(Part 2) Top products from r/SF4

I just watched "More Than A Game" and got pretty interested in Street Fighter. I do not actively play any fighting games but I've played a lot of Starcraft 2 so I understand what its like to get better and play on a ranked ladder.

Street Fighter seems like a very technical game but I'm wondering if there is space for me to play competitively even though I'm starting from zero skill.

If someone were asking the same question about Starcraft 2 I would tell them "Absolutely! After practicing for a bit and learning the basics you can move from Bronze to Gold with solid fundamentals.". Can the same be said for Street Fighter?

Finally, I have a PS3 and 360 but I primarily do my gaming on PC. Is there a preferred platform? I do not have any friends who play on any platform so that isn't an issue.

I do have the controller that came with this bundle: http://www.amazon.com/Tekken-Limited-Edition-Wireless-360-Xbox/dp/B002ED4DQI/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

I'm not a pad player but I recently have been trying to play Sonic 3 on steam and no xbox/PS controller had the D-pad response I wanted. I found one of these in my closet. The D-pad on this (personally) outshines any of the other pads i've played on. They're comfortable, the pad is amazing and its got a 6 button layout. They come in a variety of colors/characters. Part 2 of this--its a PS2 pad. Not really helpful on current console without an adapter. I picked up a few different ones from amazon and, since I'm a tad OCD about the lag, did a quick in game test. This one from may flash was leaps and bounds better than anything else and worked flawlessly for Sonic and my side scrollers, and i went into the lab to test some combos in USF4 to make sure it was the real deal. Not bad for about $30 total spent.

Runner up to me, would be the Mad Catz SFxT pads. They're pretty solid, but the d-pad itself feels a little too squishy to me. It just doesn't return to neutral fast enough, but a solid choice.

On a side note: sanwa is apparently making a pad that will be coming out with the bundle of Guilty Gear later this year. Maybe someone will want to sell just the controller? Thats a stretch though.

If you plan on continuing playing fighters with a keyboard, you might as well get one that doesn't hinder or impede your play. Microsoft's Sidewinder X4 goes on sale on Newegg somewhat often at $40 w/ free shipping, and if you're serious about quality then step up to mechanical keyboards which often support NKRO. I just purchased a Ducky Zero with brown switches and it's fantastic, very glad I chose the keyboard rather than a fightstick.

On console:

What are you wanting to do? Record a match and commentate it later? Or Commentate while the match is being played?

At a bare minimum you are going to need a capture device. The most common device is the Hauppauge HD-PVR. It records up to 1080i through component. There is also the Blackmagic Intensity that GeForce linked which records in 1080p. You are going to need one of these in order to record anything from your console to your computer.

After you get the video file of the match, just grab a mic and get an audio editing program (I recommend Audacity) and record your commentary while watching the video. Then load the video and audio in a video editing program and sync them up manually. Be sure to turn down the audio of match video, or else you probably won't hear your commentary unless you are screaming.

As far as downloading off youtube: I don't think there is a standard etiquette. My guess, if you are going to use someone else's match video, I would at a minimum credit them. If you really want to "do it right" I would message the person on youtube first and ask them if it's ok. If you take someone's match video for commentary, and the person messages you saying that they want you to take it down, then I would oblige.

I use one of these and have been extremely happy with it ever since I got both of mine. Have had them for a little over half a year now, I think, no issues at all with either so far. I even use one of them to play on my friends' PS3 by setting it to DInput mode — the only drawback is the obvious lack of a PS Home button.

Other than that, happy as a clam with 'em.

Here is a shopping list for people who want to do this kind of modification. It is fairly cheap to do, to be honest. Aside from the sanwa buttons, all of this stuff you can get at a local home improvement store for next to nothing. I spent a grand total of 30 bucks on this project. I recommend it for anyone who already has a sanwa arcade stick. If you're starting with nothing, just buy it from hitboxarcade.com since it will be cheaper. They charge 160 for the final stick.

(required)

• Four new 30mm buttons (OBSF-30): http://www.lizardlick.com/Sanwa-Pushbuttons_c_152.html
  
• Crimp Connectors: http://www.lizardlick.com/Crimp-Connectors_c_203.html
  
• Black wire (2 ft): http://www.lizardlick.com/LL-22-AWG-Stranded-Wire-Black_p_121.html
  
  (optional)
  
  
• Fat 40mm "jump" button (OBSF-40/40RG): http://www.gremlinsolutions.co.uk/products/OBSF-40.htm
  
• Clear buttons (OBSF-30): http://www.arcadeshock.com/items/sanwa-parts~buttons-balltops-gates-/list0.htm
  
• Plexiglass: http://www.professionalplastics.com/cgi-bin/pp.pl?pgm=co_disp&func=displ&prrfnbr=100409
  
• Plexi cutter: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM2675756802P
  
• 30mm drill bit: http://www.amazon.com/CMT-537-300-31-30mm-Forstner-Bit/dp/B000P4LLFY
  
• 40mm Drill Bit: http://www.amazon.com/CMT-537-400-31-Forstner-Cutting-Diameter/dp/B000P4NO0E
  
• New faceplate art PRINT: http://photo.walgreens.com/walgreens/photo-gifts/product=posters

http://www.amazon.com/White-Sanwa-Push-Buttons-OBSF-30-W/dp/B00367KDVU/ref=pd_sbs_misc_1

Get a stick while you're at it?

http://www.amazon.com/JLF-TP-8YT-SK-Joystick-Adjustable-Tournament-Compatible/dp/B004CZQ058/ref=pd_sim_misc_4

http://www.amazon.com/Sanwa-GT-Y-Octagonal-Restrictor-Joysticks/dp/B004AU0H4U/ref=pd_bxgy_misc_text_c

The last part I linked lets the stick be restricted to an octogon shape rather than the square gate that vanilla MadCatz sticks ship with. It's night and day for SPDs, but might feel off if you're already well used to doing SRKs with a square gate, etc. Just linking in case you're interested; I would personally never use it since I'm a charge fiend.

http://www.amazon.com/HORI-Real-Arcade-Hayabusa-PlayStation-4/dp/B00L6AVN5E/?tag=viglink26255-20\

http://www.amazon.com/HORI-Real-Arcade-Pro-Hayabusa-Xbox/dp/B00ND0EBQ8?tag=viglink26255-20

here you go
http://www.amazon.com/Daemon-Daniel-Suarez/dp/0525951113

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Super-Street-Fighter-IV-Edition/dp/B0052HZJ02/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1347786529&sr=8-3

20 dollars? http://www.amazon.com/Super-Street-Fighter-IV-Xbox-360/dp/B003O6CACS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347786563&sr=8-1&keywords=street+fighter+ae

If it doesn't register on your PC you can just use a VIA USB PCI card. http://www.amazon.com/Rosewill-VIA-Adapter-Model-RC-103/dp/B004B0H5WG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1407095184&sr=8-2&keywords=via+usb+pci

Pop it in and it will read your PS3 stick.

Also on sale for $8 at Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-LIVE-Month-Gold-Membership-One/dp/B0029LJIFG

should work, evo standard is this guy
http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-VH236H-23-Inch-Full-HD-Monitor/dp/B002453K5G

This is the exact stick I have.

http://www.amazon.com/Fighter-FightStick-Tournament-Edition-Playstation-3/dp/B001M25AY6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348420426&sr=8-1&keywords=madcatz+ps3+te+stick

My recommendation would be that Amazon sells new GC controllers.

My old ones all went to shit after too much use as well.

i have the same fight stick and for me it does not work... i had to buy something extra for 10 dollers (this right here http://www.amazon.com/HDE-Port-USB-Desktop-Card/dp/B001L4HXVI/ref=sr_1_53?ie=UTF8&qid=1373859447&sr=8-53&keywords=fightstick+ps3) Because if i did not have it, my pc did not recognize it...

Um, USB is USB. The only thing I could imagine you doing wrong is losing the breakaway cable, but in that case how would you be using it on the console?

http://www.amazon.com/Retro-SEGA-Saturn-Classic-Controller-Pc/dp/B002LHS70K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348868892&sr=8-1&keywords=sega+saturn+usb

These are gtron branded, I haven't played on them. This is the one I had and abused for many years:

http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Sega-Original-Controller-Mk-80116/dp/B000P9GQ7W/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1348868892&sr=8-6&keywords=sega+saturn+usb

If Sega put out an official USB one, I'd consider buying it. If you really want a pad over a joystick, the PDP one received good reviews. I used the MadCatz one and it wasn't all that great after a few hours of abuse -- I'd stick with a stock PS3 controller over it. Here is a review on that unit:
http://kotaku.com/5767903/the-marvel-edition-versus-fighting-pad-is-hideously-wonderful

Sadly, the reviews of the Gtron look poor and many people recommend buying an adapter (which I wouldn't do). Not many solid options for current gen consoles + gamepad + fighting games.