That's because Justin always play more technical than flashy. That's why his matches are boring most of the time.

I had meant to say that tiers will fall beneath character match ups. As Sagat might be top tier in Super Turbo, but there's always a counter pick, so knowing your match ups will hopefully be more recognized and important than "X character meets X amount of success" (to folks). I mean, Sagat is great in CVS2, but if you don't know how to fight, say, Chang... that position is meaningless.

Wish I worded myself better on that, but, I agree with you in any case.

Now that you mention counter picking, Rotor, here's hoping the double-blind character selection they put into Super Street Fighter 2 HD Remix is carried over into SFIV. I'm not even a hardcore fighting game player and I can appreciate the ability to actually choose your character first without being countered.

Well, counter selection being a byproduct of character match ups, it's still good to know who you're fighting and what's gonna give you trouble. I do hope they keep double blind selection mostly for the fact that I don't want to sit on the damn character select screen waiting for some chump to pick his character.

I'm with Mo0, I'm hoping that the double blind selection option makes it into SFIV. I also hope that they manage to make the online component as smooth as SSF2THDR is currently appearing to be.

New info from some dude on Gametrailers and the scans were snagged by Ultima at HVO. I'm guessing that tidbit with Cammy relates to her not playing like Alpha style Cammy afterall. It's hard to tell given how vague the statement is. The Gen changes are pretty cool, though I was never any good with him. The most I know about the Alpha characters is that Rose may have a godly crouching MP. Shot in the dark as it is.

The contents of the European and North American Collector's Editions have been announced. Basically every option up for vote on the Capcom Unity website was put into the Collector's Editions. A strategy guide, music CD, figurine, art book, and the new anime based on Street Fighter IV. The North American version has Crimson Viper as the figurine available for those buying the 360 Collector's Edition and Ryu as the PS3's special figurine.

The Europeans get both figurines no matter what platform they purchase their game for. They also pay more money for their version though, even as far as conversion goes. I believe the North American version is retailing for 80 dollars and the European version is closer to 100-120. Pity on us for a shitty economy? Anyway, you're paying slightly higher a price in Europe if you get its Collector's Edition and the Premium Stick shoots that price up significantly depending on your taste/desire for a close to arcade experience.

Thankfully, the man behind the Mad Catz Street Fighter IV sticks is an arcade controller fanatic and the word around SRK is that the more economy friendly Street Fighter IV sticks will be much more easily modified than current options on the market, so you can throw in whatever your tastes point you toward regarding your preference to US or Japanese style sticks and HAPP/SANWA buttons. These parts can be cheaper to obtain if you know learn how to modify your stick, and can get you the same results as the premium stick but without the extra loss of cash from your wallet.

Since you seem to be keeping on top of this Rotor, how viable is the default 360's controller for this game expected to be, for those of us (Myself perhaps) who won't (or can't be bothered to) get an Arcade controller?

360 controller viability for a Street Fighter game is approximately none. Unless you enjoy being high frustrated by controllers and wish to feel like smashing yours on a regular basis. For example, a comment I made elsewhere on my attempts to use the 360 pad for Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix:

Duly noted. How much are those going to go for then? I kinda wanna get the collector's edition, but its already pretty pricey at $80, so if the controllers cost an arm and a leg then I'd rather just stick with getting the game itself.

Seconding these comments. I can't tell you how many times I've looked fucking silly, punching in the air as my opponent closes in and capitalizes on my OBVIOUS failure to perform hadoukens/shoryukens. Consistently.

The cheapest option is the Mad Catz Street Fighter IV gamepad ($40), which comes in a variety of designs. Then there's the mid-range option, the cheaper Mad Catz SFIV FightStick ($80). Finally there's the all-out Mad Catz SFIV FightStick Tournament Edition (I believe it's supposed to be about $150).

So, depends what level you wish to spend at.

Pads with SSFIIHD plates coming?
http://i392.photobucket.com/albums/pp2/iag25/01.jpg

Shameless taken from SR and first from CU which was then taken down.

I'd get those just to make some of classic Live Arcade games fucking playable. Provided the D-Pad is indeed not shit.

Edit: Oh, same pads but with SSFIITHDR patterns, I see what you were getting at now, my bad.

Hmm, I'll probably get the $40 ones then, I'm not the best at fighting games, but I imagine those should help me out. I wonder if they'd work well with other 360 Fighters retroactively? (DOA4, Soul Calibur 4, etc.,)

They will, though you'll run into varying levels of usefulness regarding the pad and the 3D games you play. Virtua Fighter isn't worth playing on a pad, and DOA4 could go either way. Soul Calibur I've never messed seriously on a pad, though I do know most players also advocate stick for advanced techniques. It could be your weapon of choice if you decide to drop money on KoF 2002 UM.

Street Fighter IV CE changed. Now with more awesome:



Ugh. I'mma be spending like $300 on this damn game.

This fact alone makes me think I might have to switch my collector's edition pre-order to the PS3 and keep my cheap 360 pre-order of game only.

Decisions, decisions indeed.

Really cool interview with community manager and some footage here:
1UP Show 12/19/08 Street Fighter 4 Preview KeyStone Arcade Pro Player Matchup Video Gameplay Trailer from GameVideos

I'm getting really excited for this game. I can't lie. I was really lukewarm when this was first announced/shown but I'm completely sold, day one, at this point.

YouTube Video

Every time I see this game I get more and more excited about it. Looks damn awesome.

I was going to ask which version of the game people were planning to get (360 or PS3), but it doesn't matter massively as I'm getting both as it turns out; I managed to snag an early pre-order of the regular 360 version for dirt cheap, and have added a pre-order for the PS3 collector's edition to that. XD

Too bad we couldn't cheat the system with the arcade stick and PS3's open USB with the latest controllers. Try not to freak out when you run into thousands of Rufus players online, guys.

Is rufus turning to be amazing or something?

He's always been really good, it's just worth noting now to folks who haven't really been following arcade play and such. He has the best punishment move in the game (EX Messiah Kick), you'll be seeing a lot of him depending on how you play this game. I really don't care, I play as Guile come hell or high water, but it's something I feel should be pointed out.

Haha. I'm a ken guy all the way but I'm EXTREMELY interested in C. Viper and If I end up digging how she plays as much as I do her character design, I'll have a new character.
Edit: First match in this set is Rufus vs Zangief. Rufus seems a lot faster than I thought he'd be:

YouTube Video