Category: News

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SNK expanding their esports initiative to cover all fighting games developed by the company

For some time now, SNK has had an esports support program focused on helping the competitive scene around The King of Fighters XIV. This past week however, the company made some changes to the scope of the program on their official website.

Beyond just support for The King of Fighters XIV, the official site now states that the esports support program covers “all fighting games created by SNK.”

This change is interesting in more ways than one. The most obvious being that the competitions and tournaments for older titles (including classic titles with strong competitive scenes such as KOF ’98 and KOF 2K2), can get support from the company.

The other interesting bit, however, is the fact that this opens the door for support for future fighting games from SNK. Both producer Yasuyuki Oda and designer Hayato Watanabe have already confirmed that SNK is working on more fighting games. With this, we know that competitions for these will be supported when they do see the light of day.

Source: SNK via Siliconera

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A PlayStation information page for Dragon Ball FighterZ has Bulma listed as a playable character

Just as we’ve got footage of Captain Ginyu and Nappa in Dragon Ball FighterZ, PlayStation may have accidentally leaked an unannounced fighter. According to an information page for Dragon Ball FighterZ on the PlayStation website, Bulma is listed alongside Freiza, Vegeta and Goku as a playable character.

Before you get your hopes up, there is one big red flag which is Buu’s name being spelled incorrectly on this information page. Unless the Boos from Super Mario were announced as guest characters while no-one was looking, Bulma’s inclusion could be another mistake/typo. However, it’s not like we haven’t seen Bulma within Dragon Ball FighterZ.

DBFZ Bulma Leak

She has featured heavily within trailers and screenshots for Dragon Ball FighterZ‘s Story Mode, meaning that Arc System Works clearly have a Bulma model on hand. When you also consider the lack of female fighters on the current roster and ASW’s penchant for including unexpected characters in character rosters, Bulma seems to tick both of those boxes.

If she is playable, I imagine Bulma would fight inside a giant Capsule Corp mech suit, complete with different weapons and support Capsules to help her teammates. She did appear as an assist character in Extreme Butoden, where she would throw Capsules with random effects to help the player out. Arc System Works already have experience with a character with random projectiles in Guilty Gear‘s Faust, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

Plus, this isn’t the first DBFZ leak to come from a third party. All the information regarding Dragon Ball FighterZ‘s Season Pass was leaked on the Xbox storefront, ahead of the official announcement by Bandai Namco. In any case, we’ll probably get the next set of DBFZ character reveals within next month’s copy of V-Jump, so hold tight until then.

Source: PlayStation

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Arc System Works wants to hear your opinion on BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle

Now that we’re through all the dates and locations where BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle was shown off, Arc System Works wants to hear thoughts from the players on the game. The company has put up a survey on its BBTAG site.

The English survey asks for gender, age, and region, and at which event you played the game (it’s possible to say “Not played.”) The next questions delve into game mechanics, asking opinions on the Smart Combo system (automatic combos, basically, by repeatedly pressing square or triangle), the Crash Assault attack (overhead strike with the partner), and finally, the tag combo system and the Resonance Blaze comeback mechanic.

While it does seem like the survey is mainly aimed at people who have played the game, you can voice your opinion in the last questions regardless. The survey asks which characters you would like to see from the included franchises, as well as from other game companies.

Access the BBTAG survey to get involved and voice your opinion.

Source: Arc System Works

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UDON’s Street Fighter vs. Darkstalkers monster movie tribute covers now available as premium prints

Some spooky art from UDON to decorate your home, office, lair, whatever.

If you’re a fan of Street Fighter, Darkstalkers, and classic monster movies, these are made just for you! The alternate horror movie tribute covers that have appeared on issues of UDON’s Street Fighter vs. Darkstalkers comic series have now been made available as 16″ x 24″ premium wall prints.

Click to view slideshow.

You can add these prints to your decor by heading over to Focus Attack. They’ll cost you $19.95 USD each. The two previously-released wall prints are still available, too — Rob Porter’s “Midnight Bliss” spread for Street Fighter vs. Darkstalkers is still MIA, unfortunately!

Source: Focus Attack via UDON (Twitter)

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Polygon interviews Akira Nishitani of ARIKA, talks new fighting game, company’s character rights, and Capcom

Still without a title, Japanese developer ARIKA’s new fighting game is one of the most interesting talking points in the FGC right now. Making an indie game is difficult enough, let alone one in our niche fighting game genre. With that in mind, ARIKA is in a position that other indie devs could only dream of: they are building on brand recognition and hype 20 years in the making.

When you look at the history of how the company formed, though, you’ll see that this “unique position” was part of the plan all along. ARIKA was able to leverage the rights to their own creations by being in the right place and at the right time. This company’s tale of guts and luck is the subject of company president Akira Nishitani’s latest interview with Polygon, which you can read here.

The interview covers how the company managed to create such an amazing deal with Capcom, the malleability of their unnamed project, and their openness to working with Capcom again. The latter point is particularly fascinating:

Obviously, we can publish it ourselves and we’re prepared to do so. But if over the course of time, our connection with Capcom deepens and that happens, we’re open to [making it a Street Fighter game] as well.

When combined with the knowledge that Capcom overtly acknowledged and included ARIKA-created EX characters in their latest character popularity poll, one wonders just how closely Capcom is eyeing the new ARIKA project…

arika ex srk

Source: Polygon

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Polygon interviews Akira Nishitani of ARIKA, talks new fighting game, company’s character rights, and Capcom

Still without a title, Japanese developer ARIKA’s new fighting game is one of the most interesting talking points in the FGC right now. Making an indie game is difficult enough, let alone one in our niche fighting game genre. With that in mind, ARIKA is in a position that other indie devs could only dream of: they are building on brand recognition and hype 20 years in the making.

When you look at the history of how the company formed, though, you’ll see that this “unique position” was part of the plan all along. ARIKA was able to leverage the rights to their own creations by being in the right place and at the right time. This company’s tale of guts and luck is the subject of company president Akira Nishitani’s latest interview with Polygon, which you can read here.

The interview covers how the company managed to create such an amazing deal with Capcom, the malleability of their unnamed project, and their openness to working with Capcom again. The latter point is particularly fascinating:

Obviously, we can publish it ourselves and we’re prepared to do so. But if over the course of time, our connection with Capcom deepens and that happens, we’re open to [making it a Street Fighter game] as well.

When combined with the knowledge that Capcom overtly acknowledged and included ARIKA-created EX characters in their latest character popularity poll, one wonders just how closely Capcom is eyeing the new ARIKA project…

arika ex srk

Source: Polygon

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IGN’s Next Big Game shows off extended Dragon Ball FighterZ footage, featuring Nappa and Ginyu

While many were hoping that IGN’s Next Big Game would show off two brand new characters for Dragon Ball FighterZ; it turns out that it’s just Ginyu and Nappa. In this episode of Next Big Game, IGN has given players a better look at the leader of the Ginyu Force, Vegeta’s old partner, as well as Crane School disciple Tien.

Similar to Gargos in Killer Instinct, Nappa’s Saibamen act independently once they are summoned, with the initial input determining the type of Saibaman that comes onto the field. In the video, we see Nappa use the heavy version of the Saibaman summon, which does a high hitting jump slash, a projectile acid spit and a low hitting slide before disappearing off screen. Based on the footage, the Saibaman either continues attacking until it gets hit by the opponent, or is disappears once it finishes doing a certain number of attacks.

As for Ginyu, he doesn’t have many attacks of his own — most of his damage comes from calling in his henchmen to attack. According to producer Tomoko Hiroki, you can change the attack of each member of the Ginyu Force based on your input — leading to the possibility that each Ginyu Force member (Recoome, Jeice, Guldo, and Burter) is assigned to a specific attack button (light, medium, heavy, and Ki Blast). For example, a quarter circle forward and heavy may result in Recoome’s Ultimate Fighting Bomber, while a quarter circle back will have him perform a Recoome Kick. Ginyu’s Body Change Technique has also been confirmed to only change characters and health bars, so no stealing your opponent’s meter for a crazy comeback.

At the very end of the video feature, we also got a glimpse of a new move for Tien and yes, you can indeed summon Chiaotzu and make the poor little guy self-destruct. You can see the footage over on the Next Big Game Facebook page, and expect more Dragon Ball FighterZ news during November.

Source: IGN

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North America’s first Pokkén Tournament DX-exclusive major: Final Boss results

With over $3000 in pot bonuses up for grabs between some of the strongest competition in the world, Hitbox Arena’s “Final Boss” major in New Jersey just crowned its first champion. This grassroots event is the Pokkén Community’s first Pokkén Tournament DX-exclusive major.

While this 1v1 tournament was obviously the main draw (and a major stop on the Pokkén Arena Circuit), there was also a 3v3 “Waseda Style” Team tournament. For those unfamiliar with Waseda style: Teams A and B have their 1st players battle each other, then 2nd players, then 3rd. Every team member must to play, and no single person can carry a whole team with this format.

Results

pokken-tournament

Pokkén Tournament DX

Singles Tournament (94 entrants)

1. Rampage|Azazel JP (Machamp) $1720
2. Slippingbug TX, US (Pikachu Libre, Scizor, Machamp) $688
3. ELM JP (Suicune) $447
4. Toasty TX, US (Lucario) $240
5. INC|RoksoTheSavage NY, US (Garchomp, Scizor) $103
5. Twixxie NC, US (Chandelure) $103
7. ThankSwalot IL, US (Sceptile) $69
7. StDx|Allister CA, US (Mewtwo, Suicune) $69
9. Bolimar TX, US (Decidueye)
9. Thulius OH, US (Mewtwo, Decidueye)
9. Uho JP (Pikachu Libre)
9. Scatz GA, US (Charizard)
13. Flegar NY, US (Lucario)
13. HBA|Oreo NJ, US (Mewtwo)
13. SoulGuitarist PA, US (Chandelure)
13. Deity Light IL, US (Lucario)

Waseda-style 3v3 Team Tournament (18 teams)

1. Team Momo (Momo/Azazel/Elm)
2. Team Rokso (Burnside/RoksoTheSavage/Toasty)
3. Team Thulius (Allister/Twixxie/Thulius)
4. Team WhiteChocolate (WhiteChoc/Brocooli/Flegar)

Source: Final Boss

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Quackbot and KillerKai speak out on the former’s Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite double-entry at Canada Cup 2017

In any tournament, no matter what sport or game is being played, it’s understood that a competitor can only enter themselves into the tournament once. However, at the Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite tournament at this year’s Canada Cup, a player ended up playing twice — in two different pools.

During the tournament, Quackbot — or PCMarvelGod, as he is more commonly known — was able to play in both Pool 1 under his own name, and in Pool 2 under the gamer name Holy Order-Troll. While tournament officials eventually caught on to this, by that time Quackbot had already beaten more than a few other competitors.

As a result of the above, the decision was made to replay the bracket. However, this then affected the fortunes of another player who had already made it out of Pool 8. Eliver “Killer Kai” Ling had won all his matches in the pool, sending Quackbot down to the losers bracket along the way. However, due to the decision to replay the bracket, KillerKai was forced to replay his pool winners final match against Joe P. The second time around, Joe P ended up winning against KillerKai, who then qualified out of the pool on the losers side of the bracket.

Now, both Quackbot and Killer Kai have given out statements on this. According to Quackbot, the reason that he was in two brackets was because the real Holy Order-Troll (a player from Arizona) wouldn’t be able to play due to controller issues. As such, she decided to offer her spot to Quackbot, since she supposedly didn’t want her slot to “go to waste.” As part of this, he also states the he will take full responsibility for the incident and will even accept a ban if necessary.

Meanwhile, KillerKai, whose chances at a higher placing at the tournament were derailed by the incident, has also made his own statement on the matter.

KillerKai states that while he understands the tough situation that the people from Canada Cup and Capcom were put in due to this, he cannot help but express disappointment at how they handled it, and at their lack of foresight. He goes on to state that he feels that they were more worried about accusations of preferential treatment towards KillerKai than doing the right thing. While he states the he still has “mad love” for (Canada Cup head organizer) Lap Chi Duong, he also states that, as a result of this, he will no longer be returning to any future Canada Cup events.

We’ve reached out to Lap Chi Duong for his own comments on the issue. However, he stated that he wouldn’t be able to give a proper statement on the issue immediately, but would be doing so at a later time. Stay locked on to Shoryuken for more on this story as it develops.

Sources: Quackbot; Killer Kai

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Strike a pose with Captain Ginyu’s introductory trailer for Dragon Ball FighterZ

Following Nappa’s reveal trailer in the middle of last week, Bandai Namco have finally released Captain Ginyu’s reveal trailer for Dragon Ball FighterZ, complete with flamboyant poses and Body Change shenanigans. The short introduction confirms that Ginyu’s Milky Cannon will be his Level 1 Super, along with showing off new assists for Guldo, Recoome and Burter.

Burter can fly in and unleash a series of Mach Kicks, Recoome can deliver a powerful knee strike with his Recoome Kick and Guldo can use his Psycho Javelin. From previous screenshots, we know Recoome and Guldo have two unique assists, while Jeice and Burter only have one. Hopefully, Jeice and Burter can combine together to do their signature Purple Comet Hurricane.

IGN is set to reveal two new Dragon Ball FighterZ characters later this week, so keep your scouters locked for more DBFZ info. With much of DBFZ’s roster being based on Arc System Works’ previous Dragon Ball fighter — Extreme Butoden — many reckon that Kid Buu and Gotenks will be next up.

Source: Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe