SF4 Game Mechanics: Frame Traps 1

This is a companion video to the article linked below:
http://forums.shoryuken.com/discussio...

A frame trap is Almost the opposite of a blockstring. A frame trap introduces a punishable gap in a string of attacks that can beat mashing and O/S crouch-teching. From a mind game perspective, frame traps can entice the opponent to attempt to press button and can produce a counterhit (for big damage). Frame traps can come in the form of strings of normals, special cancels, invincible frame traps, and tick throws.

In general, frame traps seem pretty innocuous, meaning that you just see a player pressing buttons and the other blocking and/or being counter-hit. At first glance, you'll probably think to yourself, he should just block and stop pressing buttons and he wouldn't have to worry about it (Cammy for example). And the truth is that Street Fighter is, at its base, an RPS (Rock Paper Scissors) game; very defensive behavior such as continuous blocking opens up an opportunity for your opponent to take advantage and attempt, say, a throw. So people press buttons because they're afraid of being thrown, or they figure that their opponent's possible damage output from a throw is much greater than being counter hit while trying to press buttons.

Music: Hackman - Pistol in your Pocket