NeoRussell’s Corner

I get a few messages everyday from people thanking me for the videos I released. I do appreciate them all. There are times when I get messages from players who really want to excel at a game they are really passionate about so they send me a message asking for assistance. I do like giving my thoughts on this so please feel free to ask me anything if you are having troubles. I’ve trained a few people in my community that have excelled in their own right.

Gamer Mail

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Hello Ne0Russell,

How do you obtain the most out of your practice time in fighting games?
Your response would be very appreciated.

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I went through this phase before as well.
It is difficult and is boring to keep doing the same thing over and over again.
Basically, practicing combos endlessly until you get tired. I used to do that alot, especially with Tekken and its Just Frames (if people remember). Frustration and Annoyance sure follows you after a few hours of practice.

Rule I’ve Been Following:
If I can do combo or strategy 3 times in a row, I move on to the next combo or strategy. When you feel satisfied, you stop and come back in a few hours or another day to do it another 3 times.

It may sound easy but after the 2nd success, you think different trying for a 3rd. The 3rd attempt is considered “a serious match” attempt. Your brain is telling you that you cannot move on without succeeding the 3rd attempt. This will make you feel the same as being in a tournament. If you don’t do your combos or strategies perferctly, you cannot not move on.
Just be confident and take the risk. Think of the 3rd attempt everytime you are playing against somebody. Pratice your mind to always be on that situation. This will make your inputs more precise when you think something is on the line.

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YouTube, Your Memory and the Record Function

If you have completed your Combos or Strategies, time to practice against different characters. So next advice, Make Use of the Record Function along with your Memory and Youtube videos.

We live in a great age where Youtube makes everything a little bit more easier for us.
Our Memory about things also helps in this. The mind will always look back to things we did wrong that made us lose. All of this goes in our favor.

Go to Practice Mode and look for a Record Function.
Typically, all fighting games that came out right now should have a record function but if not, you will need a friend to assist.

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Youtube Record Practice
Look up your most feared battles.
Maybe it’s Ryu or Sagat or any top tier characters for any game really.
Try to look up some good name players.

Technology has spoiled us in copying strategies either in a good or bad way, you decide.
So unless your the original creator of combos and strategies (good for you), you will more than likely might have copied somebody’s strategy. There’s nothing wrong with that. You can copy strategies all you want but interpreting them in a match is what matters.

Back to the topic, all of those videos even though the players playstyle is different, they will always fall into the same pattern. They will always use the universal strategy that has been displayed for millions of people like us to copy. There will be some with unique ones but if it gets shown in the internet, you’ll bet your ass it will get copied. The player you are watching might not even be the person who created it. Don’t ask him though. lol

Don’t feel that your not being original about your strategy. The game has been out of for awhile not and i’m sure every type of strategy is out already. Your job is to incorporate it in your game. People have realized that copying strategies is part of the game now.
It’s been going on since the beginning of time for any recreational activities. So no need to feel bad.

So what do you do with the Youtube video you are watching?
You list the things in that video that you have seen people do all the time.
From there, go to Practice and pick that character as an opponent.
Record him doing the same thing and then try to see if there is a way to punish or escape it.
Use your main character while doing this so that you can strategize with what move your main has.

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Memory Record Practice
While I do recommend that when you lose in battle that you write down which type of character you lost to, and what moves did you fall for alot ,you can just remember. It’s just easier if you got a notebook although I understand if you think it is weird.

Memory practice is the same thing as Youtube Practice. Just remember what moves you kept falling for and record the opponent doing the same move.

Example:
Back in the early days of SFIV, I kept falling for Ryu’s d.mk, hadoken.
I thought this was a godly move, I lost to many Ryu’s because of their spacing.
I saw in a video that if Ryu does d.mk far away and still continue with a hadoken, it can be interrupted with an EX move.
Try it out and you’ll see.

Record Ryu to do d.mk, d.mk, hadoken.
Block the 2 d.mk and react on hadoken.
With your character, if they can, do an advancing EX move.
It will go through the Fireball.

With Vega: EX Flipkick
With Bison: EX Scissor
I’d display more but I can confirm with these characters, you’ll have to find what the others can do.

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In conclusion, there are many ways to practice.
You shouldn’t limit yourself to just practicing combos or strategies repeatedly.
It’s great that you are ready with your Character but how about being ready for the character you are about to face. In Boxing, Boxers watch old footage of their next opponent to strategize what to do about certain moves. That’s how they get ready. Video Games is no different, you have to be ready so take advantage of what the Internet and the Game Makers has provided us.

Always be ready with who you are going to be put against and lean towards the most common used characters first. You’ll likely see them first before the other tiers.

“Practice Leads To Greatness”
NeoRussell