Arcade Renaissance

New King of Fighters XII trailer and a pushed back release date

2009-06-25T15:55:00.001-07:00

King of Fighters XII has been having some conflicting reports in regards to its upcoming release date. The early July release window has been pushed back at two major retailers, Gamestop and Amazon, to July 20th and July 28th respectively.

While this should give me a little more time to play around with BlazBlue, I've already switched into King of Fighters mode and have spent more time finessing my game on some of the older titles in the series. Because of this, I'm looking forward to seeing KOF '98 UM on the Xbox Live Arcade on the date that King of Fighters XII was first supposed to be released - July 8th.

Based on the netcode of the recently released Garou Mark of the Wolves, the online play in both King of Fighters '98 and King of Fighters XII should be a little disappointing, but serviceable. I've had some up and down quality matches, but overall everything has been as I expected - medicore. Garou's online play is highly dependent on the distance you are from your opponent, and unfortunately the game doesn't do much to mask some serious issues when you get outside of the 'idea' range.

Hopefully if Garou shares the same system that King of Fighters XII will for online match-ups there's some additional work going on to improve the set up for the retail release of King of Fighters XII at the very least. It's easy to be spoiled by 2DFighter...

Video Games | The King of Fighters XII | Exclusive Triumph of Combat Trailer

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Street Fighter IV PC Benchmarking tool

2009-06-14T13:30:00.000-07:00

4Gamer.net released a benchmark tool for the upcoming PC version of Street Fighter IV.

Using the performance options, it is possible to be able to test how well the PC game will run on your system with a myriad of different settings and filters. Considering how much variation there is between the minimum and recommended system settings with most PC games (and their subsequent in-game performances), this tool is a great option that gamers can use to see if Street Fighter IV will deliver the performance they want out of Capcom's fighting series. The benchmark goes through several matches and a character montage and in the end provides the average FPS for the course of the test and a ranking for your computer.

I had a couple of crashes over the course of the benchmark, but I'm hoping those are not going to be indicative of what I should expect out of SFIV since my FPS were averaging about 80fps otherwise. Despite the couple of hang ups, it makes me wish other companies would consider releasing programs like this prior to PC releases. It would definitely help solve some of the issues that pop up from hardware configurations.

Street Fighter IV PC is scheduled for release later this month.

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom getting an online mode for US release - or not?

2009-06-02T12:24:00.000-07:00

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom was a game that wasn't supposed to be able to make it stateside due to licensing concerns, but due to fan demand, Capcom has made it happen. In a press release posted earlier today, Capcom has announced some additional features will indeed be making it into the US release of the Wii fighting game after being rumored for the last couple of weeks.

First and foremost, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom will have an online mode via the Wii's WiFi online. The online features will include Friend battles, Rival battles, Free battles, and Ranked battles. While it's not explicitly stated it in the press release, I'm assuming that Capcom will be using the same roll back style algorithms used in Street Fighter HD Remix and GGPO. After the disappointing online modes featured in Smash brothers on the Wii, hopefully this should satisfy the appetite for online play in a traditional fighter for Nintendo's console.

In addition to the online mode, Capcom has also announced that one character would be cut from the roster due to licensing issues, however, in its place five new characters would be added. It's not mentioned who the character is that was cut, but Gatchaman, Hurricane Polymer, and Casshern were all mentioned in the press release as available in game. With E3 currently showing off a build of the game, it shouldn't be long before the details of the new characters (and the cut one) are available.

The game will also feature new mini games as well as an 'enhanced' story mode.

As a small side note, Seth Killian on the Capcom Unity forums has also stated that several of the glitches that were in the original release of the game will be addressed. No word yet though on the glitch that affected combos if played in 4:3 or 16:9 modes.

The current release date for Tatsunoko vs. Capcom in the US is Winter 2009.

UPDATE -
Capcom has sent out a retraction on the original Tatsunoko vs. Capcom press release. According to the new press release (featuring a lovely apology for sending out the wrong one), Capcom has stated that they are only looking into the possibly of adding online play and new characters. As of right now, neither are confirmed.

I don't know what to think of this, but after getting the fan base hyped up over the inclusion of online play, this change is a major let down. While it isn't saying that online play isn't going to happen, the back peddling is a bit disappointing. Hopefully Capcom gets this worked out otherwise they may have a bit of a mess on their hands.

On the plus side, to me, this almost sounds like the information they revealed yesterday simply was not supposed to be out in the open yet rather than an outright denial. Perhaps some issue with the online infrastructure that has Capcom concerned enough to keep their options open?. We'll just have to wait and see how this plays out.

New press release and 'apology' is below:

Hi everyone,

Yesterday, an incorrect version of the Tatsunoko vs. Capcom press release was sent out. The correct version is now available on the press center.

Also, you can find the text for the correct version of the release below.

Thanks!

-Capcom PR Team

TATSUNOKO VS CAPCOM™ ULTIMATE ALL-STARS COMES TO NORTH AMERICAN Wii™ OWNERS THIS WINTER

The Latest in Capcom’s Popular VS Series Combines Beloved Japanese Anime and Capcom Characters

LOS ANGELES, CA, E3 Expo — June 2, 2009 - Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced that the next entry of the company’s popular VS fighting series, TATSUNOKO VS. CAPCOM™ ULTIMATE ALL-STARS will be coming to Wii™ this winter.

TATSUNOKO VS. CAPCOM ULTIMATE ALL-STARS pairs well-known characters from Capcom’s roster of games with some of Japan’s most beloved characters from anime powerhouse Tatsunoko Production. From Capcom’s 30-year history comes characters like Ryu and Chun-Li from the Street Fighter® series, Morrigan from Darkstalkers® and company mascot Mega Man® Volnutt from Mega Man Legends. Tatsunoko’s near half-century of Japanese animation excellence is represented by the likes of Ken the Eagle and Jun the Swan from the Science Ninja Team Gatchaman® anime (known in North America as Battle of the Planets or G-Force), cybernetic warrior Casshan and comedic action hero Yatterman No. 1. All together, there are more than 20 colorful combatants to choose from in order to form the ultimate tag team combination.

Gameplay will instantly set fighting game fans’ fingers twitching, combining elements from Capcom games like Street Fighter and previous entries in the VS series, TATSUNOKO VS. CAPCOM ULTIMATE ALL-STARS is a fun fighting game designed for all levels of players. Players choose from the combined roster of fighters to create their favorite two man/woman/cyborg/robot tag team, rotating on the fly between the two players throughout the course of each match. Those new to the genre will appreciate the game’s bright visual style and simplified four-button fighting controls. Hardcore Capcom fighting fans will dig in to the game’s depth, uncovering huge Aerial Rave combos and unique Variable Assists, gorgeous Ultimate Hyper Combos, and Variable Combinations that combine the capabilities of two members of the player’s tag-team to unleash huge damage.

TATSUNOKO VS. CAPCOM ULTIMATE ALL-STARS is new version of the game that released in Japan in arcades and on the Wii in December 2008. Capcom is looking into adding new features to the game, including possible additions of several new characters from both Capcom and Tatsunoko, and is exploring the option of online gameplay. TATSUNOKO VS. CAPCOM ULTIMATE ALL-STARS will work with a number of different control devices, including Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk™, Classic Controller, GameCube Controller and various third-party joysticks designed for the Wii.

About Tatsunoko Production Co., Ltd.
Tatsunoko is a Japanese animation company founded in 1962. The studio debuted in 1965 with its first TV series Space Ace. Since then, the studio has produced numerous original works. The studio boasts highly popular characters which transcend time and space. Its most renowned works include Speed Racer and Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, which are also highly acclaimed overseas. More information can be found on the company’s Japanese website at http://www.tatsunoko.co.jp.

ABOUT CAPCOM
Capcom is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment for game consoles, PCs, handheld and wireless devices. Founded in 1983, the company has created hundreds of games, including best-selling franchises Resident Evil®, Street Fighter®, Mega Man® and Devil May Cry®. Capcom maintains operations in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Korea, with corporate headquarters located in Osaka, Japan. More information about Capcom can be found on the company web site, www.capcom.com.

Capcom, the Capcom logo, Resident Evil, Mega Man, Darkstalkers and Devil May Cry are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Capcom Co., Ltd., in the U.S. or other countries. Street Fighter is a registered trademark of Capcom U.S.A., Inc. Gatchaman is a registered trademark of TATSUNOKO PRODUCTION CO., LTD. “Tatsunoko VS Capcom” is developed and published by Capcom Co., Ltd., partially licensed by TATSUNOKO PRODUCTION CO., LTD. Wii and the Wii logo are trademarks of Nintendo. © 2006 Nintendo. All other trademarks are owned by their respective owners.

Ilvelo coming stateside

2009-06-01T19:57:00.000-07:00

I was e-mailed a link from a reader showcasing UFO Interactive's E3 line-up. While it sat in my inbox for about a day or two, after looking over the details, there is a rather surprising addition.

Based on the release from the company, UFO Interactive is intending on bringing the Milestone shooter Ilvelo to US Wii's to round off the company's previous Milestone releases (which included the compilation of Karous/Radio Allergy/Chaos Field) for Nintendo's console. No further information has been posted yet in regards to the title, and unfortunately I was unable to make E3 this year, so hopefully we'll be seeing a bit more information in regards to Ilvelo's US release from other sources before too long. The game is pretty standard Milestone affair, so that's either going to be good or bad based on your opinion on the company's previous outings. Though I'm glad to see another shooter release, I fall somewhere in the 'it's okay' category.

I can only hope that they keep the Japanese box art the same for the US release... I don't think that's too much to ask. While there is no word on pricing yet, I'm guessing that Ilvelo will more than likely debut at the pricing for the Ultimate Shooting Collection/The Monkey King/Heavenly Guardian for the Wii and ship for around $29.99.

Raiden 4 (Xbox 360) US trailer

2009-05-28T20:14:00.000-07:00

While UFO Interactive has been teasing a stateside release for Raiden IV for a while now, it is nice to see an official confirmation that the game will be coming via a press release on UFO Interactive's website. I can see where some people may level the criticism that Raiden IV tends to be a bit formulaic, but personally I wouldn't listen to them as long as you enjoy the franchise. Despite Raiden IV not reinventing the genre, it offers an extremely satisfying Raiden experience with a some nice extras thrown onto the Xbox 360 port. Raiden IV will be released in August for $39.99.

Dux is done - shipping early June

2009-05-21T17:00:00.000-07:00

As just a small follow up to a previous post, DUX- the latest independent Dreamcast release - is finished according to the game's official development blog. While the development cycle for the game has seen several push backs, the game's developers have stated that the game is now in the final production stages and will see a final release in early June. Play-Asia.com has already began notifying customers who have pre-ordered the game of the recent updates (I received my e-mail about a couple of hours ago), so hopefully it won't be too much longer until we get the final shipping notices.

I'm curious how well these independent projects end up doing. Considering that this is the third such release that Play-Asia has supported, it leads me to believe that it is doing well enough for the online retailer to continue supporting the independent Dreamcast development community. I may have to touch base with the team at HUCAST.net to see if they would be willing to shed some light on the matter...

Ignition USA includes the Japanese box art in the King of Fighters XII box art competition...

2009-05-19T15:27:00.000-07:00

I posted a little while ago about the box art competition for the cover of King of Fighters XII.

Though I didn't think either American cover was bad per se (I actually kind of like them), there was quite a bit of feedback from fans that none of the original options really suited the game well. This was exacerbated quite a bit by the fact that when the Japanese box art was released (even with the predominantly featured Ash Crimson), a lot of fans on Ignition's forums began asking why we weren't getting those designs in the US version of the game.

As a way to satisfy fans and put things to a final vote, Ignition USA has opened two new threads on their forum pitting the Japanese box vs the American box art to determine which will be gracing the cover of King of Fighters XII this summer.

The box art vote for the Playstation 3 version can be found here, while the vote for the Xbox 360 version is here. Voting ends on May 22nd.

More King of Fighters XII Arcade Infinity videos and lots of new King of Fighters screens

2009-05-18T16:04:00.000-07:00

A new batch of King of Fighters XII videos from Arcade Infinity have been posted from over the weekend. While for the most part the videos are just some more eye-candy involving King of Fighters XII (and eye-candy isn't a bad thing by any means), I do especially like the Goro match in the first one.

We haven't seen much of him in the Arcade Infinity releases, so seeing him twice in his command throwing goodness is a special treat for a Goro fan. I've embedded the match below, but for the other 3 videos posted this weekend (and in their proper resolution) head over to the Arcade Infinity Youtube profile.

Also of interested to King of Fighters XII fans is the recently updated King of Fighters XII image page for Jeuxactu. The website has posted 210(!) images from King of Fighters XII from an Xbox 360 preview copy of the game. The smoothing feature has come along way based on some of the shots, it'll be interesting to see how close the existing build is to the final version.

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom coming to the US

2009-05-18T15:20:00.000-07:00

Over on the Capcom-Unity blogs, it was confirmed that Tatsunoko vs. Capcom will indeed be coming to the US (despite what was rumored to be a licensing nightmare) and will be shown alongside Marvel vs. Capcom 2 at E3 this June.

Though there have not been any official new details posted about possible changes in regards to the game, the rumors are already flying with the potential for new characters or an online mode being added to the North American console release due to some cryptic teases in the Nintendo Power scan floating around. In the blog post, it is noted specifically that in the near future a lot more information will be posted including some 'extra cool details'.

In Japan, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom is currently the Wii's only console exclusive traditional fighter. I'm curious if it will be following the same trend here in the US or if Capcom is potentially looking at a release on another console as well... I would assume that if the game was possible on the PS2, it would've been released on the PS2/Wii in Japan, so it seems like the only alternative would be a release on one of the HD consoles. Would Tatsunoko vs. Capcom work for the PS3/Xbox 360 audiences?

While the sales for Tatsunoko vs. Capcom in Japan were merely modest at best, I wouldn't be surprised if Capcom started looking at all of their release options in the US to take advantage of the potential user bases (and cross-over sales from the recently reinvigorated Street Fighter crowd) available as a cross-platform experiment. With Capcom, its hard to tell sometimes when using the word exclusive.

As a side note, the game is also going to make it to Europe which makes the logistical licensing nightmare even more interesting. I think it was said at one time that there were 12 licenses here in the US that needed to sign off and approve the game to make it happen stateside... With Europe in the mix as well, I can't even begin to imagine the headache this was for Capcom to make happen.

Street Fighter IV PC Specs

2009-05-15T14:40:00.001-07:00

Capcom released the specs for Street Fighter IV on the PC earlier today via e-mail. While the minimum specs were posted a while ago, the 'maximum' specs are new and should provide gamers a good idea of what it's going to take to be able to run Street Fighter IV the way it should be played. While my laptop is definitely out of the question (no Street Fighter IV on the go for me it seems), my new desktop should be able to handle the game at maximum without any issues.

Street Fighter IV is going to be released on June 30th in two packages. The first package will be the game alone and it will retail for $39.99. The second will be the game and a MadCatz fight pad (which is actually not half bad if it's the same quality of the console release)retailing for $59.99. Despite owning the PS3 version of the game, I'm definitely considering picking it up on the PC as well for a good look at the differences between the two versions.

While there aren't any real bonus features to the PC version of Street Fighter IV, we do get some nifty filters to play around with. Win?

One thing I'm curious about is whether or not with the minimum system specs if the game will still run at the appropriate speed... With inputs being incredibly important, any delay or jerkiness would really be a bit of a detriment to the experience.

The system specs are posted below. I've also included the Taito Type-X2 specs that the original arcade game was running on reference.

Minimum
OS: Windows XP
CPU: Intel Pentium4 2.0GHz or higher
RAM: 1GB or higher
HDD: 10GB of free space or more
Video Card: DirectX 9.0c/Shader3.0 or higher compatible, NVIDIA GeForce6600 series, ATI Radeon(TM) X1600 or higher or higher, VRAM ：256MB or higher
Sound: DirectSound compatible, DirectX 9.0c (or higher) compatible
Input Devices: Mouse, Keyboard

Maximum
OS: Windows Vista
CPU: Intel Core2Duo 2.0GHz or higher
RAM: 2GB or higher
HDD: 10GB of free space or more
Video Card: DirectX 9.0c/Shader3.0 or higher compatible, NVIDIA GeForce8600 series or higher, ATI Radeon(TM) X 1900 or higher, VRAM ：512MB or higher
Sound: DirectSound compatible, DirectX 9.0c (or higher) compatible
Input Devices: Gamepad ：Xbox360 Controller for Windows

Type-X2 Specs
OS: Microsoft Windows XP Embedded
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400／Pentium 4 651／Celeron D 352 (up to latest Core 2 CPUs supported by the chipset)
Chipset: Intel Q965 + ICH8
Monitor: 720p/1080p/1440p HD LCD Monitor
RAM: DDR2 667/800MHz (512MB/1GB, up to 4GB)
GPU: PCI Express x16-based graphics. Support cards include ATI RADEON X1600Pro/X1300LE or nVIDIA GeForce 7900GS／7600GS／7300GS, up to latest graphic cards (Radeon HD 3800 or Geforce 9800 series)
Sound: Onboard Realtek HD 7.1 channel Sound (supports add-in sound cards)
LAN: 10/100/1000 BASE-T
I/O ports: 1x JVS, 4x USB 2.0 (up to 8), 1x serial (max 2), 1x parallel port, 2x PS/2, 2x SATA
Audio inputs: AKG C535EB Stage Microphone, line-in (Surround 7.1)
Audio outputs: 7.1, SPDI/FX
Expansion Slots: 1x PCI Express x16 (used by video card), 1x PCI Express x4, 2x PCI
Storage: 2x 80 GB 10k RPM SATA Hard Drives
Media: 80 GB 10000 rpm Hard Drive

Deathsmiles Mega Black Label now up on Xbox Live

2009-05-13T17:36:00.000-07:00

According to the Japanese Xbox Live Marketplace website, the Mega Black Label update for Deathsmiles was posted for download earlier yesterday. I would've went online to go check it out, but after seeing the download size (524mb), I've realized that I've probably gotten as much life out of my Japanese Xbox 360 Arcade as is possible this generation without a new equipment purchase.

It's time to go ahead and take the plunge and buy a hard-drive now that I have the motivation since the Mega Black Label release is not going to be fitting on any of my memory cards.

With that said, while I'm waiting to go out and finally purchase the hard-drive (something I should've done a while ago), EOJ over on the Cave-STG forums has once again posted a few thoughts about the transition from the arcade to Xbox 360 release. Unfortunately, it sounds like the attention spent to make the original Deathsmiles release as close to arcade perfect as possible wasn't maintained with the release of MBL.

The Deathsmiles' MBL update is listed online at 1200 points.

DUX for the Dreamcast nearing release?

2009-05-13T15:01:00.000-07:00

DUX is one of those games that keep on popping up from time to time - just enough to keep me interested - but often without enough new information to really warrant a posting. It seems that whenever its release date comes just around the corner, we see it pushed back further and further causing the game to slip a bit from mind and view (remember this game was initially set for release in July 2008).

This has perhaps been a bit frustrating for gamers who initially pre-ordered the title when it was first announced, but it is understandable considering the small development team and the independent nature of the project. Fortunately, this cycle of delays may finally be coming to a close as a new release date has finally been posted on the game's development blog and with an updated product listing on Play-Asia.com. DUX is set to be available sometime this month based on the early estimates.

DUX is the latest in a line of recent CD independent Dreamcast releases. Rene Hellwig, one of the game's developers, also worked on the 2007 release of Last Hope. While there was some criticism in general for the game, I personally enjoyed the efforts of NG:DEV.TEAM with the outing. Last Hope had a rather steep difficulty curve and also suffered a bit from some odd collision detection issues, but overall I felt it was generally satisfying. However it is a bit hard to recommend if you don't already appreciate horizontal shooters (and in specific - the NEO GEO horis).

DUX has taken pretty much the exact opposite color palette from Last Hope and instead of relying on a dark and gritty atmosphere has opted for bright whites and pastels. In addition, the combination of sprites and CGI really does make for a rather unique and visually stimulating look. It may be a bit much for some people, but it is different, to say the least.

When it comes to the actual game system however, DUX has some rather obvious influences with a few tweaks (R-Type in pink?). It won't win any rewards for originality, but as long as the experience from the Last Hope project is put to good use, DUX should be improving on a solid foundation.

The bullet-eating focus of DUX's play style is also promised to be well developed over the game's 6 stages. While there is some concern about the difficulty of the game due to the feature, Rene Hellwig has been quick to point out that since the game has been developed around the absorption feature, it was balanced with it in mind every step of the way. DUX seems to be a lot more immediately accessible than Last Hope - which is good considering the previous game's high difficulty level - however, it'll be interesting to see if DUX ends up being an over-reaction to that criticism at the cost of its own difficulty.

DUX can be ordered through Play-Asia.com. A limited edition version of the game will ship with the official soundtrack (which based on the trailers isn't half bad). As a reminder, due to the CD based nature of the release, DUX may not work on all Dreamcast models, so it is important to check the compatability (pre-October 2000) before ordering to ensure DUX will work. A boss rush trailer and the normal trailer have been included below. I'm crossing my fingers that DUX will stay on tract for a May release.

The game's official website can be found at DUX.hucast.net.

King of Fighters XII Ignition USA website launched (includes official fan art competition)

2009-05-12T16:41:00.001-07:00

Ignition USA and SNK Playmore opened the package on the King of Fighters XII teaser site from a couple of months ago and in its place revealed the official launch version of the website (borrowed heavily in my opinion, from the visual look of the covers of the pre-redesigned Arcadia magazine).

Included on the front page are links to the teaser trailer, character profiles, downloads, and a special bloodlines section that offers a brief history of the King of Fighters. While specific storylines aren't fully explained, there is at least a passing mention on how the games have tied in together in specific arcs.

There is also a link to Ignition USA's King of Fighters XII forums, where surprisingly, the team at Ignition has been rather supportive in discussing the game with fans as much as possible.

In addition to the links and game information, Ignition USA is hosting a King of Fighters XII fan art contest. The contest will be held through July 31st and includes the chance at winning $1000 (in addition to other prizes such as a PS3/Xbox 360, limited edition figurines, or even the King of Fighters XII game). While I don't have a creative bone in my body, I'm eager to see what sort of submissions Ignition receives from fans of the games - especially when featuring characters who are currently no-shows in the new King of Fighters (Blue Mary for example is already featured on the fan art page).

A couple of the artists already shown on the fan art site have Deviant art websites up that may be interesting to glance through for those who like some of the pieces showcased. While neither gallery is solely King of Fighters related, Teben's gallery and Pyawakit's gallery both showcase pieces relating to several different franchises (such as Street Fighter) and original work.

Following a link from the Deviant art site, the two artists have started a blog called SNK Saturday, which as a build up to the King of Fighters release, will have their own unique takes on SNK fighters posted every Saturday. Each of the pieces they have shown on the fan art page are already updated on the blog (including a special one for you Mai fans out there).

I wonder if they would be willing to take requests? Ralf, maybe?

As a bit of a side note here - for King of Fighters fans looking for other competitions related to their favorite franchise... Cyberfanatix posted a link earlier this week to a Movieset contest for the King of Fighters movie. The grand prize winner will receive an autographed director's chair featuring the signatures from the cast and the crew of the recently wrapped production.

While my personal feelings aren't too high on the movie right now (based solely on the cast and crew interviews), even if it does end up a trainwreck, the director's chair would be a nice piece of memorabilia in a weird sort of bad Hollywood stories sort of way.

And it's free to enter...

NEO GEO Stick 2 for the PS3 (and a second KOF branded stick for the PS3)

2009-05-08T13:43:00.000-07:00

Dengeki Online has released the first information about two arcade sticks being produced just in time for King of Fighters XII in July.

While the 6 button stick may feature the official artwork, my interest (if I was in the market for an arcade stick for King of Fighters XII) would rest solely on the side of Exar's re-packaging of the NEO GEO Stick for the PS3. I know that there is a bit of a divide in the layout that arcade cabinets have been utilizing in regards to King of Fighters XII, so it's only fitting that Exar is looking at packaging two sticks for the game. One features the 2 rows of 3 buttons to accomodate the 2 punch (AC) over 2 kick (BD) that most cabinets seem to be sporting (a la King of Fighters XI minus the extra E button). The second stick showcases the more traditional 4 button horizontal layout (which is rare in arcades from my understanding, but definitely out there).

Now before everyone gets too excited, one thing I should mention here is that Exar is not necessarily known for entirely authentic arcade-like experiences with their sticks. While they can often work as an acceptable alternative/lower cost option to higher cost sticks, they have been difficult to mod and skimp a bit on the parts department. Unfortunately the Wii stick released for Tatsunoko vs. Capcom also was a bit on the light side, which is bad for me considering I usually enjoy a bit of weight in my sticks (maybe I should've just opened it up and attached a five pound weight on the inside?). Both of these sticks are being published by Exar, so while that does mean a lower price there is a bit of a trade-off either way.

The Neo Geo Stick 2 will be retailing for around $55 while the USB 6 button stick will be retailing for around $65. For now, both of the fighting sticks have only been announced for Japan and only for the PS3... I would think that Exar would try to get in on the Xbox 360 version of the Neo Geo Stick seeing as though right now XBLA is the only announced platforms for the releases of King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match and King of Fighters 2k2 Ultimate Match for next generation consoles. Maybe closer to the release of King of Fighters '98 UM on the console?

A few more King of Fighters headlines...

2009-05-08T09:03:00.000-07:00

This week has seen a few choice nuggets of information from SNK Playmore (and Ignition USA) in regards to King of Fighters XII and now, AM-net has posted a couple of links that may be interesting to fans waiting for the King of Fighters 2K2 Unlimited Match arcade release.

SNK Playmore has launched the official arcade King of Fighters 2k2 website in the form of a giant splash page... The former PS2 exclusive remake will be hitting arcades later this year debuting on the SIE produced System Y2 board that debut at AOU 2009. At this time, the splash page is a little bare, but as par to the course by SNK Playmore, the website will begin filling out in time with regular updates starting with this weekend's location test. A look over at the PS2 version of the official website will give a good impression of what to expect.

In addition to the link to the official (sparse) website, AM-net also posted their blog report detailing this weekend's location test (and a few images including King of Fighters 2K2:UM's massive character select screen). The online forum KOF Union has posted some images as well of the location test which shows off a fairly good shot of the System Y2 board outside of the cabinet.

As a final note - the home version of King of Fighters XII had its Japanese official site launched - which includes the box art for Japanese version of the game. I find it rather funny that one of the fan-created mock box art pieces that were shown off in the Ignition USA thread about voting for your box art actually ended up being near identical to the Playstation 3's box art of King of Fighters XII. I guess it goes to show that a good idea is ultimately universal...

Elizabeth and Mature - King of Fighters XII Console characters

2009-05-07T03:33:00.000-07:00

2 characters for the console versions of King of Fighters XII have been revealed in the pages of the Famitsu scans floating around this morning. Elizabeth and Mature will be appearing alongside the other 20 characters when King of Fighters XII hits store shelves this July.

Though most people had assumed that Mai and K' were going to be the rumored console fighters due to their official art appearing on the King of Fighters' website that appeared to be roughly the same style as the official King of Fighters XII art, Elizabeth was rare in that she was previously announced for the game but then somewhat disappeared from all promotional pieces (and was notably absent from the arcade version).

Considering how vital Elizabeth is to Ash's story, her inclusion makes me curious whether or not the rather bare bones plot of the King of Fighters XII arcade game is going to be fleshed out a bit more in the game for its home release... Especially when looking at how several of the endings to King of Fighters XI can be tied into the new tournament.

Could this possibly mean the inclusion of a boss as well?

While I should say that I would much prefer another 'normal' fighter over the inclusion of a typical King of Fighters boss, I'm not sure how well a home audience would respond to a game without a traditional 'ending'.

Street Fighter IV's input displays are rather enlightening...

2009-05-06T19:46:00.001-07:00

Probably one of the most inadvertently entertaining features of the Championship mode update for Street Fighter IV on the Xbox 360 has been Capcom's inclusion of allowing for display inputs to be turned on during replays of match ups. While at face value this may sound a bit more technical then entertaining per se, when combined with different types of music (including beatmania mixes) and Youtube commentary, they become a bonafide riot. LordBBH on Youtube has perfected an art form here. Hopefully it is something he plans to continue...

Chaos Code website updates

2009-05-06T13:37:00.000-07:00

FK Digital's Chaos Code website was recently updated earlier this week after the game's first official location tests.

While most of the details are focused on the fluff behind the game (the character profiles and story), each of the current characters featured on the website do show off a couple of fairly good quality screen shots for those who may be interested in the game. As for the story itself, while it won't win any rewards for its uniqueness, is at least somewhat compelling (and filled with some fairly unique character backgrounds now that their profiles are listed - designs not withstanding). The story is set in the future --- a scientist who has discovered a source of infinite power has disappeared leaving a panicked world left looking for the meaning of his last message: Chaos Code.

I'll definitely be watching out for some additional information on Chaos Code and when I get around to it, post a few details about the characters listed on the official website. The game may not be breaking any new ground, but it does look like FK Digital will be succeeding in their transition from their doujin PC releases to an arcade release quite nicely.

Help Ignition USA choose the box art for King of Fighters XII

2009-05-04T13:30:00.000-07:00

Ignition USA has opened up a poll over on their official forums to help decide on the box art for the Playstation 3 release of the game. While they did go ahead and break it down to two fairly typical choices (Iori and Kyo), both options are pretty eye-catching and likely to make a good choice on store shelves come July. Unfortunately for all US Ash Crimson supporters, root makes the comment that there was just too much backlash at putting Ash on the cover this year. Maybe another time?

Both cover options are below... Remember when you vote, the right choice is Iori.

Update - It seems that Ignition USA also posted a thread for choosing the Xbox 360 box art for King of Fighters XII. For the two choices (both also featuring Iori and Kyo), head over to Ignition USA's official forums. The two pieces use the same shots, but cropped in a different manner. Out of the two sets of pieces, it looks like Xbox 360 owners get the benefit of the better covers - but I still wouldn't be opposed to Iori gracing the cover of the PS3 version.

If you haven't had a chance to check out the forum links yet, some fans of the game have taken it upon themselves to also post some 'suggested' covers based on official King of Fighters XII artwork. There's definitely a vocal group out there that are opposed to the currently suggested shots...

Tokyo Game Action liquidation event held by Super Auction - June 6th

2009-05-04T08:43:00.001-07:00

This post is a little bitter sweet for me. Tokyo Game Action was a location that I definitely enjoyed visiting several times over the course of the last couple of years and would've enjoyed even more if I lived anywhere near Massachussets. Unfortunately due to a lot of uncontrollable circumstances, TGA announced that they were shutting their doors in February, and as a result of mounting debts would be liquidating their inventory via Super Auctions.

While it's always unfortunate to see this occur to anyone, it's even more unfortunate when it is an arcade that really went their extra mile in order to try to promote arcade competition and a good environment for tournament organizers and players alike.

PressStartComic elected to post a small feature on Youtube! promoting the auction which I've embedded below. For anyone interested in Japanese arcade games, Tokyo Game Action was one of the better locations in the US. Though the selection wasn't always my cup of tea, they at least tried to keep on the cutting edge of fighting game releases when possible. I know that personally prior to going to Tokyo Game Action, I had not seen Melty Blood in any other US arcades.

Though the full list of games is incomplete on the Super Auctions website, the small selection listed should be enough to drive interest for other arcade owners (and possibly private buyers) - especially with the listing of Street Fighter IV. For more information on attending, check out the Super Auctions site which includes the details on registration.

The message boards for the arcade (as well as the website's game lists) are still available at the Tokyo Game Action official website.

Direct feed King of Fighters XII and BlazBlue videos from Arcade Infinity

2009-05-03T06:49:00.000-07:00

For some really, really nice direct feed videos of King of Fighters XII and BlazBlue - head over to the Arcade Infinity Youtube! channel. The California based arcade has been kind enough to post a few random matches online featuring both games in real action at their facility. In addition to this, there are also quite a few Street Fighter IV videos (including some from RANBAT tournament play). Considering that the number of facilities that currently has King of Fighters XII in the US can be counted on one hand, I'm hoping that the game is going to get more video treatment from AI. I haven't seen the game in person since they cleaned up the HUD, but every time I see it in action I am liking it more and more.

Both King of Fighters XII and BlazBlue look incredibly sharp... It's almost a shame that both are being released to consoles roughly a month apart (and without much time in arcades for King of Fighters XII), because I have a bad feeling that one of them may end up being a little lost to the mix.

I Got Next trailer

2009-05-01T14:06:00.001-07:00

I believe that Ian Cofino deserves a reward... For a trailer. Seriously.

I picked up a post over on the SRK forums in regards to a documentary based on the fighting game scene in the US. I'm not quite sure how I missed this before (possibly due to the fact that work has me rather busy), but for what is an independently-funded, labor of love, I Got Next has my full attention.

If the trailer is an adequate fore-shadowing of the quality of the final product, it looks like the documentary should be able to provide a nice King of Kong-esque view into the insides of a new (old school?) circle of competitive gaming. Of course, it does have the disadvantage of not having a Billy Mitchell to love to hate, but with some competent editing, anyone can be made out to be a villain (Justin Wong maybe?).

I've went ahead and embedded Ian Cofino's Youtube! trailer below, but for full details on the movie (including a much higher qualilty versoin of the trailer), I recommend heading over to the I Got Next official website.

There are two planned releases for the free documentary starting with a shorter version of the film available late May on the I Got Next website. This is right in time for the beginning to the height of the competitive season for fighting games both here in the US and in Japan which culminates with the Super Battle Opera in mid-August. A second version of the film - the full cut - will be released in the Winter of 2009.

The Beginner's Incomplete Guide to King of Fighters

2009-04-30T18:10:00.000-07:00

With King of Fighters XII on the horizon I've been gathering some feedback from different people around the internet in regards to their interest in the title. Though it's safe to say that there is quite a bit of hype built up for the game, one thing that has struck me as being interesting in regards to the release is the number of people who are saying that King of Fighters XII will be their first King of Fighters purchase.

While it is definitely great to see this new interest in the franchise for those gamers who grew up on the Capcom side of the 2D fence during the 90's, the transition to King of Fighters may be a bit jarring. Fortunately, DandyDLC on YouTube! has posted a short set of videos offering gamers a chance to learn the basics of King of Fighters that have remained as core components since its first outing with King of Fighters '94.

These two videos are built on the pre-tense that you are already comfortable enough with 2d fighting games (specifically Street Fighter IV) to understand some generic concepts and a few terms. However, it branches out quickly from there to explain the differences in the series and the tools that are needed to be mastered to really 'get' King of Fighters.

Whether you are just beginning with the series or are a bit rusty, DandyDLC has definitely done a favor to anyone interested in picking up King of Fighters XII (or checking out any of the other King of Fighters titles). Hopefully this guide is just the start of a longer series because out of all the fighting game video tutorials online this one really stands out. There's at least one more part coming, so when it gets posted I'll be sure to link it.

As a side note, Ignition Entertainment, SNK Playmore, and EVO Championship Series will also be hosting a King of Fighters XII tournament Saturday, May 30th, in Los Angeles, California. Sign ups have been open since April 6th at the EVO website. It is a first-come, first-serve basis with sign ups open to the first 128 players. Should be interesting to check out to say the least...

Death Smiles (Xbox 360) hits #6 on the sales charts - tops for a shooter this generation

2009-04-29T18:21:00.000-07:00

Earlier today Famitsu posted last week's sales figures covering 4/20 - 4/26. One bright spot in the top 10 of the list happened to be the Xbox 360 port of Death Smiles, Cave's most recent Xbox 360 shooter offering.

Though it may not seem like much, Death Smiles' entry onto the top 10 with 20,000 units sold as a debut marks the first time that a traditional shooter has broken that boundary its first week of release for current generation consoles in Japan. It also eclipsed the performance of the 5pb port of Dodonpachi Daioujou (though it should be noted that Dodonpachi Daioujou was previously ported with a solid release on the PS2).

Considering that this was the first self-developed and published effort on the part of Cave in regards to their shooter collection on the Xbox 360, it is definitely a promising outlook for future support on the console. And it's also nice to see that the effort that was put into making the port as accurate as possible was also well rewarded. For information on the changes from the arcade pcb to the Xbox 360 version of Death Smiles, I recommend checking out EOJ's post on his forums over at Cave-STG. For those casual shooter fans out there that want to learn a bit more about Cave's entries into the genre, the resource is one that I highly recommend.

The highest previous opening by an Xbox 360 shooter was Konami's home port of Otomedius G for the console that sold 15,000 in its first week. It's slightly interesting to note that Death Smiles also outperformed Cave's last PS2 outing, Ibara.

In other Death Smiles news, the sequel to Death Smiles has been making the early runs of location tests around mid-April. Once I've seen a few impressions posted in regards to the game I'll be sure to share the links. Until then, I've decided to go ahead and embed one of the videos from the test below. This one is a second video coming from wx7407 (who provided the Chaos Code Youtube videos from yesterday).

Chaos Code Location Test

2009-04-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

During this past weekend, FK Digital developed Chaos Code was put through its first location test.

This game has been floating in limbo on the net since 2005, when at least for a brief moment there were images shown that tied Chaos Code to Arc System Works through a logo on the FK Digital website. At this time, even though all mention of Arc System Works has since been removed, I find the previous connection mildly interesting because from a superficial viewing of the location test videos I'm getting a definite Arc System Works-esque early Guilty Gear vibe from the fighting style (with a touch of Arcana Heart from the color palette).

FK Digital is a studio that is probably best known on the web for their Super Cosplay War Ultra release. I know that the title had a bit of a following among independent PC fighting game fans, but I never spent enough time with the title to really offer any judgment on the potential of the capabilities of FK Digital's development team. It is clear however from viewing their previous works that Chaos Code is quite a large step in both scope and means from the earlier PC only releases.

With that said, a series of videos have been posted on YouTube! by wx7047 showcasing the game in action at the location test. The game shows a lot of promise with a high level of detail in the backgrounds and characters --- so much so that several of the other recently released 2D fighting games from FK Digital's peers may want to take notes. It's not perfect by any means, but when compared to Million Knights Vermillion for example, the attention to the small touches is apparent in both the scope and design. If it wasn't for a slightly generic feel to some of the character looks (except for the Chef of course), Chaos Code could really stand itself a part from the PC-to-Arcade studio developers.

In addition to these videos, the Am-net blog posted some images from the location test showcasing the character move sets and basic control hand outs for the release.

The official FK Digital website can be found here, which includes a direct link to the revamped Chaos Code website sans Arc System Works name. I'll try to keep an eye out for additional information in regards to the location test and post a few links if I start to stumble across some of the impressions from the weekend.