I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Capcom’sStreet Fighter IV— the first newStreet Fightergame in some eight years — is kind of a big deal. The game (along with the film,Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li) will be unleashed on the public this week, and to celebrate,Capcomthrew a major launch party at the Geffen Contemporary at Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles this past Thursday.
Open to the public, the museum was converted into a hugeStreet Fightershrine, a love letter to the series and a paradise for fans. Dozens of customized arcade cabinets, props from the movie, anime screenings, playableStreet Fighter IV, series artwork and knick-knacks, action figures … the list goes on.Street Fighter IVproducer Yoshinori Ono was also milling around the party, signing autographs and talking to fans. And if you wanted to wait in a long line, you could haveStreet FighterUDON artwork etched onto your phone.
DJ Qbert, among others, provided the musical entertainment for the masses, and the V.I.P. lounge was so crowded with very important people that at one point they had to shut it down. I watched Black Eyed Peas’ Taboo, the man behind the mask of Vega in the upcoming film, shuffle past less important folks as he made his way up to the balcony area. Also seen:Chuckcast members (Zach Levi, Josh Gomez, Julia Ling, C.S. Lee); Chris Klein; Faith Evans along with her son, a buddingStreet Fighterfan;Gears of Warvoice actors Carlos Ferro and Terry Tate; Willa Ford; Samantha Mumba; Steven Spielberg; LeVar Burton; Michael Clarke Duncan; and more.
Oh, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the seriousStreet Fighter IVbeatdown I had to drop onPlayStation.Blog’s Jeff Rubenstein. Sorry, Jeff — had to call it out! Always up for a rematch.
The party was, as I believe the kids are calling it, “off the chain.” AndStreet Fighter IV? That’s looking pretty damned good, too. Check back on Tuesday — the day the game hits shelves — for our full review.
[Thanks to the gorgeousCharlie Suhfor some of these beautiful photos.]
