Shinya Aoki and Hidehiko Yoshida latest additions to "EA Sports MMA"
Two more fighters were today confirmed for the forthcoming "EA Sports MMA" video game, and both share honors as the first Japanese competitors in the game.
Company officials today announced that DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki and former judo Olympic gold medalist Hidehiko Yoshida will be featured in EA Sports' first mixed martial arts title.
HT: MMAJunkie
about 2 years ago
MMASuPreMaCy
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Seriously?
I think Yoshida is an extremely shitty selection, unless this roster gets a lot deeper. Crusher and Sakuraba would be much more fitting.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
He is (or was) a main figure head for SRC and a Japanese legend. I think it was a good choice. They will keep going. Roster has around 40-50 fighters now that I am aware of. More will be added.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 29, 2009 6:52 PM EST up reply actions
Do you have any sources for these fighters (along with Sakuraba and Kawajiri above), or is this another one of your specials?
by Swordslasher on Dec 29, 2009 7:13 PM EST up reply actions
Where in either of those posts does it say anything about Sakuraba or Kawajiri. I’d just like to know where he read this. According to the official roster on the source he posted, they have 20 fighters. I’d like to know the other 20-30 fighters that haven’t been announced
I didn’t know wanting to know the source is being a hater.
by Swordslasher on Dec 29, 2009 7:32 PM EST up reply actions
Do you have any sources for these fighters (along with Sakuraba and Kawajiri above)
That means you would like a source for Aoki and Yoshida. He said the others were rumors, take it as such, a rumor.
or is this another one of your specials?
Sounded like some hate to me, if not I apologize.
My point is that he acts like an insider, but usually gets his information from some new site. He does this all the time with his comments. These rumors came from somewhere. They don’t just magically appear because he said so. There are a lot of rumors in the MMA world, but they all have a source. He opts to not post the source, which he has once again done here (with the exception of Aoki and Yoshida, which I wasn’t calling him out on).
So once again, do you have a source for Kawajiri and Sakuraba, or a source for the 40-50 fighters.
by Swordslasher on Dec 29, 2009 7:55 PM EST up reply actions
LOL
1) You are one funny guy.
2) When I state that they are rumored, its because I am the one who created the fan post and already provided links for them. I don’t want to keep providing links. I will leave it up to you to use the search function and read the articles rather than I having to go and provide links over and over again.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 29, 2009 8:15 PM EST up reply actions
Also...
Did you know that guys like Bas Rutten, Vlad Matyushenko , Tim Syliva, and a ton of other fighters are in the game? Yes, its true.
http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/ab285/nonstopjc/004.jpg
And for example, if you ask me how I know that Fancy pants is in the game, I told him how to get on the game and who to contact over at EA, which he then followed up with me and told me that he got in the game. Take that for whatever its worth.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 29, 2009 8:24 PM EST up reply actions
Delusions of grandeur?
The path to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails, whereon my soul is grooved to run. Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering BROCKLESNAR; to the last I grapple with thee.
by judonerd on Dec 30, 2009 3:57 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Thanks. Its part of the supremacy persona.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 30, 2009 4:25 PM EST up reply actions
Several other fighters have confirmed their involvement but haven’t been announced by EA.
From source MMAJunkie article I listed above.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 29, 2009 8:09 PM EST up reply actions
Here's another "special"
http://twitter.com/EASPORTSMMA/status/7162299510 Google is your friend btw…
40-50 is a lie
I’ve seen quotes from EA suggesting they have no intention of having that big of a roster. Maybe it ends up being that big if they’re signing the likes of Yoshida, but that has yet to be seen. And who cares if he’s a Japanese legend? He has no credibility in the US and this game won’t sell shit in Japan— I can promise you that.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
Well, EA’s intention of adding Japanese fighters and a Japanese promotion is that it hopefully sells in Japan. =)
by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 29, 2009 8:03 PM EST up reply actions
Honestly speaking though, and I will try to not come off as a hater, but are they counting on this selling cause it’s an EA game? You get very excited to post news and thats awesome, but when all is said and done, do you honestly believe this will sell close to UFC 2010? Most of the roster is international/little known in the US market. Fight Night sold cause it has famous US market fighters (Ali/Tyson/RJJ) but doesn’t have a fighter like Klitchko (SP?) cause he isn’t known in the US market.
Again, I’m trying to not hate on you but I want your honest opinion. I know at the core you’re a fan of the sport but sometimes posting things like they hope for it to sell well in Japan means you think they’ve completely disregarded the US market.
by Matthew Roth on Dec 29, 2009 8:24 PM EST up reply actions
Why would I care that it sells as much as UFC 2010? No one is expecting this game to outsell or come close to UFC Undisputed. I personally just care that they come out with a great game that will push THQ and EA to both come out with better quality games in the future.
Again, never said it will sell well in Japan, just that they plan on selling it. Selling this game with Japanese fighters and a Japanese promotion has a lot more potential than UFC Undisputed selling in Japan with only a couple of Japanese fighters and only being able to select the UFC as a promotion. Now, if THQ adds PRIDE in future releases and their legends, that would be a completely different story.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 29, 2009 8:31 PM EST up reply actions
I didn’t mean do you care, I mean in the sense that THQ’s license is up with the UFC after this game, if this doesn’t sell well it’ll force a bidding war for that license.
by Matthew Roth on Dec 29, 2009 8:32 PM EST up reply actions
There is no bidding war. If its a bidding war, EA will get it. If UFC want’s to be loyal, they will stay with THQ. If EA wants the license badly, I see them getting it one way or another.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 29, 2009 8:38 PM EST up reply actions
EA or Yukes? Undisputed sold around 10,000 copes in Japan with a Japanese co-dev. Why you’re even arguing that they’d sign fighters to sell copies in Japan is beyond me. It will not sell well in Japan.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
Yes, YUKES. But, like I said before, never said it will sell well because they are signing Japanese fighters, just that they want it to sell and want it to have a worldwide appeal. Again, I don’t think anyone expects this game’s sales to be comparable to Undisputed.
If this game was just based on one promotion (Strikeforce) or only had American fighters without a notible MMA brand like the UFC, it wouldn’t sell anywhere, period.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 29, 2009 8:49 PM EST up reply actions
Everything hinges on the quality of the gameplay, but their expectation is to sell the bulk of their copies to the US and UK. They’ll have a limited distribution in Japan (where both MMA and video gaming are on the downswing, and consumers have rarely been warm to western developed titles).
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
consumers have rarely been warm to western developed titles
Exactly.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 29, 2009 8:58 PM EST up reply actions
Because everyone loves sources
The Top Thirty Games in Japan of 2009
None of them are Western Developed…
I feel we're making different points
I’m not trying to argue that it’ll necessarily underperform the UFC title (honestly, who gives a shit), I’m saying that getting guys like Yoshida is more of a negative acquisition than a positive one. Some western consumers will see his name and go “huh? I don’t know these guys” and far fewer Japanese fans will go “Yoshida judo!!!!!” and run to 7-11 for a copy of EA MMA.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
LOL
I don’t see them as a negative at all. The guy in the US who doesn’t know who they are will only consider them bottom feeders to the top guys like Randy or Fedor anyways.
Though, if he has cool Judo moves, then some may actually have fun playing as him. Plus, adding Yoshida gets you in good graces with SRC.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 29, 2009 9:23 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, you wouldn't
But you’re a Japan-MMA obsessed programmer and I do creative services and marketing. :)
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
I don’t get it, though—it’s not like Yoshida is taking a spot in the game that would otherwise go to someone that the “western consumer” would recognize. I’d imagine they’re getting as many of those as they can, and there aren’t that many. From there it’s just a matter of filling out the roster, probably with different styles of fighter.
So why not get someone like Yoshida? How is getting him negative?
Plus, getting Yoshida on your side gets a lot of other Japanese fighters on your side, trust me. =)
by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 29, 2009 10:46 PM EST up reply actions
Huh? That doesn’t add up at all. You think there are fighters that were reluctant to take a check to be in a video game because Yoshida had yet to sign his contract? That kind of pulling and twisting is going to give you stretch marks..
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
by Blackout612 on Dec 29, 2009 10:54 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
There is nothing positive to gain from his placement on the roster. Why is this so difficult to understand? I already laid out why it can alienate a consumer on the side of the world that is far more likely to invest in an EA MMA title. Consumers are fickle, particularly when there’s so little money to go to luxuries and in a crowded gaming marketplace. If a kid is staring down UFC 2010 and EA MMA and decides to look up full rosters, they’ll come across unrecognizable names and it could effect their decision to purchase the product. Face it— it’s going to sell 20 copies in the US minimum over every one copy in Japan. So you risk enticing such a small probability with an old favorite while potentially alienating your biggest audience that could back away over the slightest grievance? I’ve been party to people that shit the bed over some of the fighters on Undisputed 2009’s roster. Yoshida and his like are not “get’s”, no matter how you want to cut it. Or maybe you’re just playing devil’s advocate, in which case I’ll expect some poorly thought out response.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
by Blackout612 on Dec 29, 2009 10:51 PM EST up reply actions
Also
Based on everything I’ve read from EA dev’s regarding the roster, they do have a finite number of spots. They’ve intimated a desire to make a Fight Night style roster of high quality/low quantity fighters. This will be less stupid if they do have a roster upwards of 40-50 fighters.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
by Blackout612 on Dec 29, 2009 10:56 PM EST up reply actions
I understand why you think it isn’t positive. What I don’t understand is why you think it’s negative, rather than just neutral.
If the presence of Hidehiko Yoshida is going to alienate Western consumers, then they’ll also be aliented by something like 80% of the game’s roster. So it seems weird to focus on Yoshida specifically as a bad choice. Is he a worse choice than Shinya Aoki, or Jacare, or Nick Thompson?
Given the pool that EA is drawing from here, a roster of 40-50 would seem to have all the room necessary for the “gets” they can get (of which there are, what, 15? I’m trying to be generous). Once those slots are filled—and I’d be shocked if there were 40 or 50 of them—then why not get someone like Yoshida?
Is someone enticed by the presence of Randy Couture really going to throw the thing down in disgust because there’s a Japanese guy in there they don’t recognize? It’s not like they’re putting Yoshida on the cover. He’s just one guy in the game.
Having stumbled on her – and having no interest in video games – I still found your guys debate fairly interesting. It was like listening to a friend explain the prowrestling “Monday Night Wars” to me the other day.
So a couple of quick questions from someone who is clueless about this:
1) Doesn’t Hidehiko Yoshida have a lot of pull with a lot of the Nipponese fighters? Couldn’t his being in the game be a prerequisite for getting the Nipponese fighters they wanted?
2) Since they are probably going to be appealing to the more hardcore or contrarian mma fans wouldn’t the addition of a more obscure, almost cultish figure, actually help the game appeal to that base? It would be like hiring Robert Englund for a horror movie or Vernon Wells and David Patrick Kelly for a violent crime or action pic.
And finally: there are worlds out there I know nothing about.
I’ve illustrated my point as Yoshida not being a positive on multiple occassions. I said if anything it could be a negative, but you can interpret my theories on the matter however you wish. Call it neutral, call it whatever you want. I’m not going to re-tread the same talking points over and over again.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
I’m saying that getting guys like Yoshida is more of a negative acquisition than a positive one
(words yours, emphasis mine)
Oh geez
I’ve admitted that, guy. The point is, I’ve EXPLAINED what I mean. That’s far more important than a singular word. Try reading.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
Heh, whoops, misread your post as saying that 40-50 is a small roster. In my defense, Undisputed had like 80 fighters in it, so 50 would be small by comparison.
Still, if the concern is that semi-obscure foreign fighters will be dealbreaker for too many people, then that ship sailed long before they signed Yoshida.
Plus, I’d be really surprised if the EA game only had 30-35 people in it—they’ve already got fighters from the 5 main divisions attached, and if they add women, that’s six divisions to fill.
Who said too many people?
Seriously, I’m wasting my energy here. I’ve clearly implicated that he won’t add anything and that someone other than him being in the mix would be more beneficial to the product on a worldly level. This coming from a self-professed judo nut. I’m not fighter bashing Yoshida, but you defending his value to the game seems silly.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
Well, you didn’t use the exact phrase “too many people,” but you did say this,
Consumers are fickle, particularly when there’s so little money to go to luxuries and in a crowded gaming marketplace. If a kid is staring down UFC 2010 and EA MMA and decides to look up full rosters, they’ll come across unrecognizable names and it could effect their decision to purchase the product.
ostensibly as a reason not to include Yoshida.
I took that to mean that you think the inclusion of “unrecognizable names,” like Yoshida, would turn too many people away (one person being a good starting point for “too many”). That’s what I’m referring to there.
No?
Turn too many people away? At other points in this thread I’ve said that the most important thing in the case of EA MMA is the quality of the gameplay and the review scores. Yoshida isn’t ruining the credibility of the game. It’s not so grand a point as it’s being made to be. I just think it’s a pointless acquisition— running in place, if you will— unless the roster is much larger.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
No problem! I know you are usually quick at posting all this info now.
=)
by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 29, 2009 8:39 PM EST up reply actions
Is Fedor-Aoki gonna be a special, unlockable, exhibition match?
by ufc4 on Dec 29, 2009 9:05 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Weightclasses
Any word if they’ll be going below Lightweight? Also anything on Openweight, or will fighters be restricted to their divisions?
It’s one of the questions I tried to ask in LiveChat but they chose to announce Gilbert Melendez instead :(
Sorry if this has been discussed but I don’t recall hearing if Mousasi will be in the game, anything confirmed yet?
by ufc4 on Dec 29, 2009 11:37 PM EST via mobile reply actions
The magazine gave the likeness a 7/10. I don’t know about that, I’d give the pic of Murilo Bustamante a 10/10!
Really?
They rated likenesses? Interesting..
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
I just checked out this GI
I was at Gamespot reserving my copy of Mass Effect 2. Screens look great in print. Didn’t have enough time to study all of the likenesses, though. It’s a bummer it won’t be out for so long because I want to get an idea how the mechanics will turn out and/or feel.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
GameSTOP
I always do that…
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
LOL
I am glad I am not the only one. Why the hell did they do that to us gamers. Game Spot … Game Stop … WTF!? =)
Yeah, for those forming an opinion based on scans, they should really go see the actual magazines like Game Informer. The screen shots look great in the mag.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 30, 2009 3:40 PM EST up reply actions
For sure
I’m really impressed with the care that went into texturing Monson. Whoever modeled him seemed to have become obsessed with doing it perfectly. Ha..
And yeah, I seriously always say or type the wrong one (Gamespot/Gamestop). Bastards..
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
Maybe cause Monson looks more like a video game character rather than a person, it must have hit home a little bit better. I hope they fix some of those early models like Randy and Gegard. EA has never been known for their great face modeling…see 2K vs EA. =)
by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 30, 2009 4:28 PM EST up reply actions
I mourn the loss of the NFL2K series annually.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
But its fun to see NBA 2K beat NBA LIVE every year. This year, I was disappointed with 2K though. Seem like EA is catching up, just like they did with Hockey. MLB 2K was pretty terrible also. I don’t know why 2K has been slipping lately.
BTW, I own NFL 2K5 for XBOX and PS2 and have action replay to have updated rosters. =)
by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 30, 2009 6:17 PM EST up reply actions
I haven’t bought an NFL game since 2K5 and, yes, it’s still the best NFL game on the market.
The sad thing is, I don’t think EA is catching up— I think they’re meeting in the middle (as in; mediocrity). I have a ton to say on the matter, but sports games have to fundamentally change in this day in age. They never honestly made the move to 3D that every other genre has (platformers, shooters, action games)— it’s still as isometric as it was in Tecmo Bowl and the controls are effectively the same as they were (with continually changing, ridiculous and unnecessary gimmicks and novelties like “lead blockerz!” and “QB visionz!”). You know what I think is going to shake the shit out of the competitive Football video game market? Motherfuckin Backbreaker.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
My Quick Solution...
Sell sport titles every other year and offer Roster Updates for free or a fee as DLC. At least it will give developers more than a 12 month cycle to cram out a game every year. Its the only way to drastically improve the product.
Backbreaker looks promising, but the problem with Football titles is that they can never stick. I will be waiting for more info on this though.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 30, 2009 6:51 PM EST up reply actions
It just won't happen
I’ve felt that 2K should be the first to adopt that cycle (which I’ve also discussed in the past), because EA just won’t support that. It’s EA. I know a lot of my commentary on this game attributes to people possibly thinking I am obsessed with the UFC (I’m obsessed with MMA, obviously), but it has more to do with my hate of EA than anything. Though, the way they’ve handled ME2 has made me feel some promise for their business operations. Maybe the recession has effected their nature for the better..
Blackout612- "Wuts teh UFC?"
Ubernoober- "It like two guy who just stand and swing for fence and try to knock each other shit out it awesome"
Well, EA will be already using that model with Fight Night and EA MMA (at least that’s what their intentions are at the moment), so I am hoping if its successful, they would apply that to their other sport titles.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Dec 30, 2009 7:54 PM EST up reply actions
That's not the same
They’ve already been a bit all over the place with Fight Night (and boxing, altogether). If they start doing it with any of the major US sports, we’ll see. I don’t expect it one bit. They profit far too much from it. Consumers need to speak with their wallets.
Blackout612- "Wuts teh UFC?"
Ubernoober- "It like two guy who just stand and swing for fence and try to knock each other shit out it awesome"
Oh shit
He can’t fight on Saturday!!!
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
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