IPW Topic of the Week: What Fighting Game Would You Revive and How?

The console release of Street Fighter 4 in 2009 completely revitalized a genre that has been stagnant for years.  Since then, sequels for major franchises are regular, new franchises have begun, and a few have found new life as downloadable games.

So, for this week's topic, let's have some fun.  Is there a fighting game from the past that you would love to see brought back today?

Also, how would you like to see it revived? Would you like to see a complete makeover like Super SF2 Turbo HD Remix or perhaps even completely 3D graphics engine? What modes would you add?  Change the gameplay/balance or remain faithful? Retail or downloadable game? Pretend you are developer and publisher.

Have an idea for a future topic? Hit the thread in the IPW Forum and let us know! If you missed last week's topic, "How did you choose your main character?", check it out here!

Click to read more ...

IPW Super Street Fighter 4 Strategy Guide Update

The latest update to the IPW Super Street Fighter 4 Guide is here!  We're going to push harder on adding to the guide.  We want to add as much as we can in the coming weeks before the end of the year.

One change we've decided to implement into the guide regards the descriptions of Special Moves.  The more information we add, the harder it becomes to find specific information.  So we've added some graphics and added a space of separation between the basic move description and the info regarding the move's EX version and FADC if applicable.  Doing this should make it much easier to find info within the description and helps break up the "wall of text" syndrome. The first character to use this is Balrog, as we basically did a rewrite of his guide anyway.

Got any ideas for what you'd like to see in the guide or want to submit information or tips on videos you think we should direct link to in the guide?

Send any info to tips@iplaywinner.com or leave it in the comments! Thanks in advance!

Click to read more ...

IPW Topic of the Week: How Did You Choose Your Main Character?

Let's pretend that you haven't played fighting games in a long time, or perhaps you have never played one.  You pick one up from the game store and bring it home to see what all the fuss is about. You get into the game for the first time and you stare at the character select. There are so many characters! Which one do you choose and how do you decide?

For this topic of the week we'd like the community's help. Share with us the reasons you decided on the main character in your current favorite fighting game. If you have a set of criteria that you apply to all fighting games you get into, please share.

What we'd like to do is to create an article on this  which incorporates the points of view from players presented in this topic, as there is no right or wrong way to select a character. However, with fighting games getting more and more popular  there is a whole new generation of gamers out there who are getting into fighting games that are in the situation presented in the opening, and we don't want them to be intimidated and leave. We want them to have fun, stay, and perhaps become part of the community. Giving helpful advice on this could help many players.

So take a minute to share your method. Is it about looks? About moves? Did you decide based on a tier list? Are you a tourney player and that was a consideration? Don't be afraid to be honest! Thanks to everybody who contributes to this week's topic, as we at IPW think it's an important one.

Have an idea for a future topic? Hit the thread in the IPW Forum and let us know! If you missed last week's topic, "What if Street Fighter 4 had 2D Graphics Instead of 3D?", check it out here!

Click to read more ...

IPW Topic of the Week: What if Street Fighter 4 had 2D Graphics Instead of 3D?

Street Fighter 4 brings together 2D gameplay and 3D graphics.  Whatever your view on the game as it turned out, nobody can debate either its success or the tremendous impact it had on the fighting game community and on the genre.

But what if Street Fighter 4 had 2D graphics instead of 3D? Would that have made a difference in the game's sales or its impact? Would the game, either in play mechanics and/or in graphical presentation, have to be modified to maximize its potential? 

Keep in mind that the genre was on life support before this game released, and even Capcom considered Street Fighter 4 a gamble.  For purposes of this topic, assume that Capcom allotted all the artists and resources necessary to take one, last daring stab at making a modern glorious 2D title.

Have fun, 2D fans!  No the game would not look like the SF4 characters brought to Third Strike mock-ups shown on left (which are awesome tho!).  Today's machines are capabable of incredible 2D.  Go wild!

Have an idea for a future topic? Hit the thread in the IPW Forum and let us know! If you missed last week's topic, "Taunting", check it out here!

Click to read more ...

MAGUS1234's Weekly Video Rundown

Each week MAGUS1234 scours the web for the best of the best fighting game videos and posts them here at iPlayWinner for your enjoyment! Videos range from new games such Super Street Fighter 4 to even legacy games such as Capcom vs SNK 2. Hit us up in the comments with your thoughts on the videos and any requests for certain games!

Check out last week's entry by clicking here!

Here we go! Another update of the typical matches and what not. Be sure to check out the video I tagged a must watch, it is too funny. I've noticed there is a direct positive correlation between the size of my hangovers and the amount of updates :( sorry guys I'll try to be on top of it.

Click to read more ...

IPW Topic of the Week: Taunting

Whether you are playing online or in a tournament, almost everybody who plays fighting games against other players on a semi-regular basis has run into taunting.  Some players out there do it simply to grief other players.  Some use it as a legitimate component of their gameplay strategy.

Everybody has their own moral code that applies to this topic. So, what is your position? How do you feel when you get taunted? Do you taunt others? Why and under what circumstances?  Do you do it in all games or specific ones?

As a fun bonus, what fighting game's taunting (by design or by players being creative) affects you personally the most?

Thanks to Spiron for an excellent topic! Have an idea for a future topic? Hit the thread in the IPW Forum and let us know! If you missed last week's topic, "Should the Conduct of Stream Commentators and Tourney Players be More Professional?", check it out here!

Click to read more ...

IPW Topic of the Week: Should The Conduct of Stream Commentators and Tourney Players Be More Professional?

Images courtesy of protocolsnow.comSeasons Beatings 5: Redemption was an amazing tournaments with many epic moments.  However, there were some incidents regarding conduct, both from official stream commentary and from players in the tournament, which have stirred up debate in the fighting game community.

So, what do you think it is in the best interests of the community for our stream commentators to act more professional, like a sports broadcast?  Do you think it's in the best interests that players act more professional and be more "humble?".  Do you think it's in the community's best interests that things remain as they are, where commentators and players can say what they wish "in the moment", regardless of how it will come across to the thousands of viewers at home? Or is there some in spot in between that you think we should strive to achieve?

What is the correct balance of professionalism and hype?

Thanks to Spiron for an excellent topic! Have an idea for a future topic? Hit the thread in the IPW Forum and let us know! If you missed last week's topic, "When will Super Street Fighter 4 be Dethroned?", check it out here!

Click to read more ...

The Salty Runback : The Art

Pulse dancing, palms going damp and mouth going dry, you sit down to plug in your stick alongside a fellow traveler. The pleasantries of occupation are extended – button check? Why, thank you, sir. Then, to swords.

A knockdown is scored. You cozy up to your fallen foe. Itchy index finger taps short kick, timed to press the enemy's brain into processing defense against meaty pokes. The exhilaration of auspicious chicanery presses you forward as he foolishly tosses out a reversal, to which you dole out withering punishment and place him back upon his shoulder blades. Deja vu from your tapping fingertip. Unnerved, your prey elects to block, a decision you reward with a throw. Now you have meter; now you are invincible...

Click to read more ...

IPW Topic of the Week: When will Super Street Fighter 4 be Dethroned?

There is no denying that Super Street Fighter 4 is king in the fighting game community.  Most tournaments and streams feature the game as the main event.  However, Capcom's Yoshinori Ono has made it public knowledge that there will be no more major iterations on Street Fighter 4 in the near future.  The possibility of downloadable characters gives the game more longevity, but those will eventually stop.

So, will Super Street Fighter 4 always remain the most popular game? Will it always be the centerpiece of a major tournament and the main feature on live streams?  Will it only be dethroned by an eventual Street Fighter 5? Or does a new fighting game, already on the horizon or theoretical possibility, stand a chance of taking the top spot **not just for a few months, but long-term?**

Thanks to Garrett Kelly for an excellent topic! Have an idea for a future topic? Hit the thread in the IPW Forum and let us know!

Click to read more ...

IPW Topic of the Week: Creating a Better Training Mode

The resurgence of the fighting game genre, led by Street Fighter 4, has brought in a flood of new players.  These players either haven't played a fighting game in a while or are playing one for the very first time.

The instruction booklets that are included with fighting games have always been little more than a broad overview.  It is usually by using in-game Tutorial Modes that players are expected to figure out the game in-depth.  Even with easy control schemes and relaxed inputs, todays' fighting games are still complex and a new player will find the challenge daunting, where it is very easy to give up and go back to Halo.

Are the Training Modes found in today's fighting games enough?  Are there key concepts that Training Modes fail to convey to new players?  Are there any new modes, features, or changes to existing mode structures that you think would better help new players cope?

Click to read more ...

IPW Topic of the Week: Paid DLC for Expanding Fighting Games

In the past, game developers typically saved new features, characters, and balance changes for a new $50 (or more) stand-alone title. This was out of necessity, as there was no other way to deliver that content to players.  If they wanted to update a game, a new game cartridge or CD was required.

Today, with downloadable content a prominent part of the gaming landscape, developers have the option of adding those things to a game that is already on store shelves or in your living room.

So, where do you stand on today's trend of using paid DLC to expand fighting games?  Does DLC cost too much for what you are getting? Are the right things being offered? Share your thoughts and opinions!

Click to read more ...

How to Get Better At Street Fighter, by Juicebox Abel. Part Six: The List, Analyzing Your Matches, and Conclusion

Eric "Juicebox" Albino is widely recognized in the Super Street Fighter 4 community as among the best Abel players in North America.  He has earned himself a professional sponsorship with Borderland Gaming.  He is not only a top player, but he also gives back to the community.

One of those community efforts is a series of podcasts he has recorded in which he shares some of his vast knowledge of the game.  One of those is "How to Get Better at Street Fighter". Juicebox and Iplaywinner have transcribed the podcast into a series of articles broken down by topic, where it will be added to a new IPW Player's Guide.

This Article: Wrapping Up The List, Analyzing Your Matches, and Conclusion

Click to read more ...

How to Get Better At Street Fighter, by Juicebox Abel. Part Five: Match-ups, Yomi and Adaptation

Eric "Juicebox" Albino is widely recognized in the Super Street Fighter 4 community as among the best Abel players in North America.  He has earned himself a professional sponsorship with Borderland Gaming.  He is not only a top player, but he also gives back to the community.

One of those community efforts is a series of podcasts he has recorded in which he shares some of his vast knowledge of the game.  One of those is "How to Get Better at Street Fighter". Juicebox and Iplaywinner have transcribed the podcast into a series of articles broken down by topic, where it will be added to a new IPW Player's Guide.

This Article: Match-ups, Yomi and Adaptation

Click to read more ...

How to Get Better At Street Fighter, by Juicebox Abel. Part Four: Defensive Options and Reaction Time

Eric "Juicebox" Albino is widely recognized in the Super Street Fighter 4 community as among the best Abel players in North America.  He has earned himself a professional sponsorship with Borderland Gaming.  He is not only a top player, but he also gives back to the community.

One of those community efforts is a series of podcasts he has recorded in which he shares some of his vast knowledge of the game.  One of those is "How to Get Better at Street Fighter". Juicebox and Iplaywinner have transcribed the podcast into a series of articles broken down by topic, where it will be added to a new IPW Player's Guide.

This Article: Defensive Options and Reaction Time

Click to read more ...

How to Get Better At Street Fighter, by Juicebox Abel. Part Three: Anti-Airs, Spacing and Footsies, and Meter Management

Eric "Juicebox" Albino is widely recognized in the Super Street Fighter 4 community as among the best Abel players in North America.  He has earned himself a professional sponsorship with Borderland Gaming.  He is not only a top player, but he also gives back to the community.

One of those community efforts is a series of podcasts he has recorded in which he shares some of his vast knowledge of the game.  One of those is "How to Get Better at Street Fighter". Juicebox and Iplaywinner have transcribed the podcast into a series of articles broken down by topic, where it will be added to a new IPW Player's Guide.

This Article: Anti-Airs, Spacing and Footsies, and Meter Management

Click to read more ...

How to Get Better At Street Fighter, by Juicebox Abel. Part Two: Basic Terms, Practice, Bread and Butters and Hit Confirming

Eric "Juicebox" Albino is widely recognized in the Super Street Fighter 4 community as among the best Abel players in North America.  He has earned himself a professional sponsorship with Borderland Gaming.  He is not only a top player, but he also gives back to the community.

One of those community efforts is a series of podcasts he has recorded in which he shares some of his vast knowledge of the game.  One of those is "How to Get Better at Street Fighter". Juicebox and Iplaywinner have transcribed the podcast into a series of articles broken down by topic, where it will be added to a new IPW Player's Guide.

This Article: Basic Terms, Practice, Bread and Butter Combos, and Hit Confirming

Click to read more ...

Peacefuljay’s Saltstream - Weekly Review

Each week our very own Crackfiend will give us an update on the current happenings within the PeacefulJay stream which is one of the most popular streams to date! PeacefulJay's 24/7 Endless Lobby Stream can be found by clicking here. Miss last week's update? Check it out here.

After another week of non-stop Super Street Fighter 4, there were a two very interesting ideas thrown towards me, Lamerboi, IFC Ricky, and Peacefuljay. Check what we have planned after the break!

Click to read more ...

How to Get Better At Street Fighter, by Juicebox Abel. Part One: Intro and Setting Goals

Eric "Juicebox" Albino is widely recognized in the Super Street Fighter 4 community as among the best Abel players in North America.  He has earned himself a professional sponsorship with Borderland Gaming.  Not only is he a top player, but he also gives back to the community.

One of those community efforts is a series of podcasts he has recorded in which he shares some of his vast knowledge of the game.  One of those is "How to Get Better at Street Fighter". Juicebox and Iplaywinner have transcribed the podcast into a series of articles broken down by topic, where it will be added to a new IPW Player's Guide.

This Article: Introduction and Setting Goals

Click to read more ...

TOP 10 WAYS TO TAKE INITIATIVE IN YOUR SCENE

As I've become more involved with planning and running events I've seen a lot making things happen in the scene comes down to taking initiative. Spending a moment before you go to an event and thinking to yourself "How can I make this better?" can go much further than you may realize. Below are a few steps that you can take as a player -- not as an event organizer -- to ensure things go smoothly and everyone is having fun.

1. Bring an Extra Joystick

This may sound brain-dead obvious but this is one of the best things you can do as a player. Bringing an extra stick to an event can mean the difference between having an extra set up for people to play on opposed to people standing around for an extra 5 minutes waiting their turn. Of course, this can be a tall order at larger events with so many players and that fact that you do not want to lose your gear. Always label your joysticks and try your best to keep a close eye on them. 

2. Bring an Extra Monitor or CRT

Not everyone has an extra monitor or TV to bring to an event, but much like bringing an extra joystick, this can play a key part in having that one extra set up that will make the tournament run smoother or have another station just for casuals. Again, just like joysticks, be sure to use masking tape and label the equipment with a sharpie so it doesn't get lost in the mix. 

Click to read more ...

PeacefulJay’s Saltstream - Weekly Review

Each week our very own Crackfiend will give us an update on the current happenings within the PeacefulJay stream which is one of the most popular streams to date! PeacefulJay's 24/7 Endless Lobby Stream can be found by clicking here. Miss last week's update? Check it out here.

Peacefuljay’s stream has made tremendous progress in less than 3 weeks. 1250 followers, more players have entered the stream chat, more people are being vocal, and more top players are participating in what is probably the most popular and most talked about SSF4 stream out there currently. With that said, thank you Peacefuljay and IFC_Ricky for helping spread the word about Battle of the Bay and for telling the other guys to watch our stream on Sunday!

Click to read more ...