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Sega adds 'OutRun' and other classic soundtracks to Spotify
If you need a distraction from the stress of our new Orwellian order, why not take a trip back to a simpler time with Sega? It just released nearly 20 classic soundtracks from the '80s and '90s onto streaming site Spotify, including OutRun, Virtua Fighter, Fantasy Zone and NiGHTS. OutRun is probably the standout, as many of us wasted a good chunk of our youth (and quarters) racing in the multiplayer arcade version.
Sega brings Twitter to Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown arcade machines
Arcades may unfortunately be few and far between in North America these days, but they are still fairly big in Japan and, apparently, keeping up with the times. The latest big advance comes courtesy of Sega, which recently announced that its forthcoming Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown game will be Twitter-enabled -- a first for any arcade machine. That will let players link their Twitter account to their online VF.net profile and send a tweet whenever you hit a winning streak or mark another accomplishment -- like the fact that you're playing Virtua Fighter 5 in an arcade in Japan.
Virtua Fighter 5 update on 360 brings saved replays, pants
X3F reports that SEGA has launched an auto-update for Virtua Fighter 5 on the Xbox 360. The update includes various bug fixes, and minor tweaks to the online gameplay experience. Most notably, however, the update adds the ability to save replays from online matches, and select pants for your character independent of the rest of the outfit.Oh that's right. Now, El Blaze can be sporting Costume B, but wearing the pants from Costume A. It's a brave new world, people. Check out the full list of updates after the break.
VF5 may not hit (or kick) Japanese 360s
Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz at Leipzig last week, Tohru Murayama, lead designer for Virtua Fighter 5, intimated that the game may not see the light of day on Japanese 360s. According to Murayama (and everybody else for that matter), the Xbox 360 has not done well in Japan. As a result, the install base of just under 400,000 units may not justify the release of Virtua Fighter 5 in Japan. It's a shame really, considering the features of Virtua Fighter 5 360 that aren't offered on the PS3, chiefly online play. Our condolences to Japanese gamers, the prognosis isn't looking good.The rest of us can look forward to fighting bliss come October 30th.
Virtua Fighter 5 may not be on Japanese Xbox 360
GI.biz is reporting that Japan may not get Virtua Fighter 5 on the Xbox 360 because the console's install base is too low. Speaking with Tohru Murayama, lead designer on VF5, they were informed that the decision is not final at this point, but with only 400,000 Xbox units sold in Japan, the Japanese may need to get a PS3 for the game. The PS3 is selling comparatively better in Japan with 1 million units. VF5 is currently available on PS3 with one little thing missing that'll be on the Xbox 360 version -- online modes.With any luck there will be enough of a hardcore following for VF5 to make it to the Xbox 360 in Japan. That's what Murayama is hoping for anyway. Call us new-fashioned, but it just seems odd to have a fighting game in this day and age without online support.
First Virtua Fighter 5 360 online play video
While Virtua Fighter 5 is a damned fine fighting game in its own right, there can be no doubt that its biggest boon on Xbox 360 is the inclusion of online play. As the first in the Virtua Fighter series to include the feature, much attention is being paid by fans. Dead or Alive 4 currently stands as the only Xbox 360 fighting game to utilize online play, and many players find it less than satisfactory. Without a miracle of a connection, fights often turn into lag-filled nightmares where victory has little to do with skill. The Gamersyde video above shows off Virtua Fighter 5's online system as displayed in Leipzig. The lobby system appears to be a no frills affair, though it looks like it gets the job done. The play looks solid, and any slowdown could be attributed to the video quality. Still, we're sure that Sega went out of its way to set up a smooth match for the convention, so we'll have to reserve final judgment for the retail version.[Via Joystiq]
Today's most competitive videos: Super Battle Opera Finals
Meanwhile, in Tokyo, Arcadia's annual fighting game tournament has begun. Tougeki -- better known as Super Battle Opera -- can easily be considered the world cup of fighting games, drawing competitors from all over the world and for a variety of different titles. This years line-up consists of Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, Hyper Anniversary, King of Fighters 98, Melty Blood: Act Cadenza, Guilty Gear XX Accent Core, Arcana Heart, Virtua Fighter 5, Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection and Soul Calibur III: Arcade Edition."Competitive gaming" may be a dirty word to some, but unlike the spoiled brats that make up the "professional" scene, the players of the fighting game community tend to keep it real with no sponsors to foot their bills or debatable endorsements to pimp out. The players that make up Team USA are the winners of this years EVO regional tournaments. Their reward? A trip to Japan to compete in SBO and a chance to bring it to them before they bring it back to us later this month at the EVO world finals. We're rooting for you, boys.Today's videos are the 2006 finals for some of the returning Super Battle Opera games. Enjoy!
Xbox 360's Virtua Fighter 5 to feature online play
Sega of America and Sega Europe have announced that the upcoming Xbox 360 version of Virtua Fighter 5 will indeed allow you to transfer your violent impulses to a complete stranger on the internet. Scheduled for a release in Autumn 2007, the game will feature an online two-player versus mode via Xbox Live, leader boards and several other enhancements over February's PlayStation 3 edition. That's what we jokingly refer to as a "technical knockout."If you don't usually extract satisfaction from pugilistic polygons, you might be wondering why Virtua Fighter 5 is held in such high regard. Well, the reason is... uh, there are lot of reasons! Very good ones, in fact. "For a lot of very good reasons, Virtua Fighter 5 is regarded as the deepest and most revered fighting game available on next generation consoles", says Gary Knight, the European marketing director for Sega Europe. "Bringing Virtua Fighter 5 to the Xbox 360 will not only capture an entirely new audience, but will allow gamers to show their Virtua Fighter skills online against friends and foes."Your Virtua Fighters: let me show you them.[Via Gamertag Radio]
360 Virtua Fighter 5 has online play!
Yeah, you read that right. Despite all the cries that it would ruin game balance, and that Virtua Fighter just wouldn't work online, there it is. Sega has officially announced that Virtua Fighter 5 for the Xbox 360 will feature online versus multiplayer. Given that this was one of our personal predictions for E3, we couldn't be happier. Online play in Virtua Fighter 5 will allow players to take on opponents in 1-on-1 matches over Xbox Live. The 360 version is based on the latest arcade revision and features new additions to the Quest and DOJO modes. Of course, Online play stands out as a particularly ostentatious feather in the 360 version's cap, as the PS3 version is an offline-only affair.
SEGA: VF5 will be a summer release
It seems there's some confusion surrounding the release date of Virtua Fighter 5 according to Eurogamer. It seems that several online retailers, including GameStop, Amazon, and Play.com, are listing the game as a fall or even winter release. SEGA begs to differ and has confirmed with Eurogamer that Virtua Fighter 5 is still planned as a summer release. Eurogamer also notes that we still don't know exactly what will be different between the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the title, especially given recent revisions to the arcade game. Of course, we're all still hoping for online multiplayer, but we're not hoping too hard.%Gallery-3554%
Dead or Alive 4 VS. Virtua Fighter 5: Fight!
Fighting games used to be king. Once upon a time, back in the 90s, arcades (remember those?) were full of fighting games of all kinds. You could fight with and against just about anything you pleased: dinosaurs, robots, time travelers, ninjas, werewolves, you name it. With so many games from which to choose, rivalries were formed. After the Street Fighter VS. Mortal Kombat era rose the Virtua Fighter VS. Tekken era. When the Dead or Alive series arrived, Virtua Fighter's influence was unmistakable (the original DOA ran on the VF2 arcade board after all). The game's had identical control schemes (as long as you disregard VF3's unfortunate dodge button), similar combos and even shared many fighting styles. So, which one is better?GameTrailers is letting the gaming public decide by pitting Virtua Fighter 5 against Dead or Alive 4. It's simple, watch a video (also in HD) then vote for your favorite game in several categories. Cast your vote on the best graphics, gameplay, characters, and more. After you vote, see how your choices reflect the general public.Currently, it's a pretty close race, with DOA4 winning people over with its stages and modes, while VF5 wins in the areas of graphics and gameplay. Which do you prefer?
A fistful of new Virtua Fighter 5 screens
Frankly, we're still miffed that SEGA refuses to add online play to its flagship fighting title, Virtua Fighter 5. Of course, that doesn't mean we won't ravenously devour every scrap of information about the game that comes our way. Today's latest on Virtua Fighter 5 comes to us from Gamertag Radio in the form of three new screenshots. Yeah, it's not exactly earth-shattering (like, say, announcing fully integrated online play), but it's better than nothing. Besides, the game is just damned pretty.VF5 hits (and kicks) the Xbox 360 this summer. Anyone out there plan on picking it up?
VC Monday Madness: Finally, we get Punch Out!!
Seriously, how long have you been waiting for this Virtual Console release? Since late November, right? Well, we've been waiting for it too, and although it's not the game we all grew up with, it's relatively the same title. The other titles available are a pair of games we all knew would be emerging on the service, so no surprises this week. The games available for download after 9 a.m. Pacific Time are: Punch Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream (NES, 1 player, 500 points) Bonk's Revenge (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 points) Virtua Fighter 2 (Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 points) As usual, check back later for our wrap-up post.
Punch Out, Virtua Fighter and Bonk hit the Virtual Console
Today's Virtual Console releases all have one thing in common: a love for violence to the head. Whether it be Bonk using his noggin as a weapon, Mac delivering that eleventh uppercut to Glass Joe or Akira Yuki landing three extra backfists on the nose of his opponent, these releases are sure to spark violent tendencies in children under the age of two and one-third.Punch Out!, already out in Europe, is Nintendo's entrant for today's triumvirate of releases. The full serving, available on US Virtual Consoles at 9 a.m. PT, includes: Punch Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream (NES, 1 player, 500 points) Bonk's Revenge (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 points) Virtua Fighter 2 (Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 points) [Image Credit]
Alex Kidd, Wonder Boy, and 2D Virtua Fighter 2 slated for Virtual Console
Sega continues to throw its support toward Nintendo's Virtual Console by announcing three new titles that will likely be coming in the next few weeks: Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle, Wonder Boy in Monster World and a 2-dimensional version of Virtua Fighter 2.Unfortunately, it is not the Virtua Fighter 2 that one might hope for. While the title was made originally for the arcade and Saturn, Sega is bringing the Genesis version to the Virtual Console. This far inferior version did not have an 3D engine and instead opted to approximate the renderings in 2D. It also excluded new characters Shun Di and Lion. Is this perhaps what spawned that Sega Saturn on Virtual Console rumor?It was around this time last month that Sega announced its releases for March, so expect to see these titles arrive within the coming weeks.
Namco Vs. Sega -- the future of fighting is in your hands!
Haruki Suzaki, director of Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection, sat down for an interview with IGN recently. While we'd love to talk about that game, there's something else of greater interest in the interview. Something called... beautiful. By a show of hands, who here would like to play the hell out of a "Tekken vs. Virtua Fighter" title? Would they call it Namco vs. Sega? Either way, that would be a fantastic crossover idea. But is it possible?Suzaki said this about the idea: "I had the opportunity to speak with the director of Virtual Fighter on many occasions in the past and actually talk of collaboration came up again recently. Being from the same industry, this is something we definitely would like to try at least once. Looking at it from another perspective, we began to realize that it would actually be more difficult to make this happen than we first thought. More than anything, we believe this decision greatly lies in our fans. So, we would actually like to ask for our fans' opinion on this."He wants to know what we think, guys! IGN wants you to send your request for a T vs. VF to their email address and they'll forward it to Sega and Namco. I did it and you guys should too! If they did a two-man tag team style, what would your dream team be? Go, go, go! This is our chance to be heard![thank you very much, Joe!]
IGN developing content for Sega? 1UP contributing too?
As much as you might cherish pummeling IGN-created Virtua Fighter 5 character 'Ryuutoushi,' the unprecedented pairing of press and publisher warrants investigation. A Sega-sponsored contest in which an IGN reader is selected to design a game character would be one thing, but IGN editors contributing content for Virtua Fighter 5?Digging deeper, we discover that 1UP's James Mielke has also created a VF5 character, writing on his 1UP page, "I'm pretty sure I can die happy now, knowing that no matter how many additions there are to the series, that I am part ... of Virtua Fighter history." As it turns out, Mielke and presumably IGN, along with other members of the gaming press, won their right to design for VF5 by placing high enough in an "editor's tournament" hosted by Sega last year.Sure, it hurts deeply that Sega neglected to invite us; knowing that Kietzmann would have mopped the floor with Mielke and his editor ilk. Of course, Sega would have rejected his poorly disguised efforts to bring back Hornet (from Fighters Megamix), but still...In all seriousness, should we be concerned that critics have contributed, however casually, to Virtua Fighter 5? Can we really trust the opinions of those who have been charmed by thoughts of immortality within the game? There is certain danger in crossing this line.Note: the press-created characters are not playable, but will appear as opponents in various modes throughout the game.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
PS3 Virtua Fighter 5 is gold
Game delays have relegated PlayStation 3 to lesser uses for the immediate future, but Sega is making good on its promise, with Virtua Fighter 5 now just a disc-press away. The fighter will meet its target release date, February 20, retailing for $59.99.Sadly, Virtua Fighter 5 will lack online support (including basic leaderboards). But amidst the current software drought, come February, Sega's old standby will be as good as it gets for PS3. Good thing MotorStorm will be just around the corner...Virtua Fighter 5 is also being ported to Xbox 360 for release this summer.
Virtua Fighter 5, gameplay videos galore
Virtua Fighter is not for everyone. Outside of Japan, it's never gotten the attention of a Tekken or a Soul Calibur or, to a lesser extent, a Dead or Alive. Some will argue that it's a critical darling, but critical success doesn't necessarily translate to high sales numbers. As old school SEGA fans, we have a soft spot for the series (in fact, I prefer it to Tekken or DOA), so we're going to pimp it all we can. GameTrailers has unleashed several new videos of the game in action (PS3 version). Two things are evident from these videos. One, it's real purdy. Two, it's painful to watch people that don't really know how to play (something that's true of all fighting games). Still, these videos should give hopeful fans an idea of what to expect when the game hits the Xbox 360 this summer. Check out three more videos after the break.
Rumor: Virtua Fighter 5 is 1080p
True HD, if you ask some people, is only 1080p. It's a shame, then, that few PlayStation 3 titles have yet to push resolution that high. Virtua Fighter 5, then, would be a great addition to the small library of 1080p games.According to a scan at IGN, the latest edition of Sega's flagship fighter might support 1080p resolution. However, the scan of the back of VF5's box is very fuzzy and could easily be just a Photoshop job by those abusing the Internets. Not only that, but we're pretty sure Sega or Sony would be mentioning 1080p as often as possible.We should know definitively by February 8, whenVirtua Fighter 5 lands in Japan.See Also:Virtua Fighter 5 smacks PS3, heads to 360
