Australian fighting game event runners and community. Hosts of BAM: Battle Arena Melbourne, Australia's largest fighting game/open entry esports event.
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:
This weekend sees the return of OzcomicCon to Melbourne! 
Among the fun of guests, panels, cosplay and stalls you will find CouchWarriors hosting fighting game casuals and tournaments in the OCC Gaming area. So come join us to enjoy some gaming at the convention.
We’ll be hosting Learn to Play along with casual matches and tournaments.
Games:
Guilty Gear Xrd Revelator
Pokken Tournament
Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3
Super Smash Bros for WiiU
Street Fighter 5
Dead or Alive 5: Last Round
Tekken Tag Tournament 2
Here is the schedule, read on for list of games and rules. Click here for live schedule link
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/
Summary of the key event features:
We are pleased to announce the return of special guest Jeffrey “Chamba” Cruz to Battle Arena Melbourne in 2016!
The artist for Udon Comics’ Street Fighter Unlimited will be appearing both Saturday 14th 11am-5pm, and Sunday 15th May, 11am-3pm.
Chamba, who was a popular guest at BAM 2014, will be available to draw commissions of your favourite characters, sign prints and hang with fellow gaming fans!
To browse through his fantastic art visit theCHAMBA.com
Follow Chamba on Instagram and Twitter
For a hint of what Chamba will be working on for fans at, browse his website or Instagram above to see recent art including amazing Free Comic Book Day sketches.
Prices:
Black & White Single character Headshot Commissions:
A6 postcard – $10
A5 Headboard – $30
Blank Cover – $40
Prize:
Chamba is providing to #BAM8’s prize pool a one custom colour and one black and white piece illustrated on Limited Gold Foil UDON Street Fighter Unlimited #1 blank sketch cover!
Hit the break to read Chamba’s Bio
You can also view the Facebook version of the video here
CouchWarriors is proud to announce another international pro tour is joining forces with Battle Arena Melbourne 8 for its event on May 13-15, 2016.
Battle Royal is the official worldwide tournament circuit for Dead or Alive 5 Last Round, in which each event in the circuit offers a major prize bonus and official sponsorship to the Battle Royal world finals.
This is the first time Battle Royal gone global, with BAM8 one of only two international tournaments included in the prestigious circuit. Thanks to the generous prize pool, DOA5LR at BAM8 will be a free entry tournament. Get practicing!
Team Ninja are supporting this tournament with a $1,000 Prize Bonus
The 1st place winner of Dead or Alive 5 will receive player sponsorship of flight, hotel, venue and entry to December’s NEC XVIII finals in the USA
With such an amazing prize pool and international opportunity on offer, CouchWarriors has made DOA5LR a FREE entry tournament! (Venue entry to BAM8 is still required)
Players of all levels are welcome to experience the fun of competition or just to participate and enjoy the game with a great community.
Fantastic effort by Ebabil, winning his first major in a huge tournament with the most competitive top 8 in Aus DOA5 history, after fighting through a 41 player pool.
Watch the final match:
Thank you to Team Ninja for their incredible support. Follow them:
Dead or Alive Facebook | Team Ninja Twitter
Join the Australian DOA Community on Facebook | DOA Community site FreeStepDodge
Celebrating the launch of Street Fighter V, join us at our major events venue for casual matches, and the first tournament.
Here are the full details of the event. You can preregister at this link
1st Place:
2nd Place:
3rd Place:
Thanks to Capcom Australia and Plantronics Gaming for the prize giveaways
Thanks to Playstation and Benq for equipment support.
FEBRUARY 10, 2016 – Today Capcom, ahead of launching Street Fighter V, announced its Capcom Pro Tour event circuit. CouchWarriors’ eighth annual Battle Arena Melbourne, Australia’s largest competitive fighting game event, and the fourteenth OzHadou Nationals (Sydney), Australia’s longest running competitive fighting game event, will both be Ranking Events on the international esports series, the Capcom Pro Tour, putting Australia’s best fighting game players in the global spotlight.
By earning Ranking Points at BAM8, OHN14 and other Capcom Pro Tour Ranking Events, competitors can qualify for a place in the prestigious Capcom Cup Finals at the end of the year. In addition, winners of Street Fighter V at each event will be sent to the Capcom Pro Tour Asia Finals in South Korea; the winner of this CPT Premier event will earn a direct qualification to the Capcom Cup Finals.
The Capcom Cup, in its fourth year, has showcased the best of the best in Street Fighter, with past champions including renowned players Naoto Sako, Yusuke Momochi and “Kazunoko” Ryota Inoue. All three have made appearances in Australia before, so only time will tell what sort of international talent the promise of CPT ranking points might bring to Melbourne and Sydney this year, and which local champions will rise up to challenge the best in the world.
If you’re looking for your own piece of the action, you can register for Battle Arena Melbourne 8, to be held at CQ Functions in Melbourne on May 13-15, and look forward to news regarding OzHadou Nationals 14 in Sydney, closer to its date of August 26-28.
As part of the wider Australian fighting game community, both CouchWarriors and OzHadou strive to make new players welcome, and host a range of events for players to enjoy and level up their game.
About CouchWarriors: CouchWarriors Inc. is a not for profit association created to energise the fighting game community. Starting in 2006 as an informal community group, it created an event series for social play and ranking battles which serves as the heart of the Melbourne scene. The project has blossomed into large events like the major annual, Battle Arena Melbourne (BAM), providing tournament services, support and resources for industry including major events such as PAX Australia, and ongoing support to community companion events.
About OzHadou: OzHadou is a group passionate about bringing together fighting gamers throughout Australia. Since its founding in 2001, OzHadou has been establishing connections between fighting gamers nationwide. As the chief fighting game body in Sydney, the OzHadou team has developed extensive tournament experience which culminates annually in the OzHadou Nationals (OHN), Australia’s first and longest running fighting game major, where the nation’s best gather to compete for the coveted title of “OHN champion”.
For more information:
[email protected] [email protected]
www.couchwarriors.org www.ozhadou.net
COUCHWARRIORS Proudly Presents
OFFICIAL STREET FIGHTER V LAUNCH TOURNAMENT
Supported by Capcom and Playstation 4
Celebrating the launch of Street Fighter V, join us at our major events venue for casual matches, and the first tournament. Who will set the pace for the new era of SFV?
Major prizes for Winners, Runners up, and a range of Participation prizes.
Update – Preregister for the event here
Sponsors:
![Benq_logo_staged[1]](https://wp-uploads.couchwarriors.org/2014/03/Benq_logo_staged1-e1453688964674-300x167.jpg){kind=logo}
COUCHWARRIORS RANBATS:
FEBRUARY PREMIUM RANKING BATTLE 2016
– Fighting game tournaments and casuals – ALL Games!
Special event Ranbat at CQ (BAM VENUE) IN THE MELBOURNE CBD!
Note as a premium event there will be a $15 Entry
Tournaments, casual games, tips and training – CouchWarriors Ranking Battles (Ranbat) are a day long fighters festival!
At each Ranbat players can earn ranking points from participating in tournaments, with Prizes and Medals earned at the end of the year!
When: SATURDAY February 20th
Where: CQ Functions, 123 Queen St, Melbourne, 3000
Cost: $15 Entry + Tournaments (Expected pot fee is $5 per tournament)
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/213701462314018/
Current Schedule
10am – Doors, Casual play
11am – PM Singles
12pm- Smash 4 doubles
1.30pm- melee doubles
1:30[pm – Guilty Gear Xrd
2:30pm STREET FIGHTER V
3:30pm – MORTAL KOMBAT X
4pm – Dead or Alive 5 Last Round
3.30pm- smash 4 singles double elimination
4.30pm- melee singles double elimination
6pm – Rivals of Aether
6:00pm Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown
Casuals for more games available!
LIVE STREAM
Additional Streams TBC
BRING YOUR OWN CONTROLLER
There is a BYOC / Sticks policy for the event. Our friendly players will often loan a controller, but we ask you to please bring your own! Also, while we should have enough equipment to run the tournaments, everyone will appreciate anybody who can bring setups for casuals and DIYs.
HOW TO GET THERE
Upcoming Event Dates
Regular Ranbats will take place at the regular venue Monthly on the 3rd and 4th SATURDAY of every month.
(Except BAM in May and TBC Premium end of year Dec)
Mason Hall, 6 Davies St Brunswick. Subscribe to our Facebook events list and look for updates at www.couchwarriors.org
We are pleased to announce as part of our massive 2015 final Ranking Battle our sponsors and prizes. Our top ranked players of the season will receive well deserved medals, but tournament winners and lucky attendees can win fantastic prizes.
The Ranking Battle event will be at our majors venue for BAM, CQ Functions, on December 12. Details here, and join us on Facebook here.
Thank you to sponsors BENQ, Plantronics Gaming, Elgato Gaming and VR Distribution.
Read on for details of the prizes! Read more