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First Final Showdown Tier List

The October issue of Arcadia magazine just hit the newsstands today, and comes with a comprehensive breakdown of the revamped system, as well as preliminary frame data and character strategies for the entire cast. On top of that, the magazine has put together a preliminary tier list, which you can find below. Since the game has only been available for a month, the tiers will definitely change, but the popular opinion is that the big three listed by Arcadia will be hard to dethrone, even after a year or so of play.

Here are the current tiers according to Arcadia:

S Rank: Shun, Lau, Akira
A Rank: Lion, Kage, Goh, Brad, Sarah, Wolf
B Rank: Jean, Pai, Vanessa, Aoi, Taka-arashi, Eileen
C Rank: Blaze, Jacky, Jeffry, Lei-Fei

For an explanation of tiers, plus to check out the thoughts of the top players, please check out the following thread on the forums!

» October Arcadia VF5 FS News

Final Showdown in Arcadia Magazine

This month's Arcadia magazine (October 2010, Issue No. 125), which will be released next Tuesday, features a huge report on Final Showdown, and will include not only strategies for all 19 characters, but will also come with frame data for each character's main set of moves, general system changes, comments from the top players in the country, and a preliminary tier list. A booklet command list -- the same one that's available for free at most arcades in Japan -- will also be included with this month's issue. If you're interested in purchasing this month's issue, but you live outside of Japan, check out Play Asia, as they always have the magazine in stock.

Final Showdown Masters Guide Announced
Amazon Japan now has a new strategy guide for VF5 Final Showdown listed on their site. Titled Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown Masters Guide, it is going to be a near 200 page strategy guide published by Softbank Creative, and will go on sale on September 10th. This is a significant announcement, as this is the first time in four years that an arcade strategy guide for Virtua fighter has been published. The last one was the "Keep It Moral" black book for Virtua Fighter 5.

Here is what this new master guide will feature:
» Full frame data for all characters.
» A rundown of new moves and tweaked moves for every characters.
» Detailed explanation and analysis of the new system in Final Showdown.
» Strategies geared toward specific character matchups and character-specific combos.

» Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown Masters Guide Announced

VF5FS System Changes

In this month's Arcadia, Issue 124 the Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown feature on System Changes has been kindly translated by noodalls (many thanks!)

The translated article talks about major changes to the Movement and Throw systems. It also reveals other changes such as the removal of elbow and middle kick staggers, damage modifiers, wall effects, and the all important Side Turned situation.

» Arcadia 124 VF5FS System Notes by noodalls

Today, 29th July 2010, is the official start date for VF5 Final Showdown! Look for more match replays to pop up starting tomorrow now that the game is available across Japan. This month's issue of Arcadia magazine will have a huge feature on the game, including a changelist and basic combos, so we will start work on that as soon as we get our hands on it. (we meaning me... and hopefully whoever else gets the magazine!)

Now that the arcade version is out, all that's left is to hope that Sega smartens up and announces a console version in the near future. Tokyo Game Show would be a perfect time for it! Make it happen, Sega.

If you weren't watching this event on Sunday -- and you should have! -- here are the results of the 11th Beat Tribe cup tournament. There were 145 teams at this 5 on 5 event, making it one of the biggest fighting game events of the entire year. Thanks to Arcadia Magazine for hosting the video stream!

1st Place - Itabashi Newton[/size]
Itabashi Zangief (Shun)
Kamaage (Akira)
Kissa (Shun)
Zettoman (Lei-fei)
Bubbles (Lau)

2nd Place - Kanchigai Club[/size]
Penkiyasan (Lau)
Kanzen Nitaku (Wolf)
Yogo Kage (Kage)
Ryu-chan (Jacky)
Toru (Akira)

Videos
» Final - Itabashi Newton vs Kanchigai Club - Part 1
» Final - Itabashi Newton vs Kanchigai Club - Part 2
* The above are nicovideo links, if you have trouble watching, then copy/paste the link into http://mmcafe.com/nico.html
» Semi Final - Buruha Circle vs Itabashi Newton - Part 1
» Semi Final - Buruha Circle vs Itabashi Newton - Part 2
» Semi Final - Buruha Circle vs Itabashi Newton - Part 3
» Quarter Final - Kagoshima vs Hama Stars - Part 1
» Quarter Final - Kagoshima vs Hama Stars - Part 2
» Quarter Final - Kagoshima vs Hama Stars - Part 3

Highlight
If you were unfortunate enough to miss the stream, then you should also check out this exciting battle from the Round of 16 between teams Daibatsu Punch (Jin (KA), Punch the Senpuu (JN), Koufu (AO), Itoshun (BR), Koedo (JN)) and Hama Stars (Chotaro...

About a week ago I was informed by an arcade operator acquaintance of mine that Final Showdown would be released on the 29th of this month. While I had no doubt that this was true, I've seen this date pop up in several other places, including Niigata POPY's homepage, so it should be safe to say that the game will be in operation starting on the 29th! Expect to see more videos and impressions soon!

This week, Sega has awarded Ikebukuro Sarah and Shinjuku Jacky, two of the biggest names in VF history, the title of Moto Tetsujin, or Original Tetsujin, which they will carry on their player cards from now on. These two join Bunbunmaru and Kyasao, who received their titles last year. Congrats to both!

» VF 10th Anniversary ~ Memory of a Decade

The 11th annual Beat Tribe cup, the biggest Virtua Fighter tournament in Japan, is on this weekend, and looks to be yet another huge gathering of the top talent in the Virtua Fighter world. This is going to be a huge 5 on 5 event, with 140 teams signed up so far. For those who can't do the math, that's over 700 players from around Japan for this one tournament! Not only will there be the regular team tournament, but also an over-30s/ladies tournament as well!

All of your favorite players, including Koedo, Chibita, Kamaage and SHU will be out in full force with their teams, and luckily for those who cannot attend, the official Tougeki site will be broadcasting the tournament on their official website!

The event will begin on Sunday, July 18th so make sure to check the Tougeki site for the line on that day!

» Beat Tribe cup live stream

VF5FS Official Site
The official web site for VF5FS is starting to take shape with a teaser flash site highlighting some of the new points to look forward to with the soon to be released (in arcades) Final Showdown!

» http://www.virtuafighter.jp/vf5fs/index.html

VF5FS Wallpapers on D.K's blog
The past few entries on D.K's blog has seen a slow trickle of VF5FS Wallpapers being made available for download. For convenience, below are the links to D.K's diary entries where you'll find the Wallpapers released so far:

Pai, Aoi, Jeffry, Akira
» http://www.virtuafighter.jp/dk_66.html

Lion, Lau, Jacky, Sarah
» http://www.virtuafighter.jp/dk_68.html

Blaze, Jean, Taka, Wolf, Vanessa, Shun, Eileen, Lei, Brad, Goh, Kage
» http://www.virtuafighter.jp/dk_70.html