I like that the games are different, and I actually like that the Smash scene is capable of supporting two different games at once. (I also get the impression that the Melee crowd could never be "pleased" in this regard anyway.)
But on that note: if some of the equipment
effects could be moved to a universal options menu in Special Smash or something instead of being tied to equipment, it could be kind of interesting. I know that there are fans for what Smooth Lander brings to the table.
That is what I was thinking as well (re: equipment).
The thing is, I feel like Melee and Smash 4 both could use some tweaking, and that the best Smash game is a happy median.
Oh, and I got rid of the SD clause for S3 Ranbats, FYI.
I'm sure Capcom is planning a VS style game, even if it won't feature a crossover.
And there's a chance Lab 0 is working on a new IP. Their poll seems to indicate that.
Yeah, they're working on a new IP, but is it a new fighting game IP? That is what has me skeptical.
All signs point to Capcom having a VS-style Capcom game in the works, but then they canned it after SFxT sold poorly. SFxT has basically ruined everything good Capcom had in fighting games. ;-P
The top players, maybe. I don't see sf4 struggling to make numbers comparable to every fighter not Capcom right now, even after sf5.
Top players move on to get $$$$, new players move on because that's what they do. A few middling players will stick around because they'll be too scared of leaving their SFIV glory days behind.
MvC2 got dropped crazy hard after MvC3 released. I remember it was so bad that JWong abandoned his MvC2 grand finals at Winter Brawl (IIRC) just to watch Marvel 3 play. And that was MvC2's last major.