The London Metropolitan University student halls welcomed over 500 visitors over the weekend to get hands-on with Street Fighter IV and Super SFII Turbo HD.

On Saturday and Sunday an event dramatically dubbed ‘Battle of Destiny: Road to Evolution’ took place in North London at The Rocket Complex to find European fighting-game pros worthy of travelling to the world championships in Las Vegas.

Hundreds of (mostly male) youths equipped with personalised joysticks crowded into darkened rooms to take part. Yes, this was a casual gamer’s worst nightmare, but in fact very exciting to observe reigning champion Justin Wong (US) trounce the best in the UK in considerable style… before being taught a lesson by one of our own, Ryan Hart.

However the event, organised by London based Neo Empire, was also used by Capcom to premier Street Fighter IV and Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix. The queues to play these games, especially SFIV, were even longer than the names.

Despite the constant attention the games received it was very hard to gauge the level of enthusiasm behind the practiced stony stares of these young videogame warriors. However outside in the fresh air (albeit right on the Holloway Road) there was much excited chatter among the throng between rounds, so things are looking good for Capcom when the two games take the ring on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Street Fighter IV is planned for early 2009, but Super SFII Turbo HD Remix is planned for Xbox LIVE and PlayStation network this autumn.

Ubisoft also provided the Xbox 360 version of Soulcalibur IV for a special guest appearance, which hits retail from Friday. In the hands of the experienced players the series looks more dazzling than ever, and you can look forward to reading our impressions later this week.