No vids of US SF's 'Golden Era' & best_ever player!?

Crayfish · 11-14-2005, 05:36 AM

Undoubtedly the greatest Street Fighter player the US ever produced, Tomo Ohira, is almost fergoten by the SF scene today. Tomo Ohira was the Daigo of his day, a world famous player during the height of Street Fighter's 'Golden Era'. All the way back in 93, well before we had even heard of the internet, even the small SF scene in my English home town knew abt Tomo. I still remember first reading the interview with him in the back of the GamePro SF2: Hyperfighting guidebook.

In todays thriving competetive SF scene, with its huge online community, world tournaments and plentiful video footage, its a great shame that western SF's Golden Era and its greatest ever player, Tomo, are so little known.

What is needed more than anything else is footage of Tomo and other great players at the pinacle of the Hyperfighting scene. This was the absolute zenith of oldschool StreetFighter skillz. Hyperfighting at its peak was as thrilling as todays Japanese ST scene. Fast and tactical, with many fergoten abt beast like Shoto killing TAP Rog, Vert Ball Blanka & Low Lariat Geif all up there battling with the trad top tier of Ryu, Guile and Sagat. And in a time before Supers, Hyperfighting was the highpoint of oldschool combo skill, with amazing, high damage, re-dizzy & 'CPS1 Chain' combos the likes of which are rarely seen in super_move focused ST.
To the olsschool players out there harbouring these nuggets on dusty VHS tapes under thier beds, please share it with the community.

It would also be cool if SRK did an interview with Tomo and other great players like Jeff Schaefer (who's recent Hyper SF2 comback challenge against Daigo was a great missed opportunity for a history lesson in Oldschool skills) or invited them to make a guest appearance at Evo, giving out the prizes.

Crayfish.

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EDIT: Well 4 years on from this thread and it seems like Tomo may be making an appearance at Evo 09! I don't know if Tomo will have any official/ceremonial position as I had proposed above, but it seems he may be making an appearance in some for or another. Tomo's long time friend Mike Watson has started a thread here to test the waters to see if there is enough interest. Ofcouse you all want to meet Tomo no? Get over there:
http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?t=176784
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EDIT EDIT:
He didn't phisicaly come, but he 'was' there, thanks to Mike:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwLCrtAxRSY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB-S9KHk4vU

PSX · 11-14-2005, 05:38 AM

I remember when i stayed at Apocs place he was telling me about the Tomo teaches SF tape. If anyone got that please rip it!!!!

Crayfish · 11-14-2005, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSX

Tomo teaches SF tape

Wow, I never even heard of that, that sounds amazing! Apoc, fill us in pls...

Ryu & Ken · 11-14-2005, 06:13 AM

I asked Apoc that question when I joined and he told me . those times people didn't have camcorders

Crayfish · 11-14-2005, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abhi

I asked Apoc that question when I joined and he told me . those times people didn't have camcorders

?Apoc had told me before that he had hyperfighting era footage that hed had left at an ex-gf's house, also Jeff Schaefer has footage of peak era Tomo (now if he would only contribute it). Act would also love to see good quality versions of his complete Hyper SF2 comeback challenge against Daigo. Jeff....?

glass · 11-14-2005, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crayfish

... great players like Jeff Schaefer (who's recent Hyper SF2 comback challenge against Daigo was a great missed opportunity for a history lesson in Oldschool skills)...

i've got no doubt that Schaefer's good, but what about the notion that the HF/CE characters are pretty damned strong in general?

Crayfish · 11-14-2005, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glass

i've got no doubt that Schaefer's good, but what about the notion that the HF/CE characters are pretty damned strong in general?

There are some balance issues in Hyper esp with WW & CE characters, that I dont really want to go into that on this thread. But with regards to the Daigo vs Schaefer matches it wasn't really an issue for me. For starters Daigo was playing ST.Boxer and ST.O.Sagat,and Schaefer was playing C.E. Guile for the most part.

imo HF charas vs most ST charas is nicely balanced. CE charas vs ST.Boxer & ST.O.Sagat is fair too.

If you watch those matches, Schaefer just knew many of the matches way better than Daigo (Daigo is the least knowlegable & most tactical limitedy of the top Jap ST players, tho I regard as the most naturaly talanted and best allround street fighter player ever). Watch the Guile vs O.Sagat matches for instance, Scheafer played that match text book, landing all the drop-down HP against low Tigers, knee after nulified Tiger counters even walk in throws. Plus Schaefer was coming back from an 11 YEAR layoff!

The point is, the players from that era were top class., they have knowlege of the pre-ST Street Fighters that is far beyond ours, and they dont get the props they deserve.

Spooty Whiteboy · 11-14-2005, 08:20 AM

I heard, from this site actually, that Tomo's "manager" paid people to lose the finals.

I don't mean to belittle or defame him; but that's what I heard. Anyone confirm?

Nos99 · 11-14-2005, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crayfish

If you watch those matches, Schaefer just knew many of the matches way better than Daigo (Daigo is the least knowlegable & most tactical limitedy of the top Jap ST players, tho I regard as the most naturaly talanted and best allround street fighter player ever). Watch the Guile vs O.Sagat matches for instance, Scheafer played that match text book, landing all the drop-down HP against low Tigers, knee after nulified Tiger counters even walk in throws. Plus Schaefer was coming back from an 11 YEAR layoff!
.

Where can I watch these matches to? Are they available for download anywhere?

..and was Schaefer REALLY gone for 11 years? maybe not hardcore into it, but didn't he still play at the EVOs and whatnot?

Crayfish · 11-14-2005, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spooty Whiteboy

I heard, from this site actually, that Tomo's "manager" paid people to lose the finals.

I don't mean to belittle or defame him; but that's what I heard. Anyone confirm?

I never heard that, but I find it highly unlikely. If you speak to any of the old school players, Watson, Apoc, Schaefer they will tell you Tomo was undoubtedly the best player. He never met his match in the US, and there were no international tourneys back then, tho there was some talk I beleive of his manager taking him to Japan. Unfortunatly I dont think this ever happened tho.

It would be interesting to get Kuni's imput on this (Yes team Japan, expert Geif at Evo Kuni). He actually used to be part of the same west coast scene as Tomo, his name is even on the ranking list behind Tomo in the Gamepro strategy guide. He is quoted as saying that Japan only had 1 or 2 players of Tomo's level.

Crayfish · 11-14-2005, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos99

Where can I watch these matches to? Are they available for download anywhere?

..and was Schaefer REALLY gone for 11 years? maybe not hardcore into it, but didn't he still play at the EVOs and whatnot?

1.)The origonal thread where they were posted was here (unfortunately it was beseiged by ignorant Daigo fanboys who I imagine discouraged Jeff for bothering to post any more footage) links are dead btw: http://www.shoryuken.com/forums/show...light=schaefer

If you really want them, I will share them with you on goforbroke. PM me :)
What we really want is high quality re-captures of these movies, the ones released were terrible grainy .mov files.

2.) Yes, Schaefer didnt play competetively for 11 years. He and Tomo apparently still play eachother casual, at one of thier homes. From how well Jeff played, and the fact he said Tomo still beats him, Tomo must be damned good even now.

EDIT. IF someone, could offer capturing know-how and hosting space, I'm sure it would be a great help in encouraging Jeff and others to contribute footage.

SaBrE · 11-14-2005, 09:10 AM

uhm shaeffer played sf up to the a2 era. a2 came out in 1996. he competed at b3 (a2 tourney) with his ken which i think might have been in 1997 IIRC. either way tho, hes was out of the loop for a while.

i seen the tomo teaches sf tape. i know someone that still has the original. its not really that great. its just basics on how to do specials, and how to do some realistic combos. and its a really cheesy video, i cant stress that part enough lol

Crayfish · 11-14-2005, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaBrE

uhm shaeffer played sf up to the a2 era. a2 came out in 1996. he competed at b3 (a2 tourney) with his ken which i think might have been in 1997 IIRC. either way tho, hes was out of the loop for a while.

i seen the tomo teaches sf tape. i know someone that still has the original. its not really that great. its just basics on how to do specials, and how to do some realistic combos. and its a really cheesy video, i cant stress that part enough lol

I stand corrected on the dates. Like you say tho Sabre, its a long time.

Was it a tape put out by Gamepro or someone, or Tomo himself? I remeber one that come with a UK magazine for SNES SF2:WW, and that was cheesy too. Which version was it for btw? Would still really like to see it, as a historical document, cheesy or not. Would there be any chance of your friend capturing it?

watson · 11-14-2005, 10:48 AM

I heard, from this site actually, that Tomo's "manager" paid people to lose the finals.

I don't mean to belittle or defame him; but that's what I heard. Anyone confirm? -

LOL
this was 1 time, and 1 time only. and it was done strictly as a business proposition and he had no idea of it. there are a few people that were witness to this and can vouch for it so dont say watson is full of shit. cole was there, grahm wolfe was there, your o-so-great mr 10th place or whatever thomas osaki was there. this was at the greatest clash of pre-internet nor-cal vs so cal tournament ever!! BAMA. stupid choi went to a wrestling tournament that day so ill keep his name out of it. the rest is in an issue of gamepro for all you hardcore SF players if interested.

my real reason to come to this thread is, no videos were ever taken back during this time. hell man, who could a afford a cam corder back then and who was strong enough to lug around a 50 portable vid cam?? ok well, to put this all at rest, tomo was hands down the best from SF2-HF. after that, im sure we all know this and that.

p.s. i have a old old school SF commercial i will try to find, im sure you will all get a kick out of it. pz

watts

Ex_mosquito · 11-14-2005, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crayfish

I stand corrected on the dates. Like you say tho Sabre, its a long time.

Was it a tape put out by Gamepro or someone, or Tomo himself? I remeber one that come with a UK magazine for SNES SF2:WW, and that was cheesy too. Which version was it for btw? Would still really like to see it, as a historical document, cheesy or not. Would there be any chance of your friend capturing it?

Haha, you mean the Mean Machines SF2 video with Julian Rignall and Gary Harrod?

"Dragon punches ahoy, Combos a'plenty!"

nothingxs · 11-14-2005, 01:07 PM

I'd like to see those videos too, of Schaefer vs Daigo, if possible.

ShinjiGohan · 11-14-2005, 03:18 PM

http://www.streamload.com/ShinjiGohan/SF2AE/

AFAIK those were the only copies of the matches. If someone has a higher quality version of those matches please share.

FMJaguar · 11-14-2005, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watson

ok well, to put this all at rest, tomo was hands down the best from SF2-HF. after that, im sure we all know this and that.

p.s. i have a old old school SF commercial i will try to find, im sure you will all get a kick out of it. pz

watts

http://media.putfile.com/Street-Fighter-commercial

not sure if it's what you were gonna post.

Middlekick · 11-14-2005, 04:17 PM

i believe Shaeffer played sf up to A3 and retired -- from A3 at least -- shortly before Daigo made his way stateside for the nationals.

ShinJN · 11-14-2005, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FMJaguar

http://media.putfile.com/Street-Fighter-commercial

not sure if it's what you were gonna post.

lol... That damn video is a shame to the original SNES version of the commercial. They even use SNES video clips! Electronics Boutique loaned out the SNES version of the commercial for people that pre-ordered the game. I must've watched that thing 20 times in a row. I should've just kept the tape and pay the fee EB was going to charge if I didn't return the tape. lol.

The best part of that commerical is the "IMPROVED GRAPHICS AND SOUND" portion. Genesis version was a piece of trash.

LAAkuma · 11-14-2005, 05:23 PM

HI, the story is long and complicated.

I played up until Super Turbo, then retired from Pro play. The definition of PRO play is playing almost every day, for like 6+ hours a day. Which I did because I was sponsored up until Super Turbo.

After Super Turbo, it was a hobby for me, and you would not see me in an arcade daily at all, more like 1 time a week for about 4 hours.

I was the only one of anywhere to beat Alex V at Alpha 2 in a championship at Golfland, A3 was horrible, I hated that game. Didnt play it even recreational hardly.

I have measured my reaction time closely over the years.

At start position, me and a few other people could uppercut a Honda headbut or blanka roll, or Bison scissor kick on reaction from that distance. Now, I dont know anyone that can do it. I need like another 1.5 inches father away. My reaction time used to be among the fastest, at well under .16 seconds from brain to hand. I remember I took a reaction time test when I was younger and the guy said I was extrodiarily rare and that I was higher than alot of professional baseball players and boxers he tested.

Thats why I was good. My knowledge of the game surpassed anyone, and I was fast. So it was just a question of excecuting counters, which is what the game is all about.

Mike used to be fast too, I noticed he got alot slower after A1 edition. Mike, your old buddy!

Tomo was at my house last week. We laugh about the old days. Althought we dont talk about it much.

The best story I have is when Mike and I went to a fun tournament in Sunnyvale on Super Turbo after I stopped playing about 9 months. I got 4th and I think Mike got 2nd. I think Thomas won, he was good reaction wise, but his weakness was he didnt know the game that well, he was all reaction. Very fast.

Anyway, it was when Mike and I were at Alex and gram Wolfs house. Those guys really, and I mean REALLY were talking it up abotu HYPER FIGHTING. saying all kinds of madness. as was all the other Nor Cal players. They all gave their confidence in the wolfs to beat me down, and Mike went ahead and let me have a go at them because he know I was king on that game. So mike was like upstairs eating, and Alex and Gram closed in on me for revenge from bama. (I guess)

I used to be so arrogant, and so ego maniac driven, I didnt just want to win, I am always looking to embarass people. I shoudl have taped that, it was classic.

I used to carry cards on me. They said what I always said out loud. Something like "playing me is like throwing your money away on the floor" shit like that. So I came out and stated the usual things that come out of my mouth to the wolfs.

"I will go ahead and pick first, because it doesnt matter who you use, you have no chance, everyone knows it"

I picked Blanka. They were shocked. They really were. Mike laughed and didnt bother to watch all the matches, he just went in another room, Mike likes to eat. Just look at him!. lol anyway.

Guile, Ryu, Zangief, Dhalsim, you name it they tried. Gram, alex back and forth for a LONG TIME. And then the truth came out.

I think it was 32 or 33 to ZERO. Jeff Schaefer VS them. well call it 32-0. It was over like 10 years ago, I think its 32 or 33. One of the 2. TO ZERO!. I think they won like 2 rounds TOTAL in all those games.

Why? Because I had complete domination of that Version of the game. Why? because I played Tomo and Mike all the time at it.

There is a rule in games, or sports that always applies. YOU CANNOT get to elite status in anything, unless you play against the BEST PLAYERS in the world at it. And play them alot. So I was lucky. I was 100% #2 at that game, no doubt about it. I won more tournaments on Hyper than another other game, and just plain BEAT DOWN people constantly at it.

And despite all my skill, and my domination...I never beat Tomo 1 game, ever, NOT EVEN ONCE in the history of Hyper Fighting Competition. I always lost 3-0. Outplayed, outskilled and flat out killed.

Thanks for e-mailing me. Too bad I didnt have my reaction time and timing for that Daigo match, I think I could have taken him 20-0. Timing was off, and I was 33 years old at the time. The guy is super techinical, and super fast reaction, but I can tell he doesnt know the game like I do, so that helped me to win half the matches. I was plain EATING him with Guile with some super unorthadox play you dont see that often. Learned it all from Mike and Tomo. Mike and Tomo are legends.

I wish I had a tape of the first time I met Mike. It would have made great video. I dont think I ever talked to much shit in my entire life when I met that fat kid.

I give it up to Mike, when I first met him, he destroyed me. Utterly. But because of that day, that loss, I practiced so hard, I because one of the best and rose to the top after Tomo left and stayed there over a year.

Its all Mikes fault. If I would have beaten him, I would have left that palce forever, and just thought...man...this league is whack, these guys suck. LOL

Thanks Mike.

Jeff

ShinjiGohan · 11-14-2005, 06:33 PM

heh too bad you didn't experience Gian's Dhalsim last evo.

SuperSamyon · 11-14-2005, 06:47 PM

Hey Jeff. In this thread: http://www.shoryuken.com/forums/show...light=schaefer

you mentioned something about writing a book with Tomo with footage included. What ever became of that project?

_MJ_#R · 11-14-2005, 07:04 PM

the only '93 footage I have is this SF2 Turbo tourney from Korea.

Chachi · 11-14-2005, 07:13 PM

This thread is pure gold. Reading Jeff's post and watching him handle Daigo's Sagat brought a rush of nostalgia, although I never saw any play of that level in person back in the old-school era (I know that vid was AE, but still...)

As for that commercial, seeing that dude say that the Genesis version was even better than the arcade still cracks me up. It's twice as authentic when you have half the buttons :clap: