Want to gamble fake internet money on hilariously unbalanced fighting game matches between AI opponents? The answer is yes. Yes you do, because it is one of the most entertaining experiences you have in terms of spectating a videogame.
Welcome to Salty Bet, a website that offers a near-constant Twitch.tv stream of one-on-one matches between computer-controlled fighters using the customizable fighting game M.U.G.E.N. The game reportedly has over 1,300 characters, with fighting game mainstays like Ryu and Sub-Zero facing off against an insane cavalcade of characters ripped from anime and western cartoons, like Captain Ginyu from Dragon Ball Z or Evil Homer Simpson.
Viewers make bets using virtual money on which character they think will win a match. Successful betting requires extensive knowledge of the roster, as many characters are utterly ridiculous in how they fight. Some blanket the screen with fireballs, some turn invisible and repeatedly use throwing moves, and some are so small almost no attacks can hit them. All the while the Twitch chat is filled with people gettin’ hype in the way only fighting game fans can.
The interested can find Salty Bet here. While it’s free to watch and bet, if you like what you see you can support the creator Salty by buying a $4/month subscription. This makes you an ‘Illuminati’ member, giving you access to detailed stats and betting histories, removing ads, and giving you a baseline account balance of $666 that you can never deplete.