Gamer Lore: FGC Taboos and the secret ESports plot

Recently there has been a reality tv show "Cross Assualt" displaying 2 teams facing off
for money and seeding points for the biggest fighting game tournament in the world,
EVO. They play a fighting game called Street Fighter corss Tekken (SxT). In this past
weeks episode a case of keeping it real going wrong occured. Aris a team captin was
harassing Pakozdi a girl. It got kinda nasty and he got a little close. Please watch
the video below to make your own conclusion.




Form this Penny Arcade and Giant Bomb wrote articles ... then shoryuken.com had two (one two) rebuttal articles. Let me critique them all and then give you my opinion.


The Penny Arcade article was clearly biased. The language to paint the FGC(Fighting Game Community) as unpleasant was vague. The comparison with SC2 scene just seems catering and uncessary. The lack of mention of any other scenes and past problems with their other's taboos make their motives seem less genuine.

The Giant Bomb article seemed to just give an account on the event that occured but at the end did the same thing that Penny Arcade did and sensationalized Pakozdi's furstration. It was a decent account of the event though.

The first article from shoryuken.com was good in that it was a rebuttal but not about the harassment at all. Instead Inkblot decided to just keep the article focused on what makes
the FGC the FGC. We are not 10 minutes of Cross Assault footage so why act like we are? Any one who says that is what the fighting game scene is about is telling a lie and is ignorant to the actual interactions that go on at fighting game competitions. Inkblot talked about staying focused on the matches and how the playing is what makes this scene interesting not drama like this. Good positive article that made a bigger point than just 'DUDE THATZ ONE GUY, WERE NOTZ THE SEXUALZ HARASSBERGER'.

The second article was actually a premptive article to an event that happend after.
Two guys were taking about the Cross Assult drama and making fun of people being so serious about it on the WNF (Wednesday Night Fights) stream. Ink blot this time looked at the situation directly and put the sole responsibility on the FGC. Because he is speaking on behlaf of an organization I know why he made those points. But ultimately his solution is wrong.


And here are the right answers...

Let me talk about the 2 huge elephants in the room. What neither of these places would say but it explains everything about why and how these things are being said. The smaller elephant is "ESPORTS". There's some kind of sercret rivaly going on between the FGC community and the greater competative gaming scene. This "ESPORTS" scene seems to be more organized and has games like Blizzard's SC2 and the FPS scene. Then on the FGC side you have Netherrelm with MK and Capcom with SF and Namcom with Teken. So these two places are clamoring for your dollars and both of them hope the other guy looks bad and they look good. Its like some school yard beef where they bump chests but neither wants to swing. But theres a crap load of money in it so that's important ... right?

The second bigger elephant is something important to anyone readnig this, gamer or nongamer and because it affects so many people these organizations don't really have the resources to fight this fight. Gamers are nasty , imperfect people , when they are playing their humanity comes out in full force. All the time? No. For some its all the time, while others are calm even when losing. This distribution is not documented but lets just say your average gamer is just as mature as your average athlete at comparable age. But the fact that these games can be played over the internet or on a console for relatively cheap, combined with no physical barrier and mono e mono play allows for a wide array of personalities to interact. This is a great thing, the more the merrier. But it sucks when you sit down with a douche bag, some one that will say mama jokes, act cocky , disrespect the game , or harasses you about who you are. So lets kill those people... no .... lets keep them from playing our games .... hell no.

Before I give my opinion on Aris and Pakizoid's events I want to say something very important about gaming and freedom. Games allow us to interact in a safe manner. For some people that's being competitive, other its just having fun, and some like to act an ass. This is common throughout gaming. Online FPS , SC2 chat , Arcades. Which one of us has the right to say when the line is crossed, which one of us has not crossed that line (especially in a competitive atmosphere). Do we want to start this slippery slope? Aris asked if we want to make fighting games like work ... but really do we want to make any game like work? Are gamers weak because sticks, stones, and names do hurt us? I always thought we were stronger. All the pressure on one player, all skill boiled to your knowledge and focus and practice, while some guy just made a joke about your dead mom (you know you've herd worst). Its a thrill to beat those guys and its a joy to say your own jokes. It's very therapeutic. And ultimately , Im a player , I want to prove myself against all styles, you can't play by yourself. But the assholes and their extremely nice counter parts (the guy that drives you to a tourney and you met him on an internet forum or the cool cosplayers that go game events) make gaming so colorful. Gaming is not owned by one set of personality or size or ethnicity and that's what makes it great, and this competition greater. Gaming expands mans possibilities in competition and I don't want to see us tone it down because of fear of offending. I rather have us turn it up.


My opinion on the Aris Pakozdi thing is that Pakozdi was obviously creeped out. What
ever she had to do to not feel that way she should do weather she's in a match or at a
club or at a Jack in the Box parking lot. Weather Aris violated some rule is up to the
makers of the show.

To Aris ... man dude , im dissapointed ... great player... But you put yourself in a
new school arena so dont be surprised when you get back lash. First you talked shit and
that's cool , then you talked about her body and thats dirty (win any way right). But then you got close and talked about her boyfriend ... no one would put it against her for slapping you so be happy you didn't get that. Plus you're a captain, a person in some kind of authority situation. I could see that at first she was laughing with you but keep a distance man, you know this.

I've met Pakozdi and seen her play... shes a competitor not some noob .... I wish that she didnt let that bullshit get to her but she is human. I think she should play Aris in a money match no holds bar.... maybe she will prevail over weak macho head games... maybe Aris cant talk as much shit as hes getting cornered and pummeled... and maybe he will crush her and be the wonderful Aris that he always is.

And thanks Penny Arcade for trying to create a wedge between SC2 and SF scene .... that's not cool. That's bad reporting and doesn't make me think your a credible source for gamer media. We are smarter, we know how to play, don't play us. What do you have to gain from this position on the subject of game scenes and sexual harassment?




The thing is Aris and Pakozdi are both great assesets to the FGC even though they act completely different.




And Destiny and Day9 are both very skilled players and comentate with very different styles. No one should have the power to stop them from doing what they want to do in their way and no one should be able to stop any one from watching it.

SC2 Destiny, Day9 and other SC2 players discussing bad language in gaming starting at 1:34:45)


And if we banned all the FPS COD Modern Warfare 3 players that said something derogatory and hurtful or malicious it would take you 30 minutes to find enough players to have a match and it would be filled boring, no skill players for the most part.


Would you take Bobby Fischer out of Chess?



Bobby Knight might have offended people and even got physical, would you not include him in your definition of basketball and its culture?


People will be human , this is not work but as Day9 says we should learn to be better gamers. I want to be better but not different because from what you see below we (all game scenes) are wonderfully diverse. Do not limit this, expand it.


Awesome SC2 caster Day9, speaking on a subject other than SC2


EVO .... oh EVO