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Evo 2015 line-up announced, double helping of Smash
Super Smash Bros Wii U and Melee are two of the nine games already confirmed for this year's Evolution Championship Series. As revealed during last night's Twitch stream, the line-up for Las Vegas this July also includes returning games Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Ultra Street Fighter 4 and Killer Instinct, The remaining four games are new for this year, and they are Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, Guilty Gear Xrd Sign, Mortal Kombat X and Tekken 7. Recent years have seen more games added closer to the event, though a roster of nine is already on the high end for an EVO championship. Whatever the full line-up proves to be, it's coming to the Bally's/Paris Las Vegas Casino, where the world's fighting game specialists will duke it out across July 17-19.
PS4 port of Ultra Street Fighter 4 will include Omega Mode
Ultra Street Fighter 4 will land combos on the PS4 this spring sporting a full wardrobe of DLC costumes, but move sets will also be freshened up with the inclusion of Omega Mode, a play style that offers alternate normal and special attacks for the game's entire roster. A post to the PlayStation Blog confirmed plans to bring along Omega Mode for Capcom's super-ultra-probably-final version of USF4, and if you've yet to see an example of the related move-set changes, they're fairly substantial. Omega Mode was added to the Xbox 360, PS3 and Steam versions of USF4 in December, as reported by Shoryuken. If you're not one to dig up the fairly-recent past, the future still holds fresh chances to hurl Hadoukens in the the PC and PS4–exclusive Street Fighter 5. [Image: Capcom]
Nintendo sponsoring Apex 2015 tournament series
Nintendo will sponsor Apex 2015, a competitive gaming series that will include tournaments for every Super Smash Bros. title released on home consoles as well as games like Ultra Street Fighter 4, Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 and Pokemon Omega Ruby & Pokemon Alpha Sapphire. Apex shared the news on Twitter, noting that Nintendo would help the series put on an "incredible" Smash Bros. event. Apex 2015's tournaments will run from January 30 – February 1, 2015 at the Clarion Hotel in Secaucus, New Jersey. If you're unable to attend, you can still check the event schedule and tune into one of the Twitch channels that will be covering the event. Nintendo's sponsorship is a welcome gesture of embracing the competitive fighting scene, especially when considering its alleged attempts to shut down the Smash Bros. Melee division of EVO 2013. Nintendo did eventually give the go-ahead to feature Melee in the tournament as well as EVO 2013's streaming schedule, but it's nice to see the developer stepping up its support for third-party tournaments from the get-go. [Image: Apex]
Ultra Street Fighter 4 taking an extra round on PS4
We've heard about Street Fighter 5's console-exclusive launch on the PS4, but newcomers can catch up on last generation's entry as well: Capcom is bringing Ultra Street Fighter 4 exclusively to the PS4 this spring, and the port will include all costumes previously available via DLC.
Sales, income down in Capcom's Q2 financial report
Capcom's Q2 financial results remain gloomy, with net sales down by 51.3 percent and operating income down by 41.6 percent over the same period in 2013. This marks the second consecutive quarter in which the Street Fighter publisher posted declining sales. The culprit, Capcom believes, is a lack of any major releases during the period. Ultra Street Fighter 4, Dead Rising 3 and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy all "posted steady sales," but without a major new product Capcom has only these relatively dated games to rely on. Capcom's arcade division wasn't much help, either. Net arcade sales dropped by 11.7 percent "due to the decentralization of the entertainment industry, a lack of products that attract new customers" and a shrinking market for those arcades that still exist. Despite all of this, Capcom remains optimistic that it will reach its earlier projections of net sales totalling $740.3 million by the end of the 2014 fiscal year. [Image: Capcom]
Fists of furry will fly with Ultra Street Fighter 4's costume pack
So what if there hasn't been a new Bloody Roar game for more than 10 years? Gamers dying to make anthropomorphic animals punch and claw each other can at least experience something close, thanks to an animal-themed costume pack coming to Ultra Street Fighter 4. As spotted by Shoryuken on the first day of Capcom Pro Tour Asia's finals event at Singapore-based GameStart 2014, it looks like at least several of the USF4 cast will channel their inner fursona and stride into battle wearing appropriate suits. In concept art shared by fighting game blog Furious, series mainstay/hero Ryu is decked out as a white wolf, boxer Dudley is a bulldog, Gen is a gray goat and Hakan is an octopus. Interestingly, while most of the fighters look like a 50/50 hybrid of human and beast, Cammy retains most of her human features, and only dons fox ears and a tail instead of a full suit. Come on now girl, that's just lazy! No release date or price was announced for the costume pack. [Image: Capcom]
Scenes of Calm and Chaos: Artists on fighting game backgrounds without the fights
The hand-drawn fighting game background is a fading art, kept alive by the crew at SNK Playmore, keeping the lights on in the King of the Fighters series and the tireless hardcore savants at Arc System Works. Brawlers like Super Smash Bros. 3DS, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure All-Star Battle, and Ultra Street Fighter IV maintain fighting games' presence in the mainstream gaming world, but only outliers like Persona 4 Arena Ultimax keep the old ways alive. Lush two-dimensional backgrounds like these inform fights in subtle ways. They're not interactive, never allowing for ring-outs or environmental effects, and their animations are slight, repetitive so as to not draw attention away from the action happening in the foreground. When Rose wraps Ken Masters in her scarf and shocks him, there's no surrendering your gaze to calm Grecian architecture around them. Free of those fights, though, is there anything left? What do these backgrounds have to say on their own as singular works of art? Joystiq asked three professional artists to examine this sprawling gallery of animated fighting game background culled from famous SNK and Capcom fighters like Street Fighter II and King of the Fighters '94. Here's what they had to say.
Ultra Street Fighter getting free Omega Mode, PC network fixes
Ultra Street Fighter 4 fans will have plenty of new combos to practice once Capcom distributes Omega Mode, a free portion of DLC due later this year that switches up the normal and special attacks of Ultra's entire roster. Capcom Unity's related post explains that since Omega Mode is focused on fun, balancing every minute character strength was less of a priority in favor of making the roster's collective moveset feel fresh. Omega Mode will support online bouts, but they'll be restricted to unranked matches only. For a sense of what to expect, Capcom put together a demonstration video that's waiting for you after the break. Capcom's separate version 1.04 patch, due to hit the streets in October, will help PC competitors battling more than just their rivals. Version 1.04 should address problems regarding online play, like slowdown caused by players getting pinged in the middle of a match, as well as other connectivity issues. There are finer details to Version 1.04 that Capcom Unity elaborates on, like balancing tweaks and a delayed wake-up option for training mode dummies, but a full list of balancing fixes will be "disclosed closer to the release date." [Image: Capcom]
Capcom working to counter Street Fighter's Steam woes
Street Fighter fans are supposed to smash bumbling opponents and conquer long-standing rivalries, not grapple with shoddy netcode and general technical issues. Unfortunately, anyone running Steam copies of Ultra Street Fighter 4 (or its predecessor, Super Street Fighter 4: Arcade Edition) is likely tangled up with the latter categories. Many issues are attributed to Capcom's switchover from the not-quite-dead Games For Windows Live, a change that already affects Ultra and Super, but the good news is that Capcom is aware of the issues and is working to fix them. On Ultra's Steam forums, Capcom's "wbacon" stated that Capcom is "aware of the online activity and [performance] issues with the game and are working to get them solved as quickly as possible." Wbacon added the developer will continue monitoring forums for reports of any other issues, so if there's something in the way of your frame-perfect 20-hit combo, head over to the forums and let them know about it. [Image: Capcom]
Ultra Street Fighter 4 now available at retail
Capcom's latest 2D fighter, Ultra Street Fighter 4, made its standalone, retail debut yesterday, bringing with it 44 fighters, "over 100" DLC costumes, a complement of multiplayer modes and the above launch trailer, just in case you forgot what a Shoryuken looks like. [Image: Capcom]
PSN Tuesday: Killzone: Shadow Fall Intercept, Ultra Street Fighter 4
This week's PlayStation Network update delivers pre-orders on Assassin's Creed: Unity, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and LittleBigPlanet 3, while also serving as the standalone debut for both Killzone: Shadow Fall Intercept and Ultra Street Fighter 4. Both PS4 and PS3 also get Facepalm Games' clever puzzle game, The Swapper. As we reported last week, the update also brings with it a new round of PlayStation Plus games. PlayStation 4 owners earn access to cross-buy platformer Fez and Road Not Taken, PlayStation 3 owners are granted Crysis 3 and Proteus, and those with a Vita handheld will be granted Dragon's Crown and Metrico. This update also kicks off a sale that reduces the price of the PlayStation 3's Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster from $40 to $20, while discounting the PSP's Persona 3 Portable from $20 to $5. For more details, see Sony's latest blog update. [Image: Capcom]
World's largest fighting game tournament, Evo 2014, begins today
Today marks the debut of the Evo 2014 fighting game tournament in Las Vegas, but those who didn't book airfare to the City of Sin won't be entirely left out thanks to a bevy of broadcast streams covering all the virtual fisticuffs. Eight top fighting games are officially represented at Evo 2014: Ultra Street Fighter 4, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3, Killer Instinct, BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma, Tekken Tag Tournament 2, The King of Fighters 13 and Injustice: Gods Among Us. Capcom's official "Capcom Fighters" stream on Twitch has you covered for all the Ultra Street Fighter 4 matches, while Shoryuken offers two streams to cover the remaining games: SRKEvo1 and the similarly-titled SRKEvo2. The official Twitch streaming schedule offers a full rundown of what games will be shown. Today is a dominated by Ultra Street Fighter 4, Tekken and Injustice, but tomorrow features the more esoteric King of Fighters, Killer Instinct and BlazBlue tournaments. [Image: Capcom]
'From Masher to Master' offers Street Fighter crash course
Hoping to attract a few new faces to the growing fighting game community, author Patrick Miller has debuted "From Masher to Master," a simple, easy to understand guide for anyone hoping to pick up the basics of Street Fighter. The 131-page tome, which can be downloaded at no charge from Shoryuken, features strategic basics, general game theory and a combo primer, alongside screenshots and helpful illustrations. Unlike most Street Fighter guides, Miller does an excellent job avoiding jargon, and where it's necessary, he often includes a sidebar explaining the term's meaning and origins. There's not enough here to earn a completely green player a spot at the next EVO tournament, but Miller presents a solid primer on how to go from bewildered to passably competent. Once you've absorbed his book, Miller also offers advice on where to go from there. The final page of "From Masher To Master" includes a handy list of articles, books and YouTube videos designed to improve high-level Street Fighter play - a handy inclusion for those who burn through Miller's book in an afternoon. [Image: Capcom]
Ultra Street Fighter 4 review: The best around
Nearly eight years after Street Fighter 4 first hit Japanese arcades, Capcom has launched what it describes as the pinnacle of the publisher's flagship fighter, Ultra Street Fighter 4. I'm not going to argue that claim. Ultra Street Fighter 4 expands on its predecessors with more characters, more moves, more stages and more gameplay modes – and unless Comcast has suddenly become inexplicably generous with my bandwidth, Ultra Street Fighter 4 even features slightly improved online functionality. Despite this, Ultra Street Fighter 4 will not end the perpetual argument over Capcom's tradition of updating its Street Fighter games with minor additions every few years. Some say it's a cynical cash in, while others claim Capcom's updates are aimed at (and can only be truly appreciated by) the hardcore fighting game community. For all its new features, Ultra Street Fighter 4 does little to make the game more inclusive to new players, and if you aren't already hooked on the publisher's particular brand of 2D fisticuffs, it's unlikely that Ultra Street Fighter 4 will convert you.
Mad Catz Ultra Street Fighter 4 stick to feature PS3/PS4 toggle
You'd expect an Ultra Street Fighter 4 arcade stick to support the PlayStation 3 - the game debuted there yesterday - yet Mad Catz's latest peripheral also features seemingly inexplicable support for the PlayStation 4. Once this news emerged, fans were quick to assume that this feature stands as a guarantee that Ultra Street Fighter 4 will soon appear on the PlayStation 4, though Mad Catz community manager Mark Julio was quick to crush those hopes. "Just because the stick is compatible with PS4 as well, does NOT mean there is PS4 USF4! We just implemented the feature as a benefit!" Julio tweeted. When asked why the similar Ultra Street Fighter 4 stick for the Xbox 360 does not also feature an Xbox One toggle, Julio's response was more succinct: "No USFIV on Xbox One!" Despite Julio's claims to the contrary, it seems unlikely that Ultra Street Fighter 4 will remain exclusive to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Capcom has a long history of issuing Street Fighter sequels to every platform under the sun, and the company needs to create a strong foothold on the new generation of consoles. For a growing segment of the gaming audience, there's no better way to do that than with a new, highly-anticipated Street Fighter entry. [Image: Mad Catz]
Take one last look at Ultra Street Fighter 4 before it hits the streets
Ultra Street Fighter 4 makes its digital debut today on both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, making this the perfect time to recap the bounty of additions and alterations Capcom has baked into its latest incarnation of the fan-favorite Street Fighter 4. [Image: Capcom]
Watch live-action Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist in full
As promised, the surprisingly competent, live-action Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist web series is now available in its entirety for your viewing pleasure. Simply click 'Play' on the above video, and let the Machinima playlist do the rest. Written and directed by Joey Ansah (who also plays the role of Akuma), Assassin's Fist focuses on the early days of Street Fighter mainstays Ryu and Ken. Though perhaps not intentional, this is a clever storytelling decision that allows Ansah to focus on a key piece of the Street Fighter mythos without having to find some convoluted way to include the rest of the series' cast. It also removes the need to film in numerous locations, a feat the crowdfunded web series likely couldn't afford. That said, we wish Zangief had somehow found his way into these videos. To date the Russian wrestler's only live-action appearance has been in the 1994 Hollywood adaptation of Street Fighter, where he was among the most embarrassing sights in an exceedingly cynical attempt at cashing in on the popularity of Capcom's flagship fighter. After a life of wrestling bears in the Siberian wastes the big fella deserves a bit more respect. [Image: Machinima]
Report: New trials won't make Ultra Street Fighter 4 launch
When Ultra Street Fighter 4 initially debuts on June 3, it will only feature trials for those characters found in Super Street Fighter 4, according to CVG. As the name would suggest, these trials are quick tests requiring players to input commands for special attacks, combos and their chosen fighters' other various manuevers. In theory, each trial serves as a personalized introduction to combat. Though Super Street Fighter 4: Arcade Edition introduced four new fighters to the game, it did not include trials for these new pugilists. Capcom hoped to rectify this omission with Ultra Street Fighter 4 while also introducing new trials for the five additional fighters joining the cast in the upcoming update, though that's no longer the plan. "There will be no new trials available at the time of the Ultra Street Fighter 4 digital upgrade launch, but stay tuned, as we'll have more news to share on this topic shortly after the digital upgrade version is released," a Capcom representative told CVG. Keep in mind that June 3 is only one of the official launch dates for Ultra Street Fighter 4, specifically the date on which the game's digital upgrade hits the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Additional versions of Ultra Street Fighter 4 will roll out between June 3 and August 8, and it's possible that later releases may include the absent trials. We've reached out to Capcom for more information, and will report back when and if we hear more. [Image: Capcom]
Ultra Street Fighter 4 has four (ultra) release dates [update: new trailer, screens]
Ultra Street Fighter 4, the fourth edition of Capcom's Street Fighter 4, will enter the ring June 3, when the digital upgrade version becomes available on PlayStation 3 via the PSN, Capcom has informed us. Xbox 360 owners will get their chance to try out the five fighters new to the Street Fighter 4 engine - Poison, Hugo, Elena, Rolento and Decapre - the following day, June 4. The upgrade will cost $15, but note that to get this version, you'll need to already own either Super Street Fighter 4 or Super Street Fighter 4 Arcade Edition. A retail release which does not require players to own a previous version of Street Fighter 4, will be available for both PS3 and Xbox 360 on August 5 and will cost $40. There will also be a full digital release that also costs $40 launching the same day on PS3. Lastly, our dear friend Personal Computer (you can just call him PC) gets the game on August 8. His patience doesn't go unrewarded however: The full digital release for PC is $30. Capcom also announced that a pre-order program which nets players five costumes, one for each of the new cast, will start today. So if you want to see Jungle Elena, Medieval Hugo, Pirate Poison, Wizard Rolento and Gladiator Decapre, you'll need to plunk down some cash early. And that wraps up all the Ultra Street Fighter 4 release dates and versions! Ultra easy to keep track of, right? [Image: Capcom]
Ultra Street Fighter 4 adds fight requests to training mode
In one of the more welcome additions to the upcoming Ultra Street Fighter 4, Capcom is allowing players within the game's training mode to receive requests for online combat. Longtime Street Fighter 4 fans will remember the series' fight requests system as one of the best, most rapid means of finding an online foe, but prior to Ultra Street Fighter 4 the request system was only available during singleplayer arcade mode sessions. Now, instead of being shunted into and out of arcade mode every time an online fight pops up, players can simply return to the virtual dojo to hone their skills in preparation for the next fight request. Alongside the new fight request feature, Capcom has also revealed the Offline Battle Log, which will allow players to record offline versus mode battles, either for personal reference or to share with the world via Ultra Street Fighter 4's option to upload match footage to YouTube. As Capcom points out, this should make tournament coverage even easier as organizers are able to archive and display every match, even those not initially captured by traditional streaming devices. Ultra Street Fighter 4 is slated to debut in June. [Image: Capcom]
