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EA Vs. Marvel Fighting Games Announced

Posted by simoniker on from the mutant-turducken dept.

ADD Boy writes "Reuters reports that Electronic Arts and Marvel have come together to 'develop a series of fighting games pitting newly developed EA characters against Marvel superheroes like Spider-Man.'" This cross-media deal also sees Marvel "acting as licensing agent for the new [EA-created] characters and publishing comic books based on them", and "the deal includes more than 100 of Marvel's superhero characters, such as Spider-Man and the X-Men." However, the deal does not include the Hulk or Punisher characters, who are licensed to Vivendi and THQ respectively.

20 of 61 comments (clear)

  1. newly developed? by B00yah · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm not normally one to balk at a fighting game unless the premise is horribly bad, but half the fun of the Capcom v. Marvel series of games was the idea of your favorite Capcom characters taking on your favorite comic book characters. It's definitely going to be a hard sell for EA to push these new characters against Marvel's well loved character set.

    And where is a decent DC v. Marvel game when you need it?

    --

    How Jaded Are You?
    1. Re:newly developed? by August_zero · · Score: 2, Funny

      DC vs Marvel would be great, though I really doubt it is ever going to happen.

      EA vs Marvel? Umm I can't really think of any interesting EA characters. Part of the charm of the vs Capcom line was the fact that Capcom has come up with some of the most memorable mascots over the years. The other part of the charm, is that Capcom (and SNK) are really damn good at making 2D fighters.

      New characters by EA aren't going to cut it, and what are their established brands? Tiger Woods and John Madden both have some great sports titles bearing their names but how long are they going to stand up against the likes of Captain America or Iron Man? Is one of Madden's hurled Turduckens really going to be enough to knock out Wolverine?

      --
      On Wall Street they say "buy low, sell high" On the pad we say, "buy high, sell high" Isn't that somehow better?
  2. They don't need the hulk by hambonewilkins · · Score: 2, Funny

    He was already the star of an awesome, awesome videogame. You know, the one where you smash things... and then smash some more?

    --

    God Bless America. Why? Did it sneeze?
  3. Whos EA going to have? by paradesign · · Score: 4, Funny
    Tiger Woods, Madden, and the NASCAR's finest?

    Come to think of it, maybe i would like to kick Tigers ass.

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    I want 2D games back.
    1. Re:Whos EA going to have? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Hilarious. Mod parent up.

      Seriously, Marvel has just been swept off its feet by EA's sales numbers. EA obviously wants the Marvel licenses - they've brought some success to other publishers in the past, not the least of which is Capcom (for fighting games, at that). But Marvel is getting the short end of the stick: EA has no marketable characters that would make a "Marvel vs. EA" worth a second mention by a prospective game player. In comparison, Capcom has infinitely as many, and that - combined with appealing gameplay - translates into successful marketability.

      One thing's for sure. If some Tasmanian tiger comes anywhere close to throwing a boomerang at a Sentinel, even on a storyboard or in some EA monkey's sketches, this franchise as published by EA is DOOMED.

      Besides, the words "EA" and "fighting game" don't mesh very well in my mind. Neither do the words "EA" and "original characters."

    2. Re:Whos EA going to have? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      EA published a game called Ty the Tasmanian Tiger for all three current systems less than 1.5(year) ago. THAT sad state of affairs is the extent of their original character appeal.

      Marvel, this is what you've done to yourself.

  4. EA developing a fighting game. by cgenman · · Score: 2, Funny

    That sounds like a bad enough premise for me.

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    The ______ Agenda
  5. EA characters? by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 4, Insightful
    They're so helpful to offer up a couple examples of Marvel characters, but neglect to mention any of the EA characters they are going to be up against. What characters does EA even have? Is it gonna be spiderman vs. some bf1942 grunt?

    --
    Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
    1. Re:EA characters? by simoniker · · Score: 4, Informative

      I'm not sure the article makes this clear, but I don't believe they'll be using existing EA characters - I think the plan is to create all-new superhero-style characters which 'belong' to Electronic Arts. Whether this is a brilliant creative move or a cynical IP-building cash-in is, of course, open to interpretation. :)

  6. EA characters by MMaestro · · Score: 3, Insightful
    EA has their own unique characters? Since when?

    Seriously, without using licensed characters (Spiderman being the most notable) what character are they going to use? EA is most notable for its line of sports games and team based PC games (Battlefield 1942 of course). This is not a Capcom or Nintendo company which has a very broad cast of characters to choose from.

    Not only that, look more carefully at the title.

    EA Vs. Marvel Fighting Games Announced

    Games, impling more than one. What are they going to do for an EA Vs. Marvel 2 game?
    "Now fight using the Battlefield Vietnam grunt and the generals from C&C:Generals Zero Hour!"

    1. Re:EA characters by antime · · Score: 2, Funny

      EA vs. Marvel 2004
      EA vs. Marvel 2005
      EA vs. Marvel 2006
      EA vs. Marvel 2007 ...and so on until the sun explodes.

  7. This makes as much sense as... by Ayanami+Rei · · Score: 2, Funny

    Marvel vs. the WWE.
    Marvel vs. the Sportscenter Team
    Marvel vs. the Survivor champions
    Marvel vs. Sprite, 7Up and Sierra Mist.

    Marvel vs. Carvel Ice Cream Man!

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    THIS THING CAN TURN ON A DIME, MACROSSZERO STYLE ALSO FUCK BETA, ~NYORON
  8. Possible Matchups ... by lake2112 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Spider-man vs. John Madden Wolverine vs. Tiger Woods Captain America vs. that guy in Medal of Honor Jean Grey vs. James Bond Iceman vs. (insert SSX character) The Hulk vs. car from Need for Speed any other suggestions?

  9. I'm just hoping... by ADD+Boy · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ... that they will make this a well-balanced fast-paced 2-d fighter instead of a 3-d one (Street Fighter EX3 anyone?). Personally, I don't think EA will pull it off, unless they pursue their normal strategy of buying over companies that do know how to make games, and then just distributing it :P

  10. Finally... by GregThePaladin · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can beat the ever-loving crap out of JP from SSX.

  11. I wonder... by jermyjerm · · Score: 3, Funny

    Will I be able to fight as my Sim?

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    --- "Yeah, I'm a bit stressed out. I have a research paper due tomorrow and it has to be +5, Insightful."
  12. Re:Square by deminisma · · Score: 2, Informative

    Square as an entity no longer exists, neither does their partnership with EA. To state the obvious, they merged with Enix to become Square Enix. No Square characters in EA games.

  13. EA's characters are sure to suck by Man+In+Black · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How can EA possibly think they can make characters that could rival Marvel's? The only reason Marvel Vs. Capcom worked was because Capcom's characters already had a following. A fighting game with just Marvel characters would be good. Adding EA characters will simply dilute the game.

    How much do you want to bet that EA's characters will be cookie-cutter fighting game fare that are made "extreme" to appeal to kids? I'm guessing there will be a karate guy who's looking for strong opponents, the karate guys rival, a big wrestler/grappler type guy, an army guy, a funky black guy, a token woman, and any number of other Street Fighter ripoff characters. I'm sure EA's focus groups will add enough attitude to turn them into instant Poochie's.

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    -"One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." -EH
  14. EA has brought us such fine fighting games as... by dafoomie · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Shaq-Fu, Budokan, Techno Clash, umm... Def Jam Vendetta? Does Knockout Kings count?

    Good luck EA. John Madden himself as a playable character wouldn't save this game.

  15. This best be 2D by superpulpsicle · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The key formula IMHO in any fighting game is the pace. Whether you have a million moves or 10 moves, pace makes a big difference.

    I have yet to see a 3D game pump polygons faster than the marvel vs capcom series. EA better know what they are doing.

    This new game better be along the lines of Marvel vs. Capcom 3. It's gotta be of that quality for my money to swing that direction.