Since its relaunch under Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment, the Mortal Kombat license has once again become a cross-media phenomenon. Having been co-branded with the likes of Gamestop ^[1], God of War ^[2], Teenage Riot Records ^[3], NASCAR ^[4], and others, it makes perfect sense that the final frontier would be one of the biggest American pop cultural icons of all-time, Playboy.

2008 Cyber Girl of the Year, Jo Garcia, and UFC Octagon Girl, Brittney Palmer, have turned their skills as critics and gaming enthusiasts to an intense study and dissection of the new Mortal Kombat mechanics, in this 2:24 featurette. Plunging themselves into the roles of Kitana and Mileena, they have taken full advantage of UFC resources to demonstrate a radical new dimension in gaming preparation and intensity.

The models' conclusions mirror that of the recent Tournament Strategy video posted by Peformance Design Products, who recommend Kitana as one of the best tournament fighters in the game.

This isn't the first time Playboy and Mortal Kombat have been closely linked. In 2004, Mileena appeared in a provocative render not dissimilar from her eventual 2011 redesign, for an article showcasing gamings sexiest vixens.

Not to be outdone by Playboy; Warner Brothers have had their own models posing as Kitana, Mileena, and Sonya, for a string of public appearances, including the recent European Tournament. The trio were featured suiting up in a series of promotional videos, earlier in the month.

Here at Mortal Kombat Online we pride ourselves on our jounalistic integrity and dedication to keep fans abreast of all matters Mortal Kombat. It is with sincerest regrets that we bring you this very important Playboy preview over a week after its original publication, on April 19. Thanks to forum user, for sharing on the forums, in the interim.

Mortal Kombat was officially released April 19 (US), April 21 (EU). For more hardhitting stories about the game and other projects, stay tuned to Mortal Kombat Online (@MK_Online).

It's no secret that PlayStation 3 owners have had their issues with online functions since the April 19 release of Mortal Kombat. While Sony works toward a speculative Tuesday (May 3) return of basic services, NetherRealm Studios are working hard to address concerns relevant to the game itself, and listen to fans.

The massive success of the game has exposed a series of glitches and bugs, including specific identified issues with King of the Hill and 1v1 Ranking online modes. A statement of assurance has been officially issued on the official website:

Thank you for supporting Mortal Kombat! Due to the overwhelmingly positive reception to the game, Mortal Kombat has millions of online matches being initiated worldwide every day, and we have run into some unanticipated technical issues. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and NetherRealm Studios are aware of the issues with the online gameplay – specifically with "King of the Hill" and Ranked 1 v. 1 matches - and we want to assure our fans that we are focused on resolving online issues ASAP. We have added a “Technical Issues” section to our forum so please be sure to let us know what issues you are having so we can address those as soon as possible. Users will begin seeing improvements in online play over the course of the next two weeks. In the meantime please note that none of this will impact the single-player or offline multiplayer experience, and we greatly appreciate your patience!

The statement has been posted as part of the launch of a Technical Issues support forum on the official website message boards. Registration to read and post is currently required. Additional customer support is also available by phone: (410) 568-3680, or via e-mail: support@wbgames.com (Wbgames.intsupport@warnerbros.com outside the US).

For more discussion about online play and user matchmaking, join the specialized MKO Online forum -- home of the MKO Fight Klub!

In March; MKO reported on mounting pressures within the Australian government to resolve the nation's lack of an adult R18+ rating for video games, which inadvertently rendered Mortal Kombat banned in February, when it was Refused Classification on grounds of extreme violence [full story].

Persisting controversy surrounding the inaction of State Attorney-Generals brought Home Affairs Minister, Brendan O'Connor, to issue a pending ultimatum for July that would force changes to the ratings system through Federal intervention [full story]. Lamenting Australia's growing reputation as the "laughing stock of the developed world," the politician stressed a strong preference for consensus amongst the Attorney-Generals, despite intentions to force a revision of the system should they fail to reach one.

In a reversal of fortunes, current South Australian Attorney-General, John Rau, has led the charge to resolve the on-going ratings debate regardless of decisions reached by other state representatives at the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General, in the deadline month. It is a steady contrast to former SAAG, Michael Atkinson, who infamously held the vote to prevent even mere discussion of the topic, in previous years.

Gamespot AU reports Rau's intention to push South Australia to an R18+ rating after he reviewed the opinions of parent groups and gaming advocates alike, determining both perspectives were "legitimate" and "need to be accomodated."

Confirmation of the decision to initiate an adult rating is the first step toward releasing Mortal Kombat in Australia, where it had originally been scheduled for a simultaneous release with the United States, promoted locally, April 20. It was the first MK to be banned in the country, where the series has remained popular since inception.

Rau's plan comes with a catch, however. To better differentiate between adult and teen materials, the Attorney-General will require the abolishment of the MA15+ rating. MA15+ rated games contain more graphic content than M15 games, with required adult accompaniment for purchase.

"It is also important to note that there are some games that are rated MA15+ in Australia which are rated R18+ in other countries. At the moment there is an unbroken continuum from G to PG to M to MA15+ which includes some pretty violent games. What we want to do is make sure there is a clear gap between material for adult and material for children and empower responsible parents by making sure game classifications are helpful. No adult would be any worse off [with the abolition of MA15+ for games]; in fact, adults would be better off because there would be more games available in the R18+ category."

To support the radical switch; Rau claims that film ratings cannot be adequately compared to video game content, which is uniquely interactive and unlikely ["ludicrous"] to be monitored by parents.

"We do this [different legislation in different states] with film now--the ACT and NT have different legislation when it comes to X-rated films compared to the rest of the country. This already exists and the sky hasn't fallen in. I don't think that it will be a problem if South Australia has a slightly different regime in respect to games than the rest of the nation."

A spokesperson for John Rau has confirmed to Gamespot that South Australia will make the change regardless of decisions reached at the July SCAG meeting. For full updated details, follow the original article. Mortal Kombat Online will continue to follow details regarding an Australia release of the hit game as they develop. Get updates from the revolution by following @MK_Online.

It was to the chagrin of PlayStation 3 owners who purchased Mortal Kombat that online network connectivity ceased the day of release, April 19. The inconvenience of a lack of free online play has taken a sinister turn, however, amidst fears personal details of up to a reported seventy-seven million users worldwide have been accessed by an "unauthorized person."

After allegedly failing to inform the public of the compromise to the network, Sony Senior Director of Corporate Communications & Social Media, Patrick Seybold, has offered an explanation of the processes the corporate giant went through during the reported missing days [via PlayStation.Blog].

There’s a difference in timing between when we identified there was an intrusion and when we learned of consumers’ data being compromised. We learned there was an intrusion April 19th and subsequently shut the services down. We then brought in outside experts to help us learn how the intrusion occurred and to conduct an investigation to determine the nature and scope of the incident. It was necessary to conduct several days of forensic analysis, and it took our experts until yesterday to understand the scope of the breach. We then shared that information with our consumers and announced it publicly this afternoon.

In an e-mail sent to PSN users, Sony offer assurances that they are undertaking several steps to rectify the situation and prevent a repeat.

Valued PlayStation Network/Qriocity Customer:
We have discovered that between April 17 and April 19, 2011, certain PlayStation Network and Qriocity service user account information was compromised in connection with an illegal and unauthorized intrusion into our network. In response to this intrusion, we have:

• Temporarily turned off PlayStation Network and Qriocity services;
• Engaged an outside, recognized security firm to conduct a full and complete investigation into what happened; and
• Quickly taken steps to enhance security and strengthen our network infrastructure by re-building our system to provide you with greater protection of your personal information.

We greatly appreciate your patience, understanding and goodwill as we do whatever it takes to resolve these issues as quickly and efficiently as practicable.

Though Sony claim to have the situation under control, the risk to users remains, with fears the names, address, date of birth, e-mail, password, and more user details will be used in phishing attacks.

Anyone with a PlayStation Network account is advised to change all passwords, monitor credit transactions closely, and remain vigilant when receiving contact regarding sensitive information. Due to the bredth of information available to hackers who have obtained these details, users need to be aware of the dangers present, not just online, but also via conventional post, and telephone. Sony assures that they will never contact a user "asking for your credit card number, social security number or other personally identifiable information."

Additional information regarding ways users can monitor any threat and minimize damages can be found in the original e-mail, or a repost on the PlayStation Blog.

We have also provided names and contact information for the three major U.S. credit bureaus below. At no charge, U.S. residents can have these credit bureaus place a "fraud alert" on your file that alerts creditors to take additional steps to verify your identity prior to granting credit in your name. This service can make it more difficult for someone to get credit in your name. Note, however, that because it tells creditors to follow certain procedures to protect you, it also may delay your ability to obtain credit while the agency verifies your identity. As soon as one credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the others are notified to place fraud alerts on your file. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, or should you have any questions regarding your credit report, please contact any one of the agencies listed below.

Experian: 888-397-3742; www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013

Equifax: 800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

TransUnion: 800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

You may wish to visit the web site of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.gov/idtheft or reach the FTC at 1-877-382-4357 or 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580 for further information about how to protect yourself from identity theft. Your state Attorney General may also have advice on preventing identity theft, and you should report instances of known or suspected identity theft to law enforcement, your State Attorney General, and the FTC. For North Carolina residents, the Attorney General can be contacted at 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; telephone (877) 566-7226; or www.ncdoj.gov. For Maryland residents, the Attorney General can be contacted at 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; telephone: (888) 743-0023; or www.oag.state.md.us.

We thank you for your patience as we complete our investigation of this incident, and we regret any inconvenience. Our teams are working around the clock on this, and services will be restored as soon as possible. Sony takes information protection very seriously and will continue to work to ensure that additional measures are taken to protect personally identifiable information. Providing quality and secure entertainment services to our customers is our utmost priority. Please contact us at 1-800-345-7669 should you have any additional questions.

Cnet have reported that Kristopher Johns, resident of Birmingham, Alabama, is the first known case for a class-action lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Litigation rests on arguments of willful negligence on the part of Sony and an alleged failure in a duty of care and professionalism [Johns v Sony].

CLASS ACTION NATIONWIDE CLASS ACTION AND REPRESENTATIVE ACTION COMPLAINT FOR (1) VIOLATION OF BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS CODE §17200; (2)VIOLATION OF BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS CODE §17500, FALSE OR MISLEADING STATEMENTS; (3) BREACH OF SONG-BEVERLY CONSUMER WARRANTY ACT;AND (4) VIOLATION OF THE CONSUMERLEGAL REMEDIES ACT; (5) BREACH OF EXPRESS CONTRACT; (6) BREACH OF IMPLIED CONTRACT; (7) VIOLATIONS OFSECURITY REQUIREMENTS FOR CUSTOMER RECORDS, CIVIL CODE §§ 1798.80 ET SEQ.; (8) NEGLIGENCE

It is in the interest of all Mortal Kombat Online users to ensure that they are familiar with potential risks and take appropriate measures to protect themselves online and offline. In many cases, these are general rules of thumb to be aware of in the information age, but additional vigilance is recommended.

MKO will endeavor to continue to monitor the story as it develops, updating accordingly. Follow @MK_Online for live updates, and the MKO forum for on-going discussion.

With the game officially available worldwide, Performance Design Products (PDP) have continued to reach out to the burgeoning Mortal Kombat community with another video spotlight on the virtues of their official Tournament Edition Gamestick, and the revamped gameplay mechanics of Mortal Kombat.

Gerry Block, Sebastian Jennings, and Leviticus Davis discuss speculative trends, playing live as Kitana and Noob Saibot, whilst sharing observations about fundamental tactics of the new game.

Their keys to victory include the basic fighting game food groups of projectiles, screen control, and combos. MK is evidently a very projectile heavy fighter, with teleport maneuvers playing a vital role in counter strategy and screen control. Among the expected favourite characters in the community are Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Kabal, and Kitana.

Xbox 360 gamers can now purchase the PDP fighstick individually via online purchase [full details]. Boasting nineties authentic materials, the PDP fighstick emphasises the uniquely American qualities that have typified Mortal Kombat arcade gaming, as described in a previous community feature.

May 14-15 marks the first ever US National Tournament hosted by PDP, where gamers will meet at the Las Vegas Ballys Hotel and Casino to compete for a $21,000 prize pool! Share your winning $10k story by posting in the MKO Matchmaking Forum -- home of Fight Klub! For more discussion about gameplay of high and low levels, as well as the best combos and moves, be sure to visit the Strategy Forum!

Publishers of the Official Mortal Kombat Strategy Guide, Prima Games, have responded to controversy surrounding missing and incorrect information provided in their character lists with a redemption offer.

Announced via their website; Prima will offer reprinted character reference cards to anyone who purchased standard and kollector's editions of the Guide [full details]. The new cards will include correct information for each of the games playable characters, with a complete list of fatality and babality inputs that were previously missing.

To redeem the new set of cards, those who purchased the Guide can e-mail their name and address to feedback@primagames.com. Prima will not require proof of purchase, relying on an honor system in an attempt to make amends with disappointed customers. Turnover for the reprinted cards will require patience as they process requests.

Mortal Kombat Online will continue to follow the story as it develops. Thanks to user for posting about it on our forums.

After concluding the genesis storyline of Sonya, Jax and Kano last week with episode #2 of Mortal Kombat: Legcay, this week a new chapter begins, featuring action hero Johnny Cage!

This episode has a noticeably different feel to it and opens in a style similar to E! True Hollywood Story. Johnny Cage (Matt Mullins) is a once famed action star searching to rebuild his legacy as a leading actor in the world of entertainment. Cage's ideas revolve around creating a reality show where he would physically disposed of criminals with actual martial arts rather than any staging whatsoever. Network executives shoot down this idea, but repackage Cage's idea and market it to another action star (Erica Cerra). This enrages Cage to the point where he attacks several members of the production crew and security. Cue Shang Tsung's (Johnson Phan) entrance. He offers Cage an "escape from everything" as the episode comes to a close.

In this episode, members of the cast and crew from MK: Legacy (Kevin Tanchaeron) as well as the Mortal Kombat video game development team (Ed Boon) make cameo guest appearances. See who else you can spot!

During the promotion of Mortal Kombat throughout 2010 and 2011, Netherrealm Studios used numerous Mondays and Fridays to release Mortal Kombat related news and media. With coverage of the game winding down and the post-game coverage beginning, we at MK Online look to fill that void of weekly expectation.

Every Tuesday, for as long as we have prizes to give away, Mortal Kombat Online will be running a giveway on Twitter. To enter, you simply need to reply to us on Twitter with the correct answer to that week's trivia question. The questions will range in difficulty (possibly corresponding with the prize that week) and feature all forms of Mortal Kombat media. Trivia will be launched at 12pm EST and last through 10pm EST. Those who answer the question correctly any time within this time will be entered into the prize hat and a winner will be randomly drawn. Please note that you can only enter yourself once in each weekly drawing.

Our prize inventory is varied, from smaller prizes such as Mortal Kombat pin buttons to apparel to posters and even games themselves. To see what we have up for this week, be sure to follow us on Twitter @MK_Online! The first trivia question will be posted today, April 26th at the aforementioned 12pm EST.

Famed TV, movie, and video game producer Jace Hall (of the Jace Hall Show) released last week a music video promoting the Mortal Kombat (2011) video game. A modern cover on the 90's classic, Techno Syndrome (originally by The Immortals), this version includes practically as many references to other hit songs as it does the video game franchise. You can watch the video below:


You can watch the video on YouTube here. Additionally, the song is available as a free .mp3 download from Jace Hall Show website. This video has actually been out for about a week now, but with the sheer volume of Mortal Kombat updates that have been going on this almost got lost in the shuffle. Thanks go to for the tip about this sensational video!

Following the North American release of Mortal Kombat on April 19th, a new trailer featuring Kurtis Stryker has surfaced.

This trailer is in some ways similar to Johnny Cage's "Fight Dirty" trailer from a few weeks ago in that it is presented in a voice over narration style coupled with gameplay and story mode scenes. Within the trailer, Stryker shows off his updated look visually and technically. With a dazzling display of weapons including his classic aerial bombs and handgung along with new additions in his taser and flashlight, Stryker brings Brutal Justice to whomever he meets as foe!

Following up last week's debut of Mortal Kombat: Legacy on Machinima, this week continued the storyline introduced in episode 1.

After Sonya Blade (Jeri Ryan) frees herself from her captures, she fights her way through Black Dragon henchmen until she discovers an ongoing fight between Jackson "Jax" Briggs (Michael Jai White) and Kano (Darren Shahlavi) and attempts to make her way to the scene. Within this episode, we see the genesis of the attributes that have come to define both Jax and Kano. Kurtis Stryker (Tahmoh Penikett) alludes to Jax's condition near the end of the episode, and Kano returns to life as seen in the official trailer shown last week.

Stay tuned to MK Online for the news on Episode #3 as it breaks!

Some 10 months ago, the world first gained knowledge of the ninth game in the groundbreaking and influential Mortal Kombat series. In early June, the game debuted with a trailer shortly after the Mortal Kombat: Rebirth film pitch by Kevin Tanchaeron on Youtube. The game that would later come to be known as simply "Mortal Kombat" would have its first public appearance less than a week later at the annual E3 gaming convention.

From Gamescom to PAX, the game made the rounds and silenced critics of the series worldwide as players began to take true notice of the series as a legitimate fighter with a deep engine. The game was so impressive that it managed to secure a spot at the annual EVO tournament, the largest fighting game genre live tournament in the world, months before its release. Countless Mortal Monday and Fatality Friday releases later, a plethora of elements from the game have been revealed to players, including most of the roster, arenas and fatalities. But the real fun has yet to be had.

Today, we celebrate the near year of coverage of the game. We implore everyone to head out and pick the game up, or wait at home on your pre-orders, and enjoy this game it its fullest. We'd like to extend a thank you to all our dedicated users and frequent visitors for making us your stop for Mortal Kombat news. We at MK Online are committed to bringing you more news on the future of the Mortal Kombat series, including upcoming DLC packages, continuing coverage of Mortal Kombat: Legacy and our many site contests such as Fight Klub (more will be announced very soon). We hope everyone enjoys the game. FIGHT!

The folks at Warner Bros. were generous enough to provide Mortal Kombat Online with early access to the Blu-Ray releases of both Mortal Kombat films!

Here is a synopsis of both films...

Mortal Kombat:

Lord Rayden (Christopher Lambert) has rescued them, but he cannot fight for them. They – a martial artist, an action film star, a soldier – are the chosen three. And while the world’s fate rests on their shoulders, the rest of us can enjoy the thrills as they compete to save us all in the body-slamming, mystical-tinged, full-tilt spectacle of creatures and conflict that is Mortal Kombat. Paul Anderson (Resident Evil: Afterlife) directs this astonishing and trend-setting experience that showed how to turn a smash-hit video game into a movie smash. Cheer these intrepid three Kombatants – they’re fighting for you!

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation:

A new era... but for whom? The Mortal Kombat victory in the Outworld was supposed to give rise to a generation of peace on Earth. But never trust the word of the fiendish and the power mad. They’ve opened the portals linking their dimension to ours, and Earth will be overwhelmed – if a gutsy band of human heroes doesn’t acquire new kombat skills that will crush Outworld’s imaginative array of bad-ass warrior creatures. John R. Leonetti, cinematographer of Mortal Kombat and 2010’s Piranha, directs the fighting fury of Mortal Kombat Annihilation. Smash evil!

In the review, we cover the movies themselves, compare them to the previous DVD releases, and analyze the presence of the special features. Also included are side-by-side screenshots, so you can not only see what the menus look like, but you can judge the difference in quality for yourself.

Trivia Contest: We are also giving YOU the chance to win free copies of these Blu-Ray movies as well – including the digital copy and the classic Jade costume for PS3! Try your luck at the quiz here. Answer all 15 questions correctly on this trivia quiz based on the first two MK movies, and you have successfully entered yourself into contention to win one set (one copy of each) of movies! (Participants only get one chance at playing, so choose wisely!)

To read the review in its entirety, click here. And be sure to continue to receive the latest updates @MK_Online on Twitter.

An article in the New York Times posts a couple of interesting pictures on the set of Mortal Kombat: Legacy, including the first real look we've gotten at Baraka yet.

Another was of actor Matt Mullins, who portrays Johnny Cage, in an action shot on the set: The article provides a recap on the history of MK: Legacy, including its origins as an unauthorized and not-meant-for-public consumption trailer called Mortal Kombat: Rebirth, as well as the history of the Mortal Kombat franchise in general. There are some other tidbits of information as well, such as how the crew had to be creative with its limited budget and that while the website Machinima.com was where the series first started, it plans to follow up by migrating future episodes to the iTunes store or potentially even TV and physical media such as DVD.

A picture revealing part of Baraka had been revealed on the web previously [full story]. We have also been keeping tabs on MK Legacy and revealing the complete details of the series [full story].

To read the article in its entirety, click here. For more on this series, keep it tuned here to Mortal Kombat Online and follow us on Twitter (@MK_Online) as well!

In under a week, the premiere episode of Mortal Kombat: Legacy has already amassed well over four million views via the Machimima YouTube launch [full story]. Hot on the heels of the successful debut, GameTrailers have an exclusive first-look at episode two!

Sonya Blade (Jeri Ryan) is looking worse for wear after being captured in the first episode by Kano (Darren Shahlavi) and the Black Dragon during infiltration of their weapons manufacturing plant. Stryker (Tahmoh Penikett) returns to greet Sonya out of a week long coma in intensive care, but will she be the only member of the elite law enforcement heroes who have walked away from their encounter with grave injuries?

Episode one of the eagerly anticipated Kevin Tancharoen directed project delivered a lot of action, including Legacy's first big feature fight between Jackson Briggs (Michael Jai White) and Kano, in a battle that ended with explosive results!


Mortal Kombat: Legacy Episode 1 is still freely available online thanks to Machinima [full story]. Find more interviews and discussion on the MKO Movies & Media forum.

Hot on the heels of the successful online launch of Mortal Kombat: Legacy [full story], enthusiast entertainment series, Attack of the Show, has delivered their on-set behind the scenes peek at the Kevin Tancharoen directed series!

The featurette includes behind-the-scenes preparations for fight sequences between stars Michael Jai White and Darren Shahlavi -- who went toe to toe as Jax and Kano in the action packed first episode. Also packed in; interview bytes with the cast and director of the Special Forces-inspired episodes, including the new first-lady of Kombat, Jeri Ryan [more]. A certain operating room is also heavily featured, a glimpse of things to come for Kano, no doubt.

The featurette is just one of a vast array of interviews and reviews that have come in the wake of the Machinima hosted online premiere. Stars from the series, as well as franchise figurehead, Ed Boon, have come out to talk about their thoughts from the series.

Mortal Kombat: Legacy Episode 1 is still freely available online thanks to Machinima [full story]. Find more interviews and discussion on the MKO Movies & Media forum.

From the pop penetrating dance anthems of Techno Syndrome (The Immortals) and the all-star line-up of the feature film soundtracks, to the most recent concept inspirations of Songs Inspired by the Warriors -- music has had a surprisingly enduring role to play in the Mortal Kombat legacy.

Few men can claim as much importance to the sounds of Mortal Kombat as Dan Forden. The Chicago native has been a stalwart of the series, commanding a fusion of styles with a distinct authentic Eastern influence that has defined the tone of Mortal Kombat from its first game in 1992, right up to 2004's Mortal Kombat: Deception.

Forden has been absent for the last two releases, but returns with a toasty vengeance in 2011 for the new game that goes back to the franchise beginning. As he told PlayStation Blog, this means revisiting classic tracks from MK's past, but this is far from a Greatest Hits! The aptly titled Mortal Kombat promises to bring a "cinematic sound" to the HD pictures, as audibly reinvigorated as the gameplay and character visuals!

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Reworking of the MKII Arcade Theme, The Tower.

Forden is not alone in creating the soundscapes of this new game.
In the blog, the composer heaps praise on Audio Director, Rich Carle, who headed up a team that included Senior Sound Designers; Matt Grimm, Michael Caisley, Brian Chard and Chase Ashbaker. As a unit, they were responsible for the integration and composition of sound effects and score throughout the games various modes and dramatic sequences.

This time around, we’ve made an effort, spearheaded by Rich, to create a cinematic game audio experience. While we definitely wanted to keep and enhance the bone-crunching audio design of the past, we also wanted to create a dynamic experience, so that big events really stand out but we can also hear things like the rustling of the fighter’s clothes and details in the fighting arenas like branches creaking in the Living Forest, insects buzzing in the Courtyard, and people screaming in the distance in the Dead Pool. With nearly two hours of cinematic cut-scenes, we really wanted the player to have a cinema-quality audio experience throughout the story mode, yet still get the in-your-face game experience during the fights.

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Reworking of the MK3 Arcade Theme, The Rooftop.

The audio track will be available in full surround, with classic themes remixed and referenced in dramatic, brand new recordings that elaborate on arcade riffs.

Regarding the music, our initial approach was to re-work the original music with better instruments and audio tools. This is apparent on backgrounds like Living Forest, Courtyard and the Subway. As we went along, it felt appropriate to allude to some of the melodies in the older tunes, but create a completely new arrangement, as in the Pit, the Temple and the Armory. In a few cases, Rich and I wrote completely new material as in the Street and the Desert, so there’s a broad spectrum of music from the familiar to the brand new in this game. We also went in an orchestral direction with some of the music which was a lot of fun.

The blog also probes Dan "Toasty" Forden for answers about his infamous catchcry, which returns from the early games in HD, falsetto surround sound glory. The uppercut easter egg was included in the recent PlayStation 3 demo [full story]. For the answers and complete story, check out PlayStation Blog, which includes two complete tracks as preview [embedded in article]! Thanks to for posting notice!

It's not long now! Mortal Kombat officially hits US shelves April 19, April 21 in international centres. Check local listings for availability of versions for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Following up his two wallpapers and character vignette over the last couple of weeks, the sorcerer Shang Tsung returns today with a gameplay trailer featuring more of his deadly arsenal. G4TV has this exclusive trailer on hand today.

Xbox 360 Games - E3 2011 - Mortal Kombat

In this trailer, Tsung makes great use of his ground skull eruptions, able to throw out singles, triples, alter the direction of the blasts and use them twice in a combo. In addition to that, he once again shows off his straight forward three skull blast and his ability to morph into whomever his opponent currently is. The gameplay is intermingled with sinister, arrogant laughs from the sorcerer as he disposes of his victims. His X-ray attack is revealed to be a ribcage crushing grab following by a blow to the skull with his knee.

Click here to visit the trailer on G4's website. This may very well be one of the final gameplay trailers officially released before the April 19th release date of Mortal Kombat on the PS3 and Xbox 360; the power of Shang Tsung will soon be in the players' hands!

A goal of Netherrealm Studios for the upcoming Mortal Kombat was to recapture the feel of the arcade with their online play mode. As such, they added a spectator mode with a special feature called King of the Hill; which allows up to 8 players to join a room and orderly play one another as they would in a live arcade. IGN has released a preview of this mode, interviewing team members Adam Urbano, Tony Smith and Shaun Himmerick.

More Mortal Kombat Videos

Smaller, somewhat chibi-style Mortal Kombat fighters reminiscent of the fighters used in Mortal Kombat: Deception Puzzle Kombat mode will populate the spectator room in a theater-type setup. The characters will be able to perform actions such as cheering, booing or holding up certain objects such as a diamond, piece of cheese or throwing a tomato at the screen itself. The development team promised there would be other hidden actions that the avatars could perform through players testing the mode out for themselves.

An exclusive for Xbox 360 players will allow for use of Live avatars. This feature will allow players to use their own custom created characters to perform the same maneuvers as the in-game Mortal Kombat characters. PS3 and 360 players will both have access to a number of in-game avatars based on the MK characters themselves.

Players will be able to get their hands on the game themselves to try out this mode in less than a week! Mortal Kombat will be available for both the PS3 and Xbox 360 on April 19th; be sure to test this mode out with other members of the MK Online community!

After many months of waiting, Kevin Tanchaeron's digital series Mortal Kombat: Legacy has made its debut on Machinima's Youtube channel.

In the debut episode, elements from Tanchaeron's 2010 Mortal Kombat: Rebirth project were revisted. Sonya Blade (Jeri Ryan) has infiltrated the Black Dragon's headquarters where criminal mastermind Kano (Darren Shahlavi) is overseeing production of illegal arms. After she is captured, Jackson "Jax" Briggs (Michael Jai White) and Kurtis Stryker (Tahmoh Penikett) of the Deacon City Police Department raid the warehouse in an attempt to rescue her. An ensuing gunfight takes place followed by hand to hand combat between Jax and Kano. The episode ends in a cliffhanger with a "To be continued..." promise.

As previously reported on MK Online, episodes are planned to be weekly installments so be sure to check back next week to see what's in store for your favorite characters!

As the premiere of the first episode of Mortal Kombat: Legacy nears, Machinima has revealed the official debut trailer for the Kevin Tanchaeron directed digital series.

The trailer features a wide variety of characters and scenes from the upcoming 10-part series. Of note, the malevolent sorcerer Quan Chi is once again shown to be at the heart of the rivalry between series icons Scorpion and Sub-Zero, as the diabolical Netherrealm denizen offers Scorpion assistance in finding the man he believes is responsible for his anguish in exchange for his services and allegiance in the Mortal Kombat tournament. As previously reported, both the cyborg assassins will be making appearances in the flesh and in metal. Sektor and Cyrax's automation process is partially revealed, their robotic forms strikingly similar to in-game incarnations of themselves. Also gone is the more realistic approach to Baraka, now replaced with a much more gruesome inhuman monster, truer to what the character is in game.

Fight sequences include poster children Scorpion and Sub-Zero battling in the dense, snowy forest that is presumed to be in Japan based on earlier interviews with the series director. Twin sisters Kitana and Mileena also duke it out in front of their father Shao Kahn in a spar, showing their combat prowess before Kahn calls and end to the fight. Johnny Cage shows much more than an actor as he takes the fight outside of the movie studio.

The trailer ends with Kano receiving his cybernetic eye transplant. Last month, Tanchaeron showed off what the mercenary villain looked like prior to receiving his iconic feature but promised that Kano would indeed be given his trademark later on. Here we see just that, seemingly snapping Kano back to consciousness as his new right eye glows with anticipation of another meeting with longtime rivals Sonya and Jax.

Don't forget to check out our cast and crew list to discover what stars are playing your favorite characters in Mortal Kombat: Legacy. There have been conflicting reports on the debut on the series itself, but according to a large amount of cast members the premiere episode will debut on Machinima in less than two hours (12am PST)! Stay tuned, as we at MK Online will bring you coverage of the first episode once it has aired.

A sense of ceremony weighs heavily on the latest image released by Mortal Kombat: Legacy Director, Kevin Tancharoen. With the first look at Sub-Zero released yesterday [full story], it makes perfect sense that Scorpion would follow! [via @KTANCH]

Ian Anthony Dale stars as the fan-favourite character, who is set to appear in at least one episode boasting an all-Japanese script. This speaks to the authenticity that Tancharoen appears to be injecting into his portrayal, which tells a story that begins with Hanzo Hasashi and will presumably lead toward his transformation into a vengeful spectre seeking revenge for the death of his family and clan.

The Scorpion saga is one of the better known plotlines from the games that entangles the ninja's blood feud with Sub-Zero and the Lin Kuei clan, and the sinister machinations of Quan Chi, who plays a pivitol role in prolonging the feud.

Maurissa Tancharoen, older sister to series Director, Kevin, has confirmed her involvement as Scorpion's doomed wife, Kana. In a recent interview with IGN, Maurissa talked about working under her brother as an actress and learning Japanese for the role. The elder Tancharoen is no stranger to new media, better known as a writer for Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, with credits for Drop Dead Diva and Dollhouse.

The image is the second glimpse we've seen of the yellow ninja regalia, a different view, which appears to have some samurai influences in design. Included alongside an oni-esque face mask is Scorpion's trademark spear weapon, an item also teased some months ago.

Scorpion is expected to appear in at least two of the nine anthology episodes, which will not feature series heroes, Liu Kang or Kung Lao according to a new interview with Hadoken.net. The director tells the site, "I want to save that for season 2. It will be a story about him and Kung Lao."

Mortal Kombat: Legacy makes its official premiere April 12, streaming live at the conclusion of a four hour gaming session with the director and guests, via Machinima. The first episode will air via the stream, with an official release to follow sometime after. A sneak peak trailer has already been released by the site, featuring Michael Jai White and Darren Shahlavi as a battle locked Jax and Kano [full story]. The fight is pre-cybernetic eye for Kano, who Tancharoen stresses will appear as he does in the games.

For a complete cast and crew listing and links to all of the stories that have led to this point, check out Mortal Kombat Online's complete MK: Legacy overview. Coverage includes an earlier spotlight on Jeri Ryan, the twittering starlette who plays Sonya Blade. Get updates on the move by following @MK_Online!

Performance Design Products, makers of the Mortal Kombat Tournament Edition gamestick, have released a special indepth product spotlight, revealing the intricacies and inner workings of the special edition pad.

Candace Hinton and Gerry Block -- Community Manager and Senior Product Manager respectively -- sit down to discuss the distinctly American design for the storied American fighter. Arcade authenticity remains a priority, right down to the use of cabinet authentic MDF for the body of the stick, which maintains an MK classic button layout contrary to popular parallel six button layouts.

PDP have even sourced sticks and buttons from classic arcade manufacturer Suzo-Happ -- who contributed parts for cabinets in the original nineties release. The theme carries through to the well noted concave buttons, rather than Japanese convex.

The stick has been carefully designed to allow for flat surface or lap play, with velvet covered memory foam adapting to contoured underlays. Artwork on the board comes courtesy of NetherRealm Studios, emphasising its official status. An easy to use MK latch reveals storage space and simple to access modding zones.

Gamers who missed out on Tournament Edition pre-orders will not need to fret. PDP are selling individual sticks for the Xbox 360 for $129.99, via their website. These same sticks will be featured at the official PDP Mortal Kombat tournament, happening May 14-15 in Las Vegas. Registration is now closed.

Mortal Kombat hits US shelves April 19 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360! Europe and the United Kingdom can expect their copies to place April 21. European Tournament heats are wrapping up, with the big final happening April 17 [full story]. Follow discussion in the MKO Game Zone!

With a title in tow, the eagerly anticipated live-action anthology series is fast approaching! Kevin Tancharoen is the much talked about director of Mortal Kombat: Legacy, which released its first preview clip yesterday, and has delivered yet another weekly snapshot of the world that awaits!

There's nothing mysterious about this shot, depicting the innovative new look for one of Mortal Kombat's most enduring icons, Sub-Zero! The Lin Kuei warrior was previously hinted at in shots from the same episode [full story], which is expected to see the unfolding famous confrontation between he and Shirai-Ryu nemesis, Scorpion!

Kevan Ohtsji stars in relevant episodes as the ice wielding cryomancer [via Latino Review], opposite Ian Anthony Dale as Scorpion. The pair are destined to meet in a fatal encounter per the best known plot from the games, which tells of Scorpion's murder at Sub-Zero's hand, before the ninja returns to the world of the living as an undead spectre seeking vengeance for his murder and the death of his family and clan.

With many of Legacy's plotlines taking place on the fringe of the gaming timeline, it remains to be seen how much of the Scorpion/Sub-Zero rivalry will be detailed in the live-action series. Quan Chi is confirmed to play a role at some point in the series, but this does not confirm his instrumental role in continuing the rivalry, or creating Noob Saibot from Sub-Zero's death. At least one episode is expected to be told exclusively through Japanese dialogue.

The first episode of MK: Legacy is set to premiere live online via Machinima as the big conclusion to a four hour streaming session of gaming with Kevin Tancharoen and guest stars from the series. Machinima will go live with their event via YouTube, April 12 [full story]. The series is expected to be available shortly thereafter, via digital channels yet to be announced.

Stay tuned to Mortal Kombat Online for details about accessing the series. For a complete overview of media and cast and crew information, follow our on-going story. For regular updates, join us in the world of Twitter, @MK_Online. For more live-action, don't miss NetherRealm Studio's spotlight on the official European tournament "kosplay" models [full story]!

Well, you can't say NetherRealm Studios never do anything for you! The maker of Mortal Kombat has delivered another little "treat" ahead of the April 19 US release, showcasing three officially endorsed and amply proportioned models who have graced the grounds of their European demo events.

Dressed as Kitana, Mileena and Sonya Blade respectively, the trio of carefully "kast" models have done a disturbingly effective service to bring to life MK's iconic women in their current forms. It may not silence critics about the design sensibility of the series, but it certainly represents it well.

These formidable femme fatales will make a return appearance at the final round of the official European tournament stage, April 17 at the Birmingham NEC Centre, UK. The tournament is the culmination of events held across Europe, with winners from Belgium, Italy, Holland, and the United Kingdom advancing to the final stage.

 
"Kosplay Kasting" links to official YouTube: Kitana, Mileena, Sonya

Mortal Kombat hits European shelves April 21, available in standard and kollector's editions for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Players in the US will have their own opportunity to engage Mortal Kombat at the PDP Tournament in Las Vegas [full story]. Registration is now closed.

NetherRealm Studios have released the next in their line of official character gameplay montages, this time featuring the Shaman Tribesman, Nightwolf!

Nightwolfs signature moves including his Bow and Arrows and Sprit Knives play a prominent role as he duels with the likes of Sonya, Scorpion and Ermac with his Shoulder Charge, Lightning Strike and features his prowess with his spirit knives incorporating them into some devastating combos. This trailer also showing some of the enhanced variations. His gameplay showreel finishes with his Tomahawk embedding X-Ray.

You can view this video over on the official Mortal Kombat Youtube Channel or view it above at your convenience.

Keep up to date with all things Mortal Kombat related by following us over on Twitter at @MK_Online or by liking us over on our Facebook Page.

Think you've got a news story? Send your submissions to our MKO Newslead.

The first glimpse of director Kevin Tancharoen's upcoming Mortal Kombat: Legacy Webseries has just been unveiled over at prominent gaming website, Machinima as a brief teaser trailer, showing off an ensuing fight between Darren Shahlavi as the ruthless Kano and Michael Jai White as Jax.

Featured during this short tease of what to expect is a vicious battle taking place in what appears to be a Power Plant or an industrial building with Jax and Kano trading blows with one another, guns and knives are wielded and added into the fight also. As the fight draws to a conclusion, a struggle over a Grenade Launcher results in a grenade being fired into the ground beneath which seemingly ends their conflict in a stalemate as both Jax and Kano attempt to evade the explosion by fleeing.

Machinima is set to host an advanced screening of the first episode on Tuesday, April 12th via their website [full Story]. The Mortal Kombat webseries is expected to release in under a fortnight, being distributed through various digital streaming channels on Thursday, April 19th which coincides with the games release also. For the full scoop on the new Webseries along with it's cast, you can view our comprehensive coverage right here.

You can catch this trailer embedded above or view it over on Machinima's Youtube Channel!

Keep up to date with all things Mortal Kombat related by following us over on Twitter at @MK_Online or by liking us over on our Facebook Page.

After glimpsing a wallpaper featuring the sorcerer Shang Tsung last week as well as earlier this week, the shapeshifter returns today with his very own character vignette! Like other story trailers, this is narrated by the Mortal Kombat announcer's voice and reveals interesting details about his background and role in Mortal Kombat.

As has long been speculated, Shang Tsung is not originally from Outworld. The incarnation of the story has the sorcerer discovering a portal and pledging his loyalty to Shao Kahn in return for his iconic powers rather than being cursed by the Elder Gods to consume souls to sustain his youth, though presumably that fact can still be assumed. As mentioned in his Mortal Kombat: Armageddon bio, Shang Tsung is magically bound to Shao Kahn due to this process. Not much is revealed gameplay wise, though we do see Shang make his entrance with his iconic "Your soul is mine!" line as he enters combat disguised as his opponent. He is able to use his morphing ability for the first time since Mortal Kombat Trilogy, but it is limited to whoever he is facing. Interestingly enough, he appears once again in his older form inspired from Mortal Kombat 1, raising the question whether or not his youthful appearance is his main costume or an alternate. As is typical with these trailers, a teaser for a fatality is shown near the end. In this, Shang Tsung seems to possess his victim with his malevolent powers and forces them to rip off their own head with their bare hands.

Gameplay wise Shang Tsung incorporates a style similar to his snake stance in Deadly Alliance. He uses a few special moves including his skull fireball blast and 3 skull fireball eruption. He also seems to have his soul steal ability from the last few games, which there replenished a small portion of his lifebar.

Check out the video above or click here to visit Gamespot. For gameplay enthusiasts, keep in mind that a true gameplay centered trailer usually follows the character vignette within a week's time! Stay tuned to Mortal Kombat Online for the latest updates!

April is the month of Mortal Kombat and the invasion of Earthrealm is going beyond the domain of games and movies next weekend, to take the onslaught to the race track!

Joey Logano will drive the #20 Gamestop/Mortal Kombat Toyota Camry at the upcoming April 16 Nationwide Series race at Talladega. Logano will be flanked either side by series mascots, Scorpion and Sub-Zero [pictured above], as he looks to improve upon a 2011 slump to fifty-second. Live broadcast of the race begins at 3pm EST on ESPN2. Check local listings for more information.

Mortal Kombat officially hits US shelves April 19 available for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The cross-media blitz has begun with the release of Mortal Kombat: Songs Inspired by the Warriors, and will continue with the April 12 streaming premiere of Mortal Kombat the live-action series [full story]!

For more information about Joey Logano and upcoming NASCAR Nationwide Series races, visit joeylogano.com and NASCAR.com. For regular MK updates, follow us on Twitter, @MK_Online.

News of a live-action Mortal Kombat series broke back in January. Just three short months later, we now countdown to the streaming online premiere of the first episode, Tuesday April 12!

Machinima will host a four hour streaming session from 12PM - 4PM PST, featuring members of their team playing Mortal Kombat with live-action series director, Kevin Tancharoen, as well as a few unannounced members of the cast as guests.

Hadoken.net reports details from Machinima:

Watch our Machinima Live Stream from 12pm – 4pm on Tuesday, April 12th. We will play Mortal Kombat exclusively with Sark, Hutch, and show Director Kevin Tancharoen. Additionally, special guest actors from the show will show off their gaming skills at the Machinima headquarters. Stick around until 4 p.m. PST on the stream, and we’ll premiere the first episode of the Mortal Kombat series. See you then!

Mortal Kombat is an anthology of stories inspired by the early adventures of characters like Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Sonya, Jax, Cyrax, Sektor and many others. The series features noted talents including Jeri Ryan, Michael Jai White, Ian Anthony Dale and more. For complete cast listings and all the coverage leading up to this moment, follow MKO's feature spotlight.

Machinima's feed will go live April 12, add it to your bookmarks!

Mortal Kombat (the series) will no doubt be released through digital channels shortly after the premiere. Mortal Kombat Online will report details as they are made available.

The folks over at NetherRealm studios have issued a press release announcing that Mortal Kombat (2011) has gone gold!

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and NetherRealm Studios today announce that Mortal Kombat has officially gone gold on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Scheduled to launch on April 19, Mortal Kombat is the most brutal installment of the legendary fighting game to date and is currently available for pre-order at all major retailers across North America.

Being developed by NetherRealm Studios, led by Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon, the newest chapter of the iconic fight franchise marks a triumphant return to the series' mature presentation and a reinvention of its classic 2D fighting mechanic. Driven by an all new graphics engine, the fan favorite Fatality is back and presented in more gory detail than ever before. In addition, Mortal Kombat introduces a number of new game-play features including tag team, a deep story mode, and, exclusively for the PS3, Stereoscopic 3D. Players can choose from an extensive lineup of the game's iconic warriors and challenge their friends in traditional 1 vs. 1 matches, or take on several new game modes including Challenge Tower and the soon-to-be-announced online modes.

For more information, please visit www.themortalkombat.com or www.facebook.com/mortalkombat.

This product has been rated M for Mature by ESRB.

Accompanying the press release were the following photos: Mortal Kombat (2011) will be released in the United States on April 19, 2011 and worldwide on April 21, 2011.

Be sure to follow Mortal Kombat Online right here on our website, and follow our Twitter feed (@MK_Online) to keep up with the latest updates. A big thanks also to MK Online forum member for keeping us notified on this.

Have you got a news story to submit? Be sure to use the News Lead to let us know!

One week after the crafty sorcerer Shang Tsung stole the spotlight from Shao Kahn with a Shadows teaser wallpaper, he returns this week in full high definition and detail. A second wallpaper featuring the sorcerer has been uploaded to the official Mortal Kombat Facebook, finishing off an opponent in his own throne room.

Much like last week, this wallpaper features Shang Tsung performing a version of his classic soul steal fatality. In this version, he seems to drain the opponent's soul through their mouth and eyes as the essence of his victim surrounds him. As hinted at last week, he does appear to be in what's assumed an alternate attire as his older self. This costume paints him as a bit more physically powerful than his original Mortal Kombat 1 incarnation. The red and gold motif recalls some of his attire from Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance as well. As mentioned last week, this fatality is very likely one of his in game fatalities, as all similar wallpapers for other characters released have been.

Be sure to stay tuned to MK Online as the week unfolds for there will likely be more Shang Tsung related material coming out over the next couple of weeks!

As the April 19th release date of Mortal Kombat nears, Mortal Kombat Online has launched its dedicated online tournament and league play system, Fight Klub!

Fight Klub is a year-round, constantly ran entity that will crown monthly tournament champions as well as seasonal league champions. A brief explanation will be given below; please check out the official rules thread in our Matchmaking Forum.

Tournament Play will be ran monthly and feature regular tournaments alternated with specially themed tournaments. Each tournament is scheduled to begin on the first of that specific month, with a single champion being crowned each time. Keep in mind separate tournaments will be ran for each of the available consoles (PS3/360) and there will therefore be a champion for each system. Users may enter both tournaments, however. Our tournament schedule for the 2011-2012 season is as follows:

January - Open
February - Ladies' Night (only female characters allowed)
March - Open
April - Tag Hat (characters randomly selected, lowered entry cap)
May - Open
June - Draft (characters will be drafted by entrants; lowered entry cap)
July - Open
August - Hat (characters are randomly selected; lowered entry cap)
September - Open
October - Tag Open
November - Open
December - Bromance (only male characters allowed)

League Play will be a longer term commitment which sets the community into various divisions, pitting similarly skilled players against one another. A 14 game "season" will then follow, concluding in a playoff type format. League Play will be ran four times per year, coinciding with the seasons. The first League season will begin on July 1st. Winning a league championship is the most prestigious honor of Fight Klub and will therefore come with our very best awards!

Ready for action? Joining Fight Klub is easy!

Step 1 - There will be a stickied sign-up thread in the Matchmaking Forum for each system, so simply post your gamertag in the system thread that you want to sign up for. You are allowed to sign up for both systems if you own both platforms and have a copy of the game for each.

Step 2 - Friend request MKOFightKlub on whichever system you choose to play for, or both. You are not officially signed up until your request is accepted by the MKOFightKlub account.

Step 3 - Being one of the first 64 people to sign up on your system between now and April 27th guarantees you entry to the first MKO Fight Klub Tournament, which begins on Sunday, May 1st. Registration for this tournament will close at 11:59 PM (Eastern time) on April 27th. For subsequent tournaments, new threads will be made.

For a full list of all rules and frequently asked questions, click here. If an answer to your question is not present, please place a message inside the thread.

Prizes for winning tournaments (or possibly placing highly in them) as well as winning a seasonal league championship will be awarded by the staff at MK Online. Join up in the first two tournaments today on either Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 and claim your rights as Mortal Kombat goes Online!

Editor's note: [This was our annual April Fools joke. We will now return to our scheduled programming. Thank ]{0MBAT for the concept and cover that started it!]

Parlofoil Book Group have announced the release of a new series of novel adaptations based on the characters and properties of Mortal Kombat. Authored by New York Times Best Selling Writer James Patterson, a series of six novels will retell the story of Outworld's invasion, reimagined as a sci-fi investigative thriller.

The first novel, entitled simply Mortal Kombat, will reimagine the threat of Outworld as an interdimensional throwback to ancient Earth, where portions of the supercontinent Gondwana was teleported away before continental shift divided the Earth. It seems likely a parallel history will have evolved in Outworld, before the continent returns to the modern day.

Like the recent Rebirth movie reel, which gave way to the announcement of the upcoming live-action digital series [full story]; Sonya and Jax take centre stage in roles loosely inspired by their video game counterparts. Kano is also announced to appear in a sequel book, suggesting they will continue to appear as the novels spin-out into individual stories.

Special hardcover editions of the novel will be released April 19, two days before softcover releases go on sale globally. The special edition also includes a foreword by Stephen King!

(Press Release) NEW YORK - April 1, 2010 - PARLOFOIL Book Group is excited to announce a new partnership with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment that will bring together best selling author JAMES PATTERSON and beloved American video game legacy MORTAL KOMBAT®.

The collaboration will begin with the first in a series of six novels, designed to introduce characters including SONYA BLADE, LIU KANG, SCORPION and SUB ZERO before branching out into their individual stories in subsequent releases.

MORTAL KOMBAT introduces the complete world of the video game as reimagined by James Patterson -- writer of best selling crime-fiction novels including ALONG CAME A SPIDER and KISS THE GIRLS. His unique vision brings gritty realism and a strong sense of characters to the characters fans know and love.

The story begins with expert forensic pathologist SONYA BLADE who is called upon to investigate suspicious malformed remains uncovered in the Nevada Desert by Homicide Detective JAX BRIGGS. When other remains begin appearing across the world and strange unnatural phenomenon interrupts world communications and continental stability -- SONYA and JAX are recruited by the US Government into a secret team of international investigating officers known as R.A.Y.D.E.N. The world of Mortal Kombat unfolds from there, revealing the impending invasion of an evolved sub-species of humans who once inhabited the outer regions of Gondwanaland before electromagnetic disturbances caused time and space to bend around it.

MORTAL KOMBAT: THE RISE OF MU and MORTAL KOMBAT: EYE SPY will follow in the third and fourth quarter of 2011, introducing new and old characters into the unfolding adventures of SONYA BLADE and the heroes of MORTAL KOMBAT. Subsequent stories include the rise of an eco-terrorist group known as AQUA, and the return of vile murderer KANO.

MORTAL KOMBAT launches April 19 and first run hardcover editions of the novel will go on sale with a special foreword by renowned thriller novelist, STEPHEN KING. April 21 will then see the world wide release of softcover editions to coincide with the release of the hit new video game. For additional information visit www.PARLOFOIL.com and www.JamesPatterson.com

Both the Mortal Kombat novel and game are on sale April 19. Release of softcover editions will coincide with the European release of the game, April 21st. For more reading, you should now be able to find the Official Mortal Kombat Prima Guide in standard and collector's editions. For more information, follow the story.

Thanks to Nimbus_Terrafaux for word on the story. If you have press releases or information you think is newsworthy, send it our way using the submission form!

Wednesday on Twitter, Netherrealm Studios producer Shaun Himmerick teased a new video for fans if the Mortal Kombat community tweeted enough with the hashtag <#FightDirty. Over the last couple of days, the message has spread around Twitter, from fansites to the official site and team members. Today, it seems the quota was met as a new trailer featuring Johnny Cage has been released!

This trailer, set much like a Hollywood movie trailer would be, features everyone's favorite star in a number of gameplay and storyline scenes. In addition to featuring a number of specials and combos, this video gives us one of the best looks at the Story mode portion of the game which we've seen very little of thus far. Cage is shown to be a comical character, from threatening a line-up of ninjas, to hitting on Sonya to remarking on Raiden's hot flashes.

Be sure to check out Mortal Kombat, featuring Fight Dirty, due for release on April 19th!