Everyone has a fighting chance
Nintendo has just gone live with the first of their E3 2015 festivities, a Direct presentation dedicated entirely to Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS. The name of the game here is downloadable content, and it’s likely they will be discussing Lucas as well as officially revealing Ryu and Roy.
You’ll find the stream below. We will be updated this article with pertinent information, so stay tuned.
Source: Nintendo
By now, it’s no secret that iconic Street Fighter protagonist Ryu will eventually be playable in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS. An early release of data to servers in Japan have allowed diligent fans to mine information from the code, from the wandering warrior’s victory screen in single-player mode to the classic moves he will have at his disposal. That being said, the latest gameplay details to emerge from the industrious Smash community are sure to interest even the most diehard fans of traditional fighters.
First, the basic stuff. Ryu’s specials can either be performed with a single button press or by holding down the input, giving them added benefits like higher damage. However, if one were to perform the attack’s original Street Fighter motions, some truly glorious things can happen. For instance, using a quarter-circle to unleash a Hadoken will result in a stronger fireball, and Ryu will also float a bit longer if it’s used in mid-air as an homage to the Marvel vs. Capcom series. The developers even went as far as to include the Shakunetsu variant should players utilize a half-circle.
Shoryukens, on the other hand, gain invincibility with their original input, as well as a bit more damage and the removal of their landing recovery. Ryu players pulling off the traditional Tatsumaki motion will see the move’s strength, speed, and distance increased. And finally, fully-charged Focus Attacks cause the opponent to crumple, allowing for follow-up hits, and can be canceled with dashes just like in Street Fighter IV.
But the specials aren’t the only attacks to draw inspiration from the entirely different subset of fighters this guest character calls home. Ryu’s vast repertoire also includes a classic Donkey Kick by way of his side smash as well as a shield-shattering Collarbone Breaker.
Although their game is quite different from those they are emulating, the Smash developers have apparently done a fantastic job of giving Ryu just enough variety as to entice fans who have been playing him since Street Fighter debuted in 1987. Only time will tell if mastering these techniques leads to a more viable, competitive character, but for right now, it’s cool to see these traditional methods appear in another style of fighter.
Source: NeoGAF
Early, early, early this morning (seriously, it was like 2 AM where I live), dataminers were able to pull a variety of surprises from the latest Super Smash Bros. 4 patch due to its early arrival on servers in Japan, the most notable being playable versions of Street Fighter mainstay Ryu and Fire Emblem’s Roy. Over the past several hours, folks have continued to dig into the update, feverishly uncovering a number of new items that give us a closer look at what these two characters bring to the table.
While Roy appears rather similar to his Super Smash Bros. Melee incarnation (apart from some aesthetic improvements to set him apart from Marth), Ryu is an entirely different story. As depicted in the gallery below, the world warrior comes equipped with a number of obvious attacks, including his Hadoken, Shoryuken, and Tatsumaki Senpukyaku, as well as a flinch-resistant Focus Attack straight out of Street Fighter IV.
And, while it won’t ever be seen during competitive play, Ryu’s Final Smashes allow him to pull out the devastating Metsu Hadoken and Metsu Shoryuken on his opponents, demonstrated below.
A streamer by the name of crediar was recently able to implement data for Ryu, Roy, and Lucas into their game, so be sure to check out their ongoing broadcast and archived footage for a more detailed look at their respective movesets. And, if you’re still thirsty after all that, r/SmashBros has put together a fantastic thread compiling all of their findings thus far.
Sources: RandomTBush, crediar via r/SmashBros, special thanks to Pssych for their contributions to this article.
Well, it seems like the cat is out of the bag. The strange themes discovered in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS, which hinted at appearances by Street Fighter protagonist Ryu and Fire Emblem’s Roy, can now be confirmed as legitimate playable character leaks thanks to two videos that recently appeared online.
Apparently, the next Super Smash Bros. patch rolled out to players in Japan earlier than intended, giving dataminers access to a bunch of surprise content. In addition to the aforementioned characters, a brand new Splatoon trophy, stages for the newcomers, and music from Rhythm Heaven are also included in the update.
At this point in time, it’s difficult to pin down when Ryu and Roy will officially launch, but their inclusion in the Lucas patch makes it seem as if they will be available when he’s released on June 14, or at least around the same time. Nintendo plans to hold a special Direct broadcast this weekend dedicated entirely to Smash, so it’s likely we’ll learn more details in just a couple of days.
For now, feel free to check out their victory videos below and let us know what you think.
Source: r/SmashBros via NeoGAF, videos courtesy of arions, tips via BM_Eco and Izzy
The folks over at UGC Live just went live with another installment of Salty!, the weekly Skullgirls Encore event that serves as both a tournament and a way for Lab Zero Games to share updates on future content. Don’t miss out on the great competition and previews from Mike Zaimont if you’re a fan of this indie fighter.
You’ll find the stream below, but you can also head on over to Twitch if you prefer to chat. More information these events can be found on Skullheart should you want to check it out in person.
Watch live video from UGClive on www.twitch.tv
Source: UGC Live
This weekend, two very different events will be taking place in two very different parts of the world. DreamHack is set to once again bring high-profile competitive gaming to Sweden with DreamHack Summer 2015, and the East Coast Throwdown team will be returning to New Jersey with a brand new game as their headliner.
With such drastic time zones in play, we figured it would be helpful to gather all the information we could find and compile it for our readers, so keep reading for all the details you’ll need to know if you plan on spectating these events.
Though mostly looked up on as a major “eSports” event rather than a fighting game tournament, DreamHack has regularly drawn some of the greatest competitors in our community, and they’re looking to repeat past successes by expanding their reach at this year’s summer event.
In addition to Ultra Street Fighter IV, the organizers will also be providing a bracket for newcomer Mortal Kombat X, complete with its very own 50,000 SEK (~$6100 USD) prize pool.
Expect a large majority of European Street Fighter talent to descend upon Jönköping, Sweden, both because of their proximity to the event and the added benefit of being on the Capcom Pro Tour. Be sure to keep an eye out for their Mortal Kombat players too as they close out the Mortal Kombat Cup, as it’s sure to be a fierce battle for the cash between players who may not get as much spotlight as their North American counterparts.
Streams will be provided by Capcom Fighters and DreamHack Fighters, rough schedules have been included below.
| Event | CEST (Local) | PDT | EDT | GMT |
| USFIV Group Stage | 12:00 PM | 3:00 AM | 6:00 AM | 10:00 AM |
| USFIV Top 32 | 6:00 PM | 9:00 AM | 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| USFIV Top 4 |
11:30 PM | 2:30 PM | 5:30 AM | 9:30 PM |
| Event | CEST (Local) | PDT | EDT | GMT |
| MKX Swiss Rounds | 11:00 AM | 2:00 AM | 5:00 AM | 9:00 AM |
| MKX Top 16 | 6:00 PM | 9:00 AM | 12:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| MKX Grand Finals |
10:00 PM | 1:00 PM | 4:00 AM | 8:00 PM |
While fighting game action is going down across the Atlantic, the folks behind East Coast Throwdown will be hosting yet another event in New Jersey. This time around, however, they will be giving respect to tournament mainstay Mortal Kombat by making Mortal Kombat X the closer instead of Ultra Street Fighter IV.
Some of the notable players scheduled to attend include YOMI|ForeverKing Jr., CTRL|Flux, cR|Sonic Fox, YOMI|Michaelangelo, YOMI|MIT, BIFU|Spab Rog, YOMI|REO, Danke, YOMI|DJT, YOMI|ForeverKing, RPD.MCZ|Alex Smith, TA|Moons, BIFU.EIF|Coach Steve, GG|Sherryjenix, BE|Kane Blueriver, CTRL|RayRay, EG|K-Brad, PIE|Smug, TA|Marvisto, Zidane, Eshi, TS|Lord Knight, Lich, TSB|Mynus, and more.
Live broadcasts will be provided by Team Spooky’s Arturo Sanchez and Deadly Bison Entertainment. Tentative schedules follow below.
| Event | EDT (Local) | PDT | GMT |
| UMvC3 Pools | 12:00 PM | 9:00 AM | 4:00 PM |
| MKX Pools | 12:00 PM | 9:00 AM | 4:00 PM |
| GGXrd Pools |
12:00 PM | 9:00 AM | 4:00 PM |
| SSBM Pools |
12:00 PM | 9:00 AM | 4:00 PM |
| Soulcalibur V |
12:00 PM | 9:00 AM | 4:00 PM |
| Killer Instinct |
12:00 PM | 9:00 AM | 4:00 PM |
| DOA5LR |
2:00 PM | 11:00 AM | 6:00 PM |
| UMvC3 Quarterfinals and Semifinals | 4:00 PM | 1:00 PM | 8:00 PM |
| SSB4 Pools |
4:00 PM | 1:00 PM | 8:00 PM |
| P4U2 |
4:00 PM | 1:00 PM | 8:00 PM |
| TTT2 |
4:00 PM | 1:00 PM | 8:00 PM |
| USFIV Pools |
6:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| KOFXIII |
6:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| BBCPEX |
6:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| UNIEL |
8:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 12:00 AM |
| Injustice |
8:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 12:00 AM |
| Event | EDT (Local) | PDT | GMT |
| P4U2 | 10:00 AM | 7:00 AM | 2:00 PM |
| SSB4 | 12:00 PM | 9:00 AM | 4:00 PM |
| DOA5LR | 2:00 PM | 11:00 AM | 6:00 PM |
| GGXrd | 4:00 PM | 1:00 PM | 8:00 PM |
| UMvC3 | 6:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| USFIV |
8:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 12:00 AM |
| MKX |
10:00 PM | 7:00 PM | 2:00 AM |
So there you have it! Feel free to let us know which tournaments you’ll be tuning into and what most excites you about this upcoming weekend of competition.
Sources: DreamHack, East Coast Throwdown
Ever since it was revealed last year, Street Fighter V has been saddled with complaints regarding its speed, and it’s fairly easy to see why. Though recent gameplay footage appears to show some added pep in its step, the first glimpses showed a title that seemed to be slower than its predecessors, with an added weight that set it apart from the Street Fighter IV series.
In order to give fans an easier way to see how they stack up, Desk has put together a great side-by-side comparison of new Street Fighter V footage and gameplay from Street Fighter IV, reproducing situations to the best of his ability for a look at their general pacing.
His demonstration shows that Street Fighter V may be every bit as fast as Street Fighter IV, and may possibly edge it out in situations like throw-teching. Of course, it would be a little silly to draw conclusions at this point with development still ongoing and relatively little footage to go off, but this definitely serves as a good starting point for discussion.
Let us know what you think of the above video in the comments.
Source: Desk
After providing a preview of their 60fps streaming service just last month, YouTube has officially announced the next step in their broadcasting expansion. YouTube Gaming, made up of both a brand new website and mobile app, will focus (naturally) on video games, only with an added emphasis on livestreaming.
According to Polygon, YouTube Gaming product manager Alan Joyce made sure to point out that, while normal video content is a major part of the product, streams will be “front and center.”
Much like the original service, YouTube Gaming will give users the opportunity to subscribe to streamers and be notified when they go live, though no word has been provided whether or not similar monetization methods will apply.
Basic streaming functionality has existed on YouTube in some form since late 2013, but this rather sudden push is a testament to the market’s explosion. Twitch, which was acquired by Amazon last August, has for some time been the frontrunner in the incredibly limited field, and is arguably the only real choice when it comes to third-party streaming platforms despite often glaring flaws.
Could YouTube Gaming finally provide Twitch with a worthy challenge? As of now, that’s hard to say, but the strides YouTube is making certainly inspire hope. Let’s cross our fingers some of the less savory aspects of their main service (e.g. faulty DMCA notices) don’t make the transition as well.
YouTube Gaming is scheduled to launch in the United States and the United Kingdom this summer.
Sources: YouTube Gaming, Polygon
In addition to providing a serious cash bonus to the main Guilty Gear prize pool at Evo 2015, developer Arc System Works and publisher Aksys Games are also prepared to host special qualifiers for ARC REVOLUTION CUP 2015 during the event, in cooperation with Mad Catz and Team St1ckbug.
As the world’s largest gathering of ArcSys competitors, ARC REVOLUTION CUP represents the best of the best when it comes to the studio’s airdashers, and the Evo 2015 qualifiers will give American teams the opportunity to earn an all expenses paid trip to Japan for this year’s tournament as well as some extra spending money thanks to an added $5000 for each game.
Only one spot apiece is available for Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- and BlazBlue: Chronophantasma EXTEND, so definitely don’t waste your time constructing the strongest three-player team you can for a chance to compete at this prestigious event. Due the possibility of overseas travel, there are some requirements for those that end up winning, so be sure to check out Aksys’ official announcement for more details.
Evo 2015 is scheduled for July 17-19, followed by ARC REVOLUTION CUP 2015 on August 15.
Source: Aksys Games
Ah yes, the time has come. With June in full swing, Steam recently went live with their annual summer sale, discounting a variety of titles across all genres. Thanks to the recent explosion of fighters on PC, there’s sure to be a lot for our readers to look forward to.
The first fighting games to see markdowns come from SNK Playmore’s King of Fighters franchise. All three installments currently available on Steam have been discounted rather extensively, both separately and as part of a triple-pack.
Fans can grab King of Fighters XIII, King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match, and King of Fighters ’98 Ultimate Match Final Edition for only $9.79, representing a 72% markdown from the bundle’s normal $34.99 price point. Alternatively, if you already own one or two of the aforementioned titles, King of Fighters XIII can be purchased for $4.99, while King of Fighters 2002 and King of Fighters ’98 are available for $2.99 apiece.
These sales will be live until 10 PM PDT tomorrow, so be sure to take advantage as soon as possible.
Source: Steam