Putting VF on the Map

This game DESERVES more exposure. Alex Valle has been doing a lot with our beloved game. WHAT can we do to better make sure that VF "gets out there"?

When VF5 (vanilla) first came out on PS3, I had gatherings at my place in Houston. Now I am a tournament organizer in Dallas (over 180 ppl at our last tourney--not all for VF of course) and I really want to help VF get more popular.

It makes me sick that this game isn't part of the Evo "main games". VF is the 2nd most played fighter in Japan. Let's help this game take off.

One of the misconceptions is that this game is difficult. I find you can learn a combo in seconds rather than playing training mode for hours a day perfecting a 1 frame link. The mechanics are easy to understand and everything is easy to execute. The game feels like water once you know what you are doing--it just flows.

Would like suggestions and would like to know what YOU are doing/going to do to help our community get on the map in the West!


Cheers

 

Me and my brother are trying to get folks at the local gaming lounge interested in VF by including them in local fight nights. So far only a few are taking interest, but the more people play it, I think the more they'll stick with it.

 

What YOU can do is simple- show up to tournies. If VF draws numbers, it will stay around, if it doesn't, it won't.

Folks have to get out of the house.

193 folks at Evo for a side tourney is a good start.

 

Alex Valle? He's a Street Fighter man. What has he ever done for Virtua Fighter?

Besides "putting fighting games on the map" and occasionally dropping a word about non-SF games here and there, I mean. That doesn't mean much.

@ Tricky below:
Promote it where? How? For you to say "a major factor in its success", it was something substantial I'd think.

 

He helped promote the Pre-release party and was a major factor in it's success.

 

You joking? Did you miss how he organised the VF prerelease party? Did you miss him trying to hype the VF crowd in there?

 

Valle has been around for ages, not sure what he's done in the past but from talking to him it's clear he loves VF.

 

I was absent from when it seemed VF5R/FS would never be released on console by Sega (1-2 years ago?), to just before FS was released on PS3/X360. I heard about it on an unrelated forum, and I came back to VFDC to find out more about it. And then I bought the whole thing 1 day after release.

What is a pre-release party? Was it at some sort of console gaming convention?

I know Valle is a veteran since the SF2 days. I used to have Gamefan and EGM mags back then and ofc he was featured on occasion.

 

A pre-release party is exactly what it says it is. It's a party that features the game before it gets released to the public.

Valle was most active during the Virtua Fighter 3 days. Virtua Fighter has almost always been downplayed outside of Japan so that's why you didn't know Valle played VF. Plenty of people who play other series are VF players.

 

I often joke about how you misspell your own username, but seriously, man, open your eyes...

Alex Valle in the FS game credits for special thanks. He gives FS stream time at every WNF since the game has come out (4700+ viewers each time except USA Holiday July 4th). The only requirement is that we have 16+ people there. The man runs panel discussions that encourage acceptance of all fighting games. His dedication is staggering as he treats the FGC and http://www.levelup-series.com as his full-time gig.

Now, here's the thing - he can not do it alone. Fortunately, there is something we all can do (Alstein already talked about it in this thread). To give it some more momentum...

I was at EVO. The official word is this:

If VF gets enough participation at recognized local and national events by December, 2012 - it makes the roster for Evo 2013.

SEGA is aware of this.

Now you are, too.

Here's what to do:

Get out of the house. Share a ride if you need to. Go to ALL your local battles. Bring your friends. Enter the tournaments. If you have no local event, create one. Stream it online. Post the URL on VFDC and SRK.

If Evo organizers can see that including FS will make them some money, the game is in.

Personal note: I've been to WNF only five times. In those times, I've talked to new VF players there and they profess there love for the game. People want to play this game. They want competition. They want dedication. I've been commentating on stream there, what, three times? I already have notoriety as "Plague from WNF". At Evo, people I don't know recognized me in elevators at Imperial Palace and Caesar's. I was stunned.

I'm also aware that my new fame is owed to stream exposure made possible by Alex Valle and Level|Up. All I've done is show up, play, and put in effort to get others to do the same.

You all should do this, too.

 

There has been a lot of positive talk about VF5FS from the public, even the stream monsters. I noticed a lot of excitement on the chat during EVO and a LOT less talk about the game being too difficult.

It also helps that sites like Kotaku talked about VF5 as if it where part of the main show and not a side tournament, lumping the grand finals fight video with the rest of the main events (and did not show any of the other side tourney vids like skullgirls) I really see VF starting to pick up steam as people are only now finally able to wrap their brains around the game mechanics.

I just think we need to get out there, see what majors and local events are there and start to build a reputation. Emailing event coordinators and giving them a reason to feature VF5 at their tournaments.

 

Being a part of Wednesday Night Fights every week has been a huge plus.

 

The Evo Staff will make VF a main game if they can plausibly do it. I remember during the whole GG fiasco, they even pointed to the VF community showing up to watch the GF's (this was I think vanilla VF5) at 8am and respecting that.

It can be done. I just wish I could do more besides showing up to monthlies and hopefully MLG (work may not allow me to do so)

 

Showing up is just a start. We start getting good numbers at events and that'll be a good starting point.

Creating videos that are interesting is something else that can be done. i'm talking about maxamillion production quality level stuff. Or the Tekken 1hr long videos that go over how to use a character in extreme depth. Then the silly videos demonstrating new tech in entertaining ways like you see for Marvel all the time. Videos going over how to practice your whiff punishment, ducking under highs in a mid - high = mid string, only to launch the high attack whiff (I'm thinking of jacky's 4KKKK string here).

 

Building community is important for exposure. If I do not recognize the name that I am playing on XBL/PSN, I will not just send a "GG", I will take the time to direct them to VFDC and let them know that it is a great place for information and community.

 

Valle played more than SF back in the day. he placed in a top spot during the VF 3 days.

 

After paying attention to some tournament listings recently, I don't think VF5FS is being repped enough.

The VF scene needs to start showing interest for our game to get added to some of these tournaments. I'm in Chicago, so I checked out the news for Season's Beatings... VF5FS isn't even listed as a side tournament

Is this tourney not on anyone's radar? 5K for MVC3, 5K for SF4AE, 1K minimum for TTT2... I don't get it.