Everyone has a fighting chance
PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT: NZXT today announced that BLD, the simplest way to get a customized gaming PC, is expanding its service into Canada. With BLD, Canadian gamers can experience a turn-key hassle-free solution to buying an affordable custom built PC that is tailored to the games they want to play with guaranteed performance.
Originally from Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Isabelle was announced as a newcomer for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate during today’s Nintendo Direct. The character utilizes the many tools available within the Animal Crossing series and her no-nonsense personality appears to stop even Sonic the Hedgehog in his tracks. Check out the reveal trailer below!
Taking a break from assisting mayors and just being an all-around lovely pup, Isabelle from the Animal Crossing series is joining the roster as a playable fighter in Super #SmashBrosUltimate! pic.twitter.com/YSVoYDkHRR
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) September 13, 2018
On top of the traditional reveal video, Nintendo also released a brief clip showcasing the character’s unique special moves. Every move is a brick in the character’s foundation for the Town Hall of success.
There was also Direct confirmation of the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Nintendo Switch bundle that was leaked earlier this week. The console comes with stylized Joy-Cons to resemble the Smash emblem and a special dock featuring the original Smash Bros. cast. The console releases on November 2nd with a download code for the game ready for when Super Smash Bros. Ultimate releases on December 7th.
New bundle approaching! This upcoming bundle will include a #NintendoSwitch system, Super #SmashBrosUltimate branded Joy-Con controllers and dock, as well as a download code for the game. Available 11/2. pic.twitter.com/x4tXUngnOk
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) September 13, 2018
Source: Nintendo
If you don’t closely follow Sabin’s Team Spooky After Hours, you may have missed Dusty Knuckles IV! This retro game exhibition was a collaboration between Team Spooky and IFixMachine (the same group that brought us NYG 13) to highlight some wild games from the arcade scene’s past: Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Rumble Fish 2, and Ehrgeiz: God Bless The Ring.
But if you missed it, no sweat: an hour+ of high level arcade action awaits you below in the recently upload VOD playlist from Team Spooky themselves.
Source: Team Spooky After Hours
SSFC2016 Fights On with The King of Fighters ’98: Ultimate Match & Rumble Fish 2 Tournaments
Classic Cramp Memories – Chris G and the FingerCramp Crew Play Ehrgeiz: God Bless the Ring
The Japanese eSports Union, better known by its acronym JeSU, is an organization that seeks to avoid Japan’s strict gambling laws by providing professional gamers with licenses that allow for greater tournament payouts. While Capcom notably joined the movement for Street Fighter V in February of 2018, other developers like SNK and Koei Tecmo are also part of the initiative. However, a new member has just joined their ranks: Arc System Works.
Known primarily for their development of the Guilty Gear and BlazBlue franchises, ArcSys’s movement marks yet another step into the esports licensing fray for fighting game companies. ArcSys broke the news in a tweet, where they expressed a desire to add to the growth of the competitive gaming scene.
As of 09.13.2018, Arc System Works Co., Ltd. has officially joined the Japan esports Union (JeSU). We hope to be able to contribute to the growth of the eSports community through our games.https://t.co/tn8cOUOTNt
— アークシステムワークス公式ツイッター (@ARCSY_Event) September 13, 2018
Three other companies likewise joined the Union as “regular members.” Multinational conglomerate Tencent, known for PUBG Mobile and League of Legends, was one of them, alongside hardware company I · O · Data Equipment and Lawson Entertainment.
While Guilty Gear or BlazBlue have yet to be officially added to the Union’s roster of titles, they will likely fall alongside JeSU’s current collection of Tekken 7, Street Fighter V, Rainbow Six: Siege, and Call of Duty: WWII, among others. Bandai Namco already has two fighting games with official, competitive circuits, as well: Dragon Ball FighterZ and the upcoming SoulCalibur VI could likewise mark possible additions.
While JeSU helps players win larger cash prizes than Japan’s gambling laws allow (¥100,000 — $895, to be exact), much controversy has surrounded this movement, as JeSU’s requirements for professional gamers raise the question of what separates a professional from a casual competitor. A since-deleted statement made by the Union revealed that pro players should have a, “self-awareness of being a professional, demonstrate sportsmanship when playing, be dedicated to outstanding results in JeSU-officially recognized titles, and contribute to the development of domestic esports.”
However, many tournaments are now awarding licenses to winning players, and those seeking a them can apply for one through JeSU’s website. That’s no guarantee that acquiring one will be easy — but fighting game fans can expect further developments from Japan’s competitive Guilty Gear through Arcsys’s new relationship with JeSU.
Source: Arc System Works (Twitter)
Capcom reveals the first 21 players to receive a Japanese pro license for Street Fighter V
Echo Fox’s Momochi shares his thoughts on Japan’s new pro-licenses for professional gamers
If you have a running list of every game Shovel Knight has appeared in, get ready to amend it — the Blue Shoveller is touching down into Rivals of Aether this Friday on Steam, September 14th.
With him he brings one of the most expansive and option heavy movesets seen in the entirety of the platform fighting game sub-genre — and an exciting new stage featuring a interfering Troupple King.
The Shovel Knight DLC can be obtained here on Rivals of Aether‘s Steam store page once launched.
Source: Steam Store
Upgrade your inventory with this character breakdown for Shovel Knight in Rivals of Aether
Shovel Knight digs his way into Rivals of Aether
Rivals of Aether has released two new characters in its third DLC pack
Arc System Works used their Evo 2018 stage time to announce the ArcRevo 2019 World Tour. Outside of this initial push, ArcSys has kept information on the tour close to their chest — at least, until now, as they have just revealed how their point structure will work:
The basics for #ArcREVO in handy-dandy picture form:
More details at the news post and to come later! https://t.co/6fLm78a2vx pic.twitter.com/3IedkAoo8Z
— ArcSystemWorksU (@ArcSystemWorksU) September 13, 2018
Furthermore, there’s a bonus prize being announced for ArcRevo’s first stop, Sept 28th’s Revolution 2018 tournament in London: The winner gets a paid trip to ARCREVO Japan 2018 on Nov 23rd.
Unfourtantely, Arc System Works hasn’t quite shared their full tour schedule just yet. When they do, SRK will be sure to get that news to you!
Source: Arc System Works
Arc System Works announces ArcRevo World Tour 2019, with world finals at ArcRevo America 2019
The patch notes for BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle version 1.30 are now available
Ever since it was announced, there has been some speculation on who is actually doing development on SNK’s new Samurai Shodown (a.k.a. Samurai Spirits). The game running on Unreal Engine 4, as well as featuring an art style reminiscent more of Street Fighter IV has led some to wonder if people who worked on the latter, such as artist Daigo Ikeno, are involved in the new game.
Well, now the speculation can end. SNK’s Nobuyuki Kuroki, who was the art director for The King of Fighters XIV, has confirmed that not only is he resuming the role for Samurai Shodown, he’s also now in the director’s chair as well.
In addition to this, Kuroki has also confirmed that Samurai Shodown is being developed in-house at SNK. In fact, the team working on it is the same team that worked on The King of Fighters XIV, and SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy.
While this may surprise some, considering that SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy just launched and is still receiving updates, the latter does reuse a lot from their previous game. More importantly, it does mean that a number of veteran developers of the genre who worked on the previous games, including battle director Hidetoshi “Neo_G” Ishizawa — whose credits include Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, Capcom vs. SNK 2, and Marvel vs. Capcom 2 — are now hard at work on the new Samurai Shodown.
Samurai Shodown is set to launch sometime in 2019.
Source: Nobuyuki Kuroki (Twitter), via Orochinagi
SNK announces Samurai Spirits for PlayStation 4
SNK releasing new — and free — Samurai Shodown V Special themes for PlayStation 4 & PS Vita
Catherine: Full Body, the updated re-release of the fighting game community’s favorite competitive block puzzler game, finally has a release date in Japan. Players over in the Land of the Rising Sun will get to purchase the game for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita come Valentine’s Day: February 14, 2019.
The game will come in two version, a standard edition that will retail for ¥7,980, and a limited edition that will go for ¥13,980. The latter adds a slipcase, four-disc soundtrack CD, art book, and special DLC set.
For those wondering about what’s been added to Catherine: Full Body, the game now features a third potential love interest: Rin, the pianist of the bar that protagonist Vincent frequents. In addition to this, the game will feature 500 stages (twice the amount of the original), 20 minutes of additional animated footage, an Arrange Mode with new mechanics, as well as the ability to change Catherine’s voice. Miyuki Sawashiro (Catherine’s main voice actor) and Mamiko Noto (Persona 3‘s Fuuka Yamagishi) will be joined by nine additional voice-overs that will be available as DLC.
More importantly — at least for competitive players — the game will now come with online play.
As for a Western release, the publisher has yet to offer any date for it. That said Atlus is planning a livestream on NicoNico to reveal more information (including a new trailer) on September 15, at 7:00 PM Japan time (5:00 AM Western). In the meantime, check out these new screenshots from Famitsu.
Sources: Famitsu; Ryokutya2089 via Gematsu
Kinetiquettes has made a name for itself with some pretty good-looking statues based on fighting game characters. Now, they’re collaborating with a fan-favorite artist for yet another statue, one that’s sure to catch attention.
Known for his work with DC Comics as well as the art for various Capcom collections such as Darkstalkers Ressurection and Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Online Edition, Stanley “Artgerm” Lau is now bringing his pen to the world of SNK and figures. Kinetiquettes is collaborating with Artgerm on a new 1:4 scale statue of the queen of fighters herself, Mai Shiranui.
For those interested in how the statue will look like, Artgerm himself has shared a preview of it over on Twitter.
The statue is part of a new line up SNK statues by Kinetiquettes. The first of these, a 1:4 scale Terry Bogard statue is already available for pre-order on their site.
Source: Artgerm
State of Decay 2 players can now check out the game’s second DLC called Daybreak Pack. Those who own the Ultimate Edition will receive the DLC as part of the original price, or it can be purchased separately for $10. Players will find a new cooperative game mode and the new Blood Plague Juggernaut freak.