Introducing the Team Showcasing the Bars, Pizza Joints, and Hidden Spots Defining the American Fighting Game Culture

For years, video games have been at the heart of socializing for many people. It all started way back during the arcade days, before the allure of home consoles and LED-equipped gaming PCs coaxed gamers into the cozy confines of their living rooms. While social gaming spaces still linger in LANs, gaming cafes, and tournaments, the significance they once held has inevitably faded. Remember those times when you’d meet Greg in person, playing Counter Strike Source or Street Fighter 2? Well, now Greg is just another Clannad profile picture on Discord. Indeed, times have moved on.

Still, there are those among us who crave genuine social interaction through gaming. For these individuals, gaming just isn’t the same unless it’s shared with fellow enthusiasts who live nearby. Though dwindling, these digital meeting spots are being showcased in a new video series, Locals Unknown, shining a light on grassroots fighting game tournaments. Their journey begins in a college town pizza parlor’s basement.

I absolutely love this concept, so I had a chat with two of the visionaries behind the project: Victeemo, a seasoned fighting game competitor, and Siam, owner of the esports group Kanme Esports. Along with Tekken player and King main, Sol Naciente, this small team is committed to capturing local gaming scenes on film. The outcome is a delightful blend of old-school internet vlogs and TV-style travel documentaries—a nostalgic nod to early YouTube days.

The initiative took shape when Victeemo joined Kanme as a player. He and Siam toyed with the idea of branching out beyond just representing the brand at events.

Siam explained, “In our conversations, Victeemo and I realized we both deeply valued our origins in the local fighting game community. These local scenes are crucial starting points for gamers and come in all sorts of unique settings.”

Recollecting his journey, Victeemo shared, “At the end of the Tekken World Tour season 1, while sponsor-hunting, I found Kanme. It was serendipity that led us to Locals Unknown. We brainstormed and when Siam suggested documenting local tournaments, it instantly clicked with me.”

“To me, competing is top priority—I’ve been doing it since Tekken 7 launched—but community engagement is a close second. It’s thrilling to be part of something that’s resonating so well with others.”

One thing I adore about the series is how it captures pre-event preparations, the journey to the tournament, and so much more. Camera wielding was a new skill for Victeemo before this project, but he’s out there now, recording the essence of local gaming events while Siam and Sol_Naciente handle post-production. This isn’t backed by big corporate bucks; it’s fueled by genuine passion for nurturing the community.

Interestingly, both Siam and Victeemo share a common loss, felt keenly by many in the fighting game circles. The local venues where they honed their skills and made friends have been closing down. A prime example is Xanadu Games in Maryland, which hosted its final farewell event in December 2024, attended by both of them.

Victeemo recalled, “We had this local spot called Xanadu, located in a compact building just outside Baltimore. When Tekken was released, the place would pack 50 people in for monthly gatherings, barely room to breathe! That’s what lit my competitive fire and sparked my love for camaraderie in gaming.”

Siam added, “Venues are shuttering at an alarming rate. Xanadu, a favorite haunt, too closed down. Watching that, we felt compelled to highlight the venues that are still out there.”

This evaporating local scene was what lit the spark for the series. Over recent years, spaces hosting games like Street Fighter and Tekken have been dissipating, leaving only grand annual events and a void in their stead. According to Siam and Victeemo, it’s a tough period for local fighting game communities.

Siam noted, “It’s challenging times for local spots. Post-2020, the shift to online tournaments became the norm, and physical venues started dwindling because they couldn’t draw the same crowds anymore.”

Victeemo emphasized, “Many locals are closing down, so shedding light on those still operating to foster community, friendships, and experiences is crucial compared to the current online-focused scene.”

So why devote time and effort to this? Why spotlight these spaces in a video series and an article? For Siam and Victeemo, it’s about repaying the local scene that shaped their gaming paths and highlighting an environment that’s been instrumental in their lives.

Victeemo expressed, “My partner and I met through the fighting game community at Xanadu, seven years ago. I’ve forged lasting friendships there, and I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything.”

Siam reflected, “It’s about giving back. Sharing the origins with new players—hey, I was once like you, starting out in a local venue. For players who gather fame, it’s important to trace back to where they began.”

“Hoping to highlight the human element beyond just the games and the venues, to focus on the people who knit the community together.”

You can catch the first episode of Locals Unknown on the Kanme channel, with more episodes in the works. If their passion resonates with you, show them some support. It’s invaluable to honor parts of gaming culture that might seem on the brink of disappearing.