Question about VF5R success in Japan

Also VF4 was the first game with character customization and I think that was a big draw. Many people still say the pre VF4 characters are bland. I've shown vids to casual players of some wild customs and they were floored.

T5 came with customization years later (borrowing from VF.Net system) which was more user friendly. I wonder if Sega had not sold/leased the card system to Namco if it would have been as popular.

I wish VF had a story mode with movie endings for console editions. I'd even be happy if they spliced all the character intros together.

VF kids had individual ending movies and VF3tb for DC had a universal movie. I'm definite it would sell more copies to the average joe if ending movies were included.

Me too. I think its awesome that Namco is promoting the game now while its far months ahead from releasing. Why hasn't Sega done anything like that for VF. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif I'm not counting the VF5R arcade trailer they got announced a week or two before the beta release.

If Sega/AM2 can go out of the way to make item win poses I don't see why they couldn't have specific character versus game intros. They already prelude to some in the arcade trailer.

 

I think Sega should do a VF that feels new and just not continually tweak VF4 with a new coating.

 

continually?!

They only done it once since VF4 so far.

EDIT: Or are you counting the updates to 4 and 5 in this? If you are then that's cheating.

 

vf4 various revisions, vf4 evo various revisions, vf4 FT various revisions, vf5 various revisions, vf5r soon to be various revisions, please read up old chap..

 

Couldn't resist! /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
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... and the only one that really counts is VF5.

Like I said counting all the updates/revisions is cheating. You can't say all the revisions and updates to VF4 where too similar to VF4, cause it was still VF4. Revised, updated, whatever, still VF4.

5 counts cause yeah it's just like 4 but crapper, the revisions and updates to 5 don't count though as it's still 5.

It's like buying a new Mondeo and not expecting it to be anything like a Mondeo or something crazy

 

It's not cheating since there are no rules. VF4, VF4: Evo, VF4: FT, VF5, VF5R were all sold and marketed as individual games.

Point is they're still tweaking a 2001 game (and not all to the better) in 2009. Tekken, SF and VF are playing it too safe right now, someone needs to take steps forward.

 

Why did they keep the numbers in the titles then /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

I never thought about how long they'd been doing this with VF, 8 years is a good while. If you compare it some other games, VF has actually had quite a few major changes though, more than a lot of games, even ones that have been going for 20 years.

I agree about these games playing it too safe at the moment, it's easy to see why they are doing that though. Tekken 4 and VF3 are both considered the worst in the series by most people and it took years for people to get into SF3.

 

And SF3 is still regarded by many as "travesty". Only some of the hardcore really like it, just like VF3 for some people here.
I don't think they have to reinvent the wheel to make it a "numbered sequel". VF5 has a whole new technology behind it, several changes, new characters, OM, 0F throws.. It might not be completely different, but that's why it's a sequel and not a new franchise right?

And yes Shag, that was exactly what I was referring to /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

 

And this are the reasons I believe that make Tekken more popular than VF. The combo part is specially true. I have friends who don't even play Tekken or other fighting games seriously, but find themselves excited everytime they decide to watch "combo videos" on youtube. I have several friends who stopped playing SF in favor of GG as well, just because GG is a fast-paced combo-fest.

Even though most people don't care about fighting games storyline, characters and backgrounds do play a role no matter how cheesy they are. Let's take KoF for example. KoF 98 is held by many as the best of the series so far, gameplay-wise, even though it has no storyline whatsoever. However, what made the series popular and the characters get stuck in the heads of the fans to guarantee the success of a game like '98? The infamous Orochi Saga, from KoF 95 to 97. When Iori goes apeshit and rapes everyone during 97 he went from metrossexual to ultimate baddass just because of the background they gave him in-game. You just WANT to play as him for being so bad. Power Glove-like bad.

Hell, I got excited when watching one of the T6BR trailers, where Jin and Kazuya are fighting each other and there are lots of explosions and shit. I would love to master one of them just because they give me a brutal fighting vibe.

VF doesn't need to change its gameplay, but having some more background and breathing some life into its characters could go a long way. Hell, give them some specific intros for certain matches (ie: Lau vs Lei Fei) and you already have SOMETHING. </div></div>

I remember long long time ago saying that it certainly wouldn't hurt if AM2 put some more visuals and background love into the characters and I was dismissed saying that VF doesnt need that.

All right, all pros here, lets go make combo videos of VF5 now, with some kickass music. It might actually have a small effect here /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif To make VF5 appear more kickass.

Heres a nice example, of TTT which wasn't even particularly combo-happy game. Indeed stuff in this vid is far beyond your average player and were performed with a programmable stick even. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkuM_GHgk3I
I now want to make similar vid or vids for VF5, problem is that I cant capture direct and play atthe same time... and my PC is currently in pieces..

 

combo video you say ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiMVRdSnV50&feature=channel_page made that almost half a year ago. Though I do admit it's not nearly as high quality as that TTT vid you posted

 

Oh shit, what did I start?! <o>

VF does have some good videos demonstrating fights on youtube, I have been showing them to a few friends and they are like "wow, this is art man".

One thing I hear a lot from people when I talk about VF is that "it's too slow". I think that's a big misconception! The game can be pretty fast and involves so much movement.. It's like Manji once told me, "VF is up-close fighting, personal"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCPPl3YPjBw this one begins really flashy for example. This one has its moments as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YZEjG45ZpI basically any Lion vid that shows him going under the opponent and reaching their back impresses people apparently. Most Akira videos are intense (though the sound effects for his movements get some people laughing).

Really, VF is flashy and pleasant for audiences it just needs more exposure. It's already beautiful to look at with all the evade and throw mechanics plus all the details that goes into the characters movements and such. That TTT video is a good example. I watched it, and some combos aren't that impressive (but some really are), but it's well done, has that cliche rock playing in the background, visual effects, drama. Imagine a compilation of fights from VFDC with some edits and such. It will catch at least one person's eye. Putting "VF5R" as the only tag doesn't help ("JE" "PA" neither), how can people "stumble" upon it? VF5R AM2 SEGA PS3 X360 Arcade Japan Virtua Fighter R Combo Fighting Game Martial Arts Jean Pai <-- and some info about the game/community (Japanese Arcade. Console version not confirmed http://www.virtuafighter.com play VF5 Online on X360 whatever etc etc) that's more like it, IMO of course

Tricky's video is great, specially for information purposes, though not exactly flashy (it's training mode after all). But that's a good way to show a bit more of the game, "another side"

 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">One thing I hear a lot from people when I talk about VF is that "it's too slow". I think that's a big misconception! The game can be pretty fast and involves so much movement.. It's like Manji once told me, "VF is up-close fighting, personal"
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Try being in the Ring with Dabadseed,Denkai,Akmaal,Adam,Slide,Konjou,
Yosuke,Flash,Gentleman, ETC. And tell me its not fast (These are some of the best US players i know.) Sometimes i gotta back up from the fight to slow shit down lol!

 

The game is slow to people who don't know anything about the game.

Also, I would argue that a lot of what makes VF a fast-paced game cannot be seen on video. You can really only feel it's fast if you're the one in the match.

 

The first time I saw the high level VF4 matches on the PS2 version disc when I was still trying to get into the series I thought it looked dam fast. I may have been playing at a very slow pace but I could see the game could be very fast at higher levels.

I was playing mostly Tekken Tag at the time but those matches really impressed me particularly the 2 with Kyaso. Had it not been for those replays I would have got the wrong impression about VF and thought it slow and dull.

 

That's true, against some of the top players here at times I've felt like their thinking, moving and reacting faster than me. It's like getting constantly beaten to the punch.

Still I don't see why high level VF4 at least wouldn't look really fast to anyone. It did to me when I was still new to it. I thought it was the fastest 3d fighter around.

 

I've shown people the exhibition matches on the EVO and vf5 discs a few times over the years and everyone i've shown it to never said it looked slow, I do agree that it feels faster when you are playing it though.

 

When I show high level play videos, people agree with me that it's fast too. But if they play it without prior experience or knowing the game a lot beforehand (be it from watching or just reading about it) they will tell me it's too slow. As I said, it's a big misconception.

 

That's true and it's because as a beginner you don't have a planned flowchart, can't hit check and react and you can't do fast movement canceling or buffering. A new player is likely gonna stop and think and hesitate a lot and they won't be using exact recovery. It's no wonder they think it's slow and stiff based on that.