Why do we refer to strings by input rather than name?

[ZeroSymbolic]

My wife who is new to fighting games asked me today, "Why don't they just call the strings by names instead of listing out all the inputs?" She was referring to the way people write guides on the site.

I have my own theories about this but I thought it was a question that might generate some interesting discussion so let's have at it.

 

[Vslayer]

Cause numbers reference buttons we need to press rather than just a name. For newcomers or people who want to learn a new character it’s easier to remember.

 

[ZeroSymbolic]

Cause numbers reference buttons we need to press rather than just a name. For newcomers or people who want to learn a new character it’s easier to remember.

You would think so, but my wife is a complete newcomer and feels that using the name of the chain is easier.

For example Playing Baraka, she feels saying "Mangled-Gut Ripper Amp-dash-Uppercut" is easier than 1,1,2,bf4,f,f,d2 because she knows what string to put up on the screen for practice and then the inputs are right there.

 

[Second Saint]

Those button inputs actually have some logic behind them. 1= Front Punch, 2= Back Punch, 3= Front kick, 4= Back kick. It's called limb notation, since each button corresponds basically to an arm or leg.

Because of that, I can actually have a vague idea of the inputs behind a string just by looking at it. I sure can't just guess it's name.

 

[Juggs]

The numbers can be applied universally to all characters. You don’t need to know the string names by heart to learn a character if you know the notations. So for instance if you’re learning a new character, you can look at combo notations and know what to do without having to memorize the names individually.

 

[ZeroSymbolic]

Those button inputs actually have some logic behind them. 1= Front Punch, 2= Back Punch, 3= Front kick, 4= Back kick. It's called limb notation, since each button corresponds basically to an arm or leg.

Because of that, I can actually have a vague idea of the inputs behind a string just by looking at it. I sure can't just guess it's name.

That actually makes a lot of sense, and somehow I never put that together. I knew what the numbers meant of course, but didn't connect the dots that you could get a mental visual for the string from those numbers. Supper cool revelation.

 

[theotherguy]

The name is just an extra step to getting where you want which is the buttons to do the combo. Why complicate it further having to do the translation in your head when it can be written exactly as it is?

The names are there just to add some character to them i guess. But really if they were just listed it wouldn't make a difference to anyone. I couldn't tell you the any combo names of the two characters that i dabble with.

 

[Under_The_Mayo]

@ZeroSymbolic Just tell her that there's no way anyone will learn the names of every string in the game. So when I say "forward 212" every knows what I mean and can replicate it. If I say "Hyperion Smash" they'll be like "What is that? A special move? A string? Fatal Blow?"

 

[LawAbidingCitizen]

You would think so, but my wife is a complete newcomer and feels that using the name of the chain is easier.

For example Playing Baraka, she feels saying "Mangled-Gut Ripper Amp-dash-Uppercut" is easier than 1,1,2,bf4,f,f,d2 because she knows what string to put up on the screen for practice and then the inputs are right there.

Its more efficient than listing the names.
Many can't remember every characters moves name whole they can remember 1-2-3-4 inputs.
Its shorter
Saves time
Easy to remember
Its universal to all systems
The only obstacle she has to understand is memorizing the numbers for buttons on all systems.
Whereit can get complicated is where people use abbreviations for moves and special moves especially terms from other fighting games like Oki, xx, CC, Super, EX but once you get it its easy.
What writers need to do is list notation when writing guides like:

FP = 1 (XB1 = X) (PS4 = Square)
BP = 2 (XB1 = Y) (PS4 = Triangle)
FK = 3 (XB1 = A) (PS4 = X)
BK = 4 (XB1= B) (PS4 = Circle)

xx = Cancel Into (Street Fighter)
+ = plus on block
- = minus on block
DC = Dash Cancel
FB = Fatal Blow
FLB = Flawless Block
U = Up
D = Down
B = Back
F = Forward
FF = front Dash
BB = Backdash
Oki = pressure on wakeup
Meaty = mids used on thier wakeup that have a large window to connect or frame advantage or guess. (Many people use the term differently)

But generally it just takes getting used to.

 

[Buster Skruggs]

Its more efficient than listing the names.
Many can't remember every characters moves name whole they can remember 1-2-3-4 inputs.
Its shorter
Saves time
Easy to remember
Its universal to all systems
The only obstacle she has to understand is memorizing the numbers for buttons on all systems.
Whereit can get complicated is where people use abbreviations for moves and special moves especially terms from other fighting games like Oki, xx, CC, Super, EX but once you get it its easy.
What writers need to do is list notation when writing guides like:

FP = 1 (XB1 = X) (PS4 = Square)
BP = 2 (XB1 = Y) (PS4 = Triangle)
FK = 3 (XB1 = A) (PS4 = X)
BK = 4 (XB1= B) (PS4 = Circle)

xx = Cancel Into (Street Fighter)
+ = plus on block
- = minus on block
DC = Dash Cancel
FB = Fatal Blow
FLB = Flawless Block
U = Up
D = Down
B = Back
F = Forward
FF = front Dash
BB = Backdash
Oki = pressure on wakeup
Meaty = mids used on thier wakeup that have a large window to connect or frame advantage or guess. (Many people use the term differently)

But generally it just takes getting used to.

What does the term SO mean? I see people referring to it on opponents wakeup

 

[Bucketfeet]

What does the term SO mean? I see people referring to it on opponents wakeup

You probably mean OS which is option select. From what I understand it's a series of inputs in which there could be two or more outcomes but deoending on the situation, the best 'option' will always play out.

So for example with Noob, if you input his back 1, 1+3, down, up (teleport), then on hit he will combo into his teleport but on block his teleport won't come out, hence the best option always plays out.

I could be wrong on this though so please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Buster Skruggs]

You probably mean OS which is option select. From what I understand it's a series of inputs in which there could be two or more outcomes but deoending on the situation, the best 'option' will always play out.

So for example with Noob, if you input his back 1, 1+3, down, up (teleport), then on hit he will combo into his teleport but on block his teleport won't come out, hence the best option always plays out.

I could be wrong on this though so please correct me if I'm wrong.

Yes I meant OS and that makes sense. Seeing how the term was used heavily for wake up options

 

[honeybooboo]

"Avoiding the puddle"

 

[Tanya-Fan-28]

I like string names, they remind me of how makeup shades have names. In all honesty though, inputs are easier to communicate & I feel silly typing "Follow Me" in a message, especially if the other person doesn't know what you're talking about.

 

[Cashual]

That actually makes a lot of sense, and somehow I never put that together. I knew what the numbers meant of course, but didn't connect the dots that you could get a mental visual for the string from those numbers. Supper cool revelation.

To take it a step further, mid string especially, sometimes you’ll see where the directional input also correlates. Like for example midstring inputs like u2 often have the character do an upward motion or attack and d2 a the end of the string will be like a downward striking/splat knockdown back punch.

This isn’t a hard fast rule, but a lot of strings inputs make sense visually.

As to your question, the names for strings is inconvenient. For one, if I go to a site like this or YouTube and I want to learn a character or combos, I want the inputs right there. It’d be annoying to have to go in game and figure out which is which.

Not to mention to cal strings by there name is limiting and leads to long and clunky combo notation.

Like think about corner combos where maybe you do 3 d1s proceeded by a string and followed by a string and special. “Merciless battery, down front punch, down front punch, down front punch, maniacal assaultxxdeath spin amplify.

You don’t get any idea about that combo til you actually see what the combos appear to do.

Honestly, the only pushback I ever see about the 1234 style of notation is from people that are brand new, and once you get it it’s so intuitive.

 

[Kitana Fan]

Because I can never remember the names. The inputs are just easier to remember.

 

[ChaosTheory]

It started with the 3D games where characters' normal attacks were based on their real-life martial arts. So depending on the character, the triangle button could be a jab, kick, low sweep, grapple, etc. The previous universal HP-LP-HK-LK system didn't apply.

After that, during MK9, we realized the annotation for front and back punches and kicks made explaining moves and strings too convoluted.

F1,3,2xxFireball ~ 4,F4,B3xxFlying Kick

Much easier than saying...

Forward front punch, front kick, back punch, Fireball, into, back kick, forward back kick, backward front kick, Flying Kick.

What?

 

[Vslayer]

You would think so, but my wife is a complete newcomer and feels that using the name of the chain is easier.

For example Playing Baraka, she feels saying "Mangled-Gut Ripper Amp-dash-Uppercut" is easier than 1,1,2,bf4,f,f,d2 because she knows what string to put up on the screen for practice and then the inputs are right there.

That's just because she hasn't memorized 1-4 yet and which face buttons they belong to, but once she does she'll start using numbers like everyone. No use in having to remember the string name and the numbers associated with it too.

 

[GLoRToR]

You would think so, but my wife is a complete newcomer and feels that using the name of the chain is easier.

For example Playing Baraka, she feels saying "Mangled-Gut Ripper Amp-dash-Uppercut" is easier than 1,1,2,bf4,f,f,d2 because she knows what string to put up on the screen for practice and then the inputs are right there.

Learning that F means Foward, B means Back, and the numbers for 4 buttons is much easier than remembering all those random words.

 

[theotherguy]

Learning that F means Foward, B means Back, and the numbers for 4 buttons is much easier

I really wish they'd add a "universal buttons display" in the game options. All the buttons would then be shown as 1,2,3,4, and all the directions are D,B,U,F. Would make it so much better.

There's nothing i find more annoying than those stupid arrows, then i have to figure out which side was i on? Never understood why that became the "standard" in game, when everywhere else it seems to be notated by DBUF. Although i'm guessing it's because it looks less intimidating than numbers and letters all over the place.

 

[magandi]

do the devs even know the names? in tekken the same move can have different names. everyone calls a low sweep snakeedge but only brians sweep has the name snakeedge. i assume they just use a random name generator.

 

[ZeroSymbolic]

Update: Talked to the wife about it. She recognizes her preference for the name of the string is an odd-duck thing. Our theory is that because she is a linguistics specialist she just more easily associates named sequences, for her it is like a translation. Strange how the mind works sometimes eh?

 

[CrimsonShadow]

Update: Talked to the wife about it. She recognizes her preference for the name of the string is an odd-duck thing. Our theory is that because she is a linguistics specialist she just more easily associates named sequences, for her it is like a translation. Strange how the mind works sometimes eh?

Advise her to keep an open mind, as many things which are ultimately more useful in the long run seem awkward at first.

If we always stopped when things were more foreign to us, we’d miss out on some of the cooler parts of life

 

[Swindle]

Tell your wife that she is living her best life, and she don’t need no man to tell her how to play a fighting game.
She should feel free to scream out the name of the string as she whoops some ass with it.

 

[STB Sgt Reed]

um... am I the only one who doesn't even look at the names of strings? lol