Devastation was an absolute blast, and brought back fond memories of when I used to travel all the time for SC3. I forgot just how fun it is to chill with other peeps who are just as passionate about the game as I am, get good games in, go to restaurants as a huge group and reminisce about all kinds of stuff, and basically just have a great time. Tournament wise, Devastation was the most technically advanced tournament I've ever been to. I know I haven't been to a tourney in a while but their set up was miles ahead of anything else I've ever experienced. All their setups were HD with the majority having no lag, the on stage setup was flawless with the streaming and camera setups to record competitor's faces. I just wish they had used ONLY commentators from the communities of the games that were being played. Despite that minor gripe, I think Devastation was REALLY well done and I hope that they become a huge tourney along the lines of EVO, because I certainly think they have the equipment to handle a large turnout.
I also want to thank Dr. Dogg and always stylish Jedirobb for being as accommodating as they were. All we had to do was ask them for things like more setups etc and our wishes were usually granted. Dr. Dogg you were a really nice guy and I look back on our team tourney match that we had and feel bad that I was being such a jerk to you. I blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol lol. Anyway, thank you both for having SC4 there and all I can hope is that you consider having it there again next year, if so count me in for sure!
Now for individual props:
Thugish: Still the aggressive, smart, incredibly adaptive player that I remember. Nice job winning the tourney, impressive play throughout the whole weekend and I'm glad you showed a lot of people that it's not just Amy why you win. It was fun hanging with you for the entire weekend, the random shit you laugh at is funny. See you at Idle's tourney, hopefully I can make it out there.
Typhoon: Nice seeing you again after all this time. I had fun hanging with you because we have the same taste in females so it was nice to check em all out with you, especially at hooters lol. Oh and the games were fun too haha.
Hajime: Even though we both tied for 5th I still feel you could have done a lot better. When I play you in casuals at my place you're always on point with getting your JFs. But as I watched you play in both casuals and the tourney you were just off and it must have been frustrating for you as it was for me to watch. It's ok though, we just need to come back to the next event stronger. At least Hates seems to be back on board with us for at least the summer so we can get some practice.
NDK: I'm glad you made it out and got to experience a real tourney. I am also glad that Thugish showed you first hand what happens when you spam Asura against a character with a good autoGI. You might get away with it online and against characters that don't have autoGIs like that, but it teaches you to learn matchups. Also shows me that NorCal as a region has to get better so we're more prepared for stuff like that.
Lobo: Damnit man, had me at the airport looking stupid calling you over and over but to no avail. It's all good, gave me the chance to check out Phoenix's light rail system and see random sights on the way to the venue. We didn't even play many games but still it was good hanging with you for the times we did. Also thanks for all the kind words about me while you were guest commentating.
Malice: My nigga, good to finally meet the SC4 hypeman! You a cool dude man, and I love your passion for the game. Bring your headphones for the next time we fight though, lol. I know them 'weees' were distracting you. Thanks for all those pictures you took of me during what was, indeed, the happiest moment of my trip lol. I will never forget hooters, Phoenix!
Nori: Yeah man, sucks we didn't play but we still had some good times. Now that I think of it, it's funny how most of my good times with people was at hooters. I know you'll forever give me shit for the 'ponder' cheesy ass look I was giving the racked up asian waitress....oh well. Good job against Hajime in that FT10 but I'll just say that he was WAY off his game there, he was missing all the imputs he usually hits. Next time we gotta actually get some games in!
Chickenwing: It really has been 5 years hasn't it? Good hanging out with the older more mature Mike Edwards haha. Nice Asta mirrors, was a nice way to start the weekend.
Agustin: Nothing like the other Texas players, very quiet lol. But your SC4 game sure isn't quiet, excellent Mitsu and Amy man. I still recall how good you were in SC3 so I knew what to expect. Been 5 years since I saw you too, glad to see you are still a smart FG player.
Dreamkiller: Nice job in the tourney first of all. I was really impressed with your Amy, reminded me a lot of your Taki from SC3. You beat my ass pretty good in that tourney but that didn't surprise me because your region is really strong and you were well prepared. I simply suck and need more practice but it's cool. Man first you kicked me out of winners, then you got me kicked out of the venue with the dranky drank. It's cool though, still had fun that night anyway. Hopefully I see all you east coast guys at Idle's tourney if I can make it.
Nofacekill3r: I'm not surprised at all that you did so well, honestly I think if you would have kept your wits about you you could have won. Oh well, congrats on such a strong showing. I knew from the second I faced you on xboxlive that you were as legit as they come, definitely capable of being 'the next online beast' that SU is always trying to find. You hella remind me of Ivylicious when I first met him, you look just
like him when he was your age, you even use Ivy like he used to, and execute the commands grabs as easily as he used to....pretty crazy. Anyhow, nice to finally put a face to the name....see what I did thar??!!! Oh and please don't retire. Obviously if you did this well, whatever you've been doing has been working. So what you don't get as much offline practice against as many different characters as you want? Bottom line is, you have talent in this game and you shouldn't just throw all the hard work you've put into learning this game away.
Greatone: Nice to meet you man. Didn't get to play you a whole lot but the games we had were good. Your Mitsu is really nice man, we just both have to pay more attention to Belial's vids and try to get as good as he is with the stances. Nice hanging out with you as well, and yeah I knew that old dude that splashed beer on the both of us would have been murdered if I didn't hold you back. I'm glad you calmed down on your own because I don't know how long I would have been able to restrain you lol. Oh and glad to see we have the same likes when it comes to women lol. Cheeks is cheeks!!! Hope to see you again, seattle isn't that far from me. Maybe one of these days I'll fulfill one of my dreams of taking a long Amtrak ride and venture up there to visit you guys.
Xephukai: Finally get to meet the guy who I first played as an online Mitsu that bloomed into one of the smartest players PSN. Glad to see you prove King Ace right about online players, particularly you, doing well offline. Glad you had fun on your first offline tourney. Oh and DK is right about you knowing how to party, I heard about you at Lobo's on the first night there AND I saw the video on Thugish's camera of that whole bathroom thing you crazy mofos lol. Hopefully more good times like that in the future.
Destinizizizizizish: LOL nice to meet you. Didn't get to play you much and I'm mad because our one game vs each other I lost. I should have used Maxi and raped you. I still plan to do that, I don't care how much you study about him haha. If you go to any other SC4 events I'll see you there, hopefully Dev keeps SC4.
King Salmon: Nice to finally meet you too. I did exactly what I wanted to, and that is meet a lot of the better online players I faced against. Very nice Mitsu and even better Yun, I had no idea some of the tactics you were using was actually possible but boy did I learn the hard way. Good showing in the tourney and good times outside of the games, people who have a sense of humor like you do make shit way more enjoyable.
Ivylicious: Man do you look different from last I remember! With the clean cut style and spazzy looking clothes I hope you went to some nightclub and picked up some chicks after the tourney lol. Nice seeing you again, I still think you should pick up Ivy again though. Yes she changes dramatically in every version and I know you're tired of relearning her over and over but you gotta admit, she's always at least upper mid tier in every game.
Red Testament: Another online player that I wanted to meet. Glad to finally get some games with you offline. I feel a lot better playing against Kilik when I can actually GI the second hit of asura dance or block 2A+K. Hope you had fun, and congrats on winning that poster during the finals lol. See you online or at next years Dev. if they have SC4.