This summer, we're experimenting a bit with the PSP platform. We've got a new game, Fate/Unlimited Codes, coming to PSP but only as a digital product. This is a first for Capcom -- we've released digitial games on the PlayStation Store, to be sure, but this is the first time that we're bypassing traditional retail channels altogether in order to bring you a new game. Fate is awesome, featuring a fighting engine originally developed by 8ing (the guys behind my current favorite, Tatsunoko VS Capcom) and remade for the PSP by Cavia (who have created a number of great games for us, including the Resident Evil Chronicles games for the Wii). Fate is based on a hot Japanese visial novel/anime/manga series that's just starting to make its way over here to North America (Gerald caught a few Fate cosplayers at Anime Expo).
While I am by no means a Fate master player, I've spent some time with it and really enjoy the smart way the game has been changed from the arcade and PS2 versions to the portable platform. The control input system, for example, has switched from standard Capcom fireball/dragon punch/hurricane kick movements to "tap" style movements -- double-tap forward, forward-back, back-forward -- which make much more sense for the PSP's d-pad. It also looks great, with graphics easily on par with anything you'd see on the PS2.
If you're a fan of Capcom games, a fan of fighting games in general, or even an anime fan, Fate is worth checking out when it hits the PlayStation store in early September. But don't believe me, I get paid to be excited about Capcom games: IGN has a big preview up on the game and they also liked it.
Capcom is sponsoring EVO 2009 this year, which means that a truckload of us -- myself, Gerald, Wes, Brian, Marcos, Randy and, of course, Seth -- will be heading out to Vegas on Thursday to set up our display area (can't really call it a "booth") to prep for the onslaught of the hardest of hardcore North American fighting champions. We're going to be showing off Tatsunoko VS Capcom Ultimate All-Stars, Marvel VS Capcom 2 and FATE Unlimited Codes while we're there, and running some fun competitions on TvC and MvC2. Hit the jump to get the details and see all the juicy goods!
The majority of EVO attendees are going to be totally focused on their individual matches or watching other important competitions, but we're going to be offering two skill-based competitions that should bring out some serious competitive spirit.
We've spoken about our love for the crazy factor in Tatsunoko VS Capcom on many occasions, and will continue to do so right up until and after the game finally comes out here in the US. One of our favorite elements of the game is the fact that damage is recorded in the billions. Yeah, that's right, with a "B." To celebrate this utterly ridiculous amount of hurt, the TvC competition will be Biggest Single Damage Combo. Entrants will have three minutes in practice mode to try to crank out the largest damage combo they can with any character of their choice vs. practice AI set to auto-block with Super meters set to infinite. In case of a tie, the finalists will have 30 seconds to record their follow-up combos. Scores will be posted on a white board and any EVO attendees will be welcome to try their hand.
The winner will receive a totally awesome prize package that we've put together here, including:
Cassahn Robot Hunter DVD
Battle of the Planets Vol. 1 DVD
Tatsunoko VS Capcom Japanese t-shirt!
Complete set of Tatsunoko Action Figure Collection Ver. 2 with all six characters
Frankly, I wish I was good enough to enter my own competition, as these Tatsunoko figures are cool. They're about three inches high, come in really colorful packaging and each figure is accompanied by a super-deformed minifigure. The six character pack contains Ken Washio the Eagle, Casshan, Polymar, and the Doronbo gang from Yatterman: sexy Doronjo, mustachioed Boyacky and tubby Tonzra. Supercool is the only way to describe the entire set.
Competition will be fierce on the Marvel side, as well. We're going to be recording Highest Hit Combos on MvC2, in much the same way. People go on and on about infinite combos in the game -- now's your chance to put said infinites to work for you. Entrants can pick their favorite character (I'm predicting a lot of Spider-Man action already) and go to town for three minutes.
The MvC2 Combo winner will score a set of four Marvel Comics Essential collections and MvC2 for platform of their choice once the game is released. We have Essential Marvel Team-Ups Vol. 1 and 2, Essential Super-Villain Team-Up Vol. 1 and Essential Wolverine Vol. 1 ('cause everyone loves Wolverine).
The Marvel books are impressive; all together, they represent about six inches of Bang! Biff! Pow! as you can see in the picture.
Winners awarded prizes on Sunday afternoon (except for MvC2 code, which we'll have to follow up on after the game is released on XBLA on July 29).
Anime Expo 2009 has come and gone, but it's legacy lives on. I was "working" the Capcom booth on Sunday -- between bouts of Monster Hunter Freedom Unite and shopping for toys -- and managed to grab a bunch of photos of various Capcom cosplayers. I've got a few choice ones right here, but even more in my Anime Expo 2009 folder. Go on, check 'em out.
There were some really great outfits on display, but I'd like to give special shout-outs to the truly amazing Cammy/Dhalsim duo (both wearing special contacts), the Tronne Bonne with puppet Servbot army and the excellent Hsien-Ko costume, which this woman obviously spent a lot of time working on.
Comic-con is geek heaven, the place that everyone who owns a Transformer toy, Watchmen graphic novel or Starfleet uniform aches to be. A few years ago, Capcom decided that we needed to take part in these shenanigans and have been slowly but surely growing our presence at the show ever since. We’re back again this year, with tons of special events, limited edition goods and promotional items, producer-packed panels and games, games, games! Schedules, special guest appearances, booth design and more after the bounce...
Take a gander at the latest rev of our Comic-con booth layout. This is approximately version 957 of the booth, and we’ll prolly get to at least an even 1000 before July 22, but we feel good enough about the general design to share with you (just don’t show up and whine if things move around a smidge in actuality).
Central to all Capcom activities in the booth is the mighty Ring, our 20x20 boxing ring. There will be a number of things happening in the ring throughout the show, including hands-on demos of Tatsunoko VS Capcom Ultimate All-Stars, Fate Unlimited Codes and Marvel VS Capcom 2. We’ll also be running mini-tournaments from Wednesday Preview Night all the way through close on Sunday. Show up early in the morning to sign up for the daily tourneys for TvC and MvC2 and you might just walk away with some great Capcom schwag! Above the ring are three hanging 50” monitors, which will allow the crowd to observe your every move and cheer/mock you during the tourney, based on your performance.
To the front right of the Ring is a signing table. We’ll be running autograph sessions with Capcom luminaries like Kawata-san (producer, Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles and co-producer of Resident Evil 5), Eshiro-san (producer of Ace Attorney Investigations), Takeuchi-san (producer of Lost Planet 2 and co-producer of Resident Evil 5) and a few other of our Japanese luminaries. We’ll also be hosting artists from Udon’s various Capcom comics as well as a few other frakking awesome celebs that we’re not quite ready to announce yet.
Left of the Ring is the all-important Capcom store. I’m not going to ruin Darin’s surprises in advance, but we’re going to have a number of unique Comic-con exclusive items on sale at the store. Darin’s also going to be bringing over some neat stuff from Japan, as well as new goods from licensing partners like Udon, United Cutlery and SoTA. Don’t forget: the infamous Capcom Grab Bag (also affectionately known as the “Capom Big Bag o’ Crap”) will be available in limited numbers during the show. $20 will net you a mystery grab bag of… stuff. This bag will usually include some games, a t-shirt, comic books and other random Capcom promotional material that you literally would not be able to buy anywhere else. Every bag is different, every bag a winner! Darin will be posting a bit closer to the show with his full menu of store items that will be on sale. My advice: if you’re visiting San Diego and are a fan of Capcom, bring an extra suitcase. And a stack of $20s.
Within the confines of the booth proper, we’re going to have plenty of game stations. We’re working on a comfy area where you’ll be able to hook up with other avid hunters for Monster Hunter Freedom Unite multiplayer sessions (it’s much easier to take on the beasties with buddies, kids). We’re finally going to have playable code of Ace Attorney Investigations, which makes up for the distinct lack of Edgeworth at E3. Two groups of four players will be able to tackle the gigantic Salamander boss in co-op Lost Planet 2. Dark Void will be there in a big way, both in terms of the four game stations and the awesome jetpack display. We’ll probably have a dude in the Will costume walking around, too, so make sure to stop for a picture. If you’re over 17, you will be able to go hands-on with Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, and the new direction we’re taking lightgun zombie blasting arcade action. We’ll have our new Wii game, Spyborgs, on display, with tons of 2 player co-op smashing and bashing. Finally, Capcom Mobile will be in full effect to show off their new wares, complete with the return of the inexplicably sexy Where’s Waldo girls.
But wait, the Capcom fun doesn’t end on the show floor! This year, we’ll be running four – count ‘em! – panels during the show. These panels are pretty close to being 100% confirmed, but we reserve the right to cancel any of them for any crazy (Swine Flu) reasons we might dream up between now and then.
THURSDAY, JULY 23 - 3:15–4:15 CAPCOM 2009 Lineup – Join Capcom's premiere producers as they present sneak peeks at the most anticipated games of the year featuring Jun Takeuchi (Lost Planet 2), Morgan Gray (Dark Void), Daryl Allison (Spyborgs), Motohide Eshiro (Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth), and Masachika Kawata (Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles). Moderated by Capcom-Unity.com's Seth Killian. See exclusive gameplay footage and behind-the-scenes making-of features followed by a Q&A session!
FRIDAY, JULY 24 - 2:30–3:30 CAPCOM Fighting Games – Capcom fighting fans unite as our game producters present first looks at the hottest new fighting games for the year featuring Rey Jiminez (Marvel vs. Capcom 2), Kazuhiro Tsuchiya (Fate: Unlimited Codes), and Ryota Niitsuma (Tatsunoko vs. Capcom). Moderated by Capcom-Unity.com's and SFII champion, Seth Killian. See exclusive gameplay footage and behind-the-scenes making-of features. Plus, we'll pull a couple fans onstage for an impromptu Marvel vs. Capcom 2 tournament to show off your mad skillz and earn big Capcom prizes! All followed by a Q&A session!
FRIDAY, JULY 24 - 5:00-6:00 LOST PLANET 2 – Capcom presents an indepth, behind-the-scenes look at one of the most anticipated games for the PS3 and Xbox 360 featuring premiere producer, Jun Takeuchi direct from Capcom Japan, joined by Frank Filice and Shawn Baxter of Capcom. Moderated by Francis Mao. See exclusive gameplay footage and making-of features. Plus, we'll pull a couple fans onstage for an impromptu Akrid hunting session to win some exclusive Capcom prizes! All followed by a Q&A session!
SATURDAY, JULY 25 - 10:00-11:00 How to Get a Job in the Video Game Industry – Capcom presents an insider's look at how a video game is made from concept through development and marketing featuring a panel of Capcom professionals that will explain what they do in the whole process, and most importantly–how they got their job in the video game industry so you can gain insight for your own possible entry into the business. Featuring Motohide Eshiro (Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth), Mona Hamilton, Mike Webster and other Capcom staff. Moderated by Francis Mao. Includes an indepth Q&A session
As we get closer to the show, we’ll be posting a full schedule for you to print out and carry around in your back pocket during your days in beautiful downtown San Diego. Seth, Shawn and I will all be there at various times, so make sure to stop by and say “Hi!” I don’t care how busy we seem, we’ll always have time to shake hands with any members of Team Unity. Hope to see you there!
