In an extremely surprising move, news came out today that Sumner Redstone, whose National Amusements, Inc. owned 87% of Midway Games's stock, has sold all of its stock to a private investor named Mark Thomas for $100,000 USD. The move comes as Redstone is looking to pay off $1.6 billion USD in debt; according to the Wall Street Journal, this sale would secure a hefty tax benefit.
In addition, the Los Angeles Times is reporting a bit more information, in that the sale may not be as much of a steal as it seems. The company is valued at $30.4 million USD (with shares at $0.33 USD), but currently has well over $150 million USD in outstanding loans, not to mention the $70 million USD loan from National Amusements that is now owed to Thomas. With the company losing money this past quarter and Thomas reportedly being only a passive investor (with no plans of sitting on Midway's board of directors or engaging in management decisions), the LA Times could very well be right that Thomas may be looking to divide and sell the company and hope to make a profit by the end of the day. However, this is only speculation; Mark Thomas has only released scant information on his plans through the attorney arranging the purchase, and is not granting interviews.
We'll keep an eye on this story. As we learn more, we'll report it here.
To read the Wall Street Journal's announcement of the sale, click here. To read the LA Times analysis of the purchase, click here.
Midway has released the final installment from its Mortal Monday series of trailers from Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe! This trailer, entited "Beginnings", shows the events leading up to the merger of the two worlds. In the DC universe, Superman is seen confronting Darkseid, while in the MK universe, Raiden is seen confronting Shao Kahn. When the conquerers attempt to escape (Darkseid through a boom tube, and Kahn through a portal), both Superman and Raiden attempt to stop them, ignorant of what their actions will soon unleash...
Both IGN and OXM have placed each of their respective reviews for Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe on their websites. First, from the IGN review:
However, before we get to the modes this game offers, talking about the fighting system MK vs. DC employs is probably a good idea. When things were 2D on your SEGA Genesis and Super Nintendo, Mortal Kombat was simple: up was jump, down was crouch, and left/right moved you left/right. Being an awesome fighter came down to timing your blocks and moves while dodging ranged attacks the best that you could with your limited movement options. However, when MK made the move to the 3D realm, things got sticky. Suddenly, characters could just walk deeper into the plane and watch Liu Kang's fireballs float past them harmlessly. Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe blends both of these styles with a varied amount of success.
In the end, a casual fan sucked in by the allure of DC characters will polish off the six-hour story and maybe a few arcade trees before becoming frustrated by their inability to progress through Kombo Challenge and the mode's repetitive nature in general. The characters look good, but there are clipping issues with capes and whips while some of the backgrounds look weak. Meanwhile, hardcore Mortal Kombat fans are going to be saddened by the fact that a lot of the moves look like the ones they've seen before and that Fatalities/Brutalities -- the focal point of any MK game -- have been neutered.
And from the OXM review:
It’s therefore a relief that Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe has the best pure fighting action of any MK game since Mortal Kombat 3. Gone are the weapons and alternate fighting styles introduced in MK: Deadly Alliance — MK vs. DC Universe goes back to the fighting series’ roots with straightforward kombat, few frills, and well-balanced characters. The absence of M-rated gore is barely noticeable, as the MK cast and DC supervillains can still pull off toned-down Fatalities, while DC heroes can perform “Heroic Brutalities,” most of which still seem pretty fatal, which is what we’d call it when Superman pounds his opponent into the ground like a railroad spike with his fists.
Powered by the Unreal engine, the visuals are excellent. Character models like Jax and Liu Kang border on lifelike, while The Joker and Captain Marvel from DC are realistically stylized. But fans of the last few MK games may be put off by the dearth of extras in MKvsDCU: there are no unlockable costumes or arenas, no mini-games, and only 22 playable characters (including two unlockable bosses) — about a third as many as MK: Armageddon hosted. Online play over Live will enhance this game’s replayability, but a little more content would’ve made it an epic crossover.
Each review covers a fair bit of ground, in the end IGN cites the game as slightly above mediocre, pointing out several flaws in several categories. OXM's review is a bit more positive, with their biggest gripe being the lack of unlockable features.
To read IGN's review, click here. To read OXM's review, click here. As more reviews from reputable sites become available, we will be sure to make them known here.
The day has finally arrived. Midway issued a press release this morning announcing that Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe has been officially released to stores, and should be available now for purchase! From the press release:
CHICAGO --November 16, 2008 -- Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY), a leading interactive entertainment publisher and developer, today announced that Mortal Kombat® vs. DC Universe has arrived on store shelves throughout North America and is available for purchase for the Xbox®360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. The standard edition is available for a U.S. suggested retail price of $59.95, and the Kollector’s Edition is available for a U.S. suggested retail price of $69.95. Cultural icons collide for gamers and comic book fans alike as the eagerly anticipated face-off between heroes, anti-heroes, villains and vigilantes is unleashed in unmistakable Mortal Kombat style.
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“Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe brings together iconic characters from both the DC Comics’ and Mortal Kombat videogame universes to give gamers the opportunity to take part in extraordinary battles,” said Scott Johnson, vice president, business development, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “Working with Midway, we are allowing fans to control the destiny of famous heroes and villains with enhanced graphics and combat.”
“Midway is proud to have been able to work so closely with the artists and visionaries at DC Comics to bring you a unique fighting experience that stays true to the hallmarks of the Mortal Kombat franchise,” said Matt Booty, president and CEO, Midway. “With the broad market potential afforded by the T-Rating, the engaging story mode, the critical acclaim we are already seeing from reviewers, and enthusiastic support of the fans from both franchises, we expect this to be one of our most successful Mortal Kombat games.”
Although this is the first Mortal Kombat title to be given a “T” rating by the ESRB, the game embodies all the qualities that made the franchise such an integral part of gaming culture, including the ability to perform the unique Fatalities and Heroic Brutalities that are a signature of the Mortal Kombat series. The title also features a re-vamped fighting system that harkens back to the wildly successful early Mortal Kombat games.
Although the game has been out for sale at several locations prior to now, today is the official "in-stores" date set by Midway. It should be available for sale at all major video game stores. We at MK Online would like to congratulate the MK development team for getting this game out to stores!
Be sure to see Murdoink's guide to the game, located here.
To read the press release in its entirety, click here.
