The fighting game community (FGC) has grown from holding local events to smaller venues to occupying ballrooms at four-star establishments with talent from all across the globe attending. Major sponsors such as Capcom, Namco Bandai, and others are responsible for the development of some of the world’s most famous franchises in gaming, and are showcased at a central tournament featuring the top fighting talent from across the world. With major prize pools, fighting games are now reaching a platform that can be compared to traditional eSports.
Each week, I’ll be posting interviews I’ve had the pleasure of conducting with members of the fighting game community. The interviews will touch upon their history in the FGC, where they got their start, and what they’d like to see from video games in general.
This week’s guest is one of my fellow knights from a distant land: Hayden Griswold aka PA|Kinderparty
Kash: Thank you for joining me today, please introduce yourself to the Broken Joysticks readers.
Kinderparty: The honor is all mine! I’m always excited to talk to the community. My name is Hayden, and the tag I play under is Kinderparty. I’m sponsored by Penny Arcade and am strongly tied to Child’s Play Charity, and I’ve been competing in fighting games since early 2011.
Kash: A fighter’s tag is like their identity. Some would rather use their name and some nicknames; how did you decide what yours will be?
Kinderparty: I’ve had a TON of people ask me about where my name came from, and I’m always sad that it’s a little underwhelming when I actually finally tell them. I got my competitive start in PC gaming, and I really took to RTS games. The name Kinderparty comes from one of my favorite RTS games, Company of Heroes. I played the German faction, and any time the little squad of dudes would roll out somewhere, they’d throw out a “Do you think this is kinderparty?” It’s something that was a big meme of sorts around the Company of Heroes crowd, and when I moved more into other games, I just took a piece of the phrase with me to kind of remember where I started from.
Kash: When exactly would you say was your first time competing in the FGC?
Kinderparty: I didn’t start REALLY competing in the FGC until the release of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, but I feel like I got competitive with fighting games right at the release of Street Fighter 4. I’m definitely an 09er, and I have no shame in admitting it! I bought SF4 on Steam for PC and played a good 300 hours or so on the keyboard, and I just kept loving the game so much that I finally got a stick when a friend of mine cashed in on the buy one get one free deal that Madcatz ran on their SE sticks. I played that little monster until it completely quit on me. I remember when Super Street Fighter 4 launched, and Starcraft 2 launched right at around the same time. I had the hardest time deciding which game I would dump my time into, but eventually the FG hunger won out and I finally put aside my RTS ambitions entirely and really stuck it out with fighting games. Seasons Beatings 5 was my first major tournament, and I got bodied 0-2 in SF4, but the experience was so amazing that I was hooked forever. I remember not knowing exactly everything that was happening, but knowing enough to be beyond impressed. When Daigo hit that fullscreen punish crouch fierce into super on Arturo, my friends and I completely lost it. I really got into MVC3 when it dropped, and never finished under 2-2 at the tournaments I visited, but I finally had my breakthrough at Final Round in UMVC3 when I was fortunate enough to play Justin in losers and score a victory to finally qualify out of pools.
Kash: Which game(s) are you most known for playing and what character(s) do you use?
Kinderparty: I’d say pretty much the only game I play anymore is UMVC3. I’m one of the only Taskmaster mains left, and I play him on point. However, I’m mostly known for playing Arthur, and I can probably count the number of serious Arthur players on one hand. I stick with him though because the Taskmaster/Arthur shell is pretty serious, and I really love the way he translated from his home series into a fighting game. It feels just like playing GnG with Arthur in Marvel, where you are constantly on edge trying to get the projectile in the right spot, and any touch on you is going to mean death.
Kash: Online play is something that many of the top players in the FGC prefer not to do or do it in secret. Do you feel online play is good and some players just don’t take advantage, or do you think online play teaches too many bad habits that won’t help in a tournament setting?
Kinderparty: I’m kind of in a weird spot with online play right now. Here in Kentucky, our scene is EXTREMELY limited, and there are maybe only 3-4 Marvel players across the entire state. To get to them, I have to drive anywhere from an hour to two hours away just to play offline. Because of this, online play has been a big part of my development, and in some ways it has helped me tremendously, but in others it has really held me back. The problem with online play is that there really is not a lot of risk involved in the game, and so you see a lot of wacky play. Even if you’re playing offline with someone, you have to at least deal with the other guy giving you stupid looks if you try and start going ham, and so you tend to play with a little more respect and finesse. The nutty play is also enhanced by the “underwater armor” that the lag gives, which can make for a very frustrating experience. However, with all that said, playing online in any game can give you some pretty vital matchup experience that you might otherwise never get at all. And, if you can find a few good people with a really solid connection, you can get a lot better at the game by playing online. For instance, for whatever reason I have a great connection with Stone and Nerdjosh, and so playing online with them doesn’t feel so terribly laggy, and I get the bonus of playing with some very strong players that I otherwise wouldn’t have access to. So, with online, it can really be a mixed bag, just make sure to make the most of it, which probably means avoiding just grinding ranked matches all the time.
Kash: Do you think other people in the FGC like their characters because they like them, or because they need to use them based on the current tiers and meta game?
Kinderparty: I’m mostly involved with UMVC3, so I can only really speak toward that game in regards to this. I think it’s both. Some are really fortunate in that the characters they really like happen to also be very strong in the meta, or are just designed really well so that they can be useful through several meta shifts. Others, however, are not so lucky, and may either drop their favorite characters in favor of a higher tier unit. There are some players that really get enjoyment out of winning, so the character choices come second in that regard. Their most enjoyable aspect is the feeling of victory over another player, so it makes sense that they would adjust however they felt necessary to the meta change. But then, there are some who really play the game for the characters they enjoy. I’m that way with Arthur, Justin is that way with Storm, Angelic with Shuma, and Alukard is the same way with Iron Man. There are tons of examples I could make, really. And honestly, the way the game is starting to come out, the strength of the character is far outweighed by the strength of the shell or team. This is starting to make it so that team synergy and composition is a lot more important than just having a top tier point or anchor. As such, you see players like Justin or Angelic really cleaning up with low tier characters, but because it makes their other characters so strong in other ways. When you get closer and closer to the top talent, it’s less about character tier and more about fundamentals and matchups, just like in any other FG!
Kash: As of late there’s been this push to get the FGC to eSports level. The community has a variety of colorful personalities as well as hype moments at events. What do you think is currently holding us back?
Kinderparty: I’m not a super involved personality in the business side of the FGC, so I can’t speak for certain what are the causes for hindering the FGC’s growth. However, as an outsider looking in on the matter, I think I and everyone else can notice a few key issues. The first and foremost is this really awkward and unnecessary battle that keeps popping up between some top players and our beloved TOs. The nature of this problem seems to be bred out of a little immaturity and a lot of miscommunication, and I honestly wish it could get talked out in a hurry, because the bickering really makes neither side look good. The other seems to be more grounded in what the FGC is at its core. It’s different than a RTS or MOBA scene. League of Legends and DOTA are massively accessible games that can reach a huge playerbase, while FGs are still more of a niche market. Even the casual players of MOBA titles are exposed to the high level competitive play aspects of their game straight through the game itself. When you load up League, you can see big giant advertisements for whatever tournament is running right there in the game browser, even linking you directly to the stream feed. The entire community also plays online, from the top to the bottom. It’s integrated and collective and they all play together and share the same resources. It’s not at all the same for the FGC. We have pockets of scenes all around the country. The east, the west, the midwest, the Georgia boys, the Florida crew, Arizona, Texas…I mean it’s everywhere. MOBA has built in collectivism that can be capitalized upon by interested corporate parties, and that’s just not something that is provided by FGs at this time. Our events also number in the hundreds for players, or in the thousands for the case of EVO. It’s a loooot harder to provide sponsorship dollars for an event on that scale than it is for a League or DOTA event with 8-12 teams at a time, all with reputable standing and marketabilitiy. So yeah, it’s a big challenge for us to grow and expand into an “esports” entity, but at the same time we’re also shooting ourselves in the foot in some ways and making a difficult problem harder for no reason.
Kash: When it’s time for patches in fighters, it’s seems there’s never a middle ground. Taking Injustice: Gods Among Us for instance, the game like its predecessor MK9 is constantly getting patched. The constant cry is to nerf a top character. What is your stand with patching fighting games?
Kinderparty: As mentioned before, I come from an RTS background, so regular patching is something I’ve already been exposed to and am used to. Sometimes, it is pretty frustrating to run into something in an FG that is blatantly too powerful, or could obviously use a little tuning. However, I’d say that’s pretty rare. More often than not, the growth of a fighting game makes us look back at many of our old opinions on systems/characters/etc. and laugh at how wrong we were about them. So, I’m pretty okay with mild patching here and there, but sometimes excessive patching can really hurt a game. Removing ALL the bugs can remove something that could have otherwise proved truly integral to the game, or changing a character too much could make it so that that character is never seen again. If you’re going to patch my fighting game, keep it light, or do a yearly update like Capcom does!
Kash: How difficult do you think it is for a new person to enter the community and feel welcomed from your experiences?
Kinderparty: It’s never been easier to get into the community, I think. While we certainly have our issues, we’re still highly appreciative of new additions on the whole. I know when I’m at a major, I’m constantly walking around and chatting up new folks, and I know there are plenty others like me doing the same. I’m not saying you can walk in and instantly be your favorite player’s best pal, but you’re definitely going to be welcomed and find your place, even in spite of all the bad that has been floating around the FGC lately.
Kash: How nervous do you get during a tournament match?
Kinderparty: During a tournament match I get overwhelmingly nervous. It’s my number one down fall. Off stream, I can usually pull it together. However, once I get on stream, I tend to melt pretty hard. It’s something I’ve been working on as a player, and I am getting a lot better. Unfortunately, it’s really only something that can be improved on by exposing one’s self to the situation. I don’t tell them no when I want to play on stream and I’ve been traveling more than ever, so hopefully just getting the time in will eventually help me get over my horrible nerves!
Kash: While it’s something that’s been going on for a while, what’s your take on pot splitting, or throwing matches on stream? How do you feel about this new rule TOs are trying to do in order to prevent this?
Kinderparty: I won’t say too much on this, because smarter and more seasoned players have already shed some great insight on this. I’ll say that I know every player has whatever right to do what they want with their money, and I’m fully aware that they have their own bills to pay and their own lives to live. That said, it’s really not hard to just play the match out nerds. I remember when I was really big into watching Counter-Strike and it was pretty accepted that most of the pots would be split. That didn’t stop them from giving it their best in competition!
Kash: Tell us a bit more about Child’s Play Charity and your Sponsorship with Penny Arcade.
Kinderparty: I’m the first sponsored player by Penny Arcade. I’ve been posting on their forums for half a decade or so, and I’m fortunate enough that they took interest in me as a player to give me a chance to wear their brand. Hopefully, with a little success, I can grow the opportunity into something more, but I honestly can’t say a whole lot right now! As for Child’s Play, it’s a great foundation. They raised over $5,000,000 in 2012 to get entertainment facilities into hospitals for sick children. If anyone has ever had to go through the experience of having a sick family member, it’s an excruciating experience, and morale is a critical part to recovery, so I really understand the nature of their work and why it’s important. Personally, I’ve been donating for years now, and at future majors I’ll be trying to get more top name players to help me generate some extra dollars for the kiddies. I’ve personally pledged any pot dollars that I win, but that existed before my sponsorship, and it is true whether I get 9th at UFGT for $50 or 1st at EVO for it all, haha.
Kash: At this years Evo tournament, Yoshinori Ono from Capcom has told us they are considering patching Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3. As you mentioned you are probably one of the few Arthur users, what would you recommend them do to him?
Kinderparty: Haha, well I’m not convinced they are actually going to give us that update, but I’ll allow my hopes to get up just for this question. Arthur could be buffed in several ways, but one of the biggest changes he could use is a way to use another bar to power down from gold back into silver armor. It would allow him to dodge the KD caused by his gold armor ending, and using a bar to do so would be pretty fair. Aside from that, I’d really like to see his Goddess Bracelet super be able to happy birthday so I could get some cable-esque assist punishes!
Kash: Other than fighting games, what other styles of games do you play?
Kinderparty: I mentioned before, but I really like RTS games. I don’t play them as much anymore, but I still enjoy watching Starcraft 2 a lot. I also dabble a little in League of Legends, but I by no means take it seriously. Other than that, I’ve been addicted to Civilization my entire life, and I am currently loving the 5th installment in the series.
Kash: Was there anything at this years E3 that made you scream, “I need this in my life now,” whether it was a console or game?
Kinderparty: To be honest, I was hugely let down by E3, but that’s not surprising. I’m a PC gamer, so the usual console buzz and news is never really important to me, and I didn’t see much that impressed me otherwise sadly. Killer Instinct might be good! Too bad it’s on a console that I’ll never touch, heh.
Kash: If you could grab any character from one game and put them in any other game, who would you pick, where would you place them, and why?
Kinderparty: SCOTT SUMMERS. PUT HIM IN MARVEL 3. You have no idea what I’d do to get Cyclops into Marvel 3. Seriously. Capcom, it would make my life. He’s one of my favorite Marvel characters and I’m heartbroken he isn’t in Marvel 3. Otherwise, I’d really like to see Arthur be in League of Legends. He could have a pretty awesome kit in that game.
Kash: Super Smash Brothers 3Ds/Wii U revealed to us newcomers in the form of the Villager from Animal Crossing, Wii Fit Trainer from Wii Fit, and a guest character, Classic Megaman which we all know from the NES Megaman titles. Seeing how Nintendo can grab any character and turn them into a fighter, is there anyone you’d like for them to add both 1st party or 3rd party?
Kinderparty: Ok so I lied. Megaman being announced at E3 made me really hype. I’m a die-hard Megaman fan, so seeing him return was absolutely killer for me. Other than that, I’d like to see King K. Rool from Donkey Kong as my first party choice. That man is cheap. Give him a Dark Phoenix gimmick and let him come back after you clean his stocks. My third party choice would be… CYCLOPS. PUT SCOTT SUMMERS IN SMASH.
Kash: What’s your top three favorite games of all time?
Kinderparty: Alright. In no particular order, I’m going to say my top 3 games of all time are Dragon Age, Company of Heroes, and Civilization IV. Yeah, no classic games. Because they’re nostalgia barf.
Kash: Any upcoming tournaments that you’ll be attending?
Kinderparty: My upcoming season is pretty stacked. Right now, I’m still on the fence about it, but I might be attending The Fall Classic in September. Otherwise I’ll be at NEC, Final Round, UFGT, CEO, and EVO this upcoming season for sure! I’ll probably have some spontaneous trips into Georgia and Florida as well.
Kash: With stream sites like Twitch becoming the easiest gateway for people to view the community and players in action, is there any particular stream were people may see you play outside of a tournament setting?
Kinderparty: You can find me at my channel! http://www.twitch.tv/kinderparty is where I stream from, and I’m always playing Marvel or some complete nonsense game. It’s usually a good time. I might be taking over another channel in the coming weeks, but that’s about all I can say for now.
Kash: Any last words for the Broken Joysticks readers?
Kinderparty: I just want to say thanks to anyone and everyone who has supported me, and that I’m really excited for the new season with this great opportunity as a Penny Arcade sponsored player. I just graduated school as well and I’m taking a little time off before grad school, so I’ve got a lot more time and resources to practice and prepare. In spite of how it might seem sometimes, the FGC has a very bright future, so I encourage anyone who hasn’t yet to come out to support their local scene and major tournaments! If anyone wants to holler at me about Arthur or find out how to be a C+ Marvel player, they can reach me at @KBKinderparty on twitter. Thanks again for chatting with me!
