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Fight Night Round 4 getting free control scheme update, DLC

by JC Fletcher { Jul 8th 2009 at 9:15AM }

EA is really doing it: the company has announced that it will release DLC for Fight Night Round 4 "by early September," adding the face button control scheme from previous Fight Night games. However, we are happy to report that the company showed that it has some sense, and is releasing this update for free. And just like that, something that would have been a disgusting business practice becomes friendly fan service.

Before that, "by early August," according to EA, a DLC pack will be released containing "a new training gym, new gameplay sliders, as well as a host of new equipment that can be used for outfitting boxers." An alternate, Pizza Hut-sponsored version of Sugar Ray Leonard will also be available in the Xbox game. All of this will also be free.

[Thanks, Mr. Pants]

Fight Night Round 4 might get button mapping via DLC

by Griffin McElroy { Jun 28th 2009 at 8:00PM }

Okay, we're going to have to step very lightly here to avoid inciting a full-on boycott/panic/riot. A subtle piece of information slipped under the radar during a mid-June IGN interview with Fight Night Round 4's producers. The tidbit came in response to a query which asked whether the game would allow face button punching controls (it doesn't) -- a query which producer Brian Hayes answered with, "there is no option for face button punching in the final version, but we are investigating providing the option via DLC."

Now, we're somewhat confused as to why the button-mapping options featured in previous Fight Night titles aren't already present in the most recent iteration of the sweetly scientific sim -- not everyone appreciates the stick-based punching control scheme. More importantly, if the folks at EA Sports are thinking about charging for this option -- and we're not saying they definitely are -- then they are high on pot.

We've contacted EA Sports to find out what the deal is.

[Via Evil Avatar]

Down for the count: Players report Fight Night Round 4 glitch

by David Hinkle { Jun 25th 2009 at 3:30PM }

According to Team Xbox, there's a nasty glitch bogging down players in Fight Night Round 4. This glitch causes the game to suddenly freeze, forcing players to actually get up and turn off their Xbox consoles. Wait, get up? That's crazy talk!

Supposedly, this is an issue tied to certain files and the HDD, though there isn't any explanation beyond that. And what makes this so surprising is that the game's demo had a few glitches, including a freezing glitch just like this one. We've put in word to EA to get to the bottom of this issue and will be sure to get back to you with what we find.

Fight Night 4 enters the ring June 25th

by Mike Schramm { Jun 1st 2009 at 5:48PM }

EA's fourth iteration of the Fight Night series not only looks better than it ever has, but it's coming very soon to a store near you. EA tells us at their press conference in LA that the game will drop June 25th on the 360 and PS3 -- five days sooner than we expected it.

So get the gloves on and taped up and make sure that mouthpiece is in nice and secure. You've got about three weeks to get down to fighting weight.

Face meet fist: more Fight Night media to knock you out

by Majed Athab { May 22nd 2009 at 5:45PM }

Click for jaw-shattering size

We honestly can't decide which is uglier: Ricky Hatton's mangled face in real life, or his rearranged digital visage after a few pummels. See, that's Hatton's incredibly life-like render in EA's Fight Night Round 4 right there, pictured to the left getting his jaw jammed out like a typewriter carriage.

Although you can't see the swift movement that went into that jab, Fight Night's dev team says you'll certainly feel it once you've finally got the controller in your hands. Believe the hype? Check out the video after the break to see some of the improvements made to Round 4 and decide for yourself.

Gallery: Fight Night Round 4 (5/22/09)

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Authentic pink sweatshirts for Nintendo World Store Punch-Out!! pugilists

by JC Fletcher { May 14th 2009 at 5:00PM }

If you're in the New York City area and happen to be a Punch-Out!! fan, but, for some reason, weren't planning to attend the launch event at the Nintendo World Store, perhaps some... swag would change your mind.

An unspecified number of participants in the Punch-Out!! Challenge will receive some of these awesome pink sweatshirts, just like the one Little Mac wears while training! Except that they have Punch-Out!! logos on them, which would be really weird and meta on Little Mac. In fact, now that we think about it, if you just bought a pink sweatshirt elsewhere, it would be more authentic.

It wouldn't, however, be nearly as rare: the sweatshirts won't be made available for sale, according to the Punch-Out!! Twitter account. They'll only be available at this event. Speaking of exclusive swag, you can get a free poster if you purchase the game at Target.

Gallery: Punch-Out!!

[Via GoNintendo]

Fight Night Round 4 demo tied to pre-order in UK

by Justin McElroy { May 11th 2009 at 9:00PM }

Those who pre-order Fight Night Round 4 at UK retailer GameStation will get to bone up on the sweet science a bit early when they're exclusively admitted to the demo on May 14. We're not sure when commoners will get their hands on it, but the game launches in the UK on Xbox 360 and PS3 on June 26, so let's hope it's before that.

What we don't know is if a similar program will be implemented stateside. Last we heard the demo was due in mid-May, but now we're unsure if that means with or without a pre-order. We've put a line in to EA and will let you know what we hear.

See some new Punch-Out!! boxers if you want to

by JC Fletcher { May 11th 2009 at 11:25AM }

We don't know how sensitive you guys are about Punch-Out!! spoilers. The game doesn't really have a story that you don't already know (Little Mac punches guys out), but we've been wrong before about what you would consider spoilers, and GoNintendo was spoiler-conscious in its link to this French trailer, so we're going to be judicious.

After the break, we've embedded the trailer, which contains new footage of the new Punch-Out!! Some guys appear in it that haven't appeared in videos for this game yet. They are from old Punch-Out!! games. You can look if you want to, or don't look if you'd prefer to be surprised by the identity of the boxers you meet.

Gallery: Punch-Out!!

[Via GoNintendo]

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Little Mac trains, Doc Louis eats in latest Punch-Out!! commercial

by Griffin McElroy { May 10th 2009 at 2:30PM }

We all know that boxing is a rather physically demanding sport -- but rarely does anyone acknowledge the emotional toll it takes on participating pugilists. Take poor little Little Mac, former W.V.B.A. champ, whose remarkable achievements in the ring crumbled beneath the tremendous girth of King Hippo, setting the miniature boxer on a downward spiral that he wouldn't escape for 15 years.

Now, with a little over a week between us and Little Mac's ringside return in Punch-Out!! for the Wii, he's getting back in shape with a bit of help from his bike riding den mother, Doc Louis. You can catch a short documentary/commercial (documercial?) about the rise and fall of Mac after the break. It's pretty funny! But also pretty tragic. (But mostly funny.)

Continued →

Joystiq hands-on: Fight Night Round 4

by Kevin Kelly { May 8th 2009 at 1:00PM }

It's a rare thing these days for us to get sucked in by just watching people play a game, but we did just that for 12 rounds of Fight Night Round 4 yesterday as two EA employees whaled on each other (don't worry, it's in the game). We were so enthralled by the visuals and motion that we nearly missed them offering us the chance to play ... nearly.

The next bout was between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier -- of course, we went with Ali. He's the greatest, you know. Read on to find out how the match went and how Fight Night Round 4 beats its pugilistic predecessor.

Gallery: Fight Night Round 4

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Fight Night Round 4 trailer looks at the styles behind The Sweet Science

by David Hinkle { May 6th 2009 at 4:50PM }

EA Sports keeps the trailer train running with the latest look at Fight Night Round 4. In the trailer above, producer Brian Hayes takes us through the many styles available in the game's fourth installment, as well as how a boxer effectively employs each style in the ring. Hayes points out the lack of variety in Fight Night Round 3, making sure to show how improved this is in the new game, and based on the footage above, we'd say that EA has improved upon its predecessor by leaps and bounds ... and maybe an uppercut or two.

Fight Night Round 4 roster features 50 faces to rearrange

by Randy Nelson { May 4th 2009 at 6:05PM }

As revealed on the EA Sports forums, the latest issue of PlayStation: The Official Magazine spills the ~~beans~~ er, whatever's in a punching bag on the complete roster of fighters that will be featured in Fight Night Round 4. The list is comprised of 50 pugilists in total, with the magazine commenting that more could potentially be added via DLC.

Wait a second ... no Burger King? As much as it saddens us, he's not on the complete roster, which you'll find conveniently situated after the break.

[Via XboxInsider]

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Ricky Hatton puts his dukes up in new Fight Night Round 4 screens

by David Hinkle { Apr 27th 2009 at 4:30PM }

Click image to pummel your eyes with screenshots

Some fresh screens from Fight Night Round 4 have made their way into the ring and, as one might expect, they're chock full of punching dudes (and a few dudes getting punched). Based on everything we've seen so far, we'd say Fight Night Round 4 has a real shot at the title, through a combination of some solid physics and the controls established in previous entries (though, there's always room for improvement). We'll find out if it's the real deal this summer, when it releases on the Xbox 360 and PS3.

In the meanwhile, bob and weave your way into our gallery below to check out the new shots.

Gallery: Fight Night Round 4 (4/27/09)

Fight Night Round 4 demo coming mid-May, recreates Pacquiao vs. Hatton fight

by Griffin McElroy { Apr 17th 2009 at 5:30PM }

Our knowledge of The Sweet Science is comparable to our comprehension of high velocity particle collision and basic algebra -- that is to say, it is limited. However, we're certain that the announcement on last night's episode of GameTrailers TV that the Fight Night Round 4 demo (set to launch sometime mid-May) will recreate the blockbuster May 2 match between Ricky Hatton and Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao is good news indeed.

Why are we so sure? Well, based off of what we've gleaned from the five minutes of Googling we've just performed, the Hatton vs. Pacquiano fight is promised to contain no small amount of punching. We're pretty sure that'll translate really well into a punching-centric gaming experience.

[Thanks, Tim!]

Video: Physics at work in Fight Night Round 4

by David Hinkle { Apr 13th 2009 at 6:00PM }

A new video for Fight Night Round 4 is available for your viewing pleasure. In it, producer Brian Hayes talks about what changes players can expect from Round 3 to Round 4 with respect to the game's physics. He explains that in the first game, there was an invisible wall keeping the two boxers separated, which is not the case in Round 4. The next installment will feature improved collision detection and less clipping, which is something Hayes hopes allows for more realistic punching people in the face and/or body.

If you're not content with the video, punch your way into our gallery below, which is full of new screens.