Analysis: The Tekken Series

Those who know me know I love fighting games. And, if you don't know me, you need only look at any other blog post here to figure that out. Also, if you don't know me, congrats. Doctors found I'm the 12th highest cause of stress among adult men and highest among women married to me. Getting back to fighters, most incorrectly assume I like every fighting game. Which is, sad to say, kinda daft. Do movie critics like every romantic comedy? Art buffs like every awkward piece of modern art? Porn stars like every three-way?

...alright, that last one was a bit of a stretch, because they probably do. But the point still stands. People don't automatically eat, digest and flush everything from their favorite activities or forms of entertainment. Usually the opposite; people get picky when they get deeper into their hobbies and can recognize when something isn't up to snuff with the rest of the field. Or, at the very least, doesn't fit their acquired and defined tastes. Which brings me to the point of this article (about time, huh?) - why I no longer enjoy the Tekken series in its current form and progression.

Tourney Log: DBQ Versus Cup #1 (MVC3, TECH ROMANCER?!)

Who runs random obscure Dreamcast fighting game tournaments? I do. Last night was the first night of our (and by "our" I mean "Dubuque's") weekly ranking battles with two tournaments per night; one is for Marvel vs Capcom 3 and the other is a different fighting game EVERY WEEK. At the end of 12 weeks, I hand out sweet sweet prizes such as a copy of Ultimate MVC3 for the leader of the MVC3 standings, a Capcom art book for the leader of the random games standings, and some comics and gift cards and such to other top placers. Why do I do this? Because it's too fun not to.

Tourney Log: Iowa Monthly (7/16, Cedar Rapids)

Once a month, Iowa gamers that specialize in the art of complicated combos and frame traps find themselves driving to a small tabletop gaming store named Battlezone Games. Cedar Rapids gamer Scott Jackson, handle "Xiang", runs a once-a-month series of tournaments at the Hiawatha shop, and eager gamers across the state meet up for the chance to see how they fare against their state-wide brothers and sisters. Dubuque's fighting game fanatics are no different, and so a trio of us made our usual monthly trek to the appropriately-named Battlezone in Cedar Rapids' suburb to play some games, see some old friends and, of course, throw down for a small amount of cash and a larger amount of bragging rights and pride in our one-on-one games of choice. This threesome, consisting of myself ("Hogosha"), long-time fellow gamer and rival Alex (handle "Keela"), and local old-school gamer James ("DTJB"), pulled up to the venue within 10 minutes of the tournament's beginning; after an incredibly small amount of practice matches, setup and socializing with fellow Iowans the opening rounds began.