Category: News

Back in 2010, HORI shocked the world (or at least the part that cares about arcade sticks) with the release of their Real Arcade Pro Premium VLX. Modeled after the control panel of the Taito Vewlix arcade cabinet, the VLX pioneered a number of features, such as the flip open top panel, that have since become standard in premium arcade sticks.

Now, in partnership with Arcade Shock, they are bringing the VLX back with the Real Arcade Pro 4 Premium VLX Kuro for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. This stick will see an extremely limited release, available through Arcade Shock, HORI USA, and HORI Japan.

As with the previous VLX peripherals, this collaborative project is modeled after Taito’s Vewlix design (this time, the black Vewlix L cabinet), and brings with it the same easy open top panel. Additionally, the VLX Kuro uses HORI’s own line of arcade parts–the Hayabusa lever and Kuro buttons–found in some Vewlix cabinets.

One new feature not available in earlier models is a new touch panel attached to the back of the stick. Similar to those featured in the HORI RAP.4 Kai and RAP.V Hayabusa, this allows players on PlayStation 4 to use features that benefit from the touch panel, such as text input or menu navigation, without having to switch to a seperate controller.

The HORI RAP 4 VLX Kuro will be available for $299 on May 1, with pre-orders open now. While the asking price may seem steep, this is actually quite a steal considering that the original, mint condition Red and Diamond VLXs now command prices as high as $550 in the collectors market.

Be sure to follow the links above and grab one before they’re gone!

Some time ago, we reported that Nyu-Media was planning to expand access to the beta version of Yatagarasu Attack on Cataclysm on Steam to backers who donated $10 or more to their Indiegogo campaign. If you’re one of the people who qualify for this, you’ll be happy to know that these keys are now being sent out.

For those who aren’t familiar with it, Attack on Cataclysm is an expanded version of Yatagarasu, an indie fighting game made by three former SNK developers who worked on the King of Fighters series. The game bears some similarities to those titles as well as Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike.

The latest beta version features playable versions of the update’s three newcomers Azure, Aja Salisbury, and Kotaro, and gives us our first taste of the English commentary Ultra David, James Chen, and Maximilian.

For those who don’t have access to the beta, check out a few screenshots, along with a short video we recorded, below.

Yatagarasu Attack on Cataclysm is currently available in arcades via Taito’s NESiCAxLive digital distribution service; development is still ongoing for the full Steam release.

Source: Nyu-Media

Typically, those looking to pick up a year of Xbox Live Gold directly from Microsoft can expect to spend $59.99. However, from now until February 28, they are offering a full year of their online service at a discounted $39.99.

This low-price access to Xbox Live Gold can be delivered to purchasers in the form of a digital code or, if preferred, Microsoft will ship a traditional time card for easy gifting or squirreling away somewhere secret until next year. There is, however, a three code limit per virtual shopping cart.

Whether your access to online brawls will soon expire, or if you just want to stock up for the future, be sure to check out this deal soon, as it comes to a close tomorrow.

Source: Microsoft Store via Polygon

One of the more interesting addition to the fourth Super Smash Bros. game is custom moves that provided tweaked special attacks for the game’s cast. This mode has proved interesting enough that even Evo is allowing it tentatively for 2015.

That said, there is one hurdle to fully utilizing customs – the fact that moves have to be unlocked in game. Players have to play certain modes in the game repeatedly for a chance to unlock custom parts used for the attacks, and that can get rather tedious.

To help players be able to unlock more customs moves quickly, Dunnobro over at the Smash subreddit has posted a guide on how to automatically farm for parts.

Using a turbo controller, you’ll need to set special attacks to the A button, pick Ganondorf, go to stage two of Target Blast, and then find a way to keep that button held down. With this, Ganondorf will automatically punch the bombs, repeatedly blowing up two targets and spawning the wrench items for custom parts, while at the same keep going back into the mode to unlock more customs.

According to Dunnobro, the method described above will yield about one custom move every two and a half minutes. While that doesn’t seem to be all that fast, it does require almost zero effort from the player once they’ve set the system up.

For more info on this trick, head on over to the original thread.

Source: r/Smashbros

Ever since Mortal Kombat X newcomer Cassie Cage was announced, fans were eager to know if her iconic parents would be making their way to the upcoming title. The developers have been coy regarding their inclusion, but a few recent pieces of news may be hinting that they are ready to formally announced Johnny Cage as a playable character.

Shortly after the NetherRealm Studios stream today, creative director Ed Boon jumped on Twitter to drop a few more teasing remarks regarding character reveals. Following community manager Tyler Lansdown’s broadcasted promise that new details were coming very soon, Boon sent out one message asking if that meant tomorrow, continuing a few hours later with a picture of a cage that’s also supposedly related to Friday’s news.

While not confirmation that we’ll be seeing a playable version of Johnny tomorrow, a preview for this weekend’s issue of the Mortal Kombat X comic lends more credence to that possibility.

According to Comic Vine, the leading man has followed Sonya Blade into Outworld to help her locate their daughter after she was abducted by forces located there. While we won’t go into too many details to save spoiling it for anyone, this is Johnny’s first appearance in the comics, and the importance of his quest and the status he’s held in the video game series thus far make us think he’ll be around for some time.

So, what do you think? Are we gonna see Johnny tomorrow? Let us know what you expect in the comments.

Sources: Ed Boon via NeoGAF, Comic Vine

Along with a new playable character and various balance changes, tomorrow’s Killer Instinct update will also add ranked leagues to the game’s netplay.

Upon starting up this mode, your first ten matches will determine if you are graded as bronze, silver, or gold. After your tier placement is decided, you will be matched up with players of the same skill level, allowing you to test yourself against equals and gain points towards the next rank. Players will also find themselves placed in sets against opponents outside of their tier on occasion for a chance to earn more points.

However, there’s one more rank above gold where only the best of the best will reside. Killer tier matches will play out with different rules, sticking to the best-of-three format of tournament matches while restricting counterpicks. At the end of the month, the top 32 players will be awarded Pro status and forever immortalized in the leaderboards.

These ladders will be the perfect way to track your progress as you level up your Killer Instinct skills, and give those in the upper echelons even more incentive to keep playing.

The ranked league beta begins tomorrow once Killer Instinct is patched to ver.2.4, so be sure to jump in and go for the gold.

Source: Xbox via NeoGAF

Spin-offs for fighting game franchises are becoming rather commonplace these days, but rarely do they put you in the shoes of a sentient special move.

Well, shoes don’t really apply here as the attack in question doesn’t have feet, but I digress.

Earlier today, Arc System Works released Eat Beat: Dead Spike-san for both iOS and Android mobile devices. Based on their popular BlazBlue universe, this rhythm game gives you control over Ragna’s titular attack as it seeks to gain strength by eating everything in its path.

As far as rhythm games go, Eat Beat is pretty basic, but still provides a fun bit of distraction for morning commutes, waiting room visits, or any other activity you feel like filling with remixed BlazBlue themes. It’s also completely free of charge, though you can spend money on things like bonus characters and songs if you’re so inclined.

If you’re interested (and haven’t already tried the original Japanese version), follow the links below and start munching!

Sources: iTunes, Google Play via Destuctoid

This week’s installment of Next Level Battle Circuit is now streaming live courtesy of Team Spooky. As always, the event is being broadcast from its namesake, Next Level Arcade, in New York City. Tonight, they’ll be running Ultra Street Fighter IV, 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

Yesterday, Capcom officially revealed the return of Charlie Nash to the Street Fighter franchise. Originally thought to be dead after the events of Street Fighter Alpha, the pivotal figure in Guile’s overall storyline returns to wreck the competition in the series’ next installment.

He’s a little different than we remember, but that’s to be expected after squaring off with a fighter of M. Bison’s caliber. Where before Charlie was a relatively normal guy with a gigantic forelock, he’s reappeared with some rather grotesque new aesthetics that hearken back to Frankenstein’s monster. What could have necessitated the bodily reconstruction he appears to have gone through?

While we’ll likely have to wait awhile to learn the mysteries behind Charlie’s updated look, Capcom has provided a handful of high-resolution screenshots for us to study in the meantime. Check them out below, gawk at just how freaking huge Charlie’s hands are, and give us some of your feedback in the comments.

While our coverage of Bandai Namco Games’ free-to-play Soulcalibur: Lost Swords (mostly due to its purely single-player focus), that doesn’t mean the developers have stopped updating the game for dedicated fans.

The latest of the title’s crossover costumes comes courtesy of Japanese manga artist Yamatogawa, who is perhaps best known for his work on projects that are a little lewder than, say, Dragon Ball and Naruto. This collaboration resulted in the Magic Knight outfit, which is just as revealing as you would expect.

As you can see in the video above, the costume is available to both Ivy and Amy.

Now, I’m not opposed to video game characters showing a little skin, but it’s crazy to see someone surpass the already lax standards showcased in Soulcalibur’s armor. Kudos, Yamatogawa!

Feel free to let us know what you think in the comments.

Source: Bandai Namco Games via Siliconera