VSAV: Kyle_W's Japan Shoutouts & Impressions

私の最終的な日本 VSAVコミュニティの印象とその理解。

日本のVSAVコミュニティーは、私が関わった格闘ゲームコミュニティの中で最も情熱的で心に満ち、その上すごく楽しい格闘ゲームコミュニティでした。日本では格闘アーケードがまだ生きていて、しかも一プレイが50セント/円なので決して安い趣味ではないでしょう。VSAVのアクティブなプレイヤーさん達は VSAVは高価な趣味であることを踏まえてなおかつお互いと競い合いそれと同時に私生活面でも自分を支えている事はこの強いVSAVコミュニティーに貢献してると思います。プレイヤーの皆さんはVSAVの腕を上げるためテクニックを学びそして成長しその過程を通して楽しんでいました。このコミュニティの幸せな雰囲気は上記すべてを最大限に生かした結果だと思います。VSAVは刺激的で高速性の高い格闘ゲームであり、私の格闘ゲーム暦で一番楽しいゲームだと思っています。誰もが強くなりながら楽しい時を過すために努力をしていたので私は楽しい時間をすごせました。

[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

KEN_Gallon:貴方は私にとって日本でVSAVをプレイする最大のきっかけでした。 大会を主催してもらったり私の通訳をしてもらったりして本当にありがとうございました。大会中のすべての対戦や貴方のアドバイスには本当に感謝しています。日本での組み手は一生の思い出になるでしょう！シンシナティは永遠に貴方を応援します。=D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqS5LxjZfzw

KEN, EGO, DD, Sakamoto & Tetsu: 五人の皆さん のおかげでVSAVのコミュニティーは今でも生きているといっても過言ではないでしょう。それに加え皆さんが日本でのVSAVの対戦ビデオをアップロードし解説をしてるからこそアメリカでもVSAVがあるのです。今後も世界に“Rookies, Monthly, Devil’s Playground, Darkstalkers Combination Cup & Darkstalkers Carnival”を提供してください。

SHU: 貴方の集めたVSAVのフレームデータには驚きました。フレームデータのご提供ありがとうございました。その上貴方のビシャモンは最高でした。私も百年ぐらいはは練習しないと、、、。＝P

http://darkstalkers.moryou.com/

Paprika, Matsuokoa, Hunou, Oshi: 四月二十五日に高田馬場ミカド来てもらいありがとうございました。一緒にプレイするチャンスやVSAV関連の冗談できてとても楽しかったです。Legendary Chicken!

Olive-Oil: DPG2のポスターありがとうございました。とても素敵です ^_^。プレイヤーの皆さんとの思い出として最高のプレゼントでした。そのポスターを見るたびDPG2を思い出します。貴方とプレイヤーさんからサインを集めるときも面白かったです。 それにしても貴方の Jedah はとても強かったです! 一戦だけしかプレイできませんでしたが緊迫感あふれる試合でした。今度は一戦以上対戦したいです！＝D

Nakanishi & Sakamoto: 貴方達はDPG2で私を特別な人間だと感じさせてました。ありがとうございます。DPG2 での決勝進出おめでとうございます。 “Darkstalkers Are not Dead”（ダークストーカーは不死身です）

Matsuoka: マッフィンレディー! 貴方の優しさとマッフィンは最高でしたありがとうございます (^_^)貴方のレイレイのよかったです。結構多数のアメリカのプレイヤーさんも倒せそうな感じでした！

DD: もし私が日本に住んでいたら貴方とはかなり遊んでいたでしょう。最高でした！. 貴方のSasquatchはとても素早かったです. DPG2 エムブイピー！ゴーゴーゴー!　アメリカのSasquatchプレイヤーさんたちにも見習わせたいです。

Nishiken: 一緒にインド料理を食べたり、モリガン対モリガン戦も最高でした。色々モリガンのことについて教わりました。感謝しています。ツイッターに登録してください。

Buzz: 会えてうれしかったです! ゲームも楽しかったです。貴方のガロンは時にワイルドでしたが、あなた自身は温厚でしたね。 インド料理屋での雑談も盛り上がってよかったです。 XD

Kowappa: 新しいKowappaはサスカッチのお笑い芸人でした。 私が日本に住んでいたら結構一緒に遊んでいたでしょう. Yoga Fire!

General-Madulass: チームメイトとしても強く、その上英語も上手でしたね！居酒屋に出てきてくれて有難うございました. Good games.

Tsuchineko: 貴方はとっても強かったです! 二十歳超えれば生ビールが飲めるようになり格段と強くなるでしょう。^_^外食先での VSAVの会話 に参加できるようになるといいですね. Good Games!

Oouchi: ミスターセイバーマイスター! DPGの後の時間有難うございました。VSAV関連の会話も最高でした! DPG2 での功績、そして決勝進出おめでとうござす。英語も上手で助かりました ^_^ 感情表現豊かなお方でとても新鮮でした。

私は皆さんの西洋VSAVへの窓口になりこれからも日本のVSAVコミュニティーと一緒にバンパイアを推進していきたいと思います。

-Kyleより (Translation by: Ryuichi I)

This section below is the exact same content written in English.

My final impression & understanding of the the JP VSAV community. Japanese VSAV is the most passionate, heart-filled, fun-loving FGC I have had the pleasure of encountering. Because the arcades are still alive & each play is 50-cents/yen, there is no “poverty”. VSAV is an expensive hobby and the active players have the funds to compete and take care of themselves. Every player wants to learn, grow & have fun. This community is full of “try Hard” players, who put in time, money & heart into becoming stronger through a happy atmosphere. Vampire is exciting, super-fast and the most fun I’ve had with a competitive game, ever. I did not hear a single back-handed compliment or a sour loser, because nobody loses when everyone is striving to have fun while become strong.

KEN_Gallon:You are the biggest influence I had when choosing to come for Japan’s Golden-Week of Vampire. I am very grateful for your aid in translating & hosting, your gracious invitations and I am eternally thankful for all the matches and advise you have given. Doing a Japanese Kumite is a memory I will always remember! Cincinnati will forever cheer for you. =D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqS5LxjZfzw

KEN, EGO, DD, Sakamoto & Tetsu: you (5) are the Tournament Organizers and a large reason why Japan still competes in VSAV today. It is directly because of your efforts with video uploading, commentary & hosting that USA has a VSAV scene. Please continue to show the world “Rookies, Monthly, Devil’s PlayGround, Darkstalkers Combination Cup & Darkstalkers Carnival”.

SHU: The work that you have completed for VSAV frame-data is amazing. Thank you for showing everyone these values. Your Bishamon is fantastic. I must train for 100 years to compete. =P

http://darkstalkers.moryou.com/

Paprika, Matsuokoa, Hunou, Oshi: Thank you for coming out on Thursday, April 25th to Mikdao. I really enjoyed the chance to play with all of you and laugh at some vampire. We had a good time. Legendary Chicken!

Olive-Oil: Thank you very much for the DPG2 poster. It’s beautiful. ^_^ I am very happy to have it as a memory of Japanese Vampire Savior players. I think of DPG2 every time I see the poster. I enjoyed running around with you and appreciate your aid with the autographs. Your Jedah is strong! We played (1) match and it was very intense. I would love to play you a long set, someday. =D

Nakanishi & Sakamoto: You two really made me feel special at DPG2. Thank you.USA players will become stronger, because of you and me. Congratz at your accomplishments at DPG2 & making the finals. “Darkstalkers Are not Dead”

Matsuoka: The Muffin Lady! You were very nice and the muffins were delicious. Thank You. (^_^) Good games, in Vampire. Your LeiLei is good, you could beat a lot of USA players.

DD: If I lived in Japan, we would be hanging out a lot.Your company was a great time. Your Sasquatch is FASTEST. DPG2 MVP, Go-Go-Go-Go! I will tell all USA Sasquatches your secrets.

Nishiken: I enjoyed having Indian food with you and I especially enjoyed playing you in lots of Morrigan vs Morrigan matches. I learned a lot about my character, I will always feel grateful. Get twitter!

Buzz: Glad to meet you! I enjoyed our games, your Gallon is wild but you are a reserved character. Hanging out at the Indian restaurant and talking about games/players was a lot of fun. XD

Kowappa: New Kowappa is the Sasquatch comedian. We would hang out alot, if I lived in Japan. Yoga Fire!

General-Madulass: you were a great teammate, your English is strong too! I am glad you came to Izakaya and we could talk. Good games.

Tsuchineko: You are a strong player! Once you become 20 years old and you can drink Nama- Beeru, you will become stronger. ^_^ Players talk VSAV at dinner and you are missing those conversations. Good Games!

Oouchi: Mr. Savior Meister! I was very glad to spend time with you after DPG. It was lots of fun talking about VSAV! Toasting to Jackie-Chan! Congratz at your accomplishments at DPG2 & making the finals. Your English is very strong and it was a large help for us. ^_^ You are a player who shows his emotions. It was exciting watching you become a winner and cheer out for VSAV.

I will be a foundation, an outlet for western VSAV. I will strive to play, educate & promote Vampire Savior in Japan’s honor. -Kyle

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Most of this info is not new to VSAV or strong character specialist. This is just new for me & I want to share some details I learned in Japan. =D

Zabel-

Emphasize how much control he has at ¾ screen. Bell’s ability to close the gap and use limb extension creates very efficient footsies outside of the opponents optimum offensive range.

Sasquatch-

Can short-hop over short crouchers & 1-frame ES-Big Brunch before the turn around w/ input of 6, 6321[4]PP.

Short-hop into hp-throw is a super effective way to punish tech-hits & jump outs w/o losing momentum on a st.mp.

When opponents manage to get above the rollercoaster-squatch, the go-to answer is always st.hp & a short-hop on the reset.

vs Qbee, corner OKI w/ j.hp~j.hk. Can easily land into a throw to cover all jump outs and put the bee on the ground.

Against short crouchers a short-hop j,hk is a fun cross-up (which most sas players know), but the new trick here is when the opponent actually stand blocks and Sas never crosses. This is an amazing throw setup. The opponent recovers just as Sas lands. I recommend a normal throw to OS the jump too.

When fighting a defensive Bishamon, your goal is to walk him to the corner to take away his zoning game. This takes patience & Time. Just Tech-Hit and advance.

Qbee-

9, 9~J.lp~J.lk as an input buffer for accuracy on close ranged IAD traps.

Japanese advice for beating Q-bee is to jump more than her and get above her.

*Fuck Kyubee Desu*

Gallon-

If Morrigan tries to setup a Finishing Shower from a cr.hk & does not command cancel the super, Gallon can wake-up neutral and ES-Beast Canon for a huge punish.

From the ES-GC he can combo: ES-BC_9~1, Land, ES-Climb Razer.

OKI w/ DF~Command Throw; the escape is to stand & block. Holding [4] will have the character stepping out of throw range and can than punish the cl.hk w/ a low.

Bulleta-

Late J.lp is the best way to punish TechHits. leads to cr.lp, RENDA st.lp …

Japanese Bulleta’s jump on wake-up more than qbee’s. Once you use grounded attacks to beat their Up+Backs, they use grandma. >_>

Aulbath-

poke w/ cr.lk because on hit you can LINK cr.lp into whatever & on block it is a great tick-throw or setup for IOH J.lk~J.2hk.

During Bubble traps against characters w/ armor (Sas & Bish). Be prepared to punish their DarkForce w/ dashing ES-Command Throw. The Punch version.

cr.mk at max range is GC safe

st.lp works against crouching Sasquatch

Anti-Finishing Shower trick is to Dark Force & go to the top of the screen, than command hop off the stingray and use the drill to spend time off screen as the missiles disappear.

Felicia-

Midscreen DarkForce BnB can be extended with short-hop J.mk, LINK cr.lk (helper hits) than back to the typical repeat BnB. [cr.lk, RENDA cr.lk, (helper hits), walk forward.]x2

Best corner OKI is to 44J.mk, cr.mp XX ES-Buckler; for the cross-up overhead or the landing low. This is ideal b/c it always ends in a cornered opponent. Compare this to a quick left/right walk-thru and Felicia’s mixup has a chance to leave the corner.

Bishamon-

Has a terrible time against Bulleta. Even tho he can UB, he still gets circles ran around him up close.

Against opponents w/ high/low OKI, it’s ideal to back roll and wake-up w/ a Hp-iri giri

LeiLei-

Post pursuit whiff 50/50 is from st.mp. Here you can go into cr.mk xx TNRH or just st.mp xx TNRH. This also covers jumpouts and gives her the opportunity to react and confirm the resets into ideal scenarios.

66~cr.lk blows up TechHIt attempts. Can link into another cr.lk and confirm a big combo.

Demitri-

Nothing new, Sorry.

Lilith-

Tiger Knee Soul Flash than react to the opponents movement. You can lure them into jumping at your soul flash by backdashing, than react to their 9-jump w/ a d.hp for the grounded UB.

If you do a higher TK & confirm the opponent 9-jumps, Lilith should Super Jump full air chain into a grounded UB. SJ.lp, j.lk, j.mp, j.mk, j.hp, j.hk, Land, and UB w/ st.hp or d.mk or s.lp.

When spaced correctly cr.lp, cr.lk & cr.mk are GC/DP safe. Use this to mount offense on a cornered character w/ a dp.

If a d.mk resets opponents in the corner, Lilith still has time to do a cornber walk-thru mixup.

D.lp x Throw OS is sooooooo strong. Seriously, the centerpiece of Kaji’s advancing mixup game. learn to ABUSE this trick. Video coming soon!

Morrigan-

At neutral state she is best used as a reactive character. Wh0iff st.lp is a good opportunity to make the opponent twitch & react to their movement.

cr.hk & cr.mk can be GC/Dp saf.

When opponents grab escape all of Morrigan’s normal throws, they do not take reduced damage. This allows Morrigan to go for the throw-kill sooner.

Jedah-

Claw x Wheel glitch is caused by Tech-Hitting the wheel standing and getting hit by the UB-Claw at the same time. Sooo cool.

From a reset a 6~[6] LATE j.hk is a weird cross-up in which the opponent CANNOT techhit & forces them to crouch, but than Jedah can Autocorrect j.mp.

After Jedah throws an ES-Wheel and confirms the air block, usually he goes for the UB-claw, However, most characters have an ability to stall their air mobility and avoid the claw after blocking the wheel. Shimatsuya was confirming their air block and then jumping into a full airchain to punish their movement options. Very effective at high lvl play.

Oouchi says d.hp infinite is “EASY!”. lol. just hold 6[6] and double-strum the J.hp. Saw him do 13-repetitions on SHUU Bishamon. We were all cheering.

Jedah’s DarkForce is a serious threat, it’s a get-out-of-jail-free card and when he is in the state all JP”s completely respected him and ran away.

The frame-trap mixup post Jedah’s airdash is to chain to J.hp. He can also delay the j.hp by a few frames in efforts to punish a chicken block. Regardless this usually setups a grounded UB or st.lp or cr.mk depending ondistance.

Doing IOH J.hk at a correct height to confirm a ground combo is critical. Input 6~[6] than hit j.hk as soon as possible. I recommend double strumming it.

Ground combo’s on hit always ended in st.mk for the +1 frame. Unless it was for the kill, than they would chain to cr.hk or cr.hp depending on spacing. Takes an experienced player to recognize where cr.hk would whiff & cr.hp is prefered.

Corner throw OKI w/ a low wheel than d.j.mp is really strong.

To input the pit super as a low-profile you buffer the inputs during cr.mk. contrasted to inputting 2, 5, 2+PPP and forcing jedah to stand up during the execution.

Against fireball characters, Jedah’s abuse advancing w/ 44~6[6] j.hp to confirm fireball punishes or stopping and staying at neutral.

High lvl play has opponents trying to force 3-hit jumps-in against tall characters such as Jedah. however, the first attack needs to be very high. Jedah can recognize this, step toward than whiff cr.mk to force a low-profile and change the opponents spaceing. they will typically land BEHIND Jedah and he gets a free throw from this situation. Shimatsuya ABUSED this against Kaji & I.

Victor-

Nothing new, Sorry.

Anakaris-

The Anak glitch w/ grounded UB not working is under this condition:

Anakaris uses a curse or a coffin than once he lands, he does not return to a neutral standing position. so first frame dash or crouch into an attack is All-Guard enabled.

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Japanese competitive play:

- Very patient at neutral

- Qbee, Bishamon & Jedah do more Guard-Cancels than any other character. The GC-OS is legit and should be abused.

- Tech-Hit w/ a staggered (2)-Finger Slide.

- Cannot 1-frame DarkForce on wake-up. Can only DarkForce on frame-2.

- Players actually use kara-pursuits for meter gain

- Their defense is very strong

Specific things I will be working on to improve my Morrigan:

- More stand blocking

- Less Reversal-ShadowBlade

- Use cr.lk, st.mk xx Demon instead of cr.lk, cr.mp, st.mk xx Demon

- Faster confirms on Tech-Hits. Tech-hit than move/approach/counterpoke/dash etc.

- More tricky throw/low mix-ups. J.mk is not going to be reliable in competitive play

Arcades I visited:

- Mikado @Baba.

- Amusement-Ace

- Club Sega @Akihabara

- Club Sega @Shinjuku

- Teitou Station @Akihabara

players I’ve met: I got to do matches w/ 31 of these 36 players XD

KEN_Gallon

Kaji_Lilith

Sakamoto_Qbee

Kosho_Bulleta

Komemaru_Zabel

EGO_LeiLei

DD_Sas

Oouchi_Jedah

Shimatsuya_Jedah

Uminoko_Aulbath

General-Madulass_LeiLei

SHUU_Bishamon

Oshi_Felicia

Paprika_Demitri

Fuunio_Qbee

Buzz_Gallon

Nishiken_Morrigan

Nakanishi_Bishamon

Sasunii_Sasquatch

Kowappa_Sasquatch

Sasazuka_LeiLei/Morrigan

OliveOil_Jedah

Seri_Morrigan

Guratan_Felicia

Ran-T_Bishamon

Chikyuu_Anakaris

Hisachi_LeiLei

Okekebei_Sasquatch

STO_LeiLei

To-Ho_Bulleta

ShigShig_Bulleta

MAB_Gallon

Tsuchineko_Qbee

Matsuoka_LeiLei

Yamamoto_Lilith

OraOra-Q_Qbee

NEO_Bishamon

TKO_Sasquatch

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The Japanese VSAV scene informally meets up four to six days a week. Tuesday thru Sunday, they all arrive at intended arcades (game centers) from 5pm - 11pm. These locations differ per day and are located all around Tokyo. (This rotation helps support all arcades in Tokyo, not just their favorites.) Every scheduled arcade I was able to visit, has at least (4) head-to-head VSAV setups. Mikado @Baba events had (7). Players stand in a horizontal line behind all the cabinets and wait their turn to spend 50-Yen. All plays are one-match. You lose once, you get off the machine, stand in line and chat w/ friends about VSAV. (1) match is quick, like a samurai. Super effective for exhausted Tournament Organizers.

The Japanese VSAV community has three distinct player bases. The initial wave of players from 1997 when the title released in the arcades. This includes their most experienced bunch, players like BUZZ_Gallon, KEN_Gallon, Oouchi_Jedah & EGO_LeiLei have been around since the first day. A few years into the life of VSAV, Tougeki-2004 hosted the title and brought in a new, slightly younger player base. I believe this is players like Futana_Jedah, Kaji_Lilith, Hisacchi_LeiLei, To-Ho_Bulleta. Finally, ~2010 a new wave of rookies joined the vsav scene, KEN_Gallon & EGO_LeiLei started an event to bring in newer players by hosting rookie-only tournaments. This invited their latest wave of players, OliveOil_Jedah, Oshi_Felicia, RYNE_Felicia, Matsuoka_LeiLei, SERI_Morrigan, etc. Good luck to Jay-Duck (formerly 2KNL8) as he recently joins the JP rookie scene, coming from Cincy, Ohio!

Initial release: http://www.youtube.com/user/ukio987

Second Wave- http://darkstalkers.wordpress.com/category/tougekisbo/

Third Wave- http://www.youtube.com/user/Celimorrigan

Japanese transportation is vastly different from their international competitors. The train system is so efficient, effective & cheap that cars are not the dominating transportation method. Similar to New York, even if you choose to drive, good-luck finding a parking spot. Trains start at 5am and leave, on-time, flawlessly, until “last-train” around midnight. If you happen to miss the last-train, or choose to leave the last train because you have to pee that bad, you’ll have to get a cab or a hotel.

Coupling the reliability of the trains with Japan’s lack of “Public Intoxication” laws, drinking is an important pastime. Just like the FGC here in the states, players enjoy going out, chatting matches, dissecting strategies, eating good food and having beers with great company. When we able to meet up with their players, most would leave the arcades about 10pm and head out to dinner. Restaurants or Izakaya, Nama-Beeru was guaranteed!

While I was growing in Guilty Gear (~2007), our community in middle-Kentucky learned that dinner talks were just as advantageous as the match-grind. I was completely humbled and happy to see that JP VSAV players have been doing this since 1997. I too, learned equal VSAV details while Big-Brunching than grinding matches.

After playing long sets with JP’s, I believe the quality that far supersedes USA’s VSAV play is tenacious defense. Japanese players can block, very well, for a long periods. These players can TechHit the first attack, read empty cross-up’s, landing lows and DarkForce out of psychic throws. This quality is probably the biggest reason why we see so few successful Low tier characters in Japan. Players like Kaji_Lilith, Oouchi_Jedah, Kame_Victor, Shimatsuya_Jedah, Oboro_Victor, Chikyuu_Anakaris & Dara_Demitri are inspirational to the eastern VSAV scene as much as the western community. Kaji’s mind is like a computer.

Just a regular match, no big event. Notice how many times the players have confrontations and how few times actual damage is dealt:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC2846Zpl1g

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