EPTHey all! I got a chance to attend EVO alongside the rest of the TL.net media crew, and I scored an interview with EG's Eduardo "PR Rog" Perez. Unfortunately, TL doesn't have a SFV forum, or even an FGC forum! So I'm posting it as a blog.
On the second day of EVO I ran into PR Rog immediately after he took down Bonchan - a match with quite possibly the craziest ending I've ever seen. If you missed it, make sure to check it out before reading ahead! We chatted about the EVO experience this year, the differences between USF4 and SFV, the game's mechanics, Balrog, and his future going forward with the new game.
That was a pretty insane match I just watched you win – how does that feel?
It feels very good. I actually lost to Bonchan the whole year last year so it feels really freakin' good.
You ever won with a double KO before?
Not in a tournament!
Up til that crazy match, how's the rest of your tournament been going so far?
Pretty good. I feel pretty confident and good about my performance. From now on, I've always said when you get to Top 32 you can lose to anyone, so I'm not gonna put too much pressure on myself and just play my game.
It seems people have been losing to pretty much anyone even before Top 32 – we've had some pretty major upsets this year. What do you think about that?
It's EVO, there were 5000 players, and only one can win. It's bound to happen – a lot of upsets. It's kinda expected.
On that note, one thing that a lot of people were kinda worried about before SFV came out was that it was a game that was much easier to upset in because of the three frame lag and all that stuff. Do you think that turned out to be a factor since it's been out for a while?
I think it caught by surprise a lot of players. I'm not gonna say no. It caught me my surprise. But I have to adapt. I cannot make an excuse. I do hate it, don't get me wrong. But the thing is, when a game comes out it doesn't really matter what the people say. You have to play, there's a tournament, you have to adapt.
Overall did you still prefer the feel of the game in Ultra Street Fighter IV?
I definitely like SFV more than SFIV overall. But I feel with the tweaks that they have to do, if they do them, the game will be so much better.
What are the things you like about SFV more than the old version?
I like the pace. I like that the game is very aggressive, but defensive style can also thrive. I like that both of them can actually win and there's also a lot of mindgame into it. I like that.
Speaking of aggressive, you certainly seem to have a character that fits that pretty well. How's the new Balrog treating you?
He's pretty good! He's not SF4 Balrog. He's definitely Super Turbo Balrog, the old school one. I'm actually really happy with that, because he's really fast and he deals a lot of damage.
A lot of people are picking up these new characters; do you think that picking up a new character that you're already familiar with gives you an advantage over people who might not know the matchup yet?
Maybe. I can't say that I have an advantage over everyone, because I did play a new character for two weeks and also they had a chance to study for two weeks. I feel that's just on the player. If you didn't do your research, then I'm sorry. 'cause I'm also at a disadvantage.
How do you feel about the cast overall now that we've had all these new additions and that people've played with the old characters for a while?
I think it's still kinda stale. I feel like Balrog and Ibuki, when they came out, people were very happy. I don't know why, because Balrog – I don't know if he was actually a popular character at all.
If he is, I'm sure you had something to do with that.
I guess so! laughs
What would help liven up the roster a little bit?
Um...a lot of people like the Third Strike characters. So I think adding more of the Third Strike characters into the game would be pretty cool. And also maybe EX characters, like Skullomania and stuff like that. I don't think they're going to add them, but it'd be fun!
Overall, where do you think SFV needs to be pushed in order to have the kind of lifetime that SFIV had, going forward?
I feel like already Street Fighter V has surpassed Street Fighter IV, to be honest. Definitely the skill gap lowered, and everybody started from scratch, but there seems to be a lot of people fighting – Street Fighter IV is better, SFV is better – but you cannot put them together. One of them is played this way, and one is played this way.
For you personally, how has the transition to the new game – all the practice and starting from zero – treated you? Because you were someone who was really successful in SFIV, considered to be one of the best players.
I think overall, I tried way too hard at the start and that's probably why I lost. Also, not having a character I feel comfortable with made me lose more that what I thought I was supposed to. I think me having a character that I'm comfortable with makes me a lot stronger...and I like the crowd, and the crowd likes me too! Having Balrog has been amazing.
So I know for a while in SFIV you were kicking around taking a break, stepping away from the game. Now that SFV is out, what is at least the next year or two looking like for you?
I still work. I probably will stay working forever in my life. I don't have a lot of time to practice, but my job and my fiance and my family are all very supportive. I will continue to do this until, maybe, when I get tired and I don't have fun. Or maybe if a baby comes up! laughs
How many hours a day do you get to practice?
Right now for this tournament I practiced 10 hours a day. I took 2 weeks off. But normally, I just play 2-4 hours, which is a big difference.
Just to sorta wrap this up, by the time this goes up EVO'll already be over, but going into Top 32, how do you feel amongst the rest of the players that're here?
Very confident. I feel like not everybody knows the matchup. Some players are just trying to press buttons in places that they shouldn't. I guess overall I feel very confident. Extremely.
Any final shoutouts?
Thank you to EG – love you all! Monster, Sandisk, AMD, and everyone. Love you all, thank you so much for your support.
You can follow PR Balrog at twitter.com/PR_Balrog, and myself at twitter.com/shirokaisen.
