Right. This'll be a doozy, then. I'm sorry for stretching this page!!
I actually got stuck in Houston coming back because of weather delays. But like... I wasn't even mad. I went to EVO, man! Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.
Bibulus - You're a real cool guy. You should have random hoes on stream with you so people can recognize how cool you are, but I know you're too cool to need that. Good going with the commentary man, I'm looking forward to more at Raleigh.
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeSports!!!
Malice - I think what you do on the site is super pro- thanks for keeping everything so clean and organized. And you take pictures at all these events, too! You're really something. And I got to play you without any online stupid lag too, that was really cool. So nice...
RTD - Ayyy! I got to play you offline, finally! I could have done with playing you outside of my pool cough cough, but fuck it, I'll take it man. I didn't see you the rest of the weekend though, I guess I gotta be more vigilant... Tell Mick I said hi...
Hawkeye - Thanks for the games, esp. on Sunday. You've got a real good attitude, I think that's just swell. Good luck at Raleigh man, if I can't make it I'll be watching.
Mateo - I'm not much of a gambling man- I take too much risks in the game as is! but, when you said you don't play except for money, I thought that was really cool. Keep on hustling man.
Belial - Captain Russia in the house!
How did the rape go?
Anyway, I finally got the texting to work! But it was too late... Someday! Someday.
Xeph - Good shit bro. I didn't get to play you personally, I guess I should have caught you earlier. To tell you the truth, I wish I would have tried to play you online more often. I was training against Viola for EVO instead of Astaroth... Ooops...
Hope you're doing alright. Looked like you had a good time!
LostProvidence - Thanks for posting the room up on 8WR man, I swear I would have been lost most of the time without going to the Chicago room. I'm glad I got to play you, I missed all of the tournament action on Friday when I left to eat. Augh ._.
I'll have to catch the stream to watch your stuff later...
Chickenwing, CNP - It's been four years! Damn! Good to see you guys in the game, I've been occasionally playing Agustin online. Texas in here!
Kura - Sorry man, I had to support Woahhzz, you know how it is. Nice meeting you though, wish we could have played some (I am going to be saying this a lot, apparently... So many missed opportunities...!)
Revin - You were my first casuals of the day man, thanks for sitting me down! I had a blast. Offline is so good... I got to play with Revin! Man... Awesome...
NFK - Great playing you offline dude. You actually remembered my habits from playing me online, that was "wow" for me. How did it go with Shen Chan for you?
FilthieRich - I was the guy with the button-down and slacks sitting up front. Thanks for everything you've done for the community man, keep it real on the corporate side. That's a real good look.
HumanTyphoon - I guess Mitsu really is broke. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with me, I appreciate it. I will tell you that I've never played any Mitsu like you before, good stuff man.
Woahhzz - I got to play you on Sunday! I'm really happy about that. Though, I wish I could have played you more! Aw. You were on point as usual, it's fun just to watch you play.
Thanks for the snack on the way to the hotel. I had a real good time hanging out with you, I mean that. Peace, bro.
Manta - Shenanigans!!! It was cool meeting you man. BS is BS. Thanks for giving me the best seat in the house! Tell Mr. Iron Knee that I had fun.
Enkindu - I only saw you for a second, where did you go??? Anyhoo. Nice meeting you for real!
Dreamkiller - Heyyy man! I wanted to say, the Quick Steps stuff, I thought that was really neat. Good lookin' out, man.
Well, anyway, yeah, mgvfinest/Shakim was the guy who showed me the ropes back in SCIV online. He hit me with this huge-ass stun combo, and I was like, "uh... OK, uh, I'm gonna start doing what you're doing..."
Tell him I said hi! Wish that dude was here! Aw, man...
Genver - Aeon's stage, augh! Good playing you man, thanks for the long set, I just love those. Say hi to Nyawu for me.
Krayzie - Cool meeting you man. To be honest, I've considered you a mentor since SCIV days, I was real glad to "learn" backdash from you in SCV. Thank you for playing online in the first place. Wow, GameFAQs just ain't the same.
Shin RyuJin - I played you online a few days prior, I recall being impressed by your whiff punishing and defense. You were really on point when I played you in real life, you've done plenty of homework. Excellent stuff man, it was really fun playing.
Something-Unique - Hey man, you've been kicking ass since SCIV. I don't know where you came from, how you got those skills, but man, you're the truth. I was disappointed I only got to play you for six matches- I dunno how you feel about it, but I really enjoy when we manage to get something going online, and you throw me around the room for a kajillion matches straight- I feel like I learn so much every time. You don't take any bullshit, you're really solid.
Also, Winner's Finals being ft2 instead of ft3 was complete bullshit. I'm still upset about that one.
But you did good bro, I will stand by that shit. Wonderful seeing you.
Juece - I see what you mean about offline. This shit is bananas. That's all I'm gonna say.
And fuck your crossbow. Yo.
Banes - Thanks for hosting on Saturday. You're actually pretty good man- in my opinion- you have a nice broken rhythm, you place throws well (Kayane knows all about that! Ha!). Honestly, you're only missing a few things and you already know what they are! It was cool meeting you in the flesh.
kAb - I didn't get to play you! Agghh! But, at least we live in the same state so online isn't so bad... You're right, there should be some mid-point scene, but... C'est la vie. Sigh.
The Singapore crew - Singapore is the shit, I've been saying that for a while now. Shouts out to Frostheart a.k.a. FrizFroz, you know some cool-ass guys man. I'm jealous.
And shouts out to Ash Ketchum. Swag.
whirow - GameFAQs! I got to meet you, I'm happy. You're a real smart guy man, I enjoy talking with you on the internets. Yes, putting a face to the name... Oh! Excellent.
The Arizona crew - So close to playing you, so close! Nice meeting y'all, though. Anybody know where Nadaez/SPQR at? Can you tell him Drake says hi?
Tira players everywhere -
New Patroklos players - If EVO convinced you about this character, come on over to the Pat Soul Arena, I'm finna revise all my stuff and update it with everything I currently know.
All are welcome.
All are welcome.
Everybody else (Would you like me to name names?) - Y'all are real! Real!! I can't believe it! Solipsism ain't shit! I wish I could have played all of you!
---
While I was there, I noticed everybody going to this room, or that room, packing in places like sardines, and- I thought to myself... Why doesn't EVO have a dedicated casual area? Why isn't there some place, so when somebody asks, "Where do we go to play casuals?"- hell- you don't even have to ask that question, you just go to this extra ballroom or something waiting for you? I would pay $5-10 to have something like that. People can do casuals with everybody, people can watch, people can do money matches and sidebets, I don't see why this wasn't happening. Maybe at other tournaments, I understand, but, at EVO? Nah. Nah. Somebody needs to fix that.
And- speaking of improvements- I really thought about the game while I was there. And I'm glad it is where it is, but- it seems to me like- it could be just
so much more.
I imagine a world where I don't have to wait for a RTD or S-U or Hawkeye or Woahhzz or Ryujin or- you know? I don't have to wait for them to get online to get a challenge, the game is so well known by everybody that I can just hop online and get wrecked by some kid from Nebraska who plays casually and doesn't really study the game intensively.
I imagine a world where shit is eSports, and people gather around the TV to cheer for their favorite players. This is 2012 man, we don't need physical violence with a pigskin that only a few select people in the world can play. Update that shit! It's video games! Maximum accessibility! Anybody, even the viewers at home, can become a competitor if you put the time in, and all the resources are there for you! You ain't gotta get your football scholarship man, just hop online, get reading, and then bring that shit!
I figure- Make the game accessible. Really accessible. There are not a lot of resources to train newbies in the game. That's not good!!! New guys are the lifeblood of anything that stands the test of time, we need to show all these guys what's up! And I mean- when people see how good the game is, they tell their friends, their friends tell their friends, you don't even have to pay money for advertising. And that means bigger events, and bigger sponsors, and I mean- It's- It's the future, man! It's so close!!!! Aaaargh!!!
I desperately want this to happen- and I think all that is keeping Soul Calibur from 2D levels of success- or maybe more! is just a few tiny little things. I mean, people don't know. People don't know that this game is fucking awesome. They think this game is for mashers man. Fucking mashers??? Are you kidding me??? This game is the shit!!! Fuck!!!
I mean- the game is beautiful man. I think it's the modern-day equivalent of blitz chess, you know, I wish other people could see it like I do.
This game is a good game. These people are good people- I mean, they are ALL such cool people! Guys are missing out on this shit. That ain't fucking right. Not at all- I wouldn't wish that shit on anybody, man.
Anyway. I'ma stop preaching.
Shit is real man, I love it. Good shit.