Err...just practice like any other fighting game...
 
There's a practice/training mode.  Learn the moves, supers, ultras, combos, etc.

Nope, the game just has a very steep learning curve. You should start with this guide by the GB community for noobies. It's very helpful in learning the basics of SF or any fighting game in general. Once you are comfortable with the controls, take your game online and learn from the community - the computer AI in SF is just cheap and dumb at the same time.
 
Also, spend some time going through the trials. They help a lot.

" why is this game sooo freakin hard?   i can barely get through it on easiest, am i missing something?  "

It comes with time. As other people said, practice moves and get comfortable.

Hard is good, means you have to adapt.

Congrats . practice makes perfect :)

I always get confused when people buy something that requires skill, patience and perseverance to become good at and question why they aren't good within the first day of playing it. It boggles my mind, really. Most of us have put in at least 200+ hours and we still suck. Hell, I've put in at least 250 hours and I'm still relatively crappy.

" @NevereatNirnroot said:

" why is this game sooo freakin hard?   i can barely get through it on easiest, am i missing something?  "

You're missing a lot. Play actual people, seek out knowledge. "

SFIV was my first street fighter game, so it was a bit intimidating at first.  I'm happy to say I've gone from pathetic to slightly sucky with my online SF skillz   XD. 

You should add me and we'll play some games i'm fairly new as well only have about 230 matches played 
 
Heartagram1028 on XBL

"SFIV was my first street fighter game, so it was a bit intimidating at first.  I'm happy to say I've gone from pathetic to slightly sucky with my online SF skillz   XD.  "

Welcome to the fold!
 
But umm... you can beat Easiest by just spamming roundhouse kicks. Seriously. Even Seth walks right into them...

For the sole reason of beating the computer, I used Zangief on medium and went through without losing once. His spinning pile driver is awesome.

" @xionpunk said:

"SFIV was my first street fighter game, so it was a bit intimidating at first.  I'm happy to say I've gone from pathetic to slightly sucky with my online SF skillz   XD.  "

wow, I can't begin to see your point of view.  I started playing street fighter before street fighter 2 came out. "

"@Gunner_Thor said:

" @xionpunk said:

"SFIV was my first street fighter game, so it was a bit intimidating at first.  I'm happy to say I've gone from pathetic to slightly sucky with my online SF skillz   XD.  "

wow, I can't begin to see your point of view.  I started playing street fighter before street fighter 2 came out. "

I played pretty much every iteration of Street Fighter, but I was absolute garbage at all of them. Random fireballs and uppercuts, ONLY fierce attacks, full screen super activation. Not until Street Fighter IV did I start learning fundamentals and try to understand anything. Ignorance is bliss and all that though. I have a ton of fun playing BlazBlue locally with friends, and all we do is just mash buttons and watch crazy things happen. "

"@Gunner_Thor said:

" @xionpunk said:

"SFIV was my first street fighter game, so it was a bit intimidating at first.  I'm happy to say I've gone from pathetic to slightly sucky with my online SF skillz   XD.  "

wow, I can't begin to see your point of view.  I started playing street fighter before street fighter 2 came out. "

I played pretty much every iteration of Street Fighter, but I was absolute garbage at all of them. Random fireballs and uppercuts, ONLY fierce attacks, full screen super activation. Not until Street Fighter IV did I start learning fundamentals and try to understand anything. Ignorance is bliss and all that though. I have a ton of fun playing BlazBlue locally with friends, and all we do is just mash buttons and watch crazy things happen. "

" @Gunner_Thor said:

" @xionpunk said:

"SFIV was my first street fighter game, so it was a bit intimidating at first.  I'm happy to say I've gone from pathetic to slightly sucky with my online SF skillz   XD.  "

wow, I can't begin to see your point of view.  I started playing street fighter before street fighter 2 came out. "

I played pretty much every iteration of Street Fighter, but I was absolute garbage at all of them. Random fireballs and uppercuts, ONLY fierce attacks, full screen super activation. Not until Street Fighter IV did I start learning fundamentals and try to understand anything. Ignorance is bliss and all that though. I have a ton of fun playing BlazBlue locally with friends, and all we do is just mash buttons and watch crazy things happen. "

I have played for 600 hours and still can't beat he computer on easiest, welcome to the scrub club.

you suck nimroot... ;)

" @lordofultima said:

" @NevereatNirnroot said:

" why is this game sooo freakin hard?   i can barely get through it on easiest, am i missing something?  "

You're missing a lot. Play actual people, seek out knowledge. "

What he said. "

" @NevereatNirnroot: I can't believe no-one has pointed this out yet, but why have you bought SFIV now when Super SFIV is only a month or two away? "

" @FLStyle said:

" @NevereatNirnroot: I can't believe no-one has pointed this out yet, but why have you bought SFIV now when Super SFIV is only a month or two away? "

Because that's 2 more months of experience playing SF4 that he can have that other people with your outlook will not. "

" @lordofultima said:

" @FLStyle said:

" @NevereatNirnroot: I can't believe no-one has pointed this out yet, but why have you bought SFIV now when Super SFIV is only a month or two away? "

Because that's 2 more months of experience playing SF4 that he can have that other people with your outlook will not. "

what if you plan on playing juri? can't exactly practice that now. "

" @onimonkii said:

" @lordofultima said:

" @FLStyle said:

" @NevereatNirnroot: I can't believe no-one has pointed this out yet, but why have you bought SFIV now when Super SFIV is only a month or two away? "

Because that's 2 more months of experience playing SF4 that he can have that other people with your outlook will not. "

what if you plan on playing juri? can't exactly practice that now. "

You can still learn match-ups and fundamentals that well certainly carry over. "

" @lordofultima: You don't really think that he shares your way of thinking, do you? I doubt it. It's much more likely that he decided to join the party late by buying a game that he doesn't realise will be out-dated soon because he heard a lot of buzz about it. "

@NevereatNirnroot: 

why is this game sooo freakin hard?   
i can barely get through it on easiest, am i missing something?

Just do a lot of Haidukens

" @FLStyle said:

" @lordofultima: You don't really think that he shares your way of thinking, do you? I doubt it. It's much more likely that he decided to join the party late by buying a game that he doesn't realise will be out-dated soon because he heard a lot of buzz about it. "

But, I can't imagine they are going to cut-off SFIV online and only support SSFIV online.  He may not get ssfiv immediately and will still find people playing sfiv online.  Not as many, but still plenty.  G2 ain't goin' anywhere anytime soon... "

"

@NevereatNirnroot: 

why is this game sooo freakin hard?   
i can barely get through it on easiest, am i missing something?

 

Just do a lot of Haidukens

"

" why is this game sooo freakin hard?   i can barely get through it on easiest, am i missing something?  "

Do many of you use a fighting stick, or do you stick with the regular controller?
 
And if you use a regular controller, do you use the D-pad or the analog stick?

" Do many of you use a fighting stick, or do you stick with the regular controller?  And if you use a regular controller, do you use the D-pad or the analog stick? "

" Do many of you use a fighting stick, or do you stick with the regular controller?  And if you use a regular controller, do you use the D-pad or the analog stick? "

" In my opinion if i select very easy , it should hold my hand and walk me through the game. if i want frustrating game play i would pick hard . I cant for the life of me defeat c viper playing as dalsim . that damn cheaop ground pound and fast as hell flying kick . I felt like throwing my disc down the street . that is on very easy. Then the game could have really fought the street
"

reading topics like this i forget not everyone is 30 years old like me and has the SF gameplay in their genes by now

" In my opinion if i select very easy , it should hold my hand and walk me through the game. if i want frustrating game play i would pick hard . I cant for the life of me defeat c viper playing as dalsim . that damn cheaop ground pound and fast as hell flying kick . I felt like throwing my disc down the street . that is on very easy. Then the game could have really fought the street
"

" @Bloopa79Aus said:

" In my opinion if i select very easy , it should hold my hand and walk me through the game. if i want frustrating game play i would pick hard . I cant for the life of me defeat c viper playing as dalsim . that damn cheaop ground pound and fast as hell flying kick . I felt like throwing my disc down the street . that is on very easy. Then the game could have really fought the street
"

Press standing hard punch as Dhalsim all day and you'll win on very easy. The enemy never blocks. "

" @Scooper said:

" @Bloopa79Aus said:

" In my opinion if i select very easy , it should hold my hand and walk me through the game. if i want frustrating game play i would pick hard . I cant for the life of me defeat c viper playing as dalsim . that damn cheaop ground pound and fast as hell flying kick . I felt like throwing my disc down the street . that is on very easy. Then the game could have really fought the street
"

Press standing hard punch as Dhalsim all day and you'll win on very easy. The enemy never blocks. "

Lol, you can actually win that way? "

I have like 16 hours logged in and i still suck a big one.

 
Gamertag:    Scullinator
 
Ill be off work till Tuesday.  Plan on doing nothing but sit around the house watching a few movies and play video games.  (kind of a mini vacation)  Hit me up.  Im average at best.  Im playing Mass Effect 2 currently but will quit out for a game of SF4.

"@NevereatNirnroot: I can't believe no-one has pointed this out yet, but why have you bought SFIV now when Super SFIV is only a month or two away? "

i got it for 10 quid used so i just figured i'd try it out, i was well aware that super was coming out but didnt really care at that price.

 
thanx for the good advice peeps, i've been training hard lately and after losing several dozen times in a row  won my first match online with ryu and i kid u not i jumped up and shouted i was so happy the other guy had like 2000bp and i was still at 0. 
 
i see what everyone means by the ai being fickle as hell its like some time he just doesnt bother to block and other times will punish u for the smallest mistake, anyway i need to get bettter now the next step is focus cancells i feel like ryus srk fadc to ultra is the reason everone says he's a good choice and without i think my game is lacking.

Easy way to do fadc ultra
 
Do an srk, hold forward at the end of the motion. Hit mk +mp while still holding forward, as soon as the cancel animation begins tap forward one more time. Go make a sandwich then come back and do the ultra, god knows you have about 3 hours to enter the inputs with Ryu.