Maya - Maximilian goes in depth on what we can expect from returning KI2 character

[STORMS]

With Maya being recently revealed at EVO 2014 for Killer Instinct Season 2, Maximilian describes what all we can expect with the newest addition; the next female warrior. Since Maya is from Killer Instinct 2, it's our first indication that we can expect more Killer Instinct 2 characters. Maximilian gives us a run-down of her moves in Killer Instinct 2 and what we may expect in the newest Killer Instinct game.

 

[John Grizzly]

Tusk or GTFO.

But seriously, aside from Kim Wu, there wasn't a character they could have revealed that I'd be less hyped about. I assume they're building toward Cinder and Riptor, which will be the big reveals people will jizz over.

 

[Eldriken]

Tusk or GTFO.

But seriously, aside from Kim Wu, there wasn't a character they could have revealed that I'd be less hyped about. I assume they're building toward Cinder and Riptor, which will be the big reveals people will jizz over.

If Riptor is going to be in the game, I think they should reveal him before Cinder. Save Cinder for last.

 

[Onilordasmodeus]

Tusk or GTFO.

I agree...but Maya is still a good start. If I remember correctly, she isn't/wasn't a huge fan favorite (and neither was Tusk) so the fact that she is even in at all bodes well for the others.

DAHHH!!

 

[John Grizzly]

I agree...but Maya is still a good start. If I remember correctly, she isn't/wasn't a huge fan favorite (and neither was Tusk) so the fact that she is even in at all bodes well for the others.

DAHHH!!

Right, he definitely wasn't a fan favorite, so they can go absolutely nuts with his redesign. With Fulgore, they had to kind of stick to the basic design from the original games because everyone loves him. With Tusk...the possibilities are endless. Really hope he makes it.

 

[RNLDRGN]

Is it their goal to let 2 years pass and let the game nearly die before they have a 12 character roster?

I seriously don't comprehend the rationale behind this slow-rate of roster expansion and updates. I get them pushing this game to be a launch title, but this roster has been handled terribly.

 

[Tony at Home]

Is it their goal to let 2 years pass and let the game nearly die before they have a 12 character roster?

I seriously don't comprehend the rationale behind this slow-rate of roster expansion and updates. I get them pushing this game to be a launch title, but this roster has been handled terribly.

It was due to the studio change, with Amazon buying Double Helix and then Iron Galaxy taking the reigns.

They say it didn't have a massive effect on the development cycle, but it is obvious it has.

 

[RNLDRGN]

It was due to the studio change, with Amazon buying Double Helix and then Iron Galaxy taking the reigns.

They say it didn't have a massive effect on the development cycle, but it is obvious it has.

The game was launched with a cast of 6 and we're almost a year into the release and they've dropped 2 more characters. Fulgore was up for download 6 months after the release and the studio was changed just before that.

I'd say they're only 1-2 months behind their already horribly-planned schedule. They should've never released a next-gen title with only 6 playable characters--doesn't matter how cheap the game is, it comes off like a demo. At this rate, they won't have a roster of 10 until almost 2015. That's ridiculous.

 

[Tony at Home]

The game was launched with a cast of 6 and we're almost a year into the release and they've dropped 2 more characters. Fulgore was up for download 6 months after the release and the studio was changed just before that.

I'd say they're only 1-2 months behind their already horribly-planned schedule. They should've never released a next-gen title with only 6 playable characters--doesn't matter how cheap the game is, it comes off like a demo. At this rate, they won't have a roster of 10 until almost 2015. That's ridiculous.

This game literally would not exist in any other form than a game rushed to release. You can argue that it was sub-par quality as a result, which is fair; but to say they could have reasonably done otherwise given the situation is not fair.

Microsoft got the rights to Killer Instinct by acquiring Rare, so they were the only ones that could bring Killer Instinct back.

They just so happened to have a new console coming out, and they need exclusives to help sell the console. The emergence of the Xbox One was the catalyst that got them to dip into their Intellectual-property vault and release the game.

I guarantee you if they weren't in dire need of creating a decent-sized launch lineup for a newly-released console, they would have left Killer Instinct gathering dust and cobwebs.

 

[Eldriken]

This game literally would not exist in any other form than a game rushed to release. You can argue that it was sub-par quality as a result, which is fair; but to say they could have reasonably done otherwise given the situation is not fair.

Microsoft got the rights to Killer Instinct by acquiring Rare, so they were the only ones that could bring Killer Instinct back.

They just so happened to have a new console coming out, and they need exclusives to help sell the console. The emergence of the Xbox One was the catalyst that got them to dip into their Intellectual-property vault and release the game.

I guarantee you if they weren't in dire need of creating a decent-sized launch lineup for a newly-released console, they would have left Killer Instinct gathering dust and cobwebs.

Agreed, agreed, and agreed.

While I don't agree with the rate at which they're releasing characters (or the size of the initial roster to begin with), at least we have a next-gen Killer Instinct.

 

[RNLDRGN]

This game literally would not exist in any other form than a game rushed to release. You can argue that it was sub-par quality as a result, which is fair; but to say they could have reasonably done otherwise given the situation is not fair.

Microsoft got the rights to Killer Instinct by acquiring Rare, so they were the only ones that could bring Killer Instinct back.

They just so happened to have a new console coming out, and they need exclusives to help sell the console. The emergence of the Xbox One was the catalyst that got them to dip into their Intellectual-property vault and release the game.

I guarantee you if they weren't in dire need of creating a decent-sized launch lineup for a newly-released console, they would have left Killer Instinct gathering dust and cobwebs.

Sure. But we shouldn't lower our standards for games simply because circumstance makes it easy to turn a blind eye to the quality of a release. Microsoft has been developing Xbox One for a LONG time--so pushing a half-completed (albeit, well-executed) game for release is a bad business move and it shortchanges your fanbase. Either delay the console release, or ensure that your developers have a strong and completed title committed for launch. KI will only have 6 characters by November 2013? Don't make it a launch title. There won't be enough good games to support the console at launch? Don't launch the console yet. PS4 is launching and we have to keep up! Don't worry, they have barely any launch titles either.

What if they had release Perfect Dark Xbox One with 4 maps and 5 guns? What if it were a new Diddy Kong Racing (I know it's Nintendo, but it's a Rare franchise with similar nostalgic strength) with 6 cars and 5 tracks? The public would be wholly entitled to be up-in-arms over it.

I completely understand why the game was released and launched as is--but I still think it's worth pointing the finger at Microsoft for shooting themselves in the foot on this game. It's a lot of fun and I'd hate to see it die because people get bored with 6-8 characters after a year. If they really wanted KI to help carry XBox One's release they should've helped Double Helix--or whoever--put the manpower behind development and release characters in larger buckets and much more quickly. It's like they had minimal support on the game, but expected it to help carry the release of the console.

 

[Onilordasmodeus]

@RNLDRGN It truthfully sounds like you are more critiquing MS for their launch decisions surrounding the X1 than judging KI, or the model it was proposed and built on, on its own merits.

KI is a good/great game (both fun to play and watch), and the fact that this is the truth is all that you should judge it for. Sure there are hiccups and what not, but that is all games, and the fact that KI is STILL being supported and developed like the platform it set out to be, is a good thing. Being upset at what it isn't based solely on what you wished/hoped it would be, or what other things are, is ridiculous. I can say unequivocally that if NRS were to allow me to play MKX right now with just the six characters I would be happy. If they were to trickle out characters up until a full retail release next year where only then the story-mode and all else would then be accessible, that would be awesome...even if they were giving me a "half-baked" product that they were building and making better over time.

You're harping on the fact that "it's not done" when in fact NO GAME is "done" on release. You are talking about "standards" and expectations, when the only expectation should have been what the Dev set out to create. Bottom line is if you don't buy the sales pitch, don't buy the product; but honestly, both their sales pitch and product are working out decently for them at the moment.

 

[RNLDRGN]

@RNLDRGN It truthfully sounds like you are more critiquing MS for their launch decisions surrounding the X1 than judging KI, or the model it was proposed and built on, on its own merits.

KI is a good/great game (both fun to play and watch), and the fact that this is the truth is all that you should judge it for. Sure there are hiccups and what not, but that is all games, and the fact that KI is STILL being supported and developed like the platform it set out to be, is a good thing. Being upset at what it isn't based solely on what you wished/hoped it would be, or what other things are, is ridiculous. I can say unequivocally that if NRS were to allow me to play MKX right now with just the six characters I would be happy. If they were to trickle out characters up until a full retail release next year where only then the story-mode and all else would then be accessible, that would be awesome...even if they were giving me a "half-baked" product that they were building and making better over time.

You're harping on the fact that "it's not done" when in fact NO GAME is "done" on release. You are talking about "standards" and expectations, when the only expectation should have been what the Dev set out to create. Bottom line is if you don't buy the sales pitch, don't buy the product; but honestly, both their sales pitch and product are working out decently for them at the moment.

You're right. I am more criticizing MS than KI itself. It just troubles me to see some folks drop this game and worry about interest starting to decline as it's taking forever for anything to be released. It's interesting to think about what a "full" KI on Xbox One would've looked like and the backing it would've received had it had a huge launch and an impressive roster from day one, with more DLC on the way. That's all.

I just think MS made terrible decisions with the launch of this game, but Double Helix definitely made the best of it.

 

[Onilordasmodeus]

@RNLDRGN When you look at things in perspective though, all FGs die out a bit after some time...usually after Evo nowadays. The reason SF4 has been able to survive so strong is because of updates and rereleases, which KI is somewhat copying, and is some ways improving upon.

Look at Injustice and how after release it just took 6 months for it to be deemed "on it's death bed"...until the new patch; and even now (after Evo) there is talk again of the scene dying down a bit. That is just sort of the way these things go.

 

[trufenix]

@RNLDRGN When you look at things in perspective though, all FGs die out a bit after some time...usually after Evo nowadays. The reason SF4 has been able to survive so strong is because of updates and rereleases, which KI is somewhat copying, and is some ways improving upon.

Look at Injustice and how after release it just took 6 months for it to be deemed "on it's death bed"...until the new patch; and even now (after Evo) there is talk again of the scene dying down a bit. That is just sort of the way these things go.

This is false, the death of the fighter isn't directly link to its lack of developer support. It has to do with the quality of the fighter and the depth of the scene. DoA5 has had constant dev support for 2 years including new characters, no one is playing it. Skullgirls, VF, etc. all in the same boat. Tons of support, no players.

3s, MvC2, SMASH, KoFXIII, all lived well beyond their developers end of life not because of EVO, but because of the games were competitively functional and the scene was there.

 

[RNLDRGN]

@RNLDRGN When you look at things in perspective though, all FGs die out a bit after some time...usually after Evo nowadays. The reason SF4 has been able to survive so strong is because of updates and rereleases, which KI is somewhat copying, and is some ways improving upon.

Look at Injustice and how after release it just took 6 months for it to be deemed "on it's death bed"...until the new patch; and even now (after Evo) there is talk again of the scene dying down a bit. That is just sort of the way these things go.

Super Smash Bros Melee would like a word with you. Also, the NRS community is not indicative of the FGC as a whole. The minute a top player tweets something negative, a game "dies".

These are all full, feature-rich games with impressive rosters. If they fail, you can only really blame the community or the depth of the game in-general. If Killer Instinct dies, it will be because of the updates and roster support--not the community or the depth of the gameplay.

 

[Onilordasmodeus]

This is false, the death of the fighter isn't directly link to its lack of developer support. It has to do with the quality of the fighter and the depth of the scene. DoA5 has had constant dev support for 2 years including new characters, no one is playing it. Skullgirls, VF, etc. all in the same boat. Tons of support, no players.

3s, MvC2, SMASH, KoFXIII, all lived well beyond their developers end of life not because of EVO, but because of the games were competitively functional and the scene was there.

It's not false. Though support doesn't make a game popular, it does help to support the community from which that community can grow; especially in this new gen of games. DOA5, Skull Girls, VF, etc., those games don't have the same type of community support (tourney numbers) behind them that other games have (SF, Marvel), and that is just that. Keeping it real, KI is in the same boat as those games as it too is just starring out and at the same time is community building in the process. Whether or not KI blows up and can be a headliner of its own tourney is another matter all together, but I'm sure that as long as there is a collective tourney scene, KI will be fine.

Also, about it being about the "depth" of the community is what keeps a game going, IMO that is a fact of a past era. Many current tournament players don't know about that arcade lifestyle, or at least they have no appreciation for it. It is a scary thing to realize that many players play or quit games depending on the amount of updates and support that game gets.

 

[Onilordasmodeus]

Super Smash Bros Melee would like a word with you. Also, the NRS community is not indicative of the FGC as a whole. The minute a top player tweets something negative, a game "dies".

These are all full, feature-rich games with impressive rosters. If they fail, you can only really blame the community or the depth of the game in-general. If Killer Instinct dies, it will be because of the updates and roster support--not the community or the depth of the gameplay.

Like I pretty much said in my newest post, right now there are essentially (IMO at least) to types of FG players: the pre internet guys, and the post internet guys. Comparing any pre internet FG to SF4 or even KI, both post net FGs, is a moot point as those past games had no expectation of updates or changes. They were what they were, and the players under stood that. Players nowadays have "expectations" and preconceived "standards" that when not met, they bitch.

We'll see how it all shakes out in the coming years. With SF4 most likely getting no more support in the future, do you think it will continue to go up in numbers? Or will it drop off like everything else that has a bit more time on it.

 

[RNLDRGN]

Players nowadays have "expectations" and preconceived "standards" that when not met, they bitch.

This is the worst attitude I can imagine when it comes to this discussion. Everyone should set expectations for products and not purchase them if they don't meet their needs. Anything less is complacency and contentment for mediocrity. This is the same attitude that keeps COD in business--if games aren't up to snuff, the only way we can send a message is not to buy them.

As for SF4 dying, Capcom will most likely release a small patch for Ultra given the handful of technical issues and glitches discovered. Yeah, I can see the game dying out in a year or so, but the game has such a massive roster and the mechanics so deep that it's really tough to say.

 

[Onilordasmodeus]

This is the worst attitude I can imagine when it comes to this discussion. Everyone should set expectations for products and not purchase them if they don't meet their needs. Anything less is complacency and contentment for mediocrity. This is the same attitude that keeps COD in business--if games aren't up to snuff, the only way we can send a message is not to buy them.

You misunderstand me. Bitching about a problem on the Internet, and not buying a product at retail are two different things. The strongest power a consumer has is to vote with their wallet; but at the same time the fastest way to kill a product is to smear it in public.

 

[trufenix]

It's not false. Though support doesn't make a game popular, it does help to support the community from which that community can grow; especially in this new gen of games. DOA5, Skull Girls, VF, etc., those games don't have the same type of community support (tourney numbers) behind them that other games have (SF, Marvel), and that is just that. Keeping it real, KI is in the same boat as those games as it too is just starring out and at the same time is community building in the process. Whether or not KI blows up and can be a headliner of its own tourney is another matter all together, but I'm sure that as long as there is a collective tourney scene, KI will be fine.

Maybe you didn't mean to quote me, you certainly didn't address my reply. Your claim that developer support hinges a games competitive life is false, absolutely 100% proven false. Can it provide a boost? Certainly. But no fighting game to date has been on life support, been suddenly patched and miraculously come back to life. Just ask MikeZ.

The truth of the matter is SkullGirls, DoA, Persona and KI still have hefty developer support but competitively they are dying. Others, like VF5:FS, SFxT, and SCV didn't even last as long as their developers kept at it. Meanwhile, games like Melee, 3s, XIII, Marvel 3, TTT2 and even MK9 have been abandoned by their developers and there are still significant #s hungry to play. This is because they are better competitive games and have better scenes. They are good games people want to play, regardless of how long it was since the last patch.

Also, about it being about the "depth" of the community is what keeps a game going, IMO that is a fact of a past era. Many current tournament players don't know about that arcade lifestyle, or at least they have no appreciation for it. It is a scary thing to realize that many players play or quit games depending on the amount of updates and support that game gets.

I see no evidence to support this logic. I'm not even sure what the logic is. Only arcade players support their scenes without patches? New players won't play non-patched games? I hope you don't honestly believe that. I can tell you there isn't a single scene where player prevalence matches its developer output, save SF4 which has gotten round the clock updates for 6 years now. Almost every other game in play right now hasn't seen a patch or dlc character in almost a year and shows no sign of getting any.