From: el27166@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (This Space for Rent)
Subject: Re: SF2 worldwide.
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 11:08:39 GMT

cw21219@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Crying Freeman) writes:

>So, has anyone travelled the world in search of SF2 battles?
>If so, where is the greatest level of competition?

>It's funny, cause 2 summers ago, I played SF2 quite a bit
>in Taiwan. I picked up some stuff I hadn't seen before, and
>when I came back to school, I figured I'd be hot stuff with
>the Guile standing short kick ticks (I know, lame, but this
>was cutting edge fighting techniques at the time.) When
>I walked into the arcade there was this dude wearing a Fido
>Dido T-shirt (the latest fashion in Taiwan that summer...)
>Anyways, I jokingly said "Uh oh, this guys been training in
>Taiwan too." 

Actually, I DID train in Taiwan.  You can't beat playing for
12.5 cents a game!  However, I got my butt kicked by just about
everyone.  They could all counter-throw at that point!  Not only
that, but they were able to tick my Chun Li to death using Ken/Ryu.
When the machine wasn't crowded, I practiced my Ken/Ryu ticking :).

>We watched him play for awhile, and he was brutal. He would win
>every round as Chun Li with four midair or ground throws. Most
>matches would last about 10 seconds. I came in once and, not
>surprisingly was slaughtered.... That was the first time I
>played the dreaded Cybergeek...

>For the longest time after that, we (me and 2 of my friends who
>were also SF2 addicts) were terrified of Cybergeek's Chun Li.
>(We also thought he was the biggest jerk... the guy had NO mercy.
>He would strong throw tick newbies to death. We weren't newbies
>really, but he'd throw us to death ruthlessly too.)

Newbies deserve to die.  Many people are waiting to play the game.
I'm not going to waste 5 or 6 other people's time showing you how
to play the game, or letting you have second round.  You can find
your own time to practice when it's not busy.  In fact, if it's
not busy and you're the ONLY newbie around, chances are, I'll tie
rounds with you.  (That's how Quinn got lots of his practice,
incidentally... playing/practicing with me during 'off hours')

>However, in retrospect, the whole reason that the SF2 skill level
>is so high here is probably due in a large part to Cybergeek and
>his ruthless, merciless ticking... 

Muahahaha!  I'm glad.  It was getting boring throwing everyone
around like rags.  :)

>I remember at the beginning of this semester (2 years later) when
>he would tick people. I remember even Seth and Caine would complain
>about the throwing, but now, they are both far superior players
>because of the ruthless play that is largely due to our buddy
>Cybergeek... 

Yep, and many others.  The ones who couldn't handle it became
Mortal Wombat (Mortal Waste Of Money, Brains, And Time) players.

>I remember once he was playing a scrub (actually the guy was ok.)
>and he finished him off by ticking him with the short kick-throw
>(as Ryu) The scrub said "You didn't have to throw me, you could've
>beaten me without it." He just said "I know." 

Better than getting finished off with a fireball when you don't have
any energy left anyway.  I have no patience for players who don't
stand a chance against either my normal play OR my ticking play and
expect me to give them second rounds.  Why?  They know there are
many more intermediate level players they can challenge when it's
not busy.

Also, I rarely join in on those players who don't stand a chance to
beat me.  I'll let them lose or even sometimes win against the
computer before taking my turn.  If they insist on joining in, then
they can't complain about getting crushed.

>Anyways, the point is, asshole players (no offense Ming :)) are the
>key factor for providing a proper breeding ground for true masters...

I agree.  Playing nice may help you win friends, but it won't
help you become a better player.  
> 
>Another key factor I would say is the college environment... Where
>else do you have the time and freedom to have a collective group of
>ruthless players together to "train" with... 

>Since I live here in Urbana (as my permanent residence, I know, horrible
>isn't it?), I get to see what kind of SF2 competition comes out
>when the regulars disappear... It's truly sad...

The competition is also very pathetic where I live.  They're all
vehement (and sometimes venomous) no-throwers, enforced by insults
to your 'sportsmanship' and 'honor'.  I can still beat them playing
their style, but it's very boring.  And when I do, they call me
'cheap' for getting them into fireball/DP traps (they don't DP
much since they can always safely block), or if I play Guile and
just sit and play reactionary, or if I play Blanka and do the same.
Of course, when i play Zangief and take sac-SPD's, they get VERY
upset.  It's amusing at first to see if you can beat them at their
game, since they obviously can't beat you at yours.  But it wears
thin when they keep changing the rules.

>-- 
> Kenneth C. Wang	| University Of Illinois Champaign-Urbana	
> 			| Internet: c-wang@uiuc.edu			
-- 
Eu-Ming Lee (aka CyberGeek)                      el27166@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu
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