Virtua Fighter dot com

Final Showdown Trademark Registered for Consoles

Originally posted by Hayama Akito at SRK, according to Game Nyarth it appears that SEGA have registered the trademark FINAL SHOWDOWN for consoles:

2010-056172 FINAL SHOWDOWN

Is this a sign that Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown is, finally, heading to consoles? Or, is this a totally new IP which coincidentally shares the same name as the latest VF5 release? Will there be further news at the upcoming Tokyo Game Show?

Time will only tell...

» Discuss Final Showdown Trademark Registered for Consoles

Central 8 August Tourney Vids

Central 8 in Hachioji, Tokyo recently held their first Final Showdown tournament and uploaded the footage to Nico Douga. The arcade just started uploading tournament footage online, so have a looksie! According to official webpage, they didn't really advertise the tournament, but managed to get 20 entries.

On a side note, thanks to Myke, we're now able to embed Nico Nico Douga videos on the forum, so even if you don't have an account on that site you can still enjoy their content!

Part 1
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://ext.nicovideo.jp/thumb_watch/sm11990096?w=490&h=307"></script><noscript>test</noscript>

Part 2
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://ext.nicovideo.jp/thumb_watch/sm11990301?w=490&h=307"></script><noscript>test</noscript>

Part 3
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://ext.nicovideo.jp/thumb_watch/sm11990446?w=490&h=307"></script><noscript>test</noscript>

Battle Audition Season 3 Vids Online

Sega has uploaded a bunch of new match videos from the most recent Battle Audition event, now in its third season. For those who are not familiar with the BA series, they are a series of tournaments held across the country, culminating in a final tournament to determine who will be the next Star Player.

Ikebukuro GIGO was the host to the first Battle Audition tournament featuring Final Showdown, and comes a month after the game's release. We won't spoil who won the tournament, but check out the videos below, straight from Sega's YouTube channel.

Quarter finals
SHU (Shun) vs. Kurita (Taka)
<object width="560" height="340"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ETinfSjOwCY"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ETinfSjOwCY" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="560" height="340"> </embed></object>

Itabashi Zangief (Shun) vs. Yudo (Brad)
<object width="560" height="340"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NrnkioqLJiM"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NrnkioqLJiM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="560" height="340"> </embed></object>

Semi-finals
Hoshi No Hikaru (Jacky) vs. Joseph (Akira)
<object width="560" height="340"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MpF4artbMGA"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MpF4artbMGA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="560" height="340"> </embed></object>

Itabashi Zangief (Shun) vs. SHU (Shun)
<object width="560" height="340"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TlngAQilXbU"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TlngAQilXbU"...

First Final Showdown Tier List

The October issue of Arcadia magazine just hit the newsstands today, and comes with a comprehensive breakdown of the revamped system, as well as preliminary frame data and character strategies for the entire cast. On top of that, the magazine has put together a preliminary tier list, which you can find below. Since the game has only been available for a month, the tiers will definitely change, but the popular opinion is that the big three listed by Arcadia will be hard to dethrone, even after a year or so of play.

Here are the current tiers according to Arcadia:

S Rank: Shun, Lau, Akira
A Rank: Lion, Kage, Goh, Brad, Sarah, Wolf
B Rank: Jean, Pai, Vanessa, Aoi, Taka-arashi, Eileen
C Rank: Blaze, Jacky, Jeffry, Lei-Fei

For an explanation of tiers, plus to check out the thoughts of the top players, please check out the following thread on the forums!

» October Arcadia VF5 FS News

Final Showdown in Arcadia Magazine

This month's Arcadia magazine (October 2010, Issue No. 125), which will be released next Tuesday, features a huge report on Final Showdown, and will include not only strategies for all 19 characters, but will also come with frame data for each character's main set of moves, general system changes, comments from the top players in the country, and a preliminary tier list. A booklet command list -- the same one that's available for free at most arcades in Japan -- will also be included with this month's issue. If you're interested in purchasing this month's issue, but you live outside of Japan, check out Play Asia, as they always have the magazine in stock.

Final Showdown Masters Guide Announced
Amazon Japan now has a new strategy guide for VF5 Final Showdown listed on their site. Titled Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown Masters Guide, it is going to be a near 200 page strategy guide published by Softbank Creative, and will go on sale on September 10th. This is a significant announcement, as this is the first time in four years that an arcade strategy guide for Virtua fighter has been published. The last one was the "Keep It Moral" black book for Virtua Fighter 5.

Here is what this new master guide will feature:
» Full frame data for all characters.
» A rundown of new moves and tweaked moves for every characters.
» Detailed explanation and analysis of the new system in Final Showdown.
» Strategies geared toward specific character matchups and character-specific combos.

» Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown Masters Guide Announced

VF5FS System Changes

In this month's Arcadia, Issue 124 the Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown feature on System Changes has been kindly translated by noodalls (many thanks!)

The translated article talks about major changes to the Movement and Throw systems. It also reveals other changes such as the removal of elbow and middle kick staggers, damage modifiers, wall effects, and the all important Side Turned situation.

» Arcadia 124 VF5FS System Notes by noodalls

Today, 29th July 2010, is the official start date for VF5 Final Showdown! Look for more match replays to pop up starting tomorrow now that the game is available across Japan. This month's issue of Arcadia magazine will have a huge feature on the game, including a changelist and basic combos, so we will start work on that as soon as we get our hands on it. (we meaning me... and hopefully whoever else gets the magazine!)

Now that the arcade version is out, all that's left is to hope that Sega smartens up and announces a console version in the near future. Tokyo Game Show would be a perfect time for it! Make it happen, Sega.

If you weren't watching this event on Sunday -- and you should have! -- here are the results of the 11th Beat Tribe cup tournament. There were 145 teams at this 5 on 5 event, making it one of the biggest fighting game events of the entire year. Thanks to Arcadia Magazine for hosting the video stream!

1st Place - Itabashi Newton[/size]
Itabashi Zangief (Shun)
Kamaage (Akira)
Kissa (Shun)
Zettoman (Lei-fei)
Bubbles (Lau)

2nd Place - Kanchigai Club[/size]
Penkiyasan (Lau)
Kanzen Nitaku (Wolf)
Yogo Kage (Kage)
Ryu-chan (Jacky)
Toru (Akira)

Videos
» Final - Itabashi Newton vs Kanchigai Club - Part 1
» Final - Itabashi Newton vs Kanchigai Club - Part 2
* The above are nicovideo links, if you have trouble watching, then copy/paste the link into http://mmcafe.com/nico.html
» Semi Final - Buruha Circle vs Itabashi Newton - Part 1
» Semi Final - Buruha Circle vs Itabashi Newton - Part 2
» Semi Final - Buruha Circle vs Itabashi Newton - Part 3
» Quarter Final - Kagoshima vs Hama Stars - Part 1
» Quarter Final - Kagoshima vs Hama Stars - Part 2
» Quarter Final - Kagoshima vs Hama Stars - Part 3

Highlight
If you were unfortunate enough to miss the stream, then you should also check out this exciting battle from the Round of 16 between teams Daibatsu Punch (Jin (KA), Punch the Senpuu (JN), Koufu (AO), Itoshun (BR), Koedo (JN)) and Hama Stars (Chotaro...

About a week ago I was informed by an arcade operator acquaintance of mine that Final Showdown would be released on the 29th of this month. While I had no doubt that this was true, I've seen this date pop up in several other places, including Niigata POPY's homepage, so it should be safe to say that the game will be in operation starting on the 29th! Expect to see more videos and impressions soon!