I need an Arcade Stick!

Ok, I don't know where to start..
I have not written in a while.. So many news, SSF4 and stuff.. I didn't know what I should include or what I should not, so I just did not write anything!

Anyways, This week was full of surprises.. I found out there is still A LOT to learn in SF!

I will be talking about 2 new methods I learned this week, and why I need an arcade stick :P

First of all, the Option Select method. I knew this for quite a while, but I never really used it because I used to win without it, not until I met better players, aside than that. Some situations, an Option Select would be really helpful to use. For those who don't know what Option Select is. It is when you input more than 1 command at the same time.

1 very very good example if for example lets choose Akuma, Go to training, and set the recording dummy for akuma. Move to the opponent and Sweep him, walk to him, as soon as he stands, press:
c.Lp + c.Lk -> c.Hk -> c.Lp -> whatever combo you like (Keep guarding while crouching)

if you input the command successfully what akuma will do is first he will sweep, then he will move forward and when opponent stands, he will do a crouching low kick into a crouching low punch into whatever combo you did. The crouching kick at the beginning came out because of priority, The second Sweep will not come out if you did it correctly, so why did we do this?
Now set the Akuma to Playback and let him Sweep you the first time.

Lets see the different scenarios when you stand up:
1- if you keep guarding:
Akuma will block string you
2- if you try grabbing:
Akuma will tick grab you.
3- if you try to back dash to escape:
Akuma will sweep you out of it and knock you down.
4- if you try to counter with lets say a shoryuken:
Akuma will guard

Scenario 1 is obvious.

Scenario 2, why would he tick grab you? lets see the input again, we pressed crouching low punch + low kick, thats a grab, but because you're crouching, a kick comes out instead, but if you're being tried to be grabbed, the grab will come out instead and tick him. Sweet huh?

Scenario 3, why did the sweep come out now but it didnt come out before? its because of the block stun. if the opponent guards the low kick, a period of time will pass by where you wont be able to Sweep because of the start up frames of it. but since he back dashes, the low kick whiffs, thus there will not be any block stun. so its easier to start the sweep.

Scenario 4, Because you're already blocking while crouching, Akuma will continue blocking if he got hit.

See? 4 different outcomes in 1 single command. This is pretty useful. And there are plenty of other examples and useful cases.

For me, I started using this mostly when I cross up. sometimes my cross up whiffs and i find myself being grabbed. so now when i cross up, i always grab few frames later, thus if i whiff my cross up, i will grab my opponent or tick him. but if my cross up does not whiff.. I continue normally. This helped me a lot, and left my opponents puzzled :P quite amusing.

So basically an Option select is where you input multiple commands, and depending on the situation, the best option will come out.


The second thing I learned is the Double-tapping/P-linking, basically this is where you make a hard 1-frame link into a 2 frame link, or a 2 frame link into 4 frame link, you're making the chance of it working a 200%!, how this works is first, double tapping is where you press the same button twice using your index and middle finger instantly after each other starting with the middle finger first. Of course this is done using an arcade, because with a joystick, you probably are using your thumb and it would be really hard to double tap this way.

when using double tapping, you first press the button, you release, then press again. so in here, you enter 3 commands but 2 hits (Press, Release, Press), thus this takes up 3 frames. This works best for 2-frame links or more
..++ (This is the 2 frame link)
+-+ (You're -2 frames earlier, but you still managed to link!)
.+-+ (You're -1 frame earlier, but your second input worked)
..+-+ (Your first input had already worked)
...+-+(You're +1 frames late but it doesn't matter. it worked)


lets see this for a 1 frame link:

..+ (This is your 1 frame link)
+-+ (You're -2 frames earlier, but you managed to link)
.+-+ (You're -1 frames earlier, but the link was in your release!)
..+-+ (You're exactly on time, so it hits)

as you can see with double tapping for 2 frame links, you can hit it with 4 frames
but with 1 frame link, you have 3 frames, but 1 of them will miss. somehow making it still a 1 frame link.

The other one is the P-linking, or the Priority linking. instead of pressing the same button twice after each other, in here, your press 2 different buttons but with one faster than the other. If you go to training and show inputs, then press MP and instantly press LP while still pressing MP, you will see the first frame will show the MP, then the second frame will show you LP+MP, in here we had 2 presses, and 2 hits. the reason its called Priority linking, is because when you press LP+MP, the MP will come out because it has higher priority.
Priority buttons are as followed from lowest to highest:
LP, LK, MP, MK, HP, HK.

now lets see the two situations again in here

..++ (This is the 2 frame link)
.++ (You're -1 frames earlier, but you still managed to link!)
..++ (You're on time)
...++ (You're +1 frames late but it doesn't matter, you linked.)

*in here you have only 3 frames where in double tapping you get 4 frames.

..+ (This is your 1 frame link)
.++ (You're -1 frames earlier, but you managed to link)
..++ (You're on time)

*in here you can see both of them worked so you have 2 frames in this method, the difference between this and double tapping is that here it is consequent, So you will not have to worry about the "Release" being placed in the Frame Link.

Now after learning about this, I understand why people laugh at pad users :P
I personally did not have that much of trouble linking with a pad, because I practice a lot, but with an arcade stick, I will be able to rise my consistency higher!

Another thing I wanted from an Arcade Stick is the mashing specials, Which is called the Piano input, it is the moves where you mash buttons to work, like Blanka's Electricity, Honda's hands, etc, its called Piano because you press buttons as if you're playing on a piano. One way of doing it in example for Honda:
lp > mp > hp > mp > hp, this will start with the jab, then his hands special will come out. Though you have to do it presciently else the EX version will come out.

I wanted to practice Gen's hands combo, but there is no way it would be done with a joystick. (Actually it can work, but its very inconvenient)