STREET FIGHTER IV 101

IT'S ALL NEW TO ME
Ok take some of this with a grain of salt....or actually take it with a great big bag of ice melting salt because fact is I've only been playing this game for a week. I'm sure we can get lots of people to respond with corrections to my misgivings. Anywho, I just want to a post a "New to Street Fighter IV" blog post. Hopefully this will grow and we can continue to add posts and eventually have a nice little guide for new people playing SFIV. Here is some background just so you know exactly where I'm coming from. I've never played a fighting game (well I've played a couple but I just mashed buttons and got bored of my kids using the same move over and over to kill me lol). I've never taken the time to really dig into one - I come from primarily an FPS background. In the last week or two I picked up Super Street Fighter II Turbo Remix HD, Guilty Gears X2 Reload, and Street Fighter IV. This post will point you to some resources on the net, some videos, some tips and general getting started stuff that I have scoured the interwebs to find and the people in 2old2Fight have pointed me to. This guide is aimed at helping people new to figthing games and Street Fighter IV in particular.

INSTALL THAT SHIT
First. Install SF IV to your Hard Drive. It will run much more quickly - especially when you are online and the match first loads up. On the PS3 the install is about 2.X gigs I believe (takes a couple of minutes to install) and I noticed a big difference right away. You install (on the PS3 at least) from in game, in the options, system settings, install.

PLAY THE GAME YO!
Ok now on to something more fun. Play the game. Fire up ARCADE or VERSUS on Easy. Arcade you will have to play a character, beat a character and continue to beat characters in an order the game determines. Versus allows you to play as any character (except unlockables until you unlock them) against any character (except unlockables until you unlock them). Beating the game in arcade mode using different characters will unlock new characters etc. But we won't worry about that yet - lets just see what characters are available to us and what kind of shit they do. So pick one and play against some others. You are probably going to get worked - but that doesn't matter. Lets just see all the charactes so that you can pick one or two to use. OK go - now! kick ass. Just one little hint - try using the dpad for your movement. The reason is the dpad will be quicker or more accurate when entering in movement commands. It really doesn't take too long to get use to using it - it will be worth it in the long run if you don't have a fight stick!

BUTTON MASHING MONKEY!
Hey you've been gone for 3 hours!? WTF! Saw some pretty cool shit didn't you? Addicted already? wait until you know what you are doing - then it gets ridiculous! So did you find a character or two that you liked? You probably figured out that; square is light punch (lp or jab), triangle is medium punch (mp or strong), r1 is hard punch (hp or fierce), l1 is lp+mp+hp (or punch 3x - it is all 3 punch buttons at once). You probably also noticed that x is light kick (lk or short), square is medium kick (mk or forward), and r2 is hard kick (hk or roundhouse) and l2 is lk+mk+hk (or kick 3x - it is all 3 kick buttons at once). You probably found the dpad a little weird to use and really wanted to use the analog sticks - stick with the dpad is will pay off down the road. Just as a note - you can change your button configuration in the menus if you want. I mapped my r1 to my (3x kick) and l2 to my hk. So now my left hand has triple punch on top and hard punch below and my right hand triggers are triple kick on top and hard kick below...it just makes more sense in my tiny head

CHARACTER SELECTION
Ok so you found a character or 2 that you dig. Awesome! You'll hear people talk about tiers (oh that character is top tier or that character isn't top tier) basically characters are ranked on how they perform in tournaments and what record they have against other characters. It is interesting but I wouldn't let it influence your decision. I've seen lots of footage of really good players going far (even winning!) high end tournaments with mid/low tier characters. If everyone played the top 3 or 4 characters only the game would get boring and you know what when you play against other people with a character a little lower on the tier ranking you can shock them a bit - they aren't use to playing a lot of games against some of the more obscure characters. Pick what you like and make it work for you! Some characters are weak but sneaky and have flashy tricks (like my boy Sim), some are tanks that just like to destroy stuff (Zangief, Balrog, Rufus), some are just so well rounded (Ryu, Ken, Sagat). Just a warning about Sagat - in some tournaments this dude is banned (rightly or wrongly) so if you think your goal is to play in tourneys you might not want to make Sagat your main character. If you are playing me - well I don't give a fuck use whatever you want

CHALLENGES
So take your character and go into the Challenges section now. I would start with the Normal Trial Challenge. By default it shows you the name of the move you are going to learn - pressing select will show you the exact inputs you need to use to perform the move. Once you finish one set of moves - do it again - do it a couple of times until you know those couple of moves. Now go back into Versus or Arcade and lay the beating on a couple of opponents. Don't worry about winning yet - worry about using your moves. If you go for a fireball and it doesn't work, do it again, do it again, pause and go to the moves list and make sure you are doing it right, then resume and do it again until you get it! Don't resort to button mashing and guessing - learn those moves man. Everytime I fire up SFIV I go to my trial challenges and whip through them (the ones I can do) and make sure I know my moves.

YOU GOT IT!
Now you're balls deep - it's all over. Say goodbye to wife (or husband...or goat) and kids - the hooks have been set. Check some of this shit out.....you are on the road to being a SF master! These are your foundations - we still have more moves to learn, combos, canceling moves, frame advantage, setups, matchups, etc. etc. to learn. But with the basics we are unstoppable. Here are some links to feed your new addiction. This game can be as shallow or as deep as you want it to be.

SOME LINKS!
http://www.eventhubs.com - awesome site. This will give you some great instruction on SFIV and your character. Some tips as to what they do well and what they should avoid etc. Really good. Go look your character up!

http://www.shoryuken.com - very rich site - full of great content. Here is where the SF community hangs out. You'll find videos, threads dedicated to your character - a lifetime worth of learning to be had here.

http://www.gootecks.com - gooteck runs an great blog and even better podcast. If you like podcasts this is the best one for SF that I have found.

http://www.iplaywinner.com - fighting game news, training, tips etc.

http://www.igotnextmovie.com - a free documentary on the fighting game scene - I don't know man - this gets my hyped. Really well done (college students final project for film school).

Go to youtube and just search out SF IV videos (watch your character - watch how pros play that character). Search for players like Justin Wong, Gootecks, Sabin, Iloveyou, Daigo, Iyo, Kinedvu, Mike Ross etc. etc. some really cool people in the SF scene doing some mad shit.

Next blog we'll get even deeper into it!

Posted by BlowMonkey @ 10:14 am EDT | Permalink | 1 Comments

Effortless Mastery - Kenny Werner

I just finished reading this great book. Kenny is a jazz pianist and the book is a book aimed at getting people to empty their heads, and relax and really be able to play without worries and ego etc. The concepts in this book relate to music but can be applied to all aspects of life (music, sports, art, public speaking etc.). I picked it up because I experience a lot of anxiety when I play guitar in front of people and I think I haven't been getting the most out of my practice time.

The book is very heavy into meditation, battling ego and loving yourself etc. That stuff is a little bit over the top for me - but some of the concepts in the book are very valid. I'm going to embrace the exercises because honestly...what have I got to lose

i.e. the idea that most people do not practice properly. They try to learn too much too fast. They are worried about wasting time but in essence by learning things half-assed (if they can play a piece/lick/concept through 2 or 3 times they think they have "learned" it) they are truly wasting time. If people would take one small thing and work on it until it is truly mastered and then move on to the next that they would be better served.

The idea that a lot of players - practice like they should be playing and play like they should be practicing. Players will get overwhelmed with how much they have to learn and eventually practice sessions turn into the player just letting lose and jamming and getting lost in the music. And when they perform they tighten up and are worried about making mistakes or looking foolish, or trying to impress the girl in the front row or the guys from another local band that have stopped by to check out your band etc. by tightening up and trying to play well they actually sound weak and unsure etc.

You shouldn't have to think or even be inside your own head when you play something that you have truly mastered. It should be like you are outside yourself looking at yourself play - your hands will have minds of their own - you won't be thinking about messing up, wrong notes, etc. You will just be thinking wow this guy is a master!

Some neat things I've discovered already by of this book - the things I thought I knew well - I do not lol Things I have been playing for YEARS have holes in them that I have to struggle with certain parts or that I have to concentrate to get through. Even a simple exercise like concentrating on breathing (the easiest thing to do...and the most important) while playing will show some of these holes. Play your song/lick/scale whatever and just breath in deep breaths (not in time with the lick - just big natural breaths) and hold them and breath out. Did you lose the time of the piece you were playing? Did you miss a note or a change? For me I was able to play some parts but some others would fall apart - those are the parts I need to master - those are the parts I have been "fighting my way through or glossing over" for years. If you can't just breath while playing a peice imagine what happens when you try to play a song and your head gets filled with all this nonsense "did anyone notice that clam?" "wow I hope I sound good" "I hope they like me" "this is the most important thing ever"

Pretty neat stuff really. Like I said it's a little over the top with some of the hokey parts but the concepts underneath all that are valid and important. Even something like learning to pick up your guitar without expectation. Picking up your guitar shouldn't cause you to start thinking "Oh I hope I have a good practice session" or "I hope I don't screw up". It should be like picking up a fork - you just do it and expect nothing of it. Don't let your shoulders tense up and your neck tighten up as your expectations and trepidations start flooding in - get rid of all those thoughts and just let your hands do what they already know how to do.  When you pick up a fork you don't think "oh I hope I don't poke myself in the eye" or "I hope I don't look foolish using this" - you just do it and you let your body take over and your mind doesn't think about the act.

I've started mediating (something I've never done before) and even if I never truly get the hang of it - it sure is relaxing and that can't be a bad thing

Posted by BlowMonkey @ 9:24 am EDT | Permalink | 4 Comments

Top 2-3% Bi@tch!

I was top 7 -  10% of Killzone 2 players last week and moved up this week to top 2 - 3%.  Essentially all this means is that I spent way too much fucking time playing this game lol  It is based on points earned for the week which is almost directly related to how much time you put in to the game.  A really crappy player could get top 1% if they just put a bunch of time in that week - but whatever I'm pretty happy to be flying the purple ribbon this week!

I took grenade spam to a new level last night lol  I was playing on Salamun Market last night (which is the map in war torn city at night where each teams Attack and Defend objectives are sandbag battle stations).  So I was rolln with EdgeKrusher and we were up in a building next to the objective.  We were both engineers and shotguns were restricted on this server (wtf!) so we both only had pistols.  Anywho - I repaired an ammo bin in that building and just loaded up on nades and basically rained down a hail storm of grenades for about 3 minutes on the objective that was being defended by the ISA soldiers.  It was pretty assholish but also kinda commical.  I felt justified because I didn't have a gun really and the description of the room didn't mention that shotty's were banned.  I probaby dropped about 100 grenades on that position lol  After that I dropped down to the fixed turret and ass raped the ISA with that for awhile.  Eventually some dude with a heavy southern drawl did manage to get behind me and pistol me and as I lay on the ground bleeding I heard him say to this team

"I gawt that their guy that lakes to use stuff"

 

lol

Posted by BlowMonkey @ 11:38 am EDT | Permalink | 5 Comments

Tips and Tricks KZ2

- burst fire and don't move while shooting (especially at med / long distance)

- get in a squad, accept a squad request.  The power of being able to spawn with your team mates is huge.

-  When you are a tactican throw your spawn grenades the opposite direction of where you want your team to face.  If you throw it forward your team spawns coming towards you (i.e. so if you throw it at an objective your team will spawn with their back to the objective and they will hate you...lol)  Turn around and then drop the spawn nade.

- Place turrets up one level from where you want them to be defending.  You will get more headshots if you put the turret up on a 1 story building or ledge.

- Aim for the head - everyone knows this especially if you are trying to take an Assualt class character.  1 hit 1 kill.

- Repair every ammo crate and fixed MGs that you find.  This gives your team more options and power and it slows the other team down if they are trying to utilitzes those resources for themselves.

- Fixed MGs are under used.  They are super powerful and offer some protection.  You can crouch while you are using one to duck sniper fire while you let the MG cool down for your next barrage.

- Boost....makes you fast and heals you.  Boost into an objective area or when you are losing a gun fight to heal and move faster to allow you to hit the objective or get behind the person you are fighting.

- drop med packs all around your Assasination target that you are protecing. 

- Destroy your own turrets after you are done with them.  If the game mode ends and it makes no sense to have the turret where it is now - destroy it.  That will give your team another turret that they can use in a better position for the next game mode.

- be the guy/gal that is willing to setup defence (especially in Search and Retrieve - they have to bring the propoganda speaker near your spawn area - setup some turrets, fix the fixed MG and ammo crates and play some defense!).

- Your medic gun can also be used to kill the enemy.  If you are out of ammo or have the medic gun out getting ready to heal and get attacked just fire that thing at the enemy and zap them!

- Your medic gun can heal from pretty far away - you don't have to stand right on top of the person you are healing.

- the saboteur will "flicker" when he moves, your cross hairs will turn red when you are close to him/her, the player model doesn't look like other player models and he/she won't show up on your radar.  Go in assuming everyone (especially people going against your teams traffic is a saboteur).

-Grenade / shoot any objective you need to touch to engage (i.e. dropping the propoganda speaker off or arming a bomb) because chances are it has C4 around it.

- You only 2 capture and hold points to win.  Support one of the 2 and let the other team have the third.

- You only need to be winning in Search and Retreive when the timer ends.  If you have 30 seconds left and have the speaker and are winning - just hide - don't risk losing the speaker to the other team.

Feel free to add comments and tips to this thread and I will put them in the main post.  I'm sure I missed a ton of stuff   Gotta go play some KZ2

Posted by BlowMonkey @ 1:06 pm EDT | Permalink | 1 Comments

Eff the Stats - Be a Good Teammate!

So I've seen people asking how to get your Kill Death Ratio (KDR) up in Killzone 2. Truth is as you learn the maps and the guns and flow of the maps you will start to get better just over time. Worrying about KDR is garbage - it makes you a worse player and it doesn't help your team (I'm as guilty as anyone of thinking "hmmm I really need to get my KDR up"). Here is something I posted to someone asking about how to improve KDR in Warzone.

 

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If you are worrying about your KDR then you are probably playing 4 of the 5 game modes wrong. The only one where KDR means anything is body count. If my team / squad needs a tactician to drop a spawn and we don’t have one then I will blow myself up and respawn as a tactician to help win the round (i.e. in Search and Destroy or something). KDR should not be your focus - winning each round should be and having a positive KDR only really matters in Body Count (although it obviously helps not to die a lot).

- Staying alive - don’t run often. It drops your weapon down and then you are not ready when you need to be and you have to take a second to raise your weapon. Run when you are retreating or trying to improve your teams position - don’t just run to get into the battle faster.
- Get in a squad and stay with your squad (spawn with your squad). Strength in numbers and the ability to push up with your squad is powerful.
- Don’t run and gun. If you’re using rifles stay med / long distance and stop and aim your shots. If you get in closer ranger shoot from the hip in short bursts (I think I strafe in close). Shotguns are just going to cut through you if you run up with a rifle.
- Take advantage of the FF being default off. Spam nades into highly congested areas for cheap easy kills.
- Ammo up. If an engineer has repaired an ammo box and you are near then load up. You don’t start with enough ammo and running out of ammo or nades when you need them because you didn’t take 2 seconds to ammo up is lame.
- Head shots....try and make em. You can take down anybody with one head shot - even the assault class with his boost on.
- Stay back a little - and make sure you have cover that you can get to if you need to regenerate health.
- Learn the maps of course...learn them really well.

- Use your radar!! (not the guy from M*A*S*H*)

 

Be a good teammate - get in a squad or start a squad. Be a medic if one is needed or an engineer or whatever is needed. Don’t play for KD play for the win.

Have fun!

Posted by BlowMonkey @ 9:02 am EDT | Permalink | 1 Comments