Più che un picchiaduro, un simulatore
Il contesto di un fighting game è quasi sempre una semplice o complicata vicenda di guerrieri: i motivi che spingono i maestri combattenti alle mani sono la protezione degli innocenti, la vendetta, i soldi. Oggigiorno l’arena legalizzata della violenza corpo a corpo è lo sport; è all’insegna di questo assunto che possiamo definire EA SPORTS MMA una vera e propria simulazione, a un passo di distanza dal classico picchiaduro.
Come nelle simulazioni calcistiche possiamo creare una squadra a partire da zero e migliorarla, così in MMA personalizzeremo un combattente e lo spediremo in giro per il mondo perché apprenda vari tipi di tecniche marziali; potremo dare al guerriero il nostro volto o quello di un amico tramite Photo Game Face, e condividerlo online con altri giocatori. Una modalità online ci permetterà di farlo scontrare con i campioni di altri utenti, e in seguito agli incontri sarà possibile inviare il video dell’azione alla EA SPORTS: un promoter interessato potrebbe decidere di mandarlo in onda su Live Broadcast con tanto di commentario, rendendolo visibile via web sia attraverso pc che tramite console.
La personalizzazione non si ferma al nostro personalissimo avatar; potremo sceglierci forma e dimensioni del ring, attorniato da annunciatrici e manager, nonché il luogo – scelto fra mete internazionali – e sistemi di regole di condotta per il singolo match. Annuncerà i combattenti la voce di Jimmy Lennon Jr., mentre durante l’incontro ascolteremo quelle di Big John McCarthy, Frank Shamrock e Mauro Ranallo. Fra le personalità che il protagonista incontrerà attraversando il mondo nella modalità Carriera figurano leggende come Randy Couture, Pat Miletich, Rickson Gracie e Bas Rutten. Sarà possibile organizzare tornei, e gli stessi giocatori potranno commentare dal vivo le partite.
La comparsa di MMA sui nostri schermi coinciderà con l’evento mediatico Sherdog MMA Fighter Exchange program, che vedrà inviati quattro giovani atleti in vere e proprie sessioni di allenamento all’estero, sotto la guida di importanti maestri che incontreremo nel videogame; su Sherdog.com saranno caricati video, immagini e commenti riguardanti l’allenamento, e i quattro combattenti faranno il loro debutto il giorno 4 dicembre, quando si affronteranno Dan Henderson e Renato “Babalu” Sobral.
EA SPORTS MMA è disponibile dal 19 ottobre per Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, iPhone e iPod touch.
Di seguito il comunicato ufficiale:
EA SPORTS MMA HITS european stores today
Go Beyond the Cage with Global Fighting Experiences, MMA Superstars
and Innovative Online Features
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., – October 19, 2010 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), announced that EA SPORTS™ MMA is available in stores throughout Europe starting today. EA SPORTS MMA, offering the most authentic, intense and broadest mixed martial arts experience to date, allows players to travel the world and learn a multitude of fighting techniques and skills. The game features a vast array of world-class fighters, and players can extend their gaming experience online through a first-of-its-kind feature – EA SPORTS Live Broadcast.
Fighters can further showcase their MMA skills to the world through EA SPORTS Live Broadcast in which players can create their own fighter and then produce a hype video to get noticed by an actual EA SPORTS promoter. Once selected by the EA SPORTS promoter, players will be able to have their fight broadcast online through EA SPORTS Live Broadcast, while a live commentator calls every move made during the fight. Moreover, each EA SPORTS Live Broadcast fight can be viewed on game consoles or online via the web.
“EA SPORTS MMA is the most immersive and authentic mixed martial arts experience available, bringing together great fighters, opportunities to train and fight internationally and features that allow players to prove their skills online to a wide audience,” said EA SPORTS MMA Executive Producer Dale Jackson. “EA SPORTS is excited to bring this highly anticipated title to mixed martial arts fans and help grow the popularity of the sport worldwide.”
EA SPORTS MMA provides the definitive mixed martial arts experience, featuring multiple disciplines, rule sets, locations and fighters from all over the world. Players can fight in a ring, hexagonal or circular cage, and the MMA environment comes to life with ring girls, corner men and referees. Ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. provides fighter introductions while Big John McCarthy officiates fights and MMA legend Frank Shamrock and commentator Mauro Ranallo call the action.
Through career mode, fighters will be able to train in locations around the world with legends of the sport such as Randy Couture, Pat Miletich, Rickson Gracie and Bas Rutten, visiting gyms in Japan, Brazil, Thailand and the U.S. While training internationally, players will teach their fighter new skills as they rise up the ranks to make it to one of the biggest stages in MMA – STRIKEFORCE.
- Fighter Share – Players can put themselves into the world of MMA training and fighting and begin the quest to become a champion. They can upload photos of themselves and use Photo Game Face to create their own, personalized roster of fighters. Display and share these create-a-fighters via Fighter Share by uploading and browsing other created fighters. In addition, through Fighter Share players can download and try out any fighters created by the passionate EA SPORTS MMA community.
-
Customize Your Own Fight Card – Become a promoter and set up a night of fights with your friends. With the ability to host four fights per card with up to 10 people connected*, players can challenge each other to fights, talk trash and while friends provide commentary to the fight.
-
Total Strike Control – Through an intuitive control system for striking, elbow, knees and kicks, players can go on the offensive with Total Strike Control, providing the utmost flexibility for their fighters. EA SPORTS MMA also provides the flexibility for those who prefer fighting using face buttons with the Classic Control scheme.
Sherdog MMA Fighter Exchange Program brought to you by EA SPORTS MMA
Announced on October 11, EA SPORTS will be sponsoring the Sherdog MMA Fighter Exchange program, which mirrors EA SPORTS MMA’s career mode where young fighters travel the globe to learn various martial arts disciplines.
The program gives four up-and-coming fighters the opportunity to learn new fighting techniques and disciplines while training with STRIKEFORCE MMA superstars that appear in EA SPORTS MMA. Two North American fighters will train in Japan and Brazil under the tutelage of Luke Rockhold and Jason “Mayhem” Miller, while two international fighters, will be mentored by Gegard Mousasi and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in the U.S.
Sherdog.com will provide a behind-the-scenes look throughout the fight camps with blog and video coverage of the fighters. After weeks of training, the four fighters will make their STRIKEFORCE debut, as an undercard, during the December 4 fight featuring Dan Henderson vs. Renato “Babalu” Sobral, which will be streamed online by Sherdog.com.
EA SPORTS MMA will be available on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the iPhone® and iPod® touch.
For more information about EA SPORTS MMA, visit www.easportsmma.com or follow the game on Twitter at www.twitter.com/easportsmma and Facebook at www.facebook.com/easportsmma.
EA SPORTS™ is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, global videogame competitions and breakthrough digital experiences. EA SPORTS delivers personal access to the emotion of sports through industry-leading sports simulation videogames, including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA ELITE basketball, NCAA® Football, Fight Night boxing, EA SPORTS MMA, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® golf, and EA SPORTS Active.
*Internet connection and EA account required.
