Word has come out that a murder that took place in a northeastern town in Latvia has been linked to the Mortal Kombat game series. A teenager was killed by a group of friends who claim they were imitating moves from the popular fighting game series. From the article:

The five boys, aged 13 to 16, were arrested Sunday by the police of this town of 43,000 inhabitants 120 kilometres (74 miles) north of the capital in connection with the murder which occurred on Saturday, the spokeswoman said.

They explained that "they used techniques borrowed from the video game 'Mortal Combat' in dealing with their victim", the spokeswoman, Kristine Mezaraupa said.

The boys described how they beat up their friend, Marcis, born in 1991, and threw his body in the nearby Gauja river, according to the head of Valmiera police department Juris Andersons.

Later on in the article, psychologist Zaiga Blaua points out, "Videogames could be a catalyst for violent behaviour, alerted by alcohol, but one cannot reduce the real motives of the teen murderers to the influence of video games."

To read the article in its entirety, click here.

Our thanks to forum members DECEPTION and JayboH for the heads-up on this tragic story.

GameSpot has updated with a video review for MK: Deception on the GameCube platform.
Overall, they gave the game a score of 8.3 (Great!) You can check out the video review here (free to stream for everyone, free to download as a GameSpot Basic member). Also be sure and check out their 4 new gameplay footage videos and 17 screenshots, as well!

The guys over at 1UP.COM have also have their review of Mortal Kombat: Deception for the GameCube. From the review:

Naturally, given the GameCube's limited online support, the Cube version of Deception does not have the online play that stood out as the main new feature in the other versions. What it has in return are some changes to the character roster – half of the 12 fighters that were locked away at the start in the other versions are available here from the beginning, and former MK bosses Goro and Shao Kahn are playable exclusively in the GameCube version.

To read the article in its entirety, click here.

The guys over at IGN have now gotten their chance to review the GameCube version of Mortal Kombat: Deception, which just hit most stores yesterday. From the article:

Unfortunately, the GameCube version of Mortal Kombat: Deception has arrived both five months after its PlayStation 2 and Xbox counterparts and without an online version. That's definitely disappointing when you consider that the technology is in place to sustain an online for Nintendo's console. Sega did it years ago with Phantasy Star Online.

The good news, however, is that GameCube owners do at least get a very competent port with a couple of unique exclusives. Not only are all the main modes and Kontent extras perfectly intact, but the GCN build also boasts two new extras sure to please Mortal Kombat fans. Franchise characters Goro and Shao Kahn are unlocked and fully playable from the start. The fighters come to GameCube complete with unique fatalities and Hara Kiris, and they look better than ever thanks to realistic 3D modeling and animation.

To read the article in its entirety, click here. By the way, IGN Insider members get access to more web features, such as their Head-to-Head Comparison, Video Review, and Strategy Guide. Thanks to MK forum forum/chat member Baraka_MK for the tip!

The guys over at GamePro have released Fatalities and Hara Kiris for everyone's favorite two "boss" characters from the GameCube version of Mortal Kombat: Deception: Goro and Shao Kahn. Without spoiling what they are, here you go:

GORO

• Fatality 1: In close, press Left, Left, Right, Right, A
• Fatality 2: In close, press Right, Left, Right, Left, B
• Hara Kiri: Press Up, Right, Right, Left, X

SHAO KAHN

• Fatality 1: Sweep distance, press Down, Up, Up, Right, Y
• Fatality 2: In close, press Left, Right, Down, Right, Y
• Hara Kiri: Press Down, Up, Up, Down, B

More on this story soon! In the meantime, check out their full review of the game here. Thanks to MK Online forum/chat member DECEPTION for that last bit of info!

Figures.com updated today with more information on the upcoming line of MK Deception action figures by Jazwares. The figures, first mentioned by MK Online in an October 2004 update, will be six inches tall and out in stores this summer. The first line of figures will include:

• Scorpion (in armor)
• Raiden (with cape)
• Sub-Zero (in armor)
• Baraka (in armor with arm blades)

To read the full article, click here. Thanks to MK Online forum/chat member BigCen for the news!