Virtua Fighter 5: FS Event?

Hey guys,

Been a long time since I've been on here. Very happy that FS is finally coming out for the consoles. About time!

As you all know, FS was playable at PAX this year. The machine is at Sega HQ, in San Francisco, CA as I am typing this, from what I have heard.

The reason for this post is so I can get a gauge of interest of how many people will be interested if Sega did hold an event at a club or bar, like Capcom had for SF4,AE, MvC3, etc? I have not talked to Sega yet, so nothing is set in stone.

The event idea would be similar to that of Capcom's launch parties, maybe with a side tournament with prizes/swag since we are all new to the game. I know we all are itching to get our hands on the game, but I'm pretty sure the event will be near Sega HQ. I believe this event will raise VF awareness and get more exposure to the US in some ways. The event should have playable stations of the game, a side tournament or even an exhibition from players in the US that actually play so they can show how VF is played and what it looks at another level. Maybe free drinks and swag as well? We just need people to get to the event and enough interest. We also can get a stream setup as well. I know Haunts, and I am sure he'd be more than happy to provide his services for this event.

If it's in San Francisco, I am guessing SoCal may be able to come up, like LA and Plague plus everyone else depending on when and if they can get time off work/school, etc. since they are the closest. But we have other great players around the states, such as Adam, Rod, Shag, Monty and Flash all the way in the east coast, Ladon in FL, Chanchai in Northwest, Dennis, Coz, (sorry if I forgot anybody!) etc., the list goes on.

Maybe players from afar can get sponsored by Sega for this event? It's a long shot I know, but how much would it be for all of you out of towners (EC, NW, SE, everywhere else) to come out? Would it even be worth it for you guys? Of course, ideally, it would be great for all of us to meet up again and chop it up, with the addition of enjoying what brought us together. It'd be awesome to see you all again!

 

It sounds great, and I should be able to join this event as long as my schedule allowed. SF is not that far for me so I'm good.

 

I posted this in a different thread, but I think the Socal Regionals would be a great place to show off the game. SNK did that for KOF XIII last year, and they had a side tourney and everything. Someone needs to get ahold of the organizers for that and see if they can convince Sega to bring the cabinets down here

 

I was just about to say that, you want to showcase it at a real event, like a fighting game event. I was hoping to holler at Sega for a fighting game event I want to hold in Spring of 2012 or to hold it at NEC 2011. You should talk to them about it in the fight club vein.

I'd be down to talk to the big organizers on this side of the world I know that. Do you have a contact?

 

The other new releases didn't really go to big fighting game events (SF4 was at gamespot, MVC3 launch was at a club/bar). It'd be good to have it at some big fighting game event like that, but it's ultimately up to Sega. I have one contact, I will be contacting them later today.

 

Ill be there if you guys can manage Sega to commit somehow

 

I might make an appearance for something like this. I need a vacation anyhow.

 

Welcome back.

 

I'm interested in coming out to this if it happens. Perfect time to come out of "retirement."

 

I already mentioned this in the chat box, but I think it would be good to have this at something like IPW/Keystone II's bar fight events, where you have people who play other games as well (SF4, MvC3, etc.). I think it's going to be important to give people who play other games a chance to see it and try it out for themselves.

 

if sega has the means i think they should tour the cabs around the country to arcade fighting game hotspots and major tournaments and have tourney's at each event where the winners get a trip to the grand launch party in San Francisco.

think of how cool it would be if for a weekend they had the game at next level arcade in ny, or arcade ufo in texas then have tournaments at a season's beatings or a final round to win the trip to the launch party.

i think it would create a good buzz for marketing and makes for a great story for the media. fans in other regions would have a chance to try the game and it gives more opportunity to create more marketing exposure via live streams and the archives they produce. it would also give the official vf website a steady supply of new and fresh content to post with event happenings leading to the launch party.

anyways, for the actual launch party they could have ipw stream it and if they need setups they can have ks2 provide tourney standard monitors and consoles, maybe involve hori or madcatz to help provide sticks. maybe do something like bring out fuudo and itabashi zangief to play the winners of the regional tournies on stage like how the gamestop sf4 nationals exhibition. get some models to cosplay as characters to take pix with. make the event all ages but have a security enforced bar area for the over 21. invite all the gaming media outlets to get coverage and point out to them top players to interview about the game. basically keep it fighting game community orientated rather than just a place for d-list celebs to get free booze and exposure. make it about the game and have some suprises for the attendees and those watching via stream in the form of a bombshell major announcement related to sega.

i realize vf5fs probably doesn't have the marketing budget that other games have since it will just be a downloadable title but this is a good opportunity for sega to rebuild it's relations within the fighting game community and show what a great franchise virtua fighter truly is.

in any event when the launch party happens you can be sure to see me there.

 

That's the point, how much work SEGA would like to push for something DLC. To be honest, I don't think SEGA has faith counting on VF out side of Japan, so digital copy is the best option to gamble this time.

Let's hope Renzo can set this up, and we can at least touch FS before official released.

 

If we have a launch party here in NYC I'd show up.