Feature: USC Aiken students compete in fighting game tournament
On the last Saturday of August, R&R Bar and Grill hosted Guard Break, an e-sport fighting game tournament including video games such as Street Fighter V, Dragon Ball Fighterz and Guilty Gear Strive. USC Aiken students Kyle Barker, Jeremiah Brazzell and Isaiah Ervin participated in this tournament, where Barker, computer science major, and Brazzell, communications major, tied for 5th place in the Dragon Ball Fighterz competition while Ervin, computer science major, spectated.
Barker and Ervin began playing fighting games in 2018, whereas Brazzell has been playing since he was a kid.
Brazzell had a few nerves going into the tournament but stated that he “got to meet new people and make new relationships. We were all there because we love fighting games.”
Barker, on the other hand, did not feel the pressure as much, explaining that the main difference he felt was competing for bracket placements instead of normal Battle Points as he would in a normal online ranked match of Dragon Ball Fighterz. “The most interesting thing for me was going back and listening to what the commentators were saying on the stream.”
Participating in this tournament gave everyone a unique experience as to the growing scene of competitive video games. “I learned it's okay to lose because it becomes a learning experience. Also, don't take yourself too seriously because everyone starts somewhere,” explained Brazzell. Barker added, “One thing that became apparent is that there’s always a bigger fish.”
“People really live the hype. Like in Jeremiah (Brazzell’s) match where he was the underdog, the crowd was rooting for him to win. It was cool to see everyone getting hype over the same thing.” Ervin also added, “Based on what I saw from coming to this tournament last year, there has definitely been growth in both skill and the amount of people who came. I got to see that you can’t afford to drop any combos or underestimate your opponents because these players have skill. It made me want to play more."
With the amount of attention e-sports and competitions are getting, all three participants felt like e-sports can no longer be ignored as a legitimate part of the conversation regarding traditional sports, especially considering the amount of skill and precision you need to make it to the top. The mental prowess required and the competitive nature of these games are no different from traditional sports.
“If you're into fighting games, check out Guard Break because everyone is there to have fun and it is a great environment.” Check out the stream of Augusta’s Guard Break (https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1132269283 ) and see if you are interested in joining the fighting game culture.
