EVO Week 2nd Strike Day 4: Community Question What Do You Want To See From The Next Generation of Fighting Games?

On 07/10/2013 at 10:07 PM by Vice's Assistant

Hello, everyone! Before we jump into today's topic, I wanted to show off something that really cool that EVO started last year, the EVO Indie Showcase. The EVO Indie Showcase, incorporation with Capy Games' president Nathan Vella, showcases some of the newest and interesting rising talent in gaming. Surprisingly most of the games shown at the Showcase are not fighting game related. For example, Spy Party was shown last year and is returning to the showcase. This year features many returning games as well as some new and familiar faces like Towerfall.

If you have some time, please check out this years line up at shoryuken.com at the links to the right. (Returning games and New games)

Now on with today's topic. With the newest generation of consoles literally around the corner, there are many questions still left unanswered about the future of gaming even after E3. This hold especially true for fighting games. The PS4, Xbox One, and even Wii U all have features that could greatly benefit fighting games. Both the Xbox One and PS4 will feature streaming capabilities and even have deals with major streaming providers (Xbox One has Twitch TV and the PS4 has a deal with U Stream). Even the Wii U has something to offer with its Miiverse community if used property that could foster fighting games. But moving beyond those things, there are still many various routes the future of fighting games could go with next generation gaming. So I ask the PixlBit and (whatever is left of) 1UP communities, what do you want to see fighting games go with the next generation of fighters? For me personality I have a few things....

For starters, STOP MAKING EVERY FIGHTING GAME LIKE MARVEL VS CAPCOM!

I love the Marvel Vs. Capcom series. There games near and dear to my heart. I'm no good at them but they are fun and wonderful games. With that being said...every fighting needs to stop putting MVC mechanics or trying to be big and crazy like MVC. Street Fighter 4 has MVC mechanics, Skull Girls acts like an old school version of MVC, and Tekken Tag Tournament 2 emphasis MVC-ish long combos. I love all of those game but can we really stop looking towards MVC like its a god among men (oh that reminds me, add Injustice up to that list too) and try different styles of game play. Please?

More Customization

It always seems weird at how rigid fighting games are when it comes to customization with them. I am not just talking about colors or alternate costumes. I am talking about designing your own look with your fighters from the ground up. That's part of the reason why I love and still play Soul Calibur V. Flaws and all, its probably one of the most open customization suites I've seen in a fighting game this generation. If I want to make a ninja with blonde hair one day, I can. If I want to make Dio from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, I can. Its goofy touches like that can really keep people interested for a long time. Even customization moves and game play would be really interesting to see done in next generation fighting games. While its exceptional was poorly handled, the theory behind Street Fighter X Tekken's gem customization is really intriguing. I would love to see it designed much better and without as many micro-transactions. Speaking about design...

Better Designed Characters

It's 2013. We have to stop pulling out the same designs, the same stereotypes, and the archetypes like its the 90's. We don't need to always over sexualize everything or worst do the “edgy” look. Fighting games don't have to look like any particular thing but we need to have more unique looks to them. In other words....

We Need More New Ips

It's been nearly five years since Street Fighter 4 was release at arcades again, and while that helped to bolster another boom, most of the bulk of it has been existing games. We need something new, not reboots either. Something actually new, whether its from big developers or small indie teams like Lab Zero with Skull Girls. Something different that actually shakes up the establishments and causes people to take notice. I guess that's why EVO has its Indie Showcase.

Well that's what I can think of. What about you? See you all tomarrow.

Cary Woodham

07/11/2013 at 05:56 AM

I just don't want fighters to be too hard. Customization is pretty cool, too.

Vice's Assistant

07/11/2013 at 11:05 PM

Some fighters are trying to do that. Ever heard of Divekick? It's a parody fighitng game that litterally features just two buttons: Jump and Divekick. One kick, and its over. It's silly but retains alot of the competive edge of most fighters. You should check it out.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

07/11/2013 at 08:48 AM

I want a fighter with realistic looking fighters, like the early Mortal Kombats.

07/11/2013 at 11:26 PM

Realism is definately possible with next gen graphics but also for the right game too. I kind of would like to see a realistic looking Street Fighter.

Chris Yarger Community Manager

07/11/2013 at 10:25 AM

I've never really been much of a Fighting Game fan. I think I could start getting into them though if the environments were more interactive though, such as smashing another character through a table or something along those lines perhaps!

07/11/2013 at 11:30 PM

Injustice definately has that down. If you haven't try it yet, you should. Its enviromental actions are really fun.

BrokenH

07/11/2013 at 10:37 AM

I dunno, I always liked how fighters over sexualized female characters and made male characters look edgy & cool. But maybe I'm just a "caveman fearing progressive thinking". Or rather, I don't mind 1 or 2 delightfully slutty female characters "if" the rest of them show more variety. For example, Mai is the lovable bouncy sexy ditz in King Of Fighters but if every female character was just like Mai it would be kind of awkward. It's good tom-boy mercenary Leona, candy obsessed ice queen Kula Diamond,pop star Athena, and the sharply dressed King balance out the female cast.

Overall the gameplay is more important than the visual style because let's face it, without buttery smooth controls and complex yet easy to jump into mechanics most new fighters tank.

Beyond that, fighters are trying what I want them to. Aka, environments constantly get more interactive and most fighters reserve a beefy story mode for character friendships,romances, & rivalries. (Even if it comes off as cheesy sometimes but that's partly why fighters appeal to me too. Aka, they're so over the top!)

07/11/2013 at 11:39 PM

No, I don't think you're bad Ben and I'm sorry if I'm sounded white knight-ish. However, the idea to me just really tired beyond just hurtful. I kind of feel hyprocritcal that I said that and used that Skullgirls picture. You can design characters and make the look attractive without showing T and A. SNK has done a good job with that for years. Heck,, earily on Mai was designed with far less skin showing and still looked good. Again, I'm sorry if I sounded pushy.

I agree with the controls too. With the new fancy controllers that the next gen consoles with have, hopefully controls with be much more precise. I'm a pad player on fightng games so maybe that might help me not suck so much.

PixlBit