From the "pretty sure we already knew this but here's a press release" department, Electronic Arts has officially announced that their EA Chicago team is hard at work on a new Marvel Super Hero fighting game for the PS3 and Xbox 360, due out next year. The Chicago branch of EA is best known for its fighting games, having created Def Jam: Icon as well as the Fight Night series. Hopefully they'll be doing a much better job than Nihilistic did on EA's first marvel fighter, Rise of the Imperfects, the name of which is an ironic statement about the game's release.

"We looked at past comic-based games to find out what was missing and what was needed to successfully translate the intensity, excitement and fiction from comics into fighting games," said Kudo Tsunoda, General Manager and Vice President, EA Chicago. "We're challenging ourselves to make a game that delivers on the Super Hero promises of past top-tier fighting games."

I have my doubts your team will succeed, Kudo Tsunoda. It's not you, per se. It's just that after scores of crap licensed Marvel character games, Activision's screwing up Spiderman despite the fact that had they just released a prettier version of the same game they released for the second movie and I would have been perfectly happy, and EA's own failed attempt at making the promise you just made a reality, the only developers I trust with the Marvel license right now is Cryptic, and even them I am keeping a close eye on.

Kudo Tsunoda will be on hand at Comic Con today from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. at a panel discussing the future of Marvel video game titles. Feel free to drop by and tell him I said that if his team manages to pull it off I will kiss him full on the lips - with tongue if Moon Knight is involved. Loves me some Moon Knight.

EA CHICAGO TO HEAD DEVELOPMENT ON AN ALL NEW MARVEL SUPER HERO FIGHTING GAME

Leading EA Development Team Takes on Marvel License to Deliver an Authentic All Marvel Super Hero Fighting Game for PLAYSTATION 3 and Xbox 360
CHERTSEY, UK. - July 27, 2007 - At Comic-con 2007, Electronic Arts Inc (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced that EA Chicago will develop a brand new Super Hero™ fighting game franchise using the Marvel license. The acclaimed studio is recognized for specializing in the fighting game genre. Launching on the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system, EA Chicago's Marvel fighting game will be released in 2008.

EA Chicago, the leading development team on top fighting franchises including EA SPORTS™ Fight Night series and DEF JAM: ICON™, is using their talent and expertise to take on an elusive game development challenge - to deliver an authentic Super Hero fighting experience that has been promised for years but never truly been delivered.

"We looked at past comic-based games to find out what was missing and what was needed to successfully translate the intensity, excitement and fiction from comics into fighting games," said Kudo Tsunoda, General Manager and Vice President, EA Chicago. "We're challenging ourselves to make a game that delivers on the Super Hero promises of past top-tier fighting games."

"Marvel Super Heroes are a natural fit in the fighting game genre, so we're excited to have Kudo and his team of fighting game experts put these characters toe-to-toe against each other on next generation consoles," said Justin Lambros, Vice President of Interactive, Marvel Entertainment. "This is a game that will deliver to both comic book fans and to fighting game diehards."

"Featuring a great all-star line-up of Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains with incredible powers that are authentic to the fiction, huge environments and a living world that keeps the gameplay fresh, every battle will be unique; every battle will be like a first edition," added Tsunoda.

Tsunoda will be appearing at Comic-con on Marvel's video games panel to discuss the future of fighting and comic-based titles. The panel is on Friday, July 27 from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. PT. Comic fans and gamers will meet the creators of their favorite Marvel video games and hear the inside scoop on the upcoming line-up of console, PC and handhelds games featuring the mighty Marvel Super Heroes.

Comic fans and gamers can also tune-in to Spike TV GAME HEAD on Friday, August 31 at 1:00 a.m. ET/PT for the worldwide unveiling of the EA Chicago/Marvel game and a behind-the-scenes look into EA Chicago development.

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