I've never really played a fighting game before. i played a decent amount of SSB but i know that that doesn't count. I've never owned a fighting game and my parents never gave me quarters to go to arcades when i was a kid >:P 
this game is looking really good and i was thinking about picking it up. I've kinda considered fighting games to be in the same category as RTS; games that you really have to spend a lot of time practicing and understanding the theory before you can really get into it. Unlike games like FPS or driving where anyone can kinda pick it up and kinda have fun. which i think both can be awesome in their own ways
so anyways, i was wondering if you guys think that this would be a good first fighting game. i know that SF4 is also amazing, but this looks like it has a lot more personality i guess. idk.  
thoughts?

Just get Super Street Fighter 4.  It's budget priced, extremely well balanced even for a fighting game, and the most fully featured fighting game ever.  I mean come on, man.

yes, this would be a great first fighting game. hell, i really got into the genre with marvel vs. capcom 2. thing is, even if you just play it casually games like this can be really fun. it's so fast paced and visceral that anyone can pick it up and have fun with, even if you may not know what's going on until you really sit down and learn the combos and strategy.

Probably a great fighting game...
 
But definitely not a beginner friendly game, if I learned anything from MvC2. 
 
Hell, MvC2 is the only fighting game that I'll admit I don't know what I'm doing. Air combos just seem crazy.

No offense, but I think you'll get shreadded, the people who play that game are nuts with the crazy combos and linked specials. I haven't been able to kick ass at a VS game since X-Men Vs Street Fighter. I'm not saying not to get it, but you may want to get some 2D under your belt first with some Street Fighter.

 This is probably one of the worst choices for your first fighting game. It'll be great, but it'll be completely overwhelming for you. Start with a simple game like Street Fighter 2 or Mortal Kombat and work your way up to more complex games like KOF and SSFIV. Eventually you'll be decent enough for MVC3s absurd speed.
 
First fighting game... you haven't lived.    

"  This is probably one of the worst choices for your first fighting game. It'll be great, but it'll be completely overwhelming for you. Start with a simple game like Street Fighter 2 or Mortal Kombat and work your way up to more complex games like KOF and SSFIV. Eventually you'll be decent enough for MVC3s absurd speed. First fighting game... you haven't lived.     "

tbh just get either SSFIV or either MvC2 if you gonna get the 3rd one,eithere are fine choices ^^

Dude, don't be afraid to buy this as your first serious fighting game.  I remember when I first started playing MvC2 I went to the arcade and played with a friend of mine from school.  I got stomped.  It was gruesome.  But I didn't let it keep me down.  I figured out what characters I liked best, what their tricks were, and focused on learning how to do them.  It's the same as any game - if you can endure the initial ass-whupping, it can make you stronger.  ;)

MvC2 is an extremely hardcore fighter. I'd recommend starting out with Super SF4 and Super SF2 Turbo. If you have a 360 I suggest Garou: Mark of the Wolves as well. If you want something like MvC3 I suggest getting an emulator like MAME or kawaks and running MvC1. The new BlazBlue is good too, it's a lot better than the first and is pretty fast & fun. 

Wow, well like everybody else is saying, start off with SSFIV, it's slower and will help you to start thinking in a fighting game mentality. Then try MvC2, which might be overwhelming at first, but you'll get used to it. Once you learn the basics, you should have a good understanding about what the hell is going on.

Once again- download Mortal Kombat 1 for the Mega Drive (make sure you use the blood code). It was my first fighting game and regardless what its quality may be in the history of fighting games- it is a brilliant introductory 2D fighting game.

" yes, this would be a great first fighting game. hell, i really got into the genre with marvel vs. capcom 2. thing is, even if you just play it casually games like this can be really fun. it's so fast paced and visceral that anyone can pick it up and have fun with, even if you may not know what's going on until you really sit down and learn the combos and strategy. "