Lecture Notes: Sparking Zero as a Competitive Fighting Game

Introduction

• Traditional vs Arena Fighters
  • Debate on whether arena fighters are true fighting games
  • Examples include Sparking Zero, which is often contested in the traditional fighting game community
  • Comparisons to other games like Super Smash Bros.

Question: Is Sparking Zero EVO Worthy?

• Initial skepticism about the game's competitive viability
• Personal experience after a week of play showed similarities with traditional fighting games
• Ongoing indecision about its competitive status

Characteristics of Sparking Zero

• Skill and Tech

  • Like traditional fighting games, it rewards tech skill
  • Players need to master various techniques to improve
  • High skill ceiling demonstrated by experienced players

• Advanced Techniques

  • Feint Dashing, On Block Pressure, Back Catching
  • Movement tech: teleporting behind opponents
  • Advanced combos and cancel techniques

• Option Selects

  • Example: Up + Square leading to a super counter or vanish
  • Emphasis on timing and execution

Comparison with Traditional Fighting Games

• Execution and Neutral Game

  • Execution in Sparking Zero can be demanding
  • Comparisons to advanced techniques in games like Street Fighter 6
  • Misconceptions about mashing and neutral play

• Popularity and Audience

  • Large player base with 110,000 players
  • Comparisons with other popular fighting games

Arguments Against Competitive Viability

• Lack of Balance

  • No balance efforts from developers
  • Character balance issues: Yajirobe vs. Gogeta

• Casual Design

  • Game not designed with competitive intentions
  • Matches can devolve into rhythm game-like play

• Technical Limitations

  • No rollback netcode, only delay-based
  • Lack of cross-play
  • Poor training mode with limited functionality
  • Must buy additional settings for training mode

• Glitches and Bugs

  • Occasional inability to swap teams or use skills

Conclusion

• Current State

  • Game is not suitable for competitive play at EVO
  • Matches often result in timeouts and lack depth

• Potential for Competitive Play

  • Could be viable if balanced correctly
  • Needs improvements in training mode and rollback netcode

• Future Considerations

  • Competitive play possible regardless of balance
  • Decision on EVO status remains open

Final Thoughts

• Community input and feedback are encouraged
• Ongoing discussions about the game's potential in competitive scenes