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Skullgirls - PC release confirmed

AntihippyAntihippy Registered User regular
edited May 2012 in Games and Technology

Skullgirls is a 2D fighting game being headed by reknowned tournament player Mike Z of Guilty Gear, MvS2 and blazblue fame. It is a tag team game similar to MvS2 in that it has tags, assists, etc, it uses a ratio system, similar to CvS2, which basically means you can pick either 1-3 characters in your team. 1 is individually stronger, 2 is individually weaker but benefits from having more characters than 1, and 3 is individually weaker than 1 and 2 but benefits from having more characters than 1 and 2.

Technical system details shamelessly ripped from wikipedia. TLDR version is basically no infinites (hopefully), more protection from high/low unblockables, GGPO, custom assists and more lenient windows for complex inputs.
Infinite Detection

One of the most important design decisions in Skullgirls is a unique infinite detection system. This decision was made in order to make sure to maintain balance with each character. If the game detects that a player is performing a loop, the game will change the color of the hit sparks, and the opposing player can end the loop with a single button press. However, as long as the player is not performing a loop in their combo, they can continue to combo as long as they are able.

Ratio System Tag Battles

Before the beginning of the match, players are able to choose a "ratio" of characters. Players are able to choose from playing as one, two, or three characters. Single characters do more damage and have more HP, but lose the strategic advantages of character assists and the ability to regenerate health while offscreen. Teams with two or more characters have less HP and do less damage, but are able to take advantage of assists and different playstyles.

Custom Assists

Skullgirls will feature an element that will be a first for fighting games. Players will be allowed to choose any one of a playable character's attacks to use as an an assist by simple input of the attack's motion in a game menu. Each character also has their own preset assists to choose from. Players can choose any attack type with exception of super moves. These include: throws, normal attacks, dashes, and any special move.

Easier Inputs for More Complex Motions

In order to shift the game’s focus from executing difficult moves to fighting strategically, the game features simplified inputs.
For example, if a character has any moves that require to move the joystick in a 360° motion, the game will be able to recognize the motion, even if the input was not placed as fast as is required as in other similar fighting games. This makes executing these moves easier for the majority of inexperienced players, and allows them to potentially try out new characters that were beyond their skill level in other titles. This simplicity also prevents the character from jumping while performing the 360° motion, which is a common occurrence for many players.

Dynamically Calculated, Non-Arbitrary Input Windows

The game also uses an innovative input window system where the input windows are calculated and not arbitrarily defined. Adjacent directions are each given a 4 frame (4/60ths of a second) window with an additional 4 frames for directions not beside each other to account for the traverse, then an additional 2 frames for the attack command that activates the move. Mike Z has stated that this is based on empirical testing conducted from 1999 to 2006 (even before SkullGirls started development).

Super Meter

Skullgirls allows players to build meter in the usual manner of hitting the opponent, as well as whiffing attacks. However, unlike other games in which any missed normal move results in gained meter, the player must be moving towards the opponent. If the player is moving backwards and attacking, meter will not be gained. Additionally, this only works if the player has less than one bar; in order to gain more than one bar players must connect with the opponent.

High/Low Unblockables

High/low unblockables are a common, extremely useful tactic in other tag style fighting games. In Skullgirls, however, after a character blocks a high or low hit, they are protected for a period of time from being hit by a low attack or an overhead, respectively. The protection window is small enough as to not have an effect on regular gameplay, but allows players who correctly guess the correct attack to defend themselves from what would otherwise be an unblockable attack.

Netcode

Skullgirls uses GGPO (Good Game Peace Out) netcode.[7] It is one of the first dedicated console titles to be using the code.

The game will ship with 8 characters, with more to come in DLC.


Announced characters:

Filia
http://skullgirls.com/characters/filia/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayrRNSqRr1Q&feature=player_embedded

Cerebella
http://skullgirls.com/characters/cerebella/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nIAzbCjuUI&feature=related

Peacock
http://skullgirls.com/characters/peacock/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYlqHDqwNRo&feature=related

Parasoul
http://skullgirls.com/characters/parasoul/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlSCXidxy04&feature=related

Ms. Fortune
http://skullgirls.com/characters/ms-fortune/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqZdAMV8YXk&feature=related

Painwheel
http://skullgirls.com/characters/painwheel/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c1CAurqbr8&feature=related

Valentine
http://skullgirls.com/characters/valentine/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGcthUG4Dbw&feature=player_embedded

Double
http://skullgirls.com/characters/double/

Gameplay videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhlGAULkMlw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ryxx8iIf3A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgxFTyk_lJs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbsGglaFNJA

Interviews:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0JSG7QJ-sw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33-GG4SUWeA&feature=related

10454_nujabes2.pngPSN: Antiwhippy
Antihippy on
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Posts

  • RoyallyFlushedRoyallyFlushed Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Currently, after watching a bit of the videos, I'm extremely skeptical of this game. But then there's not a whole lot really known about it yet either, so at least it's a small blip on the radar now.

    RoyallyFlushed on
  • KazakaKazaka Asleep Counting SheepRegistered User regular
    edited February 2011
    some dickhead playing storm in the background of the gameplay video got sort of annoying, but I'm excited for any new IPs in the fighting game arena.

    Kazaka on
  • Casually HardcoreCasually Hardcore Once an Asshole. Trying to be better. Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    It's a game about girls, who all look the same, with magical deadly hair trying to stab eachother?

    Casually Hardcore on
  • KazakaKazaka Asleep Counting SheepRegistered User regular
    edited February 2011
    It's a game about girls, who all look the same, with magical deadly hair trying to stab eachother?
    Antihippy wrote:
    Though only one character is revealed so far.

    Kazaka on
  • DesertChickenDesertChicken Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Go go indie game devs.

    DesertChicken on
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  • BeckBeck Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    I like these games because I feel like Ibuki from Street Fighter 3 was a really awesome character, and I was sad when they nerfed her too much in 3rd strike. But at the same time, these games all tend to feel like Guilty Gear, and I'm not really sure if Guilty Gear is a great fighting game.

    I'm not really sure if Street Fighter 4 is a great fighting game.

    I'd like a game that's better than Street Fighter 3, and I'm not sure if this is it. This looks fun, and I'll definitely enjoy an excuse to break out my Arcade Stick, but I'd like an excuse to break out my Arcade Stick for more than a week.

    (Well, I'd like a reason to play a fighting game besides 3rd Strike for more than a week).

    Beck on
    Lucas's Franklin Badge reflected the lightning back!
  • AntihippyAntihippy Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Yeah there really isn't much shown.

    Hopefully now they finally have a publisher alot more info will roll out.
    I like these games because I feel like Ibuki from Street Fighter 3 was a really awesome character, and I was sad when they nerfed her too much in 3rd strike. But at the same time, these games all tend to feel like Guilty Gear, and I'm not really sure if Guilty Gear is a great fighting game.

    Guilty gear is one of the best fucking fighting game series of all time.

    Mike_z describes it as "fixed marvel" though, if that means anything to you.

    Antihippy on
    10454_nujabes2.pngPSN: Antiwhippy
  • gunwarriorgunwarrior Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Skeptical, but I'll keep an eye on this anyways

    gunwarrior on
  • CantidoCantido Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Mike effing Z? Whose the grappler in the game?

    Cantido on
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  • AntihippyAntihippy Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    SkullGirls%202D%20Fighting%20Game%20Coming%20To%20Xbox%20360%20And%20PS3%20This%20Year.jpg

    Supposedly the one on the left.

    They removed the characters from the main site though (and most of the main site too in fact) so I dunno, could be different.

    Antihippy on
    10454_nujabes2.pngPSN: Antiwhippy
  • Liquid GhostLiquid Ghost DO YOU HEAR THE VOICES, TOO?! Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    The character design and animations seem fine. The mechanics will probably be pretty tight. Maybe some new ideas here and there. The sound and backgrounds aren't so great. The layout looks incredibly stripped-down and uninteresting. Eh. Very skeptical. "Weird girls punching each other and calling out the names of their incredibly silly and often stupid-looking attacks" has been done no less than 273 times before.

    Liquid Ghost on
  • UnbreakableVowUnbreakableVow Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Even though there's only one character revealed, I like the style

    Downloadable title, I wonder?

    UnbreakableVow on
  • AntihippyAntihippy Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    The character design and animations seem fine. The mechanics will probably be pretty tight. Maybe some new ideas here and there. The sound and backgrounds aren't so great. The layout looks incredibly stripped-down and uninteresting. Eh. Very skeptical. "Weird girls punching each other and calling out the names of their incredibly silly and often stupid-looking attacks" has been done no less than 273 times before.

    You gotta remember that all of the footage shown are very early in development. One of the stages in the first video is very apparently a placeholder, for example.

    One of the more interesting things honestly for me is that Mike Z is working on it. He's pretty much a fighting game legend and seems to have a strong grasp of what to do mechanics-wise so far.

    Also, interesting to me for the fact that this will probably be the only american developed fighting game that has a decent fighting system. :P

    Antihippy on
    10454_nujabes2.pngPSN: Antiwhippy
  • RoyallyFlushedRoyallyFlushed Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Antihippy wrote: »
    SkullGirls%202D%20Fighting%20Game%20Coming%20To%20Xbox%20360%20And%20PS3%20This%20Year.jpg

    Supposedly the one on the left.

    They removed the characters from the main site though (and most of the main site too in fact) so I dunno, could be different.

    Ick, that looks awful. If all the characters in this end up being teenage girls who fight with their hair...then bleh. Fighting games with mostly/all girl casts are already one thing, and I didn't think the first girl looked all that good visually already (between the extremely typical schoolgirl outfit and mostly seeming to have various move animations ripped off from other game characters). I hope the plan seriously isn't to make a roster large enough to justify a 3v3 fighting game that consists of nothing but girls fighting with silly looking prehensile hair.

    RoyallyFlushed on
  • Liquid GhostLiquid Ghost DO YOU HEAR THE VOICES, TOO?! Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    I doubt it will be that bad, but I'm willing to give it a try. So far, though, I'm not sure how this isn't going to be yet another chick-themed 2D fighter with "lolol wild and CRAZY" character design. Not a single crumb of available information is hinting at a project that's actually original and/or interesting. Like I said, though, I want to give it a spin. Maybe it will be a surprising hit.

    Liquid Ghost on
  • BeckBeck Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Antihippy wrote: »
    Yeah there really isn't much shown.

    Hopefully now they finally have a publisher alot more info will roll out.
    I like these games because I feel like Ibuki from Street Fighter 3 was a really awesome character, and I was sad when they nerfed her too much in 3rd strike. But at the same time, these games all tend to feel like Guilty Gear, and I'm not really sure if Guilty Gear is a great fighting game.

    Guilty gear is one of the best fucking fighting game series of all time.

    Mike_z describes it as "fixed marvel" though, if that means anything to you.

    Man, I still love X2, but I don't think it's a great series.

    At the same time, I feel like Street Fighter jumped the shark, so I'm pretty critical of things! But I don't dig on long combos and air dashing (as in, dashing upwards, I'm just not a big fan of long juggling in general).

    Beck on
    Lucas's Franklin Badge reflected the lightning back!
  • AntihippyAntihippy Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    So far most of the hype comes from it being a new fighting game and also the pedigree. If you don't know who Mike Z is you might not care.

    There's also a pretty interesting history behind the game, though I can't really find a link to it now.

    Also, all-girl fighting games, other then arcana heart, are fucking trash that sells itself through nauseating otaku bait character design rather than gameplay mechanics, so there's also that in that it actually looks pretty good mechanics wise.

    Also, there aren't really all that much all-girl fighting games. I can think of maybe, 5, all-girl fighting games in recent memory.

    Antihippy on
    10454_nujabes2.pngPSN: Antiwhippy
  • CaptainNemoCaptainNemo Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    I'm reminded a lot of Bayonetta.

    CaptainNemo on
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  • Liquid GhostLiquid Ghost DO YOU HEAR THE VOICES, TOO?! Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    I hope there aren't any instakills. They were a cool idea at first, but it all eventually devolved into a bunch of nonsense visual wankery. They're useless most of the time, anyway, and are often utilized when you're already winning and/or fighting an opponent with a gigantic asshole for a brain. Basically an artistic teabagging that you pull off by doing stupid shit with the controller.

    Liquid Ghost on
  • l337CrappyJackl337CrappyJack Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Antihippy wrote: »
    So far most of the hype comes from it being a new fighting game and also the pedigree. If you don't know who Mike Z is you might not care.

    There's also a pretty interesting history behind the game, though I can't really find a link to it now.

    Also, all-girl fighting games, other then arcana heart, are fucking trash that sells itself through nauseating otaku bait character design rather then gameplay mechanics, so there's also that in that it actually looks pretty good mechanics wise.

    Also, there aren't really all that much all-girl fighting games. I can think of maybe, 5, all-girl fighting games in recent memory.

    I'm pretty sure the character designs are done by Kinoku, who is a contributor to Paul Robertson's Mecha Fetus Visublog.

    l337CrappyJack on
  • AntihippyAntihippy Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Yeah, I know there are alot of contributors to the project, but Mike Z is the most prominent one in it.

    The character designs are so far pretty interesting in that tim burton gothic kind of way.

    I also think someone from the art forums here might be contributing art to this project too?

    Antihippy on
    10454_nujabes2.pngPSN: Antiwhippy
  • DragkoniasDragkonias That Guy Who Does Stuff You Know, There. Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Only problem I've had with the game so far is it seems kind of floaty. But I'm willing to give new fighters a chance so we'll see.

    Dragkonias on
  • AntihippyAntihippy Registered User regular
    edited March 2011
    http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-ex-skullgirls/17-3845/

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMqdK9MAzBw&feature=feedu

    Looking pretty good so far.

    The sound design is bumming the shit out of me though. :lol:

    Antihippy on
    10454_nujabes2.pngPSN: Antiwhippy
  • AntihippyAntihippy Registered User regular
    edited March 2011
    GDC walkthrough on Gametrailers.

    Seems to have a similar ratio system like in CvS2, which is AWESOME.

    http://www.gametrailers.com/video/gdc-11-skullgirls/711325?type=flv

    Showing DHCs in action.

    http://www.gametrailers.com/video/gdc-11-skullgirls/711305?type=flv

    Antihippy on
    10454_nujabes2.pngPSN: Antiwhippy
  • RavidrathRavidrath Designer / Community Manager Los Angeles, CARegistered User regular
    edited March 2011
    Anyone play this at PAX?

    Lots of very positive previews out in the last week, so I'm curious to hear hands-on impressions from people.

    http://kotaku.com/#!5780676/skullgirls-the-smarter-2d-fighting-game

    http://www.gamesradar.com/xbox360/sk...07161826658010

    http://ps3.ign.com/articles/115/1152891p1.html

    Giant Bomb's GDC Quick Look EX goes into a lot of detail about the systems and improvements they're trying to make. It's early, but is quite playable already.

    http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-ex-skullgirls/17-3845/

    Ravidrath on
  • AntihippyAntihippy Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Symphony of the night composer joining the project.

    http://www.giantbomb.com/news/symphony-of-the-night-composer-signs-on-for-skullgirls/3063/

    Which does fit I guess.

    Antihippy on
    10454_nujabes2.pngPSN: Antiwhippy
  • King RiptorKing Riptor Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Have they revealed more Characters? I have an issue of game informer with a blurb about this game and it shows 2 fighters that are d efinitely not the maid in those videos.

    This does look kind of cool though I like the art direction and it s eems pretty fluid.

    King Riptor on
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  • ContentContextContentContext Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Have they revealed more Characters? I have an issue of game informer with a blurb about this game and it shows 2 fighters that are d efinitely not the maid in those videos.

    This does look kind of cool though I like the art direction and it s eems pretty fluid.

    Here's some old character art. Not sure how many of those made it in. The only officially confirmed characters are Filia, Cerebella and Peacock.

    ContentContext on
  • AntihippyAntihippy Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Sample track from Ms Yamane.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV8uYpvMYWQ

    I like it!

    Antihippy on
    10454_nujabes2.pngPSN: Antiwhippy
  • AntihippyAntihippy Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Finally actually revealed another character!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kum1Z78mgzI&feature=player_embedded

    She looks pretty freaking cool.

    Antihippy on
    10454_nujabes2.pngPSN: Antiwhippy
  • vagrant_windsvagrant_winds Overworked Mysterious Eldritch Horror Hunter XX Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    She's like a 1960s cartoon villain. I love it.

    vagrant_winds on
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  • MaddocMaddoc I'm Bobbin Threadbare, are you my mother? Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Oddly this game only showed up on my radar after I watched that video on Giant Bomb about the game's animation.

    Maddoc on
  • RawrBearRawrBear Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Skullgirls looks pretty cool. Though I think some of the enthusiasm I would otherwise have for the project is a bit tempered because they are the competition.

    RawrBear on
  • ContentContextContentContext Registered User regular
    So, who are people gonna play? I'm leaning towards Peacock, because she has Baiken's j.D, and Ms. Fortune, because she's the first 2 person character I might be able to manage.

  • blaze_zeroblaze_zero Registered User regular
    Valentine. I've liked her design since I saw it like four years ago on Alex's Devart.

  • Dark Raven XDark Raven X Laugh hard, run fast, be kindRegistered User regular
    Just found out about this! I like the look of Ms. Fortune and Parasoul.

    The soundtrack is being done by the lady who did Rocket Knight Adventures and Castlevania! :D

    Oh brilliant
  • GrimthwackerGrimthwacker Registered User regular
    edited February 2012
    I don't usually "Get HYPE!" for fighting games, but gattdangit this is just too stylish not to love. The folks over at GAF have been going gaga over Skullgirls for a while, and I think it deserves a proper new thread with all the details and characters revealed thus far - I'd be more than happy to do it, but I don't know thing one about the kind of technical detail that Reverge has implemented into the system, so I'd probably look like an ass. I would like to point out all the great voice talent involved (such as Cristina Valenzuela - better know as BlazBlue's Noel Vermillion, and this game's voice director - and Erin Fitzgerald among other game/anime VA's), and just how great everything looks and sounds. At this point I'll get it just to show appreciation for how much effort and love the team have put into it.

    Grimthwacker on
  • StericaSterica Yes Registered User, Moderator mod
    It's not like Antihippy is gone or anything. Send a PM and see if you can't get the OP updated.

    YL9WnCY.png
  • AntihippyAntihippy Registered User regular
    I was actually more under the impression that nobody here was interested seeing the less than enthusiastic response when I first started. :P

    I'll update when I can. I've been following it a little bit.

    10454_nujabes2.pngPSN: Antiwhippy
  • Dark Raven XDark Raven X Laugh hard, run fast, be kindRegistered User regular
    Well back then it was all hypothetical, one character, etc.

    Now it's a game!

    Oh brilliant
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