| EVENT REPORT 02.16.09 6:00 AM |
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| Arty Arcade |
| An over-capacity crowd turned out for the Street Fighter IV launch, where the emphasis was on the series' connection to the art world—and testing of the new game was encouraged at 60 stations. |
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Hordes of Street Fighter fans waited in line for hours in the Los Angeles winter cold to get a sneak peek at the newest version of the video game Thursday at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Some in the crowd got turned away after the venue reached capacity, but the guests who made it inside found an arcade-meets-art-gallery theme. Game developer Capcom’s Emily Anadu oversaw the event and turned to Kathy Lee-Fung of KLF Events for production.
“We picked MOCA because it’s a museum venue [where] we could really showcase the history of Street Fighter art in the space. Street Fighter not only has a following from a video game standpoint, but it’s also launched a huge following in artwork, art books, and anime,” Fung said. Displays included large canvases that were decorated by members of the Street Fighter art community, a vintage arcade setup showing the history of the series, original sketches by its producer, and a room showcasing licensed products. |
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PHOTO GALLERY |
 | Artist-decorated canvases decked the Geffen Contemporary for the Street Fighter IV game launch.
Photo: Dale Wilcox for BizBash |
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 | During the event, players competed to win a trophy.
Photo: Dale Wilcox for BizBash |
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 | Stations allowed guests to experience the game.
Photo: Dale Wilcox for BizBash |
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 | Reds and blues dominated the lighting.
Photo: Dale Wilcox for BizBash |
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 | A V.I.P. area provided lounge seating and an opportunity to experience the game.
Photo: Dale Wilcox for BizBash |
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 | Large anime-like displays hung from the ceiling.
Photo: Dale Wilcox for BizBash |
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 | A figurine of character Ryu was on display.
Photo: Dale Wilcox for BizBash |
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 | Guests could browse cases filled with licensed Street Fighter products.
Photo: Dale Wilcox for BizBash |
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 | Many would-be guests were turned away at the packed event.
Photo: Dale Wilcox for BizBash |
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Other elements included a game competition where players vied to win a trophy, an area where guests could meet the producer of Street Fighter, an artist available to sketch portraits of guests, and a station where guests could have a Street Fighter character etched into their phones. Additionally, 60 kiosks in the space allowed guests to experience the game.
Entertainment included a short dance sequence by Supreme Soul (known for its stint on MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew), and a performance by hip-hop duo the Knux. Also on site to introduce the game were the stars of the upcoming movie Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li. The game hits retail outlets on February 17, and the movie hits theaters on February 22.
—Shilpa Gopinath
RELATED TOPICS
MOCA, MTV, Capcom, Street Fighter
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