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KOF XIII 'NESTS Kyo' DLC delayed on PS3, netcode patch on the way
Originally slated for a simultaneous 360 and PS3 release on December 20, King of Fighters XIII's upcoming "NESTS Kyo" character DLC pack has been delayed for PS3 fighters until January 10. A fantastically vague "technical error" is to blame for the issue, according to the Atlus press release after the break. In order to make it up to you, SNK Playmore will be lowering the character's cost to $2.99 for a limited time once it lands. In somewhat sunnier KoFXIII news, Atlus is also planning a substantial netcode patch for both versions of the game which is said to "make the game's network infrastructure more consistent for users, ensuring that the evaluation given connections is more accurate to the actual play experience." The patch will also introduce minimum signal strength requirement settings on the host side of matchmaking, so players will be able to prevent users with poor connections from joining their open match. SNK Playmore plans on releasing the patch "as soon as possible." Oh, and if you're wondering what the hell "NESTS" means, read this.
King of Fighters XIII demo punches its way onto Xbox Live, kicks PSN next week
With all the Street Fighters, Marvel vs. Capcoms and Mortal Kombats floating around these days, it might be hard to decide if your tough, battle-hardened heart has room for one more fighter. To make this decision a little easier, SNK has released a demo of its latest, King of Fighters XIII, on Xbox Live. The trial will also rear its head on the PlayStation Network next Tuesday, December 13. There has to be something to it, right? After all, there have been thirteen of them.
The Analogue CMVS: A $649 wooden Neo Geo for the gamer who has everything
Christmas is approaching faster than three elves tapped together and ridden down a hill like a bobsled, so if you're the kind of person who truly and unconditionally loves a gamer who has everything, consider the Analogue CMVS Slim as an appropriately expensive classy way to convert currency into affection. Standing for "Consolized MVS," the Analogue CMVS Slim contains the motherboard used in SNK's MVS arcade cabinets, rather than the AES (Advanced Entertainment System) motherboards used in the original Neo Geo home console. This means that the system accepts ROM cartridges intended for those arcade cabs, which are radically less expensive and easier to find than AES cartridges. Smaller than the original CMVSes we covered last spring, the "Slim" is available in your choice of walnut or "ebonized ash," and is compatible with every Neo Geo arcade stick ever made, according to the company's PR. If you don't have any Neo Geo sticks lying around, however, Analogue Interactive will make you one to match your handcrafted console. The CMVS Slim is available at the company's store for the original Neo Geo's asking price of $649; arcade sticks are sold separately for $199 each. So! Assuming you can find an MVS cart for King of Fighters '94 for less than $50, your (exceedingly) loved one can enjoy the 90's arcade experience for just over a thousand dollars. You could also buy an actual MVS arcade cabinet for that much, but hey, what do we know.%Gallery-140323%
King of Fighters XIII review: Sweep the leg
It's tough living in someone else's shadow. Your achievements may be numerous and impressive, but existing outside of the limelight can be disheartening after a while. Constantly fighting for relevance in a crowded genre is a consuming, arduous fight; one that SNK Playmore has waged ever since Fatal Fury: King of Fighters went toe to toe with Street Fighter II in 1991. The result of that fight may be contentious in the mind of the fighting game community, but Joe Public and his Mortal Kombat Blu-ray feel otherwise; while series like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat invaded American pop-culture and became household names, King of Fighters continued to toil away in obscurity, releasing game after game for its dedicated cult following. Things are different now, though. Street Fighter IV kick-started a renaissance in fighting games, reigniting the mainstream consumer's interest in the genre, which paved the way for impossibilities like Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and the incredibly successful rebirth of Mortal Kombat. In this new age of fighters, could it finally be SNK Playmore's time to shine? Will their latest entry, King of Fighters XIII, capture the minds and hearts of those unfamiliar with series? Probably not. SNK Playmore remains so unplugged from what is happening in the rest of the genre that its latest excursion feels like an old friend, rather than a revolution. Because of this, however, King of Fighters XIII is the best KOF game ever made, despite the fact that it isn't as flashy or user friendly as its contemporaries.%Gallery-126135%
Atlus continues your King of Fighters XIII video training
Concentrate, grasshopper. Let these King of Fighters XIII training videos fill you mind. Breathe deep of all seven videos after the break, and let your custom Sanwa brain synapses push directional commands through your fingers, and into the hearts of your enemies.
SNK classics Alpha Mission, TNK III, Vanguard II on PS Minis today
SNK continues its piecemeal release of SNK Arcade Classics 0, comprising PlayStation Minis versions of the arcade games that the company sold in Japan as a UMD collection. Today, when the PlayStation Store updates, you'll be able to get three more vintage SNK arcade games for play on the PSP or PS3. 1985's vertical shooter Alpha Mission (above), the tank game T.N.K. III from the same year, and the 1984 shooter Vanguard II, will be available today for $3 each. You might know T.N.K. III's sequel better than the original if ... you happened to play a lot of NES games; it was released on that platform as Iron Tank. Other people played Iron Tank, right?
Atlus offers video-based King of Fighters XIII training
Atlus wants to teach you how to play King of Fighters XIII, one character-focused video at a time. Above, a video demonstrating how to perform Yuri's moves; you'll find eight more at Atlus's YouTube channel.
Pre-order The King of Fighters XIII, get The King of Soundtracks
Atlus customarily includes soundtrack discs with the first printing of its games, in a program it calls "Atlus Spoils." But for The King of Fighters XIII, Atlus has gone beyond its normal initiative, bundling a four-disc soundtrack with pre-orders from "participating retailers" including Amazon and GameStop. The soundtrack is a collection of music from throughout the whole King of Fighters series. Dare we hope for "Allegory of the Wind," the slow, pensive song by the blue flame-wielding Iori Yagami, from the KOF '97 Arranged Soundtrack? Whatever's on there, there will be hours of it.
TUAW's Daily iPhone App: The King of Fighters-i 002
SNK's famous King of Fighters series has finally come to iOS with this new app for the iPhone, allowing you to play with 13 different fighters across four singleplayer modes and Bluetooth multiplayer. The setup is very similar to Capcom's Street Fighter, with virtual buttons on the touchscreen, but of course this game has all different fighters to play with, and lots of extras to unlock, from trading cards of the fighters themselves to concept art and even movies from the main console game. The King of Fighters-i 002 is pricey at US$7.99, but all indications are that this is a nice premium game, especially if you're a fan of the KoF series. Plus, while there are only 13 characters right now, more will be available to download for free, which should bring the total to 20 different characters by October, according to SNK. If you're already sold, go grab the game, and even if not, look for this one on sale in the future.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions advances to PSN this week
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions was delayed until sometime late this month on iPhone. We don't know exactly when that is, but we do know you'll be able to download the game as soon as tomorrow ... on PSP. The PlayStation Blog revealed that the PSP version of the strategy remake will be available on PSN tomorrow, July 19. It has new cutscenes, characters, and items not seen in the PSOne original. In other retro-ish PSN news, you'll also be able to download a bunch of "Mini" versions of old SNK games that were all released as part of a single UMD in Japan, as well as a PSOne Classics version of Kyuiin, a shmup starring a kid on a flying vacuum cleaner.
The King of Fighters XIII makes a royal appearance on PS3 and Xbox, escorted by Atlus
In an email sent to its "Faithful" fan mailing list, Atlus revealed plans to localize SNK's PS3/Xbox 360 fighting game The King of Fighters XIII, for a North American release "this holiday season." Originally released last year in Japan, the latest release in SNK's fighting dynasty includes over 30 characters, a significant step up from the 20 included in the last game. "Back by popular demand, your favorite fighters rejoin the roster including K', Vice, Kula, Maxima and more," the website says, in front of an image of Mai, Yuri, and King -- none of whom appeared in KOF XII. In addition, the sequel promises a "rebuilt online mode" for enhanced stability. Atlus linked to Amazon's pre-order pages on the website, both of which have KOF XIII arriving in October for $50. That's not exactly as trustworthy as a royal decree, but it's encouraging.
ESRB: SNK classic 'Marvin's Maze' coming to PS3 and PSP
With the PlayStation Network functional once again in many territories, and the PlayStation Store coming back soon (possibly tomorrow), Sony will soon be free to return to the very important work it was undertaking earlier this year. We're speaking, of course, about the sale of obscure SNK games. The ESRB just provided a clue about the next game from the publisher to hit PS3 and PSP, and in a surprise twist, it's not a Neo Geo game. Marvin's Maze is actually a 1983 arcade game about a cute character trying to collect dots in a multi-layered maze, while avoiding or destroying "Robonoids." In addition to this apparent PS3/PSP release, Marvin's Maze is part of the PSP SNK Arcade Classics 0 collection, which has yet to be officially announced for North American release. [Image: The Arcade Flyer Archive]
Trouble Witches Neo sweeps XBLA April 27 in Japan, SNK hints at global release
We've always said that if there's one thing Xbox Live Arcade is lacking, it's more side-scrolling shmups starring pre-teen witches on broomsticks. Thanks goodness, then, that SNK has heard our plaintive cries and plans to release an Xbox 360 port of its coin-op descent into horizontal bullet hell, Trouble Witches Neo, as a downloadable title on April 27. Right now, the release is only official for Japan -- where the game will run 800 Microsoft Points ($10) -- but in describing the title, SNK makes specific mention of global online co-op and leaderboards. Given the publisher's track record of releasing its XBLA games in the West soon after their Japanese debuts, it shouldn't be long before we find out which Wednesday these witches will be stirring up trouble on US consoles.
'SNK Arcade Classics 0' for PSP goes deep into the back catalog
SNK Playmore has officially announced a new PSP compilation of classic games for Japan, to be released on April 21. Unlike most SNK collections (like Metal Slug Collection and SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1) that offer games exclusive to Neo Geo, SNK Arcade Classics 0 is a collection of 20 games made by the company before the release of the Neo Geo hardware. Yes, finally, you'll be able to get Ikari Warriors and Athena on the same disc, along with Psycho Soldier, P.O.W., and a lot of vintage SNK games we've never heard of. Find the full list after the break, as transcribed by Andriasang. Many of them were originally released in vertical format, a setup emulated on PSP by holding the device sideways. An ESRB rating for SNK Arcade Classics 0 has been online since late 2009, suggesting that SNK has plans to release this collection stateside. Of course, the rating occurring that long ago also means SNK has had plenty of time to change its mind.
SNK continues to tickle retro gamers, releases Neo Geo gamepad for PS3
Oh man, as if having 10 Neo Geo classics hitting the PS3 and PSP complete with online multiplayer wasn't sweet enough, now SNK is doing one better by releasing an updated version of the classic Neo Geo gamepad. Sure, it isn't as majestic as the giant, hulking arcade stick that came in a pair with the $650 Neo Geo Gold System. However, the system's gamepad (released with the Neo Geo CD) would go on to be even more popular thanks to its much lower cost and novel floating 8-way d-pad. That controller is reborn (again) for the PS3 with USB connectivity the addition of a PS button in the middle, meaning you can even use it to pull up the XMB and taunt your friends into joining a King of Fighters match. Sadly this is only getting a release in Japan, where it sells for 3,129 yen (about $37), but Play-Asia will import you one for $45. Small price for such a lovely thing.
King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match also on XBLA this Wednesday
You'll be doing much more than courting intense card battles with this week's Xbox Live Arcade releases -- you'll also be punching, kicking, and ... uh ... jumpkicking fools with the release of King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match. The fighter gets a facelift and an audio upgrade, alongside an "extensively redesigned" character balance. If that weren't enough, KOF 2002: UM features "the most playable characters ever in the KOF series," with 66 fighters in total. The game will run you 800 MS Points ($10) this Wednesday when it arrives on Xbox Live Marketplace. And hey, for a game that evidently features unlimited matches, that's a heck of a price. [Thanks Brandon!]
Metal Slug RC LEGO tank will kill all of your henchmen
Luckily Metal Slug henchmen aren't in short supply, right? Zoom past the break for video of the Slug-inspired "Metal Grudge" tank in action, or hit up the Flickr link below for some detailed images.
King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match coming to XBLA in 'Autumn 2010'
SNK Playmore has announced via its Facebook page that an updated version of the arcade fighter, King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match, is headed to Xbox Live Arcade. The game was announced for Japan late last year and is due in "Autumn 2010" here in the US. SNK promises "a high-quality conversion" of the original game, including "all characters from the NESTS CHRONICLES, numerous game modes, along with updated stages, new moves, BGM and graphics." The game will include 66 playable characters -- match and character balances will follow the Arcade version of the game, while the presentation of menus and number of characters and game modes will follow the expanded PS2 version. There's no price currently set for King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match, though the "Ultimate Match" version of King of Fighters '98 is currently set at 800 MS Points on Xbox Live.
KOF Sky Stage shoots up Japanese XBLA on September 15
SNK's oddball bullet hell shmup, KOF Sky Stage, has finally been dated for Xbox Live Arcade -- in Japan, at least. Masochists can check it out on September 15 for 800 MS Points ($10). That's a small price to pay to see Terry Bogard and company fly around and shoot stuff. And, y' know, play a super-tough game. The game originally launched in Japanese arcades back in January. PSP users can also access KOF Sky Stage right now in Neo Geo Heroes, while those of us in the US can likely look forward to a localized release, so says an ESRB listing. If you're looking to get an early start at finding all of those sweet hiding spots to take refuge from the impending bullet swarms, head past the break for a new trailer.
ESRB rates KOF Sky Stage for Xbox 360
[GAME Watch] You have to be just a little curious about a vertical scrolling shooter, starring a bunch of flying King of Fighters characters. According to the ESRB, those of us in North America will soon have the opportunity to experience the bizarre KOF Sky Stage for ourselves -- the ratings board has evaluated the Xbox Live Arcade port of the arcade shmup, making an American release likely. Meanwhile, in Japan, SNK released a PSP game containing the entirety of KOF Sky Stage as just one mode of another shooter. The XBLA version's compensation? A "still-frame image of a female character" wearing "a revealing outfit that accentuates her buttocks and displays large amounts of cleavage."
