1994 Capcom Official SSF2 Tournament Game Footage

Hi all!

I have dug up footage from the first ever official United States tournament from Super Just Games (now Nickel City) in Northbrook, IL from 1994. It is over an hour of documentary/commentary filmed by a fellow Minnesota crew member who incidentally no one has heard from in over 10 years.

For people who were too young at the time to know or appreciate this footage, it came at a time when Super Street Fighter was very new. It wasn’t welcomed as well as Capcom hoped I’m sure due to the severely slow playing speed.

Some highlights of this footage include Mike Watson kicking my ass in the final round (bastard) – sup Mike, and also some classic comments from him as well.

By far the best part of this footage is the elusive beta version of Super Turbo. There is about 10 to 15 minutes worth of footage. Check out the screen explosion when someone gets KO’d by only a special move, not a super.

Many people in the community of course know some of the Minnesota crew, but you will see many people that haven’t been around for over 10 years (none of which even play anymore unfortunately). There is much coverage from two brothers named Jake and Alex who at the time were only 12 and 14 years old. You get to see Jake, the 12 year old, kicking ass in the beta Super Turbo. I was amazed at how I forgot just how good some of the youngsters were back then. This was mainly due to only a couple key competitive players who somewhat molded the Minnesota play style and got us on the map. This molding was also the same reason why I lost to Mike – having no experience against Guile at the time was my demise. There’s also no doubt in my mind that Jake could have very well been a Justin Wong equivalent if he just had stayed with the gaming scene.

I’d also like to add that after watching this for the first time in 10 years I can’t believe how cocky I seemed so please no one take offense. I guess we were all there to prove something though. Mike I’m sure you’ll get a kick out of yourself too. There is also footage of Eddie Ferrier and Steve Warwick. Steve isn’t shown but gameplay between us is. There is a lot more footage of people I have no idea who so if someone recognizes them let’s hear it.

Additionally the cameraman did interviews with random people, some from Minnesota and others from the Chicago area. There was even a guy who I think said he was from one of the Midwest states who said “There’s life and then there’s Street Fighter.” It’s hilarious.

The vids consist of 10 parts. If you just want to watch the matches or the beta footage I also uploaded those by themselves. Unfortunately some of the footage between Mike and I aren't complete. It must have been due to low battery or switching tapes. Regretably the final matches are not complete. I'm not too concerned though since I got raped. =)

Enjoy!!
http://www.youtube.com/user/vengersama

 

thanks for videos~

 

Awesome Vids. I still have the gamepro strategy guide with your picture, Steve Warwick, and Mike Watson just to name a few.

It's cool to see footage of arcades from back in the day and how awesome they were. Today's generation doesn't understand how cool arcades are outside of a stacker machine. It was our competitive outlet much like a basketball players court and not just the basketball hoop he had at his house. The drive to be better is only found in competition. Today's generation plays online and talks trash behind the mic, which is kind of weak if you ask me. When arcades were around in our day you trash talked to someones face but you had to back it up with skill.

Here's to hoping that Street Fighter 4 and all the other fighters, old school shooters, racing game, etc., brings back arcades to the way they used to be and not the terrible family friendly carnivalcade's that we have today.

 

Re: 1994 Capcom Official SSF2 Tournament Game Foot

I couldn't agree with you more!!! It was a sad, sad day when arcades died! =(

 

Re: 1994 Capcom Official SSF2 Tournament Game Foot

Whoa I can't believe I just saw that!! As I was reading I noticed you mention Mike Watson and was thinking to myself "Hey I remember playing Mike Watson in a tournament in Illinois, I should mention that i've played him too"..Then I kept reading and holee shit the tourny you're talking about is the same one where I played him lol!(confirmed when you mentioned my name and when I saw the vids)

Man I looked so young, probly cause I was hahah. Those were great times man, it was real cool to see all the people from back then(too many names to mention but I still remember em all). Makes me wish I never stopped playing fighting games(I blame the SNES) I've always still played, just not the fighters. Alex told me he saw ya when he was in MN and said you was kinda shocked/confused that I had a Xbox360 and wasn't getting VF5. I said nah VF is wack, i've never really liked it. Eventually he rented it, played it for a lil while, I still thought it was wack lol. Let it collect dust for a week then something in me said play it again man, I don't know what happend but all of the sudden I love it so I had to buy it and now trying to make up for all this lost time of not playing fighters, especially this one. Imagine never really playing SF then walking into Picadilly when we're all there /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif, that's how I feel online in VF lol, just get eatin alive).

Thanks for the props in there man /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif Ida never been as good as I was or have any skills on fighters to this day if it wasn't for you guys. It wasn't till now that I appreciate you guys even acknowledging me back then being so young and all, so now that i'm older I can see how it could've been difficult for yall, like get the hek away from me you little bastard lol. So for that i'm gratefull..Well I could talk forever bout old times so i'll start fading. I still think they cheated me there cause I was so young and chose the adult comp, they put me against some random dude for my first fight, I worked him, then they said "ok put him against Mike W. now", lost, then I had to play you right after /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif you weren't supposed to be in the losers bracket damnit wtf lol(you know I let you win right? hahahah j/k). But it was cool to see you work your way up to the finals from there. wayta go man, Picadilly Circus at Ridgedale baby! I stay in Florida now but i'm going back to (near minneapolis)MN sometime soon for a couple months so it'd be cool to see the old crew if the timings right..I still try to find that satellite one song^^

 

Street Fighter 4 = Street Fighter EX4 /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/sick.gif

 

Re: 1994 Capcom Official SSF2 Tournament Game Foot

Holy crap Jake how'd you find this already? I was hoping no one would mind being posted. I figured it was so long ago who cares, but mainly people would shit their pants seeing this.

Already on Shoryuken forums people are asking who's that kid whooping ass in the beta super turbo. I can't believe you stopped playing fighters. I guess I can though since there was definitely a lack of variety in competition. Had we been in Cali or Japan things would be different I'm sure.

I still play and will be going to Chicago again for the tourney next month. We'll definitely have to hook up again someday. Any plans on coming back here soon? Has Alex seen the vids yet?

I have a little more footage of you and Shawn after the tourney but it was out of place for the vids I posted. It was you saying, "what a rip". lol I feel for you though. My god, you had to play the 1st and 2nd place winners back to back. Remember there was that 13 and under tourney also? Didn't your brother win that?

Anyway, great to hear from you. And I'm still curious how you found this so quick. The message on Shoryuken already has 1000 views, and I only submitted it 12 hours ago. Since you're on here does that mean you or Alex play VF?

PS: send me your email in a private message and I'll send you Satellite One! =)

 

Re: 1994 Capcom Official SSF2 Tournament Game Foot

Since I started playing VF I come to this site all the time bro. Was digging around the forums, saw a topic about some ol' school SF and after that it was guaranteed I was going to click it. Wasn't ready at all for what I was about too see. Yea I showed Alex, he was pretty much floored by it lol. He got 3rd in that one, it was single elim.

People were talkin bout me? That's awesome man lol! Couple drops of talent, bunch of hours watching and playing ya made a lil beast. Sucks to look back knowing I stopped, if someone asked why. I wouldn't have an answer. Hek I had the luxury of you, Wes's and lots of the other hardcore players skill level being at my local arcade all the time wich pretty much made the player I was and am today. Copying yalls combos, lil tricks and other miscellaneous stuff.. If we were in Japan?? Oh my don't even say that lol, if I went back then or a lil later i'd probably be living there right now. Kinda suprised in a way you don't /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/confused.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif. That's arcade heaven on earth. I need to go visit it someday.

Lex plays VF occasionaly but I play it religiously, it's the only game I ever really play, it has an iron grip on me. Hek im pretty postitve i've played you online before..I plan on coming up to MN sometime this summer and staying with a friend for a lil while. And thanks for the satellite and also for posting them vids man, never would have thought i'd see that again, especially at VFDC. I can't think of anything to describe how cool it was to see that. Noticed I still have the habbit of when I try a move and it doesn't come out I just keep trying it till it does, taking damage the whole time. That's the only reason I lost to Lex there hahah. Looked like I had my mind set on doing the super whether the opponent was next to me or not too.

What was up with all the short kicks when you were playing Mike? lol /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif j/k. Sucked to see you go out like that man, I know you're alot better than that and could have won those.

 

Re: 1994 Capcom Official SSF2 Tournament Game Foot

We'll definitely have to play some VF. Who do you use? As for the short kicks... I kept asking myself the same damn question. I have no idea why I did so many. Oh well.

Someone posted on Shoryuken forums about how those vids show just how much more advanced the Cali crew was. While I can't deny that there is still something to be said about the talent in Minnesota. We only had very, very limited competition, but boy did we have drive and determination. If you think about it there were probably only under 10 fierce competitors - me, Wes, Hung (home), Alexei, you, Alex, and Josh. Of course there were others too but not too many top tier players. To think that our strategies and the way we played only came from what we knew, and then to go up against the rest of the country and do as well as we did, we were pretty amazing. Hell, we made a name for ourselves definitely. I'll be going to Japan actually in less than two weeks with Biggity Boyd. Then a few days after I'm back it Chicago time for the Midwest Championship. It'd be sweet if you and Alex could go.

Let's play soon!

 

Re: 1994 Capcom Official SSF2 Tournament Game Foot

eh from the people that played at the loctest i hear that that statement is totally off

 

Re: 1994 Capcom Official SSF2 Tournament Game Foot

Here's to hoping that its not, anyways thanks for sharing the vids. 1994, man I just entered highschool going to arcades on the weekend full of competition...those were the days. I could make $5 last me 1-2 hours hehe. I could hold my own for being a young gun, plus playing SF2 and Turbo on snes endlessly helped out alot. Did anyone play Alpha 2 on snes? I remember renting it from blockbuster a few times, but I could never find it in stores. Wonder what the price of the cart is now?

 

Re: 1994 Capcom Official SSF2 Tournament Game Foot

Nice vids. Thanks for sharing /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

Re: 1994 Capcom Official SSF2 Tournament Game Foot

Yea man it was pretty serious for us, hitting the machines and cussing like crazy when we lost to each other during our tournaments at the arcade and during our regular everyday matches lol (Glad Brian understood us). Wasn't really too much joking around when we were on the sticks. Ahhh those were the days. I also completly agree with everything you said.

Shit man too bad I didn't know bout that tourny sooner so Alex and I coulda tagged along. I'd like to go just to document it and get some casual games in. Let me know the date you guys are leaving and maybe Alex and I could finagle some kind of plan to try and make it up there.

I use Akira. It's goiong to be rough playing ya with me just getting into VF not too long ago and the game of VF being out for a longer than a decade. I'm a bum lol, feels like I get hit with anything that's thrown at me. But my determination and will for learning this game won't ever be broken /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif Looking foward to playing ya.

Biggity Boyd!! That's the man right there. I heard from him before I posted this.

 

Re: 1994 Capcom Official SSF2 Tournament Game Foot

The dates are Friday, June 20th to Sunday, June 22nd. That'd be awesome if you guys could make it. Speaking of aggression, were you there or do you remember when Hung got backhanded by Robin Ruth for cheaping him in a tourney? =)

 

Re: 1994 Capcom Official SSF2 Tournament Game Foot

i watched all of it today at school. Man I'm mad I had to miss out on that whole scene. Looks mad fun. Kinda dope how Jake popped up on here, and I ain't even know Jhow was a SF vet.

 

Re: 1994 Capcom Official SSF2 Tournament Game Foot

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
The dates are Friday, June 20th to Sunday, June 22nd. That'd be awesome if you guys could make it. Speaking of aggression, were you there or do you remember when Hung got backhanded by Robin Ruth for cheaping him in a tourney? =)</div></div>

Yea I was there and remember that. I think Hung threw him for the win or just threw him alot in their last round. After he smacked him Hung just stood there looking at the screen fiddling with the joy stick n buttons.

When I was watching Hung's interveiw in one of the vids I got upset over it even though it happend long ago. That was fucked up, Hung was a cool dude and didn't desreve that shit man. Wish I could of did something bout it, but what happend happend and that's that. I wonder if Robin ever apologized to him for that.

June 20th ay, dam that's in like 3 weeks. In all reality I don't think we're gonna make it up there but we're still gonna try. If we had only known sooner. If we don't make this one, next one for sure! And all future ones. Do they hold tournaments in Illinois yearly now? Or do they just pop up once in a great while.

 

Re: 1994 Capcom Official SSF2 Tournament Game Foot

They've been going on yearly since '94. Wes and I have made almost all of them. I've probably missed about four of them. It's a pretty good time.

I don't think Robin ever apologized. Oh well. How's Satellite One? =)

 

Re: 1994 Capcom Official SSF2 Tournament Game Foot

Ohhh man that shit is sooo dope, I was expecting the 1:xx length version but this one was extended!! It's fucking awesome man!! And thanks for all the bonus stuff too dude^^, some sweet stuff in there.

Damn they've being doing em yearly since '94? Shit lol