1) Proud of This Game, and You Guys
After all the things people said leading up to NEC, and all of the threads that were made, Injustice showed up and represented in a major way. Not only were there a great number of IGAU entrants, but the matches starting from pools were exciting the entire way through. There were upsets, blow-ups, level-ups, a ton of intense nailbiters, and pretty much everything you could expect from a top-notch fighting game tournament.
Not only that but along with the salt, players were gracious in defeat, congratulated each other, encouraged each other, and showed a ton of community spirit throughout the day. That is what community is supposed to be about.
Also the rivalry between the East and West coasts was everything it was cracked up to be. The WC showed up, backed up their talk and represented in force. But now the Midwest may be making a case for being the strongest current scene in IGAU and MK. If this kind of talent balance between regions is where things are headed, it's great for the future of the game.
2) We need to level-up our stream coverage (especially on the East Coast)
Kudos to guys like Compton over at EGP for pulling things off without a hitch; the combined ECT/NEC/WB/SJ/TFC set has a lot to learn from others. By now the following should be well known:
-You can't depend solely on venue internet. No matter what anyone says before the tournament, there are likely to be issues at ground zero on tourney day. Even if you get a hotel link, there's no guarantee that it'll be reliable/stable. So for anyone considered a major streamer for a game, you must have a 4g backup tested and ready at bracket start, no questions asked.
-A lot of viewers were lost because of a 4-hour late stream. Luckily Pig of the Hut came through in a major way and saved the stream, but it shouldn't be up to random competitors to bail tournaments and stream networks out on pools day.
There's a reason that Spooky Bifu and Arturo carry 4g backups, and there's a reason that Anime streams have been up and running at all the majors this year regardless of how many entrants the anime games get: preparation.
This isssue has come up at maybe 5 straight tournaments -- which means it's no longer a surprise; it's time to deal with it ahead of time.
3) The IGAU Patch Has Made a Difference
It seemed like there were no safe paths in this tournament, regardless of characters faced. We saw Bane and Hawkgirl do copious amounts of damage and be the first two to make it into Top 8, and even old Lobo made it to Top 16. Likewise, some very competent Superman, Black Adam and Aquaman players were eaten alive in pools or shortly thereafter. Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Flash, Zod and co all struggled and ultimately succumbed.
Top 8 Winners Side: Bane, Hawkgirl, Raven, Grundy. Winners!
It's clear that both the metagame and the players themselves have evolved along with the frame data, and it was fascinating to see people continue to pull out tech and strategies that hadn't been glimpsed before. What was evident in some locals has now been realized on the major stage, and that's huge for the game.
4) You Can't Pre-Decide on the Forums Who a Best/Top Player of a Character Is.
You have to wait for the results. Everyone has become obsessed with making absolute determinations based on online matches, podcasts, and hearsay etc. -- but that does a disservice to guys that show up and get results. For example, if people want to say that Grr is the best bane, everyone else should have to hold that until someone proves otherwise, regardless of who the forum/local/online favorites are, because Grr has the results to back it up.
5) Thanks and Props
Overall this was an awesome event, and it was a blast to see from beginning to end. There are too many people to name, but here are some of them:
EMPEROR_THEO -- That Superman. I love your attitude/vibe and your persistence; your scene is lucky to have you. Thanks for bringing some hype and good feels out East.
AK Pig Of The Hut -- If this was truly your last run, you will be sorely missed -- win or lose no one brought the energy that you did both to the game and the forums. Your passion for all things and MK and IGAU helped everyone keep the flame burning during some tough times in the community, and you were one of the people who showed everyone what a handful of characters could truly do.
Also, you really saved the day with your 4g card -- everyone's salty about the matches they missed, but we'd have missed way more if it wasn't for you.
NEC also reminded me that you're a great commentator, and you'll be missed there as well.. Best of luck to you, and your beautiful family.
flipkev (aka. Tank Top Guy or TTG) -- No one tries harder or gets more excited than you. Or also gives more questionable details about their sexual escapades on the mic at majors. This Bud's for you. (Side note: FlipKev also contributed $40 to Pig's 4g bill in order to keep the IGAU stream alive).
I was happy to see you in your element on sp00ky's stream, and it was a little emotional when you made your speach about always dreaming of being there. That kind of stuff is really heart-warming, and it reminds you that the FGC and tournaments aren't just about the gameplay.
RDK|Tyrant -- You earned your title as King of the Comeback in MK9, but you couldn't have solidified it for eternity any better than you did at NEC. The fact that you never give up is inspiring, and it's made for some of the most memorable tournament matches we've ever seen.
Good gracious, that match between you and Theo.
Grr -- I think the whole community is proud of you. You've stuck by your character and continued to level up week by week, and you've come a long way from those first promising weeks at NLBC. Rico told me for a while that he was hoping you'd start to come out to play, and you ended up making it beyond him in this tournament and that's a huge accomplishment in itself.
Mikemetroid -- Big props to you, man. I guess looking like Dizzy finally paid off. This was a huge weekend for you, and after all the hard work you've been quietly putting in behind the scenes helping to run these events, it was great to see you get your chance to shine.
Blind_Man -- You will give yourself more props for this tournament than I could ever give you
But aside from the kidding, you backed up your talk again in a major way and there's no dispute about who the Raven of America is.
Kitana Prime -- You levelled up majorly (echoes of MK?). Great showing at NEC and looking forward to seeing you play more in the future.
Maxter -- <3. We always knew this, but you showed again at NEC that you have a ton of heart. Your Lobo is fantastic and it was great to see you in the money matches as well (waiting for Pig's video with your facial expressions).
DarthArma -- Another tournament and another Top 8 placing for you; you had to fight harder than I've ever seen you fight to make it in this one. Your dark knight looks ridiculous, and you are constantly pulling out new setups and surprises. Congrats and kudos for being amazingly persistent and a great guy too.
HazeJupiter -- Sorry if I seemed like I was blowing you up; you did your thing at NEC and knocked off a bunch of extremely talented and difficult players to beat. So forget what anyone says about MMH -- best of luck with doing your thing and proving people wrong.
GGA 16 Bit -- I've never seen someone be so angry and so happy at the exact same time. I mean like, raging livid mad, and also tears of joy happy, simultaneously. You might want to ask a Doctor if that's healthy -- but it's your unique kind of passion and I know you love your team.
Congrats to the whole GGA crew for tearing it up this year and fighting through the slump to remind everyone why Chicago is such an awesome place to be.
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