Texas Showdown 4, another year another expectation of myself and how far I have come in competing in the fighting game community. I traveled to the Lone Star state of Texas by myself Thursday morning and when I arrived to meet the person that housed me, Matt also known as "Repulsorgeist" everything started to commence. I was first driven to his place of residence to freshen up before the Friday tournaments started. So what did I do for the whole day? Practice Marvel vs. Capcom 2 of course. There were at least 5 people in the house during the time. I was giving them pointers about their game. Nightfall had commenced and everyone is now sleeping. When Friday morning came along, "Marvelous" and Repulsorgiest opps, I went into third person; "Laughs". I went to pick up Nibor and Eddie Lee. We first went to the Mall just to kill time. So we played a couple of games and just browse around the mall. Then we went to the Internet Cafe called Gigalan for no reason. We probably went just to kill a lot of time until we decide to go to Stargate arcade."

When we finally got to Stargate, a lot of people were there playing. What I expected was fierce competition this whole weekend, and I was not disappointed. Every cabinet had a 1 on 1 game. This arcade encourages people getting better in fighting games so they can call "Texas" the most powerful state ever in fighting game history. That's arguable though; but Texas has a lot of strong points and players that can be made to argue. Many faces were there that was a threat for Marvelous for every game. Sorry did it again. The games that were for tournament were Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Capcom vs. SNK 2, and Street Fighter 3rd Strike. But there was a little twist in the tournament. These were team tournaments; so three Players are needed for each game. In Marvel vs. Capcom 2, the team was Marvelous, Combofiend from California and Repulsorgeist from Texas. Sorry, I'm stuck in story mode, so I am just going to tell it that way. In Capcom vs. SNK 2, the team was Marvelous, Eddie Lee and Nibor, and for Street Fighter 3rd Strike, the team was Marvelous, Eddie Lee, and Nibor. Throughout the whole tournament, Justin's team had won everything except for Street Fighter 3rd Strike. Team California that consists of Combofiend, Jason Cole, and Ed Ma. Team Austin that consists of FubarDuck, Hsien, and Mopreme. Those guys took out Marvelous team. When all the tournaments had ended, that Friday night ended as well. It was time to rest and get ready for the next 2 days. Marvelous slept through the night but on the way back to his current headquarters there he was thinking of a new strategy in every game. He thought of one and he decided to test it out.

Saturday officially came and now Capcom vs. Snk 2, Street Fighter 3rd Strike, Alpha 2 and 3, Super Turbo, and Puzzle Fighter had to be played. Marvelous has entered everything on that list. He has 6 games to worry about now. But his main concerns were Capcom vs. Snk 2, Street Fighter 3rd Strike and Super Turbo. During the tournament, Marvelous has been socializing with other players. Ruin from Las Vegas, Fubarduck from Texas, Team Cali, Team Austin, Team New Orleans, and many others. Then I met this girl.time to get serious for minute, so let me pause on the third person stuff. The girl I met was called Vanessa. I found her to be something special. She plays a lot of games, I played some street fighter with her and she drew the Texas Showdown card. But you have to win to get the special one's that she gave out. So she can be one of the only females that can revolutionize Street Fighter history. We'll get back to her in a bit, but for now; back to third person. Well during the tournament Marvelous has no problems in getting to the finals in every game except Puzzle Fighter. Puzzle Fighter is the only game Marvelous didn't get Top 2 in. But everything else He got either first or second. Alpha 2 and 3, Marvelous has gotten 2nd, Super Turbo, he also got 2nd to Jason Cole. It was a very close fight for Marvelous. The score was 4-3 the first set and 4-2 the second set. Marvelous was coming out from the losers but he still didn't ensure the win. In Street Fighter 3rd Strike, Marvelous has came out on Top as 1st place against Mopreme, Hsien, and Combofiend. A memorable moment for Marvelous and Capcom vs. SNK2, Marvelous also got 1st and winning that was no sweat for him. That day was finish and Marvelous strategy had worked perfectly against everyone. So far this lone state is being conquered by one man from the Empire, Justin "Marvelous" Wong.

Then Sunday came and it was the last day of the tournament. Marvelous again had to prove why he will be taken seriously and will be apart of videogame fighting tournament history. The games that Marvelous entered for Sunday were Marvel vs. Capcom 2, and King of Fighters 2003. K.O.F.2K3 was a guarantee win for Marvelous. No one posed a threat to Marvelous. Marvel vs Capcom 2, everyone knew how to play, but Marvelous rushes through the finals and faced Peter Rosas A.K.A. Combofiend, the only person in the world, that held a 1-0 record on Marvelous in a tournament. Marvelous has been put into losers but he never faced him in the finals of the same tournament. Although Marvelous wanted to even the score out with Combofiend at that time, he never got the chance. Until............ NOW!!!!!! When Marvelous faced him in the final, it was a massacre, Combofiend still held his weight, but he couldn't hold it against the wrath of "JUSTIN WONG". Marvelous wins Marvel vs. Capcom 2 and yet again proves to the world why he is # 1. Something he is proud of but don't think that he takes it to the head. He is not conceded, although this report from me is told in third person; "laugh". Just having fun. After the tournament, I took a series of pictures. I took pictures with my twin brother, Marneto. He really looks like me. I took some pictures with Team Cali. and Team Austin. I took a picture with the lovely Vanessa. To me she was the cutest female there and yet probably the one female that has enough skill to compete, because she has dedication in her soul. Nothing personal against the other ladies that were there. Marvelous and Vanessa took a picture together but she kissed him on the cheek in the picture. Top tier in everything I do. Yes, yes.

The tournament had finally ended and Marvelous was happy with the results. He is now determined to now learn GGXX because the GGXX players this weekend inspired me to play it. He thinks about going to Super Battle Opera Qualifiers, March Madness, and Final Round 7. But he is not too sure, since Marvelous is also a laidback guy. On Monday, Marvelous just enjoyed the nice atmosphere that Texas had, and then Tuesday he finally went along as it was time to go home. He went to the airport and the flight was delayed for 2 hours. When Marvelous finally got back to New York, Uberjae and Marvelous had a celebration at a Korean restaurant about Marvelous victories and how the Empire through one man beat a whole state. And this is the one of the many tales of Marvelous. "Be True To Your Heart"

Justin "Marvelous" Wong
Royal (E)mperial Guard Unit Leader / Editor.