It’s 2016, and the FGC still has a hard time accepting the Smash scene.

Despite Super Smash Bros. and the rest of the FGC growing alongside each other as modern esports, the two have largely remained segregated. Go to any FGC event hosting Smash tournaments and generally you’ll see most fighting games kept in one area while the Smash games are in a completely different part of the venue.

That odd treatment might be the status quo, but pro Smash players are hoping for some change. They might not get it.

View photos Alex Valle getting in some Street Fighter Alpha 2 at Final Round (Michael Martin) More

In the beginning

The roots of the FGC run through the largely defunct arcade culture, where players crowded around arcade cabinets for hours. Every game meant something to a player because a.) it cost them money and b.) nobody wanted to lose and go to the back of a long line.

Super Smash Bros. first launched on the Nintendo 64 in 1999, a time when many North American arcades were dying out. The game’s combination of iconic Nintendo characters and intuitive controls for up to four players appealed to fans young and old.

But because it’s always been on consoles, Smash never really connected with the arcade-driven players of coin-op fighting games like Street Fighter, Marvel vs. Capcom, and Mortal Kombat.

Both scenes have endured growing pains as they’ve evolved into esports. And both scenes have handled it very differently. The FGC clings to its roots fiercely, while Smash has been a bit more progressive, or at least has tried to be in dealing with controversial issues like “wobbling” (an Ice Climbers infinite grab named after Melee player Robert “Wobbles” Wright), floating top players in pools, or establishing warm-up areas for certain players.

To VIP or not to VIP

In recent weeks, a number of high-profile Smash players have taken to social media to voice their opinions on issues like floating in pools or, more problematically, “VIP rooms” where certain players could hang out before a match.

I wonder how long it’s gonna be until tournaments let us qualify to skip pools. It’s gonna be necessary to prevent burnout imo. — William Hjelte (@TSM_Leffen) June 2, 2016





I really feel like a huge part of the drama is people not realizing how insanely different fan culture is between FGC and smash. — William Hjelte (@TSM_Leffen) August 29, 2016





At this point VIP rooms are necessary for top players because they need a place where they can relax and focus without getting interrupted. — synK_Kage (@Kagethewarrior) August 29, 2016





Why I think private area for top players are a MUST at events Read: https://t.co/OkE5dlUHG3 — Gonzalo ZeRo Barrios (@TSMZeRo) August 30, 2016





FGC players dont realize that Smash players ask top for autographs/pics way more often than a FGC'er. Arguing without seeing both sides — IMT | ANTi (@Anti) August 29, 2016





And FGC players responded, sometimes rationally and sometimes derisively.

Greatly against floating past pools in open bracket events. If you’re burned out stay home, rest & return to find new challengers crowned. — Rick (@TheHadou) June 2, 2016





Daigo lost because he’s a god, but didn’t get a VIP room. — Anton (@Filipinoman) September 4, 2016





Today’s blowup is hard for a lot of FGC only people to understand because our community values open competition so much. It’s semi-unique. — Jay Snyder (@JayViscant) August 29, 2016





You know why I’m here. Let’s talk about this Smash V.I.P. Stuff pic.twitter.com/OE9UheuOzE — Kenneth Bradley (@KBradJStorm) August 30, 2016





The problem, it seems, boils down to the Smash community deifying certain players, and in turn, those players getting perceived special treatment at events.

I use “deifying” literally. The popularity of Smash has created a playful (but totally serious) “god” culture among its playerbase. Adam “Armada” Lindgren, Joseph “Mango” Marquez, Kevin “PPMD” Nanney, Jason “Mew2King” Zimmerman, and Evo 2016 Melee winner Juan “Hungrybox” Debiedma reign supreme as the Five Gods of Melee.

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