As someone who just plopped down $200 on the Dreamcast version a few months ago, this better not be the "last time" they come together.
Agreed. If this is the last time these titles hit the market, it is a damn shame. The issue with 1up having the mentality of locking down absolute exclusivity and ordaining themselves the sole keepers of these beloved titles is that it artificially and greatly limits the community and their overtly stated desire to play these games online.
They are limiting the game to only be sold in North America and forcing consumers who have been begging for access to MVC2 and it's predecessors for years to purchase tremendously expensive novelty furniture when they may not be able to reasonably give space to such items. It seems that it is completely out of touch with the fgc.
Do arcade 1up machines even feature good net code? If you were to spend a fortune importing these to the EU or Japan and supply the necessary power conversion, could you even get consistent access to online battles? What are the control options beyond Arcade1ups joystick panel and the immediate specialty aftermarket mods?
On one hand, it's amazing to have these titles back, but on the other hand to have this be the last and ultimate release of these titles in this form, limiting the competitive community and demanding massive concessions in price and space—seems like a slap to the face.