Interview with BAS

Myke · Mar 22, 2013

Ryo "BAS" Yoshida is world renowned for his past success in Capcom vs SNK 2, and other 2D fighting game titles. Recently, Ryan Hart conducted an interview with BAS in which he shares some very open, and honest opinions on the current state of (2D) fighting games, particularly the latest version of Street Fighter 4. What does this have to do with Virtua Fighter, you ask? Read on and find out!

The issues BAS has with the current state of 2D fighters, particularly SF4, are thoroughly revealed in the interview. But, and maybe this is just me, I couldn't help but think that most of the things he disliked about the SF4 system is a non-issue in the VF series. No ambiguity? Check. No unblockables? Check. Balanced (enough?) risk versus reward? Check. Reward for correct reads? Check.

Note: this is not posted to "bash" the SF4 series, or any other 2D fighting game. The intent was to focus in on aspects of a fighting system, and draw attention to the elements that appeal to a player.

Anyway, in reading the interview, it just made me reflect on why I enjoy VF, and still do after so many years. But I also thought that BAS had some really great advice to offer players wishing to improve their game, equally applicable to VF, and I've quoted the excerpt below:

RH: Do you have any advice for any gamers wishing to get stronger?
BAS: “Find a coach who can teach you and get yourself two rivals; find one rival that you are close to and find a rival that is far from your current level. It's important to have two rivals, there's no point in setting your standards too high and simply aiming for the top. Like there is no point in me aiming to beat Tokido and/or win EVO now at my current level, I need a closer, more realistic goal that I can put my attention on. With that said it is also important that I have a long term goal so that the little goals have more meaning and there is a long term plan. Without this kind of thing there is no future for fighting games.”

RH: Yes, it's very important to have little victories to build up your experience and skill. Also these victories will be an evidence of your overall improvement as well. Ok could you give us an example of a close rival?
BAS: “A close rival could be that guy you played online that beat you the last time you played. You should make it a goal to beat him the next time you play. This is a good target, once you can beat him, you move on to the next person and make a new rival. To summarize; set your goal and think about how you can achieve it. The next thing I would suggest is keep practicing and never ever give up. You'll never become strong if you don't practice enough.

My next thing is talent and sense (having a knack for competitive gaming), in my opinion talent for fighting games and sense are not important. What's important is practice and dedication. According to that practice you will naturally develop your own sense of how things work. It’s so important to practice, then fight, then practice, then fight, then practice and keep this pattern up. I don’t think that I have that much talent or sense but I practiced like crazy and this made me strong. I became the best in the world at CVS2 but I believe that I practiced the most so it’s only natural that I became the best. In the past it was always like that as well, the one who practiced the most was always the strongest.”
Click to expand...

Great advice, eh?

Credit to Ryan Hart and LowLandLions for the interview.
Source: http://www.lowlandlions.com/2011/content/News/WWMCZRyan_Hart_praat_met_Ryo_BAS_Yoshida-4328.html

Rodnutz · Mar 22, 2013

Awesome Myke! You beat me to it. I was just about to post this. For me it was such a fantastic read that I had to read it twice. I was really feeling what Bas had to say and completely agreed with the randomness aspect of gaming he was referring too.

G0d3L · Mar 22, 2013

Thank you Myke, really interestig read.
Having invested several yaers on SFIV I feel his pain...

However it's strange that BAS didn't say anything about jabs being to much powerfull in SF4 and SFxT.
I mean, you can safe pressure (chainable and + on block) and you can combo out of it!
What else?!?

OT but VF related, the fact that SEGA is not releasing a balance patch for evident issues (damage and safeness related) after all this time that this revision is out it makes me think that more likely they moved on (maybe to VF6? )

nou · Mar 22, 2013

Sega needs less revisions for VF6. AM2 and ArkSys need to get that madness under control.

CheekyChi · Mar 22, 2013

Interesting, I've always just thought of stuff like that as "that's just how the game is, live with it". Nice to see someone who plays the games very well actually criticise this.

Unicorn · Mar 22, 2013

It is interesting to read about how the ballancing really works at the some day Capsom announce new ballancing patch for AE, asking community for suggestions

nou · Mar 22, 2013

Community outreach is cool, but you need a strong filter.

BLACKSTAR · Mar 22, 2013

This is, like, the best interview ever

AlexMD · Mar 23, 2013

Did anybody ever post the Itabashi interview Ryan conducted?, it had quite a bit of VF discussion.

Here it is on the off chance that someone missed it http://www.lowlandlions.com/2011/content/News/WWMCZRyan_Hart_praat_met_Itabashi_Zangief-4313.html

SDS_Overfiend1 · Mar 23, 2013

Damn... that Interview was insightful and Broke down the Main reason i quit SF4 ..

Tricky · Mar 24, 2013

You know, I feel like this idea of having 2 rivals is making me want to do another FT10, *gasp* online even.

nou · Mar 24, 2013

I thought the part about how Arcades are seen by the average Joe was really interesting.

Jay David · Mar 27, 2013

That was a great read. Bas is on point with the progression tips. Good to see that I was using some of his tips already.

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Interview with BAS

Myke Administrator Staff Member Content Manager Kage

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Interview with BAS

Myke Administrator Staff Member Content Manager Kage

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