I know it's pretty damn early to be thinking this far ahead, but with that "Tournament" patch looming like some sort of mythic beast, does anybody think that Street Fighter IV will ever bring in some new characters?  Yeah, they've got a large cast already, but the more the merrier.
I heard that they had actually made the models for T. Hawk and Dee Jay, but they were left out of the game for some reason.  I'd certainly like those guys thrown back in, and maybe some Alpha characters.  Guy perhaps?
What about the Giant Bomb community?  Think it'll happen?  And if so, who do you wanna see in Street Fighter IV?

This was actually a Question of the Day not too long ago - lots of responses there, check it out.

http://www.giantbomb.com/blogs/question-of-the-day/36/

Wow, I'm way behind the times...

New characters tend to offset the balance of the game, though I'm sure if they're bringing in someone new, they're carefully playtested before they become downloadable.... I don't really see it happen though.

"New characters tend to offset the balance of the game, though I'm sure if they're bringing in someone new, they're carefully playtested before they become downloadable.... I don't really see it happen though."

"Unless the characters are already done and balanced and Capcom is just holding onto them in order to sell DLC to us later."

Well I did hear rumors of a SFIV Dash.

I am pretty disappointed with the game itself, like neglecting SFIII's gameplay and its roster. If there is going to be a SFIV Dash, then hopefully Third Strike characters will return to remedy the problem a bit--like this guy.

The problem here is that unless these new characters are already done and hidden on the disk (which is doubtful), Capcom will have to make them available through a free and mandatory title update. Otherwise it would be matchmaking hell when someone tries to use one of the new characters but the other player doesn't have access to them.

Considering that the game on console isn't even a month old, I don't see that happening any time soon. Eventually perhaps, but not for a bit. Capcom still has plenty of money to make just selling the game and some extra costumes. After that we're likely to see a mandatory patch with a few new modes, followed by a free new stage and then a DLC or two with still more new stages. Then, perhaps... in a year or so... or just before next Christmas perhaps, a free new character. Maybe...

Having two downloads would fix that problem Galrick

one costs money (i'm fine with free but hey you can't win everytime) with the characters unlocked

and one free which just let's you see the characters but not pick them.

It would be nice to see Guy, Ibuki , and Dee Jay added as new playable characters.

Adon. Adon.  Adon.  But realistically, Dee Jay and T. Hawk should be mandatory at this point since they've actually put in a little work on them and it would complete the ST roster.

"Having two downloads would fix that problem Galrickone costs money (i'm fine with free but hey you can't win everytime) with the characters unlockedand one free which just let's you see the characters but not pick them."

Sure, they could have another version of Street Fighter IV, fixing some balancing issues and adding new characters, but they wouldn't release it for another 12 months at the very least. Also, with dlc, it would be much easier and probably more profitable for Capcom to release DLC instead...

As for the two downloads theory, it's called a patch. Tons of games have already done it(Forza did dlc cars, you could still race online without the dlc). Of course they're gonna patch it if they're releasing dlc.

capcom love making new editions... so they will probably add two characters per retail box update they decide to spam out... (deejay and T.Hawk aren't  included in the game even though they were completed) so i am assuming capcom will make a championship edition that will include both dj and thawk and the patch and maybe the dlc costumes...

i just hope they release the characters on DLC and have both games compatible with one another as not to fracture the community