Get Ready to Fight with Team NINJA’s Beginner Tutorial Series for Dead or Alive 5 Last Round

With less than a month until the release of Dead or Alive 5 Last Round, Team NINJA has launched a brand new fighting game tutorial series for the upcoming title. These videos are designed to help total newcomers to the genre grasp the basics of 3D fighting games.

In this first installment, Team NINJA’s Peter and Brianna focus on basic strikes and how to string them together to form combos. More importantly, they go over how to properly delay button inputs for certain strings to be able to get the correct strings to come out for specific combos.

Give the video below a spin, or better yet, share it with your friends who may be interested in getting into the genre.

Dead or Alive 5 Last Round hits PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in North America on February 15, with a PC release to follow on March 30.

Source: Team NINJA

Details on Mortal Kombat X’s Special Editions Emerge, Returning and Guest Characters Mentioned

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For those die hard Mortal Kombat fans for whom the regular retail versions of the game simply will not do, here’s some great news. In a recent press release, Warner Brothers Interactive has announced not one, not two, not three, but four different special editions for Mortal Kombat X.

The first of these is the Mortal Kombat X Kollector’s Edition for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Made in collaboration with toymaker Coarse, this set will come with a special Scorpion figurine in the manufacturer’s signature style. It will also include an in-game gold Scorpion skin, similar to that of the figure, and the Kombat Pack, which grants access to returning and guest characters. This package has an MSRP of $149.99.

They will also be providing a bundle exclusive to Europe, though it can also be imported through Amazon. This version will come with a Scorpion statue, unique packaging , a copy of the Mortal Kombat X: Blood Ties comic book, and the aforementioned gold Scorpion skin and character content. As with the previous edition, this one is available only for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. MSRP will be $179.99

For those who prefer to purchase their games digitally, the Mortal Kombat X Premium Edition package will retail for $89.99 and include the additional character pack. Unlike the previous two versions editions, however, this bundle will be available for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in addition to newer consoles.

Finally, the Mortal Kombat X Limited Edition is available for pre-order exclusively from GameStop. This package will include an exclusive, Cold War inspired Scorpion skin, designed in collaboration with the fans and artists over at the Mortal Kombat Kollective, as well as the downloadable character pack. Available only for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, MSRP is set at $94.99.

Mortal Kombat X will launch for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC on April 14.

Source: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment via Test Your Might

Former Midway and Bandai Namco Developer Turned Machinima Star Monty Oum Passes Away at Age 33

Photo c/o Wikimedia Commons.

Photo c/o Wikimedia Commons.

Today, we sadly report that game developer turned machinima star Monty Oum has passed away at the young age of 33, according to Rooster Teeth.

While mostly known for his video work on titles such as Haloid, Dead Fantasy, and Red vs. Blue, Oum also contributed to game development, previously holding positions at Bandai Namco Games and the now-defunct Midway Games as a combat designer. He often stated that his long-term goal was to be able to make “the most awesome fighting game ever.”

Details state that Oum experienced an unexpected allergic reaction to a simple medical procedure, leaving him in a coma before he finally passed on at 4:34 PM on February 1.

Oum is survived by his wife Sheena, his father Mony, his brothers Woody, Sey, Chivy, and Neat, and his sisters Thea and Theary. For any fans looking to honor Oum in his passing, his former employers, co-workers, and friends at Rooster Teeth are asking fans to refrain from sending the usual flowers and gifts, and are instead asking them to do “something creative” and use their imaginations “to make the world a better place in any way that you can.”

Source: Rooster Teeth, thanks to King9999 for the tip.

Try This On for Size! Bafael Takes a Look at Assorted Rose Tools in Ultra Street Fighter IV

The road to character mastery is a long one, filled with training and information that may go unused for a time. That doesn’t mean that the technology is bad, but when getting into the groove with your character of choice, habits form and that unused stuff can fade into the background.

In the clip below, Bafael digs up some Ultra Street Fighter IV strategies for the Rose player who has a good idea about what’s going on with the character but may be looking for a few new tools to add to their game to keep things fresh. There’s also a very real chance that Rose players who watch the footage will know about these techniques, but they’re worth taking a second look at all the same.

Bafael includes hit confirmation options that don’t involve one frame links–which are always welcome, especially for online warriors–some ways to combo into her Ultra 1 as well as methods of netting around 600 damage with a fairly simple string of attacks.

If you enjoy this style of tutorial, be sure to check out Bafael’s extensive list of tutorials by following this link!

Source: Bafael

Northwest Majors Returns to Washington in April

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One of the best things about the competitive season heating up again is eagerly awaiting news on some of the biggest tournaments of the year. While we already have a good idea of where majors like Evolution, Community Effort Orlando, NorCal Regionals, and more are going to land over the next few months, folks in Washington are ready to stake their claim in April with another installment of Northwest Majors.

This annual event has grown tremendously over the past few years, expanding from a tournament attended mostly by folks within the state and nearby regions like Northern California to a large-scale competition that sees players travel from across the United States and internationally to take part.

And this year looks to be no different. So far, the organizers have announced three incredibly talented Japanese competitors will be making the trip west: Ogawa, KoujiKOG, and Dogura. As masters of very different titles, they will be lending another level of intensity to the proceedings for hometown heroes looking to represent their turf.

At this point in time, sixteen games are pegged for inclusion at Northwest Majors 7, including favorites like Ultra Street Fighter IV, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and more. Room has been set aside for further additions, most notably Super Street Fighter II Turbo and King of Fighters XIII, but the organizers will need to see a major push from their respective communities for them to make it in.

Northwest Majors 7 is scheduled for April 24-27 at Highline Community College in Des Moines, Washington. Further information can be found here. Registration is currently open, so be sure to visit the official website and do so before it’s too late.

Source: Northwest Majors

 

Apex 2015 Runner-Up Zidane Provides Overview for Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-‘s Leo Whitefang

While the Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- competition at Apex 2015 saw a fair amount of representation in terms of character usage, only one Leo player was able to crack the top sixteen: Zidane. His admirable play saw him make his way to grand finals, where he was able to reset the bracket on eventual champion ElvenShadow before bowing out at second place.

If you tuned into the tournament, saw Zidane’s Leo skills, and thought, “Yeah, that character seems fun!” you’re in luck. Biscuits recently uploaded a great overview of the Guilty Gear Xrd newcomer by the man himself. The video below, which clocks in at over half an hour long before the follow-up Q&A section, covers a ton of important information for budding Leo players.

Source: Biscuits

Evo 2015 Registration is Now Live

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Yep, it’s that time again; time to secure your spot at the largest fighting game tournament in the world. Over the weekend, the Evolution Championship Series organizers opened online registration for this year’s event, giving competitors and spectators the opportunity to finalize their plans for July.

Attendees will have three options open to them: a $70 three-day pass to the tournament hall, a three-day pass to the viewing hall for $50, and a two-day pass priced at $40 for everything before finals. Each comes with their own unique accesses and restrictions, so be sure to read the fine-print carefully as you fill out the form. Prices will go up March 30, 2015, so make sure to act fast!

Unlike past events, Evo 2015 will not feature a separate competitor’s pass. Purchasing any of the aforementioned packages will allow tournament entry for an additional $10 per game.

Additionally, the event organizers relayed that 3000 seats will be available for Sunday’s finals in the main hall. With passes guaranteed to sell out, you will need to act fast in order to secure your spot.

If you’ve yet to book your hotel, you can take advantage of a special deal being offered by Bally’s / Paris Las Vegas here.

Evo 2015 is scheduled for July 17-19.

More Characters Announced for Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel

EXAMU has revealed a handful of new playable and support characters for Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel. Among these new additions are a couple of characters who should be well known to anime fans.

Saber, from Type-Moon’s popular Fate series, will be joining the game as a playable character. Meanwhile, Nitroplus music festival mascot Super Sonico will be a support character.

These two were already mentioned in the initial announcement, but this is the first glimpse that we’re getting of them in their official roles.

In addition,  Ethica Kibanohara from Tokyo Necro has been announced as part of the main cast while Akane Tsunemori from the hit anime series Psycho-Pass will serve as an assist.

You can check out images of these characters in the gallery below.

Nitroplus_Blasterz_Saber
Nitroplus_Blasterz_Ethica_Kibanohara
Nitroplus_Blasterz_Super_Sonico
Nitroplus_Blasterz_Akane_Tsunemori

For more on Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel, check out our previous coverage of the game including screenshots, location test footage, and other characters.

Source: Dengeki Online via Gematsu

OverClocked ReMix Releases Free Apex 2015 Tribute Album

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The folks at OverClocked ReMix have been putting together video game music tributes for quite some time now. There’s a good chance that you’ve run across some of their work in the past; Cross Counter’s Canada Cup international 5v5 promo from a few years back immediately comes to mind, but there are countless more instances.

The group’s most recent release hit their website yesterday to mark the beginning of Apex 2015, featuring a collection of ten songs remixed by ten different artists, making for a varied album that will almost certainly have something for everyone. The games featured include Super Smash Bros. Melee, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Killer Instinct, and many more. For a full track list, check out the spoiler box below.

And as always, you can grab a digital copy of the album right now for free at OverClocked ReMix.

Full Track List

1. John Ryan – “This Is the Moment”
Main Theme of Apex 2015

2. DusK – “A Day Like No Other”
Source: Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 – “Character Select Screen for UMVC3″
Original Composer: Hideyuki Fukasawa

3. DarkeSword – “Got My Mind on My Money Match”
Sources: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U – “Menu&#8221$$ Super Smash Bros. Brawl – “Main Theme”
Original Composers: Junichi Nakatsuru, Nobuo Uematsu

4. CJthemusicdude – “Smashed Fridge Bits”
Source: Super Smash Bros. Melee – “Menu 1″
Original Composer: Hirokazu Ando

5. Amphibious – “Forest Fire”
Sources: Pokémon X / Pokémon Y – “Santalune Forest,” “It’s a Pokémon Battle!”
Original Composer: Shota Kageyama

6. DjjD – “Bull in a China Shop”
Source: Super Smash Bros. Melee – “Targets!”
Original Composers: Hirokazu Ando, Tadashi Ikegami, Shogo Sakai, Takuto Kitsuta

7. Sixto Sounds – “Falcon DREAM!!”
Source: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (from F-Zero X) – “Dream Chaser”
Original Composer: Taro Bando

8. WillRock – “Filler Instinct”
Source: Killer Instinct (2013) – “The Instinct”
Original Composers: Robin Beanland, Mick Gordon

9. Neblix – “Girl from Another World”
Source: Ultra Street Fighter IV – “Theme of Decapre”
Original Composer: Hideyuki Fukasawa

10. Ivan Hakštok – “May the Stars Light Your Way”
Source: Guilty Gear Xrd – “Starry Story (May’s Theme)”
Original Composer: Daisuke Ishiwatari

Source: OverClocked ReMix via Smash Boards

Geoff the Hero Takes a Serious Look at Killer Instinct’s Omen

Killer Instinct’s version 2.3 patch has been in the hands of players since yesterday, which means that we’ve all had a chance to spend a little quality time with Omen, the Herald of Gargos. If you’ve found the play style of this mix-up-heavy demon appealing, but are looking for a bit of a springboard to get the ideas for how to best lay waste to enemies flowing, Geoff the Hero’s day one breakdown has just what you’re looking for.

This video is all business, which isn’t something that we typically see from Geoff, but that doesn’t change the fact that the information is crucial to dominating matches as the game’s newcomer. Geoff covers some ambiguous cross-up options, the various methods of employing Omen’s shadow, and a general idea for how the character should be played.

Source: Geoff the Hero