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A New Event Has Arrived and They're Bringing the Heat! Central Florida Face-Off 2024


E-sports have always been popular in the nerd space, but in Central Florida, we have access to some of the best e-sports hubs around. From CEO Gaming and CEOtaku, hosted annually, as well as other smaller gaming groups and gatherings, this area is perfect for members of the fighting game community (FGC) and other esports participants. So it was no surprise when a new esports event called Central Florida Face-Off (CFFO) was announced that folks in the area were stoked to attend. 


Central Florida Face-Off was a one-day event hosted at the Avanti Palms Resort in Orlando, Florida, in the popular tourist area, International Drive. According to the creative team behind the event, CFFO is 


“A daring experiment in combining the communities of fighting games and trading card games, showing off the power of competition to bring people together”. 


The hotel was rather spacious with plenty of space for gamers and other nerdy enthusiast to enjoy their time at the event. The event hosted a small but curated artist alley, a tabletop game room with card games, a few bord games and a local vendor who provided a range of wares from 3D printed fidgets and figures to a stocked card case filled with popular games such a as pokemon and Magic the Gathering (MTG), and, of course, an array of fighting games for both casual and competitive play. 


The tournaments were exciting to watch as talented players went head-to-head on the main stage in the large player room in popular games like Tekken 8 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but there was also competition for more unique games like Marvel SNAP, a fast-paced card game typically played on mobile devices, and MultiVersus, a Super Smash Bros. like platform fighting crossover game, that features characters and stages from franchises like Looney Tunes, Game of Thrones, the DC Universe, Scooby-Doo, and Cartoon Network cartoons.


The experience was incredibly affordable. Early bird tickets for competitors were priced at $25, while standard competitor tickets ranged from $30 to $35 up to a week before the event. Door pricing for competitors was set at $40. If you were interested in spectating and enjoying the festivities, early pricing for spectators was $15, with door pricing at $25. Parking at the Avanti venue was free, and it was conveniently located next to several affordable dining options, including an all-you-can-eat Brazilian buffet and Cici’s Pizza. For those wanting to stay overnight at the hotel, nightly rates were $85 with your attendee code.


Some highlight matches of the event were the Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6 matches, as the games had only been out for a few months before the event. The crowd was hype, and the energy in the room was electric. Competitors were completely locked in and in the zone, and with the exciting commentators, this event was exciting to watch. The Central Florida Face-Off might be new to the scene, but it’s already packed with heart and community spirit. This single-day event brought together players and fans from across the local FGC community, and had an atmosphere that felt both welcoming and close-knit. The event’s warm, friendly vibe made it feel more like a gathering of friends than just another competition, setting a high bar for what could quickly become a beloved staple in the Central Florida FGC scene. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and time at Central Florida Face-Off 2024, and I’m excited to see where this event grows from here.

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