Let Off Some Steam is a new section where we let you guys get something off your chest – it can be a vitriol laced rant, a sappy love letter to whatever, or anything inbetween. Send your ranty words in this direction, and try and keep it under 600 words. This time ‘Jamesmacusedmyhandle’ get stuck into Capcom for their treatment of loyal fans.
Capcom: The Loyal Treatment?
I’ve been playing Street Fighter since the September of 1991. I was at the Royal Adelaide Show with a group of friends, and no adult supervision for the first time ever. I remember scrimping and saving for months in anticipation and eagerly clutching just over $50 as I walked through the gates. I think that we went on maybe 3 rides before we walked past the arcade and decided to check out a new machine called Street Fighter 2. I spent the rest of my day and the rest of my money there.
The summer holidays that year were spent in a dingy Charcoal Chicken, religiously pumping 20c pieces into SF2. My love affair began with Chun-Li, who could resist spamming MK for the easy win? I then moved onto Guile for the ease of sideways and updown special moves. Slowly the true depth of the game became apparent. We spent so much time and money on that machine that the owners used to give us free chips for what we put in.
Those that remember the 16-bit wars will know that the announcement of SF2 on SNES rocked the world (well mine at least). I spent months learning every single nuance, and combo. I still have all the strategy guides somewhere. I even finished it on very hard, without losing any health in the hope of seeing Sheng Long (Damn you EGM!!!). I got a pretty picture at the end! Turbo Edition came and went, with the Mega Drive getting a look in (was way faster but the graphics sucked). Then came Super. I bought them all. Same goes for Alpha, Ex and 3. Capcom had no problem milking that cash cow to the very last drop. Don’t even get me started on the merchandise.
Fast forward to 2009 and my love affair began all over again with Street Fighter 4 and the world was beautiful place, full of Ultra Combos, Focus Attacks and Focus Attack Dash Cancels. Then began the rumblings, where were Dee-Jay and Ibuki? Some even asked about T-Hawk. Were Capcom going to expand as they had in the past? They did!! Another quick fast forward to 2010 and Super SF4 is announced! Updated balancing, a few old favourites and two brand newbies! I could not wait. Surely in this marvelous modern world of internetz and DLC, those of us that had already paid for SF4 would be treated to this wonder for a moderate cost and a downloadable update… Err no. Capcom released a full retail version, and while i was pissed, i eventually gave in a bought it. But wait a new challenger arrives! Capcom announces Super Street Fighter 4 Arcade Edition, the return of Yun and Yang plus Evil Ryu and Oni confirmed, if not available.
The rumour mill starts up again. Surely this time Capcom will reward it’s loyal fans with some moderately priced DLC to play this awesomeness at home. At the very least I won’t have pay for a full retail version. Nope, Capcom has decided to Tiger Knee us all in the nuts and not release any version! No DLC, no retail, just a machine that is getting harder and harder to find as more arcades close. As much as I would have complained about paying it makes me nowhere near as pissed as I am now that I get nothing. Is this how Capcom is really going to treat it’s loyal fans?
I’m off to play some BlazBlue!
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