Top Tier Stigma?

[KrsJin]

I'm just curious how others feel, cause there seems to be a distinct split.

I've always been the type where I play whoever I enjoy or feel I naturally do well with, and for the most part ignore tier listings when deciding who I play. That said however, I have chosen not to play certain characters, knowing full well how the general public views them. i.e. I've been less likely to play a top tier character in the past because some looked down on it.

So the poll is simple. Do you let tiers dictate your choice in any way when choosing characters? Or do you play whoever you damn well feel like playing, regardless of the tier listings?

This applies to all games, and by all means, explain your vote if you want.

What brought this on for me is something rather stupid/petty really lol. In Virtua Fighter I recently decided to start playing Jacky. A character often regarded as a higher tiered character, and a rather basic character compared to some others. At first I kinda felt bad about the idea, but friends helped me realize I shouldn't let tiers dictate who I play. I mean, I knew this, but I still worried people thought I was "selling out" or something to that sort.

[Biolink]

At first I cared,but lately not so much.

Irregardless of how good the best guys are,if they can play with Top Tiers to give themselves better chances to win,then I will do the same.

Besides that alot of Tp Tiers are fun to play with

[KrsJin]

Besides that alot of Tp Tiers are fun to play with

Yeah, I find that to be true a lot of times. Especially in the KoF series.

[dn0s]

I use to make it a reason I didn't select people but nowadays it doesn't matter to me. I like playing as Tira in SC3 because I enjoy her despite her gawd awful damage. In Tekken 5 I like Anna just cause I've liked her since T3. But I wouldn't choose a top tier thinking that I suddenly got better at the game.

[DS]

Play to win.

[Bob Poundmax]

I have a tendancy to sometimes choose the right characters for the wrong reasons. In CvS 2 I choose Hibiki because she is an iaido chick(I like iaido chicks in games) and she seemed innocent to me. I had no clue that she was high tier. I choose Millia in GG because she had the lust shaker(that was before I started trying to play competitivly) also not really knowing that she is high. I dealt with the trash of Isuka because I liked the premise of ABA and I cant wait for Accent Core to drop in the states. I chose Makoto because I thought her sprite was pretty.

The point I'm trying to make is simply to play who you like and deal with their shortcomings and you might just get good with your character and win. No one will make fun of you unless you make excuses for getting beasted.

[complexz]

its always sad to see a newer player in any game limit themselves to a low tier because they think they have some silly honor system or somthing.

everyone has access to the same characters, if you choose to limit yourself don't bitch about people who don't :)

[Kayin]

I don't care if a character's top tier, all that matters to me is that they're solid and can manage in various situations. Well-roundedness is what I like I guess. Characters like this are usually AT LEAST mid it seems, so I tend to end up playing pretty decent characters.

[pc1x1]

I choose whoever I feel like it, whether I can relate or associate with the character, for fun, sex appeal, or anything in between. I completely ignore the tier list. I then play the heck out of the game. I will eventually check a tier list, to see If my chances of being competative are good with that character. Some characters are just much better than others. So I play to win, but that doesn't affect my initial decision on characters. For example in MVC2 I like Morrigan, Rogue and Sakura as a team. I don't think them together are uber tier, but they are my preference, and I will always use them. Its also fun winning with a lower tier char, because it has a sense of accomplishment. Winning with a high tier char, then maybe you can beast them. At least your chances are higher. In the end, pick what you feel is right.

[goodm0urning]

Not so much tier lists, but match-up charts, but since they're closely related, I will count them as one and the same.

When I'm just fucking around, anything goes, but if I'm actually playing to train and compete (i.e. playing for real), then yeah, I study match-ups and use them to help me choose characters. I like to know that I'm playing characters who can compensate for my natural weaknesses by negating the opponents who give my style the most trouble.

I believe that if you're going to get serious, then--short of cheating--you should take advantage of all the help you can get. These are competitive games, and competitors don't hang themselves with a ridiculous set of arbitrary and unnecessary personal restrictions. If you honestly don't find tiers or match-ups helpful, good for you, but if you refuse to use them because you somehow find it unfair or dishonorable, then have fun losing for no good reason.

[orka]

i think most people don't care about the tiers itself, but the way the character actually plays. like... in many cases top tier character have some overpowered properties and abusable gimmicks in their playstyle that makes many match ups linear and the game less fun. so in many cases, i think that's the reason why people tend to avoid top tiers. they're not avoiding top tier characters but rather, avoiding stupid characters.

so yea, i will say that tiers do indirectly affect who i play.

[Mr PH]

I pick whoever fits my style the best. . .which is top tier.

[Lovely Kitsune]

In games that I don't play seriously (GG, ST, whatever), I pick whoever I want. Although, I tend to stick to characters that are easy to learn.

In games that I (attempt to) play seriously (Marvel), it's all business. I picked Team Scrub against a 10 year old girl at the arcade once.

[KrsJin]

I really appreciate your guys' honesty on this, it's helping the polls nicely.

Some good points made about how people may not directly think of tiers, but rather matchups or just the tools characters have. Like orka and goodm0urning mentioned.

And awesome answer Mr PH lol...

[Dingo]

I've always picked characters I feel comfortable with mainly because when I was younger I never really looked up much information on the fighting games I played, I just played them. Even now when I know tier listings, I still go for a character I feel comfortable with; I'd rather play with a character and feel comfortable playing them rather than force myself to play with someone just because they're top tier.

[Henaki]

Who gives a fuck what you choose but it's nice to know the automatic handicap/advantage you get when choosing a character. I never choose a character thats bottom tier that's my only restriction.

[Z!M]

I play whoever as long as they are fun to play with. Yun is just fun with SA3 that i dont think about tiers, Im just trying to land a hit for a juggle. thats my view on it.

[Dark Geese]

I play to win but at the same time if my style doesnt fit a character I DONT PLAY THEM.

Take for example my team in NeoGeo Battle Coliseum of Tung-Athena..at the beginning they were considered bottom tier..

Now things have changed..

[KrsJin]

Take for example my team in NeoGeo Battle Coliseum of Tung-Athena..at the beginning they were considered bottom tier..

Now things have changed..

Rofl, funny how that happens. It's tight to see games evolve though. Like Marvel, or even 3S, when they first came out, tier lists were way crazy compared to now.

[Xiii]

I thought that's how it was supposed to work.

Play to win... with the character you like. Fun is fun, but does anybody really play to lose?

[Sex)packets]

i just choose characters that can dish out easy damage.

thats why i played slayer in ggxx series and dudley in 3s.

coincidentally these characters are also top mid/top in their respective games. i don't pick bottom tier thats for sure; i like winning.

[YellowS4]

I don't put in any effort and still win.

Does that make me a bad person?

I don't care much for character tiers though.

[Rioting Soul]

I've been playing fighting games since SF2 but it took me till 2004 to really know about fighting games. CvS2 was my main game back when my eyes were opened. My CvS2 team is Vega/Bison/Sagat. The four bosses and Dee Jay were my favorites of the SF cast. So when I finally got the chance to play ST in some form on the regular(HSF2AE) I used those characters. Then CC2 came out. I don't really enjoy how ST Vega plays so I don't use him much, but I enjoy the gameplay of SF2 Sagat moreso than in any of the other fighters so I'll use him. And if I'm going to use him, why not use his better version(if it's not broken)?

I really don't care either way. I just use the characters I'm comfortable with. I'm comfortable with Steve Fox, but also Sergei Dragunov and all versions of Raphael.

If Dragunov and/or Raphael are soft banned in T6/SC4 then I'll still be playing them.

[UnknownEnemyZero]

I tend to like to pick mid-tier kind of characters because I usually avoid top tier because I usually don't like the inevitable mirror match. Just characters that you somewhat see of. So tier listings a little bit tend to affect my choice but usually it's just that feel good instinct of trying out a few characters.

[vapulus]

I feel most comfortable in the upper-mid tier range. I often don't like the actual top tiers, because they tend to be overplayed to death. I also don't really dig the bottom rungs of society unless there's a character that really strikes my fancy. I don't do it because I want to be the underdog, I just find top tiers less fun in most cases.

[woof]

i choose regardless of tier listings. i don't care how good a character is; if i don't like how the character plays then i'm not going to bother

[piponaz]

letting tiers affect you is b*llsh*t. i just want to win.

[woof]

letting tiers affect you is b*llsh*t. i just want to win.
if you just wanted to win then you would play top tier :looney:

[Slide]

You play to win.

If you're better with that high tier or mid tier, than you are with that top tier, then using that high tier is the best choice. What good is picking a top tier if you, yourself, is unable to even make that character play like it's top tier.

People can and do play a top tier as if it was low tier.

Don't fool yourself thinking that picking a top tier automatically means a win. If that's the case, then that doesn't say much for a game's balance.

Pick whomever helps you get the win, while being fun at the sametime. Winning is fun too. Don't worry about tiers until you hit the glass ceiling.

And another note is that sometimes low tiers seem REALLY good when no one knows how to deal with them. Why because people ignore low tiers and forget how threatening they can be in a game that actually has balance to it.

EDIT: oh yeah, howcome people always got to pick a ton of characters anyway? Whatever happened to just specializing with one, and learning how to counter and combat their specific weaknesses? It'd make you better overall anyway. Sometimes I think people should just stick to one character and build on that.

[pherai]

EDIT: oh yeah, howcome people always got to pick a ton of characters anyway? Whatever happened to just specializing with one, and learning how to counter and combat their specific weaknesses? It'd make you better overall anyway. Sometimes I think people should just stick to one character and build on that.

I've always felt alone in having that opinion, but yeah, I totally agree.

People who stigmatize others for playing any sort of character are losers. There should really be only 2 types of players in anyones respective point of view. People who can beat you, and people you can beat. There is no room for excuses or whining, just learning how to beat people. If you have to resort to putting someone down for the character they use after being beaten, it just shows how bad a competitor you are. Anyone who uses these excuses has no real authority on the game and should be ignored.

[Logos]

I'll admit I used to be one of those people who wanted to play seldom used characters just to be a unique little snowflake, but as I've gotten more competitive I managed to break that stupid habit. Like many have said before me, you play to win. I still play who I enjoy, regardless of their tier, but I don't have that dumbass mindset anymore.

If Dragunov and/or Raphael are soft banned in T6/SC4 then I'll still be playing them.

I really hate the whole idea of soft banning. Honestly, something being soft banned basically means it isn't banned to anyone with a modicum of competitive spirit and basic intelligence.

[AneurysmX]

I use Dudley because he is the best character in 3s.

[woof]

EDIT: oh yeah, howcome people always got to pick a ton of characters anyway? Whatever happened to just specializing with one, and learning how to counter and combat their specific weaknesses? It'd make you better overall anyway. Sometimes I think people should just stick to one character and build on that.
i never really understood that either


at most i'll play 2 but that's pushing it :party:

[Slide]

Well I understand one mode of thinking people have told me, and that's use insert character so you know how to beat them.

That works.

[woof]

i know that standpoint makes sense, but it just doesn't read correctly with my mindset

i'm fine with focusing on my character alone. battling the matchup is enough .. i don't learn by playing another character, i learn by getting experience against the character myself. i'm sure some people learn differently, but i won't be ahead of the game if i'm just going the extra mile to learn a completely different character just for the sake of knowledge when i can get a straight-forward better experience playing against said character.




BUT then you got the people who have comp consisting of me myself and my nextdoor neighbor

[Hol Horse]

the poll needs a third option.
It's something n between for me.
I usually pick a character that I like and enjoy to play, I don't look for top tier.
But if a character is too low on the tierlist I don't want to spend much time learning it.

[Slide]

i'm fine with focusing on my character alone. battling the matchup is enough .. i don't learn by playing another character, i learn by getting experience against the character myself.

By picking the other character, you get an understanding of what a good goal for winning that round should be. i.e. V-Ryu wants you in the corner for hadorave. SA2 Chun wants meter to make her an extreme threat. ST Vega wants a knockdown to start shenanigans etc.

Picking the characters helps you to better understand what it is that gives them those opportunities, so from then on you know what you need to do to take them away. vs V-Ryu you now know not to get strong dragon punched, roundhouse hurricaned, gain ground moving forward instead of blocking the hadoken block strings pushing you back, etc. vs SA2 Chun you now know to rush her at the start of the fight where she's the most vulnerable due to not having meter. vs ST Vega you know to avoid flipkick, roundhouse slides, and throws.

It's all about taking options away.

That's why some people will use a top tier no matter what, cause top tiers by default tend to have the most usable and abusable options available, and the most ways to get those chances.
Whereas a low tier does not, they're limited in what they can do. So in that respect, top tiers would be much more fun cause they sometimes make the low tiers obsolete when they can do the samething as the lesser, but better(damage, ways to do it, easier to execute it) and with more tools.

[CarpeNoctumXIII]

I pick whoever I have fun using really, don't care for tiers much since I don't go to tournies nearly as much as I used to back in the day. Playing VF a lot also makes me just plain ignore tier lists anyways. What sucks though is that the characters I usually end up with in other fighters, just manage to be low tier, like Remy in 3s or Anji in GG.

[Rengoku]

i try to balance things
i want to pick effective character (so high tiers) that i like
also there are other factor in, my choice have to suit my game style and bottom tiers become useless in the long run against strong ppl
then it all depends on how the game is balanced

[Spyro]

Usually, when you are new to a game, you'll play chars you like/feel comfortable with, regardless of tiers, cause you are simply feeling the game out.

But as you start getting better, and start playing more competitively/seriously (money matches, tournaments), you eventually, for the most part, will start getting into top tiers more and more, simply because you are playing to win, and you will find that some character have a very difficult time winning consistently at high levels.

To answer the question...I usually play(ed) top tiers in games because I always took games very seriously, I loved traveling out of state for tourneys, doing money matches, etc. back in the day...I don't play seriously any more though.

[Darkshine]

In general, I just use whichever character I enjoy playing as. however, I do tend to gravitate towards lesser used characters, simply because I enjoy variety. Playing against the Shotos, Chun-Li, and Yun all day can get really, REALLY boring.

[Shinto]

Play to win.

Lilica says Hard Work = no payoff :arazz:

[KrsJin]

I usually end up with in other fighters, just manage to be low tier, like Remy in 3s or Anji in GG.

Which GG? Cause in the last two installments, Anji's been pretty high.

I've read each up to this point. Lots of good shit posted. A lot share similar points but some stand out with stuff.

I'm all for sticking with one character to really get the most out of them, and potentially your own skill. But I have to agree with the entry on the front page of SRK, the Evolution Tips and Tricks written by Alex Wolfe. Where he recomends you play other characters to better prepare for competetive play. I use to think forcing myself to play characters I normally wouldn't choose wouldn't help my game much. However now? I think it's essential. I just find that I not only learn character weaknesses and strengths more, I feel them and truly understand them more.

[SlayerofBodom]

While the tiers don't automatically dictate who I play, it's certainly a part of my consideration.

I play Bison in ST and Chun Li in 3s, even though I like Guile and Alex's movesets and mechanics more, respectively. However, after a certain number of defeats, I decided I didn't like losing much, and switched to better characters.

[Tigerboi]

I play to win. If that means picking a low tier character because they're my best character, then cool.

It depends on the game, really. In 3s, I'll pcik whoever. (It's not blanaced, but it is to the point in which most characters are useful imo.) But in MvC2, If I want to win, I pick Cable.

[woof]

By picking the other character, you get an understanding of what a good goal for winning that round should be. i.e. V-Ryu wants you in the corner for hadorave. SA2 Chun wants meter to make her an extreme threat. ST Vega wants a knockdown to start shenanigans etc.
again, i really don't feel i need to play another character to understand situations like this

unless a player uses their character incorrectly/in a highly unorthodox fashion ..


RAHHHH FIGHTING GAMES WHY MUST YOU BE COMPLICATED LIKE MATH EQUATION
Lilica says Hard Work = no payoff
heartnana says stop losing

[kof4life]

I usually just pick characters that I like. In SF, I go for the simplicity of shotos, and I've even seriously used Sean before. I do switch up with Hugo and Alex on occassion, so I cover the entire tier range here. In Tekken, however, I play as Lei Wulong, by no means a simple character, and he's bottom in T5, and high in DR. In KOF, Terry and Iori are usually staples of mine, but I've started using Ash and Eiji in KOF XI, so you have low-to-high there. In Soul Calibur, I use Siegfried/Nigthmare, who was mid-high in SC2 (iirc) and mid in SC3. So,yeah, what fits me doesn't seem to even have a pattern at all!

[specs]

I pick a character that "feels" right. Sometimes it's a top tier character, other times it isn't.

[Giza]

I usually will choose the top or higher tiered characters first because I feel like I have a better chance to win with them. But eventually I realize that I am more comfortable with other characters and have a better chance of winning with them even if they are low or mid tier. Tiers do effect my initial judgment on how I want to play as but eventually it changes and I don't care anymore.

[Mixup]

Picking "bottom tier" characters can be fun and beastly(gief sucks but 2 solid set-ups ggpo)

that extra work you put into developing solid setups and executing perfectly is part of picking a char with less advantage, some players are into that concept of more work for the same goal.

low tier marvel can be pretty hilarious too, shitty characters running around doing unblockables + dhcs for 100% life:smokin:

anyone ever been amused by watching somone do a "new" set-up with a lower tier character? Working with the engine and finding new ways to fight is always good stuff.

[Cardinal_Sin]

I find that I pick characters based on how interesting and fun their gameplay mechanics are, and how well they can mix up those options in a viable manner. Of course, more often than not, these characters end up being high tier simply because they have options that the rest of the cast lacks; for example top tiers + second tier in marvel have crazy stuff that's fun to learn like airdash mixups, fly/unfly, neat guardbreaks and infinites.

Similarly, I enjoy playing a2 Rolento and Gief as they're strong characters that have a variety of fun ways of working to control the match; no one else in A2 has as fun a runaway/lockdown game as Rolento, or tick throw / jump spam mixup like Gief.

To me it's not really a big coincidence that most top tiers are fun to play because more often than not they have really cool or 'broken' stuff that people are forced to deal with in different ways. On the other hand though, there is a contingent of top tiers that I don't enjoy playing as much since they win due to having a single overpowering option / style of play. While I still enjoy using those top tiers in the Sirlin 'play to win' sense, it can get a bit mind numbing at times if I don't need to bother exploring any of their other options.

for example, 98 ralf can be pretty boring to play at times, but then again i still use him regularly since it's just so satisfying to land hcf+k. BAM

[(RedBeard)]

I choose regardless of tier listing. Then again I don't really "play to win at any cost". I play to win, I just don't care about it so much that I only play top tier characters, which 95% of the time I find them boring because they're usually strong but really 1 dimensional. Not being bored>winning in my book.

But I don't have a problem with other people only using top tier. I just tend to pick mid/low tier characters who have solid and interesting gameplay. I won't touch garbage tier for the same reason I don't touch top tier usually: too one dimensional and boring.

[piponaz]

i'm not really particular about tiers because when a new game comes, it doesn't really matter what you choose because you're still learning every character, same with everybodyelse, and as times goes by, that's when you get to choose what character you really like to play and that gives you a better chance to win too. ex in SF EX, i really love dhalsim and zangief in that game, even though the top tier is guile, i can still beat all top guile players, and it was fun beating them with that chars too.

but in my case with mvc2, it was late 2004 when i started playing it because i semi retired in playing games to focus on my studies around 2001, so when i got back to the fighting game scene, most people already know the best characters to play, so i have no time to play and learn with low tiers because they would own me if i did and the only way too learn here in our place is to play in the arcade. so, i have no choice but to play top tiers. but now, i'm the top dog in mvc2 here, i can now afford to learn low tiers and as of the moment is learning low tiers because it's fun and i can also win with them which is much more fun.

so overall, i want to win with every character if possible.

[ToyRobotTerror]

While tiers are a good tool i pick characters i understand, it doesnt matter whether they are top or low. Playing to win isn't black and white in my opinion. You can win with all characters its just how much effort you want put in to make them work.

[CarpeNoctumXIII]

Which GG? Cause in the last two installments, Anji's been pretty high.

I've read each up to this point. Lots of good shit posted. A lot share similar points but some stand out with stuff.

I'm all for sticking with one character to really get the most out of them, and potentially your own skill. But I have to agree with the entry on the front page of SRK, the Evolution Tips and Tricks written by Alex Wolfe. Where he recomends you play other characters to better prepare for competetive play. I use to think forcing myself to play characters I normally wouldn't choose wouldn't help my game much. However now? I think it's essential. I just find that I not only learn character weaknesses and strengths more, I feel them and truly understand them more.

I'm pretty sure he was low in #r, maybe I'm wrong, not a huge GG player.

[Kayin]

Anji was bottom in #R, high in Slash and pretty low in AC.

[Mizuki]

I play fucking White Len in MBAC, that should fucking explain it.

[Logos]

That explains nothing to most of the people on SRK. :arazz:

[Azagtoth]

I think I have a natural attraction to characters with shitty defense.

Other than that, I just play whoever I think looks cool or whatever and eventually (if the character happens to kind of suck) I'll either decide the character is fucking worthless or I'll try to make it work for the hell of it (CVS2 Ryo).

I don't have anything against top tier, though (except Chun-Li in just about every game she's in because I just have grown to hate that character so much regardless of how good or bad she is in that respective game).

[MaybeMemories]

Play to LEARN

fixed :smile:

[Saotome Kaneda]

AHF Kira, ST Boxer and EX1 Zangief are the only top tiers I use. Everyone else is solid mid/low tier.

[Iapetus]

I only pick characters with one-hit combos.

[The_Dragon]

I must say that I truly dislike how certain people disdain the use of a top tier character, as if it is somehow beneath them to be intelligent or practical when choosing a character.

When did the idea begin that choosing the lesser, weaker character makes you in any way a better player? If anything, the fact that you choose to use a weaker character knowing full well that they lack the capabilities of the superior characters shows that you are an inferior player.

I can respect those who choose to use a character of lesser power and ability if they do so with the intention of overcoming that deficit without complaint or excuse, but I will not respect those who do so and expect pity or respect based on the fact they chose a weaker character.

Also, since when do people believe that being "above" tier listings makes them better? So, you choose characters without figuring out who does what best, and just based on the fact you like their GIF or backstory? God damn, you are special, aren't you?

[G.O.T]

All I can say is choose the character your best with, win with, or comfortable with when it comes to high level play. If you choose characters solely based on cool factor or man points stop playing seriously. And go play with some gorillas somewhere. I play characters who have mix-up potential, or very good pressure game regardless of tier.

SSBM-Bowser, I think his forward B is really good seeing as it goes through the shield for a com. grab, he's the heaviest to get off stage and if he gets you off stage he is up there with Marth as one of the best edgeguarders. I keep playing him to get over his weaknesses because even though he sucks. No one ever really finds every single thing about a game, and his b-air kills easily at mid damage even spikes at an angle. Doc is still my best.

3S-Ken's my comfort zone. I have Q and Hugo as counter pick characters because I can predict and punish well.

MvC2-BH/Omega Red/Sentinel. Blackheart was my best character in Marvel Super Heroes. Omega Red was my best character in MSH vs. SF. Sentinel is my best character in MvC2. So it fits well. Though OR and BH got toned down I'm better with them than any other Marvel series character. Mag and Shuma are up there.

Obot said it better. Play what your good with. Which for me is mixup, and command grab characters unless it's mvc2.

[Crap]

tiers are pointless

[TALrules]

top tier characters usually have more potential and options
especially in marvel
so i go with them

[sowutifmahsnsux]

Ideally I'd love to always play Denjin Ryu. But I learn ChunLi and Ken just in case. So yes tiers do affect how I play. I will also play with and learn the characters I like, though.

[ST Vega]

I don't really enjoy how ST Vega plays so I don't use him much....


:mad:

When I really started playing ST, I had no idea Vega was as high as he is. I just liked walldiving.

Now look, I beast on mofos.

[bear]

I usually play the underdogs. But not necessarily because of tiers. It just ends up that the characters I find the most enjoyable aren't in the top.

But if I'm totally honest, I usually shy away from the top tier characters. Again, not so much because of tiers, but because I get sick of seeing the same 3 characters over and over. I always try everyone out, and if I happen to really like a character I see played all the time I'll roll with it, but unless I'm particularly smitten, I look elsewhere.

[ST Vega]

ST Vega wants a knockdown to start shenanigans etc.

vs ST Vega you know to avoid flipkick, roundhouse slides, and throws.




You learn those from our epic battles? lol

[TornadoFlame]

I've jus been getting lucky I guess. My characters in each game I've choosen just from vanity. How shallow.
3s--Makoto (just friggin adorable)
GG--From the moment I laid eyes on Zato1 I knew he was the one
MVC2--Cables my favorite XMEN, I like Storm, I like playing Arcade Captain Commando
KOF series--I have to be the biggest Ralf fan to date
NGBC--Picked the next best thing as far as my SNK Fandom Kim/Terry
MB--How can you not fall in love with Nrvnqsr (Necro Chaos) Tsukihime did him no justice.
CVS2--Only game where I pick tiers and counters so I'll leave it alone.
ST--Always been a Boxer fan. Show niggas my Gigaton Punch
SamSho--Gotta go with Galford, the White Man Ninja and his dog
BBB--I still don't even remember his name so its solely on Jus Cause. The guy that look like Domon Kashu from G Gundam. Guess he's the main character but his mixup game is too good IMO.
Akatsuki--Sai makes fish fall from the sky, nuff said
UMK3--Kabal, have u seen his face. Too Good
Killer Instinct--TJ Combo, gotta love the Boxers
MOTW--Marco is too bad ass not to pick him. Didn't know what he did it first and really didn't care
Tekken--Bryan Fury, jus cuz he's dead. Been rockin him since Tekken 3
VF4-VF5--I jus fell in love wit Vanessa. And now they made her light skin, :lol:
DOA--FUCK DOA

[psychochronic]

I choose V-Mika because she's funny to use and I gave up on using V-Karin. :smile:

[pherai]

Thinking less of a player for using a top tier character is scrubby, straight up. That kind of attitude is so "I just started reading about the competitive scene, but I still suck, so I'll use a shitty character as an excuse."

[G.O.T]

You must be the only person to play damn near every decent fighter. Bryan Fury is dead?! The only dead character is Samus. That zombilized lesbian. I'm bored. Ill guess Ill join ya in the explainin of every game I played.
KOF98-Clark, Takuma, O. Yashiro. And Chang for whoring.
CvS2- K: Iori/Blanka/Sagat. This game I'm lazy so I don't work hard.
HF-Ken,Chun
ST-Fei Long,Guile
SamSho-Ukyo,Genjuro,Kazuki
Gundam Battle Assault 2-Deathscythe, Master Gundam. I recently got back into this game it's too much fun.
MOTW-Freeman/Gato
VF4Evo,5-Lion/Akira/Pai
XvSF-Nash and Storm. I'm comin for you, Shiro!!!
HNK-Shin/Thouther/Rei. Kenshiro for fko flashiness.
GGAC-Testament/Baiken
LB2-Lee/Setsuna
Vamp Svr-Jedah, Sasquatch, Bulleta
Tekken Tag-King/Kazuya
Melty Blood-Maids, V.Akiha
Yu Yu Hakusho 2-Hiei, Suzaku
I never played Arcana Hearts. I should play it when I go back to Houston. Yoriko looks pretty vicious from what I've seen. I'm gonna search for some vids of her.

[VangardB]

I don't let tier lists influence who I choose to play with but I try to be informed on the list and what I may be in for match-up wise.

[box]

SF2, CE, SF2T, SSF2, SSF2T - Guile

SF3 - Alex
SF3 3S - Chun

SFA - Charlie
SFA2 - Evil Ryu
SFA3 - V-Sodom

COTA - Psylocke
MSH - Captain America
XSF - Charlie Gambit
MSF - Spidey Wolvie
MVC - GWM Strider
MvC2 - Sent/Cable/Commando

CvS - Guile Nakoruru
CvS2 - Mai Haohmaru Vega

CFE - Karin Kenji

Mortal kombat - Johnny cage
Mk2 - Sub zero
UMk3 - Classic sub zero

[tataki]

ill choose the character that will give me the best results.
(meaning effective+easy to use)

[Are_you_okay?!]

I choose whoever I like and get a good feel for them, if one of my friends decides to use whoever is "Top tier" in any given game that's fine, since in most cases SRk has threads dedicated to "Basic strats on how so and so can kick so and so's ass" and we usually play for fun, except for our tourrets friend that is.

After getting them down (Finally!) Charge characters are my main, I haven't stopped playing Guile, Bison (Dictator), and Balrog (Boxer) in CvS2 since I learned just to get everything down.

[cain[e]]

I choose who ever I feel fits my general play style the most. Unless that character is completely useless I'll give anyone a try.

Though this Kind of contradicts what I just said, I also feel that it is important to leanr how to play top teir characters in your favorite games. This is the best way to lear how to get around their stratagies I feel, and If you really need that win it's nice to know you have a safty to fall back on. (assuming you're allowed to change your character in the situation)

[Mihai]

Who gives a shit about tiers? The only thing that matters is winning or losing. Everything that was discovered in SF comes about from trying to win. Nothing else matters...

[arstal]

For me it's enjoying the game first, winning secondary (Though winning helps you enjoy the game, if you have to play an unenjoyable style to win- I'd rather play something else)

Some games the tiers matter more then others. In 98, you can play a large part of the cast at tourney level- some chars are used much more frequently, but a lot of the cast can be used at tourney level- I've even seen Lucky do well in good tourneys.

Other games, you need a certain char or one of two chars to be competitive.

[Dark Hadou XS]

When a game first comes out I usually choose characters based on how interesting they seem to me. With that said however, once the game develops more and palyers become more seasoned and definite tier rankings begin to form I will continue to play said interesting character but will also learn the higher tier characters as well.