Way back in July, we learned resident Sound Designer Brian Chard would be parting ways with NetherRealm Studios.

For more than a decade, Chard has helped shape the worlds of Mortal Kombat through sound and spoken word. Since MK: Deception, he's been responsible for directing some of fandoms most combed moments. From Konquest Mode dialogues, to profound Mortal Kombat X Story Mode and Fight Intros -- Chard has helped give once silent arcade kombatants a voice.

Some months ago, Mortal Kombat Online contacted Mr. Chard to discuss Mortal Kombat X, his career at Midway and NetherRealm, and his recent departure from the developer. We're now pleased to present the complete conversation, which illuminates the development process, and Chard's candid thoughts on a variety of topics.

In Mortal Kombat X, statues still adorn the Outworld imperial kingdom years after the former Emperor's demise. Such is the shadow cast by Shao Kahn - Mortal Kombat's ultimate boss! In the near future you'll be able to pay tribute to the Emperor with your own 1:4 scale Klassic statue, as this work in progress shows:

Even as hardcore fandom reignites debate over the legitimacy of guest characters in Mortal Kombat X; Creative Director Ed Boon has been discussing some of the franchise crossovers that never quite came to pass.

Speaking with IGN, Boon revealed characters from Terminator and Halloween were among the choices discussed at NetherRealm Studios: "We've tossed around a whole bunch of names, like The Terminator, or something like that. And for various reasons – whether it wasn't a match, or we just couldn't come to terms with it – they didn't happen."

They've revealed the downloadable characters in the Mortal Kombat X Kombat Pack - but they still have to make them! Creative Director Ed Boon has used Twitter to micro blog NetherRealm Studios' progress as the game goes gold, and production on bonus characters begins:

Mokap won't be coming back in Mortal Kombat X -- but the art of motion capture continues to fuel escalating next generation technology that brings the action to life! Following their Kombat Kast spotlight - NetherRealm Studios offer a glimpse behind the wireframes of Chapter 1.

As we saw with the announcement of the newest game - Mortal Kombat is a global phenomenon! Delivering the series to the world takes a lot of work, and musician Pitty has taken fans behind the scenes of the localization process for Mortal Kombat X. Assista e descubra:

"Gold Scorpion" is a key attraction of the Mortal Kombat X: Kollector's Edition, introducing a whole new aesthetic to the klassic ninja design. Bringing this slick, minimalist approach to the iconic series mascot is Coarse - a German duo known for the world their unique style has created. Go behind the scenes on their Mortal Kombat kollaboration to learn more:

If appearances are to be believed: the latest Mortal Kombat X Twitter tease from Creative Director Ed Boon may suggest the return of fan-favourite sword saint: Kenshi!

If you've ever wondered how NetherRealm Studios achieves a gruesomely full illusion with their over-the-top violence - Joystiq have demystified a crucial, but often overlooked element!

Back in March, Mortal Kombat Online took an overview of the winding Saga of Mortal Kombat HD. The ill fated project began life as a contemporary remake of the classic games, using new actors to recreate the original sprites in an HD digitized format. As revealed by an unnamed source who worked on the project: the game was shelved by Warner Brothers for internal reasons [full story].

Little has been made known or available from the aborted Mortal Kombat HD project, but thanks to make-up artist Tanea Brooks -- we've now got our most intimate look at some of the work that took place!