Def Jam Vendetta 2 Confirmed by EA!!

[The Duggler]

From ign.com

July 24, 2003 - Electronic Arts yesterday revealed in financial statements and through analyst conversations two major revelations for console and online gamers, IGN learned from UBS Analyst Mike Wallace.

The world's leading third-party publisher is in the works with a sequel to Def Jam Vendetta, due March 2004 (presumably for PS2, Xbox and GameCube), and has plans to implement an experimental pay-for-play tournaments for NBA Live 2004 as well as to enable consumers to pay for downloadable content for EA Sports and EA Games titles.

EA placed emphasis that it's in a testing/learning phase with its online titles. And that it has yet to form long-term concrete plans on how, or if, it can make a profit online in this console cycle.

Following up on its first financial statement, EA beat analysts' odds with a profitable Q1. Its lead titles were The Sims Superstar (PC), which sold 1.5 million units, NBA Street 2, which sold 1.4 million units (on PS2, Xbox and GC), and Def Jam Vendetta (on PS2 and GC alone), which sold nearly 1 million units, a fantastic debut for an original non-WWE title.

Additionally, two previously unannounced games, Skate or Die, possibly a sequel to Street Skater 2, and Supercar GT, were both cancelled.



I'm so happy! http://www.rajahwwf.com/forum/images/smilies/headbang.gif

[nWoCHRISnWo]

Maybe this time it'll improve on it's previous game unlike how Def Jam was dissapointing compared to No Mercy.

[TheGame]

Three letters, C-A-W... and it better be damn good.

[Joeiss]

Three letters, C-A-W... and it better be damn good.


I don't think there will be a C-A-W... But there will be a C-A-G... Create a Gangsta! hahahah



:shakehead

[The Duggler]

http://www.gamespot.com/gamecube/action/defjamvendetta2/index.html

Here's the first screens. It's looking good, even tough I don't like the way it's taking by bastardizing AKI's engine even more, but it should be good nonetheless.

[Dark Samurai]

Cool, another game that I can wail on my friends at.

[Perfect Stu]

this should be good. I hope they give it the SSX-treatment...(high production values, really polish it out well, etc.)

[The Duggler]

There's an Q & A interview on gamespot revealing some interresting stuff:

The good: (based on my opinion)

This year we have created a completely unique and original create-a-player system that ties directly into the story of the game. No one has ever done create-a-player this way, and I'm sure people are going to think it's very cool.

The main modes are story mode (single-player), battle mode (multiplayer), and online for PS2.

So, we implemented a lot of secondary strategic elements, like interactive crowds, environmental hazards, and the ability to use the world as your weapon. Everything in our gamespace serves an interactive purpose--if you see something, then you can use it to fight with.

We break the fighting styles down into five basic classes: martial artist, streetfighter, submissions, kickboxer, and wrestler. Within each of these basic classes there are many substyles, so a martial artist may use karate, capoeira, tae kwon do, etc.

And of course, we've got a ton of new match types with varied objectives in this year's game

GS: How are the graphics being improved in this year's game?

JH: By leaps and bounds--over twice the detail at four times the resolution. We have a ton of visual effects that have been specifically designed to complement the characters and action. Hair flows naturally, both blood and sweat spray on big attacks, jewelry "blings" as it catches the light, and every location in the game comes to life with all the little details you'd expect.


The bad:

Both AKI and EAC wanted to create a fighting system that was revolutionary rather than evolutionary

The first thing we did was to simplify the controls to make them more intuitive.

The overall focus of the fighting system is fun, over-the-top action rather than a simulation of technical fighting.

And some new screen shots (The ugly... ;) (Canyarion))

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/reviews/920170_20040415_screen001.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/reviews/920170_20040415_screen002.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/reviews/920170_20040415_screen003.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/reviews/920170_20040415_screen004.jpg

[TheGame]

I hope it still plays like an Aki wrestling game, if not the series should fall off.

[The Duggler]

I hope it still plays like an Aki wrestling game, if not the series should fall off. You're right. It's like they don't even understand that's it's the AKI engine that made that game popular.

Def Jam rappers, yhea right!

[Acebot44]

As long as I can play as Xzibit, I'm happy :cool:

[Jonbo298]

Please video game makers, kill the current trend. We DO NOT need rapper based games. NBA "ballerz" is just sad. Whats next? Tennis 2k'z5er's?!

[Acebot44]

Ballerz has nothing to do with rappers other than the music. You play at basketball stars' houses, not rappers houses.........although Shaq and Webber have rapped before >_>.

[Jonbo298]

I could've sworn rappers are in the game. The cover says it all.

But then again, I dont need to follow any games that feel the need to "rapperize" the name of the game.

[The Duggler]

Well I've been playing the game for a week now, and I have to say that I'm very impressed. Yes it's even further from the wreslting simulation that was No Mercy, but I think the game is still awesome, just in a different way. You still have that good old AKI feel to it.