Ever wondered when the PlayStation 3 version of Virtua Fighter 5 will get some love from Sega? This issue has been brewing for some months already and culminated after the developers recently launched a patch for the Xbox 360 build of the game.

Quite unfortunately, Sega's response to the inquiry is not favorable for Sony PS3 owners. Check out the full details after the jump!

Sometimes simple explanations work best. That much we reaffirmed when we heard Sega's reason why Virtua Fighter 5 for the Sony PlayStation 3 has no online play, while its yet to be released Microsoft Xbox 360 counterpart has the juicy feature.

Kotaku was able to talk to Sega's Tohru Murayama and Noriyuki Shimoda and they explained that time constraints had the PS3 version trading off online play for an early launch.

"Well, the PlayStation 3 version was developed first so the online was missed, but because the 360 version came later we could add that feature," says Shimoda.

Murayama was then queried on whether a future download could add the feature to the PS3 version, but the idea was quickly negated. "If we wanted to, we'd think about it, but the point with the PlayStation 3 version was to release the game as close to the console's release as possible. So we have no plans for that," concludes the Japanese game maker.

With today's market inundated with fighters that sport everything from weapon-based combat to one-hit kills, it's certainly good to go back to the basics and experience armchair pugilism in its purest form - and there's no better title to give you that experience than Sega's Virtua Fighter 5 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. We see all that and more in this gameplay video update, starring four of the more popular fighters in this beat-em-up series that revolutionized fighting in the third dimension as we know it.

In these videos, we see two separate bouts - Jacky facing off with Shun Di, and Wolf duking it out with El Blaze. The environments look fantastic, the lighting blindingly realistic - and the action is as painful and well-animated as ever. One thing yours truly likes about this next-gen iteration is that it keeps to the root material - in-your-face martial arts, cringe-worthy impact sound effects, and the ability to give your downed opponent the what-for with a sneaky jump attack.

Enough spoilers from us, enjoy the Virtua Fighter 5 videos! Ready, FIGHT!

The other video after the jump!

PlayStation 3 owners who picked up a copy of Sega AM2's Virtua Fighter 5 (Xbox360, Arcade) may have noticed a lack of online multiplayer features for the game. This is unfortunate, considering those who want to test their fighting skills against other players.

AM2's Assistant Manager Tohru Murayama was interviewed by 1UP at the last GC, where he let slip that online play play may be possible through a patch. He also explained why online play wasn't implemented in the game at its release:

In the case of PlayStation 3, our first priority was to convert Virtua Fighter 5 from the arcade onto [the PS3] as soon as possible. To achieve that purpose we had to give up the development of the online mode - we'd love to try if there was time and the budget but unfortunately, we had to give up on that idea.AM2 are sorry to PS3 users - a lot of people say that it is one of the missing things from the version.

Remember that it wasn't announced that a patch is forthcoming. It was only confirmed that it is possible to do so. Hopefully, Sega AM2 is a research and development team for the video game company Sega">Sega AM2 will decide to release a patch if the community shows enough interest in this.

 

Fighting games have seen their heyday in the early 90's to the early goings of the 21st century. Since then, however, the genre has taken a back seat with only a handful of franchises acting as surviving torch-bearers. Pundits have predicted that the next console cycle may be bleaker for beat-em-ups but Sega's Virtua Fighter 5 has something to say about that.

The Virtua Fighter franchise has been in the business almost as long as 3D graphics have been in use for gaming. Along with Tekken in the mid-90's, the first Virtua Fighter was the showroom baby of polygon fighters. It's interesting to see then how Sega is coping with the changing times and evolving a series with a massive following worldwide.

Find out what we think of this latest iteration right after the jump!

Virtua Fighter enthusiasts know why the PlayStation 3 version of the video game Virtua Fighter 5 lacked online gameplay: lag problems hamper Virtua Fighter's combat system. An interview with Sega's Scott Steinberg though revealed another reason for the dismal lack of online fun.

According to Steinberg, Sega wanted to release the Virtua Fighter 5 PS3 SKU within the PS3's launch window, leaving out the online multiplayer that the Xbox 360 version enjoyed.

Certainly not a delightful news for PlayStation 3 owners. When asked why the Xbox 360 got the online multiplayer option despite the lag problems that also plagued the PS3 SKU, Steinberg said that AM2 - also known as Sega Amusement Machine Research and Development Department 2 - felt that they can do online gaming with the 360, and managed to come up with online multiplayer with almost unnoticeable lag. He continued:

I think they felt like, "hey, let’s surprise the world" (referring to AM2). That’s how it all kind of came down, so it was one of those great, just serendipitous kinds of moments where it happened and we weren’t expecting it.

So there you have it, the skinny on why Virtua Fighter 5 for the PlayStation 3 didn't have online multiplayer according to Steinberg himself, but he didn't close the interview with this.

Click on the Full Article link to find out what else Sega's planning.

Hard-hitting beat-em-up action in a blistering pace headed for you in this E3 gameplay montage of Virtua Fighter 5 for the PS3 and Xbox 360. We get you the latest on Sega's next-gen iteration to their legendary fighting title.

In this video, we see various characters throwing down on their opponents, and it's to note that the movesets are as varied and as smooth as they always were. From the utilitarian hip toss to the flamboyant flipkick, everything is animated to the last detail - right up to the minute of impact.

But it's not just the moves that look good. Looking at the video, it's obvious that Sega's upped the bar in terms of fighter costumes. From the grain of silk to the shine of leather, the fabrics that make up the gear of Virtua Fighter's roster are distinguishable from each other - and almost indistinguishable from the real thing.

Certainly a very good-looking beat-em-up from Sega. Updates as we get them, and enjoy the video!

Buy: [Virtua Fighter 5 (PS3)]
Buy: [Virtua Fighter 5 (Xbox 360)]

Sega has really gone through a lot with their Virtua Fighter franchise. Especially since the recent PS3-cross-over-to-360, are they still even keeping track of their roots? Here's Games Radar's exclusive interview with developers Tohru Murayama and Yoshihiro Tsuzuku about Virtua Fighter 5 to answer just that.

The video interview starts by talking about delivering the PS3 version to the Microsoft market with its own Xbox 360 version. They actually had to beg the company to go ahead with expanding to other next-gens. And since the Xbox 360 already had Dead or Alive stacked as its best fighting game, what chance did Sega have to break into that market? Face it, DoA is BIG... in a lot of aspects.

Compared Virtua Fighter to DoA though, it was explained to be a difference between your approach on developing the fighting game. DoA was said to be more a character-driven. In light of this, they spring-boarded onto the Virtua Fighter franchise as a whole and what its philosophy is. The answer: game balance. This is something that they've studiously kept throughout the whole series, no matter what the platform. In fact, since VF games would come out in their arcade version first, their goal was to bring some arcade loving into your living room.

Check out the full interview behind the Read link below!

It's just a couple of more days to go before our European friends finally, finally get their hands on their own PlayStation 3s (PS3). So, Europe, have you finally made up your mind as to which titles to get on launch day? If haven't quite decided yet, then this Sega announcement might be of help. Sega Europe Ltd. has just confirmed that it will be providing five different titles on launch day that should satisfy every type of gamer out there. Marketing Director Gary Knight remarked that they are, "thrilled to have one of the strongest lineups for the launch of the PS3 in Europe".

To help you decide, here's the five Sega titles, including brief descriptions and summaries, that will be available on launch day. Some of you may already be familiar with these, but in case you're not, then read on:

• Virtua Tennis 3: New World Tour Mode includes the unique Tennis Academy; Two classic mini games and ten brand new mini games; Total character customization; Four player multiplayer option.
• Sonic The Hedgehog: Enter the peaceful water city of Soleanna which is ruled by the Princess Elise. The tranquility is shattered as Dr. Eggman descends on the city and kidnaps Elise, with an evil agenda to possess the Blue Chaos Emerald and destroy the world.
• Full Auto 2: Battlelines: Customize and race weapon-equipped vehicles; Fully destructible urban environments; Car combat and calculated destruction; New specifically designed multiplayer Arena Mode.
• World Snooker Championship 2007: 104 of the World's best snooker players; Ten official tournaments modelled for the 2007 season; Comprehensive pool experience where you can play 9 and 8-ball competitions.
• Virtua Fighter 5: Two brand new characters El Blaze and Eileen; Players will also be able to customize the outfits of their ultimate warrior; A range of breathtaking environments.

The PlayStation 3 installment of Virtua Fighter 5 is already up and about (and an Xbox 360 versio is coming out later on this year), and Sega team AM2 developer Tohru Murayama once again decided to lend his two cents on the team's experience developing VF5's PS3 release.

Versus Mode versus Arcade Mode. The topic of the day was the seemingly mundane Versus Mode and the atmosphere the developers intended to set for it. We say mundane in the good sense of a relaxed environment; Murayama explained its difference from the similar but faster-paced Arcade mode, which literally lets players just jump into the action.

"If you just want a quick fight, this mode [Versus Mode] would not be necessary as you can break a fight in Arcade Mode and simply jump in. The concept here is to let you fight comfortably. That's it. This is really what Versus mode is all about."

Versus Mode: relaxing and fun game environment. Going further into his commentary, Murayama further noted that VF5's Versus Mode was something he and the rest of the developers decided to give a relaxing, fun environment that tried not to put too much pressure for guys already in the heat of battle.

"Had we been seen by others, though, it would have looked like we were just sitting around and having a lot of fun," as Murayama detailed the experience of running the game through the Versus Mode alongside AM2's other devs.

Yes, some guys may gripe that this seems a bit on the mundane side. That's developers for you - even minor details such as one game mode (or the more urgent multiplayer) just have to be repeatedly tweaked and "tested" (AM2 apparently enjoyed that part) just to ensure that you guys who are about to receive the game enjoy it as much as they did.

And on a parting note, fighting game aficionados may appreciate this detail on VF5 Versus Mode's relaxing atmosphere: it definitely balances out the otherwise stressful environment we experience when we go head-to-head per match, which results in cooler heads (less expletives), and smoother moves on our part.