Review - Razer Atrox Xbox One Arcade Stick

Razer's interest in the console market has been limited to making products for Microsoft's Xbox brand. Despite the limited focus, Razer aimed for optimal quality with its peripherals much like its PC-based hardware and accessories. One of the company's biggest initiatives was getting into the fighting game scene with its Atrox arcade stick. Known for more general peripherals, Razer working on a product for a relatively niche community was something new.

Following a long research and development period, the Atrox arrived to be a worthy alternative to competitors Mad Catz and Hori. For mass-produced arcade sticks, the Atrox has contents that were ahead of its time. A detachable USB cable, anti-slip bottom pad and easy internal access were a couple of the things that made the Atrox unique. To catch up with the latest generation of consoles, the Atrox has come back as Razer's first peripheral for the Xbox One. Instead of bringing new features, the Atrox Xbox One stick isn't fixing what isn't broken. The Razer might not be an easy sell for those getting a new stick for the latest and upcoming fighters, but its existing features might be worth the money.

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A Detailed Examination of Dead or Alive 5: Last Round's Graphics by Digital Foundry

With Dead or Alive 5: Last Round now available on multiple platforms, the go to graphical analysis group took a look at how they perform.

Eurogamer's Digital Foundry performed a multiplatform analysis of the game. Both current and last generation of consoles render the final DOA5 game at 1080p with 60fps gameplay with the former running with minimal visual issues. The comparison piece includes high resolution screenshots showing specific differences and frame rate tests. The Xbox One version's performance issues is one of the major aspects featured.

You can check out the piece here.

Review - Phreak Mods TE2 Crossbone for Mad Catz Arcade FightStick Tournament Edition 2

The TE2 Crossbone being installed on top of the main TE2 PCB. Some parts including "Switch" input and 20-pin ports are already soldered.Multiplatform compatibility (often incorrectly labeled dual modding) in arcade sticks has been a recent trend for fighting gamers. Due to regulations, there are no officially sanctioned sticks for both Sony and Microsoft consoles. With tournaments having a game on a particular platform, it leaves the players who owned the other consoles unprepared. A stick that can work on many systems is convenient and affordable.

With the new console generation, players are back at square one with the issue. Most might not be able to afford two sticks including Mad Catz's Arcade FightStick Tournament Edition 2 as they are priced at a premium. Phreak Mods, however, has provided a great solution to this problem with the TE2 Crossbone, a custom board made for TE2 sticks for multiplatform use. It came out at a great time as the latest generation of gaming begins and fighting gamers are planning what they want to play. Now they have an option to get themselves set for the next wave of fighting games on any platform.

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Review - Mad Catz Arcade FightStick Tournament Edition 2 (PlayStation 3/PlayStation 4)

As players are still using the original Arcade FightStick Tournament Edition by Mad Catz to this day, it's apparent that it has been a crowning success for the peripheral company. Coming out in 2009 just in time for Street Fighter IV, Mad Catz was able to standardize what an arcade stick should be for half a decade. Eventually as new consoles come out, arcade sticks need to go out to pasture to make way for something new.

While there were follow-up and distinguishable sticks from Mad Catz, none of them were worthy of being the true successor to the TE line until now. Dubbed the Tournament Edition 2, this arcade stick is intended to be an evolution of its predecessor in many ways while staying true to its best traits. Most of the stick's intentions succeed with flying colors.

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The TE2 Crossbone, A Modding Bridge Board For Mad Catz Tournament Edition 2 Sticks, Announced By Phreak Mods

Along with the Crossbone, Clayton Knight of Phreak Mods has a solution for those who have Mad Catz Arcade FighStick Tournament Edition 2 models.

Phreak Mods introduces the TE2 Crossbone, a special board made for TE2 sticks to allow easier multi-platform modding. While the TE2 is not common ground, an electrical reference point found in most commercial arcade sticks, the TE2 Crossbone intends to act as a bridge between the original printed circuit board and the secondary PCB. Being the bridge, it allows boards like the Akishop Customs PS360+ to be compatible. Like the regular Crossbone, the TE2 edition will require some soldering during the installation process.

For players who have a TE2 and want to use it for older consoles, this is your opportunity to check this out. Follow Phreak Mods on Twitter for updates on both the original and TE2 Crossbone units. The TE2 stick is available now on Mad Catz!

Divekick Addition Edition Bringing Johnny Gat From Saints Row Series, Playable At PAX East

Divekick will be recieving its first official crossover character!

Developer Iron Galaxy Studios and Saints Row series developer Volition helped bring staple character Johnny Gat into Divekick Addition Edition. Based on his Saints Row IV appearance, Johnny Gat will have his own divekick, a black hole used as his air special and a car used for his ground special.

He will be playable, along with a new stage, on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of Divekick Addition Edition and will be featured in the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita and Steam for free shortly after. Johnny Gat will be playable at Penny Arcade Expo East 2014!

You can find the reveal trailer and the Iron Galaxy eSports Hour broadcast featuring the reveal after the jump! You can also still register for the bonus sponsored Divekick tournament at NorCal Regionals now!

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Fulgore Playable In Killer Instinct On April 9, Gameplay Trailer Reveals Arcade Mode & Online Lobbies

The final character in season one of Killer Instinct is coming soon!

Fulgore, the second additional character in KI season one, will be coming April 9, 2014. The trailer after the jump features the robotic fighter with many of his specials returning for the new iteration.

Also revealed in the trailer is the anticipated arcade mode as well as online player lobbies for group play.

Owners of Killer Instinct Combo Breaker Pack and the Ultra Edition will be able to own Fulgore right from the start.

Stay tuned for more information on Fulgore and a future patch for Killer Instinct! Go check out Iron Galaxy Studios' involvement in KI season two here!

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The Crossbone, An Xbox One Pad Hack PCB, By Phreak Mods Coming April 2014

The creator of The Link arcade stick shaft is currently working on a new project for those who want to pad hack their Xbox One controllers for their arcade sticks!

Phreak Mods creator Clayton Knight is producing a piggyback circuit board for Xbox One controllers called the Crossbone. This board allows the ability to easily pad hack the controller with minimal soldering required. Knight also added 20 pin headers to link with the Akishop Customs PS360+ for maximum compatibility.

Players looking for an inexpensive way to mod their arcade sticks for Killer Instinct, this might be your best opportunity!

You can find more information, including installation, here! The Crossbone is expected to release on April 2014!

Microsoft Updates Xbox One's Upscaler System, Killer Instinct Featured In Analysis By Digital Foundry

Killer Instinct is one of the games subjected in an article by Eurogamer's Digital Foundry about the Xbox One's latest scaling technology.

Owners of the Xbox One can update their consoles to a new upscaler for games running an internal resolution below 1080p. If the console was set at 1080p before the update, any sub-1080p game would produce a sharpening filter. The update removes the filter, providing better picture quality especially to games like Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and Killer Instinct. KI, running at 720p, was reported by Digital Foundry's David Bierton to have suffered worst from the scaler.

"Fine details are better resolved across the artwork, and geometry edges appear smoother," Bierton said about KI's visuals with the update. While the sharpening filter is removed, Bierton describes that KI still has a boost in gamma, a phenomenon found in other Xbox One games.

You can read the full piece, including high resolution comparison screenshots, here!

Mad Catz's Arcade FightStick Tournament Edition 2 For Xbox One Taking Pre-Orders

Here is your next chance to buy the first arcade stick made for the latest console generation.

MAD CATZ ARCADE FIGHTSTICK TOURNAMENT EDITION 2 SCREENSHOTS

The Arcade FightStick Tournament Edition 2 by Mad Catz for the Xbox One is now available for pre-order. The stick will ship in April 2014. Closer to the announcement model in E3 2013, this version of the TE2 feature non-branded artwork and red side panels, different from the original Killer Instinct-branded model released after the launch of the Xbox One.

While this version of the TE2 features many of the traits in the original including Sanwa Denshi parts and easy access to its internal compartment, this model doesn't feature built in LED effects (LED PCB required) nor have translucent Sanwa buttons.

You can pre-order the stick now on Mad Catz's store!

Breaking In The Killer Instinct Arcade FightStick TE2 Feature By Mad Catz' Markman

With the release of the Xbox One, Killer Instinct and the Mad Catz Arcade FightStick Tournament Edition 2, here is some info of what led up to the creation of the latest arcade stick.

Mad Catz community manager Mark "Markman" Julio talks a small bit about the creation process influencing the TE2 including its predecessor model, the original TE stick in 2009.

For owners of the TE2, Mad Catz and Double Helix Games provided custom artwork templates based on Killer Instinct for download and print. Players who might want to make their own artwork, there is also a blank template.

You can find the full report as well as the downloadable templates here! You can find a video of Markman showing a brief video demonstration of the TE2's features after the jump!

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New Episode Of Maximilian's ASSIST ME! On Killer Instinct's Basics & Mechanics

For those planning to get an Xbox One and Killer Instinct and not familiar with what the gameplay will offer, Maximilian has you covered with a new episode of ASSIST ME!

Deviating away from Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, this episode is all about KI and the necessary aspects to know when you first start playing the game. Maximilian explains elements including movement, Instinct mode, Shadow Combos, the general combo structure and Combo Breakers. Much like other episodes of ASSIST ME!, you can expect some live action scenes and Dr. Doom!

You can find the video after the jump! Make sure to stay tuned for more KI ASSIST ME! episodes in the future on his YouTube channel!

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Fulgore Featured In Killer Instinct Launch Trailer, Game Available On Xbox One Launch Day

With both the Xbox One and Killer Instinct nearing their launch date, here is the trailer for the console-exclusive fighter's second featured Season One downloadable character: Fulgore.

The trailer goes through the various characters featured in the game, including the other upcoming character, Spinal, who is dated for January. While Fulgore was confirmed to appear weeks ago, the trailer features the first glimpse of the character and gives his release date as March. New costumes for multiple characters are also presented in this trailer. Other features found in the trailer include all three major editions of the game and what they contain.

You can find the trailer at Game Informer. Xbox One and Killer Instinct are available Nov. 22.

Extensive Interview With Killer Instinct Producer Torin Retting By Siliconera

With the release of the Xbox One as well as launch game Killer Instinct coming soon, here is an interview featuring an overview and insight of the upcoming fighter.

Spencer Yip of Siliconera had the chance to interview producer Torin Retting about what to expect as well as other details about the title. Topics include history behind the initial development of KI; the choice of what characters will be playable in the initial release and first downloadable season; and information behind some of the game mechanics. Other subjects include future development, the online matchmaking system and balance changes.

An excerpt can be found after the jump but you can find the full interview here!

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Killer Instinct Classic To Feature Both Original & Revision Arcade Builds

To those buying the Ultra Edition of Killer Instinct, you will be receiving two versions of the original arcade game.

Killer Instinct Classic, a port of the original arcade ROM as one of the bonuses only available on the Ultra Edition of KI, will be playable in both its original release version as well as a revised build.

Microsoft Studios producer Torin Retting talked to Spencer of Siliconera about some of the things to expect between versions as well as additional content in KI Classic.

"In fact it is a complete port of TWO versions of the Killer Instinct arcade game. It includes the original arcade ROM (v1.4) with all of the classic, fan-favorite glitches, and the revised version (v1.5D) that came out later to fix things like Cinder’s infinite combo," Redding said. "In addition to this we’ve added cool extras like a training mode, frame effects like scan lines to emulate a CRT and galleries of the original sprites."

The Ultra Edition of Killer Instinct will be available for $39.99 with KI Classic, the six launch characters with two season one downloadable characters, and additional costumes and accessories.

You can find an archive of Microsoft streaming KI Classic a couple of weeks ago after the jump!

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Latest Killer Instinct Trailer Fully Reveals Sadira, Brief Unveil Of Orchid

A new trailer for Killer Instinct is now available for viewing from GameSpot showing off the newest character in the series universe.

Sadira is making her premiere in this Xbox One fighter. Not much information is known at the moment but the trailer suggests Sadira will be utilizing spider-like special moves in her combos. The trailer also compliments her own stage taking place in a cavern with women similar to Sadira and a giant spider. Also featured was a quick reveal of Orchid, a popular character returning in this entry.

You can check out the trailer after the jump!

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Killer Instinct Price Packages Revealed, Original Game Available In Ultra Edition

With the dawn of gamescom over at Germany, the price packages for the upcoming Killer Instinct on the Xbox One have been revealed.

The free to play addition of KI will feature Jago as the playable character available to everyone. For those who want to try out the additional characters such as Chief Thunder, Glacius and Sabrewulf, each character will be priced at $4.99.

For $19.99 as part of the Combo Breaker pack, players can use the currently playable set of characters as well as four more, two upcoming announced characters and two post-release fighters.

The Ultra Edition is the full package, priced at $39.99, which will also include additional character-specific accessories as well as the original arcade version of Killer Instinct.

Chief Thunder Returning In Killer Instinct With Full Reveal By IGN

The Native American fighter from the Killer Instinct series makes a return for the latest entry on Xbox One!

Teased at this year's EVO, Chief Thunder is now fully revealed to appear since his debut and once only entry on the original game back in 1994. Since that appearance, he has now gone a cosmetic transformation to co-allign with the new entry's art style. Originally designed as a grappler character, he will have also tools to fight against offensive and keepaway characters. The guys at Double Helix also mention specific moves and their properties as of their latest build.

He is one of the many returning characters to appear in this new entry so stay tuned for more in the future! If you are attending gamescom 2013 in Germany, you can try him out yourself! You can check out the video after the jump!

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Archive Of Killer Instinct Fridays At Super Arcade Aug. 2, 2013 By Super Arcade, Double Helix Games & IEBattleGrounds

In collaboration with Super Arcade and Double Helix Games, they hosted Killer Instinct Fridays as part of the arcade's NSFW Fridays.

Commando over at IEBattleGrounds streamed KIF, where attendees at Super Arcade were able to play the latest public build of Killer Instinct. Players featured at the event include Rip, Filthierich, RDK Godspeed, Alex Valle and Maximilian. This is definitely something to watch if you are interested in learning and playing the game!

You can check out both videos after the jump! Future streams by IEBattleGrounds can be found on the Twitch channel!

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E3 2013: Killer Instinct Will Feature Full Digital Version, Demo Being Free To Play

News in regards to the upcoming Killer Instinct on Xbox One is the free to play ability. Here is a clarification of what will happen during its November release.

Revealed during Mad Catz's demonstration of Killer Instinct is where the game will be fully available in the Xbox Live Marketplace with all content available from the start. People who download the demo version will also be obtaining the same amount of content found in the full editions but will utilize a free to play model where players can use Jago from the start in all modes of the game including story and online play. Players can pay for more characters down the line in the demo version.