Post by Koda, Master Crunchyroller on Mar 2, 2012 3:10:06 GMT -5
This has been a rather.....unfortunate......big story in the gaming media the last few days, the topic of sexual harassment in the fighting game community.
Competitive Gamer’s Inflammatory Comments Spark Sexual Harassment Debate [Update]
This Is What A Gamer’s Sexual Harassment Looks Like
Sexual Harassment is a Joke to These Fighting Game Fans [Update]
Fighting Game Community’s Leading Voice Calls for Accountability and Respect in Sexual Harassment Fallout
Coach, Not Community, is to Blame as Female Fighter Strikes Back in Sexual Harassment Controversy
Now I know some of you guys are really into fighting games/part of the community, so please tell me you aren't like these grade-A assholes.......
Competitive Gamer’s Inflammatory Comments Spark Sexual Harassment Debate [Update]
Competitive fighting gamer Aris Bakhtanians has prompted some ire with inflammatory comments he made during a recent episode of Capcom's "Cross Assault." "Cross Assault" is a promotional competitive web-TV series that pits a team of Tekken players against a team of Street Fighter players. On the show, Bakhtanians made remarks about the entrenched sexism in the fighting game scene, and how it was fine if things never changed.
Giant Bomb's Patrick Klepek has posted a thorough story on the matter. Included in the story is a transcript of Bakhtanians from one one of the episodes. His response when asked, "Can I get my Street Fighter without sexual harassment?":
You can't. You can't because they're one and the same thing. This is a community that's, you know, 15 or 20 years old, and the sexual harassment is part of a culture, and if you remove that from the fighting game community, it's not the fighting game community—it's StarCraft. There's nothing wrong with StarCraft if you enjoy it, and there's nothing wrong with anything about eSports, but why would you want just one flavor of ice cream, you know? There's eSports for people who like eSports, and there's fighting games for people who like spicy food and like to have fun. There's no reason to turn them into the same thing, you know?
Later, when asked about whether shouting "Rape that bitch!" at a match is acceptable behavior, Bakhtanians replied, "Look, man. What is unacceptable about that? There's nothing unacceptable about that. These are people, we're in America, man, this isn't North Korea. We can say what we want. People get emotional."
The Giant Bomb story also shares some of the reactions and discussion generated during the program, including responses from one of one of the female competitors on the show, Miranda "Super_Yan" Pakozdi. Pakozdi voiced disappointment about the events of the day on Twitter, though she eventually deleted the tweets.
Capcom has apologized for Bakhtanians' comments in a statement to Giant Bomb, stating, "The views and opinions expressed by cast members in the live internet program 'Cross Assault' do not reflect those of Capcom. As a company, Capcom believes that everyone should be treated with respect. This particular issue was brought to our attention and has been addressed. We sincerely apologize to anyone that was offended by any comments expressed during the show."
(Update: This story initially stated that Bakhtanians talked about the entrenched sexism and racism of the fighting-game scene, when he actually just equated the scene's sexism to racism more broadly. It has been updated.)
(Second Update: The Penny Arcade Report's Ben Kuchera has also written an extensive story on the matter, providing a good amount of additional context.)
2/29 Update: Bakhtanians has posted the following response to Twitter:
I understand that I said some controversial statements on the Cross Assault show, and a lot of people are deeply offended with what was said. When I made these statements, I was very heated as I felt that the culture of a scene I have been a part of for over 15 years was being threatened. I unfortunately used extreme examples in the heat of the moment and feel that my statements don't actually communicate how I feel. This is similar to what people say when they get into an argument with their girlfriend, and they say things that they deeply regret. I sincerely apologise if I have offended anyone. My statements do not reflect those of Capcom or myself. The last thing I want to do is get them in trouble for giving me and the fighting game community the opportunity to have an amazing show like this.
What I was trying to communicate is that mild hostility has always been a defining characteristic of the fighting game scene. Back when arcades were more prevalent, people didn't like newcomers, and players needed to fight and pay their dues to get respect. The debate I was in was with a person who supported professional leagues, who have intent to censor the community to make it more accessible. I think the sink or swim mentality is something that defined our culture, and if that succeeds it removes something which has been important to help create some of the best fighting game players of our time. I was unfortunately unable to make this point clearly. Again, I am deeply sorry for offending anyone. This was a combination of the people taking things out of context and my own inability in the heat of the moment to defend myself and the community I have loved for over 15 years.
Aris
Giant Bomb's Patrick Klepek has posted a thorough story on the matter. Included in the story is a transcript of Bakhtanians from one one of the episodes. His response when asked, "Can I get my Street Fighter without sexual harassment?":
You can't. You can't because they're one and the same thing. This is a community that's, you know, 15 or 20 years old, and the sexual harassment is part of a culture, and if you remove that from the fighting game community, it's not the fighting game community—it's StarCraft. There's nothing wrong with StarCraft if you enjoy it, and there's nothing wrong with anything about eSports, but why would you want just one flavor of ice cream, you know? There's eSports for people who like eSports, and there's fighting games for people who like spicy food and like to have fun. There's no reason to turn them into the same thing, you know?
Later, when asked about whether shouting "Rape that bitch!" at a match is acceptable behavior, Bakhtanians replied, "Look, man. What is unacceptable about that? There's nothing unacceptable about that. These are people, we're in America, man, this isn't North Korea. We can say what we want. People get emotional."
The Giant Bomb story also shares some of the reactions and discussion generated during the program, including responses from one of one of the female competitors on the show, Miranda "Super_Yan" Pakozdi. Pakozdi voiced disappointment about the events of the day on Twitter, though she eventually deleted the tweets.
Capcom has apologized for Bakhtanians' comments in a statement to Giant Bomb, stating, "The views and opinions expressed by cast members in the live internet program 'Cross Assault' do not reflect those of Capcom. As a company, Capcom believes that everyone should be treated with respect. This particular issue was brought to our attention and has been addressed. We sincerely apologize to anyone that was offended by any comments expressed during the show."
(Update: This story initially stated that Bakhtanians talked about the entrenched sexism and racism of the fighting-game scene, when he actually just equated the scene's sexism to racism more broadly. It has been updated.)
(Second Update: The Penny Arcade Report's Ben Kuchera has also written an extensive story on the matter, providing a good amount of additional context.)
2/29 Update: Bakhtanians has posted the following response to Twitter:
I understand that I said some controversial statements on the Cross Assault show, and a lot of people are deeply offended with what was said. When I made these statements, I was very heated as I felt that the culture of a scene I have been a part of for over 15 years was being threatened. I unfortunately used extreme examples in the heat of the moment and feel that my statements don't actually communicate how I feel. This is similar to what people say when they get into an argument with their girlfriend, and they say things that they deeply regret. I sincerely apologise if I have offended anyone. My statements do not reflect those of Capcom or myself. The last thing I want to do is get them in trouble for giving me and the fighting game community the opportunity to have an amazing show like this.
What I was trying to communicate is that mild hostility has always been a defining characteristic of the fighting game scene. Back when arcades were more prevalent, people didn't like newcomers, and players needed to fight and pay their dues to get respect. The debate I was in was with a person who supported professional leagues, who have intent to censor the community to make it more accessible. I think the sink or swim mentality is something that defined our culture, and if that succeeds it removes something which has been important to help create some of the best fighting game players of our time. I was unfortunately unable to make this point clearly. Again, I am deeply sorry for offending anyone. This was a combination of the people taking things out of context and my own inability in the heat of the moment to defend myself and the community I have loved for over 15 years.
Aris
This Is What A Gamer’s Sexual Harassment Looks Like
One competitive gamer's inflammatory comments in support of sexual harassment set off a firestorm of drama in the gaming world yesterday. This video makes things seem even worse.
In a recent interview, competitive gamer Aris Bakhtanians said "sexual harassment is part of [the] culture" in the fighting game community, where players compete in titles like Street Fighter and Tekken for fortune and fame.
This footage, shot on February 23 and brought to our attention today by an anonymous tipster, shows Bakhtanians shooting some lewd remarks at fellow gamer Miranda "Super_Yan" Pakozdi. He takes control of the camera and spends a whole lot of time focusing it on Pakozdi, who appears to be the only woman in the room. He focuses on her butt and breasts, shooing people away when they block his view. He also makes some comments about her feet and thighs that may seem out of line to, well, anybody.
Later in the video, Bakhtanians moves over to Pakozdi and starts talking to her while she plays the game. She is visibly uncomfortable. After a minute or so, she says she has to go to the bathroom.
Creepy stuff.
Bakhtanians has issued a statement via Twitter in response to the uproar generated by his comments.
In a recent interview, competitive gamer Aris Bakhtanians said "sexual harassment is part of [the] culture" in the fighting game community, where players compete in titles like Street Fighter and Tekken for fortune and fame.
This footage, shot on February 23 and brought to our attention today by an anonymous tipster, shows Bakhtanians shooting some lewd remarks at fellow gamer Miranda "Super_Yan" Pakozdi. He takes control of the camera and spends a whole lot of time focusing it on Pakozdi, who appears to be the only woman in the room. He focuses on her butt and breasts, shooing people away when they block his view. He also makes some comments about her feet and thighs that may seem out of line to, well, anybody.
Later in the video, Bakhtanians moves over to Pakozdi and starts talking to her while she plays the game. She is visibly uncomfortable. After a minute or so, she says she has to go to the bathroom.
Creepy stuff.
Bakhtanians has issued a statement via Twitter in response to the uproar generated by his comments.
Sexual Harassment is a Joke to These Fighting Game Fans [Update]
Apparently, it's okay to make fun of sexual harassment in the fighting games community. That's what happened last night, as one of the biggest fighting game streaming broadcasts mocked the controversy that followed an episode of Capcom's "Cross Assault" web series.
Wednesday Night Fights, produced by Level|Up and sponsored by fighting game mecca Shoryuken, aired an episode where you can hear the commentators start referencing harassment at 0:24 in the video above. At 1:24, you hear "Giant Bomb can write an article", an allusion to journalist Patrick Klepek's coverage of comments made by Aris Bakhtanians. The clip above comes from last night's Wednesday Night Fights broadcast that can be seen here.
The defensiveness on display doesn't do much to quiet criticism of the hostile environment that many say exists in the fighting game scene.
The genre's enthusiasts say they deserve respect. It's their passion for video games' various martial arts franchises that keeps the entire category viable. Devotees of Street Fighter, SoulCalibur and Tekken go deep into their games of choice, learning movesets, teaching each other strategies and meticulously cataloguing changes from one iteration of a release to another. And when they feel like they're getting nickel-and-dimed with incomplete games that get filled out with paid DLC, they'll hold a publisher's feet to the fire.
But they haven't learned to take criticism.
Adherents talk about The Scene or The Community with reverence, citing their devotion and years of dedication. Here's what the mission statement says on the Level|Up website:
Level|Up actively works to improve the cohesion, collaboration, and awareness of local and worldwide communities by focusing on elements that are socially accepted; gaming and entertainment.
Level|Up brings a positive recreational atmosphere in gaming with others at events such as Wednesday Night Fights, Specialists, and premier tournaments. These events help defeat society's video game pessimisms through infallible community appreciation, acceptance, and encouragement to any generation of gamers.
Wednesday Nights Fights is a gathering where friends, new comers, and veterans grind out the highest quality fighting game competition Southern California has to offer.
You can't use the "just having fun" excuse when you want to be taken seriously. And with tournaments, prize money and recognition, partcipants do want to be taken seriously. Sexist macho posturing doesn't deserve respect. Skills get you respect.
Denouncements from on high, like the one Capcom issued yesterday, work on a symbolic level but there's very little trickle-down to the actual individuals. The meet-ups and tourneys fighting game players organize feed into a larger ecosystem that goes all the way up to the genre's biggest stage, the EVO Championships.
When harassment gets mocked and excuses get made that sexually and racially demeaning trash talk are just part of a scene, acolytes are really showing that they're not as inclusive as they say they are. Some may go to a gathering to blow off steam or shed social norms and other people of differing genders and races may be showing up to find a welcoming community. If that's not what they find, then ultimately The Scene or Community will wither or, worse, become solely the domain of a surly few. There's nothing positive or infallible about that.
Update:
Level|Up's released the following statement following last night's Wednesday Night Fights stream. In it, they indicate that the commentators who made the controversial remarks won't be back on WNF:
Last night on Wednesday Night Fights (2/29/2012), remarks were said by community commentators that alluded to recent events involving the Fighting Game Community (FGC) and the sexual harassment controversy that surrounds it. From time to time, members of the community will come onto our broadcast to provide match analysis and commentary. These remarks do not reflect the views and opinions of Level | Up or our affiliates, partners, and/or sponsors. It is not Level | Up's intention to make light of sexual harassment nor do we condone it. Level | Up and its staff feel harassment of any form is wrong and that everyone should be treated respectfully.
The community commentators involved express their sincerest apologies for anything they may have said including releasing a statement themselves about the matter:
"I just wanted to say, my views and personal opinions of do not reflect Level | Up, EVO, SRK or the fighting game community and any company in any way. A lot of people know me as the nice but joking guy who doesn't have any bad intentions.
I love this community with all my heart, and I've poured a lot of what I could into this community. I understand now that is it a very heavy topic that should not be lightly talked about. I misjudged a lot of things yesterday and said things I definitely should not have. I have no excuses and I hope everyone looks past this and onto a bright future." - Martin "Marn" Phan
"I want to personally apologize for any comments made during last night's WNF session that may have offended anyone. These were not my intentions. Please understand that any and all things that I say are not at all the views of Level | Up, SRK, EVO, or any other Fighting Game organization. The FGC is the most professional, courteous, and open gaming organization I have ever been involved in, and I apologize if any of my comments have shown an outstanding community in any negative light. I am simply someone who offers my views and commentary on an occasional basis, and if anything I may have said was considered in bad taste, unprofessional, or offensive, I take full personal responsibility for what was said. Again, I sincerely apologize for anything that may have offended anyone; I was simply influenced by the moment, and it should not have happened." - Christian "ETR" Cain
Marn and Christian will not be invited to speak on future Level | Up broadcasts, and are reviewing our selection process for guest commentators. Again, we sincerely apologize if anyone was offended by the remarks said on our recent broadcast. As a company founded by Fighting Game Community members, it is not our intention to paint the scene in this manner; instead we stand by our mission statement and will continue to focus on showcasing the scene in a positive manner - a scene that can be professional, inviting, and competitive.
- Level | Up
Wednesday Night Fights, produced by Level|Up and sponsored by fighting game mecca Shoryuken, aired an episode where you can hear the commentators start referencing harassment at 0:24 in the video above. At 1:24, you hear "Giant Bomb can write an article", an allusion to journalist Patrick Klepek's coverage of comments made by Aris Bakhtanians. The clip above comes from last night's Wednesday Night Fights broadcast that can be seen here.
The defensiveness on display doesn't do much to quiet criticism of the hostile environment that many say exists in the fighting game scene.
The genre's enthusiasts say they deserve respect. It's their passion for video games' various martial arts franchises that keeps the entire category viable. Devotees of Street Fighter, SoulCalibur and Tekken go deep into their games of choice, learning movesets, teaching each other strategies and meticulously cataloguing changes from one iteration of a release to another. And when they feel like they're getting nickel-and-dimed with incomplete games that get filled out with paid DLC, they'll hold a publisher's feet to the fire.
But they haven't learned to take criticism.
Adherents talk about The Scene or The Community with reverence, citing their devotion and years of dedication. Here's what the mission statement says on the Level|Up website:
Level|Up actively works to improve the cohesion, collaboration, and awareness of local and worldwide communities by focusing on elements that are socially accepted; gaming and entertainment.
Level|Up brings a positive recreational atmosphere in gaming with others at events such as Wednesday Night Fights, Specialists, and premier tournaments. These events help defeat society's video game pessimisms through infallible community appreciation, acceptance, and encouragement to any generation of gamers.
Wednesday Nights Fights is a gathering where friends, new comers, and veterans grind out the highest quality fighting game competition Southern California has to offer.
You can't use the "just having fun" excuse when you want to be taken seriously. And with tournaments, prize money and recognition, partcipants do want to be taken seriously. Sexist macho posturing doesn't deserve respect. Skills get you respect.
Denouncements from on high, like the one Capcom issued yesterday, work on a symbolic level but there's very little trickle-down to the actual individuals. The meet-ups and tourneys fighting game players organize feed into a larger ecosystem that goes all the way up to the genre's biggest stage, the EVO Championships.
When harassment gets mocked and excuses get made that sexually and racially demeaning trash talk are just part of a scene, acolytes are really showing that they're not as inclusive as they say they are. Some may go to a gathering to blow off steam or shed social norms and other people of differing genders and races may be showing up to find a welcoming community. If that's not what they find, then ultimately The Scene or Community will wither or, worse, become solely the domain of a surly few. There's nothing positive or infallible about that.
Update:
Level|Up's released the following statement following last night's Wednesday Night Fights stream. In it, they indicate that the commentators who made the controversial remarks won't be back on WNF:
Last night on Wednesday Night Fights (2/29/2012), remarks were said by community commentators that alluded to recent events involving the Fighting Game Community (FGC) and the sexual harassment controversy that surrounds it. From time to time, members of the community will come onto our broadcast to provide match analysis and commentary. These remarks do not reflect the views and opinions of Level | Up or our affiliates, partners, and/or sponsors. It is not Level | Up's intention to make light of sexual harassment nor do we condone it. Level | Up and its staff feel harassment of any form is wrong and that everyone should be treated respectfully.
The community commentators involved express their sincerest apologies for anything they may have said including releasing a statement themselves about the matter:
"I just wanted to say, my views and personal opinions of do not reflect Level | Up, EVO, SRK or the fighting game community and any company in any way. A lot of people know me as the nice but joking guy who doesn't have any bad intentions.
I love this community with all my heart, and I've poured a lot of what I could into this community. I understand now that is it a very heavy topic that should not be lightly talked about. I misjudged a lot of things yesterday and said things I definitely should not have. I have no excuses and I hope everyone looks past this and onto a bright future." - Martin "Marn" Phan
"I want to personally apologize for any comments made during last night's WNF session that may have offended anyone. These were not my intentions. Please understand that any and all things that I say are not at all the views of Level | Up, SRK, EVO, or any other Fighting Game organization. The FGC is the most professional, courteous, and open gaming organization I have ever been involved in, and I apologize if any of my comments have shown an outstanding community in any negative light. I am simply someone who offers my views and commentary on an occasional basis, and if anything I may have said was considered in bad taste, unprofessional, or offensive, I take full personal responsibility for what was said. Again, I sincerely apologize for anything that may have offended anyone; I was simply influenced by the moment, and it should not have happened." - Christian "ETR" Cain
Marn and Christian will not be invited to speak on future Level | Up broadcasts, and are reviewing our selection process for guest commentators. Again, we sincerely apologize if anyone was offended by the remarks said on our recent broadcast. As a company founded by Fighting Game Community members, it is not our intention to paint the scene in this manner; instead we stand by our mission statement and will continue to focus on showcasing the scene in a positive manner - a scene that can be professional, inviting, and competitive.
- Level | Up
Fighting Game Community’s Leading Voice Calls for Accountability and Respect in Sexual Harassment Fallout
Shoryuken, one of the most respected voices in the fighting game community, has called upon its readers and followers to deal honestly with questions of misogyny and sexual harassment, following sexist match commentary on a controversy that has roiled the fighting game community for a second day.
"If we continue to let the worst elements in the scene speak for us or excuse their bad behavior, we deserve whatever criticism we get," Shoryuken's Inkblot wrote today. "It's everyone's responsibility: the players, the content producers, the tournament organizers, and the fans. We need to be just as serious about the way we treat each other and how we reach out to others online as we are about the game."
The writer was addressing the fallout from a recent episode of "Wednesday Night Fights," which Shoryuken sponsors. Commentators Christian "ETR" Cain and Martin "Marn" Phan both disparaged the coverage of remarks and conduct by competitive gamer Aris Bakhtanians, in which he proclaimed that sexual harassment was a part of the fighting game culture, and took control of a camera at competitive event as if to prove the point, zooming it in on a female competitor's bust and buttocks.
Cain and Phan both apologized for their remarks and show producer Level | Up said neither would be welcomed back to comment in the future.
"A live video stream is the worst possible medium for this kind of hateful talk," Inkblot wrote today. "A few hundred people attended WNF, but over 14,000 tuned in online. Our online presence is the face of the community. It is our recruiting tool."
In a column yesterday, Inkblot allowed that "there is a grain of truth to what Aris is saying, because frankly a lot of players use the scene as a cocoon where they can shed the usual social decencies and behave badly.
However, Inkblot immediately added that, "I do believe that the scene can be an unwelcoming environment for women. Some of this is due to the game's natural, high-strung competitive vibe, but a lot of it is just crass behavior that you would not get away with outside of our male-dominated boy's club."
Today, as the controversy crested a second time with the Wednesday Night Fights commentary, Inkblot called the matter a moral imperative for fighting game enthusiasts.
"We cannot continue to let ignorant, hateful speech slide. The nasty undercurrent in the scene isn't a joke or a meme," Inkblot continued. "It's something we need to fix if we expect to continue to grow, but more importantly it's a moral imperative. I don't want to be a part of a group where it's ok to bully or make fun of others, and I hope you don't either."
This has been an awful day for one of gaming's proudest and longest tenured communities, and we've certainly been vocal in condemning the sexist and exclusionary behavior of some of its most visible members. That said, Shoryuken deserves commendation, as a marshal of the fighting game community, for taking a stand against obnoxious behavior and demanding an end to it.
"If we continue to let the worst elements in the scene speak for us or excuse their bad behavior, we deserve whatever criticism we get," Shoryuken's Inkblot wrote today. "It's everyone's responsibility: the players, the content producers, the tournament organizers, and the fans. We need to be just as serious about the way we treat each other and how we reach out to others online as we are about the game."
The writer was addressing the fallout from a recent episode of "Wednesday Night Fights," which Shoryuken sponsors. Commentators Christian "ETR" Cain and Martin "Marn" Phan both disparaged the coverage of remarks and conduct by competitive gamer Aris Bakhtanians, in which he proclaimed that sexual harassment was a part of the fighting game culture, and took control of a camera at competitive event as if to prove the point, zooming it in on a female competitor's bust and buttocks.
Cain and Phan both apologized for their remarks and show producer Level | Up said neither would be welcomed back to comment in the future.
"A live video stream is the worst possible medium for this kind of hateful talk," Inkblot wrote today. "A few hundred people attended WNF, but over 14,000 tuned in online. Our online presence is the face of the community. It is our recruiting tool."
In a column yesterday, Inkblot allowed that "there is a grain of truth to what Aris is saying, because frankly a lot of players use the scene as a cocoon where they can shed the usual social decencies and behave badly.
However, Inkblot immediately added that, "I do believe that the scene can be an unwelcoming environment for women. Some of this is due to the game's natural, high-strung competitive vibe, but a lot of it is just crass behavior that you would not get away with outside of our male-dominated boy's club."
Today, as the controversy crested a second time with the Wednesday Night Fights commentary, Inkblot called the matter a moral imperative for fighting game enthusiasts.
"We cannot continue to let ignorant, hateful speech slide. The nasty undercurrent in the scene isn't a joke or a meme," Inkblot continued. "It's something we need to fix if we expect to continue to grow, but more importantly it's a moral imperative. I don't want to be a part of a group where it's ok to bully or make fun of others, and I hope you don't either."
This has been an awful day for one of gaming's proudest and longest tenured communities, and we've certainly been vocal in condemning the sexist and exclusionary behavior of some of its most visible members. That said, Shoryuken deserves commendation, as a marshal of the fighting game community, for taking a stand against obnoxious behavior and demanding an end to it.
Coach, Not Community, is to Blame as Female Fighter Strikes Back in Sexual Harassment Controversy
The fighter inside the controversy that stirred allegations of sexism and misogyny in fighting video games says that its community, fans and star performers do not deserve the collective blame they have endured, and vows that she will not leave her sport despite the alienating remarks of the man who once coached her.
Miranda Pakozdi, who apparently forfeited a match in protest during the Web-broadcast "Cross Assault" competition, singled out her Tekken team coach Aris Bakhtanians for blame in starting a bitter two-day conflict that has roiled passions among fighting game fans and professional contestants in reports by the specialty press.
Moreover, Pakozdi condemned media reports—including Kotaku's by name—that seemed to blame the fighting game culture at large for the ugly incident and the uncomfortable discussion of it.
"The fact is one person, with the assistance of a few stream monsters, brought me to my breaking point," said Pakozi, in extended remarks published via Twitter late Thursday. "Maybe some people (like the people who wrote the @kotaku article) don't understand that it was just one person who did this to me. I understand it looks like this is the FGC [fighting game community's] fault, I felt that way too until I got home and had a couple days to process everything that happened.
"I was so appalled at what Aris said on the 5th night that I could not stop crying, the next day I made the decision to leave because of it," Pakozdi said. "But that night, and every minute since then, I've received hundreds of comments/tweets from people both in and out of the [fighting game community] supporting me. Those people outnumber Aris like 200-1."
At bottom, "the only people who could make me feel part of the FGC again was the FGC," Pakozdi said. "All the support made me realize that only one person has wronged me, not the entire FGC."
Bakhtanians—her team's coach—"doesn't represent the entire community," Pakozdi said. "I'm not ever leaving. See you at NCR."
NCR is the Northern California Regionals, one of the premier fighting video game tournaments in North America. It will be held March 24-25.
Miranda Pakozdi, who apparently forfeited a match in protest during the Web-broadcast "Cross Assault" competition, singled out her Tekken team coach Aris Bakhtanians for blame in starting a bitter two-day conflict that has roiled passions among fighting game fans and professional contestants in reports by the specialty press.
Moreover, Pakozdi condemned media reports—including Kotaku's by name—that seemed to blame the fighting game culture at large for the ugly incident and the uncomfortable discussion of it.
"The fact is one person, with the assistance of a few stream monsters, brought me to my breaking point," said Pakozi, in extended remarks published via Twitter late Thursday. "Maybe some people (like the people who wrote the @kotaku article) don't understand that it was just one person who did this to me. I understand it looks like this is the FGC [fighting game community's] fault, I felt that way too until I got home and had a couple days to process everything that happened.
"I was so appalled at what Aris said on the 5th night that I could not stop crying, the next day I made the decision to leave because of it," Pakozdi said. "But that night, and every minute since then, I've received hundreds of comments/tweets from people both in and out of the [fighting game community] supporting me. Those people outnumber Aris like 200-1."
At bottom, "the only people who could make me feel part of the FGC again was the FGC," Pakozdi said. "All the support made me realize that only one person has wronged me, not the entire FGC."
Bakhtanians—her team's coach—"doesn't represent the entire community," Pakozdi said. "I'm not ever leaving. See you at NCR."
NCR is the Northern California Regionals, one of the premier fighting video game tournaments in North America. It will be held March 24-25.
Now I know some of you guys are really into fighting games/part of the community, so please tell me you aren't like these grade-A assholes.......
