I understand what you're saying, but my question is: WHY is that the case? MK never really had story-focused games (Konquest mode was always pretty terrible) until MKvsDCU, which STILL wasn't anywhere near as good as this most recent MK. I think devs should, perhaps, start shifting their focus. No one really cared about story modes and then MK came out and proved that you CAN have a somewhat compelling story mode that's a great value proposition AND throw in 300 missions that aren't really about fighting the AI as much as they're about overcoming the weird effects that the mission imposes upon you. And frankly, you say Capcom CAN improve their training modes, but WILL they? My money's on "No." 

So I guess at the end of the day I have to say that you're probably right and that Street Fighter is the better fighting game (though the endless iteration is getting a LITTLE tiresome, isn't it?) but Mortal Kombat is the better overall game.

@Napalm said:

The benefit is fun. And there's really no "replay value" needed, I bought the game at launch and I'm STILL going through the Tower. I don't think "most" people play to get amazing at the game, I frankly think most people play to have fun. Because by that logic, when I log into SSFIV now as someone with less than 1000 PP, I shouldn't be able to find hardly anyone to play with, but there are still TONS of people at my level. I'd actually say that it's probably more like 75% play casually and 25% play competitively and they're both perfectly viable. For me it's more a matter of preference, I prefer a different kind of game (and I get bored pretty easily only playing one type of game, which isn't a slight against Street Fighter in the least).

At the end of the day, I think we're better off agreeing different strokes for different folks. I'd just be curious to see Capcom actually give their almost obscenely loyal user-base some rewards rather than nickel-and-diming them at every single turn.

I have one question... Why are people putting AE and Super Add-Ons and the MK DLC characters on the same level?

One is completely optional, and the other is needed f you want to keep up with the community

Makes me feel good that I was unable to pick up MvC 3 when it came out.

im about to post what is MOST LIKELY FALSE second hand info:
 
- The announcement is for a "super" version of MvC3, called Marvel vs Capcom 3 EX. It will be available as a DLC update and as a retail disc (with limited supplies, mostly distributed via online retailers), as well as a PC version and an (eventual) Wii U version. Pricing and release date are still being decided, but the rough release date is Q4 2011.
- The game will add 10 new characters, and Jill and Shuma will be part of the update if you don't have them already (they aren't counted towards the 10 characters).
- The only two characters I'll tell you about are the ones actually being announced at Comic-Con, which are Frank West and Cyclops.
- None of these new characters will be available as separate DLC for "vanilla" MvC3. You have to get the whole pack together.
- 4 new stages.
- The game will add some new modes and features.
- New alt costumes will also be announced for the game. You can also use these alt costumes in "vanilla" MvC3. The next set of alt costumes will be available just after the Comic-Con MvC3 presentation.
- Multiple glitches and balancing issues will be fixed in a patch available sometime in August. These changes will also of course carry over to MvC3EX.
 
this was taken from gamefaqs, sourcing someone on SRK. Again, i FIRMLY BELIEVE THIS IS FALSE. Why am i posting it? 
 
...because it mentions a PC VERSION and after playing AE on my rig, i would instantly buy a MvC3 on pc :( Make it happen Capcom!

Im so torn on this, I'm really afraid of what balancing changes they will make.  MVC3 is so delicate when it comes to that kind of thing.   But...the prospect of Gambit and Strider make me happy.   
 
On a side note, what i've always thought capcom should do is release 2 versions,  a "Casual" and a "professional"  version of every fighting game.  Because they can never get fucking matchmaking right.  If  I'm fighter rank playing a ranked match(hell even in player matches the matchmaking dosen't match you with appropriately ranked players), the game should warn me and allow me to back out before it matches me against someone who is 3-5 ranks higher than me.  How am i supposed to get better if the game just continually matches me against people who take the game way more serious than me? Plus in a lot of cases, casual players want different balancing changes than professional players.  Casuals had trouble handling Sent, so they nerfed him, forcing the pros to bitch that Sent didnt need a nerf, it was Phoenix that needed an nerf.  Lets face it, the fighting game community is already split between casuals and 'pros', so why not just make that split an actual split.  OR JUST FIX FUCKING MATCHMAKING!  Why even have the option to match with "same or near rank" when it almost never seems  to work that way.   I've battled with selling MVC3 to a friend so many times just because its  near impossible for me to find matches that i even have a chance to win.  Maybe i just suck(most likely), but it just seems that even Super Street Fighter had better matchmaking than MVC3, but maybe its just due to a smaller pool of players.
 
Does anyone think they will make any game mechanic changes rather than just balancing?

I LOVELOVELOVE Marvel vs Capcom 3, it is my favourite modern day fighter and I play it everyday. If this is not dlc then I will NOT buy this game as a new disc. This is becomming a joke Capcom. Don't. Fuck. This. Up.

I am actually excited for this. I never buy fighting games when they come out, the only exception was BlazBlue. And it's for this reason exactly.

From the rumours running around it sounds like it'll get the SSF4 treatement: a new retail disc +10 new characters, etc. What other new things did SSF4 bring to SF4?

Im kind of shocked that this game is getting any further attention. Didn't most people stop playing it after they realized it was pretty much Smash Bros with a little depth? I know I sold my copy a week after I got it and bought MvC2 instead.  

Im kind of shocked that this game is getting any further attention. Didn't most people stop playing it after they realized it was pretty much Smash Bros with a little depth? I know I sold my copy a week after I got it and bought MvC2 instead.  

@Atramentous

Im kind of shocked that this game is getting any further attention. Didn't most people stop playing it after they realized it was pretty much Smash Bros with a little depth? I know I sold my copy a week after I got it and bought MvC2 instead.  

Lol Someone get tired of being bodied? Back on topic, an X-Factor damage tweak and removal of the DHC trick would do a lot to help diversify the playing field. Also, as a Wolverine player, they really need to find a way to make dive kick punishable.

So glad I rented this game.

@Atramentous Oh, well troll harder then I guess.

@Atramentous: No, I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt by assuming you're trolling and not just an idiot that makes bold claims based on zero experience. Hate the game all you like, but don't dip your toe in and declare you know the depths of the sea.

Glad I skipped out on the original release since it was suspiciously lacking in features. The original has only been out five months though, and it seems like a bad idea to announce an enhanced rerelease anywhere this close to the original verison's release.
 
If Gene gets passed up for the roster again I'm gonna have to choke a bitch. Come on Capcom, don't be douchebags!

@Atramentous: No, I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt by assuming you're trolling and not just an idiot that makes bold claims based on zero experience. Hate the game all you like, but don't dip your toe in and declare you know the depths of the sea.

As long as they don't have 40-second long fights followed by two-three minute unskippable cutscenes with a shallow story line (Frank Tieri would be writing so that's practically confirmed), better netcode, a healthy and diverse amount of new characters added to the roster, tweak the system around, more creative event modes, more stages wouldn't even hurt, a decent deal like AE where it's decently priced DLC or a lower priced disc, actual justification for making a new edition, like how Super added so much to SF IV, to a series where you never made installments like this before, and above all GENE SPLICE and you may have regained my interest to take this game seriously.
 
Did we get X-Men vs Street Fighter: Marvelous Edition inbetween Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter?  Man, this had to have come from higher ups at Capcom/Marvel, Nitsuma isn't that kind of guy.

Even if it's a new disc, I'm going to stick it inside my nice MvC3 CE metal box. Just because that's cooler.

Also, I am only on board with Venom included if it's Flash Thompson as military Venom. He's awesome.

I hope it's DLC but if not, I'll probably buy it.

Watch as its a completely unrelated game

12 new characters is great but I'd like 22 more: 
 
MARVEL: 
Apocalypse 
Squirrel Girl 
Gambit 
Cyclops 
Psylocke 
Jubilee 
Ms Marvel 
Venom 
Juggernaut 
Domino 
Scarlet Witch
 
 
 
CAPCOM: 
Phoenix Wright 
Mega Man X 
Strider Hiryu 
Gene (God Hand) 
BB Hood 
Jedah 
Ingrid from Street Fighter 
M Bison 
Guile 
Date Masamune 
Virgil

@BananaKid: I think they'd be more likely to stick to Eddie Brock Blue Venom, give him Carnage/Anti-Venom and maybe Black Flash Thompson as alternates.

Still, always up for more Venom. Venom Rug! Hopefully they make his Venom Web Hyper Air-OK.

LOL i knew it. Will wait  for Super Ultimate Marvel vs capcom PLus edition.

@BananaKid: I think they'd be more likely to stick to Eddie Brock Blue Venom, give him Carnage/Anti-Venom and maybe Black Flash Thompson as alternates.

Still, always up for more Venom. Venom Rug! Hopefully they make his Venom Web Hyper Air-OK.

It is a bit tiresome, but they will easily win me over with good character additions. All will be well for me at least if I get vergil.

@FUN: But that is Anti-Venom?

I know a lot of people are excited by this, and they have every right to be, but personally I hate these full retail updates. I love Mortal Kombat but if they released Super Mortal Kombat next year with some more characters stages, challenges etc I wouldn't be feeling it at all.

1 reason why I didn't buy MvC3 earlier! Now I can get this but it better be $40 or lower. 

@RE_Player92: as long as they continue to sell them at £20-£25 i really cant complain

also ghost rider actually looks pretty cool... LOOK INTO MY EYES

also wtf air x-factor?

So, I wonder if it'll include Jill and Shuma or if they'll continue to be sold as DLC?

40$, I knew it. Goddammit Capcom. Whatever it doesn't matter, I win because I never bought MvC3 knowing good and damn well they'd try to pull this junk again. I'm never buying first run capcom fighting games from here on. It just doesn't make sense anymore.

HAWKEYE SHOOTS AN ARROW THAT HAS ANT-MAN ON IT AND THEN ANT-MAN BEATS THE SHIT OUT OF DUDES

GAME OF THE YEAR