from the Down Tilt Team
It’s hard to put into words how amazing the Down Tilt fighting game community is. From our humble beginnings with Smash Thursday’s to the rise of Smash at GUF and eventually Battle Hall, who knew how far we could come. It has been an amazing 7-ish year of competition and with Roadside Rumble reaching 100. We can’t thank you all enough.
There are far too many people to thank for the journey we have been on. From Smash 4 to Ultimate, the scene has seen constant growth not only in the talent of our players but also in the growth of our scene. When Max and Shop started this, the goal was always “community first, competition second” and we also held true to that value. We never let competition ruin friendships or cause issues. We made it that we backed people first and foremost and with the support from parents, partners, local businesses and other smash scenes around Australia we were able to make something truly special.
To our long-time members, thank you, to our new players, thank you!
We have seen some exceptional growth since our relocation and we can’t help but thank Andrew and the team at Optimal Gaming for their hospitality and for working with us to make Roadside Rumble even better.
“Our new home at Optimal Gaming”
Max covered it amazing in his post:
“So unfortunately I wasn't able to be there in person for Roadside Rumble 100. Being able to watch the stream from home still was awesome, great tournament and a great turnout! Hope everyone enjoyed pizza and the Crew Battle!
Even though RR has reached 100 entries, we've had a Smash presence in Launceston for so much longer. I'd really like to say thanks to the whole scene, current or past, for coming to play, commentating, watching, cheering and generally being part of an awesome community. Every little part or person has been so important in our journey so far!
From the old days of Utas Smash, with Dean, Cohen, Jai, Sam, Gerald, Streetsy, Will and plenty of others that have since moved on from the scene. In the early days of Smash at Guf, having so much help from members of the scene like Kharn, Khalil, Grady, Caleb and Twitch. Seeing players go from high school kids to adults and their progress along the way, Jackie, Ben, the aforementioned UTAS smash vets, Ivan and definitely some people I've forgotten. The days of Battle Hall after leaving from Guf, were freezing in winter and boiling in summer but we saw the end of Smash 4 and the start of Ultimate in those walls. We saw a lot of new faces come through in those times, a few stick out but we were very blessed to have a young Ganondorf player named Wingy step into our building who has become a beloved community member and a great help behind the scenes. These are all memories and people that lead up to the inception of Roadside Rumble when we rented our own space and were able to utilize a space that was solely for Smash.
Thank you to all of those people mentioned, to the two owners of Guf that gave us the chance to run our events there for years, and to my workplace Life Without Barriers for allowing us to use the Battle Hall space when we had nowhere else to go, Another Computer Store for taking a chance on us and renting their building, Optimal Gaming for being our newest hosts and so willing to provide our community with a great space and the freedom to run our tournaments the best we can, all the community members who - regardless of being players or not - helped out in some way or another. Most of all I'd like to say thanks to Dean who has been with me for the entire journey, always pushing me to do more, be better and for our scene to flourish the way it has. Without his commitment Smash in Launceston would not be what it is today, nowhere close.
If you made it this far, well done. There are so many memories I'd love to share but I'd be writing a novel by that point. In closing, thank you to everyone I did (or didn't) mention that has been part of the journey and I look forward to at least 320 more Roadside Rumbles!”
For me (Shop) the thanks go so much to the team that is behind Down Tilt. Headed by Max, encouraged by Jai and Mia and played by Sam (Trucks) and Quay (Ja-Nox). My love for PRIDE Gaming (Jai Phillips Esports/Umami) and everyone who has played such an integral part in our scene.
LargeMarge, Mr. President, Gerald, Streetsy, Coh, Monday_J, BeeseChurger, Doug, Player, Sadlife, Vas, BigMac, Gandlaf, Tezz and so many more over the years.
I can’t thank you enough again. But not only our local players but the ones who repped our brand like Luma and PAZX. The mentorship of Pudge and the smash senate. The south Tasmanian crew, both past and present.
Down Tilt would be nothing without you all.
So as I head into my final tournament this week, I want to thank you all and look forward to seeing you all grow!
