January 2003

Friday, January 31, 2003

Vivendi still thinking of selling...
Posted by White_Pointer @ 9:07:07 AEST
Yeah, this debate has come up again. Last year it was rumoured that Vivendi were in financial trouble and were considering the sale of their gaming division, which includes Blizzard Entertainment, Sierra and Universal Interactive. Who is the potential buyer? Well, there are a few candidates, but Microsoft seem to be the front runners. Both Sierra and Universal have been involved in the production of fighting games in the past, and if Microsoft acquires these companies, it's quite possible this could mean that future titles from these companies will be X-Box exclusive. Stay tuned for more updates.
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Wednesday, January 29, 2003

Video Game sales up in 2002
Posted by White_Pointer @ 14:44:50 AEST
NPD has recently announced that in 2002, the video game industry grossed $10.3 billion in the US alone last year, which was a 10% growth over the sales in 2001.
It may or may not surprise you to know that last year, the Video Game industry grossed more than the movie box office. So don't worry gamers, games won't be dying in a hurry, no matter how many uneducated people try to stop them.
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Monday, January 27, 2003

Soul Calibur 2 Images added!
Posted by White_Pointer @ 9:55:05 AEST
We've gone Soul Calibur 2 crazy here! The Soul Calibur Image Galleries have been updated, and you can now find more Soul Calibur 2 screens than you can shake a stick at right here at Blood-Sports.net! There's over 200 new screens of Namco's upcoming console fighter that has everyone drolling with anticipation. Prepare to drool some more, too! Added to the collection are galleries of each of the three versions coming to the next generation consoles, and these screens include screenshots of the special characters in each version! If you haven't seen them already on other sites, or even if you have, now you can see them right here and see shots of Link, Spawn and Heihachi in the Gamecube, X-Box and PS2 versions of the game, respectively.

Just click the Soul Calibur link under the Images heading in the menu, or simply click here to check out our new galleries!
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Sunday, January 26, 2003

Forums back online
Posted by White_Pointer @ 13:10:05 AEST
It's taken a day or two, but we've sorted out the problem that caused an error in our forums, and they are now back up and running again. We have a great new skin too which suits the site a hell of a lot better than the old skin, so what are you waiting for? Join up to our forums and start posting!

Godzilla: Destoy All Monsters Melee coming to X-Box
Posted by White_Pointer @ 7:24:54 AEST
Atari have announced that they are bringing Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee, the Monster brawler currently available for the Gamecube, to the X-Box. Jean-Philippe Agati, senior vice president and general manager of Infogrames' Los Angeles studio had this to say:

"Bringing the biggest and baddest monsters to the biggest and baddest console was a natural fit. With the power of the Xbox, 'Godzilla®: Destroy All Monsters Melee' captures the epic look and scale that is the promise of the landmark movies and the nuclear-powered goliaths have never seemed so real. Four player slugfests with buildings, gas tankers and cargo ships flying through the air create the ultimate party game on the Xbox!"

Saturday, January 25, 2003

Forum troubles...
Posted by White_Pointer @ 20:25:54 AEST
Our forums are currently unavailable, as it seems a malicious worm has been circulating around the Internet in the last 24 hours that attacks mySQl servers. It appears ours has been affected, so please be patient as we try and sort the problems out. Sorry for any inconvenience caused by this, we are currently working on a solution.

Friday, January 24, 2003

New Nintendo "Player's Choice" games
Posted by White_Pointer @ 19:33:49 AEST
Nintendo today announced that it has expanded the library of "Player's Choice" games -- best-selling GameCube software at a discounted price -- to include three major new titles. Hits Luigi's Mansion, Pikmin and Super Smash Bros. Melee have all been inducted into the club and will now retail for $29.95, according to the company.

This is great news for those of you who own a Gamecube but haven't yet been able to get themselves a copy of Super Smash Bros Melee, it's now retailing at only $29.95! (US currency, of course).

Also in Nintendo related news, it's been confirmed in a press release that from February 9th, Players will receive a free game when purchasing a Gamecube, so, that's even more incentive to get yourself one if you haven't already!
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Thursday, January 23, 2003

Gamefaq's top 100 games of 2002
Posted by White_Pointer @ 20:11:51 AEST
Well, every year Gamefaqs holds a contest to see who can guess the top ten games of that year, according to Gamefaq's resources, and 2002 was no different. The winners have been announced, but along with those winners, the top 100 games, according to Gamefaq's statistics, are now listed.
So how did the fighting games go? Rather good, actually. The fighting games category was well represented.

By far the best ranking Fighting game in the top 100 list is Super Smash Bros. Melee, featuring in a very impressive 6th position, with only Final Fantasy X, the two GTA games, Kingdoms Hearts and Metal Gear Solid 2 managing to beat it. Congratulations to HAL Laboratories and Nintendo for creating a truly awesome game. Shows you people are still very much into it, even more than a year after it's initial US release.

Not surprisingly, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance is featured in the top 100...twice in fact. The Playstation 2 version came in a nice 36th place and the X-Box version rolled in at 91st place. That's still pretty good, considering there isn't many games on that list that can boast being on there more than once.

Tekken 4 was also featured in the top 100, coming in at 79th place, no surprises there.

What is of surprise, is that Virtua Fighter 4 on the PS2 also made an appearance, ranking higher than Tekken 4 in 64th spot. I guess classics never die, and the fact that VF4 has ranked that high proves that the game still has a large fanbase connected to it.

The new Dragon Ball Z game also featured in the top 100, coming in at 35th spot.

If you are interested in seeing the entire list, head on over to Gamefaqs and check it out. If you are interested in knowing how they got the results, check out this page.
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Wednesday, January 22, 2003

EA to publish Soul Calibur II in Europe
Posted by White_Pointer @ 10:05:05 AEST
EA announced a few days ago that they will be the guys that will be publishing the X-Box and PS2 versions of Soul Calibur II when it is released in Europe, even though no firm European release date has been set yet. Still no confirmation about who might be publishing the Gamecube version, but logically, chances are EA will be doing that too.

Frank Sagnier, vice president of of EA distribution in Europe, had this to say about it:

"The original Soul Calibur was one of the best games ever released. We are extremely excited to be able to expand our relationship with Namco in Europe and other PAL territories and look forward to bringing these exciting games to the market."

Tuesday, January 21, 2003

Taito to release Warrior Blade: Rastan vs Barbarian
Posted by White_Pointer @ 9:30:42 AEST
Yet another fighting game has been scheduled to be released this year, and this one has been announce by Arcade games giant Taito.

Taito's sword-swinging hero Rastan makes an appearance on PlayStation 2 after a long absence.

Titled "Warrior Blade: Rastan vs. Barbarian", the new game will be a 3D fighting title rather than an action game in the vein of past Rastan outings. This game will pit characters from the Rastan universe against some from Titus' Barbarian series. With the Nintendo 64 port of Bio F.R.E.A.K.S. and the Titus-published 3D fighter Barbarian under their belts, Saffire will be developing WB:RvB. Taito will be the publisher. Playstation 2 and Nintendo GameCube versions will appear in Japan this March with a suggested retail price of 6,800 Japanese Yen. The PS2 version will be a 1 or 2 player game, while the GameCube one will have a 4 player mode.

Monday, January 20, 2003

Konami announces new fighting games for 2003
Posted by White_Pointer @ 15:18:45 AEST
The other day I made a news post about the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game, due out later this year, which is being developed by Konami. However, TMNT isn't the only game Konami are developing this year. Far from it, in fact, there's quite a few others on the horizon:

A new game in the Bloody Roar series is due to be released this year, in fact it's Bloody Roar's debut on the X-Box. Here's a little tidbit of information Konami have given us:

Bloody Roar®
Release date: Summer 2003
Genre: Fighting
Platform: Microsoft Xbox™

Bloody Roar makes its debut on the Microsoft Xbox™ in a 3D brawler that’s as ferocious as they come. Sixteen fighters, interactive 3D environments, incredible graphics and the ability to transform into Hyper-beast forms make Bloody Roar an instant classic.

Sunday, January 19, 2003

New Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance FAQ!
Posted by White_Pointer @ 7:00:48 AEST
Yep, we've finally got ourselves a quality FAQ/Move List for Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance. Myke has been kind enough to allow us host his excellent FAQ, and it covers just about everything you'll want to know about every version of the game across the consoles. So, it's now available to read in our Mortal Kombat FAQ/Moves section, available by accessing the left menu, or you can just click here.
Thanks again to Myke for letting us use his FAQ on Blood-Sports.net!
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Saturday, January 18, 2003

New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Game on it's way in 2003!
Posted by White_Pointer @ 20:40:24 AEST
Yes folks, you heard right. Those famous four mutant turtles are back, and will have a brand new game, scheduled for a release later this year. Here's the press release:

Konami of America, Inc. today revealed that all-new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games are coming to the Sony PlayStation® 2, Nintendo GameCubeTM, Game Boy® Advance and PC CD-ROM in October 2003. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brings to life the adventures of the "heroes in a half-shell" as shown in the animated series that debuts in February 2003 on FOX BOX (Saturday morning children's TV block). 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. and Mirage Licensing, Inc. are developing the show.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stars the famed heroes Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael and their legendary foe the Shredder. In these 3D fighting/action videogames, players take on the role of their favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle as they punch, kick and duck their way through battles against the Shredder and his vile pack of Foot Ninjas. In both the Story Mode and the Vs. Mode, gamers will need to master ninja butt-kickin' abilities and hand-to-hand fighting skills to make their way through streets and sewers to the Shredder's Shinto Temple. The action-packed universe and vibrant characters will thrill fans of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and gamers that are new to the series.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were created in May 1984 when Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman published a 40-page, black-and-white comic book. The original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series debuted in 1987, going on to become the #1 children's television show throughout the late 1980's and early '90's. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles merchandise licensees, including Konami and Playmates Toys, were enormously successful, selling a reported $3 billion in toys, video games and other merchandise within all product categories worldwide to date.

New Capcom vs SNK 2: EO screenshots!
Posted by White_Pointer @ 14:32:56 AEST
Yep, our image gallery has been updated with more screenshots of Capcom's latest fighter, scheduled for a release on the X-Box Live next month, so check out the Capcom vs SNK 2: EO image galleries, by clicking the "Street Fighter" link found under the Images heading in the menu, or, if you are lazy, just click here ;)
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More Soul Calibur 2 News
Posted by Spider @ 4:32:35 AEST
Gamespy has done a wonderful job in covering all of Soul Calibur 2! They have posted up pictures of all the versions of the game, not to mention close ups of each console's special character. All I can say is that they all look amazing. When you have a moment, check out their screenshots.
The game looks truly spectacular, I for one can't wait to get my hands on it. Enjoy the eye candy!
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Friday, January 17, 2003

Capcom vs SNK2:EO Extra Details
Posted by White_Pointer @ 21:49:07 AEST
A few more details have been released about the X-Box Live version of Capcom's latest 2D online fighter, although it's nothing particularly interesting that most of you Street Fighter fans won't know already. Basically, Capcom showed off the latest build of the game at a press event on Thursday, and showed off a few features. The game will feature a list of player rankings that will track the best brawlers, and it will supposedly let you compete with players internationally.

The game is scheduled for a release in February to the USA, and hopefully Capcom will give us some more info about it as the release date draws closer.
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UBS Warburg Weekly Video Game Sales
Posted by White_Pointer @ 20:49:56 AEST
Whew, it's been a while, but Warburg has finally released another installment of their weekly video game sales (I guess they took Christmas off). Anyway, there's not too much of a difference from the last one, let's take a look at the sales from January 8-14:

Rank / Title / Publisher / Platforms

1 / Grand Theft Auto: Vice City / Rockstar / PS2
2 / Splinter Cell / Ubi Soft / Xbox
3 / The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers / EA / PS2, Xbox, GC
4 / Dragon Ball Z Budokai / Infogrames / PS2
5 / Madden NFL 2003 / EA / PS2, Xbox, GC, GBA, GBC, PS, PC
6 / Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance / Midway / PS2, Xbox, GC, GBA
7 / Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon / Ubi Soft / PS2, Xbox, PC
8 / SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs / Sony / PS2
9 / Metroid Prime / Nintendo / GC
10 / James Bond 007: NightFire / EA / PS2, Xbox, GC, PC

Well, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance is still firmly cemented in the top ten, coming in nicely in 6th place, which is actually one place higher than it was last week. The Dragon Ball Z game, which is also a fighter, didn't move and remains in 4th place.
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Thursday, January 16, 2003

IGN's 2002 Fighting Game Awards
Posted by White_Pointer @ 22:26:43 AEST
IGN recently announced their awards for the best Fighting Game on the Gamecube in 2002. Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance came in a clear first place, while Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee was the runner up.
You can check it out in more detail here
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Soul Calibur 2 Details
Posted by Spider @ 0:37:34 AEST
Namco has made an annoucement that Soul Calibur 2 will be released in Japan on March 27th and in North America in August 2003 on all the consoles. (Xbox, GC, PS2) The game will even sport a "Weapon Master" mode, where the player plays through designated missions, and can use up to 200 weapons. The GC game sports Nintendo's Link as a guest character, the PS2 will have Heihachi from Tekken, and the Xbox version will feature Spawn. The game looks to be very interesting, sit tight SC fans, you'll be playing it soon enough.
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Tuesday, January 14, 2003

Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance sells one million copies in 2002!
Posted by White_Pointer @ 21:32:05 AEST
This is almost unbelievable news. Midway recently announced that despite releasing the game in the US on November 22nd, they sold a million copies of Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance in 2002! A remarkable feat to sell that many copies of a game in a little over a month.

We are thrilled the gaming community fully embraced the latest edition of the Mortal Kombat franchise," said Helene Sheeler, vice president of marketing, Midway. "Mortal Kombat titles have always been top sellers in the fighting game genre and the successful sales of Deadly Alliance reinforce that Midway is giving gamers exactly what they want."

PS2 breaks selling records in 2002
Posted by White_Pointer @ 19:32:06 AEST
Sony announced a few days ago that during the peak season of 2002, the PS2 broke all selling records in it's history, both hardware and software, in Japan, America and Europe. The UK surpringly was one of the best selling countries for Sony, despite some predictions that it wouldn't sell there with the launch of the X-Box and Gamecube last year.

"Considering 2002 was also the first year that two new competitive formats launched against PS2, we take great pride in the fact that not only have we seen this increase in sales but also are on track to exceed our own sales forecasts," said Ray Maguire, Managing Director of Sony Computer Entertainment UK. "Along with phenomenal sales of hardware, GTA Vice City and The Getaway - both PlayStation 2 exclusives - became the fastest selling video games in the history of the industry and both dominated the charts for the Christmas period." Maguire continued, "It is remarkable to think that in just over two years we are half way to achieving what PlayStation did in seven years."

New Poll
Posted by White_Pointer @ 19:19:44 AEST
Seems like an age since we had a new poll! There are several new fighting games that have been announced recently and are on the horizon, including Capcom Fighting All Stars, Dead or Alive: Code Chronos, the console versions of Soul Calibur II, and possibly a sequel to Godzilla Destroy All Monsters Melee. Capcom have also announced that they are planning on releasing more of their classic Street Fighter style fighters on the Gameboy Advance. It was even hinted in the Fight Night transcript that there could be another Mortal Kombat game in the not too distant future. So, the new poll is, which one of these are you most looking forward to?
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Poll Results
Posted by White_Pointer @ 19:06:57 AEST
Well, I think our current poll has been running long enough, let's look at the results:

Are you going to buy Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance?

55.3% Hell yes!
15.9% It's Mortal Kombat! Who wouldn't?!
10.6% Maybe
9% No way
7.5% Uhh, there's a new MK game?

Well, seems like the vast majority of people really did want to buy the new MK game, and it's no surprise either, as it's an awesome game.


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Monday, January 13, 2003

DOA Xtreme Beach Volleyball receives an M rating
Posted by White_Pointer @ 6:25:00 AEST
This isn't really a game we cover here, but it's worth noting this since it's part of the Dead or Alive series. DOA Xtreme Beach Volleyball has been given an M rating by the ESRB, who had this to say about it:

"While there isn't rampant nudity in the game, there are certain elements that caused the ESRB to give it the nudity descriptor," said John Inada, director of marketing and sales at Tecmo. "As with all other games in the Dead or Alive franchise, we believe the stunning visuals, explosive action, and classic arcade gameplay will bring Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball to an even wider audience of admirers."

Friday, January 10, 2003

EA SPORTS Arenas - Gaming on the Big Screen!
Posted by White_Pointer @ 15:05:42 AEST
Wow...this is a very impressive feat that Electronic Arts have pulled off here. So impressive, in fact, that it's worth quoting the entire press release:

The very first ESPORTS ARENA in the nation opens on New Years Day, Wednesday, January 1, 2003 at Pacific Theatres Gaslamp 15 in downtown San Diego. Presenting a new concept in entertainment, ESPORTS ARENA offers a state-of-the-art venue for enjoying PC and video computer games, serving everyone from those looking for a casual evening of fun to the hardcore gaming enthusiast.
ESPORTS ARENA provides a comfortable high-tech environment, featuring amenities including the latest high-speed equipment and newest, most popular games and a wide variety of food and beverage concessions. The location in San Diego is the first of an estimated 400 locations that will be opened with other major theater chains throughout the United States in the next four years. Conceived by visionary John Varley, the company's CEO, ESPORTS ARENA was inspired by the enormous growth in the electronic gaming industry. Varley said, "Gaming has become a mainstream form of entertainment taking a prominent place alongside television, movies and music. With over 145 million existing computer game players in the United States, we felt there was a demand for a new type of venue where gamers could meet to play and compete."
Varley pioneered computer and video game tournaments throughout Europe, North America, Asia and Latin America. He also operated the World Cyber Games tournaments in North America and Europe. The first "Olympics" style sporting event for computer game players, it drew participants from 14 nations.

PC and console games are the fastest growing form of entertainment in the United States, with consumers spending more on gaming software than on movie tickets in the past year. ESPORTS ARENA offers a number of unprecedented features that take the concept of competition and lifestyle of gaming to a whole new level. Both PC as well console games will be offered, with players competing on an "even playing field," using equipment with identical speeds and technical specifications. As many as 24 four-person teams can be accommodated simultaneously, making the site ideal for multiple-player tournaments. Contests will also be officiated, with referees available to ensure fair play for all participants.

With many households now equipped with broadband access, the popularity of online gaming is exploding. As much fun as playing from home can be, nothing can compare with the adrenaline rush that can only come from playing before a live audience. With ESPORTS ARENA, no longer are computer game contests considered "virtual competitions." The action is real -- live, pulse-pounding affairs held before wildly enthusiastic crowds, with glorious victory or humiliating defeat hanging in the balance on each player's every move.

Using a patent pending model, ESPORTS ARENA takes a single auditorium in an existing operating movie theater multiplex, which is then designated as an ESPORTS ARENA Entertainment Center. All seats are removed and the auditorium is retrofitted with specialized equipment including game stations, new digital projectors and an ESPORTS ARENA Broadcast System. Plasma screens are also installed throughout the auditorium and cinema lobby. In a typical situation, such as the Gaslamp location, 110 game stations are installed in a 230 seat theater. The result is a venue specifically designed for the purpose of conducting multi-player computer game tournaments. In addition to the displays at the individual stations, ongoing competition between players can be displayed in real time for both the audience as well as game players on the theater auditorium's giant screen using special split-screen technology. Varley said, "The huge cinema screens offer a breathtaking way to view video games -- an ideal means for game publishers to showcase their newest games."

ESPORTS ARENA utilizes a photo ID smart card system that allows returning gaming customers easy access to the venue. In addition, movie theater patrons may show their ticket stubs to receive a free photo ID smart card and free access for 40 minutes to the ESPORTS ARENA, where they can play games -- or just check their e-mail. The photo ID smart card references birthdates to prevent minors from accessing restricted games or Web sites.

ESPORTS ARENAs will immediately serve the estimated 145 million existing computer and console game players, while an additional 200 million movie goers in the United States will be introduced to the excitement of gaming on a scale and with a scope never seen before. ESPORTS ARENAs are specially designed for holding multi-player tournaments, leagues and competition for gamers of every level.

Wednesday, January 8, 2003

OMG TEH MEGATON ANNOUNCEMENT!!!1
Posted by BobXFett @ 9:35:19 AEST
Heh, if you follow with Nintendo news you've probably heard rumblings about a 'Megaton Announcement' that was supposed to occur around now. Most people have brushed it off as a rumor, but it turns out it is sort of true. It might not be a megaton, but it's impressive as hell, especially considering the timing of it:

Click here for some info

I just have to say this to all of you who already bought a GBA: Muahaha! My patience has payed off!
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Tuesday, January 7, 2003

Confirmed Australian release date for MK:DA on Gamecube
Posted by White_Pointer @ 9:46:08 AEST
Up until now it's been very strange that stores have Australian release dates for the X-Box and PS2 versions of Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance but not the Gamecube...but never fear Australian Nintendo fans, it's coming. I contacted the Official Australian Nintendo Helpline today and confirmed that the game is scheduled for an Australian release on February the 14th, the same date as the other versions. So, only about a month away!
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Sunday, January 5, 2003

The Panasonic Q
Posted by White_Pointer @ 16:30:05 AEST
Well, this might be old news to some of you, but it's only become recent knowledge to myself. Panasonic have combined a Gamecube and a DVD player together, and the end result is the Panasonic Q. Strange name, I'll grant you that, but apparently it's really good and a much better DVD player than the PS2 is. They aren't planning on shipping it outside of Japan though, so it's only available on import.

Check out Planet Gamecube for a review of the machine itself.
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Saturday, January 4, 2003

PS2 Network adapters sell like hotcakes
Posted by White_Pointer @ 10:28:29 AEST
Sony recently announced that they sold 600,000 of their PS2 network adapters in 2002, 200,000 in Japan and 400,000 in the US. Seems like people are really starting to latch on to online console gaming, given the popularity of the launch of X-Box Live last year as well. We already know a couple of fighters from Capcom are X-Box Live compatible, will there be more fighters to play online soon for the other systems as well?
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Wednesday, January 1, 2003

Updates on the financial situation at Midway
Posted by White_Pointer @ 19:40:04 AEST
Squash reported on Christmas day of a rumour that Midway were in financial trouble and were seeking someone to buy them.

Well, it turns out that indeed Midway have not been as profitable in 2002 as they had hoped, with their games Dr Muto and Defender not selling well at all. According to a Midway representative, this was partially offset by the unexpected huge demand for Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance.

However, they aren't after a buyout as Squash had suggested, but rather, reported this little tidbit:

For the full year ending December 31, 2003, Midway expects revenues of between $250.0 million and $275.0 million, and pre-tax earnings of between $20.0 million and $30.0 million. Midway is currently exploring opportunities to streamline operations that, if adopted, could result in non-recurring charges reducing expected pre-tax earnings.