Man I miss the good old days with The Excellent Adventures

It was super awesome to see Mike playing the SF6 beta with Xian. He was having fun and I never knew how much energy and personality Xian could bring to the table.

"Don't be sad that it ended, be happy it happened at all"

SF4 was one of the funnest FGC era's to exist with class personalities and talents. It's a shame SF5 really went downhill with it all, I am still happy for all the good times I had back then though

I remember looking forward to Excellent Adventures every week. Damn we got old.

The SFIV era was truly a glorious time.

Every Christmas, I go back through and watch one year of the holiday seasons of gootecks and mike ross. I would have never thought at the time how precious those episodes were.

Every sunday use to look forward to excellent adventures

This show legit got me properly into fighting games I was gutted when it broke down after SFV got released

The companionship these two had was simply oozing out of these videos, my favorite part was how it felt like you were just chilling with the homies playing fighting games. I miss this show.

Even though SFV killed excellent adventures, Mike vs the machine is still the best episode

I'll never forget reading that email gootecks sent out, even though at that point I knew damn well Mike and Excellent Adventures was done. But I'm gonna keep rewatching all the amazing content we got for years to come. Easily my favorite thing to happen on KZfaq.

Man, these were simpler times. I remember waking up on the weekends, sitting down at my computer with some cereal and watching the new episode of Excellent Adventures like it was morning cartoons.

when mike said i wont see u next time, i almost started crying.

This makes me so sad. I was trying to see if there were new excellent adventures episodes and I run into this video :( I miss the old days man

There's few things on KZfaq I miss nearly as much as Excellent Adventures. The good old days, man. It was so good to see Mike and Xian again for the Street Fighter 6 beta.

I'll always appreciate Excellent Adventures for being the thing that got me into the FGC

Mike Ross with the quotations in the middle was my favorite thing lol Rip Mike “Mike “Mike Ross” Ross” Ross miss u

People say it was Street Fighter V and to a degree they are right, but I think the real reason was Mike Ross butted heads with Capcom over ideas for a show on Twitch, which turned Mike Ross completely off the game and his disdain for it ultimately made him leave excellent adventures as well. Gootecks tried to keep it going but it wasn’t the same after that.

You can really see Mike leaving the FGC did a number on Gootecks' hairline.

Man, to have this video be recommended to me by the algorithm now of all times...

Great video. Good memories. Just a few days ago for the sf6 beta mike and Xian streamed playing together and it was very excellent adventurish. Great stuff

Mike Ross and Xian have started a new channel called VersusVortex, that feels very reminiscent of Excellent Adventures for anyone wanting to see them play modern fighting games.

Gooey and Mike did so much for the community. Two good looking with likable personalities really breaking the mold. They came at a time when gaming had still had that tradition “nerd” stigma and showed the gateway of how cool gamers are. Excellent Adventures is SF4 and that was such a beautiful time of the FGC

2 homies on the couch ripping some street fighter. Man... the good old days.

Love both of these guys. Cross Counter was my favorite show back in the day, and for that I will respect the two of them till the day i die.

The issue with their business model is that it relied way too much on one game. After sf4 was done they were done

Street Fighter V. That's all that needs to be said.

MIEK RUSS IS BACK BABY

Cross Counter and Excellent Adventures were such a big part of my childhood and i got to experience SF more because of them! Love this doc

Excellent Adventures was an awesome ride that actually got me into playing Street Fighter IV. Though it’s sad it had to end I prefer them being honest about the spark being gone and calling it a day rather than trying to phone it in. What I always respected was how genuine Mike and Gootecks were on the show. There were episodes where they’d just lose repeatedly but they didn’t do any fancy editing to remove the losses or cover things up, and I always respected that. I hope they’re both doing well and who knows, if SF6 is good we may see them play together again in a similar format or just a one-off. Either way thanks for the memories guys. The ride was indeed Excellent.

This is all SFV's fault. :^)

im glad Mike is back in it even if its just on a youtube channel. I really hope we start seeing him get back in the mix soon

Glad to see Mike having fun again!

We were really spoiled. I hope with SF6 someone can fill the shoes. The talk shows and the YT online content were really incredible. Miss those days

In life and in fighting games is all about timing ... Mike's decision to sign off was the best, as he didn't liked the eSports hovering of what we knew at the time as FGC. He foreseen many things and decided to step down at a good time, before his image deteriorate and more importantly affect others with negative thinking. I will always remember them with respect admiration, for the contribution to the community at the time. Keeping a side personal situations or controvert commentaries they may have currently. Thanks for sharing your video and bring back good times !!!

Now, in 2023, the spirit of Excellent Adventures lives on with Mike Ross & Xian on the Versus Vortex youtube channel.

Then gootecks went and put the final FINAL nail in the coffin yesterday.

The rise and fall of gooteck's hairline

He's back at it with Xian now, it's so good. They have a hilarious chemistry, Xian can match Mikes energy to, they recently did stuff with Justin Wong, it's as good as it's ever been.

This is the video I needed. Man I miss the good old days of the fgc.

Mike Ross and Gootecks were two of the biggest reasons I fell in love with fighting games during this time. Even though I’ve grown up playing a lot of them, I didn’t really grow to be obsessed with them until SF4 came out, and Mike and Ryan were out here just running games online (funny enough, Runnin’ Sets was my favorite series. Combofiend is legendary!) the passion and straight up FUN these guys were always having was palpable, and you could tell exactly when they weren’t enjoying themselves anymore, SPECIFICALLY Mike Ross. Mike Leaving basically cemented the show dying. Dude really WAS the heart of the FGC for a hot minute, but I don’t blame him for dropping out of the spotlight. I’m always gonna have a special place in my heart for Cross Counter, and especially Excellent Adventures. I hope both Mike and Ryan realize how much they really did for the FGC during this relatively short, but wonderful time period.

I have seen so many videos with Mike Ross. Literally hundreds. I've even met him in person once at an event in NorCal in 2017. Ice never noticed his eyes are hazel 😂 I'm glad he is back in some form. He is genuinely a nice guy.

Man Excellent Adventures was hilarious, easily one of my favorite shows on KZfaq, i hated when Mike left but i definitely understood why. You have to be true to yourself and do what YOU enjoy doing. I'm happy that apparently he and Xian are doing a new show, i'm definitely going to watch.

I used to subscribe to the series. RIP to that wonderful collaboration.

Gootecks is based

Sure do miss these two, nice video mac!

I still pull up their olds videos. They’re like comfort videos for me.

Love your work Mac!

Amazing video, interesting topic on the rise and fall of the two. Interesting what happened to them now. Thanks now

I'm suprised you didn't mention the last straw for Mike Ross and Gootecks with Capcom when Capcom told them that they didn't bring them any profit.

I may be misremembering it, but I believe Mike Ross also said something about people not caring at all about you once you leave the spotlights, so that didn't help as well, which is a shame, because I absolutely adored him, specially. He did make some livestreams playing Street Fighter in full silent mode, no face cam, no mic or anything like that, during this time, but, whenever I see him pop up again, he always seems deeply sad. I hope everything works out for him regardless of what he has do or go through and that he can be happy with his life. He deserves it.

Mike is back!

Gootecks left first Mike held it down. Then Gootecks came back and Mike left. By this time Gootecks found his drive to host and fight again. We wouldn't see Mike until he came back as SWAGXLE in guilty gear Xrd.i could fan boy more but o won't. This was a great segment to bring those up to speed of the excellent adventures gootecks and Mike Ross shared for the world.

Ahh so many memories with those two.

Even though I didn't get into the show until a bit into SFV, I absolutely loved seeing those two play SF4, which I never really touched. I'm so glad Mike Ross is back with Xian and giving us those classic Excellent Adventure vibes, just enjoying fighting games with a friend.

I believe it was from middle to high school, Maximilian Dood and CrossCounterLive was my main source of fightibg game entertainment and they left a mark of impression on the FGC as a whole. With the end 2020 coming to an end, I pray for 2021 to lead to new and bright start for the FGC as a whole. Who knows, maybe an underdog like me can pull up to make an Impact.

Pioneers in the game. So much of what they did back then is commonplace now. I really miss them, but there are seasons and reasons as they say. That said, Mike has resurfaced for SF6. I hope he comes back full time

God I miss them wish they would just come back

They need another channel like that, it was very funnto watch, me and my brother thought about doing one just talking playing and drinking but i dont know lolol

Fuck I just realized how bad I missed Gootecks laugh

MIKE ROSS IS BACK

Just like todays podcasts it was all about the vibe and personalities. And these dudes had great chemistry. I hope they get together and do some content for SF6 when it drops. Great times man, Excellent Adventures.

Mike Ross recently has been in vids with Xian on KZfaq under channel name versus Asia. Format is the same as CC. He looks a lot happier.

I still believe they'll return some day. 👌

I dont know if Mike Ross was gonna come back before SF6 was a thing... but i feel like it had an impact and im glad him and Xian are doing great stuff now

I miss these two sooo much, not the show really, I just miss the support that each of these two godlyk gents seemed to give each other.

Mike Ross faded into legend never to be seen again and Gootecks became a crazy person.

Man I remember watching that show religiously like 10 years ago. I got out of fighting games for awhile then got back into them to find that they stopped the show. Feels bad man

Man those were the good times for sure.

It's really sad to see people still attributing the bulk of Mike's burnout to SFV. He didnt like the game, and that's clear, but hes said in the past that it was esports that killed his enthusiasm. He saw this community that he helped build get turned into a sanitized, suit-and-tie bullshit and said "nah I'm good".

I hope someone makes a documentary on Gootecks, it may be interesting

I really did enjoy the episodes of Excellent Adventures, and I always looked forward to an episode each week. But this is just my take on it, reason for the fall is yes, they weren't having fun, but I guess also..They didn't want to sell out to esports. So I guess you can say they were stubborn about their passion for the FGC.

Profound sadness

Just wanted to point out a little discrepancy: the duo didn't start out with Cross Counter Live; Cross Counter started as a show on Machinima that did match analysis and tips, and the live version came a bit later. Excellent Adventures started as just a little bit of extra content after filming a Cross Counter, as you know. Here's an archive of Cross Counter's premiere! Our young heroes are on at about 3:50 - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/r6emZaud3Zq6mqs.html

even though he's got some pretty questionable opinions these days, I still can't help but feel bad for gootecks. if only things turned out differently

Always surprising when YT suggests me old videos from this defunct channel

Friday night fisticuffs was my go to youtube series when excellent adventure on decline, now everything is gone

I wish Mike Ross would come back for one more run on the tournament circuit.

If SFvi is fire the community will bounce back. For now I’m enjoying GGstrive. Honestly love that game

7:21 .Damnnnn Smug and Punk looking really uncomfortable taking in Mike's salt. Really loved this show myself back in the day and to see Mike back out for for SF6 it's alllll good!!

This was a good video.

oh... it still hurts

I feel like it went downwards when they got kind of screwed over by thestreamtv. Gootecks was ahead of his time and tried to work out a deal with them that they could not understand. It was not their own venue so they had to make a deal with them. Man he used to host stuff there and bring free drinks for everyone. I feel bad for him. He knew what streaming and content creation would become and how to capitalize but no one else had the vision they only looked at the flat current numbers.

I still remember going through and binge watching older EA episodes and in the middle of doing so getting that email about how they were no longer going to be doing further episodes together. It was such an odd rush of emotions to process at the time. Since I didn't have that sort of group of friends to play fighting games and chill like Gootecks and Mike had done. I would normally throw one of their videos on in the background while playing w/e fighting game I was looking to pick up at the time to sorta emulate that environment, which is kinda sad thinking back on it now I suppose lol. I kept up with the episodes that had come to pass afterwards and still found enjoyment outta them but obviously now it'd be a harder time to produce something of that nature given the current situation of the pandemic and whatnot. I wish the best for all involved regardless of us getting any possible return to form, I'll still have the mountain of content to rewatch if I feel the itch to do so.

Need to up date this homie

mike is back since we have a good game released

Does anyone else hope the two may reconnect with the upcoming launch of SF6?

Godlike

If only there was a way to know you were in the good old days whilst they were happening. Hope they're both happy doing whatever it is they're doing these days. I still use the expression "main chicken" to this day.

makes me want to cry. mike ross was the fgc

This the new restructured series 😎

Excellent Adventures was really a movement. I strongly believe that SF4 wouldn’t have caught on the way that it did and spread so far and wide without Gootecks and Mike Ross. The FGC owes them a debt of gratitude and we’ll always reflect on what they did for competitive fighting games. I wouldn’t have stuck with street fighter without them tbh. I laughed and learned so much. They made us feel like part of the community.

Excellent adventures and capcom pro talk were big deals to me... rip

Lightning in a bottle, just the perfect storm, we will see it again I miss EA and CC

I like how Combofiend is "...and others"

Honestly I think cross counter would've been fine if there recipe and the reads kept going (on their channels). I genuinely felt it rivaled EA even with games I didn't particularly care for. It was honestly a pretty big gutpunch when Mike "Mike Ross" Ross left/went radio silent, from almost out of nowhere. It felt so weird, and any attempts at watching his streams a bit after that was just him babyraging in tekken 7 or apex. It wasn't like comedic anger, it was just pure raw sodium, and so offputting to what I had grew to know. Even worse was his random appearance on gooteck's podcast with slasher, joking about Etika maybe a week or two before what happened to him. What a fall from grace in my eyes, but also respect to him to doing his own thing, and seemingly doing well for himself. In gootecks case it's just honestly kind of sad what happened to him. He seemingly did it to himself, and even hearing him on that one discussion thing with fanatic about covid awhile back was just a sad sight, and well sad to listen to. I really hope he's able to get himself together. While it's sad how things ended, these two (and their guests) brought so much enjoyment, and happiness for about 6 years of my life, on a basically weekly basis, through some especially dark times, and I'm ever grateful to them. While a lot of the SFV stuff was pretty mixed, the "no flex zone" nonsense with chris G was honestly pretty hilarious, as well as the match with the bot. "ENDDDD HIMMMM". And as a closing statement EA, honestly shaped a lot of my humor almost as much as the simpsons did. "Yo check this out"

i still watching some times cc with maximilian and k-brad, and i miss this good old days, continue with this man, i like it (this video shows up recommended)

Watching this made me so sad. 😢

These two guys are funny!