Great news on the Street Fighter IV front, as players can expect an update to the current console fighter.  The update includes a long-awaited Tournament mode, which will allow players to take on others online as they fight to raise their Grade Points (GP), as a new addition Championship Points. CP will allow players to raise their rank in Tournament Mode and gain access to the higher levels in the five-tiered mode. Players accustomed to disconnecting will be discouraged by a system that prevents them from progressing in Championship Mode, and details a player’s disconnect percentage. In addition to the new Tournament Mode, the update includes a YouTube-like replay system which will give the top 5000 Championship Point  players the option to upload a replay from the Championship Mode. PS3 players will be able to vote on the replay real-time, and are subject to user-submitted reviews. Xbox 360 players will not be able to vote real-time, but are able to save their favorite replays; and along with those replays, the player can toggle the input commands for the replay, allowing you to view the details of another devastating loss against Dan.

I haven’t had a chance to play Street Fighter in a few weeks, but the prospect of a free update is enough incentive to practice. The Championship mode is welcome addition, but I think it’s a mode that should have been included in the initial release; the same goes for the most recent paid downloadable content for the game, which includes alternate costumes for characters. For the next big update, let’s hope that Capcom is working on a mode similar to the 4-player lobby ‘I got next’ mode on the Xbox Live Arcade version of Street Fighter II Championship Edition, allowing 2 other players to watch while two other players square-off against each other, with the winner taking on the next challenger.

Free Street Fighter 4 Update to Add Tournaments [shacknews.com]