The whispers didn't lie. Capcom is really planning on releasing the latest videogame sequel based on the Street Fighter fighting franchise on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Windows. And they officially say so on ink and paper. Capcom's game facts unravel for Street Fighter 4 at the full story.

It's interesting when a classic fighting series gets some new characters to mix it up with the old cast. Now that Crimson Viper and Abel have made their appearance in Capcom's Street Fighter 4, it's time for El Fuerte to make his. Who is El Fuerte, you may ask? Find out in the full article after the jump.

Sega's team AM2 had a couple of things to say about Virtua Fighter 5 and we're hearing them loud and clear, especially this warning: "Believe me, if you came up against a player who was very well skilled with the new offensive moves, trying to play like  the old way would result in a great many losses."

The Xbox 360 version of the game is still due to launch summer this year, and if you haven't gotten the game yet on its Playstation 3 release last February 20, then the above is a sound tip indeed.

Apart from making brand new offensive moves that do not work like they do in VF4, the makers tried hard to balance the new characters' fighting styles with the old lineup. El Blaze's Lucha Libre fighting styles and Eileen's "Kou-Ken" style were play tested by AM2 day after day to achieve balance with the other fighters.

AM2 also believes that character customization will be commonplace in such games as the VF series from now on. Customization in VF5 is a lot of fun, just like earning cash items in the quest mode, although the latter does prove to be a little tough.  AM2 thinks it's better that way because each player has a different sense of worth.

Concerns about downloadable Tekken: Dark Resurrection is nil, with AM2 believing that both Tekken and VF are both dominant products that will penetrate the PS3 market. They also put the Dojo mode in VF believing that the more powerful one becomes, the more one will feel like learning new techniques.

Although AM2 refuses to disclose any info about potential future VF titles, they did leave another advice: if you haven't played the game, buy an HDTV, a PS3 and VF5, and then play until no one can beat you at it. And then after that, fly to Japan and beat everyone there until no one beats you at the game. Only then will you move a step closer to the realm of mastery.

Tohru Murayama, lead Game Designer in the research and development department of AM2 at Sega of Japan, was kind enough to give us an inside look at Virtua Fighter 5 (PS3 and Xbox 360).

There were two teams assigned to the project. The arcade team focused on the technical stuff, like how much damage will a certain attack cause and how to explain Taka's absence and Lucha Libre's debut while the PS3 team worked on content and PS3 features.

According to Murayama, they improved the quest mode by playing Virtua Fighter 4 and trying to pinpoint where they went wrong. In the new installment, players would be able to visit all the arcades from the beginning of the game and not have to work from one arcade to the next by winning championships.

There are seven arcades available. Cabinets were added in the arcades enabling players to choose their opponents. Players can choose who to fight but if a player is defeated, their opponent will be stuck in that particular cabinet. So the way to progress is to - well, duh - beat that particular opponent. The good thing is, you don't have to hunt him down for your revenge. He'll be exactly where you left him.

Well, we can only wait to find out whether this is as good as it sounds until the game comes out next month.

This next fighter hails from the proud country of Mexico. Adept in gymnastics and acrobatics, he uses Lucha Libre to finish off his opponents. His looks might remind you of WWE's Rey Mysterio, his moves reminiscent of Japanese wrestling champion Kenta Kobayashi. Ladies and gentlemen, El Blaze!


Introducing now his opponent: she originally came from China but perfected her craft in the Land of the Rising Sun. Her mentor is no less than her very own grandfather, a former kung fu master. After learning everything she could from him, she added her own techniques and developed Monkey Kung Fu. Please welcome, the lady Eileen!


If you want to know the winner of this match, the gameplay video is available for download below. PS3-only Virtua Fighter 5 is slated for release in the Spring of 2007.

Download: [Virtua Fighter 5: El Blaze VS Eileen]