Event Gallery: Crunchyroll Expo

After a massive month of competition at the highest level Australia has to offer, CouchWarriors capped our September calendar with an appearance at Crunchyroll Expo Aus 2022!

There were no CWL ranking points to claim this time, as we opened up the Super Arcade for some old-fashioned walk-up challenges. But there were still plenty of prizes for those in attendance – and best of all, the first chance to play sets of Street Fighter 6 on Australian shores!

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Welcome to Dragon Ball FighterZ! A Beginner’s Guide

Welcome to Dragon Ball FighterZ

It’s a very exciting time in 2018. Arc Systemworks, the developers behind Guilty Gear and Blazblue, have graced us with their presence in developing a fighting game for one of the most popular anime shows in the world. As an avid fighting game competitor, I’ll try to explain as clearly and as simply as I can of what kind of a game Dragonball Fighter Z is, and touch on the do’s and don’ts I have found so far with my limited time on the game. As both a Guilty Gear and Tekken player, it was very interesting to find the similarities and differences it had with Guilty Gear.

First off, at its core DBFZ borrows elements of air-dasher fighters (games with strong aerial movement seen in Guilty Gear and Blazblue) and elements of “team” mechanics seen in Marvel vs Capcom. Interestingly it has simplified both systems and has introduced some things of its own in reference to the actual show. For those that are scared to delve into the Fighting game genre, DBFZ looks to make the transition into understanding the competitive nature of fighting games much easier with its simplified mechanics. Read more

Battle Arena Melbourne 9 Event Features Roundup

Press Release

CouchWarriors Battle Arena Melbourne 9: A homegrown, global esports event

International stars will play shoulder to shoulder with local heroes at Melbourne Convention Centre this May on the 12th to 14th.

 

Battle Arena Melbourne (BAM), Australia’s largest fighting game major, and one of the biggest live esports in ANZ, returns for its 9th annual event on May 12-14. Now taking on two bays in the Melbourne Convention Centre to offer both a community experience and a major esports festival – this year is BIG BAM!

 

With Australia and the world’s best players playing across 8 national championship titles including Street Fighter V, Tekken 7, Super Smash Bros, and multiple side events, BAM is aiming for a third consecutive year of record breaking attendance. The event will host over 1,000 competitors, plus spectators taking in the excitement live, and hundreds of thousands more viewing from home on Twitch.tv.

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Hyper Magazine – esports special on sale now featuring Australian Fighting Game scene

Hyper Magazine, the longest running independent gaming magazine in Australia, has released its quarterly special, with the theme of esports.

The issue features a six page special feature on the Australian fighting game scene by CouchWarriors own Daniel “Berzerk” Chlebowczyk and members of the FGC!

In print at newsagents everywhere now.

The piece features interviews with top players and organisers:
Xavier “Somniac” Nardella (SFV),
Sam “SD” Darroch (Melee),
Adric “Falco” Middleton (SFV),
Jacob “Cabjoy” Bynes (MKX),
Kevin “Burnout” Kim (SFV),
Youssef “FaYd” Faddoul,
Daniel “Spoony” Finegan (CouchWarriors),
Henry “Genxa” Sham (OzHadou)

Plus standalone interviews with Somniac, SD, Berzerk and more.

Here’s a preview shared by Berzerk on Twitter:

 

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COUCHWARRIORS HOSTING FIGHTING GAMES AT PAXAUS! NOV 4-6

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Another year, another huge PAXAus!

CouchWarriors have been called upon once again to host the fighting game section of the Console Tournament area at PaxAus, running through all three days and hosting a wide variety of games to suit any gamer, new or old.

As usual, between tournament sets we are open for learn to play sessions and casual matches. So feel free to take a break between all those panels, cosplaying and indie games to come join in for some competitive fun! Winners for each tournament will receive a limited edition PAXAus medal!

Games Available:

Guilty Gear Xrd Revelator
Pokken Tournament
King of Fighters XIV
Super Smash Bros for WiiU
Street Fighter 5
Dead or Alive 5: Last Round
Tekken Tag Tournament 2

Direct link to the fighting game schedule can be found here.
pax-schedule

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Community love: “Hugo, the boy from Chicago” by Tones

Guest article by Anthony Albert Schweitzer Ducusin aka “Tones”

Hello everyone. Tones here, I’m out in Chicago lining some things up for myself.

The other day I was walking through the Harold Washington Library when I noticed in the people in the teens’ chillax area playing smash.

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Top floor of the Harold Washington Library. Such a beautiful building

Talked with the staff there and when they tell me about this Hugo guy, a local teen that has been organizing regular competitions and how “he’s extremely passionate and outgoing, we let him run and lead things.” So I talked about how the scene is back in Melbourne Australia, about how I’ve part of this group called Couch Warriors and how we’ve been doing events since 2007.

They invite me to the “Library of Smash” tournament where Hugo will be doing his thing.

Here is his story…

Like a lot of us Hugo has always enjoyed playing video games, he got involved with the offline Smash scene. Found it fun, awesome and hype and all that cool stuff but was put off by how salty rude it can get.

So what does he do?

At the age of 16 he goes out and creates his own scene with the culture he thinks the scene deserves – a positive and friendly competitive environment.

Library of Smash 6. Events have been going for about a year now

Library of Smash 6. Events have been going for about a year now

Now they are frequenting 50 a tournament, he has single handedly TOed a 74 man tournament all the way through despite a fire break out in the middle of it. Sounds pretty serious yeah? Well, he calls it semi competitive.

What it is though is just super hype and friendly. He understands the importance of building community.

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Hugo: “My main objective for my tournaments is to show people that a video game tournament isn’t all about winning. It is about having a good time with others. ”

One thing that stood out to me was how people are competing, lounging about to socialize or playing friendlies; Competitive, friendly and casual.

Taylor works at the Library and is Hugo’s right hand girl for tournament duties.

This is his final year at this location because he’s finishing his senior high school year, so he’s looking to duplicate – to create a self-sustaining system while he moves off to further himself, leaving his mark with the scene no matter where he goes. As for what he wants people to take away from his work:

Hugo: “I wanted people to see that if you have the passion and effort, you can do so much for the things you enjoy, no matter what it is”.

Be sure to send him some love if you’re in the area. Hugo is a positive ball of energy doing good things for the e-sports scene on the ground level. Was a pleasure to meet him in the area of Chicago at Library of Smash and to send him some love.

Anytime Hugo buddy. Cheers, Tones.

Sharing some Esports love

Sharing some Esports love

 

For details on the space and their social media: http://www.chipublib.org/hwlc-youmedia/

Battle Arena Melbourne 8 This Weekend – Feature roundup!

CouchWarriors proudly presents Battle Arena Melbourne 8, Australia’s largest fighting game tournament

When: May 13-15, 2016

Where: CQ Functions, 123 Queen St Melbourne.

 

BAM8 returns this weekend for an exciting weekend of top level tournament play and celebration of the fighting game community. The annual Major celebrates the Australian fighting game scene. The Melbourne community is proud to host a national platform for players across the country to come together and compete.

 

With international attention from global leagues Capcom Pro Tour, Dead or Alive Battle Royal, or to compete with our massive Smash Bros community, BAM8 will be one of Australia’s biggest gaming events – not just in fighting games but in all LAN or esports events.

 

After a record breaking 2015, where BAM7 saw 628 attendees play and spectate some incredible moments (BAM7 Results, Photos and Replays), BAM8 is on track to handily surpass it.  At the close of early registration, BAM8 has 574 registered players, which will increase with on day signups and spectators.

(Note: Smash competitor signup is closed. Street Fighter V signups close Friday.)

 

International players are also attending, from 8 top Smash 4 players, and two Street Fighter World Champions, RZR.Xian and EG.Momochi, participating in our Street Fighter V Capcom Pro Tour event.

 

View the Event Trailer (YouTube) Event Trailer (Facebook)

 

Web: http://couchwarriors.org/

Twitter / Facebook #BAM8

 

Summary of the key event features:

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Stuff Yo’ Couch Episode 3 – February Ranbat/SFV Launch Tourney

Hi guys, Episode 3 of Stuff Yo’ Couch is up!

Filmed at our very successful Feb Ranbat/SFV launch tourney at the CQ hotel, in this episode we look at some behind-the-scenes action and what people think of SFV – and we also interview the new president of CouchWarriors: Daniel “Spoony” Finegan and the Treasurer Michael “Javi” Thai.

Check out the results for the ranbat here:

Hope you guys enjoy the episode, and see you at the March ranbat tomorrow!

CouchWarriors March Ranbat- Traditional Fighters/Melee: March 19 
CouchWarriors March Ranbat- Smash 4 and Rivals of Aether: March 26

A Beginner’s Guide to Street Fighter V

kotaku

CouchWarrior’s own secretary Rory Betteridge has written a comprehensive beginner’s guide to getting into and understanding Street Fighter V via Kotaku AU.

He covers character archetypes, use of normals, spacing, frame data and much more. Hope you guys enjoy it, and here’s hoping more of our local community and content make it onto mainstream media channels!

Rory also maintains his own FGC news site: The Saltmine.

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