Street Fighter IV - is this the year?

[BabyfaceGlasses]

A few issues back, EGM magazine the rumor mill section points to a possible 2007 release of the next chapter in the Street Fighter series...Street Fighter IV. This is apparently information is based off of trusted industry insiders. As much as I want to see SF4, I just dont know if Capcom will get it right. From what I understand the franchise is in the hand of Capcom of America, and we all know how Final Fight Street Wise turned out.

With a new US live action movie in the early stages of production (that centers around Chun LI!??!) should we keep our heads held high, or hope for the worst?

[The Mutericator]

In before /r/ of Chun-Li shower scene.

Whether it's good or bad, you know tourneyfags are going to be complaining about minor imbalances for years to come.

[MrBogus]

I would love to see an SF4, but I just don't see it happening. The last SF game that Capcom actually tried to do a good job on was CvS2. I've never played them, but the consensus among hardcore SF fans seems to be that SVC Chaos and Capcom Fighting Evolution both sucked.

In addition, the arcade scene has been in decline for over a decade and the trend likely will not change. The capital Capcom needs to invest in order to develop a completely new game -- in particular, drawing characters from scratch rather than rehash old sprites -- probably won't be justified given the diminished arcade marketplace, especially after the commercial failures of SVC:C and CFE.

SF has always been about the game play. Depending on your playing style, it's a selection among SSF2T, SFA3, MvC2, or SF3:3S as the greatest SF game of all time. Personally, I consider 3S to be the pinnacle of fighting game perfection and I don't think it will ever be dethroned. Capcom will have a very daunting job of following up on any of these series.

[EdgeCrusher]

Mmmmmmmmm, chun li.

[Martin Penwald]

I would love to see an SF4, but I just don't see it happening. The last SF game that Capcom actually tried to do a good job on was CvS2. I've never played them, but the consensus among hardcore SF fans seems to be that SVC Chaos and Capcom Fighting Evolution both sucked.

In addition, the arcade scene has been in decline for over a decade and the trend likely will not change. The capital Capcom needs to invest in order to develop a completely new game -- in particular, drawing characters from scratch rather than rehash old sprites -- probably won't be justified given the diminished arcade marketplace, especially after the commercial failures of SVC:C and CFE.

SF has always been about the game play. Depending on your playing style, it's a selection among SSF2T, SFA3, MvC2, or SF3:3S as the greatest SF game of all time. Personally, I consider 3S to be the pinnacle of fighting game perfection and I don't think it will ever be dethroned. Capcom will have a very daunting job of following up on any of these series.

SvC Chaos was developed by SNK, not Capcom.

[Bobwillis]

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/1615/chunlihondadalshimkennu0.jpg?

[SetzerGabbiani]

YOU WIN! *points tally up sound effect*

[ILLiterate]

\\a new US live action movie in the early stages of production (that centers around Chun LI!??!)Chun-Li is the main female character in Street Fighter, it makes complete sense. She's also one of the best characters in SF2 & 3s, and widely liked. I don't know ANYONE that HATES Chun-Li

Anyways, SF4 would probably use rehash and upgrade 3s graphics, which I can't really complain about, they're fantastic and I never want the main series to go in 3D.

Pzy: A minor tweak in the game can change EVERYTHING. It can be something as small as, this gives 2 more block stun frames to this attack no longer goes through projectiles. Something like how Chun can (almost and sometimes) instantly recover from most attacks in 3s is a great example

[Dyne]

I'd like to say I believe there will be a Street Fighter IV, but I seriously doubt it, and if there is, it certainly won't be a 2D fighter. Honestly, the developers have lost focus and touch with the community they're making games for. I would suspect that's why Final Fight Street Wise had some weak reviews.

If Capcom wants to make an SFIV, then they need to get back to the roots of the game. Old school game play, 2D graphics (at the very most that cell shading thing that some developers love to do). That's it. Make the games fun again, and it doesn't have to be technologically innovative to make everyone happy.

What's wrong with making a classic game these days?

[ILLiterate]

Um...have you seen the Asian community? The next SF would HAVE TO BE 2D. If they made it 3D, no units would sell. It would also have to be arcade, if only for Asia. Have you played the newest SF games? They're almost all 2D, and most are great (those developed by Capcom) and the shitty ones you can spot from a mile away

[Raziellink]

I'd love to see a new 2-d SF game. Maybe something more like the graphics from Guilty Gear?

[dsx100]

I would be really great if Capcom released or at least announced Street Fighter IV but I honestlt don't see it happening.

First Off if Capcom of American does currently hold the license to Street Fighter, I only see 2 possibilities. One they will only release another collection set or They will completely screw up on Street Fighter IV.

I say this because America is just to mainstream interest wise to see a good 2D Street Fighter. If Capcom of America does decide to make Street Fighter IV the first thing they will do is make it 3D. Whether it is fully 3D or 3D with 2D gameplay. Lets face it, Americans don't buy 2D games anymore. Second they will make it much easier and simpler. Just look at Mortal Kombat and DOA. Those games suck compared to Tekken and Soul Calibur but they sell better. Real fighting game fans won't even touch those games because they have such sloppy and broken fighting systems, but your average person won't care. It is all abouit money these days and that is what Capcom will think of first. If Street Fighter IV does come out don't expect it to be a classic.

[EpicPoster]

I say this because America is just to mainstream interest wise to see a good 2D Street Fighter. If Capcom of America does decide to make Street Fighter IV the first thing they will do is make it 3D. Whether it is fully 3D or 3D with 2D gameplay. Lets face it, Americans don't buy 2D games anymore.

Second they will make it much easier and simpler.Just look at Mortal Kombat and DOA. Those games suck compared to Tekken and Soul Calibur but they sell better. Real fighting game fans won't even touch those games because they have such sloppy and broken fighting systems, but your average person won't care.

First, I just want to say that Soul Caliber is a terrible series with sloppy and broken gamplay and that Dead or Alive 4 was at EVO this year and has been accepted as a tournament worthy game. SC3 was terrible, although I've heard the Japanese arcade version fixed a lot of the problems with the American version. I guess we'll see at Super Battle Opera this year, I think SC3 Arcade edition is in the lineup.

Secondly, if they made a Street Fighter 4 (Which they probably won't) it would be in 2d and come out in the arcades in Japan. 2d fighting is dead here but Capcom is a japanese company. 2d fighters sell well in Japan, and the arcades are still kicking ass and taking names over there.

[Hector]

Every fighter game breaks a little bit when it gets to the elite tournament level.

[Raziellink]

First, I just want to say that Soul Caliber is a terrible series with sloppy and broken gamplay and that Dead or Alive 4 was at EVO this year and has been accepted as a tournament worthy game. SC3 was terrible, although I've heard the Japanese arcade version fixed a lot of the problems with the American version. I guess we'll see at Super Battle Opera this year, I think SC3 Arcade edition is in the lineup.

Secondly, if they made a Street Fighter 4 (Which they probably won't) it would be in 2d and come out in the arcades in Japan. 2d fighting is dead here but Capcom is a japanese company. 2d fighters sell well in Japan, and the arcades are still kicking ass and taking names over there.


As stated before, Capcom of America holds the license. I doubt an American company would make a game, just to release it in the Japanese arcades.

[Culturekoi]

I say this because America is just to mainstream interest wise to see a good 2D Street Fighter. If Capcom of America does decide to make Street Fighter IV the first thing they will do is make it 3D. Whether it is fully 3D or 3D with 2D gameplay. Lets face it, Americans don't buy 2D games anymore.

I'm American and I buy every good 2D game I can get my grubby mitts on. I think that the publishers have more than enough fans of 2D fighters that they'd be able to make a nice profit. If they WERE going to make SF in 3D, then it would almost certainly be a spinoff of the main series and we'd still have 2D style to fall back on with the main series.

And I can guaruntee if they made a 3D Street Fighter for the main series from here on, Capcom would lose so much money and so much respect with the gamers and the hardcore fans who buy everything from them that they'd utterly screw themselves. I have faith that Capcom, of all companies, is smarter than that. And I can't say that for many companies. I thought I could for SNK but they went and made Maximum Impact and jammed a knife in the fans' collective back.

[Hector]

Street Fighter as a series has missed the bandwagon where suddenly jumping into 3d is appeciated. Certainly they could make a 3d Street Fighter IV, but it will be far more of an uphill battle to get it accepted. Street Fighter should stick to its number-one advantage, and that is love of the 2d series. Hell, I'm of the opinion that Capcom should name it Street Fighter 2 regardless of how new or altered it is.

[djpretzel]

I don't think Capcom would lose respect for making SF4 3D... I think they'd lose respect for making it both 3D and shitty.

Best-case scenario for me would be that somehow, through some divine miracle of cosmic proportions, their devs finally find a way to encapsulate all that is good and just and wholesome about SF, in three-dimensional form. It's got to be possible, it's just damn difficult. If they managed to pull it off, I think most people that appreciate solid gameplay would recognize it for what it was, after they got past their initial doubts.

[ILLiterate]

Every fighter game breaks a little bit when it gets to the elite tournament level.Not every fighter. Sure some characters have strengths over others, but hey that happens in every game. 3s is a great example of where everyone in the top tier can just cancel each other out, so it really does come down to skill, unlike MvC2 where most of the time it comes down to who can infinity combo first

[EdgeCrusher]

Americans don't buy 2d games anymore? Shit, better tell konami that so they won't make any more portable CV games.

[Doctor Shaft]

Street Fighter 4? Nah, it'll never happen. I just don't believe it. I've read about those rumors before, but as some others have said, Capcom would just be fighting a tremendous uphill battle in designing a fourth title, especially in today's video climate where:

- America shows little interest in the arcade scene
- Japan, despite still thriving, has plenty of 2D fighters that are played and released (Guilty Gear is quite successful, and frequently updated on top of that, SNK at least tries to keep on the scene)
- Capcom would literally be competing with itself (Super Turbo, 3rd Strike are both not dead. Marvel wasn't really that popular across the ocean, and we hardly play it now with arcades being dead. Still, ST and 3S are still kicking, so-to-speak, at least at tourney's)

Even if they could encapsulate everything that was good about Street Fighter, how would it benefit them at this point? They'd need something that beats games that are either a decade old or nearing a decade and still kicking, and they'd need something innovative to match Guilty Gear (in terms of uniqueness, not whether it's good or not... not everyone enjoys Guilty Gear obviously).

Even if it is being planned, I wouldn't "recommend" it if they asked me. But I know they aren't.

[Broken]

First, I just want to say that Soul Caliber is a terrible series with sloppy and broken gamplay and that Dead or Alive 4 was at EVO this year and has been accepted as a tournament worthy game. SC3 was terrible, although I've heard the Japanese arcade version fixed a lot of the problems with the American version. I guess we'll see at Super Battle Opera this year, I think SC3 Arcade edition is in the lineup.

Secondly, if they made a Street Fighter 4 (Which they probably won't) it would be in 2d and come out in the arcades in Japan. 2d fighting is dead here but Capcom is a japanese company. 2d fighters sell well in Japan, and the arcades are still kicking ass and taking names over there.

Just being at EVO doesn't make a game good or deep. Dead or Alive 4 was introduced into the game line-up for the same reason that Mario Kart DS was; to reach a little more into the main stream. Now I'm not going to compare fighting games on merits because frankly I don't know enough about each individual game they choose to host, but I wil say that things change.

And for your information SCII was part of EVO's line-up only a few years ago, so that game can't be that broken (so please don't bash an entire series just because SC3.1 is broken beyond repair.)

Now about SF 4.....3D would be cool, but like others have said the fighting game scene is very saturated with competent contenders already. Now of course there will always be people who try to argue why one game or another is unbalanced or whatever, but the fact of the matter is, if you want to be good and you enjoy a game, you'll adapt to the environment.

I mean it just seems to be asking to much of Capcomt to come out with a new SF that's just going to knock our socks off, AND revive arcades in America, AND sell well on consoles, AND be popular in Japan. And if it can't acomplish at least a couple of those goals, then it will just be mediocre in my eyes at best.

Better to just make sure the SF movie doesn't suck.

[chfuji]

I think that Capcom will go ahead and bring out a number four. However, contrary to what a lot of folks are supposing here, I don't think it'll be an arcade game. In my opinion, one of the big causes for the decline of the American arcade was the escalating power of home consoles. With the current level of power available to home console developers and the lowering costs of HDtv sets, why invest money into a dedicated arcade cabinet? It'd be a better approach (whether the game is 2D, 2.5D, or 3D) to produce a home console release with online play. Heck, why not spice it up and make it cross-platform online? And then, rather than stop there, why not international cross-platform online?

[Evilhead]

Didn't you guys hear about Capcom of Japan selling all of the rights to the Street Fighter series to Capcom of America a few years back? Which means if there is a SF4, it will be developed by an American company, I.E. it will blow donkey. Most likely it will be another failed attempt to bring SF into 3D, although they nearly had it with Project Justice. Great Capcom fighter gameplay made into 3D. If you don't own this game you are missing a lot!

And why would they even bother when they went ahead and made the greatest 2D fighter ever, which has yet to be topped, and it is largely ignored outside the hardcore 2D fighter crowd? I'm talking about SF3:TS of course. It's still played here at most arcades (I actually beat some Japanese butt with my Ibuki the day before yesterday) but it just didn't seem to get the reception Alpha 3 did. Too deep? Too many new characters? Who knows.

[Broken]

^ Project Justice and Rival Schools were awesome. There's just something deeply enjoyable about busting heads with baseball bats, volleyballs, and akido sticks.

Yeah, that was a pretty well done SF-esque game done in 3-d.

[BigBoss]

It's still played here at most arcades (I actually beat some Japanese butt with my Ibuki the day before yesterday) but it just didn't seem to get the reception Alpha 3 did. Too deep? Too many new characters? Who knows.

I can't find it anywhere.

[Evilhead]

I can't find it anywhere.

Really? That's sad. The arcade on my old college campus (UCI) had a pretty good 2D fighter crowd with some excellent Third Strike players, and most arcades I went to at least had a machine. Pretty much all arcades still have them here, but then again more than half of the games in Japanese arcades seem to be 2D fighters.

[Doctor Shaft]

Exactly. 3rd Strike, despite it's pretty well established tiers, and known strategies, still gets played the heck out of. And what's more, it is almost never boring to watch (except maybe a Chun Li fight... Chun Li is the least exciting thing to see play in this game). There just really isn't a "point" to making another game.

Sure, 3rd Strike isn't perfect... but is it really broken either? While not everyone enjoys it's style, it's hard to say that it isn't very polished and well made.

[Evilhead]

Exactly. 3rd Strike, despite it's pretty well established tiers, and known strategies, still gets played the heck out of. And what's more, it is almost never boring to watch (except maybe a Chun Li fight... Chun Li is the least exciting thing to see play in this game). There just really isn't a "point" to making another game.

Sure, 3rd Strike isn't perfect... but is it really broken either? While not everyone enjoys it's style, it's hard to say that it isn't very polished and well made.

Yeah, I'd say that 3rd Strike is extremely balanced. True, there are tiers, but pretty much every fighter ever made has tiers. And unless you are playing in a tourney, there's really no reason why you'd have to play with Chun or Yun or whoever. I primarily play as Ibuki who is horribly nerfed in 3rd Strike. But she's just so fun to play with and I can surprise players with my spastic playing style. She gets killed easily with her low def but it's quite satisfying when I can wipe the floor with someone's higher tier character.

[EpicPoster]

Just being at EVO doesn't make a game good or deep. Dead or Alive 4 was introduced into the game line-up for the same reason that Mario Kart DS was; to reach a little more into the main stream. Now I'm not going to compare fighting games on merits because frankly I don't know enough about each individual game they choose to host, but I wil say that things change.

And for your information SCII was part of EVO's line-up only a few years ago, so that game can't be that broken (so please don't bash an entire series just because SC3.1 is broken beyond repair.)

Just being there doesn't make it a good game is true, but the fact is that most people at srk.com have accepted it as a decent enough fighting game. Maybe not spectacular, but good enough for competitive play. Also, the entire Soul Caliber series is overrated, and when people bitch about DOA while ignoring the flaws of the series they are trying to say is good is just retarded. But in the end, I don't care too much for either, I'm a 2d fighting fan.


Not every fighter. Sure some characters have strengths over others, but hey that happens in every game. 3s is a great example of where everyone in the top tier can just cancel each other out, so it really does come down to skill, unlike MvC2 where most of the time it comes down to who can infinity combo first

Wrong wrong wrong wrong WRONG.

First off, about third strike. In 3s the best character is Yun. That's the general consensus. Guess what? This year at Evo, the top 4 were all the same character, Yun. Spots 5-7 were Chun Li, and a lone person at number 8 was Ken. The only chance you have of doing good with another character is by playing in team single elimination matches where you don't have to be consistent. Then you may see a Makoto creep up or other low tiers, but here in America where you have to play all day long, it is clear that Yun is the overall best character and is the most consistent.

Now about MVC2. It is obvious you know nothing about high level play, as you wouldn't state that it somehow requires no skill. But regardless, I will try to explain it a little to you.

In MVC2 there are four "god" tier characters. Cable, Sentinel, Storm, and Magneto. Now these are the best four characters, but it's a team based game. The best team is the team that works together, and usually a team will have a lower tiered character or two due to the assist helping the team dynamics out better, such as in MSP (Magneto Storm Psylocke). Psylocke's assist helps out Mag's rushdown and helps him set up the rom infinite. There is no one "best" team in MVC2. (However, there is a top person, Justin Wong. That guy is a beast.)


Really, the easiest way to help explain MVC2 at high levels is to show you, so here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9FLu3fzC40) is a video. This is Duc vs Sanford, game 8 of their money match at Evo. There was something like $6600 in side bets running on this match, and it is pretty epic. Duc plays Spiral, Cable, Sentinel while Sanford plays Sentinel Storm Cap Commando. These are two of the best MVC2 players around, and yet "low" tier people like Cap Commando and Spiral are still in their main team because of their assist and how they help out the team dynamic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9FLu3fzC40

[Trenthian]

My sources claim development has been slow but steady for the next street fighter.

There is still a possibility that the project will be shelved.

[Evilhead]

What are your sources, by the way?

[Trenthian]

What are your sources, by the way?

Sources which im protecting because they kindly violated an NDA

[MrBogus]

And why would they even bother when they went ahead and made the greatest 2D fighter ever, which has yet to be topped, and it is largely ignored outside the hardcore 2D fighter crowd? I'm talking about SF3:TS of course. It's still played here at most arcades (I actually beat some Japanese butt with my Ibuki the day before yesterday) but it just didn't seem to get the reception Alpha 3 did. Too deep? Too many new characters? Who knows.
I think it's too deep for the casual player and especially the first time player. The scrub tries to get lucky with button mashing, is occasionally able to bust out a super, is happy he is doing chip damage, but then starts to get a brutal beatdown by an experienced player. Scrub then holds down back, or worse, just back, and then is barraged by a stream of lows, overheads, and throws. KO. Repeat several more times, and he's out $2.00 and his ego is smashed.

Really? That's sad. The arcade on my old college campus (UCI)
Anteater power.

[EpicPoster]

I think it's too deep for the casual player and especially the first time player. The scrub tries to get lucky with button mashing, is occasionally able to bust out a super, is happy he is doing chip damage, but then starts to get a brutal beatdown by an experienced player. Scrub then holds down back, or worse, just back, and then is barraged by a stream of lows, overheads, and throws. KO. Repeat several more times, and he's out $2.00 and his ego is smashed.

You've just described every 2d fighting game by Capcom ever. It's not that it's "too deep" it's that people who are new to the game suck and have no desire to learn it. People who play Halo 2 for the first time with people who play every day get slaughtered too.

Really I don't think 3s is that deep at all compared to say MVC2 or CVS2.

[Martin Penwald]

And I can guaruntee if they made a 3D Street Fighter for the main series from here on, Capcom would lose so much money and so much respect with the gamers and the hardcore fans who buy everything from them that they'd utterly screw themselves. I have faith that Capcom, of all companies, is smarter than that. And I can't say that for many companies. I thought I could for SNK but they went and made Maximum Impact and jammed a knife in the fans' collective back.

SNK also made KoF XI, which is the best one since the great KoF 98 (and in my personal opinion, the best ever). So you can't really say they abandoned their fans; they just expanded their field of interest, hehe.

And as far as I know, they're currently producing a new 2D KoF which will feature completely new character graphics, i.e. high-res sprites.

[megadave]

Well, I can say this much. Capcom (with the aid of Clover) worked wonders with Viewtiful Joe, which took everything good about 2d platformers and made it even better with the use of more powerful technology. I don't see why Capcom couldn't do the same with the Street Fighter series.

I would also like to see some re-innovation or closure to the classic Megaman series, and maybe wrap up the X series as well. Hot damn. If Clover worked with the best people involved in the Megaman series, the results would likely be incredible.

But isn't Clover getting axed?

Anyway, I'm very doubtful, because Capcom don't seem to be allocating big budgets for their trademark series. They've been beating the dead horse for a long time, and many gamers these days are focused on games based off of popular movies and characters - at least in America.

And most attempts at new franchises bite the dust, including Viewtiful Joe and Godhand.

Hell, does anyone really care about Okami? It got rave reviews from almost everyone, but it isn't tearing up the charts.

[MrBogus]

You've just described every 2d fighting game by Capcom ever. It's not that it's "too deep" it's that people who are new to the game suck and have no desire to learn it. People who play Halo 2 for the first time with people who play every day get slaughtered too.

Really I don't think 3s is that deep at all compared to say MVC2 or CVS2.
That true, but I think the learning curve for 3S is particularly steep and the gap between a scrub and the average dedicated 3S player is quite large. In SSF2T the normal attacks are powerful enough such that a scrub could get lucky and defeat an average player. Same goes with the button mashing that is rampant at the lower levels of MvC2 play. But with 3S, you have experienced players deliberately standing there and doing nothing but parrying all the telegraphed scrub moves, supers included, and then laying down the hurt for a KO. It is humiliating to see your opponent flash blue for half of the match and negate everything you just threw at him. At least in MvC2 there is enough simultaneous craziness going on that the scrub thinks he is doing something and that he was "this close" to beating the other guy.

The only other SF game I see as having a steeper learning curve than 3S is CvS2, with its rolling, dodges, and J-Def in addition to parrying, plus the always humiliating custom combos.

[EpicPoster]

That true, but I think the learning curve for 3S is particularly steep and the gap between a scrub and the average dedicated 3S player is quite large. In SSF2T the normal attacks are powerful enough such that a scrub could get lucky and defeat an average player. Same goes with the button mashing that is rampant at the lower levels of MvC2 play. But with 3S, you have experienced players deliberately standing there and doing nothing but parrying all the telegraphed scrub moves, supers included, and then laying down the hurt for a KO. It is humiliating to see your opponent flash blue for half of the match and negate everything you just threw at him. At least in MvC2 there is enough simultaneous craziness going on that the scrub thinks he is doing something and that he was "this close" to beating the other guy.

Have you ever played Super Turbo or Marvel Vs Capcom 2? No, I mean really. MVC2 is about the least scrub friendly game there is. I suck at the game and yet due to my understanding the basic fundamentals of the game I am literally undefeatable at it in my local circle of friends, and until they learn basics like AHVB x3 they will never touch me. Ask SuperTKO if MVC2 has a simpler learning curve, he'll give you an opinion all right.

Super Turbo is just the same. You could sit there with O. Sagat and throw nothing but low tiger shots and tiger uppercuts and the scrub will be helpless. Or be Dhalsim. Mp grab then when Sim lets go lk slide to grab again. If a scrub doesn't do a reversal, he literally losses the whole match without even getting another move. Seriously, if someone doesn't know what they are doing in Super Turbo it is ridiculous easy to abuse their weaknesses with simple loops like that and they won't stand a chance until they learn how to properly play the game.

[dsx100]

Americans don't buy 2d games anymore? Shit, better tell konami that so they won't make any more portable CV games.

I should say Americans don't buy original console 2D games anymore. They'll buy classics collections but not new original games. And when I said Americans I of course don't mean all americans. I'm an american and still love playing 2D fighting games but the majority don't. That is just how it is. Anyway I don't think Capcom can pull off making Street Fighter 3D and still making it a good game. SNK couldn't do it and I don't think Capcom can do it. If Capcom of Japan still has the license then maybe there might be hope.

[bouncerboy15]

But isn't Clover getting axed?
Yes, but I believe a majority of Clover Studio developers will migrate into Capcom's development studios.

[ILLiterate]

EpicPoster: I know how it works, I know about the EVO scene, I know about the god tier. I just really really really really really really really dislike that game when played seriously. When played for fun, it's fantastic but in tournaments it just blows to me, just like how people will hate one 2D fighter yet love another kinda like it (kinda like how I don't care much for Guilty Gear but DAYUMN am I down for some Melty Blood)

[Raziellink]

Hell, does anyone really care about Okami? It got rave reviews from almost everyone, but it isn't tearing up the charts.

What else is new? I could give you some more examples of great games that didn't sell.

[Eternal Testament]

I consider myself a coniosseur of 2D fighters, despite sucking to a profound degree at them.
MvC2 is deep because of it's team based tactics. Knowing how well a team of characters works together can make a hell of a difference in chaining combos.
3S is deeper than a mineshaft imo. The multitude of subtleties in play that can be achieved is staggering.

Should Capcom chose to make SF4, they should consider the fact that SF is popular with it's fans. An obvious statement, yes, but an important one. There seems to be a distinct lack of appeal for 2D fighters these days. I feel a 2.5D incarnation would satisfy both the Japanese and Western markets; 2.5D allows for super snazzy graphics (possibly Viewtiful Joe inspired) and also the the deep level of gameplay that 3S demonstrated.

If they were to go full 3D they'd be better off bringing Namco on board to help out as Capcom don't really have alot experience with 3D fighters, Rival Schools notwithstanding.

[The Instrument of GAWD]

Most the time I find myself cursing my birth into an American Household instead of a Japanese one is when it comes to Fighting Games, espically 2-D fighters. And yeah, I wanna see a new SF with a 50-50 cast of old (SFII, Alpha, etc.) and new (SFIII) characters, with spiffy CPS3 (or would it be CPS4 these days?) graphics. That'd be awesome.

Not to derail off topic much, but a totally new and revamped Darkstalkers/Vampire Savor would be awesome too. You know, with alittle less retarded 'superart system'. And with it's cartoony nature, it'd look beauty with today's technology.

[Raziellink]

Most the time I find myself cursing my birth into an American Household instead of a Japanese one is when it comes to Fighting Games, espically 2-D fighters. And yeah, I wanna see a new SF with a 50-50 cast of old (SFII, Alpha, etc.) and new (SFIII) characters, with spiffy CPS3 (or would it be CPS4 these days?) graphics. That'd be awesome.

Not to derail off topic much, but a totally new and revamped Darkstalkers/Vampire Savor would be awesome too. You know, with alittle less retarded 'superart system'. And with it's cartoony nature, it'd look beauty with today's technology.
And more importantly, we would be getting a new Morrigan sprite...after 12 years or something?

[xinster]

that the next street fighter (street fighter 4) will revolve around a new rivalry between Q and Oro!

[Eternal Testament]

What, Robo-Columbo and The Decrepid Diaper?
Good one.

[ILLiterate]

that the next street fighter (street fighter 4) will revolve around a new rivalry between Q and Oro!Wrong, the next should either focus on Alex's fighting journey since he was made 3s main character, or will focus on the training Ryu receives from Oro (for those who don't know, Oro is convinced that Ryu is the strongest man alive and goes to train him, which should change his fighting style GREATLY)

[Eternal Testament]

It's likely that Ryu's outward style won't change that much. He'll likely have a couple of new specials and super combos.
What I'd like to see is more of a marked difference between Ryu, Ken and Akuma. Individual fighting stances and distinct flourishes. Ryu would be middle-of-the-road, cautious and calculated. Ken would be be flashy and showboaty. And Akuma would be undiluted fury.
There's only so much pallette swapping I can put up with.

[The King of All Kupos]

While I don't play it nearly enough to be even remotely considered a "dedicated player (it's been like 6 months since I've touched it)," I do love SF3 to death and consider it the greatest fighting game ever created. I openly admit that though I do try to learn and improve my technique whenever I do play, I'm still probably what most would call a novice, but I'd like to think I'm at least an upper-level novice, however little that actually means in the scheme of things.

But yes, I would absolutely love to see an SF4, and personally, I don't think Capcom's quite so stupid as to not make it.

[Martin Penwald]

It's likely that Ryu's outward style won't change that much. He'll likely have a couple of new specials and super combos.
What I'd like to see is more of a marked difference between Ryu, Ken and Akuma. Individual fighting stances and distinct flourishes. Ryu would be middle-of-the-road, cautious and calculated. Ken would be be flashy and showboaty. And Akuma would be undiluted fury.
There's only so much pallette swapping I can put up with.

While I support any motion calling for more differences, you have to admit that there has been progress made when it comes to this. The only difference between Ken and Ryu in SF2 was one of their throws; in SF3 TS, however, they and Akuma have different Special moves (some of them), different Super Arts, and some of the standard moves also differ. Moreover, they have a different feel to them; fighting with Akuma will result in something completely different from fighting with Ken.

[Evilhead]

Personally I'm extremely bored with the Ryu/Ken/Akuma thing, aside from the fact that they should have a place in any SF game. I thought Oro's backstory was really interesting though, especially since he's pretty much (storywise) the strongest character in the SF universe.

[Eternal Testament]

The interesting thing is that the SF3 characters have so little backstory compared with SF2/Alpha characters.
I'd have to agree with Evilhead in that Oro is probably storywise the strongest character. He's certainly up there with Gill, Akuma and Alpha 3 Bison as a top tier character.

[dsx100]

If by some miracle chance they did make Street Fighter IV and it actually turned out good, I would like Akuma to be more distinct from Ryu and Ken. The return of his Alpha fighting stance would be nice plus some more unique special moves (he already has enough Super Arts). Ryu and Ken I don't mind to much being similar because they trained by the same person at the same time and plus they are rivals. I think the fact that Ryu focus more on power and the hadoken and Ken focus more on speed and the shoruken (forgive me if I spelled it wrong) is good enough to make them seperate and different characters. More back story for the rest of the characters would definately be a plus. I love games that have a lot of good back story.