Yagami and rchan represented SG in Tokyo’s inaugral SF4 pre-SBO event. Read all about it here http://forums.round1.sg/index.php?topic=608.0 I will be joining them soon can’t wait!!!
Pretty exciting times, with the arrival of SF4 in Singapore last November the community has been slowly building. We now have a blog and bi-weekly tournaments.
SF4 Singapore
Visit us at http://sf4singapore.blogspot.com/ for news and videos. Here’s the inaugural 1st tournament Finals videos 16 Jan between Weijie (RY) vs Raven (BA)
Also do join us in person for the bi-weekly tournaments held in Bugis TKA Virtualand, we are a friendly bunch and welcome all. Much bigger things are in store in coming weeks!
Bugis Virtualand is organising SF tournaments for SF fans in anticipation for SF4! I got to know this only last week when the ST tournament was on. You can find more details here at TKAWorld
ST Tournament at Bugis
Do join if you are interested in CvS2. I managed to get a shot of their setup during the ST tournament, they have a very professional setup and obviously looking to draw back the crowd. Props to them, the previous post I made ages ago is untrue now as customers are being looked after.
Now to get them to include 3S. On Fridays we actually have queues for the 3S machine now, hope this continues and players keep coming in.
Went to Game Sakura Inn and met up with Ino. He hooked me up with Inzai and Keeper for last chance qualifier. That “got boiled my blood” <– classic Jack quote LOL. I genuinely felt we had a chance. Keeper needs no introduction, and Inzai is a really really really good Chun. In fact Keeper, Inzai and Tokido were all high school classmates I’m guessing peer pressure made them all 3S gods.
The arcade was unusually packed, some big names showed in the final night before SBO 3S day. Chinta had numerous win streaks, as well as Yuki Otoko raping people left right centre. MOV showed up with his right hand in a cast and he was still playing SF4, although a bit hampered so no one batted an eyelid.
Finally saw the Chinese team, recognised and chatted with the Yun 小刘 from past year but didn’t see much of them in action.
Players started disappearing to rest up for the big day ahead so no overnite session of course. I went back to the hotel and posted a quickie, sorry if it was misleading
SBO day 2 Morning
On my way to the Differ venue, by chance met Justin Wong in the train station along with other American players. Got chatting a bit, about Australia and the OHN which he swept and wished him luck for the day before the WHOLE OF JAPAN boarded the train. I had no idea WTF was going on but within seconds it was filled to the brim. Upon reaching the station, I rushed to the venue after thanking Justin for directions, and met up with Keeper and Inzai. They are both very friendly and laidback, and we promptly signed up did the mandatory visit to the convenience store to stock up on drinks. Keeper did some investigation work, if we got through we will face either Nitto’s team or Tsubo’s team … he was that optimistic and looking far. Fingers crossed but luck wasn’t on our side as mentioned in previous post.
Once again I didn’t even get a chance to compete. I AM JINXED. Onto the qualifiers.
3S Last chance qualifiers
This event was something to behold. Dozens of great Japanese players who didn’t qualify, alongside hopeful foreigners and the anticipation of “will we get it” all adds up to the aura. For first-timers, it is VERY overwhelming so come prepared. Here’s a picture to give you an idea of the chaotic and tense situation.
SBO 2008 3S Last chance qualifier scene
In the draw for the 16 teams who will be eligible, it is broken up into 3 categories. 1st category “Gaijin priority” – teams consisting of all foreigners are given an edge. I counted a total of 6 foreign teams who were chosen for this category. 2nd category was Japanese players who missed out on top spot in the area qualifiers I believe, a bit unclear on this. The 3rd and last category was “Misc” <– basically anything goes, random selection of the remaining teams.
Once the 16 were finalised the matches started almost immediately. No time for wussies, players had to step up or lose-n-go-home. Highlights include Thanatos again!! becoming a 1-man noise machine LOL even while he’s playing. I apologise for misinformation, Sugiyama did not get through to Final 32. The match I witnessed where he OCV the opposition by doing repeated 3HP (b+fierce) corner juggles was in fact the 3rd placing match. He made those 1 frame execution look ridiculously easy. As only top 2 teams go through (Kashi/Mester/Kera + C13/Konitan/Youhei), he narrowly missed out as explained on his blog. Bracket again for your viewing pleasure.
SBO 2008 3S Last chance qualifier bracket
After the last chance qualifiers are done the machines are freed up to enable last minute practice for the main tournament. Kokujin was destroying everyone when I was up there watching. There were also many Elena players Hoi must have learnt a lot.
Hokuto Final 32
Onto the main events. I had no idea what’s going on during Hokuto matches but the crowd started chanted during what I presume was an infinite (kinda like Genei-Jin combos which run into 100+ hits OMFG). “Oi Oi Oi Oi Oi Oi Oi …. <miss> Awwwwwwwww … then connects again OiOiOiOiOi!!!!” Hahaha it was so fun to spectate as the entire crowd got into it but as players it must have sucked. I know nothing about this game.
KOF Final 32
The Heavy D Taiwan player was very good I saw something similiar to Dudley’s overhead into SA kinda combo. The Brian US footy guy also got the crowd going, it was doing some funky Zidane aerial headbutt but I really wasn’t paying attention. 3S was up next.
3S Final 32
This year was nuts. I thought last year could not be topped but this year once again witnessed crazy shit you have to see live in order to appreciate the game that is 3S. Before I start I have to say that Raoh’s hat is the mostest gayest item on the planet.
Differ venue view from 2nd floor
Some of the matches have been leaked so I will just provide tidbits of info.
- Foreigner matches not shown on big screen except for Euro’s team
- KX nearly had Uraken … so clooooose
- Tokido was outplayed by Buta and collapsed dramatically on the floor
- Kokujin and Rikimaru were their usual goofy self
- They milked the camera whenever it was on them
- Dirty♪ = backdashbackdashbackdashbackdashbackdash
- When Yuki Otoko was playing, Kuroda was behind giving advice
After all is set and done, the 3S players headed to KSK’s Game-Vision for the overnight session and then to the SBO Party (videos by JWong 123) held by enterbrain on the following Monday. That concludes another fantastic year for 3S.
I actually ordered Ozhadou merchandise (T-shirts, mug and cap) intending to give away as souveniers and the chance to pimp Ozhadou to Japanese players. However Cafepress had to fuck up my order, so GG to Cafepress I have nothing to pimp.
The 3S reports for this year’s Tougeki unfortunately are pretty much lop-sided and biased, I didn’t visit the other popular arcades such as Mikado regularly, also didn’t play other international players as much. Nevertheless, see you guys next year!
MOV was using the cast as a 3rd finger. I am not worthy.
I need to change my fengshui. 2 years in a row now Keeper, Inzai and myself so wanted to get in. I’m keeping my mouth shut regarding the quality of teams that tried for last chance Jack can’t read SMS. Last chance was EITHER Kashi or Sugiyama team, in fact both qualified as there’s 2 spots.
When RX Army was announced eliminated everyone went WOOOOOOOAH!!! (it wasn’t shown). Kuroda choked but Ino/MOV rescued. He kept apologising after the finals but some of his matches were pure rape. Ino and MOV turned crybabies … such emotion. Whole place cheered for them.
Overnite session at Game Vision later tonite.
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You guys can try asking me stuff, I’ll do my best to answer them. Sorry that the log has been 1-way communication so far.
I wanted to nap before going to G-Vision but overslept sigh now I can’t go to the overnite session. Will be going to Sakura tmr to say my goodbyes and thank Ino-san/Rikimaru-san for hooking me up.
oriku is biased as he’s a osaka boy haha. But seriously, K just steamrolled past Yuki Otoko, basically surprising everyone with his very solid Chun play. Before they met in the semis during the interview, Umezono gave Saru a playful shin kick and Saru retaliated
Saru has a very unique Yun, he goes for knockdowns/resets then sets u up for ambiguous crossup. He karapalmed perfectly during Finals but alas should have burnt Genin-jin to chip remaining MOV life (less than 1 medium punch)
re: SBO intro Mag
Like last year there is a magazine that details the teams and here’s a funny picture of RX army.
re: Last chance qualifiers
This year there is more transparency. Players get to witness the draw and the brackets arrangement unlike last year whereby we just get to see the finalised bracket.
We were invited to see Matsuda randonly pick the team from a box and then filling in the brackets.Here’s the bracket
Game Sakura today again …. 3on3 random tourny. Paired with Mester (YU) and Inzai (CH) 1st round agaisnt HK team Got past Chung but Hoi killed me, went back and forth before Man finish off Mester.
Can’t remember much of the rest of the tourny, but Genki (AL) had some nice highlights, 1 team was name “STUPID DUDLEY” hahaha bcos of Yohei I think he takes a lot of risk but pays off many times.
Notes:
CCL’s Belgium not French. He’s here with other Belgium players, still havent seen the French and the Koreans.
Wanted to leave then the US team appeared from nowhere. Very impressive players, 5-star Gootecks Pyro Sextaro Kai and 1 more Ken . We all stayed overnite and they looked good.
All top 4 Chuns in the world gathered in that small room Tokido Nuki Rikimari and MOV ….. I can still hear the YEY!YEY!YEY! ringing in my ears.
Rikimaru is very friendly and funny, he speaks good english and came up to me asking whether I wanted teammates for last chance. I thank him as he feels I deserve to compete, let’s see what happens.
SICK = DEKIRU <– small cultural exchange between 5-star and Rikimaru
Inzai was owning people with some Oro ball ball unblockable setups. Quite fun to watch, Oros are always fun to watch.
Momochi is INSANE. Did the Boss ender (f+HPx2) vs. MOV in pressure situation, 1st time I saw it live outside combo vid. He uses the keeper-jin combo to close distance rather than blindly divekicking or lunge punch after activate from far.
5-star ended Momochi 35 win streak
Nuki is unbeatable
Everyone started high-five everyone for no apparent reason wtf haha I love these players
Kuroda DVD is hot … He plays footies using Dudley
SF4 looks very fun.
I wish Australian 3S players are here to enjoy all this together with me …
Small little report update from lonely me in Tokyo.
Day 1:
Got delayed luggage at airport, and only got to my Shibuya hotel around midnite. Trains stopped by then, I say fuck it and took a taxi to Game Sakura in Sugamo to get some practice in. Oh god the pain looking at the meter ticking is worse than seeing your life bar tackled to death by Urien in corner. The total came up to around AUD50. I will never fuck with a taxi again.
Got to Sakura but as it was past midnite they had to lockup because of law thingy. So I just waited and waited and bang at the door ocassionally hoping someone can hear it and open up. Lucky me a Belgium Yang player (CCL?) I recognised heard it and let me in.
Had very fun games with Akira (non-aussie version) who uses Chunli, a lot of dekiru and sugoi from him we went 50-50 I think. A few of the shop guys also think I good but I still say I am C+ player haha. CCL also about 50-50 with I think.
Mention Australia and they go OOOOOOHHHHHHHHH hai hai hai! Sugoi stra-ong players. “I friend friend Kechu” and they say Hong, Kechu and BOC names like instant. This is all thanks to all the they put in before …. I still wish it will not die out like this
Day 2:
Went to Game Vision but it was pretty empty. They changed their layout! It’s no longer a long stretch of machines in the middle already, rather spilt up into sections.
Very deserted when I reached around 6pm. I asked around whether there was a ranbat tonite and the shop guys say sorry sorry no ranbato domo later big player come. I was pretty much the only foreigner there, not much international players here yet. Before midnite I was playing KSK, then Momochi. KSK-san is very kind, I think he just showed up because I was there playing the CPU until the rest of the gods showed up. Mucked around with Ken won some lose some as well as his beastly Alex.
So there I was playing through midnite with Momochi – I pay school fees around Yun (1-22), Urien (1-34). KO was toying with me using Akuma. Just imagine you can play with Momochi Rikimari Ochibi Vanao KO Kashi all in 1 go. Momochi-Rikimari had a all out battle, simply amazing to watch. Sorry no vids
Had a long battle with Pierrot as well 1-14 or something stupid, he’s unreal … shoots sonic booms faster than fireballs. I watched his hands during his matches with Momochi Yun and it’s crazy … basically twitching back and forth . In my limited Nihongo I said thank you and say to him “U make Remi strong”.
Day 3:
Went to Kaikan, the competition level there is much lower, although once in a while strong players show. The rounds are set to best of 5, so the strategy used and meter management gets screwed up pretty bad, big deterance for tourny people.
Back to Sakura today, saw the HongKong team! Chung Man Hoi and Joe were there, they just touched down I believe. Asking around they have a spot in final 32, I’m not sure whether that’s news anymore. Got playing, I would say Man has a solid Chun, he will be main anchor I think. Hoi also have a pretty unique style, we got talking just now and he mentioned he has no one or japanese vids to learn from so he just develop his own style haha … hope he surprises. Chung also good typical Yang but plays too safe in my opinion. All in all, wish them luck hope they get a good draw for 1st round.
Day 4:
Had the 1on1 tourny at Game Sakura organised by KX. But KX didn’t show hahaha wtf … organiser missing. GO (shop guy) proceeded to do the organisation and it was a 16-man bracket. I won 1st round agaisnt a Chun but 2nd round played Matsu-ken Oh man, got raped pretty hard I have no idea how to play his Ken … impossible to touch and cant get close. Final results were
1st MOV
2nd Matsu-ken
.
.
don’t matter
After tourny casuals MOV was ripping it up with 30+ wins, Aiku had his fair share of streaks as well. Very very godly Dudley, I have much to learn.
Before leaving got hold of the Kuroda-san no DVD Dudley version, going to do some studying back at hotel.
Brief notes:
- Not much international players showing yet. Americans coming soon I believe, UK not showing, French not yet, Chinese not yet.
- Justin Wong may shake things up a little in absence of other notable big names
- Still havent met Hong and Aurik
I’m guessing peer pressure made them all 3S gods.
Keeper, Inzai and myself so wanted to get in. I’m keeping my mouth shut regarding the quality of teams that tried for last chance 
Jack can’t read SMS. Last chance was EITHER Kashi or Sugiyama team, in fact both qualified as there’s 2 spots.
Got past Chung but Hoi killed me, went back and forth before Man finish off Mester.
