Thirty years ago this week, Capcom’s first Street Fighter game hit the arcade scene. Little did they know that it would become a worldwide phenomenon. Now, Capcom and iam8bit are teaming up to mark the 30th anniversary of the franchise with a special Street Fighter II limited edition cartridge for the Super Nintendo!
The cartridges cost $100 and are limited to a run of 5,500; 1,000 of those are “Glow-in-the-dark Blanka green” and the rest are “Opaque Ryu Headband Red,” though which color you receive is ultimately random.
PHOTO SOURCE: Street Fighter 2, Capcom, iam8bit
The re-release will come in a new box with a tri-fold design with “glistening foil sheen, delicately embossed texture, chic spot varnish,” according to Iam8bit, which is currently taking pre-orders for the cartridge. The package will also include a restored version of Street Fighter 2’s original instruction booklet and secret “retro pack-in surprises.”
PHOTO SOURCE: Street Fighter 2, Capcom, iam8bit
Although the cartridges are playable they are more like collectors’ items than practical products. Nothing underlines that more than the rather alarming caveat included on iam8bit’s product page:
WARNING: Use of this reproduction game cartridge (the “Product”) on the SNES gaming hardware may cause the SNES console to overheat or catch fire. The SNES hardware is deemed a vintage collectible, so please exercise extreme caution when using the Product and make sure there is fire extinguishment equipment nearby. Use of the Product is at the sole risk of the user.
Despite this, the franchise is so popular that I doubt people or collectors will mind the hazard.
Pre orders are being taken now from the iam8bit website and are expected to ship in November.
