To the neophyte (brand new) 3rd Strike player, one of the most difficult obstacles to getting better at the game is simply figuring out where the best resource for improving one's gameplay are. After all, the game is more than a decade old, and outside of Japan (where it still remains quite popular thanks to events like the Danisen league, East vs West Wars, etc.) the odds of finding an active local scene are virtually zero. As much as I wish I could simply say "this site" and be done with it, this is still a very small and slowly developing site, and thankfully there are some pretty good resources that are worth checking out periodically if you're serious about improving your game.
1. Street Fighter Anniversary Collection Official Fighter's Guide (Bradygames)
The "official" guide released by Capcom for this game, this guide is an excellent starting point for players with a solid grasp of the basics. It contains overviews of frame data, basic combos, basic and more advanced tactics, and generally a well-rounded guide with a wide breadth of topics. It is fairly old, so it won't containing bleeding edge tactics or mechanics, and high level theory on certain tactics and matchups may be a little bit different, but the general underlying fundamentals of the game haven't changed much since the release of this guide, which makes it well worth perusing at least once.
If you're a complete beginner, then most things like frame data and more advanced tactics won't be of much value, so I'd recommend a different starting point like a more basic guide, or just playing with a more experienced player who can show you the ropes.
2. Shoryuken Forums (http://shoryuken.com/forum/index.php?forums/street-fighter-iii-3rd-strike.193/)
A word of warning: unlike the guide, the forums are not limited to knowledgeable, expert level players, so the quality of the information on them tends to vary a lot more. There are a lot of inexperienced players who may not really know what they are talking about, as well as trolls, so don't expect everything you read to be worth absorbing.
The advantage is that it is populated by some very strong players who can answer your questions about the game as they come up, providing help with more specific topics like your personal weaknesses, more advanced tactical questions, etc. There are also some good existing threads that have been stickied at the top of the forums, which are probably worth checking out (match vids, system mechanics in particular).
3. http://ensabahnur.free.fr/Baston/index.php?page=gameChars&gameNum=20&gameName=Street%20Fighter%20III%20Third%20Strike
Although this site doesn't really have a name, it probably contains the most comprehensive frame data for 3rd strike available on the web, at least as far as I know. It goes far beyond the bradygames guide and provides more detailed information like active/hit frames, recovery frames, and so on, as well as frame data on throws, taunts, etc. The data is all accurate to the best of my knowledge, and this is really the only place I go whenever I have a frame data question.
4. TheShend's Youtube Channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/TheShend)
Contains a VAST library of 3rd strike footage, ranging from it's early days all the way up into the present. Updated very frequently with new footage from Japanese arcades - although the quality of play greatly varies at times, there are tons of videos containing play by 3rd strike legends. Covers regular events like the Danisen leagues, East vs. West Wars, Tougeki qualifiers, etc.
Although reading paper guides is great for developing a solid theoretical understanding of the game, ultimately the best ways to learn are to play, and watch other high level players in action. This channel is great for seeing what high level play looks like and trying to improve your game by analyzing the play of other top players.
Hopefully this list provides you with some good starting points for improving your play!
1. Street Fighter Anniversary Collection Official Fighter's Guide (Bradygames)
The "official" guide released by Capcom for this game, this guide is an excellent starting point for players with a solid grasp of the basics. It contains overviews of frame data, basic combos, basic and more advanced tactics, and generally a well-rounded guide with a wide breadth of topics. It is fairly old, so it won't containing bleeding edge tactics or mechanics, and high level theory on certain tactics and matchups may be a little bit different, but the general underlying fundamentals of the game haven't changed much since the release of this guide, which makes it well worth perusing at least once.
If you're a complete beginner, then most things like frame data and more advanced tactics won't be of much value, so I'd recommend a different starting point like a more basic guide, or just playing with a more experienced player who can show you the ropes.
2. Shoryuken Forums (http://shoryuken.com/forum/index.php?forums/street-fighter-iii-3rd-strike.193/)
A word of warning: unlike the guide, the forums are not limited to knowledgeable, expert level players, so the quality of the information on them tends to vary a lot more. There are a lot of inexperienced players who may not really know what they are talking about, as well as trolls, so don't expect everything you read to be worth absorbing.
The advantage is that it is populated by some very strong players who can answer your questions about the game as they come up, providing help with more specific topics like your personal weaknesses, more advanced tactical questions, etc. There are also some good existing threads that have been stickied at the top of the forums, which are probably worth checking out (match vids, system mechanics in particular).
3. http://ensabahnur.free.fr/Baston/index.php?page=gameChars&gameNum=20&gameName=Street%20Fighter%20III%20Third%20Strike
Although this site doesn't really have a name, it probably contains the most comprehensive frame data for 3rd strike available on the web, at least as far as I know. It goes far beyond the bradygames guide and provides more detailed information like active/hit frames, recovery frames, and so on, as well as frame data on throws, taunts, etc. The data is all accurate to the best of my knowledge, and this is really the only place I go whenever I have a frame data question.
4. TheShend's Youtube Channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/TheShend)
Contains a VAST library of 3rd strike footage, ranging from it's early days all the way up into the present. Updated very frequently with new footage from Japanese arcades - although the quality of play greatly varies at times, there are tons of videos containing play by 3rd strike legends. Covers regular events like the Danisen leagues, East vs. West Wars, Tougeki qualifiers, etc.
Although reading paper guides is great for developing a solid theoretical understanding of the game, ultimately the best ways to learn are to play, and watch other high level players in action. This channel is great for seeing what high level play looks like and trying to improve your game by analyzing the play of other top players.
Hopefully this list provides you with some good starting points for improving your play!