The State of the FGC in 2021

The State of the FGC in 2021
Date Published: 26 May, 2021

The Fighting Game Community (FGC) is no stranger to change. In it’s short history, the scene saw its roots planted in the arcades, transition over to home consoles, then eventually evolve into a legitimate online presence, which arguably prompted the community’s most recent evolution, one which inhabits the world of professional gaming, or what is better known as Esports.

However, as the FGC was quickly moving towards bigger and better, be it with larger crowds, larger prize pools, and a larger spotlight, it all came to a screeching halt, as while the FGC is known to quickly embrace change, even they were not impervious to what everyone experienced in the last year. As the world dealt with a global pandemic (COVID-19), normal everyday living became even more so of a privilege, and as each community in society had to find a way to live in an age of a pandemic, a small yet determined community dedicated to the love of fighting games found itself evolving once again.

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May 26, 2021 0

The State of the FGC in 2019

The State of the FGC in 2019
Date Published: 22 May, 2019

The year 2018 in fighting games was perhaps the first time in a long while where the fighting game community’s outlook moved away from the traditional star of the show featuring a bunch of supporting roles, to it’s current outlook which better resembles an ensemble cast with a couple of big names.

However, unlike a changing of the guard, the landscape of the FGC in the year 2019 is one that is seemingly taking on both the new school approach to fighting games, yet still leaving a wide enough window for the old-school fighting game identity to fit into. Continue reading “The State of the FGC in 2019” →

May 22, 2019 1

The FGC’s Identity Crisis

The FGC’s Identity Crisis
Date Published: 19 February, 2019

Never short of interesting storylines, the fighting game community (FGC) is yet again a part of another tug of war situation, this time on one side the grassroots of the FGC, and on the other, the esports side of the FGC.

The differences between the two sides have shown themselves in multiple facets within fighting games, and as the old guard attempts to maintain tradition, while the new guard is set on embracing change, it begs the question; What is the FGC’s identity?

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February 19, 2019 0

Lessons Learned in the FGC

Lessons Learned in the FGC
Date Published: 6 December, 2018

What is the FGC? If I were to break it down to its simplest definition, the FGC (Fighting Game Community) would be referred to as a community who is involved in fighting games in some form or fashion. The involvement can be exemplified by playing, spectating, or even just supporting the community in any way.

However, that standard definition doesn’t do the FGC justice, as the question “What is the FGC?” doesn’t leave much room for interpretation, though by changing the question, and asking rather “Who is the FGC?” would result in many different answers depending on the individual.

Therefore, as someone who has been around fighting games for nearly two decades, but only having considered myself a part of the FGC proper for the last six years, the lessons I have learnt may not be extremely dated, but are valuable ones nonetheless.

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December 6, 2018 0

Innovation and Imitation in the FGC

Innovation and Imitation in the FGC
Date Published: 5 November, 2018

The FGC is comprised of many different types of players who all adopt different types of personal playstyles, however, when it comes to learning, there are really only two types of players; those who are innovators and those who are imitators.

Research in fighting games is something done by the “scientists” of the Fighting Game Community (FGC) with respect to whichever game they are focusing on at the time. The role these “fighting game scientists” provide for the FGC is quite invaluable, as they find new ways to play a character, educate on specific game situations, and many more similar examples which is something classified as “new technology” or perhaps better referred to as “tech.” Continue reading “Innovation and Imitation in the FGC” →

November 5, 2018 0

The State of the FGC in 2017

The State of the FGC in 2017
Date Published: May 22, 2017

The Fighting Game Community (FGC) has experienced quite the change as of recent years, with 2015 perhaps having some of the most memorable moments in the competitive landscape, and 2016 elevating the exposure of fighting games primarily due to increased marketing and financial support from Sony and Capcom in regards to the release of Street Fighter V.

While we’re only at the midpoint of the year, how things play out in the second half of 2017, could very well be a tell on what the future holds for the FGC. Therefore, it would be a good time to take a closer look at the fighting games that headline the FGC in 2017, and how they impact the landscape, be it for better or for worse. Continue reading “The State of the FGC in 2017” →