Wednesday Night Fights 4.3 feat. Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Smash, and More Streaming Live

Tonight, Wednesday Night Fights returns to live competition at a new home: eSports Arena in Santa Ana, California. After a brief foray into online tournaments, Level|Up Series is back to doing what they do best, and is set to kick off the fall season with brackets for Ultra Street Fighter IV, Mortal Kombat X, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Melee.

But that’s not all! While the four titles above are being considered the event’s main attractions, the larger venue has give Level|Up the opportunity to invite a number of other communities to take part. Some of the other games being featured tonight include Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Killer Instinct, Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-, BlazBlue: Chronophantasma EXTEND, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late, and more.

All three streams have been included below, but feel free to follow their respective links should you want to join chat. More details on eSports Arena can be here.

Level|Up Live (Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat)

Watch live video from Level|Up Live on www.twitch.tv

Nick Tanella (Street Fighter)

Watch live video from NickTanella on www.twitch.tv

2G Gaming (Smash)

Watch live video from 2GGaming on www.twitch.tv

Jyosua (Guilty Gear, BlazBlue, Persona, Under Night In-Birth)

Watch live video from Jyosua on www.twitch.tv

Kevin Ha (Marvel)

Watch live video from Kevin_Ha Live on www.twitch.tv

Sources: Level|Up Series (1, 2), Level|Up Live, Nick Tanella, 2G Gaming, Jyosua, Kevin Ha

King of Fighters XIV’s Roster May Have Leaked Months Ago

As with most new fighting games at the beginning of their media blitz, we know very little about King of Fighters XIV. Sure, the playable cast will include Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, Leona Heidern, and Chang Koehan, and players can expect to get their hands on the final release sometime next year, but that’s really it.

But what if I told you the latest trailer possibly confirmed a rather lengthy roster leak?

Earlier this year, before we even knew King of Fighters XIV was a thing, a rather mysterious list appeared online purporting to detail the entire cast for an upcoming release. Although the original source has since been taken down, this leak apparently originated in China and was shared by a Twitter user named ALX. It stirred up some good discussion when it first made the scene, but quickly fell by the wayside.

That was until Chang showed up in the second teaser, decked out in a Southtown Jail outfit that seemed to indicate he had returned to the shady activity of his past at some point. It’s the prison uniform that brought this list back into the spotlight.

See, while the list names each of the characters that have already been revealed, it’s the mention of Chang’s imprisonment that really stands out. Sure, his criminal past with partner Choi Bounge is well-known by SNK lore fanatics, but could this have really been a lucky guess?

Longtime readers will know that we tend to shy away from these kinds of stories. It’s easy to jump online and put together a dream list with no factual basis, and rumors of this nature lead to dead ends more often than not. But this little detail has raised enough eyebrows that we thought it might be worth tossing out there for more folks to see. Just, please, keep in mind that these are rumors and nothing more. Hell, even if the list is real, it’s likely things have changed during development, so be sure to take this with a grain of salt and all that.

Rumored King of Fighters XIV Roster
  • China Team: 恶魇青年 (?), 糖葫芦 (Tung Fu Rue), 枕头少年 (?)
  • Japan Team: 草蕹京 (Kyo Kusanagi), 二阶堂红丸 (Benimaru Nikaido), 大门五郎 (Goro Daimon)
  • Fatal Fury Team: Terry Bogard, Andy Bogard, 东丈 (Joe Higashi)
  • Art of Fighting Team: 坂崎良 (Ryo Sakazaki), Robert Garcia, 坂崎百合 (Yuri Sakazaki)
  • K’ Team: K’, Maxima, Kula Diamond
  • Kim Team: 金家藩 (Kim Kaphwan), 他师父 (Kim’s Master), 他师母 (Kim’s Wife)
  • Criminal Team: 犯人陈 (Prisoner Chang Koehan), 犯人蔡 (Prisoner Choi Bounge), 新人囚犯 (Newcomer Prisoner)
  • Women Fighters Team: 不知火舞 (Mai Shiranui), King, Alice
  • Ikari Team: Ralf Jones, Clark Still, Leona Heidern
  • Psycho Soldier Team: Athena Asamiya, 椎拳崇 (Sie Kensou), 摸元斋 (Chin Gentsai)
  • Yagami Team: 八神庵 (Iori Yagami), Mature, Vice
  • Mexico Team: Ramon, Angel, Tizoc
  • Palace Wan Team: 脸谱女 (Acting Mask Girl), 电属性少女歌手 (Teenage Girl Singer with Electric Element), 神秘兜帽男 (Mysterious Hooded Man)
  • South Town Team: Geese Howard, Billy Kane, 营家新人 (?)
  • South America Team: 巴西忍者 (Brazilian Ninja), 残障拳击手 (Handicap Boxer), 拉丁美女 (Pretty Latin Girl)
  • Alternate World Team: 娜可露露 (Nakoruru), Love Heart, 龙娘 (Mui Mui)
  • Mid-boss: 俄罗斯富豪 (Russian Billionaire)
  • Final Boss: 人形态非人类物种 (Non-Human Species)

As you likely noticed, there’s a few details missing here and there. Some names were left untranslated and others are simply character archetypes, leading us to believe both indicate newcomers to the series. Another interesting note is the inclusion of pachinko slot mascots Love Heart and Mui Mui alongside Samurai Shodown’s Nakoruru to make up the Alternate World team.

While many of these names are carryovers from the most recent King of Fighters entries, a few are pretty surprising. Not sure how many Tung Fu Rue fans there are out there, but he’s apparently taken the China Team mantle from the Psycho Soldiers for his own purposes. And, personally, I’m pretty stoked to see the Mexican team of Ramon, Angel, and Tizoc suit up for another go-around.

What do you think? Plausible or complete bullshit? Feel free to discuss this list in the comments and let us know which of your favorites may have made the cut.

Source: Cyber Fanatix via MMCafe, NeoGAF

ESL Mortal Kombat X Pro League Season 2, Week 1 Streaming Live

mkx-eslproleague-622-crop

ESL’s Mortal Kombat X competition returns tonight with the very first installment of its second season. Similar to the previous season, the first few rounds of this online tournament have narrowed the playing field down to eight competitors, who will be going at each other’s throats tonight to earn their way towards the grand finals event next year and its $100,000 prize pool.

Some of the more noteworthy names you can expect to see play tonight include cR|Sonic Fox, cR|WoundCowboy, and Dab, among others.

The tournament’s stream can be found below, but you can also visit Twitch if you prefer to chat with fellow viewers.

Watch live video from NetherRealm on www.twitch.tv

Results

mkx-mortalkombatx-tournament

Mortal Kombat X

1.
2.
3. cR|Biohazard (Ruthless Ferra/Tor, Commando Kano)
3. SenorAbram (Shirai Ryu Takeda)
5. cR|Sonic Fox (Hollywood Cassie Cage, Outlaw Erron Black)
5. Tweedyyyy (Tempest Kung Lao)
5. killtron
5. King Falcon

Grand Finals

cR|Wound Cowboy (Bone Shaper Shinnok) vs. Dab (Kobu Jutsu Tanya)

Semifinals

SenorAbram (Shirai Ryu Takeda) vs. cR|Wound Cowboy (Bone Shaper Shinnok) – 2-3
Dab (Kobu Jutsu Tanya) vs. cR|Biohazard (Ruthless Ferra/Tor, Commando Kano) – 3-0

First Round

SenorAbram (Shirai Ryu Takeda) vs. King Falcon – 3-0
cR|Biohazard (Ruthless Ferra/Tor, Commando Kano) vs. killtron – 3-0
Dab (Kobu Jutsu Tanya) vs. Tweedyyyy (Tempest Kung Lao) – 3-0
cR|Wound Cowboy (Impostor Shinnok, Bone Shaper Shinnok) vs. cR|Sonic Fox (Hollywood Cassie Cage, Outlaw Erron Black) – 3-1

Sources: ESL, NetherRealm

Next Level Battle Circuit #145 feat. Ultra Street Fighter IV, Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- Streaming Live

This week’s installment of Next Level Battle Circuit is now streaming live courtesy of Team Spooky. As usual, the event is being broadcast from its namesake, Next Level Arcade, in New York City. Tonight, they’ll be running Ultra Street Fighter IV and Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-, featuring some of the best players on the east coast.

If you would like to check out these weekly tournaments, be sure to head on over to Next Level Arcade and take part every Wednesday. The address has been included below.

4013 8th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11232

The stream is currently live below, but you can also visit Twitch to join the chat. Full brackets will be made available through Challonge.

Watch live video from TeamSp00ky on www.twitch.tv

Sources: Team Spooky

Smash @ Xanadu feat. Super Smash Bros. Melee Streaming Live

After taking last week off, the folks over at VGBootCamp recently went live with another installment of Smash @ Xanadu from Xanadu Games in Baltimore, Maryland. These weekly broadcasts provide a great look at the region’s Smash community, and tonight’s installment will feature competition in Super Smash Bros. Melee.

If you’re interested in some Smash Bros. action, be sure to tune in. The stream is live below, but you can also head on over to Twitch to join the chat.

Watch live video from VGBootCamp on www.twitch.tv

Source: VGBootCamp

Robert “Wobbles” Wright Signs with Panda Global

If you’re a Super Smash Bros. Melee player, you’ve probably got a strong opinion regarding the legality the Ice Climbers’ wobbling technique in tournament play. Regardless of your take on the parka-powered infinite, there’s a good chance that you’ll be seeing more of it in the immediate future–barring any rule issues, that is.

This is because Robert “Wobbles” Wright, the man behind the infamous maneuver, recently made a triumphant return from a (brief) retirement period and will now sport the Panda Global tag. On top of popularizing the winter-garbed duo, he is perhaps best known as the Evo 2013 runner-up, the culmination of a long career that began back in 2006.

Wright bolsters Panda Global’s already impressive Smash lineup, which also fields Justin “Plup” McGrath, Eric “ESAM” Lew, Jestise “MVD” Negron, and Shane “SS” Bruce. The organization also sponsors general fighting game players Ryan “Filipino Champ” Ramirez and Steven “Coach Steve” Delgado.

Panda Clobal CEO Alan “SamuraiPanda” Bunney told The Daily Dot that Wright is “still a top level contender, taking out some of the Melee greats this year alone,” citing both his writing and commentary skills as their key motivation to bring him aboard.

Expect to see more of Wright’s infinite usage, mallet swinging, and commentary at fighting game events moving forward.

Source: The Daily Dot, featured image courtesy of Polygon

Capcom Previews More Street Fighter V Character Themes

After a number of discoveries revealed secrets within the Street Fighter V beta, Capcom has provided some of the first official content in some time, previewing a few of the themes that will accompany characters in the upcoming title.

In the latest installment of the Saikyo Blog, producer Tomoaki Ayano shared snippets of the unique musical arrangements they’ve put together for Vega (known as Balrog in Japan), Birdie, Cammy, Chun-Li, Karin, R. Mika, Necalli, and Rashid, all of which you’ll find in the playlist below. Feel free to give them a listen and let us know what you think.

Vega
Birdie
Cammy
Chun-Li
Karin
R. Mika
Necalli
Rashid

If you missed out on them before, similar previews for Ryu, Ken, and M. Bison’s themes can be found here.

Street Fighter V is scheduled to launch for PlayStation 4 and PC on February 16.

Source: Saikyo Blog via Mike Ross

Skullgirls’ Annie of the Stars Might Make Her Playable Debut in Indivisible

As you may have already heard, Skullgirls developer Lab Zero Games is currently running an Indiegogo campaign for their next game. While Indivisible is an action RPG, Lab Zero won’t be moving away from their popular fighting franchise entirely according to new details.

Annie of the Stars, who previously had the chance of becoming playable in Skullgirls but fell short in the fan vote, will instead be making her playable debut in Indivisible. If the crowdfunding efforts are successful, Annie and a host of other guest characters from other indie titles will join the game as “Incarnations,” fighting alongside heroine Ajna in the game’s Valkyrie Profile-inspired battle system.

Lab Zero is currently sitting at $623,819 of their $1.5 million goal with eleven days to go. Be sure to visit Indiegogo to see how you can help make Indivisible a reality, and feel free to try out a playable prototype on both PC and PlayStation 4 if you’re still on the fence.

Source: Polygon

Get Serious with Jay Rego’s Street Fighter Newcomer Lessons

In just a few short months, we’ll all have our hands on Street Fighter V. Not only will the upcoming title bring hundreds of hours of punching to the masses who already pour plenty of time into the genre, it should also bring in throngs of new players eager to throw their first Hadoukens.

Those initial weeks spent with Street Fighter, regardless of iteration, can be rough. The more time passes, the rougher entry into the fighting game community becomes. With this in mind, Jay Rego has created a video for newcomers to the series that really gets at the core of Street Fighter basics: analyzing opponents to figure out their intentions, forcing opponents into specific situations, and taking advantage of momentum shifts.

While the video draws its footage from Ultra Street Fighter IV, the concepts appearing therein should readily transfer over to Street Fighter V when the time comes. If you’ve got friends looking to get into the genre, this may be the perfect place to start.

Source: Jay Rego

R. Mika Channels Stone Cold Steve Austin in Street Fighter V

You know, I really struggled with how to title this article. Fans of professional wrestling know I could have picked from any number of iconic Stone Cold Steve Austin phrases, and returning Street Fighter V cast member R. Mika certainly embodies some of the same showmanship the legendary Texas Rattlesnake did in his prime.

Luckily, the video below really handles all the talking that needs to be done.

Fighters Generation recently graced our tip line with a fantastic display of Mika’s wrestling prowess from the recent Street Fighter V beta. While it does a great job of showing off the anti-projectile techniques she’s capable of, much of the entertainment comes from how the footage has been matched with the flair Austin brought to the squared circle years ago.

Be sure to stay tuned until the end to see Tekken’s Armor King receive the same treatment.

Source: Fighters Generation