grandmaster challenge

it’s been a while, we’ve been busy, etc. sorry.

• SNK has clearly lost their minds – December 23rd in Japan will mark the release of the Neo Geo Online Collection Complete Box Volumes 1 and 2, containing the essence of their fighting game masterpieces over the years:

Volume 1: Garou Densetsu / Fatal Fury Battle Archives Vol. 1-2, Garou: Mark Of The Wolves, Ryuuko No Ken: Ten-Chi-Jin / Art Of Fighting Anthology, Samurai Spirits: Rokuban Shoubu ( Samurai Spirits 1-5, Samurai Spirits Tenkaichi Kenkyakuden ), Sunsoft Collection ( Galaxy Fight, Waku Waku 7 ).

Volume 2: The King Of Fighters Orochi Collection ( ‘95-’97 ), The King Of Fighters NESTS Saga ( ‘99-’01 ), The King Of Fighters ‘98 Ultimate Match, World Heroes Gorgeous, Fu’un Super Combo, Bakumatsu Roman: The Last Blade 2-in-1.

Each volume retails at http://shopncsx.com/ for a $118.90 preorder.

• The new Dream Factory produced entry in the Battle Arena Toshinden series, tentatively titled “War Budokai”, has a lot of content on the official site. They have yet to announce an official release date. Trailer one. Trailer two.
• Cyberconnect2 releases Naruto Shippuden: Narutimate Accel 3 as a PSP exclusive on December 10th in Japan. 4-player ad hoc wifi action is to be expected, with a massive cast of over 50 characters. 10th anniversary promo trailer.
• Samurai Spirits: Sen releases December 10th for JP-region Xbox 360. The UK/AU tentative dates seem to be set somewhere in January 2010 with no current word of the US release. Xbox 360 trailer ( Doki Doki ).
• In April 2010 Capcom plans on releasing a “Final Fight Double Impact” bundle for PSN and Xbox Live Arcade which will pack in the arcade versions of Final Fight and Magic Sword, including leaderboards, online play, new arranged soundtracks and the ability to switch between HD and the original arcade cab display size.
• In two days on Dec. 3rd, Bandai’s Kamen Rider Climax Heroes, previously released on the PS2 will release on the Japanese Wii. Official site.
• There’s an article here entirely in Japanese, something about the arcade machine distributor that primarily handled games like Akatsuki Blitzkampf Ausf.Achse and Goketsuji Ichizoku: Matsuri Senzo Kuyou going into bankruptcy as of November 20th but my grasp of the language is terrible; any clarification would be appreciated.
• Kyoto’s Neo Amusement Space A-Cho’s next All Capcom Historical Vs Game Olympics will be held January 9th and 10th of 2010. Expected game lineup will be Street Fighter 4, Street Fighter Zero 3, Capcom VS SNK 2, Street Fighter III 3rd Strike, Super Street Fighter II X, Marvel VS Capcom 2, and Vampire Savior. Should be amazing!
• By now you’ve probably heard of the inclusion of Cody, Guy, and Adon as well as T.Hawk, Juri and Deejay to the character roster of Super Street Fighter 4, with some Famitsu scans pointing out a dubious kunai heralding the imminent arrival of Ibuki of SF3 fame. New Character Trailer. New Features Trailer. Dimps/Capcom is currently planning a Spring 2010 release.
• In just four days on December 5th, SNK launches the King Of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match Arcadia Cup, fresh off their support for the Duelling The KOF 8th Season 3 on 3. In addition to the tournament there will be a location test for the shmup-relative of the series, KOF Sky Stage, which is due for arcades in January and XBLA next year. Meanwhile, The King Of Fighters XII has gotten several DLC packs for arranged BGM for both PSN and XBLA but no word of additional characters ( outside of the supposed K’ / Mai additions ) or backgrounds just yet….
• Blazblue: Continuum Shift was released a week and some change ago in arcades. v-13 is now Lambda-11, and Tsubaki and Hazama have joined the roster, with some universal rebalancing happening across the board. Arcade intro. Official page with special poster + command list. Hazama and Tsubaki Astral Heat.
• Blazblue: Calamity Trigger will trot out for the PSP port February 25th 2010 in Japan, with Unlimited versions of all 12 characters and ad hoc play for four players. No word on US or UK release.
• Senko No Ronde DUO ver.2.00 has been released for Taito Type X-2 in the arcades and an Xbox 360 console release is planned for second quarter 2010. Intro. Official site. “How to play” Mika Mikli attract mode.
• Tekken 6 is now available for the PSP in stores and for 39.99 over PSN, for a portable sibling comparable to its Xbox 360 and PS3 counterparts that has ad-hoc multiplayer and all characters and stages from the ports. Players can also transfer ghost data between each other to fight each other’s characters when not connected. In addition, Katsuhiro Harada, T6’s producer has publicly stated that any further DLC his team produces will be free for download from XBLA/PSN.
• In other Tekken related news, you can vote for Tekken 6 to be added to the World Cyber Games international competitive circuit for the 2010 season in their poll here. This month, Softbank Publishing will be releasing the Tekken 6 Perfect Guide as well, with full on frame data and other useful info for serious Tekken enthusiasts.
• Madcatz’s Marvel VS Capcom 2 branded tournament stick with arcade quality Sanwa parts is available in 360 and PS3 flavors from Gamestop’s site, retailing at 159.99.
• The World Cyber Games Grand Finals came to a head last month in China, with Japan’s Fuudo ( Lion ) taking top honors against some of South Korea, Singapore and other members of the international Virtua Fighter 5 community. Finals are here. Qualifiers / 3rd Place.

• sp00ky425 updates with Touhou Immaterial And Missing Power combo and strategy footage.
• LordAborigineSF4 updates with Street Fighter 4 match footage.
• Kenshuma02 updates with Blazblue Calamity Trigger match footage.
• Rinoaru updates with Senko No Ronde DUO match footage. ( zoome )
• iplaywinner updates with Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, Street Fighter 4, Capcom VS SNK 2, and Tekken 6 footage.
• KILF0086 updates with Blazblue Calamity Trigger match footage.
• SkyGamerZero updates with Blazblue Continuum Shift match footage.
• AutonomousR updates with Blazblue Continuum Shift match footage.
• Maho1378 updates with Blazblue Continuum Shift and Melty Blood Actress Again footage.
• Adakune updates with Blazblue Continuum Shift match footage.
• desiredkabal updates with Street Fighter 4 match footage.
• ArtheasWL updates with Street Fighter 4 match footage.
• SCHeartless updates with Street Fighter 4 match footage.
• lostinariz0na updates with Super Street Fighter II X match footage.
• shimatuya updates with Vampire Savior match footage.
• kouhatsu updates with Kinnikuman Muscle Grandprix 2, Blazblue Continuum Shift, Akatsuki Blitzkampf Ausf.Achse, Super Street Fighter II X, and Daemon Bride match footage.
• ReXXXSoprano updates with Blazblue Continuum Shift match footage.
• sibladeko updates with Blazblue Continuum Shift match footage.
• holden1820 updates with King Of Fighters ‘98 Ultimate Match footage.
• itsumobasho updates with Virtua Fighter 5R Version C match footage.
• bustword updates with Dissidia Final Fantasy match footage.
• FullArmorBass updates with Naruto Shippuden Clash Of Ninja Revolution 3 and Narutimate Accel 2 footage.
• kornssbm updates with Super Smash Bros. Brawl match footage.
• abysmalmonkey updates with Guilty Gear XX Accent Core tutorial footage.
• ogikage updates with Virtua Fighter 5R Version C match footage.
• canon5311 updates with Melty Blood Actress Again combo footage.
• PlagueVFDC updates with Virtua Fighter 5 match footage.
• tsdcs updates with Street Fighter Zero 3 / Alpha 3 combo footage.
• Emillll updates with The King Of Fighters 2002 match footage.
• BrettH123 updates with Marvel VS Capcom 2 match footage.
• IHX updates with Street Fighter EX Plus Alpha match footage.
• TheShend updates with Street Fighter III 3rd Strike match footage.

( aaand that’s all the news that ain’t – if i don’t catch you before the holidays, happy new year )

vitamins and minerals?

• Urakata’s Official Site for Dragon Blast. Trailer for the new revision of Dragon Blast. Possible link to patch R19a for the game, released Comiket day 2?
• I can’t remember if I put it on here before, so: Vanguard Princess 1.02, freeware. Mirror / alternate download. Mizuumi’s wiki for the game.
• Touhou Hisoutensoku SWR Expansion’s English Weather Patch.
• Chaos Code official site. Trailer for “Hikaru”. Trailer for “Hermes”. wx7047 has footage from the location test a few months ago.
• Play Asia has begun shipping the PS2 version of Melty Blood Actress Again.
• 2009’s Tougeki Super Battle Opera winners:

Street Fighter IV
Gosho (Rufus), Kyabetsu (C. Viper)

Virtua Fighter 5R
Yutenji (Lau), Joseph (Akira), Gorgeous Eileen (Eileen)

Tekken 6 Bloodline Rebellion
E Honda (Lili), Jun-chan (Julia), RAUM (Wang)

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom
Charge Man Ken (Ryu/Ken The Eagle)

Fate/Unlimited Codes
138 (Lancer)

Street Fighter 3: 3rd Strike
Boss (Yun), Momochi (Makoto), Rikimaru (Chun-li)

Blazblue
Fumo (Arakune)

Sugoi! Arcana Heart 2
Kasumi Love (Akane), Shin Konoha 12P Color (Konoha)

Guilty Gear XX A Core
Shonen (Testament), Yoshige (Millia), N Otoko (Venom)

• Game Watch’s article on Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny, with artwork, concepts and screens of new characters Dampierre and Kratos, and screens and info on the new Gauntlet and Trial modes.
  
• http://the-magicbox.com/0908/game090813a.shtml
• At Tougeki, Examu announced that Arcana Heart 3 is currently in production, more details to be made available in Arcadia Magazine.
• Kara Leung’s Tougeki ‘09 photo gallery.
• As of yesterday, the SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 is available on the Playstation Store for PSP retailing at 3,990 yen and features the original Fatal Fury / Garou Densetsu, World Heroes, Art Of Fighting / Ryuuko No Ken, Samurai Spirits and The King Of Fighters ‘94.
• Touhou Hisoutensoku, the expansion for Scarlet Weather Rhapsody, was released at Comiket three days ago, adding numerous tweaks and five additional playable characters to the roster. It has been patched to Version 1.01, said patch being available on their site ( or mirrored here at the Mizuumi wiki ).
• SDTekken’s feature on Tekken Crash Season 2, the Korean eSports network MBCGame’s premiere league for Tekken 6 Bloodline Rebellion, footage taken from Jon747’s channel.
• A retrospective of World Cyber Games’s 2005-2007 international championship matches of Dead Or Alive 2 Ultimate and Dead Or Alive 4.

• GunterJPN updates with Capcom VS SNK 2 combo footage.
• pozone8 updates with The King Of Fighters XI match footage.
• Soh85 updates with Last Blade 2 tournament footage.
• Yuushou4U updates with Melty Blood Actress Again match footage.
• Faulken1987 updates with Blazblue online footage.
• sibladeko updates with Touhou Hisoutensoku and Vanguard Princess match footage.
• sfturbo updates with Super Street Fighter II X match footage.
• Goldenrody updates with Guilty Gear XX Accent Core match footage.
• Xenozip updates with Vanguard Princess match footage.
• BrettH123 updates with Marvel VS Capcom 2 match footage.
• EscapingJail updates with Blazblue online match footage.
• itsumobasho updates with Virtua Fighter 5R match footage.
• Emillll updates with Blazblue match footage.
• fatty05k updates with Samurai Spirits Zero Special match footage.
• ogikage updates with Virtua Fighter 5R match footage.
• SetsunaRvZ updates with Soul Calibur 4 match footage.
• Check4900 updates with Mortal Kombat VS DC Universe combo footage.
• Puyo432343 updates with Street Fighter III 3rd Strike match footage.
• tofuroom Virtua Fighter 5R diary.
• zakoreifey Virtua Fighter 5R diary.
• karimero akira Virtua Fighter 5R diary.
• online pleasure Virtua Fighter 5R diary.
• tshun-VF Virtua Fighter 5R diary.
• pachakkoaoi Virtua Fighter 5R diary.
• kaya soto Virtua Fighter 5R diary.
• rebirth81 Virtua Fighter 5R diary.
• nanitame Touhou Hisouten Scarlet Weather Rhapsody diary.
• anne Touhou Hisouten Scarlet Weather Rhapsody diary.
• chdw2438 Touhou Hisoutensoku diary.
• nemutake Touhou Hisoutensoku diary.
• hissy00 Touhou Hisoutensoku diary.
• syura-ku Touhou Hisoutensoku diary.
• hatahata Touhou Hisoutensoku diary.

( this post was originally from 8/17/09. )

calamity trigger

For the umpteenth time, my sincerest apologies for the lack of consistent updates.

• Twilight Frontier, esteemed doujin circle creators of such esteemed fighters as Eternal Fighter Zero Memorial Edition, Touhou Immaterial And Missing Power and Touhou Scarlet Weather Rhapsody, is releasing an expansion entitled Touhou Scarlet Weather Rhapsody Soku with three additional characters ( Sanae, Cirno, and Meirin ) to be released August 15th at Comiket 76.
  
• August 6th in Japan will mark the release of Kamen Rider Climax Heroes for PS2. This entry in the series will introduce a striker element to the gameplay similar to older King Of Fighters titles.
• August 6th will also mark the release of Tales Of Versus, the Namco branded PSP fighter set in the Tales universe. Approximately 35 characters will be playable from the popular RPG series. Could be a worthy competitor to Dissidia…
• The King Of Fighters XII Official Guide is up on Amazon.jp for 2,000 yen.
• Katekyo Hitman Reborn Battle Arena 2: Burst Spirit ( what a mouthful ) comes to the Japanese PSP August 17th, with a heavy emphasis on character customization. Also, August 12th through 16th there will be a special Shonen Jump sponsored tournament entitled Vongolafest 2009.
• Here is the newest trailer for G.Rev’s Senko No Ronde DUO: Dis-United Order, highly anticipated sequel to Senko No Ronde: Rev.X / Wartech: Senko No Ronde. The official homepage has also updated fairly frequently.
• Marvel Vs Capcom 2 will become available for digital download via Xbox Live Marketplace this week on July 29th.
• Jingwu Online serves as the spiritual sequel to KwonHo: Hero Of Fist by the developes Ijji and continues to provide online 3D mixed martial arts stylistics. Currently open beta.
• Mizuumi.net has an excellent wiki for Suge9’s beautiful doujin fighter Vanguard Princess, very thorough and informative.
• Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny will debut August 27th for the PSP and will feature Kratos of the God Of War series as a playable character.
• The August issue of Arcadia’s latest tier lists ( as transcribed by Oichi of versuscity.net ):

The King Of Fighters XII ( as studied by Gaakun and Kameten ):
S Rank: Kyo, Iori
A Rank: Terry, Andy, Joe, Shen Woo, Kensui, Ralf, Kim, Ryo
B Rank: Robert, Ash, Chin, Raiden, Daimon
C Rank: Benimaru, Duo-lon, Leona, Athena
D Rank: Clark

Street Fighter IV ( as studied by Umehara Daigo ):

Overall Tier Rank
S Rank: Sagat
A Rank: Ryu, Akuma, Zangief
B Rank: M.Bison, Rufus, Balrog, C.Viper, E.Honda
C Rank: Abel, El Fuerte, Dhalsim, Chun-li, Ken, Blanka
D Rank: Guile, Vega

Ryu Match-up tier
4:6 Disadvantage: Sagat
5:5 Neutral: M.Bison, Balrog, Dhalsim, El Fuerte, Blanka
6:4 Advantage: Akuma, Zangief, C.Viper, E.Honda, Abel, Chun-li, Ken, Guile, Vega, Rufus

Virtua Fighter 5R ( as studied by Yanaga ):
S Rank: Taka-arashi, Wolf, Lion, El Blaze, Pai, Vanessa, Lei-Fei
A Rank: Goh, Akira, Jeffry, Lau, Eileen, Sarah, Jean, Aoi, Jacky, Kage
B Rank: Brad, Shun

Melty Blood Actress Again ( as studied by Hato ):
S Rank: TATARI Shion (H), Mech-Hisui (C)
A Rank: Nrvnqsr Chaos (ForH), Akiha Tohno (HorC), Kohaku (CorH), Arima Miyako (CorF), Nanaya Shiki (C), Koha & Hisui (C or F)
B Rank: Aozaki Aoko (ForH), Red Arcueid (C), Akiha (F), Koha (H), Haku Ren (F), Satsuki (C), Shion (C), Arcueid (F)
C Rank: Ciel (C), Kishima Kouna (F), Riesbyfe (F), Warachia (C), Tohno Akiha (CorH), Roa (H or F), Ren (H), Neco-Arc (C)

• Tekken 6 Bloodline Rebellion releases for PS3 and 360 on Oct. 27th, with a special limited edition wireless stick bundle for 149.99 available for preorders. The game will have special EX costumes designed by various mangaka, including Masashi Kishimoto of Naruto fame, CLAMP, and Tales series designer Mutsumi Inomata. Namco Bandai is also teaming up with MMA apparel company TapouT for several ingame outfits and actual apparel to be made available to purchase soon.
• Soon, for the first time in North America, Hori will be releasing the Hori Real Arcade Pro EX-SE Seimitsu model for Xbox 360 and the Hori Real Arcade Pro 3 SA with Sanwa parts for the Playstation 3, around September / October, just in time for the fall tournament season and Tekken 6’s console debut.
• Melty Blood Actress Again will be available on Play Asia on August 20th for the PS2 featuring new console exclusive characters – be sure to visit through Melty Bread to get a discount if you plan on importing.
• In case you somehow missed it, Garou: Mark Of The Wolves is available on Xbox Live Marketplace for 800 MS points.

• Majestros’s excellent SF? Ryu Exhibition that premiered at Evo 2009 / OzHadou Nationals 8.
• daruism updates with Daemon Bride match footage.
• yuushou4u updates with Melty Blood Actress Again match footage.
• sibladeko updates with Vanguard Princess match and combo footage.
• geesendou / joybox updates with King Of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match footage.
• feichunwong updates with Tekken 6 Bloodline Rebellion match footage.
• soh85 updates with Breakers Revenge, Neo Geo Battle Coliseum, and various other excellent footage.
• JaianRecital updates with Super Street Fighter II X match footage.
• shimatuya updates with Vampire Savior match footage.
• fatty05k updates with Samurai Spirits II match footage.
• Goldenrody updates with Blazblue match footage.
• canon5311 updates with Vanguard Princess combo footage.
• bellreisa updates with Touhou Immaterial And Missing Power match footage.
• TheShend updates with Street Fighter III 3rd Strike match footage.
• ogikage updates with Virtua Fighter 5R match footage.
• ninjagrinder updates with Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 match footage.
• AHOJagi updates with Street Fighter 4 match footage.
• yorozuya Dead Or Alive 4 and Street Fighter 4 zoome diary.
• karakurihosi Blazblue diary.
• Esaka Navel Street Fighter 4.
• Saikyo Street Fighter 4 diary
• Hatahata Touhou Scarlet Weather Rhapsody diary
• Kantuu Virtua Fighter 5R diary
• Karimero Akira Virtua Fighter 5R diary
• Manatsu Lei Virtua Fighter 5R diary
• Wolfzaka Virtua Fighter 5R diary
• Gamechariot – Blazblue, Gundam Vs Gundam Next, Guilty Gear XX Accent Core, Street Fighter 4, Tekken 6 Bloodline Rebellion
• kabochance Street Fighter 4 diary
• wildpig Touhou Scarlet Weather Rhapsody diary
• and then no one were fever – Touhou Scarlet Weather Rhapsody
• vf5aoi Virtua Fighter 5R diary
• pachakkoaoi Virtua Fighter 5R diary
• ouka-pai Virtua Fighter 5R diary
• hetarei Virtua Fighter 5R diary
• A-Cho Teppei Tekken 6 Bloodline Rebellion
• better days Blazblue diary
• hanagata Virtua Fighter 5R diary
• chinoBrad Virtua Fighter 5R diary
• monr Virtua Fighter 5R diary
• rtaki Virtua Fighter 5R diary
• Game41 Vampire Savior, Hyper Street Fighter 2 AE, Guilty Gear XX Accent Core, Blazblue
• itsumobasho / Reno / Oishi’s Taka-Arashi VF3 / VF5R Combo Exhibition ( highly recommended viewing! )

Tougeki Super Battle Opera is next month!

get ready for the next battle

omitting the news for the moment, here’s a big ol’ heaping helping of vids.

• Chaos Breaker 5 On 5 tournament from TRF. ( nico video account required. )
• Sugoi! Arcana Heart 2 event page video from Game41 ( zoome ).
• Hanagata Virtua Fighter 5R diary ( zoome ).
• Takatyan4649’s Virtua Fighter 5R diary ( zoome ).
• RHakurei’s Virtua Fighter 5R diary ( zoome ).
• Street Fighter IV Esaka Navel arcade diary ( zoome ).
• ATNOTE’s Fate Unlimited Codes and Touhou Scarlet Weather Rhapsody diary ( zoome ).
• Kartika’s Virtua Fighter 5R blog. ( zoome embedded ).
• Ninja Hiro’s Virtua Fighter 5R blog ( zoome ).
• Nikaime’s Touhou Scarlet Weather Rhapsody diary ( zoome ).
• Hetarei Virtua Fighter 5R Diary ( zoome ).
• Pachakko Aoi Virtua Fighter 5R Diary ( zoome ).
• Monr Virtua Fighter 5R Diary ( zoome ).
• Street Fighter IV Shigeru0072 Diary ( zoome ).

• Alucardis updates with Tekken 6 Bloodline Rebellion match footage ( HD ).
• feichunwong updates with Tekken 6 Bloodline Rebellion match footage from Hong Kong.
• Yuushou4U updates with Melty Blood Actress Again match footage.
• ArcadeInfinity updates with Street Fighter IV, King Of Fighters XII and Blazblue match footage ( HD ).
• Soh85 updates with King Of Fighters 2000 combo footage, a Shijou Saikyou no Teishi Kenichi infinite from Adakino, and some great Street Fighter Zero 2, Breakers Revenge and Garou Densetsu Special match footage.
• thesolekeeper updates with Virtua Fighter 5R and Tekken 6 Bloodline Rebellion match footage.
• geesendou / joybox updates with tons of Melty Blood Actress Again match footage.
• jerichompm updates with King Of Fighters 2002 match footage.
• novysubnetj updates with Virtua Fighter 5R match footage.
• itsumobasho updates with Virtua Fighter 5R match footage.
• oooFethennour updates with Tekken 6 Bloodline Rebellion match footage.
• babitch123 updates with Virtua Fighter 5R match footage.
• puyo432343 updates with Street Fighter IV match footage.
• BushinStyle updates with Street Fighter Alpha 3 / Zero 3 match footage.
• citiofbrass updates with Street Fighter IV match footage.
• bellreisa updates with Touhou Scarlet Weather Rhapsody match footage.
• lordaborigine updates with Street Fighter IV match footage.
• CHECK4900 updates with Mortal Kombat VS DC Universe combo footage.
• Emillll updates with Blazblue match footage.
• McWzakky updates with Virtua Fighter 5R match footage.

long time no see

Long time, no updates. Apologies.

• Not quite thoroughly done for its July arcade release, April 4th and 5th at Sega Gigo marks the next location test for G.Rev’s Senko No Ronde DUO: Disunited Order.
  
• Sugoi! Arcana Heart 2 will release for import only PS2 on April 9th ( with all the 2.6 patch stuff intact, presumably ).
• May 14th marks the release date for Bleach: Heat The Soul 6 for the PSP.
• In case you hadn’t seen them, there’s a lot of cool wallpaper featuring Street Fighter IV artwork here at http://www.capcom.co.jp/sf4/download.html.
• June 25th, 2009 marks the PS3 and 360 console release of Arc System Works’s Blazblue in Japan, with a US release currently scheduled for third quarter.
• Good news for fans of this under-appreciated classic; Sega is bringing Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram Ver. 5.66 ( the last NAOMI build ) onto Xbox Live Arcade, complete with online play, color edit and HD display support. Cost will be 1200 Microsoft points ( 15 bucks ), game is out later this month in Japan.
• Atlus’s new HD fighter Shin Gouketsuji Toukon 2 / Power Instinct Festival: Ancestors’ Ritual adds four new characters to the existing roster from Matrimelee and Bonnou Kaihou and is due to begin location testing today through April 10th at locations listed on its official site.
• Signups begin at 10AM pacific standard time on April 6th at evo2k.com/koftournament for a 128-man single elimination tournament event for The King Of Fighters XII, sponsored by Ignition Entertainment and Evolution Championship Series, to take place May 30th in Hollywood California. Hit the link for more details. The game’s console release will be in June.
• April 30th, 2009, the official DVD boxset of the Street Fighter IV Japanese Nationals goes on sale. You can preorder the disc at Play Asia here.
• This month’s Arcadia magazine’s current power rankings for the most popular titles:
• 1. Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion – 365.4 (-)
  2. Blazblue – 274.2 (-)
  3. Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs Gundam – 260.3 (-)
  4. Sugoi! Arcana Heart 2: Tenkousei Akane to Nazuna – 217.2 (UP)
  5. Melty Blood: Actress Again – 184.7 (DOWN)
  6. Virtua Fighter 5R – 115.6 (-)
  7. Guilty Gear XX Accent Core – 111.5 (UP)
  8. Street Fighter IV – 83.4 (DOWN)
  9. Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike – 76.1 (UP)
  10. Death Smiles Mega Black Label – 52.4 (-)
• Tekken 6’s update is certainly doing the rounds…..also, Arcadia’s Tougeki Spirits Vol.12’s character rankings info, as of last month:

• Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion – Character Ranking

  S: Steve
  A: Lars, Lili, Lee, Law
  B: Asuka, Armor King, Eddy, Ganryu, Xiaoyu, Julia, Jin, Devil Jin, Hwoarang, Feng Wei, Bryan, Bruce, Heihachi, Baek, Marduk, Roger Jr.
  C: Anna, Alisa, Kazuya, King, Kuma/Panda, Christie, Jack-6, Dragunov, Nina, Paul, Bob, Lei, Leo, Wang
  D: Zafina, Miguel, Yoshimitsu, Raven

  Street Fighter IV – Character Ranking

  SS: Sagat, C. Viper, Akuma, Zangief
  S: Ryu, Boxer (US Balrog, JPN M. Bison), Rufus, Blanka
  A: Chun-Li, Dictator (US M. Bison, JPN Vega), Ken, Dhalsim, Abel, E. Honda, El Fuerte
  B: Claw (US Vega, JPN Balrog), Guile

• shinikakepink42 updates with Samurai Spirits Sen: Edge Of Destiny match footage.
• napolidon updates with Street Fighter IV match footage.
• beebeekannami updates with Blazblue match footage.
• ninj hiro 462 updates with Virtua Fighter 5R match footage ( zoome ).
• clublqoo updates with Senko No Ronde SP match footage.
• komakun updates his blog with Virtua Fighter 5R match footage ( scroll down ).
• sirorim updates with Samurai Spirits 64 II Asura Zanmaden match footage.
• eniragram updates with Virtua Fighter 5R match footage ( zoome ).
• RoyalFlush updates with Tatsunoko VS Capcom ranking battle footage.
• ArcadeInfinity updates with Street Fighter IV ranking battle footage.
• skillian1002 updates with the Korean Street Fighter IV national finals.
• Jon747 uploaded the Tekken 6 Korean battles from the Tekken Crash event last month.
• EWAshock updates with Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 combo footage ( may be the last video from this group – recommended viewing ).
• dreemernj updates with Avengers In Galactic Storm combo footage.
• bucklesmybuckles updates with Guilty Gear XX Accent Core match footage.
• AtTheGates updates with Blazblue match footage.
• Soh85 updates with Capcom Fighting Jam match footage.
• hyomahyoma updates with Tekken 6 Bloodline Rebellion match footage.
• EggoGF updates with Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix match footage.

Other recommended viewing:

• Hinako KOF 2002 Ultimate Match Various Combos, uploaded by DarkChaotix187.
• Melty Blood Actress Again match footage, Nero Chaos VS Hisui And Kohaku, uploaded by sibladeko. ( crazy last round! )
• The Beginners’ Incomplete Guide to KOF by DandyDLC.
• Dragonball Evolution PSP All Character Combo Exhibition by ESE Dancers, uploaded by tobemorecrazy.
• King Of Fighters 2002 Ultimate Match Goro Daimon “Japanese Earwig” Unblockable Setups by DarkGeese
• pimpproductions’s Street Fighter IV Combo Exhibition, from MrWhiteFolks.
• King Of Fighters ‘94 Rebout All Character Combo Exhibition, uploaded by Soh85.
• Hokuto No Ken from TRF – Jagi Killing Spree! Uploaded by AtTheGates.