Is Virtua Fighter dying in Japan?

Current Fighting Games Fighting Game Discussion
61

There are a handful of solid players in the US for VF. It’s a small community and we all practically know each other.

The problem with VF outside of Japan is that those handful of players who KNOW how to play the game competitively cannot play the latest revisions. The community is more dedicated than you think. Some have even tried to import R but it’s impossible because Sega won’t allow it. There is no option to play the latest revision of the game, and console announcement ceases to exist. The game is practically dead outside of Japan now due to Sega wanting to stay in its Japanese only shell.

VF has been losing popularity in Japan for a while now… simply because it can’t keep up with Namco. VF was in it’s prime during 3 and FT. Tekken has slowly taken over as the main attraction and there really isn’t anything else to it. Tekken is the more flashy and exciting looking game that caters to the casual player. I’m a fan of both games, but when it comes to popular 3d games, Tekken always wins.

62

Sad but true.

I was never a fan of 3D fighting games but I can tell when something is well crafted, even if I don’t particularly appreciate it. It’s always terrible when a company attitude destroys something good.

63

Agreed. I think Sega needs to promote their game a bit more. The game is seen as boring to some people and alot of gamers never heard of VF still. While Tekken, even alot of shooting gamers heard of Tekken at least here.

As other people mentioned, they need to bring back the best tutorial in any fighting game. They also can bring back the A.I. system. And they can promote their game more. The first thing to do is get VF5R to the outside though.

The tutorial system taught me so much about VF and even some basics of 3-D fighting that I translated to Tekken. I mean it made me a better player and plus they had one for each character. Simply amazing. At least other games are trying some what these days as T6 has sample combos, SFIV has trial mode.

Well, on a unrelated note, Sega does have Bayonetta which seems to be doing well so far.

64

VFEvo has been, and always will be one of my very favorite fighters ever. Incredible game.

EDIT: Any Chicago peeps that wanna come over and play on my arcade machine of Evo are MORE than welcome to do so. Just drop me a line. I’ll teach you what I know about Shun Di. :slight_smile:

65

Good shit.

66

Slide, where u been @?! :rock:

67

A bit? That’s an understatement lol

One of the reasons IMO that the game isn’t as popular is because the movement system is a hell lot more complicated than other fighting games, even compared to other 3D games. Looking at Street Fighter, it’s a very easy game to move in; only recently did they introduce two movement speeds (walking vs. dashing) and for newer gamers that’s easier to come to grips with. Even compared to Tekken, VF’s movement system is IMO harder to get adjusted to even though it makes more sense (mainly talking about evading here). I think the best word to use here is constricted. For newer players, SF and Tekken’s movement doesn’t feel as constrictive as VF’s, and I think that plays a larger role than most people will admit.

Sadly I also think that the fact their poster boy in Japan is one of the most physically demanding character in the game (Akira) and one of most popular characters in the West is hopelessly complex (Lei-Fei) does a lot to work against the game too. :X

68

It’s such a shame. I still claim to this day that VF was the most enjoyable time I’ve had trying to learn a game. Shit made so much sense. It was complicated when you first look at it, but when you apply it, it just makes sense.

Such a shame. I get on VF5 from time to time, but it’s hard to find people. I honestly think the VF5R has better customization options over Tekken too. =(

69

VF is so fuckin boring. I played VF5 for two months when it came out because I found Wolf and Akira really interesting. The problem is, every other character is ridiculously boring. They all seem like people you might see walking down the street. Jacky, Lion and Sarah are just white people. Lau Chan, Lei-Fei, Shun Di are all just asian martial arts stereotypes. Shun Di is kind of cool I guess, though.

Also with VF I never understand why people use anything but their fastest mid and fastest low.

70

Lows are generally not fast and fast mids are SS’ed.

71

It’s funny because it’s true.

I think something else which is understated about VF5R’s lack of success…the character intros.
I mean, really…WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS SHIT?

[media=youtube]c0sfilXS4eQ[/media]
[media=youtube]ivX4oOcr8z0[/media]
[media=youtube]iFnUUCfPjAI[/media]
[media=youtube]kmHcIqi18BM[/media]
[media=youtube]ERaczrFsmBk[/media]
[media=youtube]09LE5VMhyJU[/media]

72

If VF5 had been popular on american console, it could have saved the series. I loved VF4. To this day I feel that it is the best (3D) fighting game ever made… and when I heard 5 was coming out, I was soo excited. However… after playing the demo… I almost didn’t get the damn game.

The shitty ass demo nearly killed it for me. Its like, everything Sega could possibly have done to detract interest in the game - they did. First of all… it was so pathetically easy. The enemy did not block. The 3 stages you fought in were all basically newer less-exciting versions of old stages. You really have to do something special with arena stages considering there is one in practically every fighting game. This one - just doesn’t do it for me. Lei Fei’s stage I’ve grown to like - but I still think it was much more vibrant and exciting in 4. The island stage looks horrific. DOA3… an original XBox launch title… has nicer island stages for christ’s sake.

Then there’s the characters… all of whom are wearing the exact same costumes and colors they wore in VF4. The 4 characters they let you use were 1) Akira… who couldn’t look more boring - is one of the most difficult characters to use in the game. Wtf? WHY make him playable? Especially when a lot of unsuspecting VF newbies are gonna pick him cuz he looks like Ryu… and think "damn this game is stiff and slow."
2) Eileen looks like absolute shit uncustomized. Her secondary costume is so plain… and her primary costume could be cool, but the colors combinations are hideous. She was put there likely to appeal to beginners or casual players but she’s *so *button mashy that using her is like the complete opposite of Akira and she’s an ultimately unsatisfying character to use.
3) Sarah… in dier need of a makeover… weighs in looking as boring as ever. Why not make the bodysuit like the unlockable third costume or something, and give her something fresh and exciting to start… same goes for many of the other characters. Let this feel like a new game.
4) Nacho Libre - or whatever - never interested me. He plays alright I guess, but he seemed generic and still does… as does El Fuerte in SF4. Ramon could kick both their asses. ; )

Anyway… if I had never played VF4, or wasn’t a big fighting game fan, I would have surely passed on VF5 after playing that demo.

Despite feeling like I was playing prequel to VF4, rather than a sequel, I eventually got the game. But not right away like I would have. I put it off for a while but decided to buy the game after a few months. I’ve enjoyed the game, but I just couldn’t help but feel like it should of had more.

VF4Evo had challenges that you had to complete in each arcade. There was also a special arena where you could compete in tournaments with special rules, like -throws do more damage - or - when you do damage to the enemy, you regain health back, and vice versa, creating awesome see-saw battles. I think about this in VS mode and what could have been. Anyway… none of this was present. Were they holding it back for the next version of VF5? Well they shouldn’t have, cuz there was no next version. Not for console anyway. They should of just put it in the initial release. Now we’ll never see it.

I still love VF despite all the nitpicking. I will never understand why people find it so difficult to play. I mean, I play a lot of Tekken as well… and Virtual Fighter has always felt way more intuitive to me.

I should stop. Long ass post… god I must have no life… :bluu:

73

I find some of them funny, like the end of this Akira’s intro:
[media=youtube]SNL4RLuc2WQ[/media]

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Those chars intros were added after the console port was out.

The real problem is Sega did every stupid business decision possible to hurt VF5.
VF5R released in Feb or so next year would sell a lot better, especially since it could offer actual working netcode on a 3d fighter.

75

You missed the weird Goh intro when he only has underwear.
[media=youtube]AuD3zJbnIxA[/media]

76

Yes, I agree with some of those statements, but that’s only on the surface. When you get to a certain level in VF you appreciate how technical the game is. FAR FROM BORING

Please take my word for it. I tell everyone the same thing. If VF is being played at a solid level, it engages both parties in a very mental battle, where most other fighters only engage into a poke/combo/reaction game. I have yet to play a fighter that incorporates this type of mental exhaust.

When you start understanding and engaging with the nitaku/yomi options in VF you’ll understand what the game is about. The problem is that to gain those understandings it will take months of training and dedication.

In summary: VF is easily the most engaging game of its genre, but to get to that state you must dedicate yourself to the game.

77

I’ll agree with that statement.

I play SF4, Blazblue and VF5R right now, and VF5R spanks the ever living hell out of the first two games. I actually play the first two more than 5R too, simply because there is more competition (online and at the arcade), but whenever I play someone solid at VF it makes me wonder why I’m even bothering with any other fighting game.

78

Those are customized character intros intended to be funny/silly. Is it really supposed to be all serious? Though I guess if you wanted to there are plenty cool, baddass poses and stuff too.

The real question is, what other game allows you to freaking make your own character intros?

79

Just livin the good life.

Sup?

He just took them out of that context, in order to bash the game, that’s all.

80

Sega unveiled that 4 point plan to reinvigorate Arcades the other day, I wonder how/if their plans for the future of the VF series fall into that?

I worry about the fourth point and attracting more non-gamers, but I really, really doubt they would change the VF series at core to any large degree.