Editing Fighting game (section)

=== Decline (early 2000s) ===
In the early 2000s, the fighting genre boom turned to bust. In retrospect, multiple developers attribute its decline to its increasing complexity and specialization, and to other factors such as [[market saturation|over-saturation]]. This complexity shut out casual players, and the market for fighting games became smaller and more specialized.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/rare-may-do-new-killer-instinct | title = Rare "may do" new Killer Instinct | author = Johnny Minkley | date = November 26, 2008 | access-date = November 28, 2008 | website = Eurogamer | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090203113801/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/rare-may-do-new-killer-instinct | archive-date = February 3, 2009 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name = "sf4interview">{{cite web | url = http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3791/saving_street_fighter_yoshi_ono_.php?page=2 | title = Saving Street Fighter: Yoshi Ono on Building Street Fighter IV | publisher = GamaSutra | access-date = October 12, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081013190454/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3791/saving_street_fighter_yoshi_ono_.php?page=2 | archive-date = October 13, 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Even as far back as 1997, many in the industry said that the fighting game market's growing inaccessibility to newcomers was bringing an end to the genre's dominance.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Crispin |last=Boyer |title=EGM Takes a Time-Tripping Look at the Evolution of Arcades|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=103 |date=February 1998 |pages=91–92}}</ref> Furthermore, arcades gradually became less profitable throughout the late 1990s to early 2000s due to the increased technical power and popularity of home consoles.<ref name="essential50" /><ref name="The History of SNK" /> The early 2000s is considered to be the "Dark Age" of fighting games.<ref name="Learned"/>

The two most prolific developers of 2D fighting games, Capcom and SNK, combined intellectual property to produce ''[[SNK vs. Capcom]]'' games. SNK released the first game of this type, ''[[SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium]]'', for its [[Neo Geo Pocket Color]] handheld at the end of 1999. [[GameSpot]] regarded the game as "perhaps the most highly anticipated fighter ever" and called it the best fighting game ever to be released for a handheld console.<ref>{{cite web | author = Mielke, James | url = http://uk.gamespot.com/ngpc/action/snkvscapcommatchoftm/review.html?tag=summary;read-review | title = SNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millennium Review | website = GameSpot | date = January 28, 2000 | access-date = February 5, 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120715185555/http://uk.gamespot.com/ngpc/action/snkvscapcommatchoftm/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review | archive-date = July 15, 2012 }}</ref><ref name = "Capcom vs. SNK Review">{{cite web | author = Lopez, Miguel | url =  http://uk.gamespot.com/dreamcast/action/capcomvssnkmf2000/review.html| title = Capcom vs. SNK Review | website = GameSpot | date = September 14, 2000 | access-date = February 5, 2009 }} {{dead link|date=January 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Capcom released ''[[Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000]]'' for arcades and the [[Dreamcast]] in 2000, followed by sequels in subsequent years. Though none matched the critical success of the handheld version, ''Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO'' was noted as the first game of the genre to successfully utilize internet competition.<ref name = "Capcom vs. SNK Review" /><ref>{{cite web | author = Kasavin, Greg | url = http://uk.gamespot.com/xbox/action/capcomvssnk2eo/review.html | title = Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO Review | website = GameSpot | date = February 14, 2003 | access-date = February 5, 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120723144609/http://uk.gamespot.com/xbox/action/capcomvssnk2eo/review.html | archive-date = July 23, 2012 }}</ref> Other crossovers from 2008 included ''[[Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars|Tatsunoko vs. Capcom]]'' and ''[[Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe]]''.<ref>{{cite web | author = Miller, Greg | url = http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/930/930344p1.html | title = Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Review | website = IGN | date = November 15, 2008 | access-date = April 29, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090331104300/http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/930/930344p1.html | archive-date = March 31, 2009 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author = Tanaka, John | url = http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/937/937796p1.html | title = Tatsunoko VS Capcom Playtest | website = IGN | date = December 11, 2008 | access-date = February 5, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090121081122/http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/937/937796p1.html | archive-date = January 21, 2009 | url-status = live }}</ref> The most successful crossover, however, was ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' for the [[Wii]]. Featuring 40 characters from Nintendo and third-party franchises, the game was a runaway commercial success in addition to being lavished with critical praise.<ref name="gamespotsmash" /><ref name="ignsmash">{{cite web | author = Casamassina, Matt | url = http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/856/856580p3.html | title = Super Smash Bros. Brawl Review | website = IGN | date = March 4, 2008 | access-date = January 31, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090207092541/http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/856/856580p3.html | archive-date = February 7, 2009 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/AU8xLess7wISKbSMpYCj_HThii8UiBzG | title = Super Smash Bros. Brawl Smashes Nintendo Sales Records | publisher = Nintendo.com | date = March 17, 2008 | access-date = February 6, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080915093943/http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/AU8xLess7wISKbSMpYCj_HThii8UiBzG | archive-date = September 15, 2008 | url-status = live }}</ref>

In the new millennium, fighting games became less popular and plentiful than in the mid-1990s, with multiplayer competition shifting towards other genres.<ref name="MK3" /><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/best-of/genreawards/index.html?page=5 | title = GameSpot's Best of 2007: Best Fighting Game Genre Awards | website = GameSpot | access-date = October 12, 2008 }} {{dead link|date=August 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> However, SNK reappeared in 2003 as SNK Playmore and continued to release games.<ref name = "The History of SNK" /> [[Arc System Works]] received critical acclaim for releasing ''[[Guilty Gear X]]'' in 2001, as well as its sequel ''[[Guilty Gear XX]]'', as both were 2D fighting games featuring striking [[anime]]-inspired graphics.<ref>{{cite web | author = Kasavin, Greg | url = http://uk.gamespot.com/ps2/action/guiltygearx2/review.html?tag=summary;read-review | title = Guilty Gear X2 Review | website = GameSpot | date = February 1, 2003 | access-date = February 5, 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120716013149/http://uk.gamespot.com/ps2/action/guiltygearx2/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review | archive-date = July 16, 2012 }}</ref> Fighting games became a popular genre for amateur and [[doujin]] developers in Japan. The 2002 title ''[[Melty Blood]]'' was developed by then-amateur developer [[French Bread (game developer)|French Bread]] and achieved cult success on the [[Personal computer|PC]]. It became highly popular in arcades following its 2005 release, and a version was released for the [[PlayStation 2]] the following year.<ref>''Arcade Mania!'', pp. 109–112.</ref> The late 1990s and early 2000s saw the rise in [[online game|online gaming]]. In 2004, ''[[Mortal Kombat: Deception]]'', ''[[Dead or Alive Ultimate]]'', and the [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] version of ''[[Street Fighter Anniversary Collection]]'' became the first fighting games to offer [[Multiplayer video game#Online multiplayer|online multiplayer]] and have received positive reception from critics. While the genre became generally far less popular than it once was,<ref name="MK3" /> arcades and their attendant fighting games remained reasonably popular in Japan during this time period, and remain so even today. ''[[Virtua Fighter 5]]'' lacked an online mode, but still achieved success both on home consoles and in arcades; players practiced at home and went to arcades to compete face-to-face with opponents.<ref>''Arcade Mania!'', pp. 108–109.</ref>  In addition to ''Virtua Fighter'', the ''Tekken'', ''Soul'' and ''Dead or Alive'' franchises continued to release installments.<ref name="DOA4" /><ref name="soul4" /> Classic ''Street Fighter'' and ''Mortal Kombat'' games were re-released on [[PlayStation Network]] and [[Xbox Live Arcade]], allowing internet play, and in some cases, [[High-definition video|HD]] graphics.<ref name="MK3" /><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/s/streetfighter2livearcadexbox360/default.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090430183304/http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/s/streetfighter2livearcadexbox360/default.htm | archive-date = April 30, 2009 | title = Xbox Live: Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting | publisher = Xbox.com | access-date = February 6, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/ps3/action/superstreetfighteriiturbohdremix/index.html |title=Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix PS3 - GameSpot.com |publisher=Uk.gamespot.com |access-date=June 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209210333/http://uk.gamespot.com/ps3/action/superstreetfighteriiturbohdremix/index.html |archive-date=February 9, 2009 }}</ref>

The early part of the decade had seen the rise of competitive video gaming, referred to by the term [[Esports]]. The rise in esports saw the rise of major international fighting game tournaments such as [[Tougeki – Super Battle Opera]] and [[Evolution Championship Series]], and famous players such as [[Daigo Umehara]].<ref name="1UPscoop20100623">{{cite web|title=Being The Very Best at Fighting Games|url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3180053|author=Kevin Gifford|date=June 23, 2010|publisher=1UP|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629070056/http://www.1up.com/news/fighting-games|archive-date=June 29, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2010}}</ref><ref name=greatest_eurogamer>{{cite web|title=Daigo Umehara: The King of Fighters|website=Eurogamer|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/daigo-umehara-the-king-of-fighters-interview|access-date=May 18, 2010|date=November 27, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516232037/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/daigo-umehara-the-king-of-fighters-interview|archive-date=May 16, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> An important fighting game at the time was ''[[Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike]]'', originally released in 1999. The game gained significant attention with "[[Evo Moment 37]]", also known as the "Daigo Parry", which refers to a portion of a ''3rd Strike'' semi-final match held at [[Evolution Championship Series 2004]] (Evo 2004) between Daigo Umehara and [[Justin Wong]]. During this match, Umehara made an unexpected [[Comeback (sports)|comeback]] by parrying 15 consecutive hits of Wong's "Super Art" move using [[Chun-Li]] while Umehara had only one pixel on his health bar. Umehara subsequently won the match. "Evo Moment #37" is frequently described as the most iconic and memorable moment in the history of competitive video gaming, compared to sports moments such as [[Babe Ruth's called shot]] and the [[Ice Hockey]] [[Miracle on Ice]].<ref name=KotakuBook>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/someone-wrote-a-book-about-street-fighters-greatest-mat-1563009143|work=[[Kotaku]]|title=Someone Wrote A Book About Street Fighter's Greatest Match|last=Narcisse|first=Evan|date=April 14, 2014|access-date=September 18, 2021|archive-date=October 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022093742/https://kotaku.com/someone-wrote-a-book-about-street-fighters-greatest-mat-1563009143|url-status=live}}</ref> It inspired many to start playing ''3rd Strike,'' which brought new life into the [[fighting game community]] (FGC) during a time when the community was in a state of stagnation.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.eventhubs.com/news/2014/nov/22/justin-wong-evo-moment-37-may-have-helped-save-fgc-many-games-were-dying-time-and-it-brought-some-new-life-scene/|title = Justin Wong: EVO moment #37 may have helped save the FGC as many games were dying at the time, it brought some new life to the scene|date = November 22, 2014|access-date = September 18, 2021|archive-date = April 29, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210429063956/https://www.eventhubs.com/news/2014/nov/22/justin-wong-evo-moment-37-may-have-helped-save-fgc-many-games-were-dying-time-and-it-brought-some-new-life-scene/|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="Learned">{{cite news |last1=Learned |first1=John |title=How a Parry Saved Street Fighter: 20 Years of 3rd Strike |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/how-a-parry-saved-street-fighter-20-years-of-street-fighter-3-3rd-strike |access-date=September 18, 2021 |work=[[USgamer]] |date=May 13, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=July 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715215250/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/how-a-parry-saved-street-fighter-20-years-of-street-fighter-3-3rd-strike |url-status=live }}</ref> Fighting games have also been featured in esports scenes with variety of gaming genres, with ''[[Dead or Alive 3]]'' becoming the fighting game to be included in the Xbox Championship in 2004,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20040307/ms.htm|title="Xbox Championship Vol.4 ~DEAD OR ALIVE 3" Kansai teams win both team and individual competitions|website=Game Watch|date=7 March 2004|language=ja|access-date= }}</ref> and ''[[Dead or Alive Ultimate]]'' becoming the first fighting game to be included in the [[World Cyber Games]] (WCG) in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcg.com//6th//history//wcg2005//wcg2005_overview.asp|title=WCG Official Website - WCG History - WCG 2005|publisher=World Cyber Games|access-date=13 April 2023|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808133059/http://www.wcg.com//6th//history//wcg2005//wcg2005_overview.asp|archive-date=8 August 2010}}</ref> ''[[Dead or Alive 4]]'''s competitive scene became the first competitive esport fighting game scene to be televised as it was the only fighting game included in the esport league, the [[Championship Gaming Series]] (CGS), in 2007 and 2008. The league was operated and fully broadcast by [[DirecTV]] in association with [[British Sky Broadcasting]] (BSkyB) and [[Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific|STAR TV]].<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19663003/ CNBC] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711191339/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19663003/ |date=July 11, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Champion Gaming Series Games |work=Championship Gaming Series |url=http://www.thecgs.com/index.php?s=games |access-date=October 7, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007011852/http://www.thecgs.com/index.php?s=games |archive-date=October 7, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hotspawn.com/other/guides/championship-gaming-series-ahead-of-its-time| title=CHAMPIONSHIP GAMING SERIES: A CONCEPT "AHEAD OF ITS TIME"| website=Hotspawn | date=January 8, 2023| publisher=Lawrence "Malystryx" Phillips | access-date=April 13, 2023}}</ref> ''Dead or Alive'' has been credited for launching the careers of [[pro-gamer]] turned [[Koei Tecmo]] employee, Emmanuel Rodriguez,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2021/06/11/esports-master-landed-dream-job-at-team-ninja/|title=How an Esports "Master" Landed His Dream Job at Team Ninja to Help Players Be Great|publisher=[[Xbox|Xbox.com]]|first=Jon|last=Robinson|date=June 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611222410/https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2021/06/11/esports-master-landed-dream-job-at-team-ninja/|archive-date=June 11, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> and the highest-paid women pro-gamers, [[Kat Gunn]] and [[Vanessa Arteaga]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Myers |first1=Maddy |title=Ten Years Ago, Dead Or Alive Launched The Careers Of The Highest-Paid Women Pro Gamers |url=https://compete.kotaku.com/ten-years-ago-dead-or-alive-launched-the-careers-of-th-1795048304 |access-date=May 2, 2021 |work=Kotaku |date=May 9, 2017}}</ref>