Tekken Director Feels That Unlockables Aren't Useful Anymore

21 Comments Posted July 2, 2009 - By Brian Leahy

New Tekken 6 Imagery Reveals More Characters, Maintains Tekken 6 Wackiness

What is going on here?!

Here's something I agree with entirely! Tekken series director Katsuhiro Harada feels that unlockable characters in fighting games are a bit old & busted. Truth!

In a translated interview with VideoGamer.com, Harada-san shares his feelings on the fighting genre staple:

“Why we locked the characters originally was that in the arcades, it was kind of to extend the life of the game by gradually unlocking characters. And also with the home versions as well, because you can rent games or whatever, it was to protect us against that. That’s kind of outdated now though, especially with online play. If we were to have locked characters it would irritate a lot of people, to be playing against others online and to not have all the characters available. So I think it’s no longer useful.”

It took hours upon hours to unlock all of the characters in Street Fighter IV. Many players still don't even have Seth unlocked. Thankfully, Tekken 6's roster of 40 characters will be completely unlocked as soon as the game is booted when it is released on October 27, 2009.

Even Capcom is beginning to realize this as every character will be unlocked at the start for the upcoming XBLA and PSN re-release of Marvel vs. Capcom 2.

Source

Tags: PlayStation 3, Videogames, Xbox 360

Comments

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mathiasreese

I've always enjoyed unlockables in fighting games. If not characters, then costumes, vids, modes, etc. To me, it really helps the single player aspect of the game.

Posted: July 2, 2009 12:15 PM | Reply | Report

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keithmessina

That's stupid I like unlocking characters in a fighting game. It gives me a goal and it's fun to do with friends also if you and your friend both have the game it can be a race to see who can unlock them all first

Posted: July 2, 2009 12:23 PM | Reply | Report

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twihard2012

i liked unlocking characters

Posted: July 2, 2009 1:12 PM | Reply | Report

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VayMasters

They just want a reason to sell the unlockables on Live and on the PSN network.

Posted: July 2, 2009 1:15 PM | Reply | Report

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kkotd

To be quite honest, if your game is balanced enough it shouldn't matter. Lockables such as the TF2 weapons, where unlocking it can open entirely new tactics and possible advantages, is what is really irratating. Then making those unlocked by random events or achievement type aspects... Oy

Posted: July 2, 2009 1:22 PM | Reply | Report

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blakseed

But unlockables was one of the reasons I loved Tekken. If they pull a Capcom, I'll be pissed. Though I hate to, if they charge for fighters, I might skip Tekken 6 all together.

Posted: July 2, 2009 1:52 PM | Reply | Report

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Juicelee

@blackseed

did you read this part of the article?

"Thankfully, Tekken 6's roster of 40 characters will be completely unlocked as soon as the game is booted when it is released on October 27, 2009."

Posted: July 2, 2009 2:38 PM | Reply | Report

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tarbis

Useless? Not quite, the only useless are casual gamers that are too lazy to unlock chars. It's obvious that Harada is trying to appeal to casual gamers. It's always enjoyable to unlock chars, they've just took out the "fun" out of gaming. Stupid reasoning -_-

Posted: July 2, 2009 2:45 PM | Reply | Report

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joeystar8

you have to think about online play though fighting against a character you don't have and are not used to since you don't have them is a pain

Posted: July 2, 2009 4:43 PM | Reply | Report

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Empyu

@tarbis
I think that's exactly the point though. They want to be as accessable as possible to casual gamers. It's not that they're lazy, it's more like they less inclined to experience the full game. But wether you use every character or not, everyone pays the same amount of money for it.

Posted: July 2, 2009 8:07 PM | Reply | Report

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blakseed

@Juicelee

Yeah, I make it a point to read the articles before I post a comment. 40 fighters doesn't mean there wont be some unlockable fighters in the future.

Posted: July 2, 2009 9:18 PM | Reply | Report

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blakseed

If I have to pay for them and extra costumes like SFIV, no thank you.

Posted: July 2, 2009 9:20 PM | Reply | Report

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XIN_Kai

i liked unlocking things, makes me feel like i earned it and acomplished something

Posted: July 3, 2009 11:02 AM | Reply | Report

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poker909

As a single-player fighting fan I LOVE unlocking charachters. I have very fond memories of unlocking everything when Tekken2 came out on PS1. Unlocking fighters provides a much better single player experience and i am disappointed whenever I get a fighting game and every charachter is unlocked out of the box. I get bored with no greater goal. Very disappointing news.

Posted: July 3, 2009 2:45 PM | Reply | Report

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Pwnproof

i remember when i downloaded tekken 5 off psn that there was nothing to unlock other then ranks...so i guess most of the tropthys in this game will be for online mostly....no thanx.

Posted: July 4, 2009 7:52 AM | Reply | Report

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MegaMark26

i was expecting tekken to have a much larger roster than 40. but that still beats the paltry character offering street fighter 4 had. unlockables were fun if they had an easy pre-req. but for some they were so tedious. i remember having to leave my ps1 on with soul blade for a full day to unlock soul edge/cervantes as a playable character.

Posted: July 4, 2009 2:22 PM | Reply | Report

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Shadowfantasy68

If there is no unlockables they better give us something if we beat story mode with any character like stages, customize your characters for FREE!, and more moves

Posted: July 5, 2009 5:52 PM | Reply | Report

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DrewTheIncredible18

See originally I think having unlockable characters add the excitement of finding out what the game has to offer..But its about DAMN time they got rid of unlockable characters from Tekken. It really gets frustrating to do this and that 100 times or play a game without losing to unlock ONE character seriously kudos Bandainamco..And tekken creators

Posted: July 5, 2009 7:10 PM | Reply | Report

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EarLoOn

what? that's insane. ok a little late on reaction but i love unlocking characters. it never posed a problem for me because of the challenge. and i liked the challenge. hmm... maybe there is more to this game than just that so i guess they eliminated it. we'll see guys. just wait.

-NiNJANoODLEz

Posted: July 12, 2009 10:08 AM | Reply | Report

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ShiryouOni

I'm really disappointed with Tekken, I gave them the benefit of the doubt they'd have another great game for me. But when I popped the cd in and there was nothing to do except play that Tekken Force campaign thing, I felt like I was betrayed. No characters to unlock.... Just unbelievable. So I said oh well, I will just play online versus that has to be fun right ? Its so laggy you can put in a combo, set down the controller and hope to win.

Posted: October 29, 2009 3:17 AM | Reply | Report

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