Your first statements would be more true if not for the fact that there were months between KOFXIII's release, and SFxT's release. That statement works a LOT better when talking about UMvC3 as it was released a week before KOFXIII. Those who might express interest in KOFXIII could easily go "yeah...but Marvel's coming out so I can't get a look". Then if Marvel disappoints, they switch to the other game that came out in that time frame. SFxT didn't really stop ANYONE from becoming interested or playing KOFXIII. More likely than not, if you weren't interested or didn't feel like playing KOFXIII within the months of its release before SFxT drops, it's not gonna change afterwards. It'd be like a Shin Megami Tensei coming out, seeing it, not being interested, then a Final Fantasy coming out 3 months later, and then not enjoying that. I don't suddenly gain an interest in SMT, just because this current game happened to suck. And if I had an interest in SMT, I had more than enough time to play it without conflicting with FF's release.
On your second point, I'll concede to you about Capcom fans calling on hate.
I never made any statement about online and what it did for the community because...honestly, other than GGPO and up until SF4's "passable" netcode, the online components for games were HORRIBLE. And they're still bad for consoles other than Blazblue which is built around it, SFxT and Skullgirls both using Rollback, and Soul Caliber V apparently, along with random games along the way (like the REALLY older KOF's for PSN). It was so bad to a point where...you can't even take online for Fighters into account until GGPO's start for PC, and then SF4 for consoles. The main way to get games was the same way you got them before.
And not ONCE did I say the "Dark Age of the FGC" was great or anything of the sort. Again, I just said, to which I will repeat, it's not as big of a hellhole as some would like to believe until SF4's release. But it taught players true commitment and desire, something seemingly lost in not just "09ers" but even older players. As it is now, people are more worried about playing games just for the chance of greatness, rather than enjoyment, or just playing for money. Players aren't just looking for the next shiny thing, they throw temper tantrums when it doesn't happen fast enough, and then throw some more when it happens too fast. Now's a time where people will bitch about how much a game sucks...but will play it anyway just because "everyone else plays it". And the worst offender, where people will only play games just because it's "good for the community" whether or not they might actually enjoy the game or not.
For the longest time, I did have problems with people saying the old days were better, but now I'm starting to almost agree on the sense that while so many things are so much better, with information retrieval, better online play, more streams to watch play, and more events in general, one major thing changed. The mindset of the community. Nothing is about enjoyment, which always bothered me. If you don't enjoy playing certain FGs then why do it? If it EVER comes to the point where I have to do things or play things I absolutely do not want to play or do in order to stay within the FGC or continue playing FGs, that is the point I leave, and I'll have no regrets.
If you had ABSOLUTELY NO ONE to play your games with back in 03-07, then I personally apologize and am sorry for what you had to go through, I'm sure it was a tough time. If you did, but couldn't find enjoyment, then maybe you needed Capcom games more than you think. If you did have people to enjoy games with, then I personally don't understand why you seem to be so upset about it. But honestly, no matter what happened back then, it doesn't mean it will happen now. Capcom could crash tomorrow, but people would still play its games. KOFXIII won't really benefit unless the "Shiny New" syndrome takes them over as well by way of getting a revision (hopefully FAR) down the line. And honestly, I wouldn't want it to benefit just because something crashed. If you didn't have interest before, I'm not gonna take you seriously now, nor should anyone. I'd want people who actually took an interest to begin with (or after seeing the game in action or playing it themselves), since they're the people I'm more likely to enjoy playing the game with.
Personally, and I'll go real talk here, I don't give a shit what the community does. I don't give a shit what Capcom does, I don't give a shit what anyone does, if it doesn't do anything to my enjoyment of the game. PPV Streams, sponsors, DLC crap, bad business, whatever, I don't care. If you don't interfere with how I enjoy the game I was given, I really don't give a shit. If you do something to increase it, yeah, cool, great. But if something fucks with my enjoyment, and people expect me to go along with it just because it helps the community? Yeah, fuck that. Even if it hurts the community, I won't go along with it if it screws with what I can do for fun, and I will not bat an eye because at least I'll be man enough to do what I want.
And I realize that half of this huge wall o' text is just a tangent rant, but it's been a long ass day and I needed to vent. I figure you'll either discredit everything I say or whatever, but I don't have it in me to do another one of these so...don't expect a decent reply of meaning even if you kick my ass...at least not for the next couple of days.
The 1st statement was actually an all together statement with what came out back to back to back, You had MVC3, then KOF XIII, then SSFIVAE2012 patch, then Soul Calibur V, then Street Fighter x Tekken. That's a lot of high priced games ('cept for 2012 patch but it might get people to buy AE) dropping one after another. If we are talking about titles that are $15 and below I don't think it's that big of a deal, but a $40 and up titles I don't know about you but there's only so much money I can shell out on the more expensive games let alone unlockable characters, costumes, etc.
The renewed interest would come from the FGC. If everyone is still hyping KOF XIII, then joe schmoo who is looking to get into a FG might take a look at KOF XIII cause the FGC is still raving about it. Why do you think people were still just getting into 3rd Strike a decade after it released?
Online really ushered in the new FGC. Whether we like the netcode or not (and believe me I had most netcodes out there) the fact that you can play someone in a fighting game, as crappy as the match may be, was a major accomplishment. The market I was trying to point out was if new fighting games came out, then they should have been played with online in mind since 2003 there has been a push to get the games online. The FGC shunned a lot of newer titles (though most were forgettable) to play the old titles. Basically making this timeframe where FG's didn't really do much. People played the old game and shunned most of the new.
I don't think of that time as the dark ages either. More like time stood still. Personally I think the computer age made gamers look at the game in a different light. When you can look at videos of players doing crazy things on a game you gave up years ago, it makes you look at it again and say "I want to be able to do that!" So, players went from playing as a more basic level doing simple combos, to more complex combos, infinities, and generally flashy combos. IT breathed new life into what were considered old games.
The old days were better for certain people. I might be one cause I am from that age. My style is simple. I don't like practicing all day doing impossible combos. I love working on strategy instead. I am a dinosaur when it comes to this age. Online kills my game cause it slows down what I am capable of and adds a level of difficulty to reading movements of your opponent by the lag constantly being different. For people who like the combos, infinites, and overall flashiness it's a great new day cause no longer is general talent going to stop players from winning. If you practice long enough at learning the combos, to a certain extent, you have very few limits with how good you can be. Fighters now are built for the newer generation. Not old farts like me.
I'm not really angry at all. Unless you count the FGC shitting on this and that game without giving any of them a chance or understanding why people liked the older games, or why people might like a certain game even though it might not be your cup of tea. I have my own preferences, but I always try to keep an open mind. I may like KOF XIII, and I am not the biggest fan of SSFIV, but I still own and play them. I also try to understand the merits of why people like said game. Most of the people on the other boards (personally I have mass respect for this site in general) like to crap on a game without even understanding why you are crapping on it.
For example SVC Chaos is a widely crapped on game. I'll ask the question why. I get Geese can do infinites. So?!? Not the easiest ones to pull off and he is only unlockable through a code on the arcade version. Serious Mr Karate and Shin Akuma are ridiculous. THERE BOSSES!!! What do you think they play like??!? Ryu is boring. Ryu plays like Ryu from SF2. He has mad priority on DP and good distance and Hurricane Kick. Ryu has never really been the character with the most moves. Guile is cheap. Well Guile has to either charge for Sonic Boom or charge for Flash Kick so you have to attack accordingly. The game is too hard to do moves on. It take time to learn the execution. This goes on and on, but most people's arguments get ridiculous.
In the same breath you bring up a game like MVC2 (to which is not my cup of tea but I respect it) it has infinites that are relatively easy to master. Assist characters that you can spam like crazy and general brokeness that makes 10 characters out of 50 or so the only ones people play and that is considered one of the best games of that decade. Again I have no qualms with it and do play it from time to time with friends, but the logic the FGC community has in branding one game great and another a turd astounds me.
I actually did find plenty of competition through that time actually. My arcades locally did dry up in the early '00's I did have a community of friends that played fighters and got to play quite a bit. We made due and sometimes drove 50 miles or more to get to the bigger arcades. I was lucky when I moved to St. Louis in 05 that they had a good community as well. It dried up a few years later, but for 2 years I got a lot of good games in there as well.
Now I am in the family life and can't get into the local FGC like I used to. Online is what I have a chance to play. I am not angry. Sad sometimes cause I miss playing people in offline settings, but I have hope in a couple of years the online will truly be powerful enough to support the FGC to the point where old farts like me aren't so handicapped with the new games.
My opinions are merely that, opinions. I may come on strong and I find people trying to be on defense when debating with me, but personally I enjoy a good debate. I like to get my feelings across of how I feel of the FGC. FG's have been my main video game entertainment for years now (though I do play other games). When it comes down to it if the FG market crashes it won't bother me that much. A little, yes, but when it comes down to it I play a lot of older titles enough to get my entertainment in fighting games. What makes me sad is to see the players go, but like everything people come and go. Hopefully you can collect a few to play with over the years. I still play my ex-roommate who I have really played the most through the years even though we live 4 states or so away. If I pissed you off I apologize. No harm ment.
