Ok so i really want this game but the only thing stopping me is the fact that im very bad at it. I have trouble doing Hadoken's so thats just how bad i am. If i play it often would I get better do you think? and if i go online would i get destroyed by some Japanese kid who's been awake for 72 hours?

Thanks

The curve is kind of rough if you've never played a Street Fighter before. A little less so if you know the basics. It's very rewarding once you get it down, though.

the learning curve is 10 years...that is if you don't want to get beat by a Japanese kid who's been awake for 72 hrs.

That's why you don't immediately go online. Choose a character or two that you really want to focus on as your main choices, and do training with them...learn their moves, get down how to do them first. Also, the challenge mode is another great thing to help you out, they start you out with basic moves, and then they advance into more tricky combos. These things should help anyone get better at a fighting game..but yeah, don't immediately go online before getting to know a character well enough first, or you definitely will get destroyed.

Its the same for everyone dude, the first time you go to play a game like this you're gonna suck..and even when you get alright there will still be people online that will mess you the fuck up plenty. Just learn a character of your choice well in training/challenge though, and go at your own pace is the best advice I can give you..trust me its still worth owning the game plenty, you'll improve over time, maybe slowly but surely.

Just don't play Ken. We don't need to see another fucking Ken online.

Ahh yes the flowchart Ken, when i doubt...SHORYUKEN

Curve is larger than most games but definitely not as bad as some people make it out to be.

Street Fighter 4 is the easiest Street Fighter in terms of the ability to pull off special moves. Sometimes it's so easy I'll pull off a move when I don't even do it's motion (I sometimes do a Spiral Arrow or and Cannon Spike when doing a half-circle back, or I'll do a Cannon Spike when all I do is barely touch the stick.).

Practice in the arcade mode and you will be able to win a couple fights online.

I would say the learning curve to understand what you are doing and not just button mash is probably a week or two. Getting good at the game is obviously a much much longer process. 

Hahaha, that flowchart is f***'in genius!  Laughed so hard.  But yeah, this game is great, good or not, you'll have fun.  And you'll learn a thing or two while you go.  But yeah, no more Kens.  I want to see more Roses!!  I have never fought against one yet!  I'm like the only one...

That flowchart is my new wallpaper.

If u havnt played anything SF related, 5-7 hrs

To learn the moves? maybe a day? to have it in your muscle memory? if you play everyday maybe a week or a month depending on how you learn.

To really know what you're doing and not just pressing buttons perhaps a full month or two more. (This is where most people stop playing the game)

To do the crazy as shit you see in tournament videos? a shit load more hours that you may not even want to pursue it. (at that point you're in practice mode trying to get combos and techniques down that you could have used that time to learn a new instrument. But in many ways SF4 is like an instrument and if you want to get good enough to start money matching people or enter tournaments to win money, it will pay off eventually.)

I think the question is less about the length of the learning curve and more about whether or not you'll enjoy the learning, which is of course a matter of personal preference.

I never played any variant of Street Fighter before IV. For whatever reason I was attracted to this one. Been playing it on and off roughly since it came out on the consoles. I would say that I have very basic execution down, just finally getting to a place where the motions feel like they're becoming subconscious, but still wouldn't call myself anything near "good at the game".

On the other hand, the thing I've found most rewarding is playing people who are way way better than me, forcing me to really explore the intricacies of the mechanics. So, yeah. I'd definitely say I'm still on the learning curve, but enjoying it all the way.

focus. cancel. dash.

Learning curve isn't that much just as long as you are willing to put the effort into it and actually try.

The learning curve varies depending on your experience in this kinda game.  I'd say with a couple weeks of steady play, you should have the confidence and "skill" to take your game online.  There, you will be baptized in the fires of battle, and if you survive, you should have garnered enough knowledge to consider yourself "pretty good".

It's a good fighting game, so the learning curve is probably infinite.  It's basically up to you where you decide to get off.

Just play through arcade mode a couple of times and you'll be okay.