In the recent flurry of new information regarding the upcoming Mortal Kombat title, Ultimate Mortal Kombat, IGN has released the first interview with series co-creator Ed Boon! In this interview, Boon reveals that the same studio which ported UMK3 to X-Box Live Arcade is working on this version of the game. He also puts to rest any fears of a repeat of the much maligned Mortal Kombat: Advance. Not much new information is revealed, but Boon states that they are currently exploring ways to use the Nintendo DS's technology to compliment the game while not radically changing the controls. A few images accompany the interview, but those images can be found in the Press Release story here on MKO.

IGN

: An early screenshot of the game shows that the second screen's only being used to display a logo. Is this just an early mock-up? What sort of ideas do you have planned for the extra display?

Ed Boon

: That was an early mockup. We are experimenting with different ways to use the DS's extra screen. In Puzzle Kombat we are utilizing the upper screen to display the puzzle fighters as well as the Death Traps. This lets us devote the entire lower screen to the actual puzzle play. As for the fighting we are working on a few ideas but haven't fleshed them all out and aren't quite ready to share them just yet. We don't want to radically change the control scheme for this game but would also like to introduce a new feature that takes advantage of the hardware. We will definitely keep you posted.

IGN

: Any touch screen functionality being inserted in there?

Ed Boon

: We are also working on some ideas for the touch screen. However, since the player's hands will be busy with the direction pad and the attack buttons, we probably won't do something crazy like having the player touch the screen for punches and kicks.

IGN

: What sort of multiplayer features are being planned for Mortal Kombat on the Nintendo DS?

Ed Boon

: We are planning on letting players fight against each other locally as well as finding opponents to fight against over the internet. We would also like to include game sharing, which would let someone without the game play by sharing the cartridge with someone who has the game locally. Currently, we are not sure to what extent we will be taking this feature but will certainly let you know when our decision is made.

To read the interview in its entirity, click here.

Thanks to forum member for the alert on this interview!

Following on the heels of IGN's article concerning the new Mortal Kombat game for the Nintendo DS, Midway has sent out a press release officially announcing Ultimate Mortal Kombat! Ultimate Mortal Kombat is confirmed to be a port of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 with online play and leaderboards, and including the Puzzle Kombat minigame originally seen in Mortal Kombat: Deception. From the press release:

CHICAGO, IL -- June 27, 2007 -- Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY), a leading interactive entertainment publisher and developer, today announced that five new titles are in development exclusively for Nintendo systems. Only for Wii, experience the rebirth of action racing with Cruis'n and a collection of classic skill games with Game Party. Ultimate Mortal Kombat, The Bee Game™ and a title based on Cartoon Network's top-rated, kids animated series Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends are all in development exclusively for Nintendo DS. All of the titles are custom designed to take full advantage of the unique controls and interface of the Wii and Nintendo DS and are scheduled to be available in 2007. In addition to these newly announced products, Midway has recently released Mortal Kombat®: Armageddon™ for Wii and Touchmaster™ for Nintendo DS.

"The Wii and Nintendo DS require games that are innovative and take full advantage of a unique control scheme to offer a truly different type of gameplay experience," said Matt Booty, executive vice president - worldwide studios, Midway. "We are very excited to be bringing classic Midway franchises such as Mortal Kombat and Cruis'n along with powerful licensed content like Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends to the massive installed base of Nintendo system owners."

"Nintendo is very excited to be working with Midway to have these great brands and new products come exclusively to Wii and Nintendo DS," said George Harrison, senior vice president, marketing and corporate communications, Nintendo of America Inc. "These new games paired with the unique controls of Wii and Nintendo DS will continue to expand videogames to new audiences."

...

Ultimate Mortal Kombat (Nint endo DS, November) - Ultimate Mortal Kombat combines the visceral thrills of the classic Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 and the addictive puzzle action of the Puzzle Kombat component of Midway's best-selling Mortal Kombat: Deception® in a single DS-friendly package. With new record-keeping capability, and Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection multiplayer, players will be able take UMK anywhere for fighting action on the go.

In addition, Midway released four screenshots and a trailer for Ultimate Mortal Kombat. As can seen in the screenshots, Ultimate Mortal Kombat makes subtle but effective use of the dual screens on the Nintendo DS. Regular gameplay occurs on the lower screen, while the upper screen gives information and additional effects where appropriate. For example, when selecting your kombatant in standard kombat, the upper screen shows the bio of the kombatant that is highlighted. In Puzzle Kombat, the animations showing the "chibi" kombatants fighting is displayed on the upper screen while the main puzzle action takes place on the lower screen. (In MK: Deception, the chibi fighters fought in front of the puzzle containers.

• Ultimate Mortal Kombat for Nintendo DS Trailer

As stated before, Ultimate Mortal Kombat is slated for a November release. As we learn more, we'll be sure to report it!

To read the press release in its entirety, click here.

The folks over at IGN are reporting that Midway has revealed to them the titles for their next three games for the Nintendo DS. Back in January, we reported that Midway was in the process of making a MK title for the DS. According to IGN, this title will be entitled Ultimate Mortal Kombat, and is a port of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, complete with online play and leaderboards. In addition, Ultimate Mortal Kombat will include Puzzle Kombat, the MK-themed puzzle game that was first introduced as an extra in Mortal Kombat: Deception. From the article:

Ultimate Mortal Kombat, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, and Maya the Bee are on the slate in Midway's holiday line-up for the Nintendo DS. The company made the announcement that these three games are scheduled for release this November.

Ultimate Mortal Kombat is a conversion of the Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 arcade game, complete with local and online competitions with record tracking. Added to the mix is Puzzle Kombat, the Super Puzzle Fighter clone featuring super deformed Mortal Kombat characters.

We'll definitely be keeping an eye out on this title. As we learn more, we'll be sure to report it here.

To read the article in its entirety, click here.

Our thanks to forum member for letting us know about this important news story!

After another long intermission, Midway has released another bio from MK: Armageddon! This time the vampriss, Nitara, is the focus. The bio confirms that her ending in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance was indeed canon, as the vampire realm Vaeternus has been restored and the vampire colonies have migrated to this new location. However, an extensive backstory reveals a connection to Ashrah and her assumed holy quest. It is revealed that her weapon, the Kriss, is actually an ancient vampire slaying blade called the Datusha. It has seemingly possessed Ashrah and caused her to believe she is acting for a greater good. Nitara's role in Armageddon is apparently to attempt to destroy this blade once in for all using Blaze's essence.

The realm of Vaeternus had regained independence from Shao Kahn. I was revered for my part in the victory. The restructuring of our civilization was well underway; soon we would regain our former majesty. Unfortunately our honor was not all that had returned from ages past....

Reports of genocide raced throughout the restored Moroi Empire. Many vampires had been slain; none had yet survived an attack to describe the assailants. I set forth to uncover the truth. Examining the wounds of the dead, I came to the disheartening conclusion that these murders were not the work of a band of assassins. The victims had fallen to the blade known as Datusha, the bane of the Moroi. The ancient kriss had found a new wielder. It had returned for vampire blood.

Though Datusha's origin has been lost to history, its purpose is clear: It lives to kill as many vampires as it can. We are a powerful race; there are few who threaten our immortality. It has been speculated by the Elders that the sword itself may be our one "natural" predator.

The accursed blade finds a wielder and corrupts them into believing they are slaying for some higher purpose. In the past it has chosen a vampire as its puppet. The last was Kahil Grigesh. Though he was driven mad by the power of the sword, he was strong enough to eventually overcome its mind control. To atone for slaying his fellow vampires, he took the sword into the Netherrealm, where he committed hara-kiri, imprisoning Datusha in Hell.

It was believed that the sword would never find another vampire wielder in that desolate place. Safe from slaughter, our numbers had exceeded those of any recorded era. But with Datusha's return, vampires were being rapidly driven to extinction. Something needed to be done!

The Elders researched ancient vampire texts, hoping to find some means of defeating the blade. An obscure Edenian prophecy they found might hold the key. It describes a force of great power concealed in a crater there. I was commanded to find this power and use it against our foe.

As I made for Edenia, I came upon a massacre. The bodies of my vampire kin lay everywhere. Amidst the carnage stood a woman in white wielding the unholy kriss. Enraged, I did battle with her -- but she was too powerful. I broke away, luring her out of Vaeternus as I escaped.

As long as her attention is fixed on me, the vampire nation will be safe. I must draw Ashrah closer to the crater and use the Edenian weapon against her. This may be our only hope of eliminating the blade once and for all. May the Moroi Live Eternal!

To view the original bio page, click here.

Thanks to forum member for sending in this newslead.

Though Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks was released in late 2005, the action figures from this game are still being released. The Goro figure will finally see the light of day next month at Comic Con in San Diego! This figure will be exclusively available for purchase for those who attend the convention. If the figure does not sell out at the event itself, it will then be available on the website toyrocket.com for online ordering. It is reported that there are only 1800 of these figures being released to the general public, with each costing $19.99 USD. The figure will be available starting July 26th, 2007.

Toyrocket.com is excited to announce their exclusive action figure: Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks Goro. The figure will be available to the public for the first time at the San Diego Comic-Con International on July 26th 2007. The Goro figure will be available to customers at the Toyrocket booth #230 all four days of the show, or until sold out. The figure will be limited to two per badge per day. In the event that the figure does not sell out at the convention, it will be available for purchase after the show exclusively on the toyrocket.com website.

To see the original article, click here. For more information about Comic Con, click here.

Thanks to forum member for sending in this information!

Though the game was released earlier this month, GameSpot has posted a set of new images from Mortal Kombat: Armageddon on the Wii! These screenshots, like others for the Wii version of this game, feature a screenshot with an example of how the action displayed is performed using the Wii remote. All but two of these images feature various characters performing special moves, including Ashrah, Nightwolf, Shang Tsung and Rain. The remaining two screenshots feature the controls for the mini-game, Motor Kombat.

To view these images and the rest of GameSpot's image library for this game, click here.

Thanks to forum member for sending in the newslead.

In honor of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon's release on the Wii, a new interview has appeared with Ed Boon on The Wire, a section found on a gaming review and preview site called Riottt.com. While the interview is mostly conducted with questions concerning the new release of MKA on the Wii, there are a few new details Boon shares in this interview. Most notable is the mention of possibly releasing a classic 2D MK game on the Wii's virtual console.

WAS THERE ANY THOUGHT OF HAVING THE GAME PLAY MORE LIKE THE BOXING PART OF “WII SPORTS,” WITH PEOPLE MAKING PUNCHING MOVES WITH THE CONTROLLER?

Yes, we thought about it for about five minutes and realized that it would be way too exhausting for people. In addition, players need that “twitch control” for throwing basic punches and kicks that can’t be fired off effectively with motions. We found the best use of the Wii-controls was for special moves and fatalities.

DID ADAPTING “MORTAL KOMBAT ARMAGEDDON” FOR THE WII GIVE YOU ANY IDEAS FOR THE NEXT GAME IN THE SERIES, OR MAYBE IDEAS FOR A WII-SPECIFIC “MORTAL KOMBAT”?

Sure. Whenever you work with something so dramatically different that you’ve been using before, the new ideas come pouring out. We’ve talked quite a bit about possible future games and features, but we aren’t ready to talk specifics are the moment.

HAS THERE BEEN ANY TALK ABOUT ADAPTING ANY OTHER “MORTAL KOMBAT” GAMES FOR THE WII?

There has been talk of bringing back one of the older classic 2D “M.K.” games for the Virtual console. I think that could be a lot of fun.

To read the remainder of the interview, click here.

Thanks to Riottt.com's own Paul Semel for sending us the news!

For the second straight day, Cinder from the official Midway Boards has posted a menu screen from Mortal Kombat: Armageddon! This particular image is one we have seen before, in some ways. The Shao Kahn and Sindel rivals screen was used as a cover art for one version of the Collector's Edition of the game for the PS2. However, the image itself has not been released until now. Of note, the Battle Arena is used instead of the Wastelands, which was the original background used for the boxart.

To view the topic in which this image was originally released, click here.

Thanks to forum member for sending in this newslead.

EDIT: Cinder has posted a second menu screen art! This image is completely new and features the most ancient rivalry in Mortal Kombat between the fallen Elder God Shinnok and the Thunder God Raiden. The background used here is the Netherrealm Cliffs.

Click here to see the topic in which the image was originally released.

Thanks goes to for this additional lead.

Cinder, of the official Midway Boards, has posted a new menu art screen from Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. Several of these screens were released back in 2006 before the game was originally released on the PS2 and XBox consoles, and apparently to celebrate the release on the Wii another new image has appeared. This versus screen featuring cyborg rivals Cyrax and Sektor appearing in the Tekunin Warship stage from the game.

To view the topic in which this image was originally released, click here.

Thanks to forum member for sending in this newslead.

Another major gaming website has presented their review of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon for the Nintendo Wii! This time, the review comes from the well known Gamespot. Like the previous reviews, Gamespot is disapproving of the gameplay programming on the Wii remote, citing low accuracy and timing when using the remote. The additions added to the Wii version of the game are only mentioned in passing and did not factor into the final score. Surprisingly, MK: Armageddon for the Wii scored a 7.5; while that is about the same as other sites have scored the game, it's a slight improvement from then low end 7.0 Gamespot gave the game back in October 2006. This may have a lot to do with the use of different reviewers, however.

Mortal Kombat: Armageddon is Midway's attempt to take most of the stuff that has appeared in a Mortal Kombat game since Deadly Alliance was released back in 2002 and mash it all into one big game. It is a send-off of sorts of the current fighting st

yle and game engine for the series. It was also a fitting send-off of the previous generation of consoles when it was originally released on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox last year. Now, that game has come to the Wii, where it automatically becomes one of the best fighting games currently available on the platform simply because the options are limited. Armageddon reuses a little too much content from previous games, and as a result, it feels like it is coasting. But it's also the first substantial modern fighting game to be released on the Wii, and that alone, makes it notable.

The interesting thing about the Wii version is that the game has been updated and altered to fully support the Wii Remote and Nunchuk combo. You can do these special moves by holding down the trigger on the Wii Remote and swaying it in a specific fashion. For example, if you move it away from your opponent then toward him or her with Scorpion, you can do the spear. It's a neat idea that is hampered a bit because the Wii Remote never feels quite right. It's difficult to get a high level of accuracy and timing with such an imprecise control method. On top of that, the game maps all of your normal attacks to different directions on the Wii Remote's D pad, which isn't very friendly when it comes to tapping out combos. It's sort of fun to mess around with it, but once you get serious about actually playing MK: Armageddon, you'll be thankful that it has support for the Classic Controller and GameCube controllers.

Though you may find yourself nonplussed by the latest MK entry if you've been following the series for any length of time, Wii owners who haven't kept up with Midway's fighting series will find plenty of thrills, a ton of characters, and a lot of different things to do. The utter lack of good fighting games on the Wii certainly doesn't hurt either. If you're a Wii owner looking to knock off some heads and own a Classic or GameCube controller or two, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon is pretty kool. Er…cool.

To view the entire article, click here.

Thanks to forum member for alerting us to the latest MKA review.

Gaming magazine Game Informer has posted a review of for Mortal Kombat: Armageddon on the Wii console! GI states similar problems as other review sites have; the Wii remote seems to be unresponsive at times and using the Wii remote's d-pad to fight seems uncomfortable and awkward. The review is rather short, alluding to the fact that the game is unchanged other than the revised controller scheme, which hurts the game more than it helps. Game Informer awards MK: Armageddon for the Wii with a 7.5. A second opinion from another GI Staff member lowers the score further to 7.25; citing that the series itself requires an overhaul to return it to glory. Both scores are a drop from the 8.25 the site awarded to the PS2/XBox versions of this game.

Mortal Kombat’s fighting system has always been pretty solid, and over the years the control scheme has been honed to a science. The Wii takes that finely tuned machine and jams a motion sensitive stick in it. All of the basic attacks have been moved to the Wii remote’s d-pad, which is awkward enough by itself. The bigger change is that the special moves are now associated with controller movements. For example, you’ll swing the remote in a half circle to throw a fireball. The fighting system isn’t destroyed – it works okay – but doesn’t feel as responsive or speedy as it does with a good old gamepad. Fortunately, you can use a Gamecube or Classic controller and resolve this issue, but I wouldn’t put this version over any of the others.

To read the remainder of the Wii review, click here.

Thanks to forum member for reminding us of this review.

Gaming preview, review and news site IGN has named the recently released Mortal Kombat: Armageddon the best game for the month of May on the Nintendo Wii console! While the game does win this monthly award, IGN expresses overall disappointmen for Wii's May releases, citing that MKA won only because there was very little to no suitable competition during this month. IGN scored this version of MKA slightly lower than the PS2 and XBox versions, awarding it with a 7.8.

For starters, there wasn't a great deal of competition. Still, while not quite a great game, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon proved to be a smart port to Wii, retaining the 3D fight mechanics that helped the title score well on the other systems and adding fresh new Wii controls. Believe it or not, the new Wiimote and nunchuk gameplay system feels good when it's working -- the downside is that it doesn't always respond as well as we'd like it to. Gamers can alternatively utilize the classic or GameCube controllers, both of which function perfectly. With nearly 65 fighters, dynamic environments, several gameplay modes (including Konquest and Motor Kombat), and a fun multiplayer mode, Armageddon is Wii's best fighter to date and it edges out all competitors for May's Wii Game of the Month.

To read the rest of this article, click here.

Thanks to forum member for sending this lead in first.