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Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 8h

#31DaysOfHorrorcore Day 16: MellowHype - BlackenedWhite (2010)

The left cover is a re-release with brand new tracks, and the right cover is the original that was released for free. It's a great debut for the duo of HodgyBeats and Left Brain.

Album: BlackenedWhite
Artist: MellowHype
Release Date: October 31, 2010 (Original); July 12, 2011 (Re-Release)
Label: Independent Release (Original)/Fat Possum Records (Re-release)
Producer: Left Brain, Tyler The Creator (Re-release)
Guest Features: Domo Genesis, Mike G, Frank Ocean, Earl Sweatshirt (Original), Tyler The Creator
Tracks: 15 (Original), 11 (Re–release), 12 (iTunes Bonus Track), 13 (Australian Bonus Tracks)
Recommended Tracks: Gunsounds, Brain, 64, Loaded, Deaddeputy, F666 The Police
Themes: Satanism, Murder
Charts/Awards:
#81 on Billboard 200
#19 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
#18 on US Independent Albums

Reposted by Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF

🎃SomecallmeSpooky🎃 @somecallmejohnny.com · 15h

Showtime! 2006 was Castlevania's 20th Anniversary, so let's see how Konami celebrated with their second entry for the Nintendo DS. Let's look back on Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin!

Link: youtu.be/QYLXU7YNIaI

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Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 16h

Use this code to buy Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O.! And don't worry because if you get that game, you get a free update to World Stage!

Wario64 @wario64.bsky.social · 18h

SEGA sale on Fanatical (extra discount w/ code OMENVIP) buff.ly/lYWkd4a #ad

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Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 21h

Lastly: If you missed the announcement with @hubbsgvn.bsky.social on Twitter, he is coming back to host bi-weeklies again! Details are TBA at the moment.

So I announced it on my Sunday Night VF stream. After nearly 2 years since I retired, I am returning to running the Biweeklies with @VirtuaKazama. However, I'm still retired from competing.

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Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 21h

Third: Think you got what it takes to take on a Kumite? Sign up for the Virtua Fighter Takeover Kumite Series! All skill levels are welcome! forms.gle/swLDFMQR9X4Q...

Virtua Fighter Takeover Kumite Series Sign-Up

Kumite Series Dates: TBD Other Rules: North American Players only. Delay must be set to 3-4.

forms.gle

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Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 21h

Second: We also have the first-ever North American Dural Cup, a VF5REVO World Stage tournament where you can only play as Dural! This is taking place around Halloween! challonge.com/VFDuralCup

VF Takeover Presents: NA Dural Cup #1 - Challonge

Explore this tournament hosted by VirtuaKazama

challonge.com

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Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 21h

First: Join us for the final PC Only bi-weekly for Virtua Fighter Takeover Bi-Weekly #104 before the release of World Stage! challonge.com/VFTakeover104

VF Takeover VF5REVO Bi-Weekly #104 - Challonge

Explore this tournament hosted by VirtuaKazama

challonge.com

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Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 21h

A thread based on upcoming Virtua Fighter Takeover announcements.

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Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 22h

After watching @chuggaaconroy.bsky.social play Kingdom Hearts, I really need to revisit the game.

As a kid, I never beat the game because I made the mistake of fighting Riku without any preparation and I just stopped playing overall. I should stream it in the future.

Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 1d

#31DaysOfHorrorcore Day 15: Lord Infamous - The Man, The Myth, The Legacy (2007)

The 2nd solo album and his first one since 1994. After being released from jail in 2006, he was unable to rejoin Three 6 Mafia due to a contract breach. He went back to his original flow that he used in the early 90s.

Album: The Man, The Myth, The Legacy
Artist: Lord Infamous
Release Date: October 23, 2007
Label: Black Rain Entertainment
Producer: DJ Sounds, Enigma, Jae Bino, Quota, St. Kittz
Guest Features: La Chat, D-Dirt, Enigma, II Tone, Mac Montese, Big Stang, T-Rock, Santerria
Tracks: 18
Recommended Tracks: Where Iz Da Love, You Don’t Want None, Pussy Stank, Parking Lot, The Roll Song, B.O.C., Yeah I’m Wit’ It, Ism, Club House Click, Til Death
Themes: Satanism, Drugs, Homicide
Charts/Awards: N/A

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Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 1d

That is just dirty as hell.

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Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 1d

We're two weeks away from entering into the World Stage. It's time to go live with another session of Virtua Fighter Takeover! twitch.tv/virtuakazama

Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 2d

I just had a sudden realization that I covered this album on Indigenous People Day. I did not plan any of this.

Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 3d

#31DaysOfHorrorcore Day 13: Anybody Killa - Mudface (2008)

ABK's fourth album and his first album to be released under Psychopathic since 2004 with Dirty History. As a Native American rapper under the Juggalo subculture, ABK blends both things together to make this a classic.

Album: Mudface
Artist: Anybody Killa
Release Date: November 25, 2008
Label: Psychopathic Records/Native World Inc.
Producer: Anybody Killa, Eric Davie, Leonard Contreras, Mitch E. Mitch, Native Spirits
Guest Features: Boondox, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Strict 9, Insane Clown Posse
Tracks: 17
Recommended Tracks: Far From Reality, My Neighborhood, What U Want From Me?, Rain Dance, Thoughts of Suicide, Trails Of Tears, U Ain’t No Killa, Racist
Themes: Supernatural Themes, Homicide, Suicide, Drugs
Charts/Awards:
#15 on US Top Rap Albums
#43 on US Top Independent Albums

Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 2d

#31DaysOfHorrorcore Day 14: Gravediggaz - 6 Feet Deep/Niggamortis (1994)(Resurrected Entry)

The debut album from the Gravediggaz, a supergroup consisting of Prince Paul and Frukwan from Stestasonic, RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan, and the late Too Poetic. A certified Horrorcore Classic!

Album: 6 Feet Deep/Niggamortis
Artist: Gravediggaz
Originally Covered: October 4, 2016 (Day 4)
Release Date: August 9, 1994
Label: Gee Street/Island/PolyGram
Producer: Prince Paul, RZA, RNS, Mr. Sime
Guest Features: Shabazz the Disciple, Killah Priest, Dreddy Kruger, Scientific Shabazz
Tracks: 16 (Original), 17 (European release)
Recommended Tracks: “Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide”, Defective Trip (Trippin), 2 Cups of Blood, 1-800 Suicide, Diary of a Madman, Bang Your Head, Graveyard Chamber, Death Trap, 6 Feet Deep
Themes: Death, Drugs, Suicide, Homicide, Torture, Dismemberment, Religion, Paranoia, Depression
Charts/Awards:
#36 on US Billboard 200 (#100 on the Year-end Charts)
#6 on US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Named Iconic Horrorcore Album by Fangoria
#177 on Rolling Stone’s Greatest Hip Hop Albums of All Time in 2022

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Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 2d

Masamichi Shintani became the latest victim of The Mole, and Yagami is blamed for the murder! It's time to clear his name as we go live with more Judgment! twitch.tv/virtuakazama

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Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 2d

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Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 3d

Overall, I'm gonna have to agree with Quash on this one. I honestly think that there's a level gap that is cultural and not by infrastructure.

Anyway, that's my late night ramble about fighting games. Back to work on this Virtua Fighter video I'm currently working on.

Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 3d

Now of course, other countries are catching up now that we have tools given to us such as rollback, replay takeover, and even crossplay. Even South Korea is on par with Japan in terms of fighting game knowledge as well. We're getting there, but we're not on that level yet.

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Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 3d

At first, I thought it was because arcades in NA were dying in the 2000s, or Japan gets an early release date for games, or hidden tech. But then I realized after reading the post, there was more to it. Japan understands fighting games from a deeper level compared to other countries.

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Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 3d

Now in North America, we tend to have tribalism with our games. There are people that will only play one game and trash the other game. We've all seen this happen everywhere, from Tekken, Street Fighter, Smash, Mortal Kombat, and more. Personally for me, I think it's annoying, but that's for later.

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Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 3d

We can also say the same for Daigo Umehara as well since he actually won Super Turbo and Guilty Gear XX at EVO 2004, even though we all know him best for the EVO Moment #37 with Justin Wong in 3rd Strike. Tokido and Nuki competed at the 5th Beat-Tribe Cup For Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution in 2003.

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Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 3d

Based on the example given, it is true that Japanese players can adapt to other games outside of their comfort zone and still win tournaments. Fuudo and Itabashi Zangief are popular examples since they played VF and then crossed over to Street Fighter.

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Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 3d

I remember a decade ago while I was in college, there were differences in the FGC based on the country/continent and the most popular comparisons of them all is the North American FGC and the Japanese FGC. Japanese players can be very explorative when it comes to playing various games.

Quote from the article:

One of the people I learned fighting games from once said something like this:

“The thing about Guilty Gear is that it’s basically Street Fighter Alpha 5. It follows most of the same principles as the Alpha games and CVS2, it just applies them differently.”

That stuck with me. Over the years, I’ve only found it to be more true. Guilty Gear is anime Street Fighter. Not in the stupid meme way people normally mean when they say this, but in a way that actually makes sense if you connect the dots.

The fact that I even have to spell this out is, frankly, an indictment of the broader FGC.

Something that always stood out to me about the Japanese FGC is how fluid their player base has always been. Sure, there are camps between franchises and even developers, but they’re nowhere near as rigid as in the West. In Japan, a Street Fighter player can also be world class at Virtua Fighter. A Guilty Gear player can cross over to Street Fighter and win. That cross-pollination was normal there, especially in the 2000s.

Most people outside Japan are still surprised to learn that Itabashi Zangief (yes, that Itazan) was also a top Shun player in Virtua Fighter, or that Kazunoko was one of the best Order Sol players in Guilty Gear before he became one of the best Yuns in SFIV. That surprise itself shows the gap: outside Japan, we treat every fighting game community as separate tribes. Over there, it’s all the same battlefield, just using different weapons.

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Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 3d

So I saw an excerpt from an article I found through @basedbigbg.bsky.social and I thought I'd bring my two cents in on this.

First of all, read Quash's article under Dustloop where he talks about why Japan is still the best at fighting games. www.dustloop.com/w/User:Quash...

User:Quash/Why Japan Is Still the Best at Fighting Games

www.dustloop.com

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Virtua Kazama: #PlayMoreVF @virtuakazama.bsky.social · 3d

#31DaysOfHorrorcore Day 13: Anybody Killa - Mudface (2008)

ABK's fourth album and his first album to be released under Psychopathic since 2004 with Dirty History. As a Native American rapper under the Juggalo subculture, ABK blends both things together to make this a classic.

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