So I played about 5 - 8 matches online tonight, and all of them except one was against people who picked scorpion. Any reason why this is? Maybe because of the demo? 

Scorpion is one of the most recognizable and popular video game characters of all time; that's probably why.

It's because he's easy, and he's one of the poster boys for the game and what not. Sub Zero/Scorpion are the Ryu and Ken of the series. As time moves on and the casual players start getting weeded out is when you'll start seeing variety. When I do eventually go online, I'm either going to use Smoke or Ermac.

He's a demon ninja, and the game defaults to him being selected. I'm also working under the assumption that most gamers are drawn to bright colours such as yellow.

I'm getting quite mad at Scorpions that sit in the corner crouched holding block. I don't know what do do against them.

I feel bad for thinking he's the most fun to play as. I try to mix it up a little because I know it's the "noob" chose, but I just like his moves and his looks the best. Though I'm also liking Liu Kang and Raiden the more I play with them, I have a hard time resisting the urge to pick Scorpion every time.

" Scorpion is one of the most recognizable and popular video game characters of all time; that's probably why. "

Picking it up today, so hyped!

I have played SFIV once and that's it. Really want to get into fighting games. I wonder if I'll default into Scorpion when I get my hands on it.
I wonder if it's worth trying to learn to play the least played character so people won't know how to counter as easily.

I think everyone is guilty of playing the same character over and over, but were just seeing more Scorpions out there lol

" @SBYM said:

" Scorpion is one of the most recognizable and popular video game characters of all time; that's probably why. "

Yep.  Him and Sub-Zero.People like the pick the popular characters in fighting games.  Similar to Ryu and Ken in Street Fighter. "

" @JJOR64 said:

" @SBYM said:

" Scorpion is one of the most recognizable and popular video game characters of all time; that's probably why. "

Yep.  Him and Sub-Zero.People like the pick the popular characters in fighting games.  Similar to Ryu and Ken in Street Fighter. "

Do you know how to play against turtles in this game? I am unable to beat people who sit in the corner and hold block. I'm not sure if it's just a scorpion thing or not though, because the vast majority of my matches have been against scorpion. "

" @CL60: I would suggest trying to chip them (dont know if there's chip damage in this game since I havent bought it yet and havent played MK since PSone days)and if you get the chip damage, just lame them out.If you have the life-lead, and he insists on sitting in the corner holding block, just to the same to teach him a lesson. I know it's boring but sometimes you gotta be lame! "

Yeah, I'm really hating the demo right now. Every is playing Scorpion now because that's who they've been practicing with for the last month. You shouldn't put a demo out so far ahead of these types of games. 

You know what? Fuck it. After getting my ass handed to me a few times when playing as Kang, I've decided that I don't care. I'll stick with what works, and that's ninja hell demons.

Just because of their status within the series, and they're regarded as being relatively easy to play as. Like Ryu/Ken from Street Fighter and, I'd gather, Kazuya/Jin from Tekken.

Well, there's a reason the cover of the box doesn't have Sindel and Sheeva on it.
@CL60 said:

"Do you know how to play against turtles in this game? I am unable to beat people who sit in the corner and hold block. I'm not sure if it's just a scorpion thing or not though, because the vast majority of my matches have been against scorpion. "

" @Giacomito said:

" @CL60: I would suggest trying to chip them (dont know if there's chip damage in this game since I havent bought it yet and havent played MK since PSone days)and if you get the chip damage, just lame them out.If you have the life-lead, and he insists on sitting in the corner holding block, just to the same to teach him a lesson. I know it's boring but sometimes you gotta be lame! "

If I do the same and I'm against scorpion which is 90% of the time, he can just do hellfire and it goes right through my block. And if I just throw projectiles at him, he will just yell at me to get over here, and pull me in, and if I try jumping in I get uppercutted. I honestly don't know what to do. I play as Kabal and only have a move that dashes forward at him, 2 projectiles, and a thing with my swords. "

If they are low crouched and blocking, a high hit to the head should still go through their block and hit them. Otherwise, you can try to chip or keep hitting enough to break their block.

Everyone's pretty much nailed it. Scorpion also has the easiest pseudo-infinite combo to pull off (It's like FP, FP, BP, Spear; repeat), and it's devastating against players who don't know how to utilize breakers or simple blocks effectively.

" Scorpion is one of the most recognizable and popular video game characters of all time; that's probably why. "

Not only is Scorpion iconic, but he's also really strong. With the spear, teleport and air grab he's really good at shutting down opponents. He's like the second most annoying character to meet (only beat by ermac) in my book. The match usually just comes down to punishing bad moves on his part.

Scorpion is just incredibly powerful and easy to use. I'm not surprised that everyone is using him. If someone can play him as well as the AI does, they are damn near unstoppable.

They need to remove some moves from him

He has a teleport, 2 stun moves (although that fire thing is tricky to combo)  and an air throw. Also, his teleport is way more useful than say Kung Lao or Raiden. And the leg take down is sweet. I realise he's a go to because of how long he's been around, but he's also a really good character. Playing through the story goes along way towards showing which characters are easy to pick up, and him and smoke are pretty easy to jump in to

Fuuuuuuuck I can't wait until Monday or Wednesday, when I can sink some serious time into Portal and MK.

I totally understand the frustration of seeing the same opponent regularly.  For what it's worth, if you find yourself playing against me (gamer tag is the same as my name here, just without the underscore) I will almost certainly be playing as Scorpion.  For now at least.  I've never been any good at fighting games but I picked this up and am going to do my best to improve.  So, if you are fighting your 1000th Scorpion and it is me I certainly apologize for it but if it is any conciliation you will likely beat me pretty fast and I'll be out of the way quickly... Just putting it out there.

Honestly I wouldn't mind all these Scorpions if... They did a combo better than Spear, Uppercut or Spear, Throw... Sigh...

People will mix it up eventually once they learn that they can't mash spear and expect to win very often.

I've been playing Scorpion and Reptile, and 95% of my opponents are Scorpion or Smoke.

I've had a pretty easy time shutting down Scorpion players using Smoke. Smoke though the spear and he's wide open for the smoke ball and teleport punches. Vibrate is also good for mixing them up. Sektor is also good at playing keep-away. Keep your distance and throw missiles and teleport uppercuts. 

In my experience, Kabal is not so good against Scorpion. You need someone who can close the distance fast and safely against Scorpion, and Kabal is not that guy. 

I haven't run into Scorpion yet, and i've done around 20+ matches. Its fucking Cyrax I can't kill.