Capcom Makes Bank...

Profits are way up for the Japanese company in spite of disappointing western sales.
by Daemon Hatfield IGN

May 23, 2006 - Capcom has released its worldwide financial results for its fiscal year ending March 31, 2006, demonstrating a 91.6% profit increase over its results for the same period in 2005; approximately $62 million, up from $32 million.

"The video game industry experienced a favorable growth in general while it was going through the period of 'generational shift'…" said Capcom's financial report, contradicting many other companies that are seeing less rosy results in the transition. "One of the major contributors for the growth was the new portable game consoles which generated a buzz in the market and played a central role in the diversification of the customer base by attracting female and novice game players."

Examples cited of strong-selling Capcom titles on portable systems include Mega Man Battle Network 6 for the Game Boy Advance and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney for the Nintendo DS. On the home console front, Capcom cited both Resident Evil 4 and Monster Hunter 2 as its key sellers, while admitting that Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams, Without Warning and Beatdown did not reach projected sales figures, with the Western market being particularly stubborn for the company.

Capcom's financial success comes in spite of profits falling a profound 87.9% percent in the U.S. market, with sales down 18.3%. And profit was down 89.6% in the European market, even though sales were up 9.3% over the pond. The company confirmed that its Bay Area-based Capcom Studio 8 developer has closed its doors, and that it is in the process of closing Capcom Eurosoft, which was responsible for distributing games in Europe.

The company noted that the current lines of market share have the potential to be completely redrawn during this transition into next-generation gaming.

Street Fighter XBL Details Coming...

Gamers can expect a release date in the "near future."
by Patrick Klepek

Rumors story. started circulating around the Internet recently Capcom had penciled in June 10th as the date for Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting's Xbox Live debut, but Capcom confirmed today the aforementioned date was likely based upon old scheduling.
The talk originated from a scan of the Official Xbox Magazine containing a calendared list of Xbox Live events happening next month. Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting was listed on June 10th, causing many to wonder if Capcom had finally nailed down a release date for their highly anticipated online fighter.

Turns out we'll have to wait a little longer, though. When pressed, Capcom representative Alicia Kim teased us and said to expect a release date announcement "sometime in the near future."

CAPCOM PACKS A PUNCH WITH STREET FIGHTER ALPHA ANTHOLOGY

-Five Prized Fighters United for First Time-

E 3 , LOS ANGELES ¾ May 10, 2006 — Capcom today showcased Street Fighter ® Alpha Anthology for the PlayStation â 2 computer entertainment system, a monumental compilation of the Street Fighter ® Alpha series. The collection features direct conversions of Street Fighter ® Alpha, Street Fighter ® Alpha 2, Street Fighter ® Alpha 2 Gold and Street Fighter ® Alpha 3 which have never before been available together in one package . As an added bonus, the “pint-sized” Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix (also released on consoles as Pocket Fighter ® ), is included which brings the total to five action packed games on one disc. Street Fighter Alpha Anthology is scheduled for release throughout North America in June 2006. To date, the Street Fighter franchise has sold more than 27 million units worldwide.

All titles in the collection feature three core gameplay options. Arcade mode pits competitors against a series of CPU controlled opponents in order to beat the game. Versus mode allows two players to choose among the cast of characters for intense head-to-head battles. Fighters can practice special moves and combos to hone their skills in the training mode. Additionally, all four Alpha titles feature survival mode as well as a dramatic battle mode which allows 2-on-1 tag team matches.

Street Fighter Alpha brings together a cast of 13 characters from the collective Street Fighter universe. The series' inaugural title introduces super combos and alpha counters to add a new dimension to fighting. Street Fighter Alpha 2 ups the ante with 18 fighters and several new options including high and low Alpha counters as well as more moves and combos for each character. In addition, the second title launches the Custom Combo system which lets players use up a super meter to perform devastating multi-hit combos. Street Fighter Alpha 2 Gold is an enhanced version of the previous game featuring different versions of some of the characters. The most robust entry, Street Fighter Alpha 3, includes an unprecedented 25 characters and offers players the choice of three “isms” fighting styles made popular in previous Street Fighter games. Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix rounds out the anthology with miniature versions of popular Capcom fighters in fierce battles. Combatants vie to collect power-up gems as they perform an array of special attacks and powerful combos.

Capcom is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment. Founded in 1983, the company has created world renowned franchises including Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Mega Man, Viewtiful Joe, Devil May Cry and the Onimusha series. Headquartered in Osaka , Japan , the company maintains operations in the U.S. , United Kingdom , Germany , Tokyo and Hong Kong . More information about Street Fighter, Capcom and its products can be found on the company's web site at www.capcom.com or www.capcom.com/streetfighter/

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My trip to E3

Thanks to my Brother's friend, I got to go for the first time to E3. I had a blast even though it was just for one day, hopefully next year I can go all 3 days, even 2 days would be awesome.

I played both Capcom Classic Collections and Alpha Anthology, Their very fun to play, I really hope Capcom makes Alpha Anthology for my Xbox!

Anyways here are some pictures I took, enjoy:

E3 2006: Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 2

by Robert Workman

Well, it's been rumored for some time, but yesterday, Capcom officially announced Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 2 for the Xbox and PlayStation 2. Better yet, today we had some hands-on time with it, as well as a better look at the titles that will be included.


This looks to be a "clean-up" chapter, with a lot of games that didn't make the cut in the first chapter appearing here. Stuff like Strider, Black Tiger, Magic Sword, Street Fighter, and recent CCC Reloaded additions like Knights of the Round and King of Dragons. Don't worry, though- the collection is still quite good, and the game will still have plenty of bonus content to discover and unlock with each completion.


The two games we tried out on the floor were Strider and Street Fighter, and both emulated just right, like their arcade games before them. Strider was ripping up building sides with ease and slashing away at enemies with his trademark blade while Street Fighter offered pedestrian-level brawling, complete with accidental pull-offs of fireballs. How'd I do that again?


Digital Eclipse is doing great work with this series, and this game looks to be no exception. It looks to also have a value price upon its release of a meager $20- not bad at all. Look for it to surface later this year.

SDCC Exclusive Master Gouken!

SOTA Toys and Toyrocket.com are joining forces to bring a new Street Fighter character to the world of super-articulated action figures, Ryu and Ken's Sensei, Master Gouken!

At San Diego Comic-Con 2006, SOTA Toys will offer the Exclusive Gouken with "Battle Cry" head and Toyrocket.com will offer the Exclusive Gouken with standard head. The SOTA Gouken will come with translucent "Shoryuken" accessory and the Toyrocket.com Gouken comes with translucent "Hadouken" accessory. The Gouken action figures stand in 7-inch scale with all of the SOTA Street Fighter action figures and feature over 30 points of articulation and the best sculpts available in an action figure.

Each San Diego Comic-Con Exclusive Gouken action figure is limited to 2,000 pieces worldwide and will be retailing at the convention for $20 each. Visit the SOTA Toys booth for the "Battle Cry" Gouken and the Toyrocket.com booth for the Standard Gouken.

Please note that pics below are mock-ups.






This is totally awesome! Thanks Sota for making this!

Pre-E3 2006: Super Puzzle Fighter II

Capcom's puzzler sets its sparkles on the smallest screen.
by Levi Buchanan

May 1, 2006 - Super Puzzle Fighter II isn't as well known as Tetris, but Capcom's puzzler has just as dedicated of a fan base. The gem-dropping puzzle game, flanked with cameo appearance by heroes from both the Street Fighter and Darkstalkers franchises, is a perfect candidate for the mobile treatment. And if a recent play-through of an early build is any indication of the final product, the series' fans -- which have honed their skills in the arcades, on the Saturn and PSone -- will have a new outlet for their obsession.



The mobile Super Puzzle Fighter II introduces a network play option for head-to-head competitions against human opponents. I gave this feature a try in a visit with the good folks at Capcom's mobile division. The game doesn't necessarily match you up directly against each other at the same time -- that would be extremely tough to pull off (especially since Capcom is aiming for cross-carrier play). Instead, a session is divided up into three 90-second segments. During the first third, you are just trying to create giant jewel blocks and then banish them with special drops. The game catalogs your moves and then drops combo bombs on your opponent in the next third of the game. By the final third, so much garbage has been stored up, the game turns freakishly frantic.

I played several games during the test time -- believe me, it works quite well. My opponent and I were sacking each other with huge drops right up until the end -- the game is quite clever about dumping them on you at just the right (or wrong) moment. Between each third and at the end of the final segment, the game tallies your score, penalizes you for every time you filled up the screen and had to restart your well, and then declares a winner via a nice little animation.

The mobile edition of Super Puzzle Fighter II features several well-known faces, including Ryu, Chun-Li, Ken, Felicia, and Donovan. Every character has animations and individual drop patterns.

Super Puzzle Fighter II is skedded to debut in June. Peek at these new screens and be sure to check back for a full review.

SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters DS

The NeoGeo Pocket Color card game's hitting the dual-screen handheld. First details.
by Craig Harris

May 1, 2006 - One of the best games released on the classic NeoGeo Pocket Color handheld system of a half-decade ago is about to be revived for a new generation of portable gamers. SNK Playmore is about ready to unleash SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters DS for the dual screen Nintendo handheld system. The company's given us a first look at the game before its debut at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo next week.



Like the original game released on the NeoGeo Pocket Color, SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters DS is a card battling game featuring characters from both company's universes. Players do battle with decks of cards that have familiar folk like Street Fighter's Guile, Chun Li, Ken, Ryu, and others, as well as fighters from SNK games such as Samurai Shodown, King of Fighters, and Fatal Fury.

The Nintendo DS version of the game will feature touch-screen control to make it easy to select and sort earned cards and battle with opponents, as well as maneuver through the game's competition structure. Expect the Nintendo DS system's wireless capabilities to come into play to enable multiple players to trade and compete against each other.

Hit the media link below to check out the first screenshots of SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters DS. We'll have more on the game as we get closer to next week's big show.