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Out of retirement, and trying to shake off the rust.

Started by Jericho 84, December 05, 2011, 09:35:00 AM

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Jericho 84

Hi all.  I've been a KOF player in tournaments when '98 was in arcades.  I live in NJ and the closest arcade is about an hour away.  Now I stopped competing because I was still in high school, but during this time, I was unbeaten in the closest arcade that I had, which isn't around anymore  :( 

I know I might not be some master guru or expert in the game but I do have a lot more than just average knowledge.  The only thing I'm lacking is that tournament aggression that I used to have and I unfortunately can't get that anymore.  Not having an arcade close by and not many people to play doesn't help much either. 

Delta

Arcades are dying, you are not alone there.
And welcome to the forums, maybe you can find some online (when it gets fixed) opponents here.

baccano1932

Hello and welcome to Dream Cancel Jericho 84, it's a pleasure to meet you
"simply learning does not make one learned there are those who have knowledge and those who have understanding".

BioBooster


Jericho 84

Thanks everyone.  I do hope I get to face some good opponents to shake the rust off.  I do miss my arcades greatly.  I miss facing other people more.  Online is one thing, but nothing beats the feel of offline or even facing someone on a cabinet, God what a rush that was.

Rex Dart

RIP arcades.  :(  I agree with you, online can never replace in-person competition.

And welcome to DC! I know we have some members from the Northeast here, and hopefully you'll be able to find someway to meet up with other players.

solidshark

Welcome back to the site Jericho, and welcome back to KOF.
"You had guts kid; now clean them up off the pavement"
-Terry Bogard, 1995

Jericho 84

Thank you everybody.  To put a little history on me.  I started playing in '98 at an arcade in Hamilton, NJ called Wizards.  This place had everything, from the SNES/NES emulator arcade games, to the laser disk and even slot car racing, but the biggest thing I remember was the "fight pit".  Every weekend, it was KOF, MK, or SF.  It was 2 machines back to back and during the tournament, people would crowd around it like there was a pit fight going on.  Well, during one of the off days, I watched a man who called himself "Ise", a generation one fighting game player on the KOF '98 machine.  I would spend my 20 dollar allowance at the arcade every weekend, but then when I was done, I'd watch him play.  It was like watching poetry in motion, the cancels, the loops, the combos...everything was just amazing to watch.  One day, he caught me and I was like a deer in headlights.  From there he asked if I wanted to play but I didn't really play or know how to play fighting games outside of pimp slapping the arcade stick and bashing on buttons like I had epilepsy.  He then said he would decide to do what he's never done before and teach someone how to play.  I couldn't believe he was willing to teach me and from that point, he put me through what he called "the 9 essentials of a complete fighting game player".  I called it "the 9 circles of hell". 

After a few months of him manhandling me, he then said that I was ready to compete.  To say I was nervous is saying the Pacific Ocean is just a little wet.  My first match, I lost, but it was best out of 3.  At that point, Ise went to me from behind and said for me to visualize them as nothing more than a wall that I must break through to become stronger.  After taking a breather, everything that he taught me opened in like a vicious floodgate.  I didn't do anything flashy, but my damage was high and I was smart, visualizing each match like it was a real fight that I was in.  I ended up beating the reigning champion there named "Hellion"...first time I had a truly ruthless rival.  Each time we played, it looked like a violent slugfest with rabid animals.  For 7 months and one other arcade in a mall called "Time-Out Arcade", I was a reigning, undefeated and fighting champion at both places 

My only reason for stopping, was because I was starting high school and wanted to concentrate on it as much as I could.  Every year that went by, I missed it there.  The rush, the excitement, the intensity, the environment...it was like watching...electronic gladiators doing battle.  There is truly no feeling that can describe or replace it.