When I try to think all this out, I do terrible. I try to commit new moves and tactics permanently to memory and just let reflexes and instinct take over (you don't think about breathing, do you?). The less I'm trying to deduce while playing (beyond a given feeling out period), te more likely I am to enter "The Zone" and just play well.

I certainly understand 'The Zone', but I think it's more than impulse. In fact, I'd argue impulse accounts for most mistakes. If your instinct is based on outdated tactics and rigid combat structure, than your reflex will output bad decisions - however quickly they come out.

I like to think my best matches are driven by a number of micro-theories and executions than 'autopilot'. I do like your mentioning of instinct, anyway, because I believe that is very important in competitive gaming.

There's things I do in Halo 3 that I don't think about - it just happens, but only after having a theory, testing it, seeing it work, and executing until it goes into the instinct file.

Essentially relying on reflex and autonomous execution should be based on practiced actions that worked for you in the past - and consistently. Conversely, actions that gave you shit should be rinsed out from your 'reflex list' (just making up terms here). And the only way to do that is to not do whatever it is you have a habit doing. You can't just stop, you have to practice playing without it. So to have good habits and reflexes that promote good decisions they must be practiced first.

Isn't that just I just said?

I learn it, test it, let it happen naturally and never think about it again.

Shut up and let me wax technical.

Gunna be up all night tonight so "holler at me"

Roxer, was that you the first couple of fights, tonight? Didn't seem like it was you till it was your Cammy and my Zangief.

Yeah was dickin around. Still looking for a solid 3rd/4th character

Just thought of something: should we use headsets for the tourney?

Why?

Yeah no one I've faced has really used em.

I wanna use mine, but none of you fucks ever use them. Anyway, I'm gonna be unavailable for today for practice. I'll be on Live probably, but I'll be at my buddy's place probably busting out some drunken Rock Band before we bounce to go see UFC 100 and then hit up a house party. Stacked Saturday night.

Opportunities to fight a drunk Chiszmo tonight around 11PM-ish.

I'm again coming to a small realization that my stick probably needs some better parts if I ever want to execute links and such any better. Plus it would give me a fun project to work on.

So that's why you're so accurate, you've got a stick.

I played Boomer earlier, but our connection was fucked. His Bison is pretty good but I think he's actually better with Balrog. Kept trapping me with distance. His Guile isn't bad either. Anyone who's played probably knows my 4 guys already, but I'm working on having more available for variety and specific character stoppers. Now all I need is a way to shut down Roxer's Akuma and I'm good.

You were giving me some tough matchups with Bison...and you might be better at him than me. Didn't have enough of a sample size to really tell. I would have had fun playing a few more because I've always had trouble in a mirror match. And I really have trouble with Sagat-Bison matchups. I can't efficiently do pokes, and pretty much have to resort to pressuring when I am most frequently a defensive player.

With Guile, I just don't feel like he has weapons. I mean two moves and whatever combos you can muster is basically it. I still have a lot of fun with him, especially since his sonic boom can change speeds so drastically, but I definitely have a long way to go with him.

And Balrog is pretty damn new for me. I mean I've watched a lot of people play him, so thats just what I've picked up. That's a fun v. Bison matchup always.

I still wish my stick were better, but it obviously works better than a controller. Since its a square-gated joystick, charge characters are a lot easier for me to play. Cammy is about the only non-charge character I ever play.

So Funky is definitely better than me, but if I faced him some more I'm sure I could make it close.

Hasney, I'm calling you out, man. Dunno how you stack up in this, as you are seeded above me and below Fig, but I gotta know. I say this cuz I am real close to Fignuts in terms of skill, so I feel like I should be fighting for that #4 slot.

So yeah, bring it sucka!

Hasney, I'm calling you out, man. Dunno how you stack up in this, as you are seeded above me and below Fig, but I gotta know. I say this cuz I am real close to Fignuts in terms of skill, so I feel like I should be fighting for that #4 slot.

So yeah, bring it sucka!

Callin you out too, G. Laying down the gauntlet today, lads. :mad:

thecc is alright. Nothing special really. I was making a lot dumb mistakes.

Psh, sounds like someone's mad i got a perfect round against their akuma. ;)

Roxy Takes akuma mad serious. I win a round and he makes sure to absolutely slaughter me the next.

out of the 4 times he used him i won twice.

Also, your jumping nonsense will be swiftly taken care of come tourney time.

So what's up with that 6th seed? Cuz I don't see how I'm 6th when Hasney's probably not even gonna show and I'm def on par with Figburt.

Also, played Khuntry tonight. Really good control of distance and excellent poking. Never failed so many throw escapes in my life, though.

Just played funky again. Went 3-3.

Last match was my ryu vs his ken, and it went to the 5th. Should have come out with it, but I got ahead and got overconfident. Stopped playing smart and funky didn't waste the oppurtunity.

So I think jeanpunchfest is still up in the air, to determine which of us is higher up in seeding. Will have to play eachother more during the week.

But both me and funky need to play hasney, to get him out of that spot.

Also, would love to get a perfect on roxer's akuma. He must have had an off day if you could manage that.

I did get a perfect on his fei long, but that's not as tough.

Hasney is better than both of you. The two of you should battle for the 5 spot.

I'm also kinda giving him the oppurtunity to get internets in order too seeing as the first 4 get a bye. He deserves it.

If he can't get it done by then then oh well.

And besides, just win your matches and everything should be hunky dorey. I kinda like how the seedings are.

We will see...

Dunno, Roxer. Unless the gap between us and him is huge, it's not always that black and white.

Sometimes people match up with eachother differently.

Also, don't forget we went almost match for match, last time we fought. So if you're comparing him to yourself first, remember I'm not THAT far behind you.

RoXer and thecc, apologies for the sudden exit. Now thoughts on my fights with thecc:

He is good. Damn good IMO. But I think he gets too comfortable when he's dominating someone, either that or my clutch is just way better than I ever imagined (even I marked out for myself when I got that awesome comeback on our first fight). Also plays a unique hit & run atyle (you'd know what I meant if you ever played him.)

Fignuts and Funky are not better than me seeing as how I was testing characters for my 3rd and 4ths most of the time.

I believe the gap is big enough for Hasney to be ranked higher than both of you. But if he hasn't been practicing, I dunno.

I'm not giving in to the thecc hype. He might get 5th seed. Not 4th though.

I WILL RESEED LATER TONIGHT FOR THE LAST TIME. PRobably after I play a few matches tonight. ANd then I'll even post brackets and we can get moving.

what? thought we were doing this, this weekend?

G, you are a horrible shark.

Give me time to get my damn Gold Ranger Card. Some of us have school and shit.