Killer Instinct’s Next Fighter Releasing on November 24

In his latest update on the Ultra-Combo forums, Microsoft creative director Adam Isgreen dropped a number of new details about Killer Instinct’s next character release, who is planned to launch on November 24 for owners of the game’s Ultra version and November 30 for Combo pack holders.

Kan-Ra, who has been described as a trap grappler, will serve as season two’s third character after TJ Combo and Maya as well as the very first newcomer after season one’s Sadira. A former Vizier to the king of Babylon, the scholar was inflicted with a slow-rotting curse after plotting to overthrow the ruling monarch. Over the years, he has found ways to slow his painful disintegration, resulting in his life extending well beyond 2500 years.

The developers plan to fully reveal Kan-Ra with a trailer and live stream next Friday, just in time for his official release. A full look at his concept art has been included below; be sure to click through for a larger version.

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Isgreen also mentioned that, moving forward, they will be releasing far more details about upcoming characters before their release. This new initiative will begin in January, as the cast member they have planned for December will have an accelerated release well before Christmas.

For a full rundown of Kan-Ra’s back story, be sure to visit Isgreen’s original post.

Source: Ultra-Combo

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift EXTEND Coming to Steam on December 11

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H2 Interactive recently announced that, in partnership with Arc System Works, they are planning to bring BlazBlue: Continuum Shift EXTEND to Steam on December 11.

Some of you may remember H2 Interactive as the publisher who released a PC version of BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger earlier this year. Around that time, they told Shoryuken that they were talking, presumably to Arc System Works, about the possibility of bringing related titles to the digital gaming platform. It would seem those discussions went well.

While the future of the franchise’s latest release, Chronophantasma, on Steam is still up in the air, the slow build-up through earlier installments in the series is definitely a good sign for fans who hope to one day see regular PC releases for their favorite fighting games.

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift EXTEND will support both local and online multiplayer, and include English, Japanese, Korea, and Chinese language options.

Source: H2 Interactive, tip via JJK

Super Arcade Thursday Weekly feat. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Killer Instinct Streaming Live

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The folks over at Super Arcade have just gone live with their new Thursday night weekly. Much like last night’s event, this is the first installment of a brand new tournament series, marking yet another chapter in the venue’s history as they strike off on their own.

Similar to The Runback, tonight will see competition in both Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and Killer Instinct, along with Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late and Persona 4 Arena Ultimax should there be enough interest.

The stream has been included below, but you can also visit Twitch if you prefer to chat with other viewers. Full brackets have been made available through Challonge.

Watch live video from SuperDojo on www.twitch.tv

Source: Super Dojo

Churning the Butter #13 feat. Ultra Street Fighter IV Streaming Live from San Francisco, California

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Over the past few months, Northern California has been stepping their collective game up with regards to consistent events, and one of the big groups behind all this is competitive gaming organization ShowDown. Their weekly Churning the Butter tournament has only been running for a couple weeks, and yet they are garnering a player base on par with other local tournaments around the country. And, as we highlighted in videos from their second outing, some fantastic talent is showing up to throw down and improve their own game.

Tonight, they have once again taken over Folsom Street Foundry in San Francisco, California to put on an Ultra Street Fighter IV tournament for the regional players. If you’re interested in seeing what the NorCal cats have up their sleeves, be sure to check out the stream below and show your support. You can also head on over to Twitch if you prefer to chat.

Watch live video from showdowngg on www.twitch.tv

Want to check these tournaments out for yourself? Well, you’re in luck, because even if you missed out this week, Churning the Butter is held every Thursday at 8 PM PDT during ShowDown’s game night at Folsom Street Foundry. The group also plans to eventually get a ranbat series off the ground at the same venue, so stay tuned for more.

Source: ShowDown

Ultra Street Fighter IV’s Alpha Characters Remixed for Omega Mode, Capcom Working on Yun Taunt Glitch

Capcom’s weekly rundown of the changes included in Ultra Street Fighter IV’s Omega Mode is now live, bringing with it a ton of details for how the Alpha representatives will handle.

Some noteworthy changes include the return of Sakura’s Okakyuaku divekick, some Final Fight inspired moves for Cody, Dan’s reverse pushback, and a few more options for Guy to use out of his run.

Additionally, producer Tomoaki Ayano mentions that Capcom is working on a fix for the recently discovered glitch that affects Yun’s taunt while he’s wearing his Summer Vacation alternate. They don’t have much to say about it at this point in time, but have assured that it will be banned at Capcom Cup next month.

If you’re a fan of Sakura, Rose, Dan, Guy, Cody, Adon, or Rolento, give the information below a quick look and let us know what you think.

Sakura

Okakyaku: Sakura’s dive kick. This move has been in other games, so some of you might already be familiar with it.

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This versatile tool not only lets Sakura change her jump arc, but also gives her another option for disrupting your opponent’s footsie game. The start-up time isn’t that great, but we believe it will be a nice complement to her overall game.

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The EX version hits twice. With no height restriction, it’s a good move to use to try and create that round-winning opening!

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Hadosho is a version of her Hadoken that stays in place, similar to Hakkei. It’s a strong move that can be used in combos. Sakura has gained a lot of moves that can pin the opponent down. This, together with the addition of more powerful moves, gives her a better chance of making a big comeback.

My inspiration: A poetic flurry of cherry blossoms.

Gen

Kokukan: Gen in the Mantis Style can now use chain combos, just like he could in the Alpha series! Gen is a character who has always required a bit of effort, but this gives him something nice and easy.

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Just hit the buttons and everything connects. However, it doesn’t follow the same conventions as the chain combos from the Darkstalkers series.

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Note that you can’t cancel regular special moves from Kokukan—you’ll need to use an EX special or something greater. He can also use his style change like an EX special move, which opens up possibilities for more technical movements.

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Go from Kokukan into Setsunasen, and this gives you a style change, which leads to…Ryukoha!

Both the Mantis and Crane Styles have received significant overhauls, making Gen into a formidable character.

My inspiration: Mantis and Crane styles, times two!

Rose

Aura Soul Spark Due: Rose gets two additional super combos!

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Rose has primarily been a character who waits and responds to her opponent, but by giving her this multi-hit forward-moving super combo we’re hoping to make Rose into a more aggressive character. The different punch buttons lead to different variations—the fierce punch version gives you Soul Spark Tre, which starts off with a strengthened version of Soul Reflect and leads into Soul Spark. Makes you feel like Alpha series Rose is back, doesn’t it?

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Soul Passing: A counter-like move that gives Rose the opportunity to follow-up with an attack. It’s similar to the Alpha Counter system.

With attack options, solid defense, and additional moves, Rose is a character that can do it all.

My inspiration: Rose getting her groove back!

Dan

Saikyoryu Defense: The first time I saw this I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Omega Dan gets a pushblock?!

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Press all three punch buttons while blocking to activate it. But instead of pushing your opponent back, Dan will retreat. Well, that’s appropriate for Dan, don’t you think?

Danretsuken: If the first hit connects, rapidly press the punch buttons to unleash a barrage of attacks! Good for ending combos, but it doesn’t have a whole lot of reach.

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We wanted to keep Dan’s personality intact while giving him new moves that expand his potential. I feel like the changes we’ve made definitely make Dan a character worth using.

My inspiration: Dan with limitless potential!

Guy

Utsusemi: They say a picture is worth a thousand words…

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Got it? Yep, Guy gets his very own Kawarimi no Jutsu! It’s got armor on startup, and as you absorb a hit Guy will teleport to the other side of the opponent. This is good for setting up combo opportunities, and can be used in place of the Focus Attack.

We’ve also made some modifications to Guy’s Run. You can do Hagakure Ten and Hagakure Chi from the EX Run by using the medium and fierce punch buttons respectively.

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Appear above their head and drop an elbow on ‘em!

I think that by expanding Guy’s movement techniques and giving him more ninja-like actions we’ve made him into one cool character.

My inspiration: A stud who has perfected the Bushinryu style!

Cody

Final Combination: Cody’s iconic attack from Final Fight! This is pretty close to his Final Destruction from Alpha 3.

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Start it off using light punch, and then keep tapping light punch for a four-hit combo. Just like in Final Fight, all you need is one button to dish out the pain!

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Finish it off with an uppercut to the chin! He can also choose to throw his opponent mid-combo, another move that was present in Final Fight.

While we’re being nostalgic, check out the Mega Crash.

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Instead of sapping life, this time the move uses one bar of EX meter. Because of its invincibility, it’s a great move to use when you’re cornered or otherwise feeling pressured.

In Omega we wanted to bring out more of Cody’s Final Fight personality, and I think the changes we’ve made make him easier to play. Final Combination, in particular, will be a lot of fun to practice!

My inspiration: Cody going back to his roots!

Adon

Jaguar Bite: A strike move that has armor-break properties. If it connects, Adon pulverizes his opponent’s upper body.

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The second hit can be super-cancelled, leading to big-damage.

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Jaguar Claw is a ferocious, forward-moving elbow strike. If you land it from up close you can follow up with another ground-based attack.

Adon has primarily been a character who fights from the air, but with these new ground-based moves and new command normals we hope to bring out more of his Muy Thai style!

My inspiration: “Have I finally surpassed Sagat?!”

Rolento

Stinger: As was the case in Ultra, Rolento won’t have the ability to throw knives while close to the ground, but he will be able to use them in some new crafty ways!

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Press two punch buttons after completing the input for Stinger and he’ll throw a knife straight across the screen. Press two kick buttons, and instead of throwing the knife he’ll attack with it. The EX version will throw three knives straight across the screen. Also, before he throws the knife, you can change his jump arc by pressing left or right on the joystick. It’s going to be fun finding new uses for his modified Stinger.

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Snare Mine: Rolento will set a trap by throwing grenades at his feet.

If they hit they’ll explode, sending the opponent into the air. Rolento can follow up with an attack from the Stinger Jump!

In Omega, Rolento’s new moves compliment his existing moves and highlight his unique characterization. He seems like he’ll be particularly dangerous when he has meter!

My inspiration: The Knife Professional, “R” (…does that even make sense?)

Source: Capcom-Unity

Super Smash Bros. Becomes Nintendo’s Ninth Highest Selling 3DS Title in North America

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Nintendo announced today that Super Smash Bros. for 3DS has sold 1.2 million units in North America to date, making it the platform’s tenth title to surpass that monumental number and ninth best selling overall.

It’s a well-known fact that the series is one of the most popular franchises in gaming these days, thanks to its grouping of the company’s iconic characters and wide appeal, but it’s still a little surprising to hear that it’s already entered such a spot after only a month on the market.

And this success isn’t confined to the west. Japanese fans helped push Super Smash Bros. over the million unit mark just three weeks after launch.

While the install base is much lower, one can only hope the upcoming Wii U release sees the same explosion in sales, both in terms of expanding the competitive community and continuing to show Nintendo that the series is still worth developing.

Do you count yourself among the millions who have purchased the game so far? Feel free to let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Nintendo via Siliconera

Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late Heading to North America on February 24

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While players in North America with no issue importing or setting up foreign PlayStation Network accounts have been duking it out in Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late since July, the title will officially reach western shores early next year on February 24.

Developed by French-Bread and Ecole Software, Under Night occupies a very exclusive space in the realm of fighter, as it straddles the fence between the fast-paced aerial combat of “anime” games while also incorporating Street Fighter’s heavy emphasis on the footsie game. Additionally, the title’s unique Grind Grid (or GRD) system affords it an interesting shared resource for competitors to vie for through a sort of tug-of-war.

In their official announcement, publisher Aksys Games also confirms that there will be no restrictions on cross-region netplay, allowing fans to challenge their fellow players no matter which version of the game they own.

For more information on just what the heck Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late is all about, be sure to check out Aevee Bee’s breakdown here.

Source: Aksys Games

Additional Footage of Killer Instinct’s Xbox 360 Prototype Provides Glimpse of Early Sadira, Glacius Models

Earlier this week, Past to Present Online released some very interesting footage of a Killer Instinct prototype that was developed on Xbox 360. While similar to the game that eventually released for Xbox One, it had an obvious downgrade in aesthetics and shared a look at some early models for characters like Thunder, Jago, and Sabrewulf.

Past to Present’s Andrew Borman contacted us recently with a video depicting a build that was even further along than the last one, supposedly from August 2013. One of the most noticeable differences, besides the fact Thunder is no longer a blank slate, is the inclusion of Xbox One related terms.

Additionally, this prototype features in-progress looks at both Sadira and Glacius; the former’s model is just a couple of steps up from the amorphous mannequin we’ve seen in the past (and vaguely reminds me of Virtua Fighter’s Dural), while the latter features a rather creepy stretching of Jago’s textures over its alien body.

In any case, it would appear this build sits in a rather weird space between the work Double Helix Games and Microsoft Studios put into the Xbox 360 version and the transition it made to Xbox One. Check it out below and let us know what you think.

Source: Past to Present Online

Super Arcade Wednesday Weekly feat. Ultra Street Fighter IV, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Streaming Live

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Tonight, Super Arcade begins their brand new weekly tournament series to take over where Level|Up Series’ Wednesday Night Fights left off, continuing their tradition of providing the Southern California area a competitive hub to congregate in. The event (which is without a name as of this writing) will feature brackets for Ultra Street Fighter IV and Tekken Tag Tournament 2.

If you’re interested in watching, be sure to tune in live below or head on over to Twitch to join the chat. Brackets for all the games have been made available through Challonge.

Watch live video from SuperDojo on www.twitch.tv

Source: Super Dojo

UltraChen TV Streaming Live – Canada Cup 2014, Upcoming Events, and More

UltraChen TV is back with yet another broadcast, and a whole new slate of topics to discuss. Tonight, UltraDavid and James Chen will be discussing Canada Cup 2014, recent events in Southern California, upcoming tournaments, and more.

If you’re interested in this topic, be sure to tune in and check the show out. The stream will be live in this article, but you can also visit Twitch to join the chat.

Watch live video from ultrachentv on www.twitch.tv

Source: UltraChen TV, featured image courtesy of Kara “Karaface” Leung