Thumbing the Way to Victory

If losers never win, then Devon Deitsch is the rare exception.

Deitsch, 26, of Lansdale, beat out nine other gamers to clinch the win at a local Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 tournament at in Lansdale Saturday afternoon.

His prize: $25 cash and entry in the international tournament April 3 at Play N Trade.

In the international tournament, players will connect through Xbox Live to other gamers from around the world for a chance to be the top winner of $250 in store credit and two tickets to San Diego Comic-Con.

The tournament was a double-elimination style.

Deitsch was the sole victor in the loser bracket.

His opponent: Tyrone Riley, 29, of Hatfield, who came out on top in the winners' bracket.

Riley, as the winners’ bracket champion, needed to beat Deitsch, the losers’ bracket champion, only once to win the tournament. However, Deitsch had to beat Riley twice in order to win the tournament.

And that’s just what he did.

In the first round, Riley won one out of three matches. In the second and final round, Deitsch was able to beat Riley in a white-knuckle controller-clenching, numb-thumbing battle.

The video game features characters from Capcom video games – for example, Chun Li from Street Fighter, Sir Arthur from Ghosts ‘n Goblins and Dante from Devil May Cry, to name a few –  and Marvel Comics, like Wolverine, Deadpool, Hulk and Taskmaster.

Riley’s go-to team was Akuma, from Street Fighter, X-23, of Marvel Comics, and Ryu, of Street Fighter. Deitsch kept to his digital guns with Deadpool, Captain America and Wolverine.

Riley has been a fan of fighting-style video games nearly his whole video gaming life.

“Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 is pretty good. I’m still a fan of Marvel Vs. Capcom 2,” he said. “It’s more fast-paced. This one is more simplified.”

His top fighting game of all time: Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo on Super Nintendo.

Deitsch said he took part in the tournament because it seemed really fun.

“I think the game has high-action,” he said. “There are various characters, and even the demon village stage is almost a perfect replica of ‘Ghosts ‘n Goblins.’”

Kris Wiggs, 22, of Lansdale, said he liked Play N Trade because of its wide selection of games for various systems.

“You can get most new games out the day they are released,” he said.

“How about all used games are 50 percent cheaper than GameStop,” chimed in his friend, Kevin Johnson, 20, of Lansdale. “That’s fantastic.”

Johnson took part in the tournament Saturday. He said he did another tournament once before at his school for Super Smash Bros. Melee.

“I pretty much came here to get to Comic Con,” he said.

Each entrant in the tournament paid a $5 entry fee.

Play N Trade employee Brent Aafjes said the store has held tournaments in the past for titles like Halo 3, Call of Duty and Madden 2010.

“We had a Madden 2010 tournament last year with more than 50 people,” he said. “We held the tournament the night of the release of Madden 2011. People played from 8 p.m. to midnight, and then at midnight, we sold the game.”

He said the store hold tournaments based on how many people sign up.

“It depends on the popularity of the game and who shows up,” he said.

Back at the final battle Saturday night, Riley couldn’t believe he was one round away from winning – or losing.

“This is getting extra interesting right now,” he said, as he got up and walked away from the TV to collect himself.

The final round came down to Akuma, Riley’s selection, versus Deadpool.

Before he knew it, Riley was down to one guy with one-quarter health left in the game.

And then it was game over.

“I’m not feeling good,” Riley said, as he tried to wipe the shock off his face. “I’m going home and going back online to play some more.”

He admitted to being a sore loser, and then laughed it off.

“I’m a PlayStation 3 player. It’s different on Xbox,” he said. “The controls are different. It’s still no excuse. He won … but it shouldn’t happen.”

Robert Stavis, of Lansdale, thought the tournament was very impressive. He agreed, as did the other entrants, that it was a great final match.

“I wish I would have played more,” he said.