Anakin talks TEKKEN 8, FGC, and origin story at Evo 2024: “Every tournament feels like a family reunion.”

At Evo Las Vegas 2024, fighting game enthusiasts (FGC) came together to compete for championship titles, socialize with like-minded individuals, and explore new video game exhibits over the course of the weekend. In this bustling crowd was Hoa “Anakin” Luu, a representative of Red Bull eSports, who graced esports.gg with an exclusive interview on TEKKEN 8, the evolution of the FGC, and related topics. Additionally, Anakin shared his personal journey into the TEKKEN series.

Anakin at Evo Las Vegas 2024: Evo is like a family reunion

For Anakin, Evo is more than just a gaming tournament; it’s an opportunity to rekindle old friendships. With his long-standing involvement in the Fighting Game Community (FGC), the feeling of connection and reuniting with familiar faces is what he cherishes most about these events. Notable tournaments like Evo serve as gathering places for friends, dedicated players seeking circuit points, and casual gamers who can scarcely make it to a few events annually.

At major fighting game community tournaments, Anakin explained to esports.gg, it’s like a family gathering. You run into many familiar faces – be they top professional players traveling to accumulate points or less competitive players who only attend a few events annually. And if that’s the case, they’d likely choose larger tournaments like Evo where you can expect to reconnect with friends you haven’t seen in a long time.

Evo is not just about reuniting with old friends and competitors, but also discovering new talents and keeping up with the ever-changing gaming community. With PlayStation’s collaboration, the event has become more welcoming and diverse. Previously, it mainly focused on tournaments, as stated by Anakin. However, now it offers an artist alley, developer booths, shops, and even casual gaming zones. These modifications have resolved past issues and attracted both dedicated gamers and those seeking entertainment.

Anakin talks TEKKEN 8 and setting high standards

At Evo Las Vegas 2024 during the TEKKEN 8 competition, Anakin expressed his observation that the level of competition since TEKKEN 7 has significantly heightened. The emergence of the TEKKEN World Tour (TWT) enabled players to pursue professional careers, leading to a more challenging and competitive environment. The vast popularity of TEKKEN 7 brought an influx of new players who gained substantial experience, setting a high bar for TEKKEN 8. With the game’s intricacy taking years to master, the player pool has become incredibly formidable. However, this also signifies more exceptional matches occurring earlier in tournaments.

As a seasoned gamer in the world of TEKKEN, I can tell you from experience that mastering this game and becoming a successful competitive player is no easy feat. It requires a significant investment of time and dedication. You see, TEKKEN is notoriously challenging to learn, and it typically takes years to truly grasp its intricacies. So, as we gear up for TEKKEN 8, it’s essential to recognize that the competition will be stronger than ever before. The players entering this new tournament have spent countless hours honing their skills, making the bar for high-quality matches even higher. While this might make the challenge more daunting, I believe it’s a good thing. In TEKKEN 7, you might witness exceptional gameplay at specific points during the tournament. However, in TEKKEN 8, we’re seeing those elite matches much earlier in the competition—a clear indication of the level of expertise and dedication among competitors.

Anakin shared with esports.gg that playing online is essential for keeping up with the competition, considering the wide distribution of top American gamers. Consequently, this phase results in unexpected outcomes, resembling the “Wild West” era. To prepare for shifting tactics and adjustments to TEKKEN’s current version, Anakin advocates for regular practice, streaming, and staying informed.

In his opinion, playing offline rather than online is the preferred choice for competitive gamers due to the potential impact of even a tiny delay on input. He emphasized that playing in person offers advantages such as comfort during tournaments and the experience of having an audience. Therefore, he viewed offline gaming as an essential aspect of the competition itself.

TEKKEN over the years: From Walmart to arcades to Evo 2024

Anakin expressed his continued enthusiasm for TEKKEN after two decades, impressed by the game’s progression and improved graphics on latest consoles such as PlayStation 5. When he started competing seriously in 2002, the Fighting Game Community (FGC) was relatively small and closely-knit. Subsequently, TEKKEN 7 attracted a wave of new, younger players, expanding local tournaments from 16 to over 300 participants, fueling the popularity of fighting games like never before.

Anakin expressed his joy and awe at the surge in popularity of fighting games: “It’s thrilling to be part of the scene since its early days, watching it blossom into this massive phenomenon. Now, even gamers from other genres and esports are giving TEKKEN a try for fun. Witnessing their journey into understanding the depth of fighting games has been an enriching experience. I feel fortunate to have turned my passion into a professional career and live my dream.”

Anakin’s introduction to the Fighting Game Community (FGC) began at Walmart where he would spend hours playing Street Fighter as a child, during shopping trips with his parents. His passion for gaming deepened when he engaged in player-versus-player battles with a neighboring kid back in his apartment complex.

He expressed his growing preference for player-versus-player gaming style, reminiscing about his early experiences. Since childhood, he was drawn to this type of gameplay, often asking his older sister or father to join him. This fascination began with simple requests, leading them to the arcade at the mall. There, he discovered TEKKEN, a game that resonated with him due to its familiarity. Consequently, he spent considerable time playing it.

I reminisced about my hours spent at the arcade, while other kids exchanged their tickets for sweets and toys. Instead, I’d head straight for the TEKKEN machine. With each victory, I earned the right to face another challenger. The satisfaction of defeating an opponent and moving on to the next kept me hooked.

As a young gamer, I’d often find myself at the arcade, feeling like a tiny underdog as I watched older players dominate the TEKKEN machine. But something inside me yearned for more than just being a casual observer. I wanted to prove myself, to show those seasoned gamers that even a kid could make a difference. And with every victory, no matter how small, I grew more invested in my gaming journey. That’s how the arcade kid in me transformed into a serious gamer, and from there, history was made.