Heading to Final Round

I should have posted about it when it happened, but I managed to win Kansas City Onslaught for the second time in a row last November to automatically qualify for Final Round XVII. This means my badge and all entry fees to any games I want are paid for.

This is a big deal for several reasons: Obviously, I did not go to Final Round last year, relinquishing my prize to Chad "KCs Notorious." I will be taking advantage this year, which will give me another major's worth of experience that I usually don't receive. Second, the qualifying tournament, KO was a significant tournament as it was the previous year. It happens to be the last time I won a like-sized event. Since then I have placed Top 5 in all subsequent events with a respectable 7th at St. Louis' MAM event and a disappointing performance at Frosty Faustings. The fact I haven't done as well since then signifies more than ever how much I need to step up my game for Final Round. Lastly, being a major, Final Round will give me yet another opportunity to gauge myself as a player. I am notorious for getting nervous only for these massive events. It's something that has haunted me, and if I can overcome it, it's another step to becoming a player that doesn't worry about pools and just goes out and wins just by showing up.

After this, I will again be attending Keits' UFGT event this May. Wish me luck. I'll post some USF4 thoughts when I return.

Post Mortem from EVO2K13

They say after you go to EVO for the first time, you'll want to come back every following year. It is no different for me. I had a great and unforgettable experience in Las Vegas that makes me anticipate next year already. There's something about being there to experience the event first hand that doesn't compare with watching at home. Nothing beats saying "I was there."

Of course, ultimately I was there to compete and I was a wreck when I sat down to play my first match. You can see my AE matches on my YouTube channel. To say I was nervous is a tremendous understatement. My gameplay was very sloppy and not very calculated. It was a feeling I hadn't felt in a while. Usually I don't get nervous at tournaments at all. In fact, I consider my consistent demeanor and calmness under pressure to be one of my strengths as a player. That all didn't seem to matter the moment I took my place beside my first opponent... and the second and the third. I never quite got it together fully. My exit was swift, almost painless. Even if I had any thoughts about the match while it was happening, it was over so quickly that they wouldn't have any place to go. Thus, another major passed me by without a sniff at qualifying out of my pool. There's always next time. At least, that's what I keep telling myself.

Still, I am resolved to qualify for semi-finals one day. It a realistic goal that I believe with the right work ethic, I can achieve for myself. Starting at the beginning of this week, I have practiced extensively daily. The goal: Top 8 at a major. Wish me luck.

UFGT9 Post Mortem - My Results

It's been a while, but for those wondering how I did at the tourney,  this is how I would best sum it up: Up and down. On one hand I performed very well in KOF and SFxT going 2-2 in both of my pools and finishing 4th in each of them. In AE which is undoubtedly my main game and with a relatively weak pool- I blew it -- 1-2. I lost to Arturo Sanchez "Sabin" and an Abel player. Arturo was a late entrant and was inserted in what was supposed to be my bye as a 3rd seed in the pool. I was looking forward to a clash with Mr. Street Fighter Alex Valle but stumbled before I even got sight of him.

I was disappointed to be sure, but alas that is how big tournaments tend to work for players of around my skill. There is some element of luck involved. Granted, if you're good enough, you should make it out of the pool. I am clearly not ready to be considered to be part of that tier of players. But here is how I look at it, even if I had won all the matches I should have won, what real chance did I have in a runback with Arturo? Realistically, I had a fair shot but I'm certainly not favored. I'd give myself a 10-20% chance. In other words, more than likely I wouldn't have made it out anyway which is the ultimate goal. It was make it out or bust and it sure was a hell of a bust.

I had many matches streamed in KOF and SFxT and you can watch those on VGBootCamp's Youtube channel. I also recorded some side footage and you can view that on my channel.

I have EVO coming up next week. Wish me luck.

UFGT9 - A Go!

Tomorrow I will start my travels to Chicago for Ultimate Fighting Game Tournament 9 run by Keits. This year's event will be the biggest yet and a lot of players will be going from our community-- too many to name. Special Shoutout to Jamarr "Jamarrvelous" Lewis and his company for accompanying me this time as my usual travel mates Blank and Joker were not able to make it this year. Wish me luck and I'll try to get a lot of footage of the tournament!

Video: KOFXIII Casual Matches - BlankM vs NGamer3k

These are some matches we recorded of some non tournament KOF action between myself and my good friend/roommate/training partner Blank. Enjoy.

Edit: Apparently blogger isn't letting me embed stuff right now. A simple link will have to do for now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b86AJlkk-CU

Full Results - Joker's Monthly "Why so Serious?" Fighting Edition - Des Moines, IA - 3/30/13

I know this is super late reporting, but better late than... you know. The tourney was streamed by our own Kevin "kdotlo" but unfortunately the archives were not preserved. I'll be better about reporting and letting you know when and where we are streaming- I promise.

UMvC3

1: Joker (Taskmaster/Vergil & Trish/Wesker)
2: Ngamer3k (Wesker/Storm/Chun-li)
3: Figgy (Skrull/Frank/Sentinel & Wesker/Hawkeye)
4: Kevin
5: Dr. Razo
5: Greg Dang
7: Blank
7: CBK
9: Supa

SSF4 AE

1: Ngamer3k (Sakura)
2: Figgy (E.Honda)
3: Jon J. (Abel)
4: Top Hat
5: SBT ShankyJ

KOF and SFxT were on the docket but were not played due to lack of entrants. Sadface.

The Skullgirls Kickstarter

This is something I threw together in collaboration with fellow Iowa FGC member and Jurassic Park fan, Curtis "Top Hat". It basically sums up my feelings for Skullgirls and the activities of the developers.