Thanks to Gill Hustle and UGS for running the tournament, and to everyone who helped out with running and commentating for the stream.
CRUM
Deftonesrc
Crosstalk
FordCruller
MK Peanuts
It seems some explanation is in order. TL;DR at the bottom, if you don't feel like reading the proper explanation.
First of all, let me say that despite my comments about the game and and Cage, I do not mean to discredit CRUM, Steven, or Cage players in general. I respect players who are good at this game, and I respect those who put in the work necessary to be good with their character. (Even if it's Cage, Kabal, or Cyrax.) I appreciate the fact that local players are coming out to tournaments and trying to get better.
I've been playing this game competitively since it was released, and have entered tournaments at many locals, regional tournaments, various majors, and at MLG. As a lot of players, I feel like the game has an inordinate amount of problems, including all kinds of glitches, bugs, and balance issues. Sometimes I can look past that, and sometimes I don't want to. I've lost ~75% health to Cyrax because of just one input bug. I've lost a top 16 tournament match at a major because of the inconsistent inputs in this game. I've witnessed someone initiate a[n unintended] parry glitch when they missed a punish because of an input bug, in a top 8 match at a major. Sometimes MK9 is really ridiculous...haha.
I'm not one to throw around saying that I might quit a game; it's not something that I say on a whim, and it certainly doesn't feel good. I stopped playing MK after Evo because I was fed up with the game, but got 3rd place at Summer Jam after not having really played in a long time, and decided to give it another go. Getting 4th and 5th place at two locals in a row because of some up and coming players that I'd never heard of who counterpicked with Cage definitely made me salty, and gave me a taste of what it's like to play against a good Cage player (even though I was already familiar with what the character can do). After Brainbox, I put in some work to learn about the matchup, but didn't really get to practice much or play it very much until UGS, where I ended up losing in the Cage matchup again! Hence my frustration.
You might want to note, CRUM, that I might've seemed more upset about losing to you because at that point, I had been knocked out of the tournament, and I also felt like I didn't play the matchup as well against you as I did against Steven, despite having lost to both of you. Regardless, I definitely lost to both of you, not just to Cage. I apologize if either of you feel like I was discrediting you or not making that acknowledgement.
I do still think that Cage's pressure is pretty ridiculous, what with a lot of his strings being 0 on block, building meter, all while he's mixing up and doing chip. Also, after doing some more research, I found out that there's a bug that makes f3 +9 if you try to jump out after blocking it crouching. (WTF?) It can definitely be off-putting to get blown up by Cage's relatively safe, extremely effective, and reasonably straightforward offense, and it does seem kind of OP to me, along with Cyrax and Kabal, but it's hardly unbeatable. I have been learning more about the matchup, and developing strategies to win it.
I have my problems with MK9, but I have decided to keep playing, and just get better.
TL;DR: MK9 is messed up, Cage and some other characters are pretty silly, I will keep playing despite this, and it's time to level up.
Heard you drove players over the cliff =)
Nope, I did not drive players over the cliff. It was apparently my character. maaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnn.
CRUM would be correct there. It was definitely MK9, all its problems, and Mr. Johnny Cage that really made me consider not playing anymore, not any particular player. Even Perfect Legend stopped playing the game at a point because the game is so messed up. MK Peanuts doesn't play the game seriously because of it, even.
CRUM and the other local players don't make me want to stop playing; they do quite the opposite! There being a scene in New England again, the fact that there are players around who enjoy the game and also want to play seriously and get better, and the fact that these players are giving me a challenge all makes me want to play MORE, not STOP playing. Please don't let that be mistaken.
SO WHEN ARE WE GOING TO PLAY AGAIN?! To the New England thread!
