Street Fighter IV Message Board older than one year ago

Capcom laid out the feature set and changes that would be integrated into the long-time-coming PC port of Super Street Fighter IV (complete with the Arcade Edition patch) last week. Along with those features--including more comprehensive video options for users with low-end hardware to hit 60 frames per second online-- Capcom also revealed the game's security and anti-piracy features.

Like the release of Street Fighter IV on the PC in 2009, SSFIV: AE features Games For Windows Live support for the online functionality and requires players to be logged into a GFWL account to access the game's full functionality. Those who played SSFIV without being connected to the Internet would find the game's offline functionality to be severely limited. Capcom senior VP Christian Svensson wrote in his blog post announcement:

As you would imagine, the realization that an offline outage would turn SSFIV into a game with less playable characters than the original release of SSIV (15 fighters compared to the original game's 25) sent prospective players into a frenzy. Fans argued that the anti-piracy measures would directly detract from the experiences of paying customers rather than deterring piracy or (as I imagine Capcom wanted out of this system) encouraging pirates to purchase the full game to unlock the game's full content.

The response to this function-locked PC release of SSFIV was so overwhelming that Capcom has decided to scrap parts of that system. Svensson wrote on his blog that, shortly after the game launches, Capcom would release a patch that removed the character limit from offline play. Players will still be prevented from saving their progress offline, but if you're looking to just practice combos or play local games on the PC, you won't have to connect online to do it.

It's good to see a big publisher like Capcom relent on some piracy countermeasures at the request of their fans. As far as I'm concerned, the easier it for those fans to take character models and bolt them onto other fighter's animations, the better.

Riding high on the success of its specially designed arcade sticks and fightpads for Street Fighter IV and Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, as well as its recent line of instruments for Rock Band 3, peripheral manufacturer Mad Catz has decided to not only support existing games with specialty hardware, but to begin making new games, as well. Mad Catz announced its entry today into proper software development with the formation of ThunderHawk Studios, and also revealed the company is currently at work on a new MMO.

What kind of MMO does a developer owned by a peripheral manufacture make? A flight simulation, of course.

No prizes for guessing if Mad Catz develops a series of flight joysticks for use with ThunderHawk's new game; Mad Catz also owns European hardware manufacturer Saitek, which produces a series of high end flight sticks and flight stick accouterment so specific and detailed that it really puts that Racing Wheel purchase into perspective.

Mad Catz' new software development turn seems to follow in the footsteps of RedOctane, a similar hardware manufacturer behind high quality dance pads and rhythm hardware before the company produced the original Guitar Hero back in 2005. RedOctane's breakthrough title also played directly into the company's hardware expertise with its plastic instrument-enhanced gameplay. It's easy to imagine that Mad Catz' entry into software development could similarly be viewed as a way to sell expensive peripherals as ideal (or even required) attachments on top of traditional software sales. The bottom line is that Mad Catz may not be the craziest business decision you hear today...which, in and of itself, is super crazy.

Mad Catz says ThunderHawk's flight sim MMO is on track for release in 2012, which should give you plenty of time to figure out how to play a flight sim with the Rock Band keyboard.

Here’s a new one. The original Street Fighter 4 sold well on the PC by Capcom’s own admission, but apparently some folk found a way to acquire it without paying for it, so they didn’t bother releasing the PC version of Super Street Fighter 4 that they had already more or less developed. I hope no one tells them that piracy happens on consoles too, or they’ll maybe stop releasing any games, and just produce them for their own amusement. They’ve had a change of heart for the latest iteration though: they’ll be letting PC gamers give them their money if they so choose. Super Street Fighter 4: Arcade Edition is coming to PC, and it’s learnt a few new DRM tricks too.(more…)

How about some feel good news?

Capcom Japan today revealed that a whole bunch of you helped the company raise roughly $500,000 to donate towards the earthquake and tsunami relief efforts ongoing in Japan.

Back in March, Capcom put the pretty decent Street Fighter IV for iPhone on sale for $1 for a week, with all money collected becoming aid for Japan. The results of those sales were released by Capcom today, totaling about $500,000.

"Capcom hopes that these donations may contribute to help provide the greatest possible amount of assistance to the earthquake victims," the company said, while announcing the impressive numbers. "Furthermore, we wish the restoration activities in the damaged areas progress as quickly as possible."

Capcom will also be donating another one million dollars towards the same cause.

Are we still sore about Capcom not bringing Super Street Fighter IV? To the PC? y/n? Well, in case you can’t decipher those aconyms in the headline, today Capcom announced that they’re working on PC releases of both the enhanced Arcade Edition of Super Street Fighter IV, boasting four new playable characters (Yun, Yang, Oni and Evil Ryu), some balance changes and an impressive new suite of replay features (including the ability to “follow” the replays posted by any players or friends of your choosing), and Street Fighter X Tekken, due out in 2012. Trailers after the jump.(more…)