Smash is a hell of a lot of fun to play. I’ve personally never thought that Smash is a game that was intended to be taken with a high degree of seriousness. Whether it can be taken seriously is another issue all together. While I still don’t believe that it is not as technical as our stand-bys and favourites, I just watched a few match videos from Japanese pros and they look really fuckin’ cool. It’s an exciting game to watch!
I definitely agree that this will likely bring in a bigger crowd, and potentially a very fun one, but possibly righteously ignorant fanboys (which would be stupid and annoying) and people who have no interest in any of the other games that form the core of Evo (which would be dissappointing and sad). I would hate to have this happen.
Still, I’m quite optimistic that anyone who plans a trip specifically to go play a cartoonish party game with strangers will not be coming all the way to Vegas just to act like a douche. I understand ST being a difficult for the average person in this day and age to embrace at a glance, but I’m honestly confident that even those who at first do not understand will become quickly enamoured and bedazzled with our favourite fighting games and the deep, rich, and unique culture we’ve formed around them. I know next to nothing about the hardcore Smash community but I hear they’re good people.
I wouldn’t want Smash there at the expense of diluting or ruining Evo, but I think it’s really awesome of Evo to take a chance and bring Smash in. The fighting game genre is relatively unchanging and I like it that way, but there is no denying that Smash is a fresh take on something we all love, and everyone who has ever touched a four-player match has to admit it’s a frickin’ blast.
I propose a toast… to potential.