2 ms·

The FGC has a really interesting history with online play. Besides having a long tradition of in-person PvP in arcades, online fighting games were largely unpla

by mjr00 2y ago

The FGC has a really interesting history with online play. Besides having a long tradition of in-person PvP in arcades, online fighting games were largely unplayable until the mid-late 2010s until GGPO/rollback[0] became popular. For a long, long time, the FGC largely (and rightfully) didn't see online play as legitimate. Now rollback is basically standard and you do see competitive tournaments happening online frequently. Obviously the big events like EVO are still offline, but you could say the same about the majors for DotA, LoL, even Brood War, which are all very "online-first" games. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GGPO https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GGPO

VyseofArcadia 2y ago
Online play has definitely gotten bigger in the FGC, but the people I know in the community[0] still largely consider offline play king. In a game scene where individual frames matter, the preferred way to play for keeps is offline on a CRT. But, you know, halfway decent online play is fun and good for making sure you don't get too rusty. I think the big difference between EVO and e.g. DoTA offline majors[1] is that anyone can show up at EVO and jump into the pools. For other esport events, to play in an offline event, you first have to have qualified online. If the whole process were offline beginning to end, that would be closer to the FGC model. [0] I myself only dabble, somewhere between filthy casual and semi-serious [1] and do correct me if I'm wrong, I don't know that much about the competitive MOBA and FPS scenes
- mjr00 2y ago
  Oh for sure offline is still king. But I mean, you look at the top of the SF6 rankings and it's Daigo, Fuudo, Tokido, Punk, Endingwalker... all the players who are winning offline, too. There's a tight correlation between being a top ranked SF6 player online and being really good at the game, to the point of winning offline tournaments. When you think about it, being able to (theoretically) get good enough that you can get matched up against the EVO champ in online play, even if you live in rural Arkansas and could never make it to an NYC local, and play a legitimate competitive game against him, is pretty sweet.

by mjr00 2y ago

VyseofArcadia 2y ago

Online play has definitely gotten bigger in the FGC, but the people I know in the community[0] still largely consider offline play king. In a game scene where individual frames matter, the preferred way to play for keeps is offline on a CRT. But, you know, halfway decent online play is fun and good for making sure you don't get too rusty. I think the big difference between EVO and e.g. DoTA offline majors[1] is that anyone can show up at EVO and jump into the pools. For other esport events, to play in an offline event, you first have to have qualified online. If the whole process were offline beginning to end, that would be closer to the FGC model. [0] I myself only dabble, somewhere between filthy casual and semi-serious [1] and do correct me if I'm wrong, I don't know that much about the competitive MOBA and FPS scenes

mjr00 2y ago
Oh for sure offline is still king. But I mean, you look at the top of the SF6 rankings and it's Daigo, Fuudo, Tokido, Punk, Endingwalker... all the players who are winning offline, too. There's a tight correlation between being a top ranked SF6 player online and being really good at the game, to the point of winning offline tournaments. When you think about it, being able to (theoretically) get good enough that you can get matched up against the EVO champ in online play, even if you live in rural Arkansas and could never make it to an NYC local, and play a legitimate competitive game against him, is pretty sweet.