Capcom Details Super Street Fighter IV's Replay Mode

The channel selection interface.

Super Street Fighter IV's Replay Channel mode is the big topic at the game's official blog today. Designer Hirotoshi Shiozaki and others discussed the origins of the game's replay mode, and some of its features.

Detailing the mode's origins, Shiozaki said that he and the development staff considered what could be done with the new mode as they worked on the PC version of SFIV. The initial image was of producer Yoshinori Ono in a bathrobe, drink in hand, watching replays. The goal was to allow replays to continue without requiring players to touch the controller. You can hold a glass in your right hand and pet your cat in your left hand, for instance.

Ono's request for the mode ended up being similar to the image the staff had: something that's just fun to watch, and something that can be viewed continually when you're not in actual combat.

Taguchi feels that with the replay uploads from the original SFIV release, it was fun to watch not just the high level play, but the low level play as well. When watching bad play, it's possible that you'll notice something about your own play that you wouldn't have necessarily noticed while you're actually in combat.

The blog detailed just a couple of the available channels. The "Battle Log" channel automatically logs your online battle replays. The "New Replay" channel holds only the replays of players who've won consecutive rank matches, meaning you can go here to see high level play.

Older replays are eventually pushed out from the Battle Log channel. However, as with all channels, you can save replays that you like to your My List.

The My List is viewable by your friends via a "My Channel" section of the Replay Channel. This channel hosts the videos on all your friends' My Lists.

Shiozaki mentioned being able to engage in voice that with other players when viewing the My Channel. I'm not sure if this means voice chat is supported only in this channel, or if all channels will support it.

The Replay Channel was originally running under the code name Super Street Fighter IV TV, Shiozaki revealed. However, they changed the name under the consideration that there's more to the mode than just TV. It's something where you play by making use of a variety of channels.

Taguchi detailed his suggestion or how players use the feature. He wants players to first play the game in online battle mode. After getting tired with endless battles, rank matches, team battles and so forth, if you want to do research into how you can improve your play by viewing other players, you should use the Replay Channel.

Shoizaki said he wants players to have "snack time" while viewing the Replay Channel, eating pizza and drinking juice for instance (I think Shiozaki was hungry during this interview).

Next week, we'll get some details on the game's bonus rounds.