Hey folks! Marketing buffoon Andrew here to take a break from hassling the nornal Unity team and give you some actual information! With the release of the Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition DLC a scant couple weeks away, we wanted to take a look at some of the questions that have been asked frequently. As such, we figured it might be useful to coalesce these frequently asked questions into one area. An "FAQ", if you will.

So, if you're curious about something Arcade Edition related, hit the jump, and let Professor Oni learn ya somethin'!

 

Okay, bro, what is the balance difference between the Arcade Edition DLC and what's actually in arcades?

The character balance will be identical. If you've had the opportunity to play the game in the Arcade, you'll be well familiar with what you're getting into.

 

 

So, what actually happens on June 7?

On June 7, there will be a few downloads available. The first is a title update/patch. This will be automatically downloaded to your console of choice when you are connected to the network. This patch is basically an under-the-hood primer for the other two downloads, and doesn't have any real visible functionality.

The second download is a free "Update Kit". If you're not planning on buying Arcade Edition, you're going to want/need to download this for matchmaking and spectating purposes. However, you'll still be playing Original SSFIV.

The third download is the Arcade Edition DLC (1200 MSP/$14.99). This is a required download if, you know, you want to play AE.

 

 

Wait, if I download only the Update Kit, what am I missing out on? Anything?

You'd better believe you're missing out on some neato stuff! The Update Kit will allow for a couple of features. First is the ability to match up with AE players. The second is that you can spectate matches that include the four new characters. But you can neither play as or against these characters. They will essentially be the shadows on the wall of Plato's Cave (Plato is a Grand Master Hakan player).

Additionally, those new Replay Channel features are all exclusive to people who buy the AE DLC. That includes the Replay Follower function (for those who want to search for and keep up-to-date on Daigo's or Seth's - or anyone's - replays), My Channel Advanced (for those who want to send their replays to all their friends), and Elite Channel (for those who only want to watch the best of the best of the best, sir!).

 

 

Will my Battle Points (BP) and Player Points (PP) reset when I download Arcade Edition?

Yes...and no. At least, not completely. Your "Original" BP/PP will still be alive and well, but it will be considered separate from your AE BP/PP, and you will only affect it when playing against Original players (see below). On the other hand, when you start playing Arcade Edition ranked matches, you'll have a clean slate, ready to fight your way to the top of the food chain.

 

 

Okay, but I heard that you can have lobbies with both Original and Arcade Edition players? How does this matching work?

Ooh, time for an illustrative example! Let's say we have three SSFIV players. The first two, Asura and Barrett, both purchased the Arcade Edition DLC. The third player, Vector, downloaded the free upgrade but didn't purchase the DLC.

If Vector wanted to create an online lobby, he could only do so as a Original SSFIV lobby. Any and all matches played in this lobby would be with the characters as they are in SSFIV, and all points won/lost would be Original BP/PP.

Now, because they purchased the DLC, both Asura and Barrett have an option of what their lobbies would be. First, let's say that Asura creates an "AE-Only" lobby. In this lobby, Barrett could join, but Vector couldn't. All characters will be rebalanced, and they'll be playing for AE BP/PP.

The second option is that Asura could create a lobby which is set to "Both" which, as the name implies, allows for players from both Original SSFIV and AE to join. Both Barrett and Vector could join this lobby. If Asura plays against Barrett, they'll play with rebalanced characters and earn AE BP/PP. If, though, Asura plays against Vector, Asura's game will automatically toggle to Original Mode, meaning that the characters will not be rebalanced, and they'll be playing for Vanilla BP/PP.

 

 

I'm online friends with a bunch of Vectors ("Vector" now being the official term for someone who elects to only download the free Update Kit), so I want to make sure my skills are sharp with the Original balance characters. Is there a way to re-enable the old balance?

Yes, there is. In the options menu, you'll find the ability to "Change Version". As the name implies, you'll be able to toggle between Arcade Edtion and Original Mode. By doing so, the characters will have their Original SSFIV balance, although the four new characters will not be selectable (see the overly-long series of descriptive screenshots below). There will also be some moments, like mentioned above, that the game will automatically toggle between versions.

 

 

What about my Trophies and Achievements (I obviously own SSFIV on both systems)? Are they safe?

Safe and sound and ready to be flaunted!

 

 

I don't own a copy of SSFIV. Can I just download the Arcade Edition DLC by itself?

Nope, it's an add-on, so you need a copy of Original SSFIV in order for it to work. But luckily, we have a boxed version that you'll be able to purchase on June 28 for $39.99! So if you haven't had a chance to play much SSFIV, this would be a great time to start.

 

 

Digital Distribution is the devil! I'll not allow those micron-waves into my household!

Oh, um, okay. You too can get the boxed version. It's like having the DLC pre-installed; no downloading necessary!

 

 

I plan on getting the DLC, but I also like to have something tangible, so what-

BOXED VERSION.

 

 

Are the four characters' alternate costumes available when you buy AE?

No, they will become available after a couple weeks. Each of the four new characters has two costumes which will be available for purchase in a single pack (at the same price as the previous costume packs).

 

 

What about the costumes I've already purchased?

No worries, your farmgirl Makoto and cowboy Ken are as ready as ever to crack some skulls.

 

When is the dadgum PC version coming out?!

Trust me, nobody wants to get the PC version out as soon as possible more than us. We still have some logistical hoops to jump through before we can set a hard and firm date, but the goal is to definitely be in the earlier part of July. Scout's honor!

 

 

And that should be about all you'll need to know. But do you have a question that wasn't frequently asked? If so, feel free to ask in the comments. Otherwise, you should be set for the release!

UPDATE

Here's some more questions that commenters have been asking this weekend. Note we're not answering all questions, at least not immediately, either because they're too technical to know offhand (more digging required), or because they're more rhetorical question than anything.

At what time will the AE DLC be avialable on June 7?

When your online marketplace of choice normally updates.

 

Does the boxed version contain all the alternate costumes?

If you've previously purchased the costumes (for either SFIV or SSFIV), they'll be there; if, though, you didn't play the previous games or just didn't buy the costumes before, you'll have to do so with the boxed version like normal.

 

If a Vector is spectating or watching a match of the four new characters, will alternate costumes be visible?

Yep.

 

How can you tell if you're playing someone with Original SSFIV or AE?

If you see the screenshots above, there are gold/gray tags which specify what version you're playing. These tags will be shown by players' names in lobbies, and the appropriate one will show up briefly at the beginning of a match so that you know what you're playing.

 

Are there new trophies/achievements available?

Indeed there are, ready to be earned to improve your standing in society.

 

Are trials still avialable?

The are, but they're only available in Original Mode. When you go to them, the game will toggle to them automatically.

 

Will the PC version have the ability to toggle to Original Mode?

Technically, yes, though it's much less relevant for the PC version, as Original SSFIV wasn't released. (And to clarify, the the PC version of AE will not be compatible with the PC version of SFIV, same as the consoles.)

 

Are the replays from Original SSFIV still going to be available in addition to AE replays?

Yes, they will, and Vectors will still be able to save replays.