the funny thing is that you assume people don’t know who these people are when they’ve been consistently playing on video for 4-6 years at this point. we all know who they are, but you have some sort of idea that you are like some “insider” because you know who the top 10 arcade players are for each character. Hint: we all know about kyosuke’s site and youtube too.
That isn’t reflected in the discussions I keep reading, whether they’re in the forums, in the article comments or the stream chats. I mean, thinking Sabin is the best Dhalsim in the world shows exactly what I’m talking about…
There’s also commentators likes James Chen that should be researching all of these players so they don’t say something stupid on stream, but nope. James Chen always seems out of the loop when it comes to international players or events.
I knew who Pepeday was before he became popular. I’m fucking Emil tier.
Yup. You are.
Itazan just won the Costarica tournament, with relative ease. He beat 801strider and PR Rog.
Pretty sure his overall sets against strider (a good matchup for Itazan) ended at 7-5, not very easy if you ask me.
Since the general belief seems to be that America Europe and Japan all are around the same strength overall (obviously there’s gaps but not as huge as some other games), why do you guys think that’s the case?
Is it that the internet makes it easier to communicate and learn so everyone keeps up much easier? Does SF4 have a lower skill ceiling than like ST or 3s so that top players from various countries aren’t as far apart in skill?
I ask because everyone says SF4 Americans can be competitive with the Japanese. But in 3s there are maybe 5 Americans total who would not get completely shit on in Japan and 0 Americans who can consistently win vs the very top of Japan. Just curious what the key differences are.
netplay and general popularity. even at its peak 3s had magnitudes less players than SF4 does. When you’re the only 3s player in town it’s hard to improve, when you have 60 man locals for sf4 still post peak, it’s easy to see why people improved.
I also think American players have become more technical, in the past America was very feel based, and now it’s common to see even formerly feel based player have frame exact okizemi and option selects at the ready.
Lastly is population density, Japan always has had an arcade culture, so getting a bunch of people who are good in one place isn’t an issue, even if a game starts to dwindle there will still be a “spot” for locals and people to gather that is easy to access by train. In the US as a game begins to dwindle you might start seeing players being 20+ miles away from each other with no easy way to and from the place to play.
Internet.
You know how people thought EVO moment 37 was the bomb when - from what I hear of 3S players - it wasn’t that big of a deal, but they had never seen it before? Nowadays knowledge spreads much more easily.
And then competition is international now. Even a god forsaken Brazil tournament had japanese competition so people are forced to level up.
Even a god forsaken COSTA RICA tournament had japanese competition so people are forced to level up.
Marq Teddy is a bum, not even top 5 Guy
Your question is under the assumption that the level is roughly the same…I don’t think it is.
There may be some individual players in America or Europe that can rise and be a threat to Japan (like PR Rog), but this doesn’t mean that collectively, the levels of the countries are equal (or even remotely equal).
Lets say for instance, that Infiltration is the best in the world. Does it make sense to say that because of that, Korea is the best in the world? Not really. The rest of the players in Korea are not really on the level of Infiltration (Poongko might come close).
Oh
my
god
Typing this must have physically hurt you Emil.
And I agree competition is more leveled at the highest level because these players are competing against each other frequently. But the overall skill level is astronomically different between countries. Whenever I watch japaneser tournament and some random 20k bp guy shows up he’s years ahead of 99.9 competition I have avaiable.
Yeah I suppose I meant the top levels of the world. Like if we think Infiltration or PR Rog or Ricki can hang with Japan’s biggest dogs, that’s already better than 3s where no American or European is gonna reliably beat Kuroda/MOV/Nuki/Rikimaru/Boss.
Hsien Chang at least a few years ago had a shot at being able to hold his own in 3S, not saying he was on their level but he was the only american that could hang with the top japanese and do well. Otherwise I dunno of anyone else who could stack up.
Everyone start gathering your bad matchup / unlucky pools excuses, Canada Cup got Hagejin, Itazan and Snakeeyez all in the same tournament.
Hagejin not making a case for himself at canada cup lol
Not really, he’s still Asian.
Hagejin Losers bracket by Canadian Honda player eliminated by Ryan Hart
Itazan proving he’s the best Gief