Hiding just beyond the jump is a very special treat:  a sneak peak at Brady's INCREDIBLE new guide for Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3.  I sang the praises of their original Marvel Vs Capcom 3 guide, and upon release you became believers, with many hailing it as one of the greatest game guides ever written.  I'm here to tell you that the Ultimate MVC3 guide raises the bar in every way.

The Ultimate version of MVC3 deserves an Ultimate guide.  The MVC3 guide was 400 pages, and the UMVC3 guide is 50% bigger than even that monster, weighing in at an unbelievable 592 pages! It features 3000 screens, 450,000 words, and solid gold insights.

It includes a comprehensive list of changes for all the returning characters (from new modes to new specials to simple recovery changes and the like), as well as an analysis of how it changes their gameplan, frame data for everyone, detailed move property analysis, assist breakdowns and recommendations, and of course combos ranging from the practical to the insane.  Even the introductory systems overview is nearly 16 pages long, and that's just to set the stage for the epic download of fighting game lore that follows.

How was such an incredible feat accomplished?  With an all-star team, of course.

The returning crew from the original MVC3 guide includes my friends Campbell "Buktooth" Tran, Adam "Kamui" Deats, Ian "Cylus 51" Rogers, and Joe "Dr. Deelite" Epstein.  Everyone made incredible contributions, but this uber-guide nearly killed Joe Epstein in particular, and his contributions were truly Herculean.  If you see this man, buy him a drink, and then another, 50% larger drink (the drink need not contain 3,000 screens and 450,000 words). On the Capcom side, he was joined by our own Brian Oliveira, who lovingly shepherded every piece of this epic guide through our obstacle course of global approvals to bring it to you piping hot for the November 15th release of the game. 

The returning authors also called in assists in the form of Josh "Lord Hedonism" Richardson, Logan "amodf" Sharp, and the famed Daniel "Clockw0rk" Maniago.  In addition to being an incredibly strong player, Clock is also a great student of the game, and with the return of Strider, there's no one better to break down what his new (and IMO even deadlier) incarnation is all about.

And on that note, don't take my word for it, take a look for yourselves with these pages!  They feature Ryu and Wolverine, (two marquee returning characters so you can see that even the old characters have been totally rewritten!), as well as two from our 12 new combatants, Dr. Strange and of course Strider!

Enjoy, and make sure to pick up a copy of the guide today--you can order at GAMESTOP or AMAZON right now, and check out the preview PDF files below:

Doctor Strange

Ryu

Wolverine

Strider

Marvel Vs Capcom 3 producer Ryota Niitsuma will be hitting the panel circuit hard in the coming weeks.  First up will be a double-header of appearances at San Diego Comic-Con, on Saturday, July 23rd, followed up by an a new panel at EVO 2011 (also featuring MVC3 Battle Designer Neo_G!). 

Hit the jump to get the overview, times, and locations on all 3 upcoming panels!

San Diego Comic-Con Appearances:

Saturday, July 23
11:00-12:00 Marvel vs. Capcom— Fighting fans! Come to this panel to hear the fantastic news about this legendary fighting game franchise straight from producer Ryota Niitsuma. Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes peek as well as a chance to come onstage to showcase your fighting skills against each other for fantastic prizes. Followed by a Q&A session. Room 25ABC

Saturday, July 23rd

12:30 – 1:30 PM MARVEL INTERACTIVE: MARVEL VIDEO GAMES – Learn all about Spider-Man: Edge of Time, X-Men Destiny, Captain America: Super Soldier, Super Hero Squad Online, Super Hero Squad 3DS and uDraw, Marvel Pinball and the Marvel Universe MMO. Also, find out some exciting new details about the future of Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and other Marvel games via exclusive trailers, surprise reveals, and Q&A with the game creators from some of the industry’s top publishers. Room 6A

 

EVO 2011 Appearance (Rio Hotel and Resort, Las Vegas NV)

Friday, July 29

4:00-5:00 PM  (EVO Panel Room)

Marvel Vs Capcom 3:  Past, Present, and Future!

Capcom producer Ryota Niitsuma will share behind-the-scenes insights from the MVC3 development process and discuss thoughts on the future direction of the Marvel Vs Capcom franchise.  He will be joined by MVC3 battle system designer and Capcom fighting legend Hidetoshi (“Neo_G”) Ishizawa (see below for credits) to discuss the thinking behind the battle systems, and what the future might hold for everything from character balance, mechanics, and more.  Fighting fans will not want to miss this rare opportunity for insight and discussion. 

On a personal note, I should add that while the Fighting Game Community is already familiar with producer Niitsuma-san, but please DO NOT sleep on Neo_G, who doesn’t draw a lot of headlines, but is one of my personal fighting game heroes of all time. 

EVO2011 will be his first public appearance anywhere outside of Japan, and if you’ve ever had a nerdy question about why some feature is this way instead of that way, Neo_G is the man with the answers.  He is an accomplished player, my friend, and one of the most knowledgeable people about fighting games on the planet.  He has been a key member of the team behind a TON of the FGC’s all time Capcom favorites—see below for his unbelievable credits list.  Join me for a very special opportunity to meet him alongside producer Niitsuma-san, and help me to show him what an impact his lifetime of work has made to fighting gamers around the world!

A partial list of Neo_G’s credits include: 

--Marvel vs Capcom 2, Designer

Marvel VS. Capcom 3, Battle System Designer

--Street Fighter Alpha 2, Designer

Street Fighter Alpha 3, Designer

Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX, Director, Assistant Producer

--Street Fighter III, Designer

Street Fighter III: 2nd IMPACT, Director

Street Fighter III: 3rd STRIKE, Director

--Darkstalkers 3, Designer

--Capcom VS. SNK 2, Lead Designer

--Hyper Street Fighter II (Arcade Version), Director

--Tatsunoko VS. Capcom, Designer

Tatsunoko VS. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars, Director

Fresh on the heels of a dominating performance this past weekend, the Daigo "the Beast" Umehara is back on US shores to compete at this weekend's NorCal Regionals event in Milpitas CA. 

Sounds like a perfect time to post his next round of answers to the questions asked by Unity members, yeah? 

Hit the jump for his thoughts on everything from US and Japanese community differences, the meaning of "pro," and even his last meal!  You can find Part 1 of "You Asked, Daigo Answers" here.  What do you think?

1) Daigo, When you lose in critical moments during a tournament. You always seem so calm about the result. But Honestly, what are you really thinking?

--Bryce

You know, if you win or lose on a lottery, you can simply feel lucky to win or feel disappointed with your loss. You don’t bare any responsibly in the outcome. But in a game, no matter what happens, win or lose, I am responsible for the result. So if I win after all the hard work, I validate all my efforts leading up to the tournament. And if I lose, I accept my loss recognizing that I have to work even harder. Nothing and nobody but myself is accountable for the result. Knowing that may leave no room for me to emotionally react to a loss.

2) What is one thing you feel that the American community needs to take from Japan in order to improve itself? And, vice versa, what is one thing that Japan should take from America to improve itself?

--Tryken (Ryan)

I don’t really know how US players relate among themselves, so I can’t say much, but if I may based on little I know, I think US players should openly and constructively criticize one another on their gameplay and help each other to improve themselves as a community as a whole.

On the Japan side, the Japanese community obviously lacks a sense of responsibility and spirit to try to make an event a success. The players don’t recognize it as “their” event and don’t even make an effort to boost it up. They just passively participate in a tournament, and they think that they have nothing to do with it, but that it is the event organizer’s responsibility whether it becomes fun or not. I hope to see a change in their perspective and to come together as a community to “create” an event.  

3) What would your last meal be?

Ramen!  I love ramen!

4) What would you like to see in the world of professional tournament playing that isn't currently there, and what do you think could make Street Fighter more popular among people who AREN'T already into it?

--ibLeo

One thing I would like to wish for pro players is compensation available to more pro players. In exchange, those “pro” players should gain self-awareness and discipline as a pro, and work harder to exhibit professional level of gameplay to stand up for the name of “pro.” They must be able to distinguish themselves as pro-players from amateur players, and that has to be accompanied by high level of self-discipline.

5) Which tournament win has meant the most for you? Or which do you feel was the most memorable?

--TongariDan (o'-')o

EVO tournaments.  It is EVO. 

Got a question for Daigo Umehara?   We're giving you another chance to ask the fighting game juggernat and Guiness Record holder anything you've always wanted to know.  

Daigo has recently been stirring up trouble in the world of Marvel Vs Capcom 3, but any topic is fair game.  What is the most shocking thing about Super SFIV Arcade Edition?  What styling products is he using currently?  How do I shot web? 

Ask in the comments below by Wednesday, May 25th, he'll choose his favorites, and answer as many as he can! 

Thank you to everyone who has sent inquiries and wished us well during this crisis.  We want to reiterate that all of our employees in the Osaka and Toyko regions are safe and well, and we thank everyone for their support. 

In response to recent events, Capcom will immediately donate 100 million yen to help victims of the earthquake and communities recover from this tragedy.  

For one week from today, March 15, Street Fighter IV on iPhone will be available for 99cents/115yen, and all sales of the title during this period will be donated to support earthquake relief activities.

Capcom will also suspend operations or shorten operating hours as necessary at amusement arcades and other business sites that are located in areas served by Tohoku Electric Power and Tokyo Electric Power. In addition, Capcom will refrain from holding special events.

Again, thanks to everyone who has supported Japan during this difficult time, and please help to spread the news about relief efforts.