Two contestants sitting on side-to-side, nervous around their equipment, as they were waiting to prove, in the heat of the competition, that they were the best fighters. A live audience, cheering and hecking, seen on a huge approximate screen above. Grants, punch and slightly soft jazz voices through the speaker system. Tuck in the corner, two broadcasters provided colorful comments for online audiences who watched more than a thousand from the house.
The competition was not boxing, but a fighting video game, “Marvel vs. Capkom 2: New Edge of Heroes”, took place in the last weekend at the Junior Ballroom at Westin Lombard at West Suburban Mall at West Suburban Mall. Overall about 4,000 competitive gamers and superfans were gathered from across the United States, the attendees paid $ 100 or more to compete in the same program.
The assembly titled Fraste Fostings XVII was part of the world of competitive video gaming; This year, the conference hosted some 25 game tournaments in three days. In those games, “Marvel vs. Capkom 2” holds a special place. The first released in 2000 and re -released this decline, it is sharp and complex, a niche but popular game.
The head-to-head fighting games were born in the 90s in the successor of American Arcade Culture and even then there were competitions-usually local bowling street or arcade or basement meat. They now take the form of a double-elimination bracket played at a conference center.
Michael Mendoza said, “I never thought that we would be in something (expensive) in this way.” “Stages and production- trust me when I say: It was not a plan, baby.”
In the 90s and 2000s, gaming arcade lived for people such as Mendoza, who grew up in Washington Heights in New York and is now a famous person in the gaming world. He often travels to work as an commentator or organizer in events like these. Mendoza and partner James Chen, wearing a mix headset, sitting on a desk of a commentator and broadcast on Twitch, dedicated to Amazon -owned livestream platform.
The contestants played on controllers with a balltop joystick and an array of buttons – such as in the days of arcade. Several characters of Marvel and Capakom on the screen have started in superhero films since the early release of the Chun Lee, Spider-Man, Street Fighter’s Chun Lee and the resident Evil’s Jill Valentine-Near Games, received more mainstream appeals. A crowd of spectators, who stood around a game in an arcade, sat down and looked with interest.
But Arcade’s ego was still there.
Sergio “unknown” Valadez wore a green glove on his right hand to stop the blisters; It felt as if he was away from becoming a Hulk himself. He and his rivals, Jose “DJ West” Dominguase, often roamed to the audience to taunt, joke or celebrate with their friends and rivals. After Valadez ends with the tournament at seventh place, Dominguase can be seen shouting in the front row, in the competition still in turn between the English and Spanish directed by the players.
“During the arcade days, you will not only (explain) -but whatever you see on the screen, shout at it,” Dominguase said, basically a surgical technique of California.
“I was hypnotized,” he said that when he was asked if he was Hecking. “Everyone was spending good time.”
The game series “Marvel vs. Capkom” has found a wave of new players since its release on various types of game console. In September, “Marvel vs. Capkom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics” was the third most downloaded game on Playstation 4. In Frosty Fostings, there were about 80 registered players in the game – including this reporter.
“I remember when the frosty was half the size of this ballroom. Rosko Village Sales Engineer, Valadez said, “Only a few friends said, who finished Dominguase and eventually finished fifth.” This means, man. Man. It is such a big community for this game – it is such a big community for this game – it is with those people with those people There is an opportunity to share the game.
David “Greek” Hyonis, the organizer of a tournament with Victoria Hyonnis and founder Mike “Elvenshadow” Bokzar, said that “Marvel vs. Caucom 2” was the first time in Chicago this year.
I spent the grade school in the afternoon around “Marvel vs”. Capcom 2 ”in my local arcade. I quickly defeated adults to fight the games and squeezed hours from a handful of quarters. The only place to test my skill was in my local Aladdin palace. After defeating the opponent after the opponent, no one felt better than a crowd behind me.
But finally, I played the role of someone I could not beat and I realized that the roof was too much about me. I was taken into the world of competitive video gaming, or “asports”, as it is now known sometime. Nearly two decades later, I finished the previous weekend program in a respectable 17th position.
The raw, raw spirit of subculture has faded to some extent – most American gaming arcades are closed – but the community has maintained its spirit. Online gaming has become a default for most social gaming, but games fighting games including “Marvel”, still use in-tradition meetings for most of their tournaments.
David “Dave Blain” of Carpenterville is from a new generation of players in the community of Thacar Chicago. He started taking “Marvel vs”. Capcom 2 ”around 2014 seriously, although he said that local meatups are not very often.
“When we show, we try to put on the best shows,” said Thacker.
A particularly missing hostess in frosty was Mark “Madbofes” ANSA, which could be the most successful “Marvel vs”. Capcom 2 ”players from Chicago region. Ansay finished fifth in 2009 in the largest national tournament, evolution.
Ansay lived in Scoki during his youth, when he was mostly dedicated to sports.
“Like you, I thought I was hot stuff and was great in the game,” he said in an interview recently. Then he met his opponent and future friends, the late Ari “Flow” Ventrab.
“He defeated me for an hour or two. At that time, my ego was crushed, “Ansay said.
After that, ventrabes and the nesa south will find other rivals in the Arcades, including the George “Rasician” Fed, known as the “King of Chicago” at a point.
During the Arcade era, Ansay said that to prove the northwards of Chicago and often to prove which area was better.
“This is like a rivalry between the cub and the sox,” Ansay said.
This year was a similar vibe in Frosty Fostings, in which Thakar tried to protect his home area, which was already the first winner winner, Atlanta of Atlanta. Alexander was against out-of-staters such as “Shakira” Martinez.
“It is very underground and raw,” Ansay said. “I compare it to a skate scene.”
Like a skate scene, it also brings people of different backgrounds together. The one who unites them is an honor for skills.
Even though Ansay competes less these days, he said “Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is a lifestyle.
The next chance to compete in a national tournament will be an event combo breaker in Shemburg on 23-25 May. Thakar hopes that new players will come.
Thacar was disappointed that he was not able to keep the trophy local in Chicago, but he is hopeful for the future and planning to keep training.
“Like any discipline, you make the necessary sacrifice to reach where you want to be.” “Playing fighting games helps me improve the game, but also … in various aspects of all kinds of decisions and problems, problems.”