It’s not clear whether this is a case of underwhelming supply or overwhelming public demand. Either way Street Fighter IV has all but completely sold out in Japan.

According to the official blog “sales couldn’t have been any higher” and, furthermore, “there are no more copies to sell on the store shelves”. In short Japanese gamers appear to have gone crazy-batspit for Capcom’s glorious 2D-cum-3D brawler, with 86,000 copies of the game apparently shifted on day one alone, and the lion’s share (58,000) going to the PS3. Er, wow…

Capcom is quick to reassure its Japanese fanbase that it has “a few boxes left in the basement” which it intends to distribute ASA-flipping-P and there’s no indication that the European launch will be compromised. At least that’s the theory. Even so we’ll be getting down the high street good and early this Friday morning, y’know, just to be sure.

Against that background it’s interesting/worrying to see peripheral manufacturer Madcatz announcing a $26.9 million loss. By all accounts it’s all down to increased product development, royalty and shipping costs. All of which reinforces the need for us all to invest in those awesome SFIV Arcade Fightsticks and pronto. You do have £150 going spare, don’t you?