Is this genre dying?

Are fighting games getting less and less popular?

Few years ago this was one of the most popular genre.
Why poeple play fighting games less if there is more players in general?

 

This is currently the era of FPS, and GTA esque games. Fighters have declined in popularity for the past few years /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif I predict though, they'll take a bit of a spike in 08 due to the 4s coming out. Soul Calibur 4, Street Fighter 4. As well as Tekken 6. Then hopefully VF5: EVO /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

I rest happy knowing there are companies still making fighters, and the underground 'niche' scene we have seems to be gaining steam rather than losing players.

 

Ahem actually it's the era of MMORPG's they make more money than anything else. It's easy to see why though, fighting games require more than what the average gamer wants to provide:

0. A desire to beat someone. Losing becomes to personal
and egos are fragile.

1. Good hand eye coordination.
2. Thorough knowledge of game mechanics.
3. Practice, practice and more practice.
4. An attention span.

 

so true

 

all video games require an attention span

 

A lot of people get bored quickly with the "visual simplicity" of fighting games much faster than they get bored with killing mutant chickens and watching scrolling text on their favorite MMORPG.

 

um. nope, i don't think so. I think it iwll only get stronger, now with the online scene growing it will attract new players to the game. and will get them in the mind set to get better. how many times do we look at cool things players do in this game and are like ( "WOW THAT WAS UBBER!!!!!)

 

i think this genre also got impacted with the decline of arcades more than other genres. before the arcades around me closed the whole community there was either there for fighters like mvc2, tekken or for the dancing games. outside of the arcade goers i don't know anyone who actually plays fighters seriously.

 

Ya, I think we reached a point where the genre's player-base couldn't get any smaller (it reached full niche status). In other words, there's really only one way to go and that's up.

With the decline of arcades, fighting games suffered due to a lack of online play. That seems to be changing, but the question remains if those who have switched to 4, 8, 16, 32 and even 60 player FPS (or whatever) online games would be willing to return to the much more personal 1v1 fighter.

I think it'll really depend on how fleshed out the online component is. i.e. How much the community is tied together.

Why not have clans? "Clans in a fighter?" you say? Yes, for sure. Make a team of 3, 6 or even 12, and the wins/losses get tallied up as a total. Have training sessions online where team members can train non-stop online together, discussing strats and otherwise just having a damn good time. Have a clan tag and emblem. Have tournaments online. Spectator mode is extremely important as well as replay sharing etc etc.

Once fighting games stop being a genre of "I got no one to play with most of the time", then and only then can we hope to start seeing a rise in popularity. Of course, the genre will always have us, so it'll never truly die giving it ample time to build up the online community and get the popularity back to a respectable level.

Then again...doesn't Tekken sell millions?

 

It is being help up by the few great titles out now like SF, VF, Tekken, SC, SNK games, etc but for the most part it is nothing like it used to be like when I first play VF2 at the arcade (lion was my guy back then) there was so more interest now it is basically down to the pure gamers that still truly play the games the way it should and it is a shame. Then again after games like SC4, SF4 and Tekken 6 I don't see any other great game in this genre after them I can just imagine what happens in 2009 and beyond. Lets just hope Sega and other companies have other great fighters in the works. It isn't dying however the love gamers like me have are enough to keep the genre afloat as long as it is needed even if the support isn't as great as other gaming genres

 

This only for fighting games?

Okay, try this: buy Unreal Tournament (1999), and play in a few servers. Tell me how long you'll last.

Okay, try this one too: but Myth: The Total Codex, start an account at Marius.net and play a few matches. Tell me how long you'll last.

Any game that involves competition has all four of those steps by default.

---

It isn't so much that the genre is dying but more like the gaming industry is running out of steam; there are no fresh ideas.

 

When SF2 first came out, every arcade in my area had a crowd of players ready to plop quarter after quarter into the machine. As soon as the SNES version came out, I couldn't get someone to play SF2 at the arcade with me if I put a gun to their head. "Why would I pay to play at the arcade when I can just play at home." Translation: "Why would I go to the arcade and lose, when I am perfectly happy beating up my local bingo crew."

 

True, they make more money, but don't outsell other games of the lot. But yeah, MMOs did just take off like crazy.

I really agree with your statement on egos being too fragile and the risk of losing is too great for many people. It's sad, but I feel it's true. It's like we've attached too much meaning of "failure" with losing, and people are just too scared to take that risk.

 

At the arcade losing means you lose money too, so if you're the top dog or in the winner circle it's not big deal. The people trying to learn the field are going to be pouring in tons more cash than you will though therefore it makes economic sense to why they rather play at home instead. Online play MUST become better for fighters to remain in the market. Every other genre has found a way around this and fighters will too. From what capcom is doing with SSF2T:HD it sounds like that's a step in the correct direction. The creation of SF4 from the ground up with the idea of online play being an integrated part of the game again is another step in the right direction.

FPS's are also huge hits on both console's and PC's because of their online playability. You have TF2, CS (still rabit fans still hundreds if not thousands online) to name a few. I can not imagine FPS's being as popular as they are today if not for what CS did for the genre in terms of competitive online playability.

This same leap needs to be made in the fighting game world and I think they are finally up for the task. We can theorize about the limits of today's technology and the issues with lag and ping and all that mumbo jumbo. All it requires is some cleaver programming and they'll get around it. Creativity is best produced when given confines to work within.

 

The reason fighting games were HUGE in the 90's is because of its graphics. Not the gameplay, the graphics. Some folks found depth, while others(The casual) Just wanted to press buttons and try to win. 2D fighters became more part of the Hardcored crowd due to the rising popularity of 3D fighters, VF2, Tekken, Toshiden, Soul Edge and among others. This genre still has it's fanbase, just like the Shumps genre. People play whatever is popular. Right now, is all about FPS and Sandbox games. VF5 Sold well(Closed to 500-600k Worldwide, thats combing the PS3 and 360 sales) So this genre is fine. Consoles killed the arcade, Consoles is killing the PC.

 

I wonder, if so many people thinks that UT99 was the best Unreal game ever, why on earth does EPIC still produce those hideous games called "Unreal 200X or 3)?

I just can't bring my self to play 5 min in any of the new Unreal games having witnessed the glory that is UT99......

 

Unreal and Quake also played a role, if not an even bigger one.

(hates CS and anything that has to do with it with a burning passion)

Because there's money to be made. That's why they make it.

(prefers the original Unreal over them all)

 

Unreal 3 is not bad at all. Mind you, my first Unreal Game was 2k4. So, I have NO idea what makes Ureal 99 the best, I just take your guys word on it. I was to busy at that time playing Ultima Online. I still enjoy my Quake II and Arena till this day. Talk about going of topic.

 

Online will revive fighting games on consoles (the arcade days may be gone forever in the US). Online has given the genre new life, especially the fact that they made it a fairly lag-free experience. This is the first good online fighter yet (I don't like DOA at all) and that will bring the fighting genre back.

This game would be awesome either way but the fact that you can log on and test your skills every day any time you want brings the fighting genre right back to the top in my opinion. Everyone here has to admit that they've gotten so many more miles out of this game because it's online. The fact that there's competition to be found out there (not to mention easily) gives motivation to play and get better. The only thing console fighters were missing was good, living, breathing competition, with online you've got that any time you want. I would have bought this game no matter what but after experiencing a well-done, online experience, I'm excited for the whole genre on consoles in the future.

 

I know exactly how long I'll last. I'll play for about 20 minutes before I am bored out of my skull and will never touch another mind-numbingly crap online FPS game ever again.

PS - I'm not crap on these games. I usually finish 2nd or 3rd in games with 10 players and have won many times so don't think I despise these games because I lose on them - they are just empty boredom fests and abysmal excuses for competition.