What other surprises await for Super SFIV?

Famitsu.com has posted a more complete version of its recent interview with Street Fighter IV producer Yoshinori Ono. In the additional sections of the interview, the producer provides a few extra hints on what we can expect from Super.

Throughout the interview, Ono stressed that Super is being designed to include as many features as fans want to see included. Asked for specifics, he mentioned expanded online play. The staff is conducting tests on how to replicate the excitement of arcade tournaments such as Enterbrain's recent Tougeki tournament. He actually joke that if they do too good here, players might end up not going to arcades.

If Capcom is trying to replicate the feel of being an arcade, does this mean we'll get live online match viewing? This is something Ono said that he'd like to do. Additionally, he'd like to strengthen the game's replay viewer feature which was added with Championship Mode.

While select members of the Western press were able to play Super behind closed doors at the Tokyo Game Show, it appears that the game was early. Development had just recently started, and Ono even joked that the development staff might have been surprised to hear the Spring release date in Famitsu.

Ono also shared a few additional hints on new characters. He previously suggested that Juri would not be alone as an original character for the game. Here, he added that the other newcomers may make use of surprising fighting styles. He recalled Viper's inclusion for the original SFIV and the varying fan opinions that resulted. Now, however, everyone has gotten used to the character. He said to expect something similar here -- a character at the borderline of what fans might accept.

SFIV's home release was accompanied by an anime DVD as a pre-order bonus. Stock ran out on that quickly, Ono recalled. For Super, he said that while nothing has been set, he'd like to do something similar.

On the topic of download contents, Ono confirmed that the game will offer from the start the same arranged costumes that gradually appeared for SFIV. Those who already bought the costumes will not have to purchase them again. He also hinted that more costume arrangements are on the way.

PlayStaton Home avatar items clothing could also be on the way as well. Ono said that he's hoping to have discussions with the various first parties.

One area where Ono would not touch upon is the new design for the Ultra Combo gauge. The site told Ono that there appears to be a "meter" in the gauge. "There's no meter," replied Ono. The site then asked if the green thing between the "Ultra" and "Combo" words is the letter "I." "Eh? You can also look at it like that?" replied Ono.

Looks like we can expect plenty of Super SFIV surprises apart from new character announcements.

You can see the new Ultra Combo gauge in this shot of T.Hawk.