Evo 2014

File:2013-0222-LVH.jpg.]]

Evo 2014 was announced in September 2013 and was slated to feature primarily Xbox 360 versions of fighting games.{{cite web|url=http://www.vg247.com/2013/09/16/evo-2014-announced-for-july-xbox-360-as-main-platform/|work=VG247|title=Evo 2014 announced for July, Xbox 360 as main platform|last=Hillier|first=Brenna|date=2013-09-16}} As the first Capcom Pro Tour was announced in March 2014, Evo was scheduled to be one of its ten first "Premier Events".{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/capcom-and-twitch-team-up-for-year-long-street-fighter-league-tour/1100-6418249/|work=GameSpot|title=Capcom and Twitch team up for year-long Street Fighter league tour|last=Breslau|first=Rod|date=2014-03-11}}{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/3/10/5490446/capcom-pro-tour-twitch-capcom-street-fighter-league|work=Polygon|title=Twitch and Capcom teaming up for Street Fighter league Capcom Pro Tour|last=Sarkar|first=Samit|date=2014-03-11}} Capcom announced a month later that the company would provide a bonus $10,000 USD to the prize pool of Evo's Ultra Street Fighter IV tournament.{{cite web|url=http://arcadesushi.com/capcom-adds-10000-to-evolution-prize-pool-for-ultra-street-fighter-4/|work=Arcade Sushi|title=Capcom Adds $10,000 to Evolution Prize Pool for Ultra Street Fighter 4|last=Ledford|first=Jon|date=2014-04-26}} Nintendo also sponsored the event, which was noted as a surprising shift in policy after the company tried to shut down the Super Smash Bros. portion of the event in 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/despite-past-resistance-nintendo-now-sponsoring-ev/1100-6420955/|work=GameSpot|title=Despite Past Resistance, Nintendo Now Sponsoring Evo Fighting Game Tournament|last=Newhouse|first=Alex|date=2014-07-07}}

All of the tournaments held at Evo 2014 were livestreamed and available for free on the Twitch online video service. Evo 2014 broke the record for the largest Super Smash Bros. Melee competition up to that point, with 970 entrants. The Ultra Street Fighter IV tournament also broke its record, with nearly 2,000 players competing for the title.{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2014/07/evolution-championship-series-to-stream-on-twitch.html|work=Paste Magazine|title=Evolution Championship Series to Stream on Twitch|last=Youorski|first=Joe|date=2014-07-09}} The event, held at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on July 11–13, had a total prize pool of US$100,000 and was described by IGN as "the 'World Cup' of competitive fighting games."{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/07/02/evo-on-ign-dont-miss-a-moment-of-hype|work=IGN|title=Evo 2014: Evo on IGN: Don't Miss a Moment of Hype|last=Ingenito|first=Vince|date=2014-07-02}}

Eight major tournaments were held at Evo 2014. The games played were:

• Ultra Street Fighter IV
• Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
• Super Smash Bros. Melee
• BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma
• Killer Instinct
• Injustice: Gods Among Us
• King of Fighters XIII
• Tekken Tag 2

2014 was the first year to feature Killer Instinct as a main title at the Evolution Championship Series. The 2013 Xbox One release of the game was well received by both critics and the fighting game community. Injustice: Gods Among Us failed to impress audiences at Evo 2013, and Ozzie Mejia of Shack News suggested that, if the game were to disappoint again, it was likely it wouldn't return in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/85242/five-memorable-moments-from-evo-2013-and-what-questions-they|work=Shack News|title=Five memorable moments from Evo 2013 (and what questions they raise for 2014)|last=Mejia|first=Ozzie|date=2014-07-07}}

Bandai Namco revealed the first trailer for Tekken 7 at Evo 2014.{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2014/07/13/bandai-namco-unveils-tekken-7-fighting-game-with-visuals-using-unreal-engine-4/|work=VentureBeat|title=Bandai Namco unveils Tekken 7 fighting game with visuals using Unreal Engine 4|last=Takahashi|first=Dean|date=2014-07-13}} NetherRealm Studios announced that the character Raiden would return in Mortal Kombat X, which was to be released the following year.{{cite web|url=http://www.inquisitr.com/1350772/raiden-is-revealed-for-mortal-kombat-x-at-evo-2014/|work=Inquisitr|title=Raiden is Revealed for 'Mortal Kombat X' at Evo 2014|last=Omega|first=Jan|date=2014-07-13}} Meanwhile Microsoft announced that Maya would be the next character to be added to Killer Instinct.{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/07/11/evo-2014-maya-revealed-for-killer-instinct-season-2|work=IGN|title=Evo 2014: Maya Revealed for Killer Instinct Season 2|last=Ingenito|first=Vince|date=2014-07-11}}{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/7/12/5893733/killer-instinct-maya-cinder-confirmed|work=Polygon|title=Killer Instinct's next confirmed character isn't Cinder, it's Maya|last=Good|first=Owen S.|date=2014-07-12}} Nintendo showed a video of Reggie Fils-Aimé thanking the fighting game community for their dedication to the Super Smash Bros. series during the Melee finals.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2014/07/14/nintendo-has-a-rather-fantastic-super-smash-bros-marketing-strategy/#53012c7c270f|work=Forbes|title=Nintendo Has A Rather Fantastic Super Smash Bros. Marketing Strategy|last=Tassi|first=Paul|date=2014-07-14}}

File:Luffy at Evo 2016 (1).jpg (pictured in 2016) won the Ultra Street Fighter IV tournament at Evo 2014.]]

The Ultra Street Fighter IV tournament was won by Olivier "Luffy" Hay, playing on a PlayStation gamepad rather than a more traditional arcade controller. Luffy, playing as the character Rose won against Japanese player Bonchan in the finale. Daigo Umehara finished outside of the Top 8 at Evo 2014 for the first time in the tournament's history.{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/the-2014-evo-champ-just-won-using-a-ps1-controller-1604535870|work=Kotaku|title=The 2014 EVO Champ Just Won Using a PS1 Controller|last=Nacisse|first=Evan|date=2014-07-14}}

Playing as the character Litchi, Japanese player Garireo won the BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma tournament. Coming out of the loser's bracket, Garireo's final match against Dogura's Azrael was considered highly impressive by journalist. Mike Fahey of Kotaku described his 3-to-2 win as "the most intense battle Of EVO 2014" up to that point, and Earnest Cavalli of Engadget called it the "most thrilling competitive drama" of the weekend. Garireo won over US$23,000 at the tournament.{{cite web|url=http://gamesided.com/2014/07/13/evo-2014-garireo-blazblue-chrono-phantasma-grand-finals-winner/|work=FanSided|title=Evo 2014: Garireo Is Your BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma Grand Finals Winner|last=George|first=Daniel|date=2014-07-13}}{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2014/07/15/two-perspectives-on-garireos-amazing-evo-2014-comeback/|work=Engadget|title=Two perspectives on Garireo's amazing Evo 2014 comeback|last=Cavalli|first=Earnest|date=2014-07-15}}{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/the-most-intense-battle-of-evo-2014-so-far-1604384858|work=Kotaku|title=The Most Intense Battle Of EVO 2014 So Far|last=Fahey|first=Mike|date=2014-07-13}}

The Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom tournament was won by Justin Wong after making a high-tension comeback against Filipino Champ in the winners finals, and would go on to defeat Chris G in the grand finals.{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/epic-comeback-leads-to-evo-glory-in-marvel-vs-capcom-1604480579|work=Kotaku|title=Epic Comeback Leads To EVO Glory In Marvel vs Capcom|last=Plunkett|first=Luke|date=2014-07-13}} Meanwhile, the Super Smash Bros. Melee tournament was won by Mango, who defeated Hungrybox in the finale and won US$5,820.{{cite web|url=https://gamesided.com/2014/07/13/evo-2014-mango-smash-bros-melee-grand-finals-winner/|work=FanSided|title=Evo 2014: Mango Is Your Smash Bros Melee Grand Finals Winner|last=George|first=Daniel|date=2014-07-13}}

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Category:Evolution Championship Series

Category:2014 in sports in Nevada

Category:Events at Westgate Las Vegas