Australian fighting game event runners and community. Hosts of BAM: Battle Arena Melbourne, Australia's largest fighting game/open entry esports event.
After a massive month of competition at the highest level Australia has to offer, CouchWarriors capped our September calendar with an appearance at Crunchyroll Expo Aus 2022!
There were no CWL ranking points to claim this time, as we opened up the Super Arcade for some old-fashioned walk-up challenges. But there were still plenty of prizes for those in attendance – and best of all, the first chance to play sets of Street Fighter 6 on Australian shores!
It’s a very exciting time in 2018. Arc Systemworks, the developers behind Guilty Gear and Blazblue, have graced us with their presence in developing a fighting game for one of the most popular anime shows in the world. As an avid fighting game competitor, I’ll try to explain as clearly and as simply as I can of what kind of a game Dragonball Fighter Z is, and touch on the do’s and don’ts I have found so far with my limited time on the game. As both a Guilty Gear and Tekken player, it was very interesting to find the similarities and differences it had with Guilty Gear.
First off, at its core DBFZ borrows elements of air-dasher fighters (games with strong aerial movement seen in Guilty Gear and Blazblue) and elements of “team” mechanics seen in Marvel vs Capcom. Interestingly it has simplified both systems and has introduced some things of its own in reference to the actual show. For those that are scared to delve into the Fighting game genre, DBFZ looks to make the transition into understanding the competitive nature of fighting games much easier with its simplified mechanics. Read more
CouchWarriors Battle Arena Melbourne 9: A homegrown, global esports event
International stars will play shoulder to shoulder with local heroes at Melbourne Convention Centre this May on the 12th to 14th.
Battle Arena Melbourne (BAM), Australia’s largest fighting game major, and one of the biggest live esports in ANZ, returns for its 9th annual event on May 12-14. Now taking on two bays in the Melbourne Convention Centre to offer both a community experience and a major esports festival – this year is BIG BAM!
With Australia and the world’s best players playing across 8 national championship titles including Street Fighter V, Tekken 7,Super Smash Bros, and multiple side events, BAM is aiming for a third consecutive year of record breaking attendance. The event will host over 1,000 competitors, plus spectators taking in the excitement live, and hundreds of thousands more viewing from home on Twitch.tv.
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.
CouchWarriors have been called upon once again to host the fighting game section of the Console Tournament area at PaxAus, running through all three days and hosting a wide variety of games to suit any gamer, new or old.
As usual, between tournament sets we are open for learn to play sessions and casual matches. So feel free to take a break between all those panels, cosplaying and indie games to come join in for some competitive fun! Winners for each tournament will receive a limited edition PAXAus medal!
Games Available:
Guilty Gear Xrd Revelator Pokken Tournament King of Fighters XIV Super Smash Bros for WiiU Street Fighter 5 Dead or Alive 5: Last Round Tekken Tag Tournament 2
Direct link to the fighting game schedule can be found here.
Guest article by Anthony Albert Schweitzer Ducusin aka “Tones”
Hello everyone. Tones here, I’m out in Chicago lining some things up for myself.
The other day I was walking through the Harold Washington Library when I noticed in the people in the teens’ chillax area playing smash.
Top floor of the Harold Washington Library. Such a beautiful building
Talked with the staff there and when they tell me about this Hugo guy, a local teen that has been organizing regular competitions and how “he’s extremely passionate and outgoing, we let him run and lead things.” So I talked about how the scene is back in Melbourne Australia, about how I’ve part of this group called Couch Warriors and how we’ve been doing events since 2007.
They invite me to the “Library of Smash” tournament where Hugo will be doing his thing.
Here is his story…
Like a lot of us Hugo has always enjoyed playing video games, he got involved with the offline Smash scene. Found it fun, awesome and hype and all that cool stuff but was put off by how salty rude it can get.
So what does he do?
At the age of 16 he goes out and creates his own scene with the culture he thinks the scene deserves – a positive and friendly competitive environment.
Library of Smash 6. Events have been going for about a year now
Now they are frequenting 50 a tournament, he has single handedly TOed a 74 man tournament all the way through despite a fire break out in the middle of it. Sounds pretty serious yeah? Well, he calls it semi competitive.
What it is though is just super hype and friendly. He understands the importance of building community.
Hugo: “My main objective for my tournaments is to show people that a video game tournament isn’t all about winning. It is about having a good time with others. ”
Taylor works at the Library and is Hugo’s right hand girl for tournament duties.
This is his final year at this location because he’s finishing his senior high school year, so he’s looking to duplicate – to create a self-sustaining system while he moves off to further himself, leaving his mark with the scene no matter where he goes. As for what he wants people to take away from his work:
Hugo: “I wanted people to see that if you have the passion and effort, you can do so much for the things you enjoy, no matter what it is”.
Be sure to send him some love if you’re in the area. Hugo is a positive ball of energy doing good things for the e-sports scene on the ground level. Was a pleasure to meet him in the area of Chicago at Library of Smash and to send him some love.
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.
Filmed at our very successful Feb Ranbat/SFV launch tourney at the CQ hotel, in this episode we look at some behind-the-scenes action and what people think of SFV – and we also interview the new president of CouchWarriors: Daniel “Spoony” Finegan and the Treasurer Michael “Javi” Thai.
He covers character archetypes, use of normals, spacing, frame data and much more. Hope you guys enjoy it, and here’s hoping more of our local community and content make it onto mainstream media channels!
Rory also maintains his own FGC news site: The Saltmine.
