KOF Community Growth and Outreach

[Mikel]

An interesting topic I found over at Dream Cancel on how to help the KOF community grow. It is such a great read and I thought that I will forward it here.

I wanted to make this thread to discuss strats about helping to grow the KOF scene locally and globally.

With EVO 2k12 and how much hype was shown at the KOF finals, (easily the hypest finals this year) now is the time to push the game even harder since it's there is so much momentum for it.

These are some things off the top of my head that we need to ACTIVELY do in order to get more people to play this game.

1. Exposure

We need to keep streaming, talking about the game, having tournaments. Anything to put the game into the public eye. People will eventually think, "let's give it a try" or "this game looks awesome!".
With this exposure also it will give more opportunities for hype moments that can reel people in. The daigo parry probably has brought in tons of players, so we need to have more opportunities to make those kinds of moments

2. Positive reinforcement

Like we've been doing so far, we need to keep saying how good the game is, how balanced it is, how it helps you grow as a player, how FUN it is. This will help with people who are on the fence about picking it up, they will agree and realize they are making a good decision by picking up this game. We also need to mention more that this game isn't as hard as people make it out to be. (Although the game is difficult, it's not the hardest game in the world)

3. Educate

We need to teach people about this game in easy and accessible ways, so people don't feel like it's impossible to improve. Also we need to sacrifice some of our session time to teach/guide new players. As much as we'd like to constantly play good high level matches to improve, spending time with newcomers is important to make them feel welcome and also to give them the feeling that they can succeed with our help. (Eventually these guys can come up to your own level and increase the competitive pool size)

4. Accessibility

We need to provide players with places/sessions to play. If you can even only have 3 people at your house at max, do it! bring in someone new if you can. band together, find a venue you can all split a cost for or something. people need to PLAY the game with the community to get into it.
(People like superfx on the WC opens his house up to let anyone who wants to play come. DJ Houshen on the EC holding it down with sessions in his own apartment as well)

5. Everyone/Anyone can contribute

Nobody in the community is too small to contribute. Ranging from streaming, providing setups/sticks, even just being there. Figure out something you're willing and able to sacrifice to help the community grow. No matter how small it may be, it makes a difference.


All these things are EXTRA WORK for all of us. But I believe if we can follow through, we can become the best subsect of all the FGC and a shining example for other communities to follow. We do this for the love of the game and the community!

Please join in the discussion, give us more ideas we can use. Or tell us what you can contribute to your local scene (Posting it here can help you to GET UP AND ACTUALLY DO IT). Feel free to ask questions on how to grow your local scene or start one.

[Sera]

That's interesting and makes sense, however I don't think it's so easy to put into practice, at least some of those points.

[solidshark]

That's interesting and makes sense, however I don't think it's so easy to put into practice, at least some of those points.

Which points do you think are harder to put into practice?

[Sera]

Which points do you think are harder to put into practice?

Probably, number 4. Time ago, you just needed an arcade near home. There, you could play with your friends, the friends of your friends, acquaintances and even complete strangers (that, then, could become your friends), no time and space problems. Now arcades aren't so widespread anymore, and not everyone is able to bring people to their house. Time and space problems, as I mentioned above. Moreover, people usually live with someone else, who can or can't approve that kind of gatherings.

[geomega]

well i don't want to sound a push over or whatever. but i believe kof is always gonna be the dark corner behind the glamorous building{ street fighter}, no matter how many good sequels and games snk can pull off. think about it, 7 to 8 years ago this forum use to be pack w/ people. now i only see like 7 people posting on this forums. face it. kof had its moments of glory back in the 90's... n it will always have my respects.

[Mai~Crimsonheart]

Geo, you aren't being a push over ... You're shoving your opinion down everyone's throats, and its pissing me off to a major level.

First of all, the title of this thread is the community growth and outreach, not " disappointments and burial ceremonies ", judging by the name one with half a brain would assume that this thread is about positive feedback and discussion. Secondly, You do not know the statistics of the site so don't come and spur bullshit about how only 7 people are active, the number is far greater than one would expect. ( also, i would rather have a few QUALITY members that know how to talk and discuss things on a forum, rather than a large QUANTITY of people that are idiots ). Thirdly, KOF pretty much came out of the gutter this Evo, any blind idiot would see what it does and i won't go into stating the obvious. If you want to be ignorant on purpose and not see what is in front of you even though it is in front of you then I suggest some zen time alone or maybe yoga ...

In conclusion, You scored yourself yet ANOTHER warning. Thats 2 strikes. Third and you are OUT. Since you feel like this community is dying and such and that its so inactive and that everyone here is a KOF fan boy or what not then by all means leave. Dustloop is perfect for BB fanboys, even you. Could try SRK, then again ... SRK isn't strictly being exclusive to SF so you will be seeing KOF there.

[TheDuskwalker]

( also, i would rather have a few QUALITY members that know how to talk and discuss things on a forum, rather than a large QUANTITY of people that are idiots )

Gamefaqs exists for that. x.x

[Don Vecta]

well i don't want to sound a push over or whatever. but i believe kof is always gonna be the dark corner behind the glamorous building{ street fighter}, no matter how many good sequels and games snk can pull off. think about it, 7 to 8 years ago this forum use to be pack w/ people. now i only see like 7 people posting on this forums. face it. kof had its moments of glory back in the 90's... n it will always have my respects.

Trolling anyone?

*sigh* Sometimes I don't even know if I should laugh or facepalm at your comments. Sometimes I do both.
Besides, what's your point in being a hater and still come here? Really, you're wasting your time here if you really dislike KOF and bring negativity instead of DOING SOMETHING FROM THE FIRST POST AND GIVE SOME SUPPORT TO THE GAME! We don't need your negativity!

[JAVH]

geomega, first you must learn USA is not the center of the world, In other countries Capcom is in "the the dark corner" like you think about SNKP.

This is not post about fanboy popularity, if this BB is now died, more than KOF... and if I remember, KOF was more hyped than all Capcom games in last EVO

[geomega]

trust me guys i support snk all the way. thats why my collections are full of snk's stuffs. and whenever a game comes out i'm there in first line getting the game, and hoping the it won't disappoint me. my intentions are not to hurt u people or else i would not be here telling the truth{ my opinion}.  
and why u guys always keep calling me a BB fanboy, i'm not just a blazblue fan. i'm a fighting game fan. and that includes kof.

i also believe that i'm doing a great support by buying snk related stuffs. i mean w/out buyers the company is dead.

i know USA is not the center of attention, i mean kof is really famous in latin america country, so it's BLAZBLUE in europe, and so it's street fighter in HERE{US}.

[Mai~Crimsonheart]

Im sorry to say that you do a very poor job of translating those "feelings". All you seem to translate is passive aggression, negativity. It's like you think you're better because you like something and that we are all inferior freaks because we like a pool of videogames, one of which KOF is included.

Pay attention to how people are reacting you. Every time you say something with the excuse of it being an "opinion" you piss someone off because your attitude comes off as rude, and elitist. I do not know if you are completely lacking socially, a troll thats getting off to pissing people off with attitude, an elitist that feeds off superiority or whatever. When the majority of the people in a site get pissed off at you for stating something, it means that you said something inappropriate. Its an ongoing cycle and the major constant is you.

[Sera]

well i don't want to sound a push over or whatever. but i believe kof is always gonna be the dark corner behind the glamorous building{ street fighter}, no matter how many good sequels and games snk can pull off. think about it, 7 to 8 years ago this forum use to be pack w/ people. now i only see like 7 people posting on this forums. face it. kof had its moments of glory back in the 90's... n it will always have my respects.

I think it's true that Street Fighter is generally considered more popular and that The King of Fighters' popularity peak was in the '90s, but it's also because Capcom is wealthier and can count on more advertising. The King of Fighters can rely only on minor advertising, the real publicity is the actual good quality of their games and the word of mouth of those who liked them. That's the reason of the first post of this thread and the advocacy by choysauce from Dream Cancel, I suppose.

[solidshark]

Probably, number 4. Time ago, you just needed an arcade near home. There, you could play with your friends, the friends of your friends, acquaintances and even complete strangers (that, then, could become your friends), no time and space problems. Now arcades aren't so widespread anymore, and not everyone is able to bring people to their house. Time and space problems, as I mentioned above. Moreover, people usually live with someone else, who can or can't approve that kind of gatherings.

Yeah, I can see how #4 is the hardest to pull off. But it's probably the most important too.

In response to some of Geo's statements, I have to disagree that KOF or SNK was as popular as it was in the 90s. Now, with KOF XIII, is the most popular I've ever seen it. I know I'm comparing one game to a decade's worth of games, but have you ever seen an SNK game so accepted on a national tournament and community level like XIII (I'd love to be proven wrong)?
It's really up to the community whether it ends up in that dark corner. And instead of comparing it to Capcom fighters which of course have the biggest foothold in the US, why not just start with making sure KOF XIII and future games stay relevant? It could easily disappear with as much new competition is coming out.

[Don Vecta]

^ This is exactly what this dude Geo refuses to see: KOF XIII right now is having more notoriety in the mainstream gaming.... or more likely in the English spoken countries, since in Latin America and Asia, the KOF games has been always very popular.

[geomega]

^ This is exactly what this dude Geo refuses to see: KOF XIII right now is having more notoriety in the mainstream gaming.... or more likely in the English spoken countries, since in Latin America and Asia, the KOF games has been always very popular.

i can see it! it just the everywhere u go no one knows whats kof. gamestop, local tournaments, events ectt. i love kof. and I would like it to be as famous as other games.. but i guess giving my opinion it doesn't really matter in this site.

happy to see that after many years kof is getting some recognition at EVO. it deserves it.