I'm late to the DOA5 series. I understand the subject matter of this thread. Regarding skill comparison. I'm going to venture off track a bit by participating with my experience regarding DOA5. *TL
r down at the bottom*
1st: I have to give props to this community. I noticed one thing. The community for DOA is STRONG. This game has been out for awhile and there's always matches online (at least for me) and a very mature crowd - it's like you guys as a whole keep a standard of maturity, thus, the new people, acknowledge and follow suit. (Applaud yourself because you deserve it) I've yet to notice teabagging, people talking ish on the mic. (Yes I've come across it) but no where as near as say - KI or MKX levels. Every match or should I say most matches is a guaranteed teabag session or someone talking ish/singing on their mic - "Through The Whole Fight" (no instant mute button so I gotta yell xbox mute TV)
Back to DOA5: The Devs, from what I have seen, interact with the crowd, post tournaments on their YouTube channel within nice and neat playlists.
I've been around several fighting games, from late last year to now. As I've just become seriously involved and wanting to train to enter tournaments. And so, most of my late last year to now has been (soul searching) or - looking for a fighter to call home. Which one is worthy for me to invest my time into. Which one has a supportive dev. I was looking around FGC for awhile. Playing the games, engaging in the forums - looking for a home.
I can't do like most do - play every fighter (I only have the time & mind capacity) to study one maybe two fighting games. Not to mention I love XCOM (Squad Turn Based Tactics Game) and that is a whole other game to study in itself requiring some of my mind capacity for its competitive multiplayer.
Though I love MKX, 2Dimension just sucks for me. The left & right spacing of it and jump,jump,jump - lol. I can't do it. I'm more akin to something more realisic (though all of these are fantasy) still, I need the realistic plaine of 3D. Also, 3D fighters seem to focus more on combat than jump,jump,jump + fireballs or some kind of special projectile. No disrespect to 2D fighters - just not my thing. Though I'll play from time to time for the hell of it. I love MKX.
3D Fighters: SoulCalibur was my favorite, but ProjectSoul whom are the Devs are horrible! No support, interaction, so I cut them loose. Can't see myself putting all that effort, time into a game - to then, not have the dev support in the long run. I have way too much stuff going on in my life to give a dev like this my kind of loyal support.
Tekken is ok, I guess the Devs on that one do interact. But DOA5 to me, moves way more realistically, the animations are so beautifully rendered on the screen. (I game on a 80' TV)
When I watch people like
UPDATE: How did I almost forget --
@Sly Bass and his super technical, patient Akira. This brother is a surgeon with the approach.
@Timasty (I main Pai now) or
@Awesmic and his Christie play.
@MASTER and his Hayabusa. Jesus! When I watch these people play, It's like I am transported back to 1989 - 1995 era when KungFu flicks use to air on Fox Netwok every Sunday in NYC. This game is so beautiful to watch. And again, since I've been around trying every fighter "even Naruto" DOA5 has the most (to me) realistic movements, physics, pacing. Anyways I can go on & on. Bottom line - I found home. And I get to bring it with me on my PS Vita and practice while on the road. This game is a win/win for me all around.
TLr: Though you guys may not have the level of your Eastern counterparts. I easily see you guys becoming that level due to how you carry yourselves as a whole. I don't mean how you share information (all FGC communities do that) I mean the way you guys "the community" move as a unit, alongside the dev continuing support. Keep up this tradition of maturity, technicality in your approach to the game - and yea, I can see you going through that metamorphis of what the OP is describing in this thread.