dbboxkaifan wrote:
You could've said at least something if you wanted to leave a comment.
Don't always need to give detail to show support. A pat on the back doesn't require a single word. BUT, since I'm always happy to share my opinion...
I'm sure we've all heard variations of quotes regarding the fear of change. The following is one of my favorites:
"People fear what they don't understand and hate what they can't conquer." - Andrew Smith
There are a lot of competitors in the world that hold true to their respective games. Each one of them holds a specific game above all others in relation to what they perceive as a good, great or the best game for them. These gamers may experiment with other games and in many cases, become quite skilled in the temporary game of choice. But it will take a very special game to knock their favorite to 2nd best. As silly a concept as it may seem (at least at this level), many gamers treat their game preference religiously. Now, I'm not talking about the average gamer who could really care less, I'm talking about the hardcore players. I must admit that at a time, even I have been guilty of this. When such a player decides that a game that holds up to a specific caliber because of specific mechanical aspects, then a game with any mechanical aspects that do not match it will not measure up to the player's expectations. Therefore, if anyone attempts to make the comparison, this player will jump at the chance to not only defend his flawless opinion (again, I say opinion), but will straight up attack the mechanical construct of the opposing game. For a brief example, I will use a game we all should be familiar with: Super Smash Brothers Melee. Melee (and i was unaware of this) was actually supposed to be a "party" type of game, never to be considered for serious competitive fighting. Melee holds very little in common with some of the traditional games, such as Street Fighter, KoF or Tekken. However, as time has passed, Melee has proven to exhibit some of the most competitive events ever seen. So you see, games with new mechanics are not taken seriously until they prove themselves, and even then... it's an uphill battle.
These people who dislike games because of their different or new mechanical construct, they don't use logical reasoning because that's not what is fueling their opinion. Instead, I don't believe I'm outside the line to say FEAR is the direct cause. Follow me here...
In my opinion, Street Fighter will always be a factor of competitive fighting games. We could look at the gaming community again in ten years, I believe SF will still be around and competitively active. As technology progresses, I would like to think that this would be enough for Street Fighters to embrace the changes that gaming evolution would bring, but most of them probably won't. At least not to the extent of expected appreciation. If I may give another example, let us consider boxing vs MMA. MMA is still very new on the scene when compared to boxing. When looking at the concept of boxing vs MMA, they do have similarities, but they are worlds apart. Now, if you ask someone who has accepted the evolution of gladiator based sports, he will be able to give boundless reasons to explain his appreciation of MMA. However, if you were to ask an old time boxing fan that grew up with boxing as entertainment, he will tell you that boxing is better and MMA is stupid, etc. However, the boxing fan won't be able to give a lot of reasons for his disliking of MMA. This is because he likes boxing, he doesn't want it to change, he doesn't want anything to change. He's blissful in his unchanging world in which boxing is the only gladiator based sport worthy of note. What happens if one day, no one cares about boxing because MMA has taken over? Silly, I know... but this is how it is.
As far as gaming is concerned, the main problem with the gaming community is based on the fact that old hardcore gamers won't embrace change, and new hardcore gamers don't care about what they believe is obsolete. One group believes that some console fighter constructs should have never changed while the other believes the evolution of gaming has created a better console fighter construct. Not all changes are for the better, I'm sure the newest DBZ games are proof for a lot of you (I don't know, I haven't played them). However, to ignore and even deny the changes that have improved and expanded the potential of console fighting is inexplicably ridiculous.
I grew up in the 90's as well, and I have learned to recognize and appreciate changes when they open doors for technical and mechanical skill discovery. I've found a lot of enjoyment in exploring the variations of console fighters. If the closed minded street fighter wants to stick with what he knows and never leave his box, that's completely fine. But to shout from his box into the unknown that there's nothing better out there... please keep it down, you're disturbing the neighborhood.
Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.
