STACK #136 Feb 2016

GAMES FEATURE

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After lying dormant for a few years, the Street Fighter series is back up and running with franchise reboot Street Fighter V .We ask executive producer Yoshinori Ono how the new title will appeal to both veterans and newcomers, as well as what we can expect post-launch.

S treet Fighter itself is not so much a game as it is a trend. While its roots lie in dingy arcades back in the ‘80s, it plays host to one of the most dedicated and talented player-bases of any fighting game to date. Moreover, it has spawned so much more than an arcade classic; countless video games, movies, TV series, live-action adaptations, trading card games, and even slot machines have all hatched from the concept – not to mention the endless stream of alternate fighting games. As is always important when adding a new instalment to an already popular franchise, game developers must cater to veterans and new fans alike. The newest game hopes to go back to where it all began. “This is a ‘reset’ of the series”, notes executive producer Ono-san. “We’re fortunate enough that Street Fighter has been played and loved by fans for almost 30 years, and since Street Fighter IV came out around seven or eight years ago, the game has been enjoyed by a huge number of people around the world, and the fighting game community has embraced it and its iterations. “We find ourselves in a situation now where the fans have put a huge amount of time in and developed strategies and

With Street Fighter V we are resetting the characters and gameplay system... I hope this will allow as many people as possible to join the fight!

GAMES

the first time, implement a training mode, reinforcing the desire to reach out to a fresh audience. The producer knows how integral a tutorial mode is to truly mastering a game, and specifically, the genre of game the SF series represents. “Fighting games are competitive and require a certain amount of practice, more so than other game genres. We see them as being not just video games and entertainment products, but as virtual martial arts sports tools," he explains. "The existing training room style isn’t enough to get the key systems across – people have had to turn to magazines, guidebooks, online FAQs and so on. With the new tutorial mode you can have fun while learning how to 'use' this 'tool' we’ve created." With the inclusion of this new mode, Ono- san hopes to involve as many as possible in the new title. In a game such as Street Fighter, there

techniques that exceed even our own expectations as the developers. While this is a testament to the great success of the game, I have to admit that it’s also become a barrier to entry to the game for newcomers." It is of paramount importance to keep the integrity of the game intact, but Ono-san also acknowledges the vitality of appealing to a new generation of street fighters. “Street Fighter is a very competitive game that lets people practice, improve and win, and with Street Fighter V we are resetting the characters and gameplay system so that

veterans and newcomers, as well as lapsed players, find themselves at the same starting point. I hope this will allow as many people as possible to join the fight!” Street Fighter V will, for

FEBRUARY 2016

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