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 where I have 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 the most festive guys I’ve come to know in the FGC, Joshua Rosa aka RG | JRosa.

Kash: Thank you so much for joining me today, please introduce yourself to the Broken Joysticks readers.

JRosa: Hello true believers! Stan Lee here …wait…Hi guys my name is JRosa, and I like video games.

Kash: Are you currently sponsored by someone? If so, who are you sponsored by?

JRosa: I am currently sponsored by Revolution Gaming based out of New Jersey.

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?

JRosa: My first initial and last name. Josh R just doesn’t flow off the tongue as well. The real reason though is I used to work with my father in NYC and on the schedule it they would use our first initial to differentiate who is who on the schedule. TA DA!!!

Kash: Which game(s) are you most known for playing and what character(s) do you use?

JRosa: I am mostly known for playing Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 and Injustice: Gods Among Us. I play a whole mess of characters but the characters I’m known for are Morrigan, Dr. Doom, Strider, Wesker, and Spiderman when I’m feeling festive in Marvel. In Injustice it’s Green Lantern, Zod, Sinestro, Black Adam, Batman and of course The Joker.

Kash: What make you select those characters you play in Marvel and Injustice?

JRosa: My love for the characters are what first attracts me to playing them. Dr. Doom has always been my favorite character. Morrigan has always been my favorite Darkstalkers/Vampire Savior character. My vanilla team was Spiderman/Morrigan/Doctor Doom. I just love the characters. As far as Injustice goes, my favorite character is The Joker but, you know how that is.

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?

JRosa: I think the IDEA of online is awesome and if there was a perfect netcode we’d have so many more great players. Unfortunately that’s not the case in reality. Online really does ruin your timing for combos and setups. I’d really advise against playing online before a tournament. Injustice isn’t nearly as bad as Marvel online, and it is still pretty spotty from time to time. GET THOSE OFFLINE CASUALS PEOPLE!!

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?

JRosa: I’m guessing you mean use them in tournament? If I absolutely hate a character i.e. Vergil, I could never ever justify using that character in tournament. I love/like pretty much every character I play. But if we are talking in general, people pick up good characters so that they have an easier road to the top. Don’t blame them, won’t judge someone for wanting to win. That should always be your goal in anything competitive. Don’t see too many Ghost Riders making noise in top 8 at EVO. Jusssst a thought.

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?

JRosa: Hmm…I feel that as much as the FGC is a family, a lot of us are divided as well. We don’t all sit down and try to achieve one common goal, a lot of it is what I can get for me instead of what I can get for the community as a whole. If we can start working together and maybe clean up a lot of the stigmas FGC is associated with then we can start getting somewhere with the transition into eSports. Until then enjoy the ejaculating penis pics the stream monsters post in the chat.

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 Mortal Kombat 9 is constantly getting patched. The constant cry is to nerf a top character. What is your stand with patching fighting games?

JRosa: Give the game time to grow, let us as fighters discover what is exactly broken about the game then we can fix it accordingly. I’d say 3 months is a good time frame, but you never know when someone will discover something completely game breaking…could be far in a game’s life. Remember when everyone thought Wesker was broken and Vergil sucked? Mhm.

Kash: While it’s currently in talks as something being considered and nothing set in stone, what would you love to see in a patch to Marvel 3? Do you think a patch help bring even more people back/take the game more serious?

JRosa: I have no opinion on a patch. In my opinion there will never be one. Nobody is ever really realistic when it comes to patches anyway, especially in Marvel. A patch will bring nothing but more complaints about what they did wrong to certain characters. I’ve accepted the game for what it is, and deal with it accordingly.

Kash: How difficult do you think it is for a new person to enter the community and feel welcomed from your experiences? Also how open are you for people to come to you for advice, guidance or to play a set?

JRosa: I don’t think it’s difficult to ENTER the community at all. People are generally pretty decent all around. I’m definitely open to people coming to my for advice, I’m down to play anyone and I’m always down to just chat. I’m the most festive person in the FGC after all.

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? ? With tournament organizers and streamers vowing to work together to stop that, do you think we’ll see less of it?

JRosa: Pot splitting will be now and forever a part of the community. Throwing matches is one thing, but you can’t tell players what to do what their prize money. That’s why stuff like cool trophies and things besides monetary prizes can be a deterrent from throwing or not caring about matches. I just like to win.

Kash: Have you considered picking up another fighter or are you sticking with just Marvel and Injustice? I know it’s difficult balancing multiple games simultaneously.

JRosa: No other fighters are on my radar. Maybe Ultra Street Fighter 4, but I doubt it. I’m gonna go get lost in GTA V for a month or eight.

Kash: Other than fighting games, what other styles of games do you play?

JRosa: RPG, Stealth, Action, Shooters, Sports, Platformers, etc. Pretty much anything.

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?

JRosa: PlayStation 4. Done.

Kash: I heard your opinion on this during E3 week and you voiced an opinion but, how do you feel Killer Instinct will do considering it’s only available on one console and with a small roster of character?

JRosa: I don’t like Killer Instinct. I never did. Doesn’t matter to me.

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?

JRosa: The first thing that comes to my mind is that I’d really love to see Carnage in a Versus series game..I NEED THAT. Besides fighters though, I’d love to see Sam Fisher from the Splinter Cell series switch roles with Snake from the Metal Gear series. Think it would be very interesting.

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?

JRosa: Carnage… 😀 realistically though, Crono from Chrono Trigger…cause why not.

Kash: Any upcoming tournaments that you’ll be attending?

JRosa: TFC, and everything else.

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?

JRosa: I do festive streaming, haven’t in a while but I will bring it back to life soon. The link is twitch.tv/JRosa21

Kash: Any last words for the Broken Joysticks reader as well as any way for them to contact you with any questions they might have?

JRosa: Until next time true believers! …I did it again…contact me on the facebooks or the twitters. SEE YA LATER!