Daigo Umehara in SPA!

Recently, Daigo Umehara had an article on SPA!, a well-known weekly news magazine in Japan.

Summary
- The title of the article is "Pro gamer job"
- They recognized him as "God of fighting game world" and "Japan's first pro [fighting] gamer."
- Umehara explained what he does as a pro gamer. Winning prize money from tournaments, appearances in events, contract with Mad Catz.
- Although the main target is America, he went to many countries. He said he went abroad probably 11 times last year. He also went to Kuwait. There're offers from South Korea, China, and Thailand as well.
- He talked about Evolution. There're around 5,000 attendees at the venue. He couldn't even see the entrance from the stage.
- He said Evo's prize money for the champion is around $18,000. (Beast Note: probably Evo 2010)
- He doesn't plan to live in America, he wants to stay in Japan where [the competition] is in the world's highest level. To be more specific, Tokyo players are in the highest level. He added that America doesn't have a place [such as game center where high level players come to play together].
- Last year in SSF4 era, he practiced 13 hours a day at home. But this year, it's 6-7 hours a day at the game center.
- They also interviewed Hiroaki Inaba (GODSGARDEN cofounder). The topic was "fighting game tournament boom."
- GODSGARDEN 4 has more unique visitors than Hikaru Utada's concert on Ustream. 450,000 to 345,000.
- Inaba-san said GG is different from other tournaments. It focuses on entertaining rather than looking for whos's the best. The players play important part. And thanks to a player like Daigo Umehara, "to defeat the god" became part of it. He also revealed that the next event will be at the end of this year.

Umehara had an article in Friday Dynamite magazine in April and Tokyo Newspaper last month.

Umehara in Mad Catz TE S JP release news on Famitsu

Mad Catz Japan announced that they will officially release SF4 Fightstick Tournament Edition S in Japan on December 1, as Famitsu reported.

Daigo Umehara says in the press release:

"With its precision, buttons, and lever, Mad Catz arcade controller is the ideal product for pro gamer. Its high durability is also another appeal. It doesn't break easily in a long training."

People who preorder the stick will receive a Mad Catz sticker.

[OMK] Battler

Battler has good normals, Hadoken (Blue Truth), and Shoryuken (Blue Strike). Blue Assault is also a very good move. You can use it after 2 normal jump attacks to make it 3. You can also use it while jumping back.

His Meta Special is one of the best. It can be hit-confirmed or used after a sweep. After that or if you're far enough, you can use it to break opponent's guard or to chip.

	Name	Command
SP version available	Blue Truth	Hadoken (L/M/H)
SP version available	Blue Strike	Shoryuken (L/M/H)
SP version available	Sommelier Finger	Hurricane Kick (L/M/H)
SP version available	Blue Assault	(midair) Hurricane Kick (L/M/H)
Ranbu (cost 2 SP)	Checkmate	qcf x2 >H
Meta Special	Blue Truth That Pierces Through Everything	b+hcf >H

Combo

L>M>H>crH = 636 damage
L*>M>H>crH>Blue Strike = 960 damage
L*>M>H>crH>Sommelier Finger = 960 damage
L*>M>H>crH>SP Blue Truth = 1107 damage (cost 1 SP)
L*>M>H>crH>SP Sommelier Finger = 1120 damage (cost 1 SP) 
L*>M>H>crH>SP Blue Strike = 1176 damage (cost 1 SP)
L*>M>H>crH>Meta>Meta Blue Truth = 1343 damage (cost 1 SP)
L*>M>H>crH>Checkmate = 1216 damage (cost 2 SP)

*Due to damage scaling, if you cut L out damage will increase.

jH>M>crL>crM>fM>H>crH>Blue Strike = 1596 damage
crM>fM>H>crH>Meta>Checkmate>Meta Blue Truth = 1730 = damage (cost 3 SP)

[OMK] Ange

Ange is good in close and long range, because of her command throw, projectile, and Meta Special.

For her Meta Special (See You Again), she will fall on opponent regardless of how far. It's really good as antiair and you can also do it after a sweep. Her Stun Boost ability is one of the best. With the ability on, SYA (or Meta Special of Luficer, Shannon, Kanon, Virgilia, Battler) makes opponent dizzy on a single clean hit.

	Name	Command
	Sakutarou Summon	Hadoken (L/M/H)
SP version available	(after Sakutarou Summon) Go, Sakutarou!	Hadoken (L/M/H)	midair OK
SP version available	Seven Sisters	Shoryuken backward (L/M/H)	must block low for L version
SP version available	Mammon Summon	Hurricane Kick (L/M/H)
SP version available	German Suplex	(near) hcb (L/M/H)	Command Throw
Ranbu (cost 2 SP)	Angelic Rumble	qcf x2 >H
Meta Special	See You Again	b+hcf >H

Combo
L>M>H*>crH* = 621 damage
*This doesn't work on certain characters, so I suggest crL>crM>crH = 385 damage

crL>crM>crH>Meta>See You = 1060 damage + dizzy (cost 1 SP)
crL>crM>crH>Angelic Rumble = 965 damage (cost 2 SP)

sjdH>crL>H>German Suplex = 896 damage
SP Sisters>dash>jGo Sakutarou>L>M>H>Meta>dash>crL>crM>crH>See You = 2143 damage (cost 2 SP)

[OMK] Virgilia

Virgilia is an awesome character, one of the reasons is she can combo from the other side of the screen. Her movement is slow but she is good in any range and is a hard hitter. She has great normals, one of them is a divekick-like attack and she can do it jumping back. Her projectile (Gungnir) does 480 damage.

Her Meta Special (Odin Summon) cannot be hit-confirmed but you can combo after a sweep because (beside as antiair) it also hits falling/knocked down opponent if timing is right. Her Brimful ability is one of the bests.

	Name	Command
	Magic Square	Hadoken (L/M/H)
SP version available	(after Magic Sqare) Crucifixion	Hadoken (L/M/H)	must block low
SP version available	Gungnir	hcf (L/M/H)	midair OK / must block high
SP version available	Goat Servant(s)	Hurricane Kick (L/M/H)	must block high for M version
cost 1 SP	Falling Tower	Down x2 >SP
Ranbu (cost 2 SP)	Magic Item Show	qcf x2 >H
Meta Special	Odin Summon	b+hcf >H

Combo
L>M>H>crH = 660 damage
L>M>H>crH>MIS = 1305 damage (cost 2 SP)
L>M>H>crH>MIS>Meta>Odin = 2070 damage (cost 3 SP)

jH>M>L>M>crM>crH = 999 damage
SP Goat>Magic Square (H)>SP Gungnir>Meta>SP Crucifixion>Odin = 2055 damage (cost 4 SP)

OMKX's systems explained by Sentosu

The official site of Ougon Musou Kyoku X updated yesterday with system explanation videos featuring Sentosu.

Sentosu has lots of followers on Nico Nico. He is well-known from his talk style in his Street Fighter IV gameplay videos. Despite not being a competitive player and does not go to a tournament, Sentosu has 4000 PP on random selection.

Button explanation

System explanation

KSK's new look

KSK paid the prices for losing to his boss by shaving his head, eyebrows, and beard on his stream this evening.

Summary
- Fans sent him electric hair clipper, eyebrows pen, and wig.
- Mariwo (BlazBlue player) helped him.
- He showed Mariwo that he really shaved pubic hair!
- The Boss signed his forehead.