Multiplayergames got the real-life karate master, John, to look at the titles - both ports of Data East classics that took about $100 from me over the summer of 1985. Here's his report on Kung Fu:

"[S]ome of the goons attacking run at Thomas with their fist raised above their head. This may be trying to convey something like a wooden monkey style. That being said, the ancient visuals actually serve martial arts proud by rendering chambers and pivots through punching and kicking (the base foot turns on Thomas' side-kick). The jumping kicks are right on for any style of Kung Fu as well as the quick striking, but the limited graphics make it impossible to show all the circular movements and blocks that makes Kung Fu artistic/cool looking, therefore a popular choice for movie characters to show off on screen. Thomas lacks any kind of guard stance and certainly doesn't hold a wider one which is more appropriate for Kung Fu.

And now on Karate Champ:

The graphics do not demonstrate technique as well as Kung Fu. Much of it is a jumbled mess, but the idea of the point fighting is fairly accurate. In point fighting tournaments, you score a point, break, and go again when the judge starts you. The typical colors are even white and red, as in the game. The side scrolling graphics are also appropriate for point fighting in the 80's, because sport karate used to be more linear then, as more angled and dynamic fighting evolved shortly after.

The verdict? You know what, head over and see for yourself. It's a brilliant idea and a great read.

Multiplayergames' Digital Dojo: Kung Fu vs Karate Champ [Multiplayergames, thanks Matt P.]

The Limited Edition Uncharted 2 box art on the left will be released in Europe (and North America, for that matter!), while the box art in the middle will be released in North America. The newly released box art on the right is slated for Japan. The reason for the large lettering in the Japanese title is that the Uncharted series isn't as well known in Japan.

Have a preference?

PS3『アンチャーテッド２』のパッケージが日・米・欧で違う理由 [オレ的ゲーム速報＠刃]

The latest issue of Famitsu Weekly breaks the news that BlazBlue will make the jump to consoles this Summer. So far, that's only for the Japanese audience. Failing a North American or European localization—which we're assuming someone will be smart enough to pick up—an import may be in order.

1UP's recount of the Famitsu story notes that the home version of BlazBlue will add a substantial single-player story mode, one touted to take 30 hours to complete.

The game will also get a boost from its arcade version with full online multiplayer support, downloadable content and an animated sequence from anime studio GONZO.

Gamers will have to decide which hi-res 2D brawler they would prefer to invest their time in this Summer, as SNK Playmore recently announced the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 port of The King of Fighters XII for a release in July.

BlazBlue Officially Coming to Consoles [1UP]

Also included in the update are practice and survival modes. There is no official date for the release of the download. Kim Phu

Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection Online! [SD Tekken, Thanks Mark!]

Electronic Arts recently announced that the 29-song tracklist for their upcoming brawler Def Jam: Icon for the PS3 and Xbox 360.

While the song list will be of interest to some, I found it more interesting that EA is saying that "music affects how players fight in each environment and avoiding hazards become a key strategy to staying alive."

"The Def Jam Interactive/EA partnership continues to be one centered around innovation. For the first time in any video game, the music is completely interactive. DEF JAM: ICON allows players to use these songs, as opposed to playing them in the background. And not only is there an incomparable soundtrack of today and tomorrow's hottest music, but now we guarantee the player with an authentic hip-hop lifestyle experience", said Lauren Wirtzer, Vice President of Marketing, Def Jam Enterprises.

The game will also allow you to import your own music into the game, which should, according to EA, also drive the environment and gamplay. Cool concept, but I'm really going to have to see it in action to decide how much it really changes gameplay.

Hit the jump for the full list of song that come with the game. Brian Crecente

Big Boi (i.e., Purple Ribbon All-Stars feat. Big Boi)
Kryptonite

E-40
Tell Me When To Go

E-40
Go Hard or Go Home

Fat Joe
Make It Rain

Ghostface
The Champ (Remix)

Jim Jones
Crunk Muzik

Jim Jones
We Fly High

Konkrete feat. Big Boi
What's that Smell

Lil Jon
Get Crunk

Lil Jon (and the Eastside Boys)
Get Low

Ludacris
Get Back

M.O.P.
Ante Up

Method Man & Redman
Da Rockwilder

Mike Jones
Back Then

Mike Jones
Got it Sewed Up - Remix

Nas
Hate Me Now

Paul Wall
Sittin' Sidewayz

Paul Wall
Trill

Redman
Rush Da Security

Redman
Let's Go

Sean Paul
Head in the Zone

Sean Paul
All Out

T.I.
What You Know

T.I.
Top Back

The Game
One Blood

The Game
Scream on 'Em

Young Jeezy
I Do This

Young Jeezy
Soul Survivor

Young Joc
It's Going Down

A 22-year-old Ukrainian gamer, considered one of the top Lineage II players in Europe, stomped another gamer to death after the man tried to stop a fight between rival clan members, The Moscow Times reports.

Alexander "DVP" Ponamorenko has been arrested and charged with the beating death of Alexander "Sverkh" Blyoskin, 22, who was trying to break-up a fight between Ponamorenko and his online nemesis, known only as Shtai, a friend of Blyoskin, according to the Basmanny District Prosecutor's Office.

The three were at a gathering of 20 to 30 Lineage II gamers at a cafe in central Moscow on Jan. 12 when the fight broke out.

Everybody in the room noticed how the expression on DVP's face changed when he saw Shtai," a witness and fellow gamer, identified only as Pavel, told Rossia television on Saturday.

Ponamorenko and Kirill took things outside, and after the two came to blows, Blyoskin, a student at the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute and a friend of Kirill's, tried to calm Ponamorenko down, Tatarinova said.

Accounts differ as to what happened next. Some witnesses say Ponamorenko punched Blyoskin, who played Lineage II under the nickname "Sverkh," and that the student fell and hit his head on the asphalt, Rossia television reported.

Tatarinova, however, said Ponamorenko stomped on Blyoskin's head while he lay on the ground.

Blyoskin was taken to a local hospital where he died four days later. He was buried at Moscow's Domodedovskoye cemetery on Jan. 19.

As one of my friend's pointed out when I told him about this sad story: If it wasn't a game gathering it would have been a soccer match or just everyday barroom brawl. Brian Crecente

Virtual Conflict Ends in Real Death [Moscow Times, via Koster]

During intermission, [Something Awful's] Kyanka does an interview with streaming site Wavelit.com. He's trying to be self-deprecating — he knows the matches will live forever on YouTube — but is too furious to laugh it all off. 'He said he wouldn't hit me really hard!' Lowtax fumes, rubbing his head. 'I hate him as a human being! This event is a combination of PR and BS!'

Meanwhile, [Ain't It Cool News'] Sneider is taking advantage of the country's socialized health care. As two EMS workers tend to him, he occasionally removes his oxygen mask to vomit. As the intermission ends, the director emerges from the dressing room, looking serene. Kyanka points to Sneider's sickly puddle. 'Look what you did!' he snaps. Boll glances back, bemused. 'It was boxing,' he deadpans. 'Not chess.'

Zing! Man, if Uwe could make movies like he beats up internet geeks, he'd be Steven Spielberg. Instead he'll have to be content with being Uwe Boll: Director of horrible films, chowderhead supreme. Brian Ashcraft

Raging Boll [Wired]

According to a television station, a group of PS3 line-waiters got angry when they were told they could no longer wait inside a Wal-Mart for the PS3 and would have to go outside instead. The group ran through the store knocking everyone and everything in their path over.

Sheriff's deputies were called and the store temporarily shut down to restore order.

PS3 Shuts Down Wal-Mart [Yahoo Video]