GamersDailyNews.com just posted an interview with Eric ’Juicebox’ Albino. Juicebox is well known in the community for his podcasts and mimicry of Ultra moves while he's playing.GDN: How did you decide on Abel as your main character in Super Street Fighter IV? Are there any others you use, whether it’s just for fun or as a ’counter-pick’ in matches you might not want to select Abel for?
Juicebox: First of all, I “mesh” with Abel. What I mean by that is after trying all of the characters out and gaining basic proficiency with them, Abel’s style coincided the most with mine. At least, that’s how I feel. Second, I honestly believe that Abel’s mixups are the most dangerous in the game, rivaled only by Akuma. As I mentioned, I have basic proficiency with every character, simply because it is an expedient way to learn matchups. But my favorite characters to play as besides Abel are Cody and Juri.
Although I had myself pegged as a character specialist, meaning I would never counter-pick no matter what, I used Juri at SCR, and almost used her against Mike Ross, but decided against it. Juri has similar weaknesses to Abel (slow walk speed, vulnerable to throws), but her strengths are on a different wavelength. I thoroughly enjoy playing as her, partly because of her alluring and psychotic nature, but also because it allows me to play two vastly different styles in one match; relentless grappling or methodical zoning. Expect to see more of her in the future.
GDN: You recently entered into a sponsorship deal with Borderland Gaming. What’s it like being a sponsored player? What are the benefits, and what do they expect from you in return? Can you tell us anything about the process of becoming sponsored?
Juicebox: Being sponsored is just like any other job. You expect things from your employer and they expect things from you. I get to go to lots of tournaments, but I also need to promote the brand. This can be done in numerous ways, but the simplest is getting consistent tournament results. When it comes to getting sponsored initially, it’s much the same as any opportunity you come across in life; sometimes you find it, and sometimes it finds you. There’s really not much more to it than that.
Sooooo, i guess diago isnt a real man? or did he not break out guile and body mago? Counterpicking is part of the game and shouldnt be looked down on. Think about it, to successfully counter pick u need to be good with the character u choose or ur still gonna lose, so in a way if u wanna counter pick u need to master multi character which takes more time and skill to do.
I agree with all that u said..but when matchup become something like 3-7,counterpick hurts there..!
@ chickenwings
You don't even know why Daigo played with Guile. I could explain it to you, but i'm sure you have your opinion and that's that. But he didn't play Guile to counterpick.
He could've counterpicked against Filipino Champ with Cammy, but he didn't do that. He stayed with Ryu in that fight, there's a reason for that.
@ SAMURAI
Regardless of chickenwings' presumed opinion, for the sake of everyone else, won't you share your explanation on why Daigo chose Guile?
I have no opinion one way or other on counterpicking; I'm way too new to all this (street fighter versus stuff).
But I am interested to hear different views, backed up with arguments when possible, on the matter.
@ NowUhavetoJoinMyDojo
Daigo plays allot of tournaments in Japan and USA. When Daigo plays in Japan or USA he plays with Ryu, his best character. For people in Japan and USA seeing Daigo isn't so special anymore, They want the best, so he plays with his best character.
When Daigo plays in places like Australia and Canada, it doesn't matter what he plays. Everyone is happy to see Daigo. So he can play with whoever he wants. In this tournament he played mostly with Guile. He's extremely good with Guile, but it's not his best character.
I mean he plays the whole finals with Guile and people call him a counterpicker. It makes me sick. Mago played with Fei Long, Sagat, Balrog, he tried everything and he still couldn't win. Daigo deserves all the respect, he proved that he is still the best Street Fighter player in the world.
@ coknballs
The commentators were a joke. Some of them called Mago Meigo the whole tournament. And you take them serious? You should know better than that.
And if it is so simple to walk back and throw Sonic Booms, why don't you go to a tournament and try to beat all the top players like that? Did you miss Daigo's Godlike air grabs? Common man that timing was insane.
Pros go to tournys to win money... of course they will counterpick.
It was one of Mago's first tourneys. I think he just wanted to feel the freedom of not having to stick with one character. ^o^
I may sound like a Mago dckrider, but I have a feeling he dropped the match against Daigo in the grand finals. :P
Not counter picking in a tournament that allow it is like getting into a boxing fight with one arm tied behind your back.
However, relying too much on counter-picking is detrimental because you still have to win when other people counter-pick against you or when you join tournaments that don't allow counter picking.
It's there to help the players but it is up to the players to use the privilege responsibly.
Well isn't that the whole reason Ultra 2 was added to sort of prevent counter-picking?
• Mago (Fei Long) beat Daigo Umehara (Ryu) 10-3.
From Godsgarden 2, and there was big money on this tournament, so no, SAMURAI, just no.
Daigo can't deal with Mago's Fei with Ryu, so he switched to a better matchup, and there's nothing wrong with that, he's a tournament player.
I think you guys should keep in mind that during SF4, he loved fighting against mago's sagat because of the challenge. If daigo is counterpicking then perhaps it's a really really bad matchup, mago's fei does make his ryu look really free.
The second Ultra can only do so much as the Ultra themselves aren't that important. Normal and specials determine matchups.
As long as the majority of players favor having counter-picking, it is not going away anytime soon.
Sad how Juicebox is being ignored so people can argue about Daigo.
@RoggingCamp (#17):
Indeed. Juicebox needs more recognition. :(
this game is all about match-up so diago switch to guile cuz he knows that...
Daigo is cowerd plain and simple
@BADerRules
LOL Coward? Dude, there were 4gs on the line, and Daigo came all the way here from japan. Calling him a coward is beyond stupid. If I walked into a tourniment and found a matchup I couldn't win, damned streight Imma counter pick that ish and get paid.
@17, 20 (and 7)
On the other hand Juicebox might find it a nice department from the usual 'Box bashing about him acting out his ultras, that seems to come out whenever his name is even near a "Post a comment" box.
In any case, I only skimmed the interview, so the most on topic comment I can make is that I enjoy his Street Fighter podcasts. -Even if even his tips are generally too advanced for sad old me. ;)
And SAMURAI, thanks for your explanation.
Whether that's what drove Daigo to change characters or not, I enjoyed seeing Guile in action.
Samurai you are dumb as hell. Daigo played Guile because Mago bodies his ryu for free. He had to pick guile or risk losing.
Keep in mind counter-picking requires you know TWO characters exceptionally well. If your opponent knows his character better than your understanding of your counter-picked character, then obviously you'll still lose.
Counter-picking just evens the odds more, it's nothing set in stone.
*sigh*
EVENTSCRUBS...
this article/thread here is about juicebox and you guys are arguing about daigo and mago here! LOL
now we can tell how many insignific_u_nt d*ckriders and haters are here in eventscrubs!
go to a tourny and play the f*ckn' way how u want it! no need to argue! nuff' said!
but i bet u 90% of the people here are all talk, doesn't even go and play to real event tourny's or even reach top8!
so enough whining to all of the pathetic scrubs here!
Real men never counterpick..good