With rumors nearly always going around here and there about what Capcom will do with the beloved Vs Capcom series, we were lucky to have a chat with Ryan “Filipino Champ” Ramirez and talk about his take on the current state of fighting games, his early career, the glory days of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, what happened with Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite, and what he hopes for in a potential Marvel vs. Capcom 4.
Daily Esports: How did you get started in the FGC? What were the first games you played, first tournaments you entered, etc.? How did you do during those early events?
FChamp: I started playing fighting games, I would say around 2001. The first game was Marvel vs. Capcom 2, First Tournament was NCR (North California Regionals) 2007 or 2008 where I finished 2nd place in a 200 man bracket.
DE: Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 seemed to be the big game for you and jump started your career. What about that game attracted you to it?
FChamp: Yes Marvel 3 was a big game for me, but the game that jump started my career was Super Street Fighter 4. I was able to win SCR (South California Regionals) 2010 by beating Daigo, Justin Wong, and Ricki Ortiz. I love almost everything about UMvC3 because it had depth, rewarded execution, was very fun to watch, and it’s not easy to play.
DE: What did you dislike about UMvC3?
FChamp: I disliked the lack of developer support during its peak.
DE: Street Fighter V has had a rough journey from its initial release until now. How have your feelings on the game changed since it first came out? Do you like it better or worse?
FChamp: I definitely like it better now from its initial release, but to be honest, most top players absolutely hate the game but we have no choice because it’s the only game that Capcom fans can play. It is fun to watch though.
DE: Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite had a lot of potential and we all know what happened after the game’s release. What do you think went wrong with Infinite? Could it have been avoided?
FChamp: Infinite had so much potential but they rushed the product, and you can tell that the game was not polished. Presentation, graphics, audio, character roster, and game mechanics had so many issues that even a game from 2011 like UMvC3 looked way better. The Marvel community deserves better.
DE: Do you still enjoy playing Infinite?
FChamp: I enjoy any Marvel game.
DE: Esports has exploded in recent years and continues to grow. What do you think have been the growing pains of the FGC moving into the larger Esports arena?
FChamp: I think we just need better netcode in our games. The FGC is the only genre that you actually have to do offline tourneys every weekend, regardless of if it’s a weekly or a regional event. It’s almost 2019 and fighting game netcode still sucks. Better netcode equals more players.
DE: Are there any games on the horizon that you are looking forward to playing or competing in?
FChamp: I am hoping for Marvel vs. Capcom 4 and the rumored League of Legends fighting game.
DE: Rumors have popped up recently about a possible Marvel vs. Capcom 4. Either as a rebranded Infinite or a completely new title. If it were up to you, what would you like to see in a new Marvel vs. Capcom game?
FChamp: I would like it to be 3 versus 3 with assists. How do you go from MvC2 to MvC3 to UMvC3 which were all 3 versus 3 with assists, and then go to 2 versus 2 with no assists? Look at Dragon Ball FighterZ, they copied that system and it’s an absolute success. I will never understand Capcom or Marvel’s decision to deviate from a winning strategy that has been working for over a decade. I would also like the iconic X-Men characters to be back in the roster. It’s just not the same to play a Marvel game without Magneto, Wolverine, Storm, and Sentinel.
A big thanks to FChamp for taking the time to speak with us. You can follow FChamp on Twitter at@fchampryan and on Twitch at FgtvLive.
