Smashers Competing in Kings of Cali 4 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Edgar Cervantez)

Spawning a competitive gaming community was never the intention of Nintendo game director Masahiro Sakurai.  But Super Smash Bros. Melee has done just that.

A fighting game that debuted in 2001, Super Smash Bros. Melee was impressive for its time, but has long since been outpaced by more realistic and futuristic experiences (think mind-blowing virtual reality). Despite this, a competitive scene of players who call themselves “Smashers” has emerged around the game over the years. The competitive Melee community predates both the Wii and Wii U, but instead of dwindling as the game technically becomes more out-of-date, the community continues to grow and is currently at its largest size in years.

Competitive players typically enter the video game scene casually at first, but playing games with friends often sparks competition. The social aspect of Melee began to harness rivalries and first spawn competitions between friends that grew slowly into regional tournaments and eventually reached a national level.

Southern California is one region that remains particularly notable in the competitive Melee scene, and Los Angeles is a hot spot.

Hugo Gonzalez, known in the Smash community by his in-game tag “HugS,” is a renowned SoCal Melee player who said he enjoyed the game so much that the transition into the competitive community “was a natural one, if not compulsive.”

SoCal players “have a culture of such aggressive play that a lot of times we develop silly weaknesses,” which differentiates the gameplay from other regions, said Shephard “Fiction” Lima, a top-ranked player in Southern California. 

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The unique and highly skilled play style of SoCal competitors in particular gives the area its prestigious reputation amongst the Melee community. Southern California is the origin of renowned players Joseph "Mango" Marquez, Ken “Ken" Hoang, and others who have been regarded as some of the best Melee players of all time. The region’s in-your-face approach has often produced flashy plays with big crowd reactions, and players are not scared to boast their SoCal pride. 

Hugo “HugS” Gonzales looks at the rivalries that many players harness over the years as being motivational and helping to develop different techniques, creating more dynamic and unique in-game fights.   

Some attribute such talent to the population density of the region. Daniel “Tafokints” Lee, a well-known commentator and player, pointed out that there is always someone to practice with, as well as a constant flow of tournaments. Another contributing factor is positive reinforcement, which is partially what motivated "HugS." 

“When people realize they are a part of something that great, it’s motivating to meet those expectations,” said “HugS.”

He added that when he first started playing in 2004, he wanted to represent SoCal players alongside “Ken,” the best player in the world at the time.

“I’m sure upcoming players feel a similar way about the talent now,” he said.    

Nationwide, the hype surrounding the Melee community is exceptional, allowing it to garner attention often with intermittent appearances on the Major League Gaming (MLG) roster. These unique features developed through intensive dedication from Smashers, promoting an underlying metagame that has been enhanced with precise tournament rules. Some of the more basic tournament rules are: no items, a limit of six agreed upon stages, and four lives or stocks, which are allowed in one game of Melee. The development of tournament rules for Melee has allowed it to be seen as more than just a game for casual gamers, but as an e-sport. 

The intensely devoted throng of Smashers and the Melee community in general has made its presence known through local tournament series and events. The Kings of Cali (KoC) tournament series’ attendance has grown from 121 entrants in the first Kings of Cali in 2012, to more than 200 entrants in Kings of Cali 4, many of whom are local. 

Tafokints pointed out that one reason for the increase of attendance at Kings of Cali 4 is likely due to the location and low cost of the event, which is held at a Dave and Busters in Westchester, California. After initially being cancelled due to a disagreement over venue fees with the previous venue, Red Bull sponsored the competition at the new venue. With a brand name like Red Bull sponsoring the event, the draw for both players and spectators is even greater.

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The college Melee scene has also witnessed a recent revival in camaraderie and popularity. For a few years, students at the University of Southern California held informal gatherings of Melee players. Jeffrey “JeezImSoBored” Chen, a current USC student, said that in 2013 Melee at USC had dwindled in popularity, but in 2014 more students began to show an interest in the game. 

Another student, Marco “Polo” San Filippo, recently created a Facebook Melee group for USC students to connect, and is hoping to find more people interested in competing at USC and in the Los Angeles area. 

Melee players attribute the rise in the game’s popularity to several factors. Shepard “Fiction” Lima said that The Evolution Championship Series (EVO) 2013, the largest fighting game tournament in the world, was what launched it into the mainstream. 

“Before that we were just a little quiet group,” he said. 

The 2013 EVO was a landmark moment for what had become a close-knit gaming community. This year, Melee was added to the MLG Championship Anaheim roster and was once again included in the EVO 2014 lineup, giving the community even more exposure within the e-sport and gaming world. 

Outside of the competition setting was the release of Travis “Samox” Beauchamp’s documentary series The Smash Brothers on YouTube. The nine-part series chronicles the evolution of the Melee community through the eyes of some well-known players. The documentary ultimately inspired new competitive players and spectators. With news of a feature-length film called “The Next Episode” on the way, Smashers seem hopeful for more public exposure to breathe new life into the community.

Part of the publicity that Melee has received recently can be attributed to hubs and networks that many Smashers communicate through and learn from. One such website is Melee It On Me, which serves as a link for the entire community. Streaming websites like Twitch enables people across the nation to watch specific players stream and discuss tech skills, or watch tournaments live that they could not attend in person. Twitter streams also keep Smashers updated on players’ tournament results. 

On a more personal level, many Smashers communicate through Facebook groups. One of the main groups for Southern California Smashers is the SoCal Melee Community. Part of what makes Melee unique is the need to meet in person to play matches, unlike League of Legends or other popular e-sports that hold matches online. Smashers use social media to keep in touch and encourage the community to grow in SoCal and beyond.

With the newest addition of Smash Bros., Smash Bros. for Wii U and the upcoming release of Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS later this year, the Melee community may see some changes in the near future. But ultimately what it all comes down to is the love of the game. 

“I think there’s magic in this region,” HugS said. “You see it in our basketball teams, you see it in our college football teams. There’s an expectation of excellence out here because we have a history of great players.” 

Reach Staff Reporter Nico Flicker here and follow her on Twitter here.