Join the scene (or make one yourself)
Gym regulars that keep up a regular retinue would tell you that having a gym partner helps keep you focused; fighting games are no different. Not only would being able to have someone to trade blows with keep you interested in the game but you’ll also get to experience a more human side to the game where fighting a rigid (or SNK-level cheating) AI just can’t do. Fighting against different people can prepare you for situations that arcade mode isn’t able to replicate. If you’re looking to branch out from your close circle of friends, look for fighting game groups in your area. Shoryuken.com and Facebook can be wonderful breeding grounds for finding local meetups to spar with. When I was living in the Midwest, a local group on campus helped test my mettle in Street Fighter and Tekken on a regular basis. Some of the guys from CORN also helped me to discover a number of my tendencies and poor habits that I’m still training myself on breaking. If a group hasn’t been started yet in your area, try making one yourself?
Going to tournaments even without the intention to play can also be good for keeping your morale up. Not only can this keep you interested in the title, but talking with other fans of the title might open you up to new insight. There’s also a special something about going to a major and being able to share the passion of a hype match that just can’t be replicated by watching a stream from home.
