mortal kombat
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Anti-Aliased: How to pick the MMO for you
Let's be honest for a moment - there are a ton of MMOs out there. We have everything from fantasy, to dystopian future, to fantasy, to horror, to fantasy, to pirates, to fantasy, to sci-fi, and even all the way down to fantasy. While this is great for people who love choice, this is a complete nightmare (or should I say Bloodymare, ha ha, gaming puns) for anyone who's new to the genre or wants to start off with a fresh game that's different from what they're playing.How do you separate the good from the bad? How do you know if you'll stick to a game? You don't want to gamble with an expensive game only to find out that you totally hate it and wish it would burn in the deepest depths of hell. (I'm looking at you, Risk Your Life.) So, do you rely on what your friends tell you or what reviewers tell you?In my opinion, no one knows you except you. So when you sit down and want to pick the right game the first time, here's a few pointers and suggestions to get you started.
MK vs DC includes 'modified fatalities'
When Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe was announced we assumed that the game's violence level would be downgraded to accommodate the new partnership, apparently we were only slightly correct.In an interview with GameTap, Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon notes the team at Midway has never mentioned the loss of fatalities in the latest installment of the franchise. "We did acknowledge that we won't be able to do the same kinds of outrageous moves, like tearing someone's [sic] head off and the spine being attached to it," he says, adding, "My response is that, no, we're modifying fatalities. But I have every intention to keep finishers."With that said, we're forced to wait for new video and screens of the game to understand what Boon's definition of "finishers" really is. Is Mortal Kombat really only about violent end-match animations or is that statement akin to claiming Grand Theft Auto is only about killing people? We suspect we'll find out soon when more information on Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe becomes available.[via Joystiq]
Midway 'modifying fatalities' for MK vs. DC
When Midway announced that DC characters were splicing worlds with Mortal Kombat for a T-rated fighting game, we prepared our eulogy for the fatality, a staple of the MK universe that seemed to run against the DC philosophy. Not so fast, says MK series creator Ed Boon, who hints that the violent sendoffs will still be there, albeit in a tamer fashion.In an interview with GameTap, Boon notes that the developer never explicitly stated fatalities were going away. "We did acknowledge that we won't be able to do the same kinds of outrageous moves, like tearing someone's head off and the spine being attached to it," he says, adding, "My response is that, no, we're modifying fatalities. But I have every intention to keep finishers."What's left is to define, then, the nature of the fatality. Are they inherently ultra-violent? So far that answer's been yes, with the extreme alternatives being Friendships and Babalities. For now, we'll just have to wait for the screenshots to show us some kind of finisher that satiates our blood-thirsty desires. After the break, a collection of fatalities from the series.
No Wii Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe due to Unreal Engine
When we heard about Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, the first thing we asked ourselves was, "Why?" The second thing we asked ourselves was, "No really, why?" Then we started to wonder, though, why this game wasn't heading to the Wii. It's not that we're going to miss it (although we're sure some of you might, and that's completely fine). It's just that the decision to snub the Wii doesn't seem to make any business sense. The Wii does have a pretty large userbase, after all, and according to the Mortal Kombat series' co-creator and executive producer, Ed Boon, Armageddon did well on the Wii. In Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, were graphics really going to be that much of an issue?As it turns out, the issue is the Unreal Engine. Since the newest version of the engine doesn't officially exist for the Wii, the developers thought it would be too challenging to bring the game to Nintendo's console. Yet, according to Boone, they're not against the idea. If they're waiting for Epic to support the Unreal Engine on the Wii, though, they better not hold their breath. Whether or not Midway will one day use the unofficial engine and port the game to the Wii remains to be seen.[Via GoNintendo]
Midway reveals Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
Midway has announced the latest in the Mortal Kombat series. Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe sees your favourite MK characters fight against selected DC Comics mainstays such as Superman or Batman. With a storyline written by "the Mortal Kombat creative team and top comic scribes Jimmy Palmiotti (Painkiller Jane, Marvel Nights, Jonah Hex, 21 Down) and Justin Gray (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, JLA Classified, Punisher Red X-Mas, The Resistance)" we can expect to see the game hit shelves this Autumn.There's not much more information about the title, but there is a video, which we've placed after the break. It's worth a look, for sure. Even if MKvDCU isn't an M-rated game. Does that make the game a little less interesting? We expect for hardcore Mortal Kombat fans, that might be the case. [Via Press Release]
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe crossing over in Fall '08
Despite the trailer koming out earlier today, here's the "official" announcement of Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. The storyline for the game will be written by the "Mortal Kombat creative team," with comic writers Jimmy Palmiotti (Painkiller Jane, Marvel Nights, Jonah Hex, 21 Down) and Justin Gray (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, JLA Classified, Punisher Red X-Mas, The Resistance), and will weave the Mortal Kombat and DC Universe's together into a cohesive narrative -- at least, that's the plan.Ed Boon, executive producer for Mortal Kombat, says, "Players will now be able to answer the question: what would happen if Batman fought Sub Zero?" It's an interesting question to think about now, but we're pretty confident that up until 24 hours ago -- when news of this game first started leaking out -- that pairing never came up in a "Picard vs. Kirk" style geek-off. We're sure to learn a lot more about this non M-rated version of Mortal Kombat at E3. For now, philosophically speaking, if a Mortal Kombat game doesn't have fatalities, is it still Mortal Kombat?
Mortal Kombat VS DC Universe Videos [Update]
Well, the official reveal of Mortal Kombat VS DC Universe is out of the way, and with the reactions only just beginning, GamesRadar posted their promised exclusive video. The forty-seven second trailer shows more than expected, including a few gameplay snippets with Batman and Sub-Zero, as well as some of the possible environmental interactions (breaking through walls). From what is seen though, it looks very much like Deadly Alliance and Deception, only there isn't any of the trademark blood or gore that was rumored to be absent. While this whole thing may be a ridiculous idea, does it really matter if the gameplay can be pulled off in a fun way? Regardless, we'll likely learn more at the end of the day when the embargo finally ends.[Update: Added Gamespot's interview video after the break]
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe gets confirmation, trailer
We were a little skeptical when the first promotional poster for Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe leaked out this morning, but now that GamesRadar has posted up the first trailer for the game our reaction has gone from skepticism to amazement. As in, we're amazed that this thing actually exists.The high impact, mid-air fight between Sub-Zero and Batman (shown below the break) seems a little out of character for the Dark Knight, who's always been more about calculation and strategy than all out hand-to-hand Kombat. We're also a little worried about how the DC heroes' long-standing prohibition against killing is going to match up with the Mortal Kombat series' famously fatal, er, fatalities. But these kinds of academic nerd-concerns are hard to maintain when watching the concentrated 360- and PS3-fueled awesomeness on display in this video. [Update: Gamespot has an interview with Project Lead Ed Boon that discusses the game's story and the balancing between the variously super-powered characters. The interview also confirm Superman's and Scorpion's somewhat obvious inclusion in the game. Gamespot's preview has more details][Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
MKO: Next Mortal Kombat pits MK against DC
According to Mortal Kombat Online, we don't have to wait for the big Noob.com reveal as they say a Midway source has confirmed to them that the next game in the series would be Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, a game originally rumored back in September.Normally we'd be skeptical without a press release from Midway in our inbox, but MKO also nabbed the above image which we have to admit looks pretty darn authentic. Hopefully we'll get some more details later in the day about character rosters, but for now, you may be permitted to rabidly fantasize: What's your dream crossover battle? [Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]
Guess what? Mortal Kombat VS DC Universe!
Well we were right, the next Mortal Kombat title will indeed feature DC comics characters. Officially titled Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe the game was confirmed at Midway's Las Vegas event, and included a single piece of teaser art featuring a certain dark winter's knight and a more traditional MK frozen fighter. Not much is known at this time, but now that it's officially official, let the nerdy character speculation begin!
Noob.com's big reveal happens tomorrow
The big countdown on Mortal Kombat chief Ed Boon's personal site, Noob.com, revealed the above blurry picture and anagram. Cutting to the chase, it translates: Embargo lifts tomorrow. People are speculating the fuzzy image is MK's Scorpion, but it could be from the house party scene in Eyes Wide Shut for all we know.If we really wanted to pinpoint a time Boon is going to make his big reveal, we'd shoot for something like 4PM Pacific. Why that time? Well, Midway is holding its media event in Las Vegas right now and the embargo on all information lifts at 4PM PST tomorrow. Maybe Boon will rebel and release his info early.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Rumor: Mortal Kombat VS DC Comics?
With this being the year fighting games make their glorious return, it shouldn't be too surprising that Mortal Kombat is going to be getting a sequel (the eighth in the series, can you believe it?). While it is confirmed that there will be another game in the series, the specifics are tightly under wraps for the moment, and Midway plans to release them relatively soon. Some of the outlets that have gotten (or will get) access to the info already have teasers up for the thing, and those in and of themselves may have been more of a giveaway than intended. GamesRadar posted a teaser image with promise of an exclusive video tomorrow, but they should have looked much more closely at the filename. The image is named "MKDC blog--article_image" which basically gives away the big secret. Not to mention the blatantly obvious Superman silhouette in the picture itself. It looks as though Midway might have an answer of their own to Marvel VS Capcom and X-Men VS Street Fighter. Too bad they're about 10 years too late. [Note: Since this post's original writing, the picture has been removed from GamesRadar's post, so interpret what that means for yourself. We, however, think "confirmed"]
Noob.com has gotten even weirder
Right, so you may remember on April 1 when we stumbled upon Noob.com (Mortal Kombat chief Ed Boon's personal site) and tried to made some sense out of the coded images there. At the time, we thought (thanks to reader Batzarro) that the site was hinting at a new game in the series called "Ice Rage," as it steadily counted down to 3 p.m. on April 17.But things have gotten weirder now, with all those symbols replaced by a long series of numbers. We're hoping that they're a code of some sort and we're hoping that you smart, attractive readers can solve it. Feel free to use our comments section to work together and crack it Robert Langdon style.
Upcoming MMO movies (and why they'll suck)
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/Upcoming_MMO_movies_and_why_they_ll_suck'; Dorothy Parker once said "The only 'ism' Hollywood believes in is plagiarism." While not technically plagiarism, the practice of mining popular properties of other media is a time-honored mainstay of Hollywood's. Why invent a new franchise when you can adapt one that already exists? Well, if we're talking about translating videogames to cinema, there are at least 3 reasons against that we can think of right away: Street Fighter: The Movie, Double Dragon, and Doom. Oh, and the entire body of work of Uwe Boll.With such a history of failure, why does Hollywood keep banking on videogames as good sources of material? Because it's always desperate for the next big hit, and adaptation is seen as being easier than originality, even though by now it's apparent that it's not quite as simple as it seems. An even better question is: why exactly don't these translations work? What is it about games that makes for poor films? Let's see if we can answer this question and assess the potential success/failure of some upcoming MMO movies.
Mortal Kombat heading to iPhone/iPod Touch?
Update: yeah, it was a joke. Bummer!OK, confession time, without a shadow of a doubt, Mortal Kombat/Mortal Kombat II is one of my favorite video games of all time. I don't really want to admit how much of 6th grade was wasted playing the SNES version of MK II.TRMK.org is reporting that a port of Mortal Kombat is being developed by Midway for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Apparently Ed Boon (Mortal Kombat co-creator) posted coded message on his site, spelling out TOUCH. TRMK says that a source revealed to them that a Touch version IS in the works and was also able to provide a very, very convincing video demo.The demo shows what looks to be motion controlled movements for the characters and the animations and actions looked pretty realistic to simply be pre-recorded (though I'm not ruling that out). From the characters in the Demo, it appears that this port is either of Mortal Kombat Trilogy or perhaps a new edition altogether.Keep in mind that today is April 1 and that this could all be a hoax/joke. Mortal Kombat was one of (if not the first) fighting games to feature hidden characters and other Easter eggs ("Toasty!" and Noob Saibot anyone?), so this could all just be a really good prank. Still, the potential to see Mortal Kombat on an iPod Touch or iPhone is pretty exciting -- at least to a old skool gamer geek like myself. What about you? Would you play a 2-D platform fighting game on your iPhone or iPod Touch?Thanks Luke!
Is 'Ice Rage' the next Mortal Kombat game ... or a prank? [Updated]
You'd have to be what the French call "les incompetent" to buy anything at face value on April Fool's Day, but for the life of us, we can't figure out if this is supposed to be a joke. So, here's the skinny: There's this site, noob.com, and it definitely features a Mortal Kombat logo and was registered by Midway, so it seems official. It features a countdown to April 17, a picture of two eyes, a picture of some animals, and some numbers. Reader Batzarro did a little decoding and decided that (if you allow that the animals each represent their first letter in their name) that it translates to "Ice Rage." We decrypted the yellow numbers below using a numerical alphabet code and got "FREE TOUCH KLOSE." OK, so you officially know as much as we do, what's the verdict? Gag? Or something else?UPDATE: Hmm, where to start? OK, so 1. This page belongs to MK creator Ed Boon. 2. Hidden on this page is the message "It is with deep regret that after over 20 years with Midway, I will be leaving as of today to pursue my dream of becoming a chef. I will never forget the incredible experience I've had with such an amazing group of talented people." So it seems the actual 4-1 gag is Boon leaving for cheffing (cheffery?). Hope that clears it all up.
Another conference call game leak: Mortal Kombat
It's the "in thing" nowadays, seemingly, for companies to leak their upcoming projects during conference calls to investors. Bioshock 2 and Red Faction 3 were both "announced" in this way and now a next-gen Mortal Kombat joins the ever growing list. Midway boss David Zucker spilled the beans during a recent conference call when he talked about "games like This Is Vegas and, of course, you got Mortal Kombat game this year and others that we think have potential to give us higher unit numbers." There are no other details around the game but MCV is expecting it to hit the PS3 and 360. If it really is due out this year, as Zucker says, then no doubt we'll be hearing a lot more about it in the near future. Until then, rest safe in the knowledge that it definitely exists.
Director of next Mortal Kombat movie talks 're-envisioning'
We'd be surprised if anyone saw "Mortal Kombat movie" in the headline and decided to keep reading, regardless, we will continue on, if only for our own amusement. Entertainment news site Moviehole recently had the ... opportunity, we guess, to sit down with the director of the third chapter in the esteemed "Mortal Kombat" film franchise, a grown man who goes by the name of 'mink'. Yes, if there were anyone we could trust to revitalize this already sterling series of movies, a man with a penchant for weasels and poor capitalization skills would be first on our list.mink mentioned that the film (which is still in pre-production) will not actually be a sequel, but instead, a "re-envisioning of the Mortal Kombat franchise from top to bottom." He also promises that the film will be an "A plus plus" title to try and "capture the magic of the first film." We're not convinced -- between Christopher Lambert's oddly effeminate portrayal of Raiden and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa's frequent, impassioned delivery of "YOUR SOUL ... IS MINE," we don't think that kind of lightning is capable of striking twice.
Brawl scores 40/40 in Famitsu, flawless victory
We don't normally highlight a single review, preferring to study the opinions of multiple publications at a time, but this Super Smash Bros. Brawl perfect score from Famitsu gives us a chance to break out of our routine; as you can see from the post title, it has also provided us an opportunity to bring back Mortal Kombat phrases. "Get over here!" Remember that one? It's from Scorpion.Super Smash Bros. Brawl joins the ranks of The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, Soul Calibur, Vagrant Story, Zelda: Wind Waker, Nintendogs, and Final Fantasy XII, all being titles that received a 40/40 score from Japanese video game magazine Famitsu, or four 10/10s from a panel of four reviewers. The critics applauded Brawl for its enjoyable adventure mode, brilliant Final Smash moves, and outstanding (!) presentation. While Famitsu's scores shouldn't always be taken seriously, as the reputation of its reviews ranks far below that of an esteemed magazine like Edge, Famitsu hardly ever hands out 40/40s, awarding perfect scores to only seven titles in the past ten years. Perhaps this Super Smash Bros. Brawl game turned out alright after all.
EGM editor Dan Hsu talks about 'blackball' editorial
Earlier this week we saw an editorial from Electronic Gaming Monthly Editor-in-chief Dan "Shoe" Hsu calling out Sony's sport division, the Mortal Kombat team and Ubisoft for purportedly blackballing the magazine. GameDaily's Media Coverage feature, written by Joystiq's Kyle Orland, talks with Hsu about the editorial to extract more insight into his decision to publish the editorial.Hsu clarifies that these incidents are not common, despite the perception one might get from all the media around it. In talking about Ubisoft specifically, Hsu points out two previews for Assassin's Creed, which discussed worrisome design flaws. He also notes that Capcom had at one point in the magazine's history pulled support and have since become a prominent advertiser again.Our favorite line comes at the end of the piece. Said Hsu, "I'd drag EGM down with me or quit before we compromise our integrity." You hear that, EGM writers who value paychecks over integrity? Get out while you still can!
