The online exposure to fighting games have drastically impacted the fighting game community. Introducing fighting game competitors to a global audience. As a whole fighting games are still niche when compared to Call of Duty, Starcraft, or even Angry Birds, but the success of Iplaywinner, Team Sp00ky, and Level|Up series has set a standard that many more people want to recreate.
The motives vary from person to person and from community to community, but there is no doubt that we are not in the Dark Ages anymore. So what caused this dramatic push, this Renaissance if you will. What is the formula for success?
Without a doubt the introduction and success of Street Fighter 4 has contributed to this Renaissance movement. However, Street Fighter 4 can not claim all glory for itself. It is blatantly obvious that the internet is the major artery where as Street Fighter 4 was the catalyst, but I want to talk about the "Brain". The creative minds behind this movement and an analysis of their Cinderella stories.
Of course the biggest Cinderella story of them all: Ryan "Gootecks" Gutieraz. Going from a broke, unemployed, competitive fighting game player. To a successful internet personality, media producer, and event promoter. If you have no idea who Gootecks is then take some time off and watch the indie documentary I Got Next. Gootecks' hasn't been performing as well as he used to in the competitive department but his talent of acquiring interest, talent and promoting events around the world has proven to be invaluable. Leading the entertainment aspect of competitive street fighter.
Alex Valle, the face of Level|Up series and probably the most decorated competitive fighting game player that still participates in tournaments today. He places very well in tournaments and is constantly bombarded with inquiries of professional development. A very grounded individual that always has the communities interests at heart. Always willing to take chances and looking for brand new innovations.
Lastly we have iplaywinner's Haunts and Sp00ky. Having the most dynamic cohesion with the East Coast grassroots commentary style coupled with the more analytic commentary from Northern California. They are forever moving in new uncharted directions for the fighting game community and spreading the competitive bug.
So why is it that the "Big Three" have these success stories and is it possible to recreate this success. The factors that are involved are as follows. The community interest, financial capital, technical resources, steady locations, schedules and times, and lastly personalities.
Fighting games are niche even now, with that being said, community interest is the hardest to create and the hardest to maintain.
Locations, like community involvement, can also be very difficult to acquire. Arcades are pretty much dead and these are the ancient temple Ruins of fighting gamers past. Computer LAN centers have tried to rise and take its place. Hybrid entertainment establishments and family/restaurant arcades have higher revenues and the business model that most modern American arcades have chosen to become. One thing is for certain. Having casuals at a private home is a necessary stepping stone but the public will seriously respect a legitimate business establishment as a stable atmosphere than a private home.
After the location is secure the schedule needs to be in place. Will you have Ranking Battles? How long will they be? What games will you sponsor? Will there be bi-weekly, or monthly open tournaments? Will there be challenges of any kind? All these questions and many more need to be asked and improved as a community. The innovations that spark from this community interaction can be a necessary tool to constant national and international participation. This combined with media exposure are a potent combination that start small and continue to rise as success increases.
Media exposure is solely dependent on the technical ingenuity and financial access a fighting game scene has. Like any business it takes alot of time and investment to have this crucial ingredient especially if you want to reach the top of the success ladder.
All of these points are purely an outside observation of how and why these communities are perceived as successful and for all there struggles it is should right fully be so.
~Joshua "Leafman" Kaneakalau
