Unreleased 'Marvel' Title [SuperiorVersion]

Shown only in trailer form, the EA Chicago fighter looked to bring Marvel mainstays Spider-Man, Dr. Doom, Captain America and the Hulk together for a next-gen fisticuffs-fest that saw the characters battling amid crowds of bystanders, toppling buildings and generally wreaking havoc. Marvel's other multi-character title, Marvel Universe Online, has also been the subject of cancellation talks. Maybe Marvel should just stick to movies.

Electronic Arts, Marvel Dissolve Game Deal [GameTap]

Tsunoda, best known for his fighting games, including a licensed Marvel Comics brawler that may have been scrapped, has been supposedly put to work on a popular franchise. A new Gears of War title is said to be his first project. An interesting fit. And by interesting, I mean, you better not screw this up, Kudo, or you're in big trouble. Oh, and congratulations.

Kudo Tsunoda Jumps EA Ship, Lands at Microsoft [GameTap]

EA Chicago: Infinity Ward is hiring. jobs@infinityward.com

You've heard of in-game advertising — but in-game job recruitment? It's certainly no secret that the guys at Infinity Ward aren't huge fans of EA. (They once worked on Medal of Honor and then broke away to build the first Call of Duty). Los Angeles is a long ways from Chicago, but for those EA Chicago employees not looking to relocate, Midway has nearly 30 development positions open in its Chicago office.

Thanks for the screen cap, Jon!

Just heard from some friends still working at EA Chicago that the studio is being closed. A company meeting to announce this is going on right now. Also, the Def Jam Icon sequel is canceled. No word on who will be finishing the Marvel fighting game. Roughly 170 people work at EA Chicago now.

As of right now, some employees seem to be locked out while others are in the midst of a meeting. And while we assume that at least some of those 170 employees will be shuffled around EA, we've written EA for confirmation and more details.

So at this moment the news is still technically a rumor, but it's looking fairly solid nonetheless.

Tsunoda—wearing sunglasses indoors—told the crowd that EA Chicago wouldn't simply be retrofitting an established fighting engine for the game, instead focusing on using the game's environment as a key component for battles. That doesn't mean that you'll see the beat bouncing, cracking environments from Def Jam ICON, though. Tsunoda said "ICONs a totally different game, but the basic premise in trying to incorporate the environment is a good one. I don't think we'll be going with a "Marvel beats" soundtrack, obviously. We're trying to open up the environment."

He also revealed that characters will be balanced in a fashion true to their Marvel Comics heritage, not simply "using three dials to balance them out." I assume that means that, in a one on one fight, Spider-Man would probably get his ass handed to him in a fight with the Hulk, but taking advantage of his surroundings will determine who is more powerful. "Debris", he says, "will need to be used in creative ways."

Visually, Tsunoda said of the game "We want high end next gen detail, but we want to have its own unique Marvel art style" adding that it "it's not going to look cel-shaded or anything like that." Expect "plenty of detail", but with a Marvel comic book art flair.

Asked by an attendee if the game would be similar to the PlayStation 2 game War of the Monsters, Tsunoda said that that "was a good analogy" but that the giant-monster scale of the new Marvel fighting game didn't apply. Instead, we'll see more street level battles populated with normal bystanders.

"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.

If you guys and gals do take the time to finish the download, let us know what you think. My hands-on time with the future PS3 and 360 game was surprisingly enjoyable, despite my personal indifference for all things Def Jam. Michael McWhertor

Def Jam demo beats on XBL this week [Gamespot]