« Evolution 2011 - The Ultimate Recap »

The incredible hype. The astounding energy. EVO 2011 was an overwhelming, and viscerally satisfying fighting game tournament. EVO staff secured the venue and ran the event with ease, while the amazing combination of east and west top streamers, iPlaywinner and Team Spooky delivered the most entertaining media for gamers around the world. For those of you who missed the largest fighting game tournament in the world, in physical numbers, AND in stream viewers, this recap may help you take in the sheer scale of the massive crowd that appeared at this year's Evolution. 

Not a year earlier than the first day of EVO 2011, I was at home, salty, unable to cope with the frustration that I was unable to make it to EVO 2010 for a trip deal that would only cost 150$ total in travel and hotel. I vowed that lighting won't strike twice, so I saved a substantial amount, made the time off 3 months in advance, and prepared for the worst. 

During that previous year, I attended SCR 2010, and watched Karaface do work as a freelance photographer, and I was throughly interested in her work. In some sudden spark though, it wasn't her photography that drew me into the DSLR world, it was her casual video of Justin, Daigo, and friends drinking and having a good time. Movies capture people's emotions in a very different aspect compared to photos, and after seeing the great quality the famous Nikon D7000 produced, I was instantly hooked. I proceeded to invest in a camera of my own, with all the applicable video equipment I would need and use. 

Now, a year later, EVO 2011 rolls around. Getting prepared to record Blazblue matches, help man the secondary stream, AND do some side camerawork, I was slightly overwhelmed at the sheer number of things I had to. One thing I did not expect though, is being in the spotlight, the grand stage for finals at EVO 2011.

Mr. Wizard handed me a pass later Saturday afternoon, and I look down on it, and it said two words- "Stage Access". At first, I was blown away, not only the fact that I was given permission to do this, but the fact that I was not the most experienced videographer, and now I was given free roam to waltz around the stage recording whatever I liked. Like a kid in a candy shop, I went to work. As if it were part of a fairytale, Karaface, the original inspiration was photographing on my right, and the infamous G4TV, televising it on my left. 

This was my first EVO, the year of the biggest EVO in history. It left a huge impact on me, seeing, hearing, and feeling the energy was something uncomparable. EVO 2012 is next!