COVID-19 forced the fighting game community (FGC) to adapt to exclusively online tournaments. Offline versus online play typically isn’t a problem for most esports, but the Internet introduces unique issues to the FGC. Variables like latency and lag make difficult reactions and frame-perfect inputs even harder, while less precise inputs and inconsistent options become stronger. Even if differences in the meta make online competition less desirable for some people, that doesn’t mean it is worthless. 

Netplay has a history of keeping games alive. Many like BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle rely on netplay to connect players from around the world. Players can then meet stronger opponents and get better in online tournaments, regardless of if they use delay-based netcode. This is especially compelling for newcomers that lack local scenes because communities are no longer constrained by location. 

We caught up with two players that express the same sentiment through constant contributions to online fighting game events and communities: accomplished Tekken star Jeannail “Cuddle Core” Carter and Vampire Savior legend Matthea “Vicki Viper” Taylor.

Cuddle Core on why netplay is important for new players

I feel the online scene should get endless support because it’s one of the most cost-efficient and easiest ways to connect with competition and communities, especially as a newer member of the FGC. Many of us didn’t know about offline scenes until we started interacting with our communities online. Through social media, it’s become extremely easy to find out when a tournament or community event is or just connect with people from around the world who share your same passion for all things gaming.

I think about how interacting with online Tekken groups led me to offline scenes. When I first started getting more competitive years ago. My first interaction with competing was playing ranked mode online in Tekken Tag Tournament 2. That was my first experience playing with people from across the country. Playing ranked mode taught me about playing under pressure and how to problem solve versus playstyles and matchups. It was an amazing introduction to competitive play.  

Having those first few experiences helped me find local players offline through a Facebook Tekken group. After meeting them offline I was exposed to offline competitive play which involved the tournament scene. Going offline definitely built my drive to compete across the country. It helps gauge where you are skill-wise, along with feeling that camaraderie from other players. I truly feel it led me to my career as a pro player. It has exposed me to so many fighting game scenes from around the world, along with their cultures and customs.

The online scene is such a crucial force in helping people get connected to the greater fighting game scene. That the scene is bigger than your backyard local. There is a whole world of gaming and culture to be experienced through the power of social media.

Vicki Viper on why fighting game netplay is necessary for community growth

The FGC's emphasis on live events makes itself very apparent, but I think online tournaments are a valuable and even necessary complement to offline events. Even after we make it through the tail end of the pandemic we're going to see a number of these online events that have sprung up become regular mainstays in the tournament ecosystem.

There's a number of things that can (and regularly do) prevent a lot of people from going out to an offline event: finances, time, lack of transportation, etc. You know, the things that make these events a commitment. With this in mind there becomes this large demographic of the FGC that is exclusively online because that's their only way to play. A lot of people call this the "online warrior."

The free-to-enter online tournaments we've seen spring up in the wake of the pandemic have brought together not only many of the people we see regularly at majors but also a number of these online warriors that you wouldn't normally get to see at these events, which is one of the really exciting things for me to experience as a competitor, as I can get exposure to a significant number of very strong players for any given game. 

Another thing to consider is that since the internet connects us all, tournament organizers get many more opportunities to run a tournament which translates to players having way more tournaments to play in. Before the pandemic I'd personally see locals every week, majors every so often, and then online tournaments occasionally. With the advent of being forced online, it now feels like there's a dizzying amount of tournaments for every single game happening every day to the point it becomes almost impossible to track them all.

There's a surprising amount of accomplished players making waves that started online, so really continuing to support online tournaments well after the COVID era will ensure we see so many more.

Fighting game netplay might not replace offline competition, however that doesn’t mean it has no place in the FGC.

For more on Matthea, you can follow her on Twitter @VickiViperZabel and keep up with Jeannail @cuddle_core.