I got a chance to sit down and interview the man behind Street Fighter X Tekken, Ono Yoshinori at the Street Fighter X Tekken Launch Event.  In the interview we discuss the character decision-making process and the Gem system issues concerning the tournament scene.

What was the decision making process of what characters are picked to make the final cut in Street Fighter X Tekken?

Ono: We try to look at it from a fan’s point of view. We know which characters are particularly popular, which characters people like to see facing off.  This is done through internet research and surveys. And we use common sense because we listen to what the fans say anyway.  So when it comes to fighting games you normally want to fill in a grid and make sure everything is pretty well balanced.  You don’t want too many characters that do command-style throws, players like Zangief.  You don’t want too many projectile-style characters.  We didn’t do that this time actually.

We put aside the usual method of character selection.  We replaced it with what the fans want to see.  So it was kind of a unique way to approach it. So in the main game these are the first stringers.  We announced the PS Vita version getting an extra 12 characters.  Those are the guys that almost made it but not quite, but they’re coming a little later in another version.

Since Street Fighter X Tekken was announced at EVO, the fighting community has been a little concerned about the Gem system and how is that going to work in the tournament scene?  Will the use of USB be used in order to upload Gem sets?

Ono: This is an issue we have been trying to tackle.  We mentioned USB solutions as one possibility as something we are researching.  There are other ways as well.  We are thinking for instance, we might do a special tournament mode that we will distribute by downloadable package a month or so after release.  They will allow you other ways of inputing code numbers or something to get the gems to appear.  And especially for tournaments there are some things that come into play.  Special gems may only be downloaded or they’re not on the disc and there is some disconnect there.  We are thinking there is some solution as well for those people to do tournaments.  Perhaps we can find a way to “lend” these special downloadable gems to people temporarily at the stages like that for tournaments.  We are recognizing the situation and we are looking to solve it.  I don’t know if the solution will be solved this very instant, but we know it’s an issue and we will definitely find a way to have this worked out so that everyone can play on an even playing field.  And go to a tournament confident, knowing that they can play with the same style that they use.

Ed Boon is actually interested in a Street Fighter X Mortal Kombat.  Is this possible?

Ono: It’s quite possible that I can meet with Ed Boon.  Maybe we can share a meal at McDonalds or something.  Whether we can do it beyond that I don’t know.  I’ll be interested to talk about it.

There were talks of Sega, Namco, and Capcom working on a title.  Can you say anything about that and is it Street Fighter related?

Ono: Maybe it’s Virtua Fighter 10! (laughs)

If you were a Tekken character, which one would you be?

Ono: Probably Kazuya!  I think of myself as a strategic thinker.  I’ll try to bob and weave to try to stay in the game.  That’s who I think is already like me in the Tekken universe.  If I had any choose to be any character in Tekken it would be Nina! (laughs)

What was your biggest issue to convert 3D Tekken characters into a 2D fighting game?

Ono: Interesting enough it wasn’t as hard as you may think. In Tekken you have side steps so there is a 3D game in that sense but it’s not as three-dimensional fighting wise as like Virtua Fighter.  When it really comes down to it the actual fighting takes place on a two-dimensional plane.  So it actually was not that difficult.  The more we talk to the Tekken team the more we analyze the game.  And they actually showed us their code and we actually see in the script they actually have the word “Hadouken” in some of their moves.  And you see just how close these games are in gameplay style when you really strip away the graphics and everything.  So we thought it would be a big hurdle going into it.  Once we rolled up our sleeves and started doing it, it wasn’t that hard.  We figured if we preserved what was best about Tekken, the Tekken feel and the Tekken aesthetic and pull it into this universe, we feel like it will still feel sufficiently “Tekken-ish” and I think we did it.

After the success of Super Street Fighter IV AE there was a release of Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition.  Are there any other older games in the works that may make its way as a downloadable game? Capcom vs. SNK HD version maybe?

Ono: There’s a lot of game I would like to do that with.  I’m sure a lot of games that fans would want to see that type of treatment given to.  I can say this:  I talk a lot about Darkstalkers and I think if I was able to do a title like that, that will probably be the direction I would hit.  Believe me I know that a lot of fans want to get a new version of Capcom vs. SNK.  I totally get that.  The problem with that is that these SNK characters belong to SNK.  There are a lot of very complicated rights issues going on there.  It wouldn’t be impossible but it could be really difficult to get that all licensed and properly done.  Not impossible but it could take time.  We know people want it.  It’s not necessarily that easy to do right now.

Look for our review of Street Fighter X Tekken next Tuesday.