Now obviously there's going to be a learning curve, but I haven't played this game in almost ten years. I'm coming from SSFIV, and I get that they're different games, so is the online chock full of solid players who are going to run roughshod over a relative newcomer, or is the bottom of the ladder still pretty much folks learning the ropes?

you'll run into scrubs like every game but you will also run into guys who are good.

I haven't played any SF since the SNES and I've been able win a few or at least hang pretty well. Expect to see a lot of Chun Li

@HelicopterSpy: Chun-Li is the new Ken?

@Undeadpool: According to Jared Rae via TNT, Chun-Li is the most powerful character in the game.

The online  is surprisingly low level, only rarely do you run into someone who knows what they are doing.  

Chun Li is like Smoke in MK9. It's seems like everyone that doesn't really know the game too well just uses her because she's easy to win with.

It's like playing mk9 online. Hundreds of scrubs but you will run into the odd player who will make you feel like the biggest noob in the world.

@cstrang: Yeah, I heard that too. But yeah, sounds like she's the Ken of this game: Scrubs love to use her RIGHT until someone starts blocking.

@HelicopterSpy: Not to be a contrarian, but that more describes...Kung Lao or Scorpion based on my experience.

@HelicopterSpy said:

I haven't played any SF since the SNES and I've been able win a few or at least hang pretty well. Expect to see a lot of Chun Li

I barely seen any.

New player ratio list:

1. Ryu

2. Elena

3. Akuma

4. Urien.

5. Everyone else.

5000th POST!!!!

Almost everybody I encountered was pretty experienced in comparison to me, but that could just be bad luck.

@ThePhantomnaut said:

@HelicopterSpy said:

I haven't played any SF since the SNES and I've been able win a few or at least hang pretty well. Expect to see a lot of Chun Li

I barely seen any.

New player ratio list:

1. Ryu

2. Elena

3. Akuma

4. Urien.

5. Everyone else.

5000th POST!!!!

Very odd, I don't see many Elena's running around. It kinda surprises me that Dudley isn't used more either.

Undeadpool, post just ONE MORE TIME. One more! Also, the online will probably be kinder to you than to me, the guy who hasn't played Street Fighter in general in years. Ow.

as far as skill level and experience, it's all over the place.  There are the vets, and there are mashing noobs, and there are people like me who are decent at ssf4 but never played sf3 and so are slightly above the complete noobs.  Don't be afraid of not having any competition, there's plenty of variety there. 
 
I've actually seen plenty of character variety online.  Sure, there are plenty of shoto scrubs running around the place, but it hasnt been a problem for me.  I still think ken is the most ideal character to start learning the game with, but that hasn't stopped me.  Being pretty new to the game (though i had played it offline a few times) I chose urien to start out with because he's badass adn i use charge characters like guile and bison in ssf4 so i figure why not try the most advanced charge character in capcom game history (afaik).   
 
So like i said there's the people that arent good at fighting games and just want to mess around, there's slightly skilled newcomers, and there are veterans (who, i find despite their experience with the game aren't necessarily unbeatable if you can outsmart them). 
 
Into the heat of battle...GO for it!

@MariachiMacabre: You'd LIKE me to post, wouldn't you? WOULDN'T YOU?! Well forget it, I'll not...oh FUCK!

@Casey25: I'm thinking Alex...and not just cause of TNT, I actually always liked him, even in the Dreamcast days...it's part of the reason I picked up Abel for SSFIV.

Alex can work all right. He is a lot more mobile than Hugo and can still do damage.

@ThePhantomnaut: I'm startin' today!

Follow-up question for the board: I'm using an old-style 360 controller, so should I go analog stick or control pad? And I'm NOT buying a new controller or a fightstick, I'm not THAT into fighting games.

@Undeadpool said:

@ThePhantomnaut: I'm startin' today!

Follow-up question for the board: I'm using an old-style 360 controller, so should I go analog stick or control pad? And I'm NOT buying a new controller or a fightstick, I'm not THAT into fighting games.

analog stick is fine. But it's what ever you prefer.

@Casey25 said:

@Jeffsekai: Fighting games are generally played using the d-pad if not on a joystick, so i would say you should start with the d-pad.

I hate you.

The 360 dpad should never be used for ANYTHING, least of all a fighting game.

DONT US THE dpad it might seem like a good idea but it is a lie

So far the online has been good I've gotten matched up in pretty good matches. Only gotten my shit really pushed in was by this rank 17 hugo who just actually knew how to play. There are a lot of people who don't seem to be Jwong level so you should be fine.