May 2004

Monday, May 31, 2004

Tekken 5 E3 2004 trailer
Posted by White_Pointer @ 22:22:17 AEST
We've finally got our hands on the E3 2004 trailer for Tekken 5, and now you can get your hands on it! This is the trailer that was shown to the public at E3, and provides a very good look at what we can expect from the gameplay. It also shows us the new characters as well as many of the returning ones, and provides a good sample of the new graphics engine that looks really impressive so far. Grab it from our Tekken movies page!
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Sunday, May 30, 2004

New MK: Deception trailer
Posted by White_Pointer @ 22:42:04 AEST
We have a new Mortal Kombat: Deception trailer, this one is from E3 2004, and shows much more of the gameplay, giving us a better look at elements like the arena weapons and battleground interactivity, plus a good look at many of the fatalities, including the stage death traps! Download it from our Mortal Kombat movies page!
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Saturday, May 29, 2004

New Tekken 5 info
Posted by White_Pointer @ 22:24:19 AEST
We've got some new information that's been revealed about Namco's recently announced Tekken 5. We now know that Bruve Irvine and Anna Williams will both be making a return, and there is also a strong rumour that Heihachi isn't really dead. Tekken fans may also be pleased to know that the juggle system in T4 has been ditched in favour of the one present in TTT and the wall system is being changed. Position change has been removed, and left/right throws have been added back in. There is also consideration at the moment to add in an SC/SCII style story mode, and lots of new arts are being added. Thanks to forum member king kazuya for the news!

We'll have more information at it becomes available.
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Friday, May 28, 2004

New Fight Club screenshots
Posted by White_Pointer @ 21:14:34 AEST
Fight Club, the new 3D fighting game based on the hit movie that was announced before E3 is continuing to progress nicely. This may indeed be the biggest fighting game surprise of 2004 if development continues in this way. We learned some more about the game at E3, and now we have some more brand new screenshots of the game you can see right here on Blood-Sports.net, so check them out in our Fight Club image gallery!
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Thursday, May 27, 2004

More info on Guilty Gear Isuka
Posted by White_Pointer @ 22:32:32 AEST
After E3, we still have some more new information on Sammy's upcoming Guilty Gear Isuka.

We already know that it'll feature 4 player simultaneous play, but we now know the game will feature combo upgrading and all new modes of play that are yet to be revealed which take advantage of this feature in different ways. The four player mode introduces team combat and the overall game speed has been increased. The combo system has also been refined and the game will feature 23 playable characters, three of which are brand new. Perhaps the best new addition is the new "Boost" mode, which goes back to arcade roots and allows you to play as a GG character in a side-scrolling beat'em up. And of course, one of GG's best traits is its music score, and GG Isuka won't disappoint, with an all new soundtrack heavily influenced by modern rock and heavy metal.

We'll have more information as it becomes available...stay tuned!
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Wednesday, May 26, 2004

The best fighting games of E3
Posted by White_Pointer @ 21:37:16 AEST
Well E3 is well and truly over for another year, so we thought we'd bring you the news on what the other big gaming sites out there judged to be the best fighting game of E3.

- XBox IGN voted Mortal Kombat: Deception as their fighter of choice for E3. Fight Club was a runner-up and Dead or Alive Ultimate was the best non-playable presentation.
- PS2 IGN put Guilty Gear Isuka as their fighting game of the show with Mortal Kombat: Deception a runner-up. Tekken 5 was also a runner-up for the best non-playable presentation.
- Gamespy's opinion was that Dead or Alive Ultimate had the prize.
- Gamespot also said Mortal Kombat: Deception was the best fighting game of the show.

What about you? What did you consider to be the best fighting game of E3 this year? Why not discuss it in our forums?
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Tuesday, May 25, 2004

More info on Dead or Alive Ultimate
Posted by White_Pointer @ 22:01:39 AEST
More information has been revealed about Tecmo's upcoming Dead or Alive Ultimate since the conclusion of E3. We already know that the game will be playable online, but we now also know that there will be seven different online play modes...what this means exactly is yet to be revealed. For a limited time, it'll also come in a special-edition 2-disc pack, complete with trading cards of the characters and their special moves. Of course, there will be new stages, and each character will also have new costumes. Each character will now have a different cut-scene and ending sequence which apparently reveal more of each character's story, and there will be a brand new opening movie for DOA2.

Tecmo have also said that more secrets and bonus content are going to be revealed closer to launch. Stay tuned right here and we'll bring them to you as they are announced!
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Monday, May 24, 2004

More Iron Pheonix info
Posted by White_Pointer @ 21:57:55 AEST
We have some more information on Iron Phoenix, the new multiplayer online console fighting game from Sammy that was announced for tbe XBox at E3. The game will feature 10 playable characters, and up to 16 players can duke it out simultaneously online. Team-based combos will be possible in team games, and there will be 9 unique weapons available to use during combat, each with their own unique combos and attacks that will provide an interesting mix of melee and weapons based fighting. The battle environments are set to be massive, encouraging combat in a mixture of wide open spaces and enclosed areas. As well as the game's obvious drawcard of its multiplayer action, it's promised that the game will also have a very solid single player component with an interesting story. Added to this of course is the fact it's the first ever 16 player online 3D fighting game for a console and it should be a very anticipated game as it nears release date.

We'll have more information on Iron Phoenix as it becomes available. Don't forget we've got some screenshots from the game in our new Iron Pheonix Image Gallery.
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Sunday, May 23, 2004

Namco's profits rise
Posted by White_Pointer @ 20:39:10 AEST
While companies such as Midway and Capcom have reported losses over the last year, Namco have seen a very good past year and have seen a strong increase in profits thanks to very good arcade and console game sales. They have enjoyed a huge 83.3% jump in profits to 7.6 billion yen (US $67.2 million). Most of this is attributed to Taiko no Tatsujin, a drumming game released on the arcade and consoles in Japan last year, and of course the huge success of Soul Calibur II, also released on the arcade and consoles.
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Saturday, May 22, 2004

Sammy merges with Sega, mixed opions from shareholders
Posted by White_Pointer @ 19:26:05 AEST
Only a day or two after E3, the merger between Sammy and Sega that has been talked about for a long time now was completed. With the combined income of both companies, they form one of the biggest game companies in Japan. Although experts were skeptical about the merger, the merger has shown a big increase in Sega's share price, however Sammy's shares have taken a slight fall. Time will tell what happens now after the two companies have finally ended merger talks and actually done it. We'll give you more information on this as it becomes available.
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Friday, May 21, 2004

Capcom's second year at a loss
Posted by White_Pointer @ 22:00:54 AEST
Just after E3, Capcom posted that for the second year in a row, their books have been in the red and the company has reported a loss. Although not as bad as the loss a year ago, their sales were still down 15.1 percent to 52.67 billion yen (US $461.5 million). Capcom blames poor sales of titles in the USA and Europe as the main reason for this loss. It's not all bad news however...Capcom expects to make a net profit in the coming fiscal year with several big titles planned for release, including several for the two new portable systems, the PSP and the DS.
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Thursday, May 20, 2004

SVC Chaos coming to XBox Live
Posted by White_Pointer @ 13:33:03 AEST
SNK NEOGEO USA CONSUMER CORPORATION, the US publishing arm of the SNK NEOGEO CORPORATION, have announced today that SNK vs Capcom: SVC Chaos is coming exclusively to the XBox, and will feature online play over XBox Live. This is the first official announcement on it and official confirmation from SNK that the game will in fact be playable online.

“For fans of arcade fighting games, SVC CHAOS is the ultimate dream match,” said Ben Herman, SNK NEOGEO USA CONSUMER CORPORATION President. “Now players can bring the arcade home and test their fighting skills against anyone in the world.”

Wednesday, May 19, 2004

Tekken movie coming...again
Posted by White_Pointer @ 22:11:48 AEST
Those of you with good memories might remember that a Tekken movie was announced about 2 years ago by New Line Cinema (the guys behind the two MK movies) but it had fallen through since then. New reports however are telling us that the movie is back on the cards and will be done by Miramax subsidiary Dimension Films (best known for the Scream series of films), and will begin filming late this year with a reported budget of US $40 million. Will this fall into the same category as other mediocre films based on video games? Time will tell. One thing's for sure though, a Tekken movie is definately on its way.

Another little interetsing bit of news coming from this is that it was reported Namco would be creating a new Tekken game based on the movie (which is NOT Tekken 5), however, this has NOT been confirmed by anyone within Namco at the present time.
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Tuesday, May 18, 2004

The Street Fighter controller on the way
Posted by White_Pointer @ 21:33:27 AEST
Games weren't the only thing on display at this year's E3. Nubytech had a sneak peak of their upcoming Street Fighter Controller at the show as well. This controller is specifically built to play SF games (and other Capcom fighters that use the same control scheme) and will be exclusive at the point to the PS2. Nubytech are planning on putting it on the market on July 7th, and there will be several promotions working with Capcom with SF games to promote the product. What was shown at E3 was only a very small peak at it, and if you want to find out a little more, you can visit the official Street Fighter Controller site. We'll be reporting more on this in the coming months, so stay tuned!
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Monday, May 17, 2004

E3 Wrapup
Posted by White_Pointer @ 21:25:51 AEST
Well, with all that E3 news everywhere, it must have been difficult to keep up with it all. So, here's a brief rundown as far as fighting games are concerned that have come out of E3 this year.

NEW GAMES ANNOUNCED

The King of Fighters - N-Gage (SNK)
Iron Phoenix - XBox (Sammy)
Capcom Fighting Jam - PS2 (Capcom)
Mortal Kombat - Mobile (THQ)
Samurai Shodown - Mobile (Digital Bridges)
Darkstalkers Chronicle - PSP (Capcom)
Blood Fighters - Mobile (Gameloft)
Fighting Spirits - PSP (SCEA)

GAMES WE NOW KNOW MORE ABOUT

Mortal Kombat: Deception - PS2, XBox (Midway)
Tekken 5 - PS2 (Namco)
Guilty Gear Isuka - PS2 (Sammy)
Fight Club - PS2, XBox (VU Games)
Dead or Alive Ultimate - XBox (Tecmo)
Godzilla: Save the Earth - PS2, XBox (Atari)
The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact - PS2 (SNK)
Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors - GBA (Atari)

It was indeed a busy time for us at E3 this year...we hope you enjoyed our E3 coverage, but remember it doesn't end there! We'll be reporting more on these games as the information becomes available, so make sure you stay tuned to the best place on the Internet for fighting game news: Blood-Sports.net!
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Sunday, May 16, 2004

More E3 show floor photos
Posted by White_Pointer @ 22:32:34 AEST
E3 may be over for another year, but our coverage isn't over just yet. We've got more exclusive show floor photos showing off more of the fighting games on show at E3 this year, so make sure you check them out in our E3 image gallery!
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E3 NEWS: Miscellaneous
Posted by White_Pointer @ 9:35:10 AEST
This part is for all the little things about the fighting games at E3 that we can cover in one news post.

Firstly, it's worth mentioned something about the new DBZ fighting game on its way to the GBA, Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors. It will have 15 playable characters and will feature not just ordinary 2D combat but high flying aerial action as well. The game will also allow you to customise your characters by buying fighting skills in the game's single player mode. The game is expected to be released in June.

A new 3D fighting game titled Fighting Spirits is coming to the PSP.

Lastly, Samurai Showdown, the classic 2D weapons based fighting game, is on it's way to the mobile platform.
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Saturday, May 15, 2004

E3 NEWS: King of Fighters: Maximum Impact
Posted by White_Pointer @ 23:08:15 AEST
Even more news coming in from E3 is on King of Fighters: Maximum Impact. As was previously reported, this will be the first 3D game in the series, but aside from the graphical change, there's a number of gameplay changes as well. Obviously the game will be shifting to a 3D plane, and gone is the traditional 3 on 3 fighting that the 2D series has become famous for. Instead, SNK have opted to go for traditional 1 on 1 matches. New to the series is the knockback attack, which allows you to launch your opponent into the air to set them up for devastating combos.

Returning characters include Terry Bogard, Mai Shiranui, Athena, Kyo, Ralf, Ryo, K', Clark, Leona and more, plus three new characters, Alba, Soiree and Lien. In total there will be 16 playable characters. The story will also be more prominent this time around too, you'll actually know why these guys are fighting.

The game is currently slated for an exclusive release on the PS2 later this year. And yes, we have some brand new screenshots of the game, direct from E3, so check them out in our second King of Fighters: Maximum Impact image gallery!
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E3 NEWS: Godzilla: Save the Earth
Posted by White_Pointer @ 22:16:22 AEST
As we reported a little while ago, the sequel to Godzilla: DAMM is coming to XBox and PS2: Godzilla: Save the Earth. So what's become apparent about the game after E3?

The game engine and fighting mechanics will be very much like the original game, only this time, you'll have 18 monsters to choose from instead of the 8 or 9 you had in the original. A cool new addition is the feature where you can lock onto your opponent's projectile beams if you both fire them simultaneously, and the longer they are locked together, the bigger the end explosion will be. By pressing button combinations while the beams are locked, you can parry the explosion point back and forth.

The graphics engine is of course being enhanced, and one big change is that the buildings will be more realistic in their destruction. You'll still be able to pick them up and toss them at your opponents though. Another change is that the environments you can move around in will be much larger.

The single player is perhaps the biggest change. Instead of just fighting one monster after another arcade style like you did in the original, each single player mission will set you a number of objectives you must complete. For example, some missions will require you to collect objects while others will require you to shoot things like an arcade space shooter.

Both the PS2 and XBox version will feature up to 4 players, both on the console and online, as well as bonus downloadable content. We'll have more info on the game later on as it becomes available.
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E3 NEWS: Dead or Alive Ultimate
Posted by White_Pointer @ 22:16:03 AEST
More news coming in from E3 on the fighting game front (ah, we never sleep around here, it seems) as we take a gander at Tecmo's upcoming XBox exclusive title Dead or Alive Ultimate! As you should know by now, DOA Ultimate includes both of the original DOA games and brings them to the XBox, with the addition of online play.

The port of DOA 2 is pretty much being recreated from the ground up, actually using a modified version of the DOA: Xtreme Beach Volleyball engine. The original DOA isn't undergoing such a dramatic change, but it is still being significantly enhanced to take full advantage of the XBox's hardware. Make no mistake, these aren't just ports of the Saturn and Dreamcast originals, Tecmo are making sure that the games actually look as if they were made for the XBox.

Fans of the original games should be pleased to know that the core gameplay has been left by and large intact, which is quite remarkable considering the graphical changes the games are going through. One unfortunate thing to note however is that international play via XBox Live doesn't seem like it will quite be a reality yet due to lag issues and the different frequencies of TV's around the world. Both games in the pack will however definately be playable online over XBox Live.

You didn't think we'd just leave you high and dry with information though, did you? We've got a bunch of brand new screenshots of DOA: Ultimate in our second DOA: Ultimate image gallery you can view in our DOA Images section. Want more? We've also got the official E3 2004 trailer for DOA: Ultimate, which you can download from our DOA movies page! Keep checking back here for regular E3 updates!
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E3 NEWS: Gameloft announces Blood Fighters
Posted by White_Pointer @ 14:44:07 AEST
Blood Fighters, a new 2D weapons based fighting game is on its way to the mobile platform from developer and publisher Gameloft. There will be eight selectable characters and six battle arenas and will play very much like SFII or MvC. It'll have a very simple control scheme, allowing the players to take full advantage of the simple combo engine. As well as all this, each character can pull off some big attacks with the assistance of a super charge meter. The game is currently scheduled for a release late this year.
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Friday, May 14, 2004

E3 NEWS: Fight Club
Posted by White_Pointer @ 18:36:40 AEST
As we've reported in the past, Fight Club, a fighting game based on the popular movie, is on its way from Vivendi Universal. What's the story from the version of the game on show at E3? Well, surprisingly good so far.

The game will feature at least 10 characters from the film, including Jack the Narrator, Tyler Durden, Angel Face, Bob, Irvin, Ricky, and the Mechanic, although there is a possibility there could be more. As far as the fighting engine is concerned, developer Genuine Games describe it as a cross between DOA and Tekken. Each of the character's limbs will be controlled individually by different buttons, and as well as punches and kicks, each character will have throws, submissions, a unique special move and a unique fighting style.

Genuine Games are trying to keep this game as faithful to the movie as possible, and as such, many things from the movie are directly transferring over to the game, even down to the clothes the combatants must wear. As in the movie, a fighter can tap out or verbally give up during a fight, so this means that you can end the fight even if you have health left in your health bar. This may seem like a strange addition, even if it is something straight out of the movie, but it works in the game's story mode where it'll be vital to save your health from fight to fight.

The concept of limb damage is going to be taken to a whole new level with this game too. You'll actually be able to see your opponent's bones break, and that limb will then be rendered useless for the rest of the fight - and that's just the beginning. Deep brusing, realistic cuts and gashes and heaps of blood will no doubt have MK fans drooling. Interactive environments make it possible to throw opponents through glass windows or ram their heads into brick walls.

This game is actually looking very nice so far, so fans of the movie and of fighting games in general should be looking forward to it. And yes, we can't leaving you hanging like that, we have some screenshots directly from E3 in our brand new Fight Club image gallery, so make sure you check them out and keep checking back here for regular E3 updates!
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E3 NEWS: Darkstalkers coming to the PSP
Posted by White_Pointer @ 15:07:42 AEST
Capcom fighting game fans are in for a real treat! During E3 Capcom have announced that their classic 2D fighting game Darkstalkers is making a return, and is currently in development for Sony's new PSP! Not too much is known about it yet, other than it currently has the working title of Darkstalkers Chronicle. It's currently in development by Capcom and it's expected to be released around the time the PSP is launched.

To top the news off, we've got an official trailer straight from E3...download it here!
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E3 NEWS: Guilty Gear Isuka
Posted by White_Pointer @ 9:31:48 AEST
Yep, the E3 fighting game news just keeps coming, this time it's from Sammy's booth and their upcoming Guilty Gear Isuka. Long time fans of the series will be pleased to know that the classic characters are by and large being left unchanged, and there will be three new characters added into the fray.

As we reported a few weeks ago, the game will actually feature a four player fighting system to allow you to play against a human player, a computer player or a combination of both in a team match or a free for all. To add to this, the game has a new feature that allows you to switch the position of your character in a quasi-3D kind of system. That is, you can switch your character to stand either at the front of the stage or at the back. By doing this, you can avoid attacks made by your opponents who are on the other plane of battle, creating interesting strategies when playing.

There's also a new Guilty Gear Boost mode which pits you in a kind of side-scrolling beat 'em up where you can earn points to buy moves and eventually create a totally unique character, and a new colour edit mode that allows you to change the colour of your characters.

The game will be PS2-exclusive and is scheduled to ship later this year.

Want more? How about some brand new screenshots and character art straight from E3? You got it! Check out our brand new Guilty Gear Isuka image gallery to check them out, and remember to keep coming back for regular E3 2004 updates!
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E3 NEWS: Mortal Kombat going mobile
Posted by White_Pointer @ 8:50:50 AEST
This is certainly a surprise announcement that has happened during E3. The original Mortal Kombat is coming to the mobile gaming platform, so pretty soon you'll actually be able to play this classic 2D fighter on your mobile phone! Not too much more has been revealed other than the fact that it is indeed on the way and will be published by THQ. We'll have some more info as it becomes available.
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E3 NEWS: Capcom Fighting Jam and Iron Pheonix screens
Posted by White_Pointer @ 6:58:53 AEST
As we promised, we have brought you some brand new screenshots of two fighting titles that have been announced at this year's E3 so far, Capcom's Capcom Fighting Jam and Sammy's Iron Pheonix. Both games are looking awesome at the moment, and each gallery also has some character renders/character art as well. So what are you waiting for? Check out our Capcom Fighting Jam image gallery and our Iron Pheonix image gallery right now! Remember to keep checking back for E3 fighting game updates!
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Thursday, May 13, 2004

E3 Show Floor Photos
Posted by White_Pointer @ 19:31:16 AEST
Want to see some photos of the fighting games and exhibitor booths at the E3 show? You have come to the right place! We have some excellent quality photos of some of the action of the E3 show, in particular the fighting game attractions! Check them out in our special E3 show image gallery! Thanks to vgamin for the source!
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E3 NEWS: Tekken 5
Posted by White_Pointer @ 13:30:05 AEST
More news coming in directly from E3, this time for the hotly anticipated Tekken 5. First of all, there are three new characters coming into the new title: Asuka, Feng and Raven.

The actual game engine is also being enhanced. For the first time in the series, a technique called move buffering will be introduced, which will allow you to input move commands during recovery frames of previous moves. Of course this isn't a new feature if you've been playing fighting games for a while, but it'll still be a neat addition to the Tekken series. It also appears as if the wall is back in T5 as well, although this is yet to be confirmed.

Want more? How about some brand new screenshots and renders of the three new characters? Check them out in our brand new Tekken 5 image gallery! Keep checking back here for regular E3 fighting game updates!
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E3 NEWS: Mortal Kombat: Deception
Posted by White_Pointer @ 12:25:48 AEST
We've got some more information on Mortal Kombat: Deception, direct from E3!

The fighting engine itself, as expected, has changed very little since MK: DA, although some notable improvements have been made. IN MK: DA, it was obvious the characters couldn't pull off any spectacular, but this will all change in MK: D. Scorpion has regained his teleport punch, while the new character Ashrah has gained Raiden's classic Torpedo Launch and Kung Lao's spin move. One interesting aspect about the new death traps is the fact that the match doesn't effectively end if someone is knocked into one, unless it's the final round. If a player is killed in a death trap, the next round will start afresh, kind of like how ring outs work in SCII. You also cannot change your fighting style while holding an arena weapon.

To get you drooling even more, we have some brand new screenshots directly from E3 and two awesome new renders of Baraka and Sub-Zero, check them out in our Mortal Kombat: Deception image gallery! Stay tuned for more E3 updates!
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E3 NEWS: Capcom announces Capcom Fighting Jam
Posted by White_Pointer @ 9:07:29 AEST
Fans of Capcom games should be very pleased with this news. Capcom have announced plans for a new 2D fighter, tentatively titled Capcom Fighting Jam, which plans to combine characters from 5 of Capcom's classic fighting games - Street Fighter II, Street Fighter III, Street Fighter Alpha, Darkstalkers and Red Earth. Capcom have said that in most cases, the characters will retain their classic fighting styles and in some cases the character sprites themselves won't be changed. It will be a 2-on-2 fighting game, but it won't be your classic tag-battle type of game. Instead, the players will get to choose before the match which character they want to use. The game will use the Standard SF 6-button control scheme. So far the character list is as follows:

Street Fighter II - Ryu and Guile
Darkstalkers - Demitri and Felicia
Street Fighter III - Chun-Li and Yun
Street Fighter Alpha - Guy and Sakura
Red Earth - Leo and Hauser

This list is almost certainly increase in size as the game nears completion. The game will have arcade mode, versus, survival, training, replay, and gallery modes. The game will be exclusive to the PS2.

Remember to keep checking back regularly for our updates on the fighting games at E3!
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E3 NEWS: Sammy announces Iron Pheonix
Posted by White_Pointer @ 7:57:47 AEST
Sammy have announced their new fighting game, Iron Pheonix, is on it's way to the XBox this holiday season. This will be a fighting game with a difference though - it will be the world's first 16-player online fighting game for a console. Iron Phoenix introduces a number of new elements to the fight genre with squad-based melee combat, wire-fu style Kung-Fu fighting, a weapons-based moves and combos system and team play that includes the ability to string together combos between characters. Players will battle with more than ten playable characters and nine unique weapons in massive battle arenas, with beautiful indoor and outdoor environments set in a mythical ancient China. Iron Phoenix will also offer a rich single-player mode, with a story and setting drawn from classic martial arts epics.

“With Iron Phoenix, we have created a new game genre using online multiplayer,” said Tim Pivnicny, senior VP of sales and marketing, Sammy Studios, Inc. “Iron Phoenix is simultaneously a fighting game and a melee combat game, and it incorporates game modes and play mechanics inspired by squad-based shooters. Add Kung-Fu weapons and fight moves motion captured from professional martial artists and you are looking at a video game experience like nothing before it.”

Wednesday, May 12, 2004

E3 NEWS: King of Fighters coming to the N-Gage
Posted by White_Pointer @ 20:44:23 AEST
Oh boy...here we go...E3 is upon us, so be prepared for updates...check this page several times a day for the next few days. The first bit of fighting game news coming from E3 this year is the news that the King of Fighters is coming to the N-Gage as the system's first ever fighting game.

"Nokia are proud to introduce the first 'beat 'em up' title on the N-Gage game deck, said Pasi Pölönen, Director of Game Publishing, Games Business Unit, Nokia. "With the two-player mode over Bluetooth wireless technology, The King of Fighters fans can compete against each other and share in the action-packed 3D world."

"The King of Fighters for the N-Gage platform brings the excitement and energy from our fabled The King of Fighters series recognized by gamers worldwide," said Kunji Katsuki, Executive Officer, Mobile Business Division, Hudson Soft. "We are happy to bring another great Hudson Soft title to N-Gage fans."

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 announced
Posted by White_Pointer @ 11:39:36 AEST
Konami have announced that a sequel to last year's successful beat 'em up Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is on it's way to all three consoles, the GBA and the PC. Unlike last year's game though, the new game will be significantly longer and more difficult to beat. In addition to the story mode, there will be a new feature called Battle Nexus mode, which apparently allows you to fight your friends head to head. Story mode is confirmed to be playable by four simultaneous players, we aren't sure about Battle Nexus mode yet.

"The incredible appeal and popularity of the Ninja Turtles transcends generations, thanks to the current re-launch of the franchise and the mass appeal of the original series," said Erica Mason, product manager at Konami Digital Entertainment - America. "With Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2, our team has been able to create a hugely entertaining game that recreates the excitement of the renowned series through four-player cooperative gameplay which will excite both younger and older fans of the beloved franchise."

Tuesday, May 11, 2004

Midway's E3 lineup
Posted by White_Pointer @ 18:23:53 AEST
Midway have also jumped on board the ship and announced their lineup of games they will be showcasing at this year's E3. As previously announced, Mortal Kombat: Deception will be on display, but so will Midway Arcade Treasures II, which of course features several classic Midway fighting games.

Midway Arcade Treasures 2 brings more than 20 all-time classic arcade games to next-generation consoles, many for the first time, including the original Mortal Kombat, and smash-hit sequels Mortal Kombat II and Mortal Kombat 3, Spy Hunter 2 and Gauntlet 2. Additional classics include NARC, Total Carnage, Cyberball 2072, Wizard of Wor and many more. Players can enjoy hours of retro-gaming fun and watch a full-feature documentary on the origins of these interactive pioneers. Midway Arcade Treasures 2 is scheduled to be available for PlayStation 2, Xbox and Nintendo Gamecube™ in fall 2004.

Monday, May 10, 2004

Namco to unveil a mystery game at E3
Posted by White_Pointer @ 18:55:50 AEST
We know that Namco have announced they will be showing a snippet (at this stage it looks like it's going to be a short video) of their recently announced Tekken 5 for the PS2 at this year's E3. But they will also be showcasing an as-of-yet unannounced game. No information is available except for it's title: The Adversary. Is this a new Namco fighting game on the cards? Guess we'll have to wait for E3 to find out. Also on show at E3 will be Death by Degrees, the spinoff 3D action adventure game staring Nina Williams from the Tekken series.
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Sunday, May 9, 2004

Street Fighter Anniversary collection coming to XBox Live
Posted by White_Pointer @ 15:28:40 AEST
XBox owners should be very pleased at the news that the Street Fighter Anniversary Collection, which is slated for a release on the PS2 later this year in the US has also been confirmed to be coming to the XBox. The SF Anniversary collection contains Hyper Street Fighter II and also Street Fighter III: Third Strike. Not only is it coming to the XBox, but Capcom have also confirmed that it will be the very first Street Fighter title to be playable online over XBox Live. At this point it's expected to be identical to the PS2 release aside from the online play. We'll bring you more information on this as it becomes available.
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Saturday, May 8, 2004

Fight Club to be shown at E3
Posted by White_Pointer @ 15:24:53 AEST
Vivendi Universal Games have announced their lineup of games they'll be showing at E3 this year, and included in the list is the previously announced Fight Club, a fighting game obviously based on the hit movie. This'll be the first real look at the game since it was announced late last year. Here's what Vivendi have to say about it:

Players will be immersed in this gritty visceral world of fighting by playing as one of the many characters from the Fight Club movie. The extreme realism of the game will have players feel every punch and kick by delivering shocking visuals of broken bones, blood stained ripped clothes and real-time facial deformation in fully interactive environments familiar from the movie scenes. A no-holds-barred realistic fighter, the game will portray the brutality of street fighting while encompassing the artistic style, settings, storyline and characters from the movie with an extremely realistic fighting system and jaw-dropping special effects. With 3 different fighting styles and intuitive controls, ability to create fighters and online gameplay, the game will create a deeply rewarding yet challenging and unique experience for fighting fans of all levels. Fight Club is scheduled for release in fourth quarter 2004, on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and Xbox® video game system from Microsoft.

Friday, May 7, 2004

MK: Deception trailers available to download here
Posted by White_Pointer @ 22:41:56 AEST
That's right...the Mortal Kombat: Deception videos Pube linked to a couple of days ago are now available to download right from this very site! Just visit our Mortal Kombat movies page to download them and check them out!
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Sega's E3 lineup
Posted by White_Pointer @ 17:42:33 AEST
As expected, we are starting to get into the silly season when it comes to companies announcing games around E3 time, and Sega is no different. Unfortunately there aren't any dedicated fighting games on the table for Sega this year, however there are a couple of almost-fighting games that are worth noting. Firstly, the previously announced remake of Altered Beast for the PS2 will be shown for the first time at E3 this year, and here's what Sega have to say about it:

As a special military operative, you are sent to investigate a deadly genetic outbreak in a small West Coast town. Hunted by unspeakable horrors and haunted by your past, you soon discover that in order to overcome evil, you must become more than evil. The only thing that can save you is your darkest power, the ability to transform into a variety of powerful beasts. As you defeat wave after wave of failed genetic experiments, the line between human restraint and primal instinct will blur, until nothing is left but the savage desire to uncover the true nature of the beast.

Wednesday, May 5, 2004

Two new MK Deception Trailers
Posted by Pube @ 22:50:07 AEST
IGN have just posted not one but two brand spanking new MKD trailers for our viewing pleasure, showing a lot more gameplay, some more on Konquest mode, Puzzle Kombat, Chess Kombat, some death traps, and even some Fatalities!!! Check them out here.

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New Fan Art
Posted by White_Pointer @ 21:43:49 AEST
Joshua Bowden has sent us some great new fan art. It's an excellent hand drawn collage of a whole stack of Capcom fighting game characters. Check it out, along with all the rest of our fan art in our Fan Art section! The new art is in Gallery 4. Remember, if you are a talented artist yourself and you would like to submit your fighting game fan art for the world to see here on Blood-Sports.net, just follow the fan art link for the easy submission instructions!
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Tuesday, May 4, 2004

2004's DBZ lineup
Posted by White_Pointer @ 20:47:45 AEST
On the back of the announcement of the development of Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 for the PS2, Atari have announced yet another DBZ fighting game is on its way this year. Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors is a 2D fighting game that will be released for the GBA. These two DBZ fighting games are two of the three DBZ games Atari will be releasing this year (the last one being an RPG).

"From the outset, our goal was to work closely with FUNimation to faithfully re-create the Dragon Ball Z experience for video game consumers," said Nancy MacIntyre, vice president of marketing for Atari's Beverly studio. "By adhering to that very high standard, we are prepared to deliver a new array of different and exciting DBZ games."

"Atari has taken Dragon Ball Z to new heights in the interactive industry. The majority of our fan base craves video games that satisfy not only their DBZ fandom, but also their need for a great game," added Gen Fukunaga, president of FUNimation Productions. "Atari has the experience and know-how to successfully combine both of these elements and deliver great DBZ games to the marketplace."

Monday, May 3, 2004

MK: Deception to be shown at E3
Posted by White_Pointer @ 20:27:23 AEST
Ed Boon himself has confirmed in a recent interview with Game Informer that Mortal Kombat: Deception will indeed be shown at E3 this year, and will in fact be playable. The version that will be running at the E3 show will have 10 playable characters. Ed Boon does say though that they don't want people to really see it until it is absolutely finished, so what will be shown at E3 is really only a small taste of what the final game will turn out to be.

We'll have coverage of the E3 show while it is happening from May 12-14, so watch this space during that time for any news on MK: Deception or any other fighting games that will be featured at the show.
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Sunday, May 2, 2004

More info on Midway Arcade Treasures II
Posted by White_Pointer @ 13:59:20 AEST
Midway have recently officially announced Midway Arcade Treasures II, and have confirmed that there will be a number of old school fighting games in the 21 featured games that will be included in the one-disc pack. These are the original three Mortal Kombat games, Primal Rage and Pit Fighter. Midway have also confirmed that these (and the rest of the games in the collection) will be direct ports of the arcade originals - in other words, they will run as if they were running on MAME. Some more good news is that the pack will be released on not only the PS2 and XBox as previously announced but also on the Gamecube. The XBox version will have the exclusive feature of players being able to post their high scores on XBox Live.

The pack will retail for US$19.99 when it is released in the fall this year. No word yet on a PAL release.
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Saturday, May 1, 2004

SNK's E3 lineup
Posted by White_Pointer @ 19:34:22 AEST
SNK NeoGeo USA have recently announced their lineup of games to be shown at E3 this year. Obviously The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact for the PS2 is the main attraction, but there are a number of other fighting games on the table from the publisher as well. These are:

SNK vs. Capcom SVC Chaos (Xbox)
The King of Fighters 2002 & 2003 (PS2 / Xbox)
Samurai Shodown V (PS2 / Arcade)
Samurai Shodown V Special (PS2 / Arcade)

Be sure to keep checking back for updates around E3 time when we bring you more information on these games!
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