

9. kDotLo

9. Doller

9. Kamig

9. Mario

13. JinxU

13. GQDang

13. SpectrumPig

13. Dibble

Full Standings - People should stop changing their tags so I can keep a better record!

Anyone not mentioned has 1 point.

1. NGamer3k -10

2. BobbyJay - 5

3. Sondogg - 4

4. Jubatuba - 3

5. TopHat - 2

5. Grog - 2

5. SpectrumPig - 2

5. kDotLo - 2

5. Kamig - 2

5. D-Raw - 2

Full Results - UMSK - Omaha, NE - 8/16/14

Myself, along with Blank, Joker, Grog, Sondogg and others from around Iowa attended UMSK (Ultimate Marvelous Street Kombat), Omaha's tournament series hosted by Yulai Yang. It was a hype event as it was the first USF4 tournament in Nebraska and the return of the UMSK series which hadn't seen the light of day for quite some time. Results below.

USF4

1. Datrick (Zangief)
2. Evil Joe aka Belaul (Dhalsim)
3. NGamer3k (Sakura, Rose)
4. Jamarrvelous
5. TeQneek
5. Simon
7. Eratik Menace aka Leon
7. Synapsse
9. Hieu Do
9. Dicky Bui
9. Brandon-San
9. Grog
13. Damien
13. Jeffy
13. Miasma
17. Mark
17. Danny-San
17. DaWill
17. Spencer
17. Devon
17. Uli
17. Cory
17. Clayton
25. Family Man
25. CrunchBite
25. Stragteam
25. Kamig
25. BlankM
25. Joe
25. Dozer
25. W.P
33. KDotLo
33. Cody
33. Roboboombyyahh
33. Notorious B.R.G.
33. Z-Force

SFIII: Third Strike

1. Jamarrvelous (Split) (Chun-Li)
1. Datrick (Alex)
3. Jimmy
4. Sondogg
5. James
5. David
7. Danny
7. WeirdDudeWhiteKeith
9. Mike
9. Staphf
9. Synapsse
9. Armand
13. Grog
13. Miles
13. KDotLo

Super Turbo

1. Grog (Dhalsim, Honda)
2. Mike (Honda)
3. Jamarr (Honda, Ryu)
4. NGamer3k
5. Datrick
5. WeirdDudeWhiteKeith
7. Brandon
7. Kamig
9. Synapsse
9. Danny-San
9. KDotLo

Melee Singles

1. TVRI JBM
2. Cue
3. Tyser
4. Smeesh
5. Echo
5. Schizm
7. Majik
7. GQDang
9. Tacoom
9. Satisfyler
9. Mushroomring
9. bClymer
13. Ghoul
13. DDRSensation
13. Nick
13. Mike
17. Wesley

PM Singles

1. Cue (Falco)
2. Joker490Frozen (Link)
3. BlankM (Charizard)
4. Smeesh
5. Tyser
5. TVRI JBM
7. Echo
7. Majik
9. CBK
9. Schizm
9. Jester
9. Tacoom
13. Ghoul
13. GQDang
13. Satisflyer
13. Staphf
17. RBK
17. Wesley
17. Spencer
17. Nick
17. bClymer
17. Mike
17. NurseJoy
17. Mushroomring

Melee Doubles

1. Smeesh and Cue
2. TVRI JBM and Ghoul
3. Echo and Majik
4. CBK and Schizm
5. Wesley and Tyler
6. Nick and Brian

PM Doubles

1. Smeesh and Cue
2. Joker490Frozen and BlankM
3. Echo and Majik
4. CBK and Yosh
5. TVRI JBM and Ghoul
7. Spencer and Curtis
7. Nick and Brian

My Too Early Tier List for USF4

At the request of some players in the area, I made a tier list for USF4.

Check it out.

Results - Des Moines USF4 Ranbats 1

This past weekend was the inaugural tournament for the Des Moines USF4 Ranbat that was cooked up by long time community member Charlie "Grog." The purpose of these $1 ranbat tournaments is to build interest while providing the proper forum to level up as an entire community. Match videos can be found on the NEW Des Moines Fighting Games YouTube channel!

Format- RR 2/3 games, Winner of each match gets a point, points are totaled and placement is determined. All ties are settled with another 2/3 game set between the tied players.

First- 5 points
Second -3 points
Third - 2 points
Rest -1 point

Full Results (12 Entrants)

1. NGamer3k (Various)
2. Sondogg (T. Hawk, Boxer)
3. Bobby J (Ibuki)*
4. BlankM*
5. TopHat
5. Grog
7. Jubatuba
8. Kamig
8. Vamperial
10. KDotLo
10. D-Raw
12. SpectrumPig

*- Bobby and Blank tied in points and Bobby won their tie breaking match.

Ranbat Standings W1

1. NGamer3k - 5
2. Sondogg - 3
3. Bobby J- 2