The Lone Gamer

UPDATE: False alarm, folks…. apparently the pics are just from TTT2, not from TxSF. Apparently Michael Murray was messing around with Tekken Tag 2′s customization mode (Arcade debug) and sent those pics to Harada. Well, that’s good in a way. Another nice little bit is that when I asked Mike if the Customization mode on the console will be improved from the Arcade version, he said ‘Yes.’ No details of course, but I guess that’s something. We’ll see then as we work our way to September.

Tekken team member Michael Murray (mkeryu@Twitter) posted some intriguing pics recently, which some are assuming are from the in-development crossover fighter, Tekken X Streetfighter. The pics aren’t exactly on the polished side, showing off what appears to be Ganryu dressed up as Ryu, Bob as Ken and Heihachi as Akuma. Does this point to some sort of costume-swapping feature in the final game? Anyway, to view the pics posted, head on over to this article by Tekken-Nation, where all the images have been conveniently posted.

I am looking forward to this game, although that excitement IS tempered by the knowledge that we won’t be seeing TxSF anytime soon. As of now, Harada is concentrating on TTT2 Console, which releases in September. That means we’ll be playing TxSF perhaps sometime in mid-to-late 2013… assuming the Apocalypse doesn’t happen. Aren’t we all so optimistic?

More as we get it then!

Okay, a new Teaser Countdown Page has just been set up by Namco-Bandai of Japan, with a pretty basic ‘X’ pulsating to some unknown cadence. WHAT could this be about? I mean, it’s not like NB has anything with an ‘X’ coming up anytime soon… right? I mean, this could be a MILLION things. Perhaps a new Tales game? A reference to the rumored Dark Souls PC version..?

Okay, sarcasm aside, I think we may all be forgiven to thinking this may be our first teaser to Tekken X Streetfighter, which up to now still has the same air of enigma as the Bermuda Triangle and Bigfoot. No, wait… there are TONS more evidence and material on both of those other things… we know pretty much a thimbleful of factoids about TK X SF. Here’s to the hope that our questions are finally answered and this mystery fighter finally spills the beans before we all grow too old to remember our favorite combos. We’ll be on this like a freakin’ T-Hawk, then.

UPDATE: Well, apparently this mystery site is NOT about Tekken X Streetfighter- Harada has given this assumption a negative over at Twitter. So probably something else. Oh well… nothing to see here, folks. Heheh…

Hopefully we’ll see more assets from TxSF soon aside from just concept stuff.

Right on the heels of the impending release of Capcom’s Streetfighter X Tekken is now the FIRST major hype-making salvo for Namco-Bandai’s Tekken X Streetfighter! Tekken boss Katsuhiro Harada has been tweeting about this for a while, and now it’s here. Fans and gamers are now encouraged to vote for up to five (5) characters from each franchise they want in.

Harada cautions though that any results from this poll won’t necessarily decide whether or not a particular character makes the cut- however this will be something the devs can take into consideration as they work at this much-anticipated brawler. Also, if you have additional comments of suggestions for the game, you can always send a tweet over to Harada on Twitter. Please though- no spamming crap.

So what are you waiting for? Go and cast your vote here!

Katsuhiro Harada, head of the Tekken Project, let out some intriguing little tidbits for fans on Twitter today. They may be just little farts of info, but they may also be something to think about going into the next couple of Tekken titles. The first bit regards Tekken X Streetfighter- supposedly Harada is considering that the Streetfighter characters will play with their usual 6-button configuration, while the Tekken fighters retain the Iron-fisted 4-button layout. Will TxSF be literally a game that clashes two totally different play systems?

The other little bit may potentially be something that affects perhaps Tekken 7- or whatever the next canon Tekken chapter will be called. As one gamer asked Harada who won Tekken 6, the replay that came was a simple ‘Not Jin’.

That sadly only opens this subject up to a lot more questions. Were the events in Scenario Campaign canon? Was the winner Lars? Or perhaps Kazuya and his ending showing him carrying a defeated Devil Jin? Intriguing and maddening but sadly, we won’t probably learn the true answer for a good long while. This year will see the development of Tekken X Streetfighter and the eventual release of the console version of Tekken Tag Tournament 2. Tekken 7 is still at least a couple of years away. I’ll probably still be a gamer and Tekken fan then, so no skin off my teeth. But will you? Stay tuned then, gamers! We’ll get there together… someday!

So far the latest visual bit from Tekken X SF is this artwork by the official Tekken artist. Hmmm…

Katsuhiro Harada has been tweeting a lot recently about Tekken X Streetfighter, which is great since I am really getting hyped up for the Namco-produced crossover. I don’t know about you guys, but while seeing the Tekken fighters in the cartoony SFIV-style is cool and all, seeing the World Warriors in the more realistic Tekken visual style is even more intriguing and exciting. So far Harada has tweeted some elements which we can consider actual game info and not just random trolling…

Harada may eventually hold an online poll for fans and gamers to vote on which fighters will make it into the Tekken X Streetfighter roster. If this really happens, expect it to take place at the official Tekken Facebook page.

Harada is considering implementing a Super Meter system for the Streetfighter characters. ‘Something Simple but Cool’, says the Tekken boss. Perhaps it will be to regulate those pesky fireballs? Or will we see Ultras and Super Attacks in TxSF?

Like previous Tekken installments, TxSF will feature Character Customization. Hoping that it’s more like the system in Soul Calibur V or even Tekken 6 instead of the somewhat unsatisfactory system in TTT2…

Harada may be considering releasing the game on the PS Vita.

The Namco-Bandai director is still coy on hard info- there’s no firm release date on the game yet, but then again- we haven’t even seen ANYTHING solid on it. Perhaps once we see the first trailer or real stills from this mystery fighter, we’ll get a clearer idea of when to expect this anticipated fighter. Of course, I’ll be on this like a freakin’ hawk. Stay tuned.

With just a few weeks left before we end 2011, the big fighting games have made their mark and are set for our very near future. I think it’s a good time to just look back and forth at what came, what’s coming and what we have to look forward to.

Tekken
Namco-Bandai’s flagship fighting franchise had a pretty interesting year, with titles being announced en masse. The Iron Fist crew made or will make an appearance pretty much on every platform- from PS3 to Xbox360 to Wii and 3DS, PSP and even a presence on iOS via the cute free Tekken Bowl app. Tekken Tag Tournament 2 hit arcades in Japan and Korea, and is primed to head off for international venues later on. A Holiday 2012 release for TTT2 on console has just been announced during the Spike TV Videogame Awards, although details are still pretty vague.

Tekken X Streetfighter, the Tekken Team-produced crossover fighter we know pretty much nothing about, is supposedly underway in development. We’ve seen some art of Ryu and Chun-Li rendered by Tekken’s official artist, and they look pretty good. Harada and company are apparently still deciding whether the game will be tag or single play-centered; I’m hoping for single… Tag Team is a bit overdone by now. I’m really much more intrigued and excited for this than the Capcom equivalent, due to the conceivably much more radical change of seeing the cartoony World Warriors in the semi-photorealistic Tekken style.

On the portable side, Tekken 3D Prime Edition hits the Nintendo 3DS in early 2012. What this package seems to be is a straight port of Tekken 6, with the full lineup of characters. Disappointingly, the game apparently has no customization feature, and touts only new stages and card collection as it’s extra activity. Yeah, I’m buying this but it looks pretty meh.
For now though, fans have the Tekken Hybrid package to chew on- while the visually impressive Tekken: Blood Vengeance movie will entertain for a while, it’s probably the Tekken Tag 2 Prologue demo which will occupy players for the duration. At just four characters available it seems kinda slim, but it’s a pretty good way to dip your toes into the game’s initially intimidating Tag mechanics, as well as a tantalizing glimpse of the fighting game awesomeness destined for consoles in late 2012.

Soul Calibur V
The return of this classic fighting series happens in late January or early February, with new fighters and old in the lineup. With a few slots still unrevealed, we may see some character surprises very soon. Really something to look forward to, thanks to the new gameplay mechanics, the truly impressive Character Creation mode and an intriguing storyline in a Story Mode apparently influenced by the impressive Mortal Kombat in-game narrative.

Surprisingly, we’ll also be seeing the Tale of Souls and Swords on Apple gadgets, as Soul Calibur will be released soon on iOS. Looks cool- if it plays great, it should be pretty awesome. With Streetfighter IV Volt and King of Fighters already on iOS, this makes the appstore a force to be reckoned with in terms of fighting games. What’s next? How about a real Tekken on my iPad?

Streetfighter
The past couple of months have seen a lull in the previous steamroller of a marketing train for Capcom’s current baby, Streetfighter X Tekken. This came after a pretty controversial reveal of the game’s Gem System- a way for upgrading or augmenting characters that has raised the hackles of many players. We’ve gone quite a while without any new character reveals, but Ono has given teases that there may be announcements made in January and perhaps late December- still many fighters to be unveiled, apparently. The game is supposedly in the home stretch of development, and should be ready for release in March 2012.

Released last month on PSN and Xboxlive was Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3, with new characters like Dr. Strange and Phoenix Wright joining the chaos. UMVC2 will join Streetfighter X Tekken among Capcom’s offerings on PS Vita. Upcoming is a new mode called Heroes and Heralds which will have players either becoming the world’s embattled defenders or throwing their lot with Galactus as his silver-skinned servants.

Super Streetfighter IV Arcade Edition just saw a free update that further tweaks the gameplay and character balancing.

Skullgirls
I’m really intrigued at this gorgeous 2D fighter. The last couple of months have shown off two more character reveals in the dismember-happy Miss Fortune and the thuggish Painwheel. This looks promising and should be a hardcore beat ‘em up fan’s fave once it actually launches next year.

Dead or Alive 5
Got mixed feelings about this. The game visually has gotten upgrades, and Team Ninja is promising a lot- some of it not totally appealing. The game may become a QTE-fest, with flashy stunts in place of actual technique. Still, an upgraded, refreshed DOA is surely something to look forward to. I just hope it’s a real change and revision from the last game, and not just a slight inch-forward. The game’s currently at 15 percent completion, but is supposedly set for release in 2012. I say late 2012, if at all.

Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown
Since the announcement several months ago for this humongous DLC fighting upgrade, we’ve heard little, if anything at all. Hoping that the silence means that the Sega devs are hard at work making this as complete a package as possible. Meanwhile, a new revision adding more costumes has debuted in arcades, which I hope makes it into the console release as well. I can’t wait for this- hoping it arrives sooner than later. Look for this on PSN or Xboxlive in Summer 2012.

So many fighters, so little time left in 2011. This year I think saw the fighting genre finally back in the limelight and basking in fans’ appreciation. Next year looks to be a banner year for the Beat ‘Em Up, with titles aplenty coming and hopefully more will be announced. I think we’re all going to be busy blogging and brawling all year in 2012. Awesome!

Siliconera has just posted a couple of interesting interviews with Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada. The first interview talks mainly about the popular Tekken minigames like Tekken Bowl, Tekken Force and other nice extra trimmings. Check that out over here. The second interview talks more about the game development and in particular, some stuff about the still-far-far-away Tekken X Streetfighter. Look for that over here.

Check ‘em out! The next big events for Tekken and Streetfighter news may be this coming Gamescom, sometime next week. More as we get it then!

Fast Tube by Casper
An hour’s worth of Tekken info from the EVO show!

CrossCounterTV has just posted this pretty lengthy and extensive interview with the Tekken team’s Katsuhiro Harada and Michael Murray that was recorded during the recent EVO 2011 gaming event. The vid touches on everything from TTT2, the Tekken: Blood Vengeance movie, the Fighting Festival series, girl-on-robot-girl kissing(!) and more. I particularly like how Harada mentions the Philippines as one of the upcoming venues for Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (we’ll surely be getting some form of the Bana Passport for TTT2 along with the rest of the market).

From here on, Harada seems to be going to various places to attend gaming events or to promote TTT2. We’re inching closer and closer to the last quarter of 2011 and the eventual initial arcade release. All this waiting should pay off soon enough. I’m just waiting for the chance to see Tekken Blood Vengeance at least. More as we get it then!

Fast Tube by Casper
Harada can’t resist giving the goods to Tekken fan Kayane.

Here’s a cool interview video with Tekken’s main man Katsuhiro Harada conducted during the recent Japan Expo in France, conducted by Tekken fan Marie-Laurie Norindr AKA Kayane. Lots of nice tidbits which include things like how Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is almost finished, what the concept behind Tekken Blood Vengeance is, how Tekken X Streetfighter is still the red-headed stepchild of the Tekken games in development, some Soul Calibur V bits and Harada’s thoughts of Yoshinori Ono in a Chun-li outfit. WAH! Anyway, a cool watch for anyone who appreciates everything Tekken.

Later this week should bring even more info as Comicon finally arrives, so stay tuned! The info drought is nearly over. Heh…

Prepare for the next… drinking session?

Today, June 10, is the birthday of Namco-Bandai’s Katsuhiro Harada, longtime and current director and producer of the Tekken series! Harada-san, as he’s most often called by fans, has been around for more than a decade, handling the reins of the much-beloved fighting game series. Though in the past he wasn’t one to bask in the limelight like his contemporary Tomonobu Itagaki (DOA), as of late thanks to Twitter and Facebook, Harada-san (along with friend/rival Yoshinori Ono from Capcom) has become the fans’ game producer, interacting with thousands and thousands of gamers online and sharing with them the developments of his games almost in real time.

Things don’t look to be slowing down anytime soon with the latest E3 announcements of a whole fleet of Tekken titles coming in the next few years. So toast yourself a hearty drink of Tequila and Red Bull, Harada-san, but stay healthy and safe and keep working on those games!