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EA Chicago exes take up with Activision, form Robomodo!
A handful of folks left jobless in the wake of EA Chicago's closure last November have banded together to form their own independent development studio, Robomodo. The company was actually -- and quiet stealthily we might add -- formed in January 2008 by a number of EA Chicago vets, including Robomodo president and director Josh Tsui, who revealed to GameDaily that the fledgling studio has already been tapped by Actiblizzard to create a new title based on one of the publisher's IP. As for what exactly Tsui and company are up to, the team isn't talking specifics, saying only that it is a "high-profile extreme sports title," familiar territory for developers who worked on such franchises as Fight Night, Mortal Kombat and Def Jam. Given the group's experience with these sorts of titles, coupled with Tsui's admission in a separate Gamasutra interview that a "good chunk" of those working on the project also helped create Fight Night Round 3 for EA, we wouldn't be at all surprised if Robomodo's plans include trying to go toe-to-toe with their former employers in the ring. Stay tuned tomorrow for an interview with Robomodo's Tsui and Michicich.
EA Marvel fighting game no longer in development, partnership dissolved
Bad news for true believers (or maybe good news): EA and Marvel have dissolved their game development partnership, discontinuing development on EA Chicago's Marvel fighting game, as well as confirming that no further Marvel titles will be developed under Electronic Arts.The partnership was first entered back in early 2004, and resulted in 2005's critically-derided Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects. The EA Chicago-developed fighter would have been only the second title developed in the Marvel/EA partnership. GameTap speculates that the deal may have fallen through after the recent resignation of EA Chicago studio head Kudo Tsunoda. Despite the setback, Marvel still plans on pursuing further video game projects in the future (good news for true believers? Or maybe bad news).
EA's next Marvel fighter abandons 'Imperfect-ions'
With the announcement that its Chicago studio is developing a Marvel-licensed fighting game for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 (sorry wagglers), EA has pledged to deliver what has "never truly been delivered" ... by EA (Capcom did it quite well a decade ago). Distancing itself from the Rise of the Imperfects debacle, corporate HQ has put the Marvel heroes and villains in the somewhat capable hands of EA Chicago, who had been riding high on the success of Fight Night Round 3, before sinking to mediocrity with Def Jam: ICON.According to studio GM Kudo Tsunoda the new fighter will feature "huge environments and a living world that keeps the gameplay fresh." He adds, "every battle will be unique ... every battle will be like a first edition." Yeah, but one in mint condition? Or wrinkled up with gum stuck between the pages?A behind-the-scenes preview of the game will air during Spike TV's Game Head on September 1st, at 1am (Friday night). The game is tentatively scheduled for release next year.[Via press release]
Def Jam: Icon to rap and brawl its way onto the PS3
Are you a fan of the rap/hip-hop movement? Do you like fighting? How about games about one, or both? ...Play the other iterations of Def Jam? How about another question? Anyway, seems the PS3 will be receiving the next Def Jam (not "deaf", because spelling things inkorrectlee is kewl) and it's promising to be awesome to your ears and your fingers. Needless to say, you can expect some of the big names of the field to pop in (Ludacris, Big Boi, T.I...) The game is slated for a March 2007 release (how convenient, just in time for Europe's launch...) for both the PS3 and XBox 360.The game is developed by EA Chicago (the brains behind Fight Night Round 3) and are intent on using the environments and music as vital points during matches. How this exactly works is still up in the air, but we've a quote from executive producer Kudo Tsunoda: "we are changing the way fighting games are played! We are completely innovating the role of the environments in the games, moving from the typical lifeless arenas the hip-hop celebrities are fighting in to environments that play an instrumental part in the fight where they will react to the music and interact with both characters like a third fighter." Like a third fighter? Maybe like the Songstress class in FFX-2? Mostly buff your fighter and hinder the opponent? Or, you know, it could be this. Keep your eyes and ears open for any new developments on this title!
