Hiya!

And a special how-do-you-do to Tomoko Hiroki and the other fine folks over at Arc System Works, purveyor of fantastic looking anime fighting games like Guilty Gear. Boy, have I got a big favor to ask of you… but it is a favor that would be of mutual benefit between the two of us. That favor is that I hope you consider adding me as one of the lucky people who will be allowed to enter the closed beta test of your stunningly beautiful upcoming fighting game, Dragon Ball FighterZ.

I know most of the closed beta test slots are probably going to go to the really hardcore players out there. I totally understand that you’re going to prioritize the likes of Justin Wong, ChrisG, Maximillian, Ogawa, Dogura and others in the professional fighting game scene. Those guys, after all, are the best guys to get data from as they can really delve into the mechanics of the game and give you real time feedback on how to make Dragon Ball FighterZ the best 3-vs-3 tag team fighting game out there. So, what can a no name blogger out there be an asset to your beta test? Well, I’m so glad you asked!

First off, I will be upfront and say that, well, I’m not that good at fighting games. I may be familiar with all of them but I’m not all that good at them. In fact, I’m probably the worst your own series of fighting games! As much as I would love to really get good at BlazBlue, Guilty Gear and Persona 4 Arena, they’re just really technical and there’s a lot of things to keep track off. There are just so many movement options like super jumping, double jumping, running dashes and more. Then there are things like purple throws, fatal counters, rapid cancels, Bursts and more. It’s a lot to wrap my head around and, unfortunately, I can’t seem to do it.

This is probably why the only real fighting game I’ve gotten really good at is Street Fighter, starting with the fourth game in that series. Capcom fans may hate me for saying this but Street Fighter IV and V have very simplistic game mechanics. Those games are not overloaded with game mechanics, which is probably why a lot of newbies like gravitate towards that series. But I will say that I’m actually fairly good at Street Fighter V. Right now, I have an Ultra Silver rank, which is a decent rank.

I will also say that I’m not all that good with another Capcom fighter, Marvel vs. Capcom 3 but I am extremely familiar with that game’s mechanics. I actually enjoy watching that game be played at a high level much more than actually playing it. And, from the looks of your upcoming Dragon Ball FighterZ gameplay footage, it looks like you’re heavily borrowing that game’s overall hectic and crazy style, which I know I’ll like! And I mean the craziness from Marvel vs. Capcom 3, not that rather tame and slow looking upcoming Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite.

So, why would I be a good candidate to beta test your upcoming Dragon Ball FighterZ when I’m explicitly stating that I’m probably not going to be good at it? Well, just because I’m going to suck at it badly doesn’t mean I can’t have fun with it, right? In fact, isn’t that one of your target audiences for this game, Arc Sys? Newbies who just want to play a good game? In fact, you specifically mentioned that you guys and gals are adding auto combos so that everyone can play it? Well, that’s pretty much me! I’ll probably not really use them, though, because I do have some kind of pride… Probably. Maybe.

Also, I’ve noted that the beta test sign ups are only going to be for 3 specific locations: Europe, USA and Japan. Now, I know I’m in the Philippines but aren’t I also going to be playing the game online? Okay, I do have a US account but that’s just because Sony hasn’t made a PlayStation Store available for my region, which is silly because most of the gamers who own video gaming consoles have PlayStations… but that’s not your concern. What I’m trying to say is that I still have to ability to beta test the game with my PlayStation USA account.

So Malaysia and Indonesia make it on the list but not the Philippines?

Besides, I’ve already decided to pick up the game once it releases in early 2018 and I’m sure I’m not going to be the only one here in the Philippines and the other countries and continents (Europe is a big place!) that aren’t included in that list you put up. There are going to loads and loads of people who will be wanting to play this game and you know it! Doesn’t that mean you should be testing the groups outside those 3 areas? You agree with me, don’t you? Well, it just so happens that I’m not in the United States, Europe or Japan! And I’m really willing to help testing the game… if you just let me in the beta testing.

In fact, I don’t really care which location! You want me to test on the Japan servers? I’ll go create a Japan account right now! Europe? Same deal! You might be worried if I can actually enter during those slim testing windows you will open up. I can probably swing it no problem because they’re all happening over the weekend. I’ll be ready and able during those timeframes with bells on!

So, Tomoko Hiroki and the rest of the Arc System Works folks, I hope I made a successful pitch and you are just itching to welcome me on board! Just tell me the time and place (and what kind of PlayStation account I need to open) and I’ll be ready!

Would you want to beta test Dragon Ball FighterZ? Of course you would! But what do you think of the game so far? Let me know in the comment section below!