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Aris "Aris" Bakhtanians Releases Statement on Recent Comments

The man at the center of this week's controversial remarks regarding sexual harassment in the fighting game community speaks out and apologizes.

Aris
Aris "Aris" Bakhtanians, leader of Team Tekken, was largely silent as events unfolded today.

While reporting yesterday's story about leading members of the fighting game community discussing the issue of sexual harassment in the fighting game scene, I reached out to the parties involved.

Besides Capcom, all silently declined.

The comments took place during Capcom's Cross Assault reality show, a competition acting as a promotion for next week's Street Fighter X Tekken. In the stream, Twitch.tv community manager Jared Rea brought up the issue of sexually inappropriate language alienating potential fans of the fighting scene, and a debate ensued.

It's best if you just read what happened next.

Miranda “Super_Yan” Pakozdi, member of Team Tekken and the female participant at the center of this, chose not to talk to me.

Aris "Aris" Bakhtanians, the male coach of Team Tekken attributed with the questionable commentary, did the same.

A few moments ago, however, Bakhtanians reached out to me over email, and released a brief statement. I asked Bakhtanians if he'd be willing to talk about the situation at length, but he unfortunately declined the opportunity.

His full statement is featured below:

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.

It's unlikely, however, Bakhtanians' statement alone will put this issue to rest.

I've received an enormous amount of feedback since the story ran, and I'm still filtering through the comments from both inside and outside the fighting game community. I'm setting up interviews as we speak. We'll revisit this soon.

Patrick Klepek on Google+

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AlexanderSheen

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Edited By AlexanderSheen

My statements do not reflect those of Capcom or myself.

So, what he about the community is still true then? (There's a huge possibility that I misunderstand something and just making an idiot out of myself)

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Scotto

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Edited By Scotto

@Skogen said:

It was obvious from the get go that Aris's statements were being misinterpreted. Crucify a man with poor diction in a heated moment, way to go game journos. The whole "I wrote this article, but skipped through hours of context" bit is what bothers me here. If someone bothered to get the whole "scoop" they would know there is drama that extends beyond the show and the topic is totally unrelated to the Miranda incident.

His "diction" had nothing to do with it. Making bullshit arguments has nothing to do with the quality of his diction, and he's still doing some intensely disingenuous framing of what actually went on.

He has a history of saying vile, disgusting things towards women, and more of that was on display here.

This apology screams of a guy facing intense internet criticism, probably for the first time in his life, and trying to put out the fire. Sexual harrassment has fuck all to do with diction.

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Ett

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Edited By Ett

@Barrock: You do know that the word rape have more one meaning.

anactofplunder,violentseizure,orabuse;despoliation;violation:therapeofthecountryside.

The word rape has nothing too do with a sexual act in fighting scene and all with the destroying of you opponent.

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StarvingGamer

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Edited By StarvingGamer

@Wunder_ said:

I don't understand the need to release an article or update every single time something happens. Prior to this, most articles published were well researched and featured both sides of the story. Just because someone declined to be interviewed, doesn't necessarily mean they wouldn't speak with you after, for example, the reality show they were contracted to be filming ended?

I don't quite get why there was such a need to publish this story as fast as possible, I thought the whole point of Giantbomb was to get filtered and well researched articles, rather than a flood of knee-jerk articles based around twitter posts or what was said on a stream.

I will always love you <3<3<3

Also based on the Bombcast it seems that Patrick and Jeff had already reached the conclusion that Aris was expressing this exact sentiment. If he knew about it before hand, why didn't he at least mention it in his article? I can't imagine that Patrick would deliberately obfuscate the truth to drum up the controversy, but I can't help but feel suspicious in this situation.

I'd also like to ask all the people ganging up on Aris to imagine if, for a second, someone came to Giantbomb.com and started stomping around telling everyone on the forums that they need to clean up their act and that the GB staff needed to tone down their humor (which has included, among other things, jokes about unlawful intercourse with minors) so that GB could become more palatable to the mainstream audience. Imagine this same person is pushing the notion that the scope and quality of GB's content should try to emulate a site like IGN in order to broaden the appeal. Imagine that they came after you on live television, specifically citing how distasteful comments about "how best to successfully woo an under-aged teenager" are, meaning that in order to defend GB you have to defend this specific form of conduct. How would you respond?

Aris became too worked up, but the way Jared cornered him was incredibly unfair. This has been a hot button topic that has been eating away at the FGC, a conflict that Jared himself was the primary instigator of. Aris is the member of the old guard, one of the most prominent figures who fought to keep the scene alive as fighting games dwindled in significance and the FGC only became knit tighter and tighter. Now all of a sudden this intensely insular group is being told that they have to self-censor their behavior in order to not offend a bunch of outsiders that they never asked to join them in the first place.

This is a culture of extremely passionate individuals and they're being invaded. Can you blame them for wanting to fight back, even if their methods are flawed?

EDIT: Because fuck, more people need to see this video to get another side of Aris. Here he is interacting with Kayo Sato, the FGC's most prominent transgendered poster-girl.

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Edited By Brake
I'm setting up interviews as we speak. We'll revisit this soon.

This is why I love this website and how Patrick conducts his business. Lesser sites will only report the first part of the story and leave it at that. Looking forward to the follow up.

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Xeiphyer

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Edited By Xeiphyer

I understand what he meant I guess. People like to shit talk, but that's something you do with a friend in private if they're okay with it.
  
There's a lot of energy when playing and watching fighting games, just like real sports or real fighting. People shouting obscenities are usually just extremely riled up and not trying to attack the other person so much as support the player they're cheering for. Shouting "Kill that guy" during a boxing match wouldn't really be perceived as strange right? But murder is a damn serious thing. Obviously it wasn't really meant that way.
 
So, in that respect I guess I understand, but specifically the things he was defending I can't get behind. Gamer culture has always been misogynistic and treated women super poorly, and that shit needs to stop. 
 
I guess part of me wants to say that we shouldn't treat women like that and use those words, but really, we pick the words that will work the best on our target, we use those words because they're girls, or different ones for black people, or whatever way we can single them out. We shouldn't treat anyone like that. 
 
If you wanna trash talk, make sure its with someone who is okay with it, and anyone who is going to overhear isn't going to be offended. Sometimes people just want to shout obscenities and have fun, and that's not really wrong, but you need to be considerate of others.
 
 
I'm glad the dude at least apologized, and you can tell its him because of great lines like: "My statements do not reflect those of Capcom or myself.", too bad he didn't have the foresight, common sense, or good character to have prevented this incident from ever happening.

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udabenshen

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Edited By udabenshen

The "I'm sorry IF I offended anyone" point is the textbook non apology apology. This community needs to grow up if they want to be taken seriously. Respect for people is more important than juvenile brovado.

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NathHaw

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Edited By NathHaw

@StarvingGamer: Jared cornered him? Aris interrupted Jared's conversation. Are you referring to something else?

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chaosnovaxz

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Edited By chaosnovaxz

@Alex_Carrillo:

I never mentioned anything of the sort.

So, perhaps before you accuse me of saying something I never did, you should try to become literate? Attend some nightly adult reading classes at your local college, maybe?

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Bourbon_Warrior

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Edited By Bourbon_Warrior

@selbie said:

Much ado about nothing IMO

"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.""

Really? Much ado about nothing? Glad he called out this scumbag, Bravo Patrick Bravo!!!

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Spookie

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Edited By Spookie

So censorship is now expecting people to act like a normal, decent human being? Fucking esports.

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artgarcrunkle

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Edited By artgarcrunkle

@Bourbon_Warrior: He's immersed in a community where "Rape" is a gender neutral word used to the point where the majority of people in said community have been desensitized. The guy said a bunch of dumb indefensible shit but you should really l2empathy.

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StarvingGamer

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Edited By StarvingGamer

@nrh79: Cornered him by immediately making it about something as controversial as sexual harassment which distracted from the core issue. It's unfortunate that Aris took the bait.

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Yadilie

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@PatPandaHat: Don't worry it's just you.

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viking_funeral

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Edited By viking_funeral

Such a strange issue. And so soon after Jennifer Hepler's "I have a vagina!" tweet caused her no end of trouble.

While I feel that Mrs. Hepler brought it on herself by being trying to take the offensive and making her genitals the forefront of the controversy, which in turn completely muddled the argument many people had against her influence on the gaming community. (Personal opinion: Meh. Her writing is mediocre and BioWare has bigger problems right now).

This, however, was aggressive and sexually suggestive without any provocation other than simply playing a video game. I wonder if the people so quick to get defensive have even seen the video. Seriously. Watch it, then post a comment. Otherwise you're not going to get what everyone is talking about.

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Doomshine

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Edited By Doomshine

@Alex_Carrillo said:

This person is still a piece of shit. It wasn't his defense of the vile, anti-social video game scene he's a part of, it's to due with how he treated another human being, and how he comports himself around members of the opposite sex. This isn't an isolated incident. This bearded man-cow has had history of being absolutely repulsive towards women.

Until he changes that completely, he can go fuck himself (as I assume is the only possible way he can get off), and so can anyone else who defends his dog shit behavior.

There are actual women defending him too, you know that? "He is not sexist" and "he is a nice guy", those are actual quotes from the other woman on the show. It's not all black and white.

I don't think anyone is questioning the fact that Miranda was hurt, but there's more to this that only people that were there know about.

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Edited By trulyalive

I buy this. In the original interviews, Aris spoke relatively intelligently about certain aspects of his argument. Although I disagree with anything that condones sexual harassment, I don't necessarily believe he ever intended to offend anyone. I think he simply meant "Hey, in some sports there is trash talk. In some communities the trash talk can get sexual, but hopefully not to the extent that anybody will get offended."

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deactivated-60339640361ae

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These comments are the goddamn worst. This piece of shit sniffed the girls hair and was being a sexist asshole. "WHY DID YOU WRITE THIS!? WHAT ABOUT THE FIGHTING GAME COMMUNITY!?!? WHAT ABOUT MY RAPES! WAAAAAAH!"

Fuck.

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killer_catt

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Edited By killer_catt

I must say, You are doing a great job covering this, Patrick! :)

Looking forward to the interviews!

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RurouniGeo

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Edited By RurouniGeo

@patrickklepek: Patrick my thing on this is you even said/joked on twitter about Jim Sterling and how you were racing to get this story out. THats not cool and its not the good Journalism I've come to expect from you. I must admit to patrick haters that I've cringed at certain points in videos and things but I've always loved your writing except this. You reached out on twitter to....5 or 6 people in a community with 300 or so big names and then took it on yourself to do what everyone else from Destructiod, Penny Arcade and Kotaku did and run a rare juicy gossipy story that we get so few of in videogames.

I'm sure someone has linked you to LI Joe's stream where Aris and players on the Cross Assault show called in and talked right? Sherry Jenix, Aris, and Dr. Sub Zero had all called in by 10 or 11pm pacific time monday night. There was tons more information out there and the video game media just pieced together forum posts, youtube videos, and twitter for their stories. Furthermore these people are dead tired and stresed. They have to sit and play a game for nearly 12 hours everyday and have that $25K hanging over their heads so give them some time. Also I'm sure you are familiar with non disclosure agreements sometimes not telling people you are under one is part of the agreement right?

I expected poor journalism and rushed articles from other news outlets Patrick but not you and giant bomb. Especially after that great Noah article a while back.

Your colleagues can come out and say that "the media isn't their to support their scene" (also reversaly the community isnt here to meet your deadlines and do interviews on your timetable) and thats fine and good if the media is doing its job and being fair. Penny Arcade and Destructiod both got facts wrong and they are still taking to twitter and whatever else and lashing out at the problematic community and how bad press that reflects on the whole is our fault and not theirs.

This goes to everyone: Watch I got next, King of Chinatown Fair or any of the other great Arcade/Fighting game community documentaries that so many people worked hard on that game out last year. That's the soul of the community. Talk about Uncle Alex Valle the coach on team street fighter and the hundreds of tournaments he's sponsors and the players he's helped.

I have faith in you Patrick that if anyone can give the story the context it needs you can. I'm not asking you to brush aside whats happened or to write a positive things about the community but don't throw us all under the bus like everyone else.

Also for the record my street fighter 4 training partner is a transgendered person. We are extremely welcoming of all people no matter your disability, gender, orientation, or race. Aris and the west coast isn't the entire fighting game community.

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Stahlbrand

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Edited By Stahlbrand

@Ett said:

You do know that the word rape have more one meaning.

anactofplunder,violentseizure,orabuse;despoliation;violation:therapeofthecountryside.

The word rape has nothing too do with a sexual act in fighting scene and all with the destroying of you opponent.

From the same school of thought that says "what, nigger just means negro, which is Spanish for black, so why so mad". AKA the 'if you look in the dictionary' defense.

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Barrock

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Edited By Barrock

@Ett said:

@Barrock: You do know that the word rape have more one meaning.

anactofplunder,violentseizure,orabuse;despoliation;violation:therapeofthecountryside.

The word rape has nothing too do with a sexual act in fighting scene and all with the destroying of you opponent.

Okay. But when the average person hears the word rape sexual assault comes to mind. Especially when it is being directed at a female and the word bitch is used repeatedly. And I bet you money that when most people say "I just raped you" when referring to beating someone at a game they aren't thinking about pirates. The word "faggot" has other meanings as well but you don't see people defending that word because at one time it was used in a different connotation.

And look, I'm not saying these people can't use that term. If you want to get together at a friends house or a hotel or something that's fine. Yell "Rape that bitch!" all you like. You might alienate and make some people uncomfortable, but it's a private setting and that's your choice. The problem is this is in a public setting sponsored by a corporation that is broadcast on the internet. Is it really too much to ask for people to hold the rape talk until they are behind closed doors?

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Edited By SunnyD

Do people actually watch the stream other than just the youtube clip? After Jared and Aris finished their conversation, Miranda got on the stream and began talking about how she feel about the whole situation. Then she starts talking about how she not racist cause she loves how black guys hits on her and how her Korean boyfriend doesn't have a small penis. Obviously Aris is wrong here, but what I don't get is Miranda never told Aris to stop.

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Edited By Improbablej

So I guess he's softened his stance and started backing off after he got made to look like an idiot. The least he could do I suppose, but even so, his excuse for being in a 'heated moment' does not excuse the rather sexist and aggressive stance he took. It's like getting drunk at a party and proceeding to absolutely trash the venue, and then apologizing after excusing that you were drunk.

An absolute shame that from a desire to create a friendly and giving community, that it takes some bad seeds to ruin it for everyone.

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Edited By ScrambledGregs

It sickens me to my core to see people use the excuse of "it's America, free speech!" to defend themselves. Joking around with your friends at home or online is one thing, but when you're in public, you can't behave this way and not come off like a racist, sexist douche.

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Edited By Katkillad

I like how something being apart of someone's "culture" justifies it as being acceptable even when society defines it as inappropriate.  If a culture practices cannibalism should we respect that?
 
Also I like how people seem to have forgotten how to give an apology.  This reminds me of that apology between that penny arcade guy and that sales person who was sassing a customer.  Aris is sorry people "took this out of context" and hope he and/or capcom doesn't get in trouble.  Don't apologize if you can't even comprehend what you did wrong.

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Edited By sweep  Moderator

I have been avoiding this whole deal because it seems unnecessarily aggressive to label Capcom as a sexist organisation for the ignorance of one idiot who happens to hold a position of authority within the fighting game community. If I got worked up over every moronic thing anyone said on the internet then I would never get anything done. However, from a journalistic point of view, if this sparks the necessary pressure that removes this behaviour from the scene then that's something that I can support.

So... uh. Good work, Batrick.

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Edited By RurouniGeo
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Edited By Ett

@Barrock:

Yeah but the comment that Jared is revering to was made at SCR which is a major fighting games tournament fully in context. Not randomly in a bar or on the street in front of bus full of kids.

Jared knows that fully well .He baited Aris too further his own agenda. There is allot of money too be made off the Fighting scene and people have been fighting about who should make it for a while now.

Jared got what he wanted main stream calls him a hero.

Anyway lets hope patrick get the right too people too talk and show what the scene is really like.

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Edited By Ett

@Stahlbrand:

It is about the meaning behind the word and the in what context that word is used. White people cant use a the word without being called racist but a people is free too use the word when ever and to whom ever he wants. Its a cultural different.

And the Fighting game community is a 15 year old cultural who uses the word rape in a context that most cultures have forgotten.

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Jimbo

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Edited By Jimbo

Sooo... does he still believe sexual harassment is fair game or not? Apologising for causing offence isn't worth a whole lot if his views remain the same. Does he think it's reasonable that females are intimidated out of participating in the scene purely on the basis that they are female, or not? I don't consider that a culture that needs protecting; I consider it cowardly. It's something that needs to be confronted (right across gaming to be honest, and the industry needs to start leading by example).

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Edited By sandweed

Video game nerds are horrible people, news at 10.

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deactivated-5e49e9175da37

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I can't believe how short-sighted some of these comments are. It's such snap defensive reactions, that they're defending a sexist asshole rather than distancing themselves. He's done well to confuse the issue that "they're trying to take down our community" and not "sexually harassing women is not okay". And that's exactly what he was doing. If you don't believe so, try that fucking shit in your office or on the street and see where it gets you.

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Edited By ptys

People make mistakes, you shouldn't be held to randsom for slipping up occasionally. The problem is if one persists with antisocial behaviour, then people should get offended and take action. Seems like the internet (and the world) is so?.. angry nowadays that everyone is looking to punish anything that doesn't tow the line of politically correct. Its so common that people must prefer dishonesty to the actual truth of one's opinions.

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Ett

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Edited By Ett

@Jimbo: He apologized to Miranda long before Patrick posted that article.

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feargalr

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Edited By feargalr

On a slightly less serious side note. Patrick Klepek is amazing, everytime I'm online he's either twitter-ing or giant bomb-ing, seemingly without sleep, and he manages to keep that hair looking fly too. Outstanding.

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deactivated-5a1d45de5ef23

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@RurouniGeo said:

@patrickklepek: Patrick my thing on this is you even said/joked on twitter about Jim Sterling and how you were racing to get this story out. THats not cool and its not the good Journalism I've come to expect from you. I must admit to patrick haters that I've cringed at certain points in videos and things but I've always loved your writing except this. You reached out on twitter to....5 or 6 people in a community with 300 or so big names and then took it on yourself to do what everyone else from Destructiod, Penny Arcade and Kotaku did and run a rare juicy gossipy story that we get so few of in videogames.

I'm sure someone has linked you to LI Joe's stream where Aris and players on the Cross Assault show called in and talked right? Sherry Jenix, Aris, and Dr. Sub Zero had all called in by 10 or 11pm pacific time monday night. There was tons more information out there and the video game media just pieced together forum posts, youtube videos, and twitter for their stories. Furthermore these people are dead tired and stresed. They have to sit and play a game for nearly 12 hours everyday and have that $25K hanging over their heads so give them some time. Also I'm sure you are familiar with non disclosure agreements sometimes not telling people you are under one is part of the agreement right?

I expected poor journalism and rushed articles from other news outlets Patrick but not you and giant bomb. Especially after that great Noah article a while back.

Your colleagues can come out and say that "the media isn't their to support their scene" (also reversaly the community isnt here to meet your deadlines and do interviews on your timetable) and thats fine and good if the media is doing its job and being fair. Penny Arcade and Destructiod both got facts wrong and they are still taking to twitter and whatever else and lashing out at the problematic community and how bad press that reflects on the whole is our fault and not theirs.

This goes to everyone: Watch I got next, King of Chinatown Fair or any of the other great Arcade/Fighting game community documentaries that so many people worked hard on that game out last year. That's the soul of the community. Talk about Uncle Alex Valle the coach on team street fighter and the hundreds of tournaments he's sponsors and the players he's helped.

I have faith in you Patrick that if anyone can give the story the context it needs you can. I'm not asking you to brush aside whats happened or to write a positive things about the community but don't throw us all under the bus like everyone else.

Also for the record my street fighter 4 training partner is a transgendered person. We are extremely welcoming of all people no matter your disability, gender, orientation, or race. Aris and the west coast isn't the entire fighting game community.

This, and watch "focus" too.

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Edited By ttocs

I just can't shake the creepy factor of that dude after hearing him talk to that chick on that one video.

He is complaining because a chauvinistic "sport" is now evolving and women are becoming more prevalent in it so the times and language used is changing and he doesn't like it. What a man baby. Get over yourself. You aren't in an arcade anymore where you can bully the lesser nerds. When corporations get involved and money is thrown around events, it's equal opportunity and you need to respect others. If you want to be mad at anyone, be pissed at yourself for selling out and having a company sponsor your event. Because under their money, you act responsibly and not like "people use to in arcades." You could also just be a decent human being and not sexually harass women when they are trying to play a game, but that seems like a big step for him.

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TruthTellah

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Edited By TruthTellah

A reminder that even decent, likeable people can be insensitive creeps sometimes.

I like Bakhtanian as a commentator, but he is definitely inappropriately lecherous at times. And he just happens to be wrong here. He is defending the freedom of irresponsible youth without acknowledging that he and others within the fighting game community have grown up. There absolutely are issues in the community; while often inclusive and open, the community also often turns a blind eye to sexism, racism, and just general crossing the line when it comes to proper conduct in a tournament setting. That isn't good for the community, and it's not good for fighting games as a growing eSport. Now, this doesn't mean that the fighting game community or Capcom is sexist in their very nature; this is acknowledging that a perversion of the healthy competitive spirit is often exemplified by offensive language which Aris is defending here. This kind of language may be part of his and others' nostalgic view of playing fighting games, but it is a part of the past which must not remain in fighting games' future.

Just as people have the right to say whatever they like, tournament organizers have the right to establish and maintain reasonable standards of conduct. In this case, if social pressures have not been enough to discourage pointedly abusive language(not just trash talk, but personal or threatening statements or actions, particularly by the crowd) which hinders how welcome and comfortable many people feel in the community, tournaments should take further steps to establish some level of decorum when it comes to treatment of others within a tournament setting. As much as we may look nostalgically upon the old days in the arcade duking it out, things have changed. Many have grown up, and the field has diversified. And with that, people within the fighting game community must make an issue of greater responsibility and consider the broader impact of their words and actions. Many certainly do, but many others do not. And that is the issue here.

Since we care about the future of the fighting game community, we should be the first to call out those giving the community a bad name and make certain that we are not tolerant of such archaic language within our midst. Only with greater personal accountability in the community will we be able to avoid more stories like this in the future.

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Kyodra

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Edited By Kyodra

"Back when arcades were more prevalent, people didn’t like newcomers, and players needed to fight and pay their dues to get respect."

I find it hilarious that this guy talks like he's a famous boxer, guys smashing buttons isn't something I see as particularly macho or respectable. If I was playing in an arcade and someone came up to me being rude because I was not good at a game I would laugh in their face.

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Chylo

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Edited By Chylo

@Sweep: I wouldn't even call him an authority figure in the community. He's just another member of the community who also runs his own Tekken website and podcast. Capcom happened to select him as the coach for Team Tekken because he's older to complement Alex Valle's (Team Capcom's coach) father figure, and has a Tekken background and previous success in Tekken games. There were many better choices in the FGC for the position, but those folks would fall under Capcom.

My question is why would Patrick rush out this article without reaching out to other members in the community to obtain a larger perspective. Speak to a more literate, articulate member such as UltraDavid, likely the most educated commentator in the entire competitive gaming scene.

The FGC is largely an accepting community. We have transgendered members such as KayoPolice and Kara, whose photos have been on the front page of GB, and other members who are more open about their sexuality. Sherry also participated in Cross Assault, and she has been an active member of the community for 2+ years while Miranda is rather new.

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Dalfiuss

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Edited By Dalfiuss

@Ett:

Your lack of skill with the english language is really hurting your point here.

The fighting game community uses the word rape in a context that most cultures have forgotten? Oh yes, I forgot, in the etymology of the word, 700 years ago, one of it's original meanings was to beat another player at a fighting game.

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ttocs

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Edited By ttocs

@Evelgest said:

My question is why would Patrick rush out this article without reaching out to other members in the community to obtain a larger perspective. Speak to a more literate, articulate member such as UltraDavid, likely the most educated commentator in the entire competitive gaming scene.

Because the one dude who made the comments is really all the matters right now. He is at the center of this whole issue and he is the one who needed to speak about his actions. The rest would be nice fluff for an article or a nice followup article, but to hear that one dude who made all the chauvinistic remarks is the key.

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north6

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Edited By north6

I wonder what size bra this guy should probably wear.

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Ett

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Edited By Ett

@Dalfiuss said:

@Ett:

Your lack of skill with the english language is really hurting your point here.

The fighting game community uses the word rape in a context that most cultures have forgotten? Oh yes, I forgot, in the etymology of the word, 700 years ago, one of it's original meanings was to beat another player at a fighting game.

@Dalfiuss:

English isn't my first or second languish

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excast

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Edited By excast

Nice job on this story Patrick.  I really wasn't aware of how prevalent this sort of stuff was.  Maybe it will help serve as a first step at the FIghting Game Community having a look in the mirror and asking themselves if they like what they see.

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sweep

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Edited By sweep  Moderator

@Evelgest: Fair enough, but I think the issue here is that it's accepted within the community that this sort of behaviour is acceptable. You could ask around and, of course, people would say things like "It's despicable and it's nothing to do with me" but at the same time they are attending these tournaments and taking part in this community and are perfectly happy to let this behaviour continue. I mean, I assume this is the case? There is nobody else speaking out against this kind of thing, right?

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kagato

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Edited By kagato

Ive been playing games for over 20 years, fighting games for at least 3/4 of that and thats exactly the kind of idiot you find on the other end of a mic when you play a match online. Back when i was a kid hanging out at arcades playing Streetfighter and KOF, we where all way more polite, we reserved a match with whoever was on, had our fight with non offensive trash talk and then shook hands and went our seperate ways. Since you no longer need to look your opponenet in the eye this generation of gamers think they can say and do whatever they like regardless of if its a rage quit, a sexual or racist slur or just general vulgar comments. As a parent now this does trouble me as i hear our own son at the same thing and i try to instill that same sense of honour and respect we had for each other only to come accross a guy like this who is old enough to know better doing the same thing. How can we grow as a community when this is the kind of person we spotlight and have as our best? Its sad to see people like this become so hatefull and think its justified because they dont think its serious, clearly his team mate wasnt impressed and neither are the dozens of commenters on this story. Capcom really should have acted faster, especially disapointed in them.

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monkeyking1969

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Edited By monkeyking1969

What is really being discussed here; is hazing part of this eSports? And like all other sports, clubs, and organization the end result is always going to be "No, hazing is not acceptable."

Will it still happen? Probably, but that still does not make it acceptable. Will certain members of the community argue that "hazing is part of the sport" until they are blue in the face? Yes, the argument is always, "But this is how it works! We have always done it this way! Hazing makes us stronger!"

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SeanFoster

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Edited By SeanFoster

He looks like Ryan Davis in an alternate universe where the Borg have completely overrun the Alpha Quadrant.