There are eight qualifier spots for HDR and 3rd Strike. There are sixteen qualifiers for SFIV and SFxTekken.
(Pay attention because this is where Papasi’s comment comes into play.)
The payout listed by Capcom for the Grand Finals is top 16 for all games, including HDR and 3rd Strike.
There hasn’t been an explanation for this discrepancy. There are supposed to be16 qualifiers (more on this later) for SFIV and SFxTekken and thus payout for top 16 in those tournaments. I would guess that it’s simply an error on Capcom’s part and they listed payout for top 16 in all tournaments for the grand finals when it should be only top 8 for HDR and 3rd Strike.
Also, most people in this forum wouldn’t care about this but something I noticed anyway. Because Japan is no longer a qualifier, there are now only seven qualifier locations. It’s stated in the above link that two qualifier spots are available at the LA tournament for HDR so that is how they arrive at eight spots. I don’t believe Capcom has explained how they will get the final two spots for SFIV and SFxTekken. It would seem that at least one of the locations will have to give more than two qualifier spots for those tournaments (probably LA?). The details for all the future qualifiers have not been released yet:
Well, HDR is buggy and there hasn’t been any explanation why it hasn’t been patched again. We all know why: old games are bad for business. Replaceable, moderate-quality titles are preferred so they can have guaranteed sales every other year.
Actually, with this recent investment by CapCom, I feel that now is the best time to hit CapCom up for a patch to fix their PS3 HDR’s input lag.
CapCom and the other sponsors are investing big money into a tournament series for a number of products that CapCom currently has on sale. HDR alone is getting well over $34k spent on it. This is a new direction for CapCom, and they are seem to be willing to tap into the bank funds to make it happen legitimately.
Paying out for a patch to get their product in grade A form should be right in line with their marketing plan.
The trick is gonna be to format a communication to the right people, worded knowledgeably and professionally, expressing clearly how this patch will radically improve the game technically, and expressing why now is the time as it coincides with helping ensure both their product and tournament series send the clear signal that they are serious and focused on being done right. OR have people on the forums just start spamming it and let their voices be heard.
And how will it improve the game technically? (Rufus/Papasi/Fudd/NKI, please correct my numbers where needed)
[S]CPS2 ST runs at +4 frames input lag[/S]
[S]Dreamcast ST runs at +5 frames of input lag[/S]
[S]360 HDR runs at +6 frames input lag[/S]
[S]PS3 HDR runs at +8 frames input lag[/S]
[S]Using an Asus V236H adds an additional +0.5 frames of input lag[/S]
[S]This means that the HDR tournament series will be running at 8.5 frames of input lag. (PS3 + Asus V236H)[/S]
EDIT: added strikethrough to my numbers because Rufus has indicated they are not correct. Will update them when have the correct info finalized. I had been going off the data I saw here.
If CapCom can reduce the PS3 HDR input lag by at least 2 frames, it will put it on an even footing with the 360 version and make a HUGE difference in terms of the experience delivered. It’s a win for CapCom, it’s a win for Sony, it’s a win for the players, it’s a win for the tournament series. That’s a lotta wins.
I have not tested lag on other platforms, but indications are that it’s about one frame slower - so 4.5 - on PS3.
It’s not my field of expertise, but I’m under the impression that there’s a video pipeline that puts some pretty firm limits on how responsive games can be.
So I have some terrible news for HDR fans. Capcom just emailed me saying the 25th anniversary tournaments will be played using classic mode, turbo 2. I’ve been practicing the wrong game for the last week…haha. Oh well…flying out tomorrow to Austin. Hopefully, I can do some damage over there.
I’m confused. Were they planning on using HDR classic from the beginning, or is this a last-minute change?
If it is a last-minute thing…what gives? It doesn’t really make any sense, aren’t they trying to promote their newest games i.e. HDR? Who the heck is running this thing?
Yeah. I never really thought it would die before the SF4 crowd moved to some other new game. Anyway, this seems more like what i expect from Capcom:
Hey, so you wanna screw our new SFxT crap? Take that!
I believe they think more people will enter the qualifiers if they use classic mode. It is the only sensible explanation - I do not mean it is a warranted explanation, see, but at least it has a reasoning behind it.
Edit: yeah, I believe “officially dead” was never this accurate.
Which is an incredibly odd marketing choice. Although I wonder if this decision has to do with ToL being a huge hit, whether they’re actually listening to the community and putting out an ST-like event, or if after careful consideration, they just don’t like HDR, lol.
But seriously, Capcom not even supporting the very product that they put out is a pretty big nail in the HDR coffin.
