fighting
Latest
Mewtwo may become premium DLC for Super Smash Bros.
Nearly one month ago, Nintendo revealed legendary Pokemon Mewtwo as a playable fighter for Super Smash Bros, available only to those that own both the Wii U and 3DS versions of the game. Expected to arrive in spring 2015, the downloadable character will be free to the dual-Smash players, but new information on Club Nintendo notes that all players may have access to Mewtwo down the road. While it's no guarantee, the promotion page includes a footnote that the "Mewtwo DLC may be available for purchase in the future," as corroborated by the game's Japanese site. To make the prospect of purchasing the Pokemon character in Super Smash Bros. cloudier, Game Director Masahiro Sakurai told Video Gamer this week in regards to paid DLC for the games that the development team isn't "working on anything at the moment." Those looking to guarantee that they'll get a download code for Mewtwo will need to register their copies of both Smash Bros. games on Club Nintendo by March 31, 2015. Super Smash Bros. will launch on Wii U tomorrow in North America and November 28 in Europe. For more information on the game, be sure to check out our review. [Image: Nintendo]
Lab Zero reveals driver to make PS3 fight sticks work with PS4
Shelling out for a comfortable fight stick makes sense if you're going to pour months or years into a fighting game, but updating with each console generation can get pricey. Thankfully, Skullgirls Encore developer Lab Zero Games is collaborating with Naughty Dog's John "Cowboy" Bellomy on an upcoming driver that will make some PS3 fight sticks compatible with PS4 titles, as reported by Polygon. Lab Zero CEO Peter Bartholow told Polygon that "any stick that reads as a generic USB gamepad or joystick will work," explaining that this covers MadCatz TEs and "other smaller brands and custom options such as the GodLike Controls' Cthulhu boards." The driver is not officially supported by Sony, but Lab Zero will allow other developers to use and adapt it for their own titles, so long as they share their work with Lab Zero. Bartholow explained that the team "thinks it's better for the consumer and the industry" for money to go toward new games instead of replacing fight sticks every console generation. Lab Zero intends to have PS3 fight stick compatibility present when it launches Skullgirls Encore on PS4 and Vita in 2015, but in the mean time, you can see it in development-kit action in a demonstration video after the break. [Image: Lab Zero Games]
Developers wanted for Capcom's new mystery fighter
Street Fighter 4 producer Yoshinori Ono has issued a call seeking developers to assist in the creation of a new, unnamed fighting game. "We are recruiting colleagues to work together with us at Dimps studio for new FG," Ono recently tweeted alongside a link to Imagica Digitalscape, a Japanese website that lists job openings in the games industry. Unfortunately, the Imagica Digitalscape page linked by Ono offers only a vague job description. The position is seeking fighting game fans who are also competent developers to work on a "next generation fighting game," but no solid details on the game itself are revealed by the listing. It wouldn't come as a shock if this were another Street Fighter entry - Dimps and Capcom co-developed Street Fighter 4 - but the two developers both have an extensive history in the fighting game genre. Even if we assume this isn't an original property, it could be anything from a new Darkstalkers game to that third Rumble Fish entry that six people in Japan have been anxiously anticipating since 2005. [Image: Capcom]
EA Sports UFC taunts three new fighters
EA Sports UFC received a new content update today that expands the game's roster and offers a few tweaks to its gameplay formula. The mixed martial arts game now includes heavyweight fighter Stipe Miocic as well as welterweight fighters Matt Brown and Mike Pyle. The game's first content update arrived just over a month ago, and also added three fighters to the mix: TJ Dillashaw, Takeya Mizugaki and Tyron Woodley. As for gameplay changes in today's update, players will now be able to manually taunt their opponents mid-fight by pressing left or right on the d-pad. They will have the ability to counter their opponents' kicks during parries by catching their legs, which can lead into a single leg to half guard takedown. Also, the referee will put an end to the match if a submissive fighter "blocks too many strikes without trying to improve their position during ground and pound," which will keep fights from stalling. EA also adjusted the stamina lost from successful strikes. Head past the break for a trailer that shows EA Sports UFC's three new combatants. [Image: EA Sports]
Rise of Incarnates beta causes carnage next week
Bandai Namco will begin a closed beta period next Friday for Rise of Incarnates, the two-on-two fighting game from the Tekken and Soul Calibur creators. Those in Europe and Australasia can get in the testing phase by signing up on the game's official website. The doors to the beta program open at 9:00 a.m. CET (8:00 a.m. UTC) on Friday, August 8. It will last ten full days, ending at the same time on Monday, August 18. Announced in April alongside its initial alpha program, Rise of Incarnates is a free-to-play PC fighting game that features humans with god-like powers battling in mostly-destroyed, yet real-life locales. The beta will include New York City and Paris-based levels that allow players to use the environment to their competitive advantage. The program's limited character roster starts with four fighters: Mephistopheles, Lilith, Grim Reaper and Ares. The fifth playable character, Brynhildr, is expected to join the roster on August 13, along with the Paris level.
EA Sports UFC adds three fighters, finishes the fight
EA Sports UFC received a free update this week that adds three fighters to the next-gen mixed martial arts game. Of the three new fighters, two are in the bantamweight division, as bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw joins the roster along with Takeya Mizugaki. The third addition is in the welterweight division, Tyron Woodley. Additionally, the free update includes a number of bug fixes as well as some gameplay improvements. The developer added sprawl animations after defending power takedowns and the ability to throw extra shots at opponents that get knocked out in order to finish the fight. Plus, both power takedowns and side control sweeps have been removed from fighters that wouldn't normally be able to pull them off. For those that prefer being more cordial in their bouts, EA also added new glove-touching animations at the start of each round, which fighters can do by pressing L2 on PS4 or LT on Xbox One. To keep fights moving in EA Sports UFC, stamina will no longer regenerate for players that stand around and hold the block button, and they can break clinches when pressed against the cage by pressing L3. [Image: EA Sports]
EA Sports UFC clinches June 3 demo, submits new gameplay video
EA Sports UFC is just a few weeks from entering the digital octagon on June 17 for PS4 and Xbox One, but those looking to get a few practice rounds in can download its demo next week. The demo, which features co-cover athletes Alexander Gustafsson and reigning light heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones, will be available June 3 for Xbox One and PlayStation 4. EA also offered a new entry in its gameplay video series this week, detailing the game's strategic submission system. The trailer shows Ronda Rousey getting the upper hand on Miesha Tate and ultimately submitting her via her popular armbar move. As detailed in a developer blog, the submission mechanic in the game features a HUD similar to that of THQ's final MMA game, UFC Undisputed 3, in which players must flick the right stick in one of four directions to either advance their submission attempt or defend against the attacker. Past videos showed off EA Sports UFC's career mode, which starts players out in its owner version of The Ultimate Fighter reality show, gave players a glimpse at the playable legend Bruce Lee in action and also showed a full round of fighting between Jose Aldo and Anthony Pettis. [Image: EA Sports]
One round in the cage with EA Sports UFC's gameplay trailer
This trailer for EA Sports UFC shows a punchy five-minute round between Jose Aldo and Anthony Pettis in the game. EA's mixed martial arts game will launch June 17 for Xbox One and PS4, and includes a career mode that kicks off with The Ultimate Fighter and Bruce Lee as an unlockable fighter.
EA Sports UFC trailer empties its mind with Bruce Lee
This trailer for EA Sports UFC discusses Bruce Lee's impact on the sport of mixed martial arts and shows snippets of Lee in action within the digital octagon. Lee was revealed as an unlockable character for the game in April, available to those that beat the game's career mode on pro difficulty or higher. EA Sports UFC's career mode was detailed at the end of April, and offers players the chance to fight their way out of the reality show competition The Ultimate Fighter while improving their fighter's skills and attracting money-making sponsors. Career mode players will need to balance "longevity" and "popularity" gauges by finishing their battles in spectacular fashion while also staying healthy to prolong their time in the UFC. Players will want to extend the amount of time they spend with the game, as EA CEO Andrew Wilson contemplated a bi-annual release schedule for games in the series in late March. That may free up the publisher's Fight Night team to develop a new boxing game, as the series is currently on hold while the team works on EA Sports UFC. The MMA game is due out June 17 for Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and a demo for the game is expected either before or shortly after it launches. [Image: EA Sports]
Lethal League is part fighting game, part ball game
This isn't your middle school gym coach's dodgeball game, and it isn't your favorite arcade's fighting game. This is Lethal League, a fighting game where the goal is to smash a fast-flying ball into your opponent's face. Lethal League supports one to four players and online multiplayer, and it comes from Megabyte Punch studio Reptile. It was the Grand Finals Mystery Game at Ultimate Fighting Game Tournament 9 last year – watch the pros try to figure out its wacky mechanics here. According to Reptile, Lethal League includes "highly competitive gameplay," "mad art," "banging beats by various artists" and "no weak shit." Lethal League is due out on Steam for PC in Q3 2014. [Image: Reptile]
EA Sports' UFC game bends reality by letting you fight as Bruce Lee
If you're EA, how do you build up hype for EA Sports UFC -- a license-based fighting game where players will largely know what to expect? You promise them Bruce Lee, that's what. Yes, PS4 and Xbox One gamers will get to pit the Game of Death star against the UFC roster despite a 41-year gap separating the two. You'll have instant access to Lee if you pre-order, and he's otherwise unlockable. EA justifies this by contending that Lee is the "father of mixed martial arts;" that sort of makes sense given Lee's style and Judo knowledge, but the inclusion stretches the definition of MMA (and, arguably, taste) to the limit. If you've ever wanted to know how Jeet Kune Do fares against Brazilian Jiujitsu, though, you now have a good reason to look forward to EA Sports UFC's release on June 17th.
EA CEO: Publisher may skip a year between future UFC games
Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson recently contemplated a bi-annual release schedule for future MMA games that follow EA Sports UFC, which is slated to launch on Xbox One and PS4 this year. In an interview with CNN's Fortune Tech, Wilson described the frequency of some games and the "appetite" players have for them, noting that the UFC brand "feels like it's in that every-other-year mix" without committing to that release schedule as a guaranteed development plan. "We get a new GTA game every four or five years, but there is an immense appetite. What we're looking at right now is how long is it going to take us to build a truly innovative game in that genre, and when do we think gamers are going to be ready for that next one," Wilson said. EA announced the acquisition of the UFC license at E3 2012 following the demise of THQ, which published three UFC games. THQ's crack at the series began with annual releases in UFC 2009: Undisputed and UFC Undisputed 2010 prior to a two-year absence in the series. THQ's final game, UFC Undisputed 3, reportedly failed to "break even" at two million units sold as of June 2012. "Do I think that UFC would be an every year game? I don't know," Wilson said. "It feels like it's in that every-other-year mix, but in all honesty we haven't made that decision yet. That really comes down to how long it's going to take to make a great game and when do we think the audience is ready." EA Canada's Fight Night team is behind EA Sports UFC's development, led by creative director and Fight Night Round 4 and Fight Night Champion gameplay designer Brian Hayes. Wilson previously noted that the Fight Night series is "on hold" while the developer works on EA Sports UFC. [Image: EA Sports]
EA Sports UFC trailer gets knocked down, but it gets up again
One of the lacking aspects of previous mixed martial arts games like THQ's UFC 3 is the true sense of physical contact between the fighters on screen. EA Sports UFC will attempt to close that gap on next-gen consoles, if the game's latest trailer is any indicator. Creative Director Brian Hayes discusses the interaction between fighters and their surroundings in the gameplay trailer, putting skin-rippling kicks and arm-wrenching submissions on display. It also shows the effects of a "full-body deformation system" in which "flesh displaces flesh," which sounds pretty gross the more we think about it. EA Sports UFC will launch sometime this year for Xbox One and PS4. [Image: EA Sports]
Super Smash Bros. Melee returns to EVO 2014
Super Smash Bros. Melee has been added to the fighting roster for 2014's Evolution World Finals, to be held on July 11-13 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The GameCube incarnation of Smash Bros. will anchor competitive matches for a second year in a row, following its nearly controversial appearance last year. Nearly – as in Nintendo made and then quickly belayed a decree preventing tournament organizers from streaming Melee matches online. If you're wondering why EVO's game of choice is Super Smash Bros. Melee, which is older than Brawl and more ... released than 2014's game for Wii U and 3DS, it's time to read up on tripping mechanics. Plus, "melee" just sounds like the most erudite way to describe a violent clash of plumbers, gorillas, princesses, plumbers pretending to be doctors, interstellar bounty hunters - oh, and two cute kids wielding massive mallets. [Image: Nintendo]
Shazam: Shaq returns in Shaq Fu A Legend Reborn
As was foretold, Shaq is returning to the gaming world with a rebirth of one of the more infamous games in history, Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn. The flexible funding project is now live on Indiegogo, and is seeking $450,000 to make the beat-em-up game a reality. The funding page acknowledges the original game's less than stellar history and notes that Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn will be "what the original game should have been." A Legend Reborn still stars the former basketball player, but instead opts for a beat-em-up style game that features "hundreds of moves and battle techniques" with "dozens of cool melee weapons." The game will include a cooperative multiplayer mode in addition to player-versus-player options. The developers behind the PC game at Big Deez Productions are former triple-A developers that worked on series like Halo, Street Fighter, Final Fantasy, Alan Wake, Battlefield, Killzone and more. The Indiegogo campaign is set to end on April 20. The game will come to additional platforms if it reaches varying stretch goal levels: $650,000 for iOS and Android, $775,000 for Xbox 360 and PS3, $960,000 for Vita and 3DS, $1.08 million for Wii U and $1.62 million for Xbox One and PS4. [Image: Big Deez Productions]
Registration for Sega Cup Virtua Fighter Tournament 2014 now open
Come Saturday, April 26, Walnut, California will play host to the 2014 incarnation of the Sega Cup Virtua Fighter Tournament, and now you, too, can throw your hat into the polygonal ring. As with last year's tournament, Sega Cup Virtua Fighter Tournament 2014 will focus on the latest version of the fighter, Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown. Games will take place on the PlayStation 3 and each round will be decided by best of three matches. The top 16 players in the tournament will take home a portion of the "over $15,000" in prize money at stake at the event. Full details on how to register for the tournament can be found at Eventbrite, though keep in mind that there is an entry fee of $10, and currently there are only 111 spots remaining. Additional details on the event can be found at the tournament's official website. [Image: Sega]
Virgin Gaming adds Super Street Fighter 4 to real cash competition slate
Virgin Gaming members can now earn actual money in Super Street Fighter 4 matches, thanks to a new agreement between Virgin and Street Fighter developer Capcom. "Unlike before, when money would go straight into the arcade machine, Virgin's platform puts the money in the winning player's hands! Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 players can participate in one-on-one matches with another player, or join a league of up to 32 other SSFIV players and compete for cash," stated Virgin's announcement. Currently, those cash competitions are restricted to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 incarnations of Super Street Fighter 4, and there is no word on when or if the PC version of the game will be added to the Virgin Gaming roster. Full details on how to join Virgin Gaming and take part in the service's pay-to-play tournaments and one-off matches can be found on the Virgin Gaming website. [Image: Capcom]
EA Sports UFC footage details fighter likeness
If there's one major selling point for EA Sports UFC, it's the detailed likeness of its fighters. The publisher touted as much in its latest trailer for the PS4 and Xbox One MMA game, which is due out this spring.
SoulCalibur: Lost Swords heading to Europe, Australasia this spring
SoulCalibur: Lost Swords will launch this spring on PSN, Namco Bandai (soon to be Bandai Namco) announced today. The launch window for the free-to-play fighting game is for Europe and Australasian regions; no word on a North American release date as of yet. It was originally expected in winter 2013. Meanwhile, Japanese players should be able to check out the game today. SoulCalibur: Lost Swords is exclusive to PS3, and features weapon forging and discovery as well as elemental combat. According to the trailer that accompanied the announcement, players will "gather allies from around the world" by using friends' characters for support in their battles. Other than that, it is entirely a single-player experience.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle to see limited physical release in the West
We've known for a while that developer CyberConnect2 was planning to bring its manga-based 2D fighter JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle to Western territories, and now we have a few more details on how exactly that's going to happen. According to Crunchyroll, when JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle makes its English-language debut, the game will feature all of the updates released to date for its Japanese counterpart. Additionally, the Western iteration of the game will include an exclusive arcade mode that pits players against randomly-selected opponents. By defeating these foes your character can earn gold which is useful in purchasing upgrades and items for use in future battles. Despite the added content, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle will not see a wide-scale release outside of Japan. Instead, the PlayStation 3 game will appear as a download on the PlayStation Network, while limited quantities of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle will appear in physical, boxed form on Amazon and at publisher Bandai Namco's Club Namco online store. Both retailers have priced pre-orders of the physical game at $50. While it's still unclear when JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle will appear, Crunchyroll claims that the fighter will be released in March. When asked, Bandai Namco representatives refused to confirm or deny this timeframe. [Image: Bandai Namco]
