Is the online match making good at pairing noobs together? Good tutorials or anything? I'm usually shit at fighters and want to try to get past the button mashy stage. This one looks pretty good. Thoughts?

At the moment its fucked up; because all of the people from SFIV are just beginning to pick up the game. But I'm going to assume that in a week or so things will settle down.
 
I've just been getting my ass royally handed to me every time.

When playing online no good fighting game is noob friendly.  You just have to work at getting better.  Play the game and if your mashing then go to training mode and do the specials over and over again until you do them without thinking.  When you do the moves use smooth motion and deliberate button pressing.  Play arcade mode and try out your timing.  The game does search for players of same skill but, Street Fighter has such a deep and older fan base that you may still fight a good player.

It'll be best to hook up with a bunch of other new players, to kind of 'learn together' to help build your skills.
 
There's a few recent threads, with a bunch of people in that range.  Feel free to add me, too, if you get it: Gamertag -  xJERKFACEx
 
That's if you have a 360, of course.

Hopefully the matchmaking will work out so that it does match you with similarly skilled players, but that's not going to happen until all the veterans have jumped in and floated to the top. So I might wait a bit before trying too hard online. Also, the game can teach you the moves, but the internet is a much better source for figuring out how to use them, so look around.

Just pick Ken and you're good to go.

I'm losing more than winning. It does get a bit frustrating but I hope things simmer down a bit.

Don't pick random because the other person will assume you're awesome and pick Ryu.  Oddly enough, I ended up being Ryu as well.  Still got my ass beat.

its been ok losing more then i am winning, but  if i play a lot more i should get better. i hope.

The biggest misconception with new players and S/SFIV is they think the tutorial mode is going to teach them how to play. That is not the case. It will teach you the basic moves, but everything else is situational.
 
Basically it takes a while to fully understand the game. To get good, it takes years.

Here are my tips for those starting out:
 
1. Practice, Practice, practice - The only way to get better is to practice your moves and fight people. Try out  a few characters (like one of each type a charge character etc.), find one that you think is cool and enjoy and then stick with them for awhile. That is the only way you are going to get good is by sticking with one and learning them.
 
2. Don't get discouraged - A lot of people have been playing Street Fighter games for years and are going to be better than you. You will lose games and most likely lose more than win at first, don't sweat it. Just keep on trucking and learning.
 
3. Go through trial mode. - After the first 10 or so phases, the trials start showing off moves that combo well together. Even if you can't pull them off against the guarding computer Dan, it is still worth going through and just seeing what moves work well together. 

4. Watch replays - The replay channels in game are okay, but hard to find stuff. However if you do, you can watch them with the input indicators on meaning you can see what command someone is exactly using to pull off the sweet combo you just saw. You tube is a good source in finding videos of skilled players doing their thing.  Find someone using your guy and check out what the "pros" are doing with them.

5. Have fun - Don't miss this step. Don't get wrapped up in tier rankings and timing breakdowns unless you really, really want to. Getting frustrated? Take a break or go to arcade mode or training and practice your stuff against the CPU. Take a deep breath and then dive back in. Once you get over that first big hump when learning the character, you will have a lot more fun. Sure you will still lose matches, but you will also be winning more and more.

Game is not good for noobs. Ive played Street Fighter for years but play it very casually. Im not good but im not terrible and I have trouble winning. The ranking system might get better, but right now its a crapshoot. Super Street Fighter is more hardcore than 4 because only mostly dedicated players picked this one up. Also most people play in in endless battle which is cool because you get to see good fights, but a really good player is usually dominating the room. I would recommend picking this game up because its one of the best fighting games ever made, just don't expect to win online anytime soon.

" Just pick Ken and you're good to go. "

lol i suck and im not really a noob. But then again i didn't play SF4 for more than a month since it was released since i kept getting owned online. But i decided that with SSF4 i should try to get better and at least learn something. 
Loosing can only help you get better. Playing someone slightly better than you (not elite, cuz you wont learn a thing from these matches) will help you understand what to do and what not to do. You kinda have to commit yourself to study it though. Which is a good thing they made it so that fight replays are automatically saved. 

" @Berezov said:

" Just pick Ken and you're good to go. "

You are what is wrong with the SF community. Please leave. "

Maybe all the good people will move on to SSFIV so that I can have some fun playing SFIV without having to play locally, heh.

It's luck of the draw. Sometimes I get beaten by pure cheapness (but I should learn how to counter act it with Cody. A distance game seems to work for that but I get extremely impatient) or just straight up crumpled up like an old one dollar bill by people who rapeface. Especially when I use Dudley, it's the equivalent of a bigger, stronger dude putting his hand out on my forehead and me running at him flailing my arms like a spaz. Despite my short comings with Dudley I still am determined to keep it classy. Because sometimes I just wanna take a break from Cody who I am clearly better at. But knowing at least 2 or 3 characters really well as opposed to just one appeals to me more. I'll lose so much more but it's more fun for me.
 
The point of my rambling: You'll never know what you'll get for now. Looks can be deceiving. I just try not to underestimate anyone and just hope for the best.

The challenge mode is pretty fucking terrible. It shows the move name, but not the actual combination. So when you get further in, it's impossible to remember if you're a new player.
 
I'm having an easy time doing well, but an impossible time FINISHING a match. I just panic.

" The challenge mode is pretty fucking terrible. It shows the move name, but not the actual combination. So when you get further in, it's impossible to remember if you're a new player.  I'm having an easy time doing well, but an impossible time FINISHING a match. I just panic. "

" @Fallen189 said:

" The challenge mode is pretty fucking terrible. It shows the move name, but not the actual combination. So when you get further in, it's impossible to remember if you're a new player.  I'm having an easy time doing well, but an impossible time FINISHING a match. I just panic. "

"Oh god we both very little health left and we're both tied this is it! WHAT DO I DO!?" *spams the Machinegun Blow more then I should in a panic."  Story of my fucking life. Panic is my bane. "

" @Lost_Remnant said:

" @Fallen189 said:

" The challenge mode is pretty fucking terrible. It shows the move name, but not the actual combination. So when you get further in, it's impossible to remember if you're a new player.  I'm having an easy time doing well, but an impossible time FINISHING a match. I just panic. "

"Oh god we both very little health left and we're both tied this is it! WHAT DO I DO!?" *spams the Machinegun Blow more then I should in a panic."  Story of my fucking life. Panic is my bane. "

JESUS HES GOT ONE PIXEL LEFT JUMP JUMP FIREBALL AHHHH "

" @Fallen189 said:

" @Lost_Remnant said:

" @Fallen189 said:

" The challenge mode is pretty fucking terrible. It shows the move name, but not the actual combination. So when you get further in, it's impossible to remember if you're a new player.  I'm having an easy time doing well, but an impossible time FINISHING a match. I just panic. "

"Oh god we both very little health left and we're both tied this is it! WHAT DO I DO!?" *spams the Machinegun Blow more then I should in a panic."  Story of my fucking life. Panic is my bane. "

JESUS HES GOT ONE PIXEL LEFT JUMP JUMP FIREBALL AHHHH "

FOR F*CKS SAKE, I CAN'T EVEN SEE HIS HEALTH BAR JUST DO MY ULTRA!! WHY ARE YOU JUMPING NOOOOO!!! "

I'm currently 0-13 in online matches.  I've won one round.  I'm still having a blast (playing as Akuma), though I wish I could fight somebody other than Ken.  :)

" Game is not good for noobs. Ive played Street Fighter for years but play it very casually. Im not good but im not terrible and I have trouble winning. The ranking system might get better, but right now its a crapshoot. Super Street Fighter is more hardcore than 4 because only mostly dedicated players picked this one up. Also most people play in in endless battle which is cool because you get to see good fights, but a really good player is usually dominating the room. I would recommend picking this game up because its one of the best fighting games ever made, just don't expect to win online anytime soon. "

Depends if you want to learn real street fighter or you are fine limiting yourself to jp.rh > cr.rh and mashing out srks. Learning to play Street Fighter - or any fighting games for that matter - takes the same commitment as learning to play an instrument. It will take a lot of practice before you begin to notice the results, especially if you are new to 2d fighters. You will only be as good as the time you put in practicing, so putting hours each day into training mode sounds like a drag then SF may not be for you. Although, I do know many players who at one point dreaded having to train but now find it almost as addicting as playing the actual game.

25 matches and 1 win. Lots of Codys and Bisons so far, and a fair few Ryu's. I need to learn timing and how to chain things. I'm terrible, but I can't pick a character, they're all neat.

There are plenty of beginners you can play, you just have to search them out yourself. On these boards for instance, tons of new people itching to play and have some even competition. Don't be afraid to reach out and make a friend or two here.

Out of  50 matches i have won about 5 or 6. The game makes you work for everything. The challenge mode is ok but the real way to get better is just fighting people. The replays help a lot just because you can break down what works and what doesn't , and ( I assume) if you find some good replays of your main it could help you see new ways to use moves and better handle certain fighters and situations ( I say "I assume" because I can't find any good Makoto replays). The hardest thing to do in this game  for me is winning the the 2nd (or 3rd ) round or winning in a close round. I need to be able to trust myself to pull off the moves i want to do and i know i am not there yet.   Ken, Sakura and Dudley are the people i have real trouble with. 
 
I hope this help.          

I love SF IV but was totally destroyed playing online, so I stopped. I want SSF IV but feel like it won't be worth my cash, since I don't play online much, sadly.

" The challenge mode is pretty fucking terrible. It shows the move name, but not the actual combination. So when you get further in, it's impossible to remember if you're a new player.  I'm having an easy time doing well, but an impossible time FINISHING a match. I just panic. "

" 25 matches and 1 win. Lots of Codys and Bisons so far, and a fair few Ryu's. I need to learn timing and how to chain things. I'm terrible, but I can't pick a character, they're all neat. "

I've been playing SF4 online even before SSF4 and I've been playing other Street Fighter games before and online with SSF4, I still have a 48% win-loss ratio (more losses) hehehe!  I'm not a hardcore player and I do lose a lot online, but you just have to be patient and try not to get frustrated when you lose.  Practice & learn from your losses.  Eventually, you'll get satisfying wins.  And just enjoy the game and have fun with it, win or lose it's the game we choose. ;)

" @Frootsnax said:

" @Fallen189 said:

" @Lost_Remnant said:

" @Fallen189 said:

" The challenge mode is pretty fucking terrible. It shows the move name, but not the actual combination. So when you get further in, it's impossible to remember if you're a new player.  I'm having an easy time doing well, but an impossible time FINISHING a match. I just panic. "

"Oh god we both very little health left and we're both tied this is it! WHAT DO I DO!?" *spams the Machinegun Blow more then I should in a panic."  Story of my fucking life. Panic is my bane. "

JESUS HES GOT ONE PIXEL LEFT JUMP JUMP FIREBALL AHHHH "

FOR F*CKS SAKE, I CAN'T EVEN SEE HIS HEALTH BAR JUST DO MY ULTRA!! WHY ARE YOU JUMPING NOOOOO!!! "

THAT'S THE FIFTH TIME TONIGHT. FUCK. THIS. GAME. *Storms off pre-school style only to return in half an hour.* I think we should get a support group for the panic stricken among us. "

This whole quote tree above me is hitting far too close to home.

" Here are my tips for those starting out:  1. Practice, Practice, practice - The only way to get better is to practice your moves and fight people. Try out  a few characters (like one of each type a charge character etc.), find one that you think is cool and enjoy and then stick with them for awhile. That is the only way you are going to get good is by sticking with one and learning them.  2. Don't get discouraged - A lot of people have been playing Street Fighter games for years and are going to be better than you. You will lose games and most likely lose more than win at first, don't sweat it. Just keep on trucking and learning.  3. Go through trial mode. - After the first 10 or so phases, the trials start showing off moves that combo well together. Even if you can't pull them off against the guarding computer Dan, it is still worth going through and just seeing what moves work well together.  4. Watch replays - The replay channels in game are okay, but hard to find stuff. However if you do, you can watch them with the input indicators on meaning you can see what command someone is exactly using to pull off the sweet combo you just saw. You tube is a good source in finding videos of skilled players doing their thing.  Find someone using your guy and check out what the "pros" are doing with them.5. Have fun - Don't miss this step. Don't get wrapped up in tier rankings and timing breakdowns unless you really, really want to. Getting frustrated? Take a break or go to arcade mode or training and practice your stuff against the CPU. Take a deep breath and then dive back in. Once you get over that first big hump when learning the character, you will have a lot more fun. Sure you will still lose matches, but you will also be winning more and more. "

Yeah, for the moment the numbers don't really tell you anything about the player's true skill since they could have put in hours into sf4 and are technically starting over ranking wise in Super. I've ended up versing people with scores thousands higher than me. I've had cases where I simply stand there just so the embarrassing loss comes faster.