Capcom has unveiled a new partnership with Virgin Gaming, that will allow members to wager on matches on Super Street Fighter IV on Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. Now, players and steam monsters alike can put their money where their mouth is – literally.
This is a move that seems to have been long overdue. Players have money matches among themselves, with some going for high stakes. It’s also not unknown that fans, even people watching the streams, actually make bets on these matchups. The real life success of SaltyBets as a viral phenomenon was itself preceded by taking serious bets on streams for tournaments and matchups between players. Among other things, SaltyBets may have been the final straw that made Capcom take notice.
As for the setup, there could be no better choice. Virgin Gaming is already precipitating online competition for EA games in the Madden, FIFA, and NHL series, helping manage fair matchups and real life betting among viewers. Virgin has a long established system in place that keeps cheating and collusion out, manages individual player’s reputations, and allows people to make bets safely and securely.
Now, Virgin Gaming is a paid service, but for those Street Fighter players serious about competitive play, there can be no regrets footing the bill. Competitive players won’t even have to go to tournaments anymore to find out if they are the best or make money.
While we have yet to see how the FGC will ultimately deal with this change, it may also open up a wider range of gamers into competitive gaming. We look forward to updating you on this in the coming months and years.
