The site says the 12 characters are debuting in the Vita version, so unlockable is out of the question. To the other suggestion, Capcom gives away free color packs, not characters.
I don’t see where the confusion is.
They don’t say “debuting in the vita version” They say there there is 12 new characters for the vita version. A “debut” implies these characters will appear on the Vita FIRST. “new” however just implies that the character info is new.
Then there is this:
This pretty much directly implies that the characters will be DLC released over several months. The most likely business decision from Capcom would be to spread the release of the 12 characters out over the course of the next 3-5 months to try and keep interest alive in SFxT up until the Vita version releases. Releasing the DLC will get free press for SFxT from news aggregates and blogs as well as just keeping consumer memory on track that the the game is there. It is a big marketing tool.
Debuting “on the ps vita system” because this is the first time any of those characters have been on the Vita.
Also it’d make ZERO business sense to hold characters like Lei + Alisa (confirmed as on disk) for up to 5 months.
Now you are just trying to twist words in a way to make yourself look right. Face it, they are going to hold them until the Vita version comes out.
Remember this? That was from SDCC.
So basically, they had these characters planned out for ages.
Along with that Toro poll asking people which characters they would like to see on the Vita (Christie, Alisa and Sakura)
And it makes perfect sense to hold popular characters as DLC.
Who do you think would move more DLC: Sakura or Rolento?
ah thats a tough choice…I would say rolento but alot of newer sf players might not know him very well…
I feel that the reaction to the vita getting these characters first would be less violent, if Capcom had a release date for SFxTK on the Vita
If I had to read into Sven’s comments, it would seem they may be announcing the release date for the game tomorrow, alongside the official release of the Vita.
yeah i know, but i think most people got swindled by ESRB. I don’t own a copy nor im i going to examine or inspect the disk for character coding, i feel that it wont get me anywhere and will just piss off more people on what “could” have been. but im glad your remotely satisfied with the current roster.
Well we have 2 options, not to buy this game on day one and boycott Capcom, or we just suck it up play the game as is 
the very word boycott has lost its meaning because people so openly throw it around…no one is ever serious in doing it. plus not nearly enough people in the FGC either care or are willing to participate in such a event. you want to boycott the game? on what grounds? you feel cheated on characters that were never revealed for the initial release to a game? Gems? what do you have?
im not trying to be Mr. Negative, im just saying what is the point? and if this game doesn’t sell it will only hurt it in the long run…they can look at it as there is no reason to continue to support the series if it bombs so you’ll never get those characters you intend to save, you’ll never get the balance you want to achieve because its dead. thats a potential outcome…however no one can see the future, well at least i don’t think so…
I personally am fine with what I’m getting in this game when I get it this March, but that’s just me.
Oh and Ono’s commented on the Vita and the characters-
https://twitter.com/#!/Yoshi_OnoChin/status/172199017109917697
Who knows… Who knows It’s just a big troll and we’ll be able to unlock everyone…
^I’ve posted about that in the GD thread, just look back some 5 or pages ;3
Free gems on PSN?
1: Can you DL those right now?
2: Will Capcom ever get out of bed with Sony?
Lol, I posted this too on General Discussion… Looks…wow. 
Mistake on SCEE’s part apparently. They are already taken down.
Makes me wonder if characters may pop up form time to time…
Guys on twitter Ono pretty much just said there is a 1v1 mode