Joystiq

Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Watch the Joker's MK vs. DC fatalityhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/watch-the-jokers-mk-vs-dc-fatality/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/watch-the-jokers-mk-vs-dc-fatality/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/watch-the-jokers-mk-vs-dc-fatality/#commentsFiled under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Fighting

So what's the problem with the Joker's Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe fatality (seen at about 3:40 into the video after the break)? Well, nothing per se, it's a perfectly silly, violent way for the criminal mastermind to finish off his foes, and is actually surprisingly brutal for the game's Teen rating.

No, the only real problem is what the attack isn't. As fans of The Dark Knight know, the Joker's real fatality is blindingly obvious. Because, honestly, who doesn't love a good magic trick?

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]]>jokermidwaymk-vs-dcmortal-kombatmortal-kombat-vs-dcmortal-kombat-vs-dc-universeJustin McElroy2008-08-27T09:30:00+00:00GC 2008: Joker, Green Lantern duke it out in new MK vs. DC screenshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/joker-green-lantern-duke-it-out-in-new-mk-vs-dc-screens/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/joker-green-lantern-duke-it-out-in-new-mk-vs-dc-screens/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/joker-green-lantern-duke-it-out-in-new-mk-vs-dc-screens/#commentsFiled under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Fighting

Let's put a smile on that face by checking out Midway's latest batch of Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe screenshots, rife with cross-dimensional brawling and enough continuity issues to drive fanboys round the bend. While you enjoy the sight of The Joker blasting Scorpion right out of the Batcave or the Green Lantern putting the squeeze on Shang Tsung, we'll frantically attempt to figure out how Ed Boon managed to steal all our closeted fan fictions.

If these guys don't pummel your fancy, Midway has also informed us that series stalwarts Raiden and Kano will join the game's kombatants, along with the DC universe's Wonder Woman and Deathstoke.

Gallery: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (08/20/2008)

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]]>BatmanGreen-LanternJokerLeipzig-08MidwayMK-vs-DCMortal-KombatMortal-Kombat-vs-DC-UniverseLudwig Kietzmann2008-08-20T15:00:00+00:00See tons of MK vs. DC Universe gameplayhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/see-tons-of-mk-vs-dc-universe-gameplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/see-tons-of-mk-vs-dc-universe-gameplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/see-tons-of-mk-vs-dc-universe-gameplay/#commentsFiled under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Fighting

We don't know how you feel about Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe but we've gone from absolute bewilderment to an almost embarrassing desire for the full version. If you're still on the doubters' side of the fence, we'd like to humbly suggest only that you watch the above video, a boatload of gameplay narrated by your friend and ours, Ed Boon.

It all looks sort of cool, but we have a hard time getting past the part where Superman runs Scorpion through seven walls without picking up the phone to pre-order the game. We can't even watch it anymore because after call number 9, the guy at Gamestop was starting to get downright rude. What say you on it?

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]]>ed-boonmidwaymk-vs-dcmortal-kombatmortal-kombat-vs-dc-...Justin McElroy2008-07-28T19:00:00+00:00Toasty! Midway announces Mortal Kombat: Kollection for PS2http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/27/toasty-midway-announces-mortal-kombat-kollection-for-ps2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/27/toasty-midway-announces-mortal-kombat-kollection-for-ps2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/27/toasty-midway-announces-mortal-kombat-kollection-for-ps2/#commentsFiled under: Sony PlayStation 2, Action, Fighting

Midway plans to eviscerate PlayStation 2 owners this September, bundling together the previous three Mortal Kombat titles as a single $30 box set. The compilation, dubbed the Mortal Kombat: Kollection, will include 3D fighters Mortal Kombat: Deception and Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, as well as the under appreciated action game, Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks.

According to Midway, the set is designed to let players "refine their skills" prior to getting to clobber the Man of Steel this holiday. However, considering that Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe plays more like Mortal Kombat 3 than any of the more recent 3D fighters, we're not exactly sure how many of those skills will actually make the transfer.

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]]>bundlecollectionmidwaymortal-kombatmortal-kombat-vs-dc-...mortalkombatJason Dobson2008-07-27T11:30:00+00:00MK vs. DC to have 20+ characters, download supporthttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/mk-vs-dc-to-have-20-characters-download-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/mk-vs-dc-to-have-20-characters-download-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/mk-vs-dc-to-have-20-characters-download-support/#commentsFiled under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Fighting, E3

Even cynics like us have to admit at least a passing curiosity with the nerd orgasm that is Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe and its cross-universe roster. Earlier today we approached the game's production coordinator, Hector Sanchez, and while he would not let us in on the game's complete lineup, he admitted that the team is looking to feature between 20 to 25 characters, "split up evenly half and half, and then split up again between heroes and villains."

Additionally, while talking about possible alternate costumes or other unlockables, Sanchez told us that the team is "planning to support downloadable content," before stopping short and saying he "was going to say something" but couldn't. Downloadable characters seems the obvious source of his pursed lips, making us continue wondering what comic book icons will be further ground beneath the heel of Midway's floundering franchise.

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]]>batmancomicsdcdownloadse3-2008e32008midwaymkvsdcmortal-kombatmortal-kombat-vs-dc-universesupermanunlockablesJason Dobson2008-07-16T22:30:00+00:00Midway at E3: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/midway-at-e3-mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/midway-at-e3-mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/midway-at-e3-mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe/#commentsFiled under: Features, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Fighting, Interviews, E3

Scorpion vs. Batman. Catwoman vs. Subzero. These aren't exactly matchups players have always dreamed of, but Midway is going to do their best to cram two disparate universes into one with Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, the very first Mortal Kombat game on the next-gen systems. Here at E3, Joystiq got to sit down with Brian Lebaron, senior designer for the game, and we talked about why it's OK to set the Flash on fire, why Bizarro probably won't be in the game, and what Midway is doing to Toasty uppercut the fighting genre.

After the break, find our hands on with the game, as well as details from our chat with Lebaron. When MK vs. DC comes out, you'll finally be able to find out whether Liu Kang's kicks can catch the Flash in the jaw.

The game looks really nice so far, but "so far" is the operative phrase there -- the game is far from done. There are only six fighters in the game we played: Flash, Superman and Batman represent the comic book side, while Scorpion, Sub-zero, and Sonya are in from the MK series. Catwoman, Sheng Tsung, Captain Marvel, and Liu Kang have been announced as well, but Lebaron told us that Midway probably won't have your favorite character Zatanna in the game -- he says they're sticking pretty mainstream with their character choices for now. And unfortunately, they don't have full access to the DC Universe. "We can't do Bizarro as an alternate costume to Superman," he said as an example, "there are licensing things to deal with." But the benefit there is that by sticking to the mainstream DC superheroes, they can make sure to get all the standard moves in there, and a few more.

Case in point: Batman has a few different batarang actions -- he can either just wing one at his opponent, or actually toss it upwards off the screen, at which point it hits Subzero in the back, and pulls him in closer to Bats to start up a combo. And Mortal Kombat veterans will even find some familiar moves mixed in with the superheroes' new arsenal -- Batman has a smoke pellet teleport that's old school for MK (fall off the bottom of the screen, fall back from the top on the opponent's other side), while Flash can do the Scorpion teleport -- jump off the back of the screen, and dash around to the other side. The move sets we saw weren't anywhere near finished, but we did see an interesting mix of MK with DC.

And Midway has really innovated in a few places, most notably during throws and stage transitions (where you knock someone off one part of the stage and into another). In the past, these two experiences have been pretty passive for whoever's getting thrown or knocked away, but Midway has put in a fun counter system to break things up. Whenever you throw someone, the screen zooms in a bit and slows down, and down in the corners, you can actually see what your opponent is pressing to attack. This makes it much easier for the opposing player to counter in the middle of the action, if they know what each button counters and how to time it exactly right.

Stage transitions have the same element, with an added bonus: there's a "super meter" that builds up while fighting, and when a counter is done, your opponent can actually steal your super meter power. So there's a balance between fighting to build the super meter, and using that power before your opponent is able to counter the attack and steal the momentum. Both of those innovations definitely make what was previously a cutscene into something much more interesting.

They're also squeezing combos into the regular gameplay, as another fighting game has done -- the game will feature moves that can be "upgraded" with really tough timed button presses, i.e. hitting X in the middle of a combo at exactly the right time. Lebaron says that "even perfect players won't be able to hit it all the time."

And the other challenge Midway is facing is walking the line between treating DC superheroes like superheroes, and being as brutal as Mortal Kombat is known to be. The most well-known collision so far is the Fatalities -- as most Batman fans know, he's not much for the killing, so while seeing him stripping the spine out of someone might be cool, it's not exactly in character for the guy. Lebaron confirmed what we've heard before: that certain superheroes will perform "Brutalities" ("They might not end up being called that," says Lebaron), and severely maim opponents instead of outright killing them.

For their part, Lebaron did say that Midway is trying to push the line as much as possible, both with DC and with the ESRB (the game is set to be rated T): he showed us a Scorpion fatality against the Flash where Bart Allen (at least we saw him as Bart Allen -- when we asked Lebaron which Flash he was, Midway said they weren't choosing a certain one) fell to the ground, his costume and skin charred and burned. Lebaron said that death animation was already approved by DC, and that in the future, if DC or the ESRB has a problem with something they come up with, they'll take it back out and try it again, rather than just removing animations from the game. Villians will have fatalities for sure -- Lebaron confirmed that Catwoman, among other villains, will be killing their opponents.

The version we played was very early, but Lebaron told us that right before E3, the game went into quality assurance mode, so progress is being made (he did say that they're still tweaking the moves -- we overheard Lebaron say to someone else that the Xbox 360's D-pad was giving them problems). Online modes are "what you'd expect in a fighting game," so Superman will be able to beat up Johnny Cage from anywhere in the world. We also asked about DLC, and Lebaron said Midway would like to do it -- "add characters into the game that we didn't add for five bucks or something like that," but that they didn't have any plans yet.

All in all, MK vs. DC is shaping up pretty well -- it's headed for a release later this year, and fans of both Mortal Kombat and DC will probably find some good fun in it.

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]]>batmandlce3e3-08e3-2008handsonjoystiqfeaturesmidwaymkdcmortal-kombatmortal-kombat-vs-dc-universeonlinesupermanMike Schramm2008-07-16T16:30:00+00:00First Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe gameplay trailer is toastyhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/first-mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe-gameplay-trailer-is-toasty/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/first-mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe-gameplay-trailer-is-toasty/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/first-mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe-gameplay-trailer-is-toasty/#commentsFiled under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360

The weekend before E3 is a magical time for video game trailer connoisseurs -- many game developers, in an attempt to get a head start on the hype frenzy, will release new media for their blockbuster titles in order to pique the interest of E3 attendees. Not exactly the wisest move, as most of these West Coast-bound bloggers will be spending most of their weekend deciding if it would be a fashion faux pas to bring a fanny pack to the convention, in order to house their digital cameras, iPhones, audio recorders, handheld gaming devices, and their precious energy drinks.

With our staunch anti-fanny pack mentality already set in stone, we're able to skip said deliberation and show you these trailers -- the first of which being the gameplay debut for Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. While our mind still boggles at the logistics of how Superman can even feel our measly human punches, the game looks gorgeous, and the mid-air combat between arena tiers looks badass. Hopefully, Midway's E3 booth will give us a chance to get our hands on MK vs. DC, and, as a result, murder some of our favorite childhood heroes.

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]]>dce3-2008gameplaymidwaymk-vs-dcmortal-kombatmortal-kombat-vs-dc-...trailerwarner-broswbGriffin McElroy2008-07-12T11:30:00+00:00New Mortal Kombat vs. DC screenshots are fairly brutalhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/05/new-mortal-kombat-vs-dc-screenshots-are-fairly-brutal/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/05/new-mortal-kombat-vs-dc-screenshots-are-fairly-brutal/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/05/new-mortal-kombat-vs-dc-screenshots-are-fairly-brutal/#commentsFiled under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Fighting

Let's face it -- one of the main things that has set Mortal Kombat apart from its contemporaries throughout the years has been its inclusion of flagrant acts of grisly violence. When Ed Boon explained that the upcoming Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe would explore the softer side of the series with Teen-rated acts of pugilistic carnage, many fans were upset, as it seemed their thirst for evisceration would go unslaked. The latest salvo of screenshots for the brawler from Midway might confirm or ease your fears of a censored MK title -- no, there's no evidence of any impromptu spine-removal procedures, but there's pummeling and arm-breaking aplenty. Does the latest entry in the toasty franchise look gruesome enough for your sinister bloodlust?

Gallery: Mortal Kombat VS DC Universe

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]]>brutalitydcdc-universeed-boonmidwaymk-vs-dcmortal-kombatmortal-kombat-vs-dc-universetoastyGriffin McElroy2008-07-05T18:00:00+00:00Ed Boon clarifies Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe fatalitieshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/ed-boon-clarifies-mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe-fatalities/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/ed-boon-clarifies-mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe-fatalities/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/ed-boon-clarifies-mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe-fatalities/#commentsFiled under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Fighting

In a brief interview with Gamespot, Midway's Ed Boon has (once again) discussed the return of fatalities in upcoming cross-brand brawler, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. The infamous finishing moves will be performed by all Mortal Kombatants and DC Comics villains, but not by any of DC's untarnished heroes. You know, the ones "who don't kill that often." Instead, nicer folks like The Flash will have "brutalities," moves which inflict pain upon the recipients without totally murdering them.

Of course, don't expect the levels of violence and depravity to be quite up there (down there?) with previous Mortal Kombat games, as Ed Boon mentions that this Unreal-powered showdown is still pushing a slightly Tamer boundary. "Certain animations, blood effects, and sound effects that we have in the game are really pushing the T-rating envelope," he said. We're sure gore hounds will find this worthy of debate, but we're more concerned about everything that happens before the fatality.

Let's hope E3 grants us the opportunity to beat the snot out of that smug Superman.

Gallery: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe

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]]>BatmanDCDC-ComicsEd-BoonMidwayMK-vs-DCMortal-KombatMortal-Kombat-vs-DC-UniverseSupermanLudwig Kietzmann2008-06-24T17:00:00+00:00First look at Batman in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/04/first-look-at-batman-in-mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/04/first-look-at-batman-in-mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/04/first-look-at-batman-in-mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe/#commentsFiled under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Fighting

The Dark Knight is the second DC Comics character from the upcoming krazy krossover, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, to be revealed as he'll appear in-game by Midway. Although this first image is a pre-rendered CG mockup, we can see what the game's artists are going for: a mix of the Caped Crusader's original black & grey outfit with some downright anime-style body armor details.

Bats had better have plenty of utility belt items at his disposal as he goes up against the likes of Scorpion and Sub-Zero. Best throw in some Kryptonite for good measure, given that Superman has already been revealed as a kombatant.

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]]>batmanmidwaymk-vs-dcmortal-kombatRandy Nelson2008-06-04T21:30:00+00:00Midway shows off Superman in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/21/midway-shows-off-superman-in-mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/21/midway-shows-off-superman-in-mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/21/midway-shows-off-superman-in-mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe/#commentsFiled under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Fighting

The official website for Midway's Unreal-powered, cross-dimensional brawler, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, has posted the first shot of what appears to be Superman's 3D model. As you can see, the developers have managed to capture the Kryptonian's chiseled features, indestructible physique and patriotic pose quite well. So well, in fact, that we're left feeling a little sorry for the mere mortal kombatants.

Gallery: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe

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]]>BatmanDC-UniverseMidwayMK-vs-DCMortal-KombatMortal-Kombat-vs-DC-UniverseScorpionSupermanUnrealLudwig Kietzmann2008-05-21T11:29:00+00:00Midway 'modifying fatalities' for MK vs. DChttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/midway-modifying-fatalities-for-mk-vs-dc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/midway-modifying-fatalities-for-mk-vs-dc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/midway-modifying-fatalities-for-mk-vs-dc/#commentsFiled under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Fighting

When Midway announced that DC characters were splicing worlds with Mortal Kombat for a T-rated fighting game, we prepared our eulogy for the fatality, a staple of the MK universe that seemed to run against the DC philosophy. Not so fast, says MK series creator Ed Boon, who hints that the violent sendoffs will still be there, albeit in a tamer fashion.

In an interview with GameTap, Boon notes that the developer never explicitly stated fatalities were going away. "We did acknowledge that we won't be able to do the same kinds of outrageous moves, like tearing someone's head off and the spine being attached to it," he says, adding, "My response is that, no, we're modifying fatalities. But I have every intention to keep finishers."

What's left is to define, then, the nature of the fatality. Are they inherently ultra-violent? So far that answer's been yes, with the extreme alternatives being Friendships and Babalities. For now, we'll just have to wait for the screenshots to show us some kind of finisher that satiates our blood-thirsty desires.

After the break, a collection of fatalities from the series.

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]]>ed-boonfatalitiesfatalitymidwaymk-vs-dcmortal-kombatmortal-kombat-vs-dcmortal-kombat-vs-dc-universeRoss Miller2008-05-08T15:28:00+00:00Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe crossing over in Fall '08http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe-crossing-over-in-fall-08/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe-crossing-over-in-fall-08/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe-crossing-over-in-fall-08/#commentsFiled under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Fighting

Despite the trailer koming out earlier today, here's the "official" announcement of Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. The storyline for the game will be written by the "Mortal Kombat creative team," with comic writers Jimmy Palmiotti (Painkiller Jane, Marvel Nights, Jonah Hex, 21 Down) and Justin Gray (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, JLA Classified, Punisher Red X-Mas, The Resistance), and will weave the Mortal Kombat and DC Universe's together into a cohesive narrative -- at least, that's the plan.

Ed Boon, executive producer for Mortal Kombat, says, "Players will now be able to answer the question: what would happen if Batman fought Sub Zero?" It's an interesting question to think about now, but we're pretty confident that up until 24 hours ago -- when news of this game first started leaking out -- that pairing never came up in a "Picard vs. Kirk" style geek-off. We're sure to learn a lot more about this non M-rated version of Mortal Kombat at E3. For now, philosophically speaking, if a Mortal Kombat game doesn't have fatalities, is it still Mortal Kombat?

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]]>dc-comicsmidway-gamers-day-08mkvsdcmortal-kombatmortal-kombat-vs-dc-universeAlexander Sliwinski2008-04-18T19:00:00+00:00Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe gets confirmation, trailerhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe-gets-confirmation-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe-gets-confirmation-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/mortal-kombat-vs-dc-universe-gets-confirmation-trailer/#commentsFiled under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Fighting

We were a little skeptical when the first promotional poster for Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe leaked out this morning, but now that GamesRadar has posted up the first trailer for the game our reaction has gone from skepticism to amazement. As in, we're amazed that this thing actually exists.

The high impact, mid-air fight between Sub-Zero and Batman (shown below the break) seems a little out of character for the Dark Knight, who's always been more about calculation and strategy than all out hand-to-hand Kombat. We're also a little worried about how the DC heroes' long-standing prohibition against killing is going to match up with the Mortal Kombat series' famously fatal, er, fatalities. But these kinds of academic nerd-concerns are hard to maintain when watching the concentrated 360- and PS3-fueled awesomeness on display in this video.

[Update: Gamespot has an interview with Project Lead Ed Boon that discusses the game's story and the balancing between the variously super-powered characters. The interview also confirm Superman's and Scorpion's somewhat obvious inclusion in the game. Gamespot's preview has more details]

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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]]>batmanBreakingNewsDCMidwayMidway-Gamers-Day-08MK-vs-DCMortal-Kombatsub-zeroKyle Orland2008-04-18T14:11:00+00:00MKO: Next Mortal Kombat pits MK against DChttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/mko-next-mortal-kombat-pits-mk-against-dc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/mko-next-mortal-kombat-pits-mk-against-dc/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/mko-next-mortal-kombat-pits-mk-against-dc/#commentsFiled under: Fighting

According to Mortal Kombat Online, we don't have to wait for the big Noob.com reveal as they say a Midway source has confirmed to them that the next game in the series would be Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, a game originally rumored back in September.

Normally we'd be skeptical without a press release from Midway in our inbox, but MKO also nabbed the above image which we have to admit looks pretty darn authentic. Hopefully we'll get some more details later in the day about character rosters, but for now, you may be permitted to rabidly fantasize: What's your dream crossover battle?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]

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]]>breakingnewscomicsdcmidwaymortal-kombatmortal-kombat-vs-dcJustin McElroy2008-04-18T07:30:00+00:00Noob.com's big reveal happens tomorrowhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/noob-coms-big-reveal-happens-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/noob-coms-big-reveal-happens-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/noob-coms-big-reveal-happens-tomorrow/#commentsFiled under: Business

The big countdown on Mortal Kombat chief Ed Boon's personal site, Noob.com, revealed the above blurry picture and anagram. Cutting to the chase, it translates: Embargo lifts tomorrow. People are speculating the fuzzy image is MK's Scorpion, but it could be from the house party scene in Eyes Wide Shut for all we know.

If we really wanted to pinpoint a time Boon is going to make his big reveal, we'd shoot for something like 4PM Pacific. Why that time? Well, Midway is holding its media event in Las Vegas right now and the embargo on all information lifts at 4PM PST tomorrow. Maybe Boon will rebel and release his info early.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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]]>ed-boonmidwaymortal-kombatnoob.comAlexander Sliwinski2008-04-17T23:00:00+00:00Noob.com has gotten even weirderhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/noob-com-has-gotten-even-weirder/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/noob-com-has-gotten-even-weirder/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/noob-com-has-gotten-even-weirder/#commentsFiled under: Fighting

Right, so you may remember on April 1 when we stumbled upon Noob.com (Mortal Kombat chief Ed Boon's personal site) and tried to made some sense out of the coded images there. At the time, we thought (thanks to reader Batzarro) that the site was hinting at a new game in the series called "Ice Rage," as it steadily counted down to 3 p.m. on April 17.

But things have gotten weirder now, with all those symbols replaced by a long series of numbers. We're hoping that they're a code of some sort and we're hoping that you smart, attractive readers can solve it. Feel free to use our comments section to work together and crack it Robert Langdon style.

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]]>ed-boonmortal-kombatnoob.comJustin McElroy2008-04-11T09:00:00+00:00Is 'Ice Rage' the next Mortal Kombat game ... or a prank? [Updated]http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/is-ice-rage-the-next-mortal-kombat-game-or-a-prank/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/is-ice-rage-the-next-mortal-kombat-game-or-a-prank/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/is-ice-rage-the-next-mortal-kombat-game-or-a-prank/#commentsFiled under: Fighting

You'd have to be what the French call "les incompetent" to buy anything at face value on April Fool's Day, but for the life of us, we can't figure out if this is supposed to be a joke. So, here's the skinny: There's this site, noob.com, and it definitely features a Mortal Kombat logo and was registered by Midway, so it seems official. It features a countdown to April 17, a picture of two eyes, a picture of some animals, and some numbers.

Reader Batzarro did a little decoding and decided that (if you allow that the animals each represent their first letter in their name) that it translates to "Ice Rage." We decrypted the yellow numbers below using a numerical alphabet code and got "FREE TOUCH KLOSE." OK, so you officially know as much as we do, what's the verdict? Gag? Or something else?

UPDATE: Hmm, where to start? OK, so 1. This page belongs to MK creator Ed Boon. 2. Hidden on this page is the message "It is with deep regret that after over 20 years with Midway, I will be leaving as of today to pursue my dream of becoming a chef. I will never forget the incredible experience I've had with such an amazing group of talented people." So it seems the actual 4-1 gag is Boon leaving for cheffing (cheffery?). Hope that clears it all up.

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]]>mortal-kombatJustin McElroy2008-04-01T09:05:00+00:00EGM editor Dan Hsu talks about 'blackball' editorialhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/egm-editor-dan-hsu-talks-about-blackball-editorial/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/egm-editor-dan-hsu-talks-about-blackball-editorial/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/egm-editor-dan-hsu-talks-about-blackball-editorial/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Hacks, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Fighting, Sports

Earlier this week we saw an editorial from Electronic Gaming Monthly Editor-in-chief Dan "Shoe" Hsu calling out Sony's sport division, the Mortal Kombat team and Ubisoft for purportedly blackballing the magazine. GameDaily's Media Coverage feature, written by Joystiq's Kyle Orland, talks with Hsu about the editorial to extract more insight into his decision to publish the editorial.

Hsu clarifies that these incidents are not common, despite the perception one might get from all the media around it. In talking about Ubisoft specifically, Hsu points out two previews for Assassin's Creed, which discussed worrisome design flaws. He also notes that Capcom had at one point in the magazine's history pulled support and have since become a prominent advertiser again.

Our favorite line comes at the end of the piece. Said Hsu, "I'd drag EGM down with me or quit before we compromise our integrity." You hear that, EGM writers who value paychecks over integrity? Get out while you still can!

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]]>assassins-creedblackballdan-hsuegmelectronic-gaming-monthlyhsujournalismmidwaymortal-kombatsonyubisoftRoss Miller2008-01-11T20:00:00+00:00Publishers allegedly blackball EGM for negative coveragehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/09/publishers-allegedly-blackball-egm-for-negative-coverage/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/09/publishers-allegedly-blackball-egm-for-negative-coverage/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/09/publishers-allegedly-blackball-egm-for-negative-coverage/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Hacks, Action, Fighting, Sports

UPDATE: The full text of the editorial is now available on Hsu's blog.

In his latest editorial, Electronic Gaming Monthly Editor-in-chief Dan "Shoe" Hsu publicly calls out three companies that are allegedly refusing to work with the magazine due to negative reviews of their games. According to Hsu, the members of Midway's Mortal Kombat team, Sony's sports division and Ubisoft as a whole are refusing to give EGM access to early preview or review builds of their games (in the case of Ubisoft, Hsu specifically says "it seems our coverage of Assassin's Creed was the last straw").

As a result, Hsu says EGM readers will get "little, late, or no coverage" of these companies' games. "We won't treat these products or companies any differently, and we'll just cover them to the best of our own abilities, with or without their support," Hsu writes. "Because, after all, we're writing for you, the reader -- not them."

These types of allegations aren't anything new around the game industry water cooler, and stories of publisher reprisals in the form of pulled advertising or blackballed journalists occasionally bubble up in the game press. But editors are usually reluctant to publicly name names in these situations, for fear of pissing off publishers further. Are we seeing the beginning of a new age in game journalism, where journalists aren't afraid of standing up to publishers that try to push them around?

We'll be following up with Hsu and the companies involved and let you know what we hear.

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]]>assassins-creedblckballcontroversydan-hsuEGMelectronic-gaming-monthlyjournalismmidwaymortal-kombatsonyubisoftKyle Orland2008-01-09T12:30:00+00:00