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EA Sports MMA gameplay footage revealed during Strikeforce match
Man, we have got to get into watching Mixed Martial Arts. Not only do the sport's leagues have like, the coolest names ever, but the televised bouts also occasionally contain sneak peeks into upcoming video games. For instance, on last night's Strikeforce (so, so cool) match, the first-ever gameplay footage from EA Sports MMA was revealed. You can find it posted just after the jump. How does it look? We have no idea. There's plenty of punching and kicking, sure, and one might say these two techniques are used intermittently -- or rather, that they are mixed. Therefore, our initial, amateur analysis of the video concludes that it reeks of authenticity. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
EA Sports MMA signs Strikeforce league, additional fighters
Strikeforce.com EA has announced a deal to feature the Strikeforce MMA league in its upcoming EA Sports MMA. The publisher also finalized contracts with two pro mixed martial artists currently fighting in Strikeforce, Jake shields (pictured, left) and Brett Rogers, to appear on the game's roster. Don't expect the signings to throw any fuel on the UFC vs. EA fire, however, as neither fighter has ever been on the payroll of UFC prez Dana White.Frank Shamrock and Mauro Ranallo, Strikeforce's commentary team, will also be recording voiceover for the game. It has yet to be revealed which, if any other leagues will be featured in the game, and if their own commentary teams will be included. Currently, we know that MMA referee "Big John" McCarthy and Strikeforce ring announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr. will also lend their voices and likenesses to the title.While locking up more pro talent and the Strikeforce license lends credibility to EA Sports MMA, we've still yet to see any hint of an actual video game apart from a lone screenshot released late last month. Hey, EA: You do know that, at this pace and given the nature of MMA, these guys could be retired by the time the game actually ships ... right?
Lock your eyes on first EA Sports MMA screenshot
Remember when we used to dream -- oh, so innocently -- of the days when video games would look real? Well, those days have come and gone. Games have now officially entered the realm of too real. See: the first screenshot of EA Sports' MMA (above).Look, we're cool with realistic violence in games -- from a distance. Exploding heads, severed limbs, gratuitous gore -- it's all got to be separated by at least a sword's length; or better: the distance traveled by a bullet.This bare, get-on-the-floor and grapple-it-out violence is just, well, confusing. Look at that balding guy's expression*. Look closer. What is that all about? It's, like, the antisocial rage it takes to snap a man's arm (against one's groin, no less) coupled with the extreme constipation indicative of training the body to destroy people (go on, squeeze it out) and the extraordinary pain brought on by a set of incisors biting into the tender flesh behind the knee -- and then it's all locked together in what appears to be pure ... ecstasy? We know the sport's all about mixing it up, but these are mixed messages. C'mon, folks, we don't need this stuff in the way of kicking ass. Games must not imitate real life.*Ed.'s Note: Sorry dude! We don't follow the sport, and so we don't know your name. Please don't break us![Via Shacknews]
Fox 'Fight Game' interviews Peter Moore on MMA, war with UFC
Aside from stressing the amount of effort that EA Sports is currently putting into the development of upcoming grappler MMA, Peter Moore had nothing but kind words for the sport while talking to Fight Game host Mike Straka (full interview after the break). The real elephant in the room, though, is clearly the less than wonderful relationship between UFC prez Dana White and Moore's development studio -- but when he was asked about the subject, Moore shrugged it off. "Not really my issue ... Dana [White] had come to EA well before I was there." In addition to doing his best to dodge any flame stoking on Straka's part, Moore pointed out the recent announcement of a newly signed Randy Couture to the game's roster, as well as Jay "The Thoroughbred" Hieron, bringing the MMA player count up to five if our math is right. Applying that same math to the amount of UFC fighters with jobs, the league seems to have just lost two more candidates. Can't we all just get along, fellas?[Thanks, xFenixKnightx!]
EA confirms first three fighters on EA Sports MMA roster
UFC president Dana White may be concerned about EA trying to poach his talent for EA Sports MMA, but the first three mixed martial artists announced for the game aren't on his payroll -- although one of them was, before being unceremoniously ejected from the promotion. The just-announced lineup is led by World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA) heavyweight champion, Fedor Emelianenko. The Russian-born fighter has fought around the world for promotions including Pride and, most recently, Affliction. EA hasn't said if Emelianenko will be on the game's cover, but it could do far worse than the man universally recognized as the world's top MMA athlete.Former K-1 fighter Gegard Mousasi joins Emelianenko, as does the man he's scheduled to fight August 15 for the Strikeforce light heavyweight title, Renato Sobral. Sobral, a former UFC fighter, was let go by Dana White after he ignored the referee's orders and choked his opponent out during UFC 74. The unsporting conduct drew boos from the crowd, cost him half of his $50,000 fight purse and lead to White calling his actions "completely unacceptable" -- just as they're likely to be in EA's MMA title.
E3 2009 highlights: The Xbox roundup
E3 was brütal! If you blinked, for a split/second, you missed something. Even if you were trine to keep up, it was a blur -- staying a.wake like that, you only pushed yourself to the brink of your own dark void. That's where Joystiq comes in; to crackdown on the madness; to reach out ... with conviction -- phew! Crysis averted. We've scoured the dark corners and survived the inferno to piece together this roundup of all things Xbox at E3. Why? Just 'cause we love you. So, draw nier and shift your eyes past the break.
EA Sports MMA: If it's in any martial art, it's in the game [update]
EA just announced a new EA Sports game (most likely a new EA Sports series, because, you know, EA Sports): EA Sports MMA. The company didn't announce any platforms, but we assume that not only will the game feature multiple fighting techniques, but will also release on multiple consoles. Did you see what we did there? Related the content of the game to the platforms? No?[Update: the press release confirms this as coming out in 2010 on PS3 and Xbox 360!]
