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EA-Marvel brawler KO'd

Brendan Sinclair
By Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor

Multiyear licensing agreement for fighting games follows development studio EA Chicago into the abyss.

When EA Chicago was closed last year, one of the issues unaddressed at the time was the fate of the studio's projects, a Marvel fighting game and a second fighter based on a new intellectual property. That mystery has been cleared up a little, as Electronic Arts and Marvel have terminated both the project and their licensing agreement, according to a GameTap report.

The deal between Marvel and EA dates back to 2004, when the companies announced a multiyear agreement for fighting games featuring famous Marvel characters alongside new EA-created heroes. The first offspring of the deal was Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects, a poorly received effort that saw its price slashed by 40 percent less than two months after its release.

Another mystery in the wake of the EA Chicago closing--the future of the studio's general manager, Kudo Tsunoda--was recently solved when Microsoft confirmed the developer's hiring. Tsunoda will now work at Microsoft Game Studios under corporate vice president Shane Kim. However, a growing tide of unconfirmed reports has Microsoft's own Marvel project--an Xbox 360 and PC massively multiplayer online role-playing game--being put on indefinite hold.

[UPDATE]: A representative with Electronic Arts confirmed the deal's demise for GameSpot, saying, "EA and Marvel have jointly agreed to discontinue development of the Marvel titles under the EA Games Label." As for why, the rep only said it was a business decision made based on EA's portfolio strategy.

Brendan Sinclair
By Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor

Brendan Sinclair has been a games journalist since 1999. His tastes are eclectic, though he has a definite affinity for games with arcade roots. He's Canadian, but has also been at home in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco.

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Sablicious 5 pts

I still play Marvel Nemesis today.  Very few games of its type come close to the multiplayer fun factor of this game... once you delve deep enough into the game to uncover it, that is.

 

So sad they dumped this potential laden franchise for that ever-increasingly rubbishy MUA shovelware...  -_-

 

Initial sales of a new IP need to be taken with a grain of salt.  People don't adopt something new easily; it's human nature.  A more polished, content laden MN would have guaranteed to have sold sufficiently, with the first game having laid the foundation / drawn attention to the IP.

 

Games companies are so short sighted it makes me sick.  >_>

starduke 37 pts

So, that's what happend to this game. They canceled it. What's with marvel? They seem to keep canceling games that may have been great. I just hope they don't end up canceling the new Wolvie game too.

kev1000 5 pts

Too bad but someones will create the ultimate marvel fighting game some day but now i stick with the 2d marvel vs capcom games for now

guile_charlie 5 pts

Hmmm.....Marvel Lisence up for grabs, huh? MARVEL VS. CAPCOM 3 ANYONE?! Also, shallam. As far as whether or not MVC was good depends on the individual's opinion. Most of the fighting game comunity hails Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 as the best fighting game ever made by Capcom (or otherwise) at least in the Vs. Series of games, I am one of those people. Did you like Street Fighter Alpha, and if you did, would you play it if they included marvel characters with all their signiture moves and over the top action, plus the ability to pull off air combos like in X-Men Next Demention, but have more control over what you do in the air?

leofiregod 5 pts

That really sucks. I'd seen shots of this game on you.tube that were from some game show. It looked really awesome.

Theaterguy916 5 pts

Rise of the Imperfects was such a fun game, I was really hoping they would bring out another one like it. Bummer.

shallam 5 pts

I think I'm the only person who liked EA's Rise of the Imperfects. I was really looking forward to a Next Gen all Marvel fighting game. Isn't that what made/makes comics great? The battle scenes? I wish someone would pick up this idea. BTW, i never played it; was Marvel vs. CAPCOM that good?

paladinzio 5 pts

*taps CAPCOM on the shoulder* look, get the V.S series back into gear, bastard

Maxx_the_Slash 19 pts

I truely hope Capcom picks up the Marvel liscence again. I ****ing want them to reissue copies of Marvel VS. Capcom 2 for the Xbox, because the ones out there now are going for an ungodly $70 for a USED copy.

badman11226 6 pts

Is it me or EA is just plain Garbage. Marvel and EA was a horrible combination. It was just a failure. Marvel and EA is like Mike Tyson and Robin Gibbens just outright embarrassing. Now they finally split up its time for Marvel and Capcom to get remarried and like this board says Make us some MVC 3 please" :-)

rocktenda 5 pts

Wake up CAPCOM AND MARVEL!!!!!! we need you to get back together....

Wingzero123 5 pts

If they do make a MVC3 they need to make the characters balanced this time also establish better music. I got sick of that music. Also make some characters fight like the way they are in the marvel shows and comic books.

zombey1333 5 pts

Marvel should have stuck with Capcom. Capcom had made several games for them on the SNES, as well as the VS series. All of the games spit out from the license were quite enjoyable. I can't really say much for anything that's come afterwards, though.

Ra-Devil 5 pts

MVC 3 would be the mother of all fighting games. Why did Marvel and Capcom go their seperate ways again? I never got the whole story. O'well, too bad. I'd like to see something cool come around though, and I really don't think the whole Marvel Ultimae Alliance style is a good idea. I really didn't like those games.

kaziechameleon 5 pts

D@rn, i love a good marvel game but suprisingly capcom is the only one that makes good marvel titles thank you, like say Marvel Vs. Capcom 1&2, classic stuff, or the 2d xmen fighter they made. stuff i'll never forget.

club-sandwich 5 pts

omg capcom better gets the marvel franchise again, I really want MVC 3.

psychojosh 5 pts

"I want a remake of marvel vs capcom + Marvel vs capcom 2 on the wii with classic and gamecube controls" ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!!! a game like MVC would be absolutely terrible on the wii, bring it to the consoles where it belongs like 360 and PS3 but don't even consider bringing it to the wii because playing a game like that on gamecube controllers would be bad enough, let alone playing it with wii controllers Anyways, yes... MARVEL VS CAPCOM 3, DEAR GOD YES!!!! PLEASE GET BACK TOGETHER YOU GUYS!!! Your companies make such beautiful music together!!!

Solidesnake2004 5 pts

MVC3 is a great way for Marvel to have a comback with capcom..... i want to see a MVCVSNK....NOW THAT WOULD BE A GAME!!!!!......MVC3!!!!

clawboy 5 pts

I really wanted to play that game. Oh well.

ise1880 5 pts

dam thats too bad. i remember seeing gameply footage of this game on rob and big. oh well

maaly81 5 pts

TrueIori Marvel vs Capcom 3 that all i got to say You took the words right outta my mouth. I have been waiting for that game to be announced since Dreamcast stop making games. I actually pulled the Cast out a couple of weeks ago and played MArvel vs. Capcom 2. Great game. EA is horrible

Diernes 5 pts

Good, give the license back to capcom, or at least a developer that knows how to make fighters...

TrueIori 5 pts

Marvel vs Capcom 3 that all i got to say

retrofraction12 5 pts

I want a remake of marvel vs capcom + Marvel vs capcom 2 on the wii with classic and gamecube controls

RufustheSage 5 pts

Marvel vs Capcom 3 and Marvel vs Capcom 2 for the Playstation Store and XBL Arcade!!! COME ON MARVEL AND CAPCOM GET OFF YOUR ASS!!!!

majestikk 5 pts

Why waste time making Marvel face EA created generic heroes?! I mean the only game that makes sense is MARVEL VS CAPCOM 3!!! Keep it FAST, 3 vs 3, 2D and just BOOST up the ROSTER! Give us this game PLEASE!

DMC2677 5 pts

Come on Capcom...we're practically drooling over the mere prospect of the 3rd MvC!!!! I do see some points with what WeWerePirates was saying, but you gotta admit, with Marvel going back with Capcom, it's a no-brainer what project's coming next.... MvC3...MvC3...MvC3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Adam_the_Nerd 5 pts

Haha EA lost big! Marvel Nemesis: Rise of Imperfects wasnt terrible. It just wasn't 4 player. WE NEED MARVEL VS. DC!!!

dante_nero360 5 pts

MARVEL v. CAPCOM 3!!!!!!!!! come on give the fans what they want

Mcortijo01 5 pts

Sweet!! That's one less franchise EA won't be destroying.

ssj4gogetarocks 5 pts

Can we PLEASE GET MARVEL VS CAPCOM 3!!!!! I BEG OF YOU GAMING GODS!!!!

WeWerePirates 9 pts

When marvel made a deal with Capcom they went to the best in fighting games at the time. When they went to EA they went to a financial juggernaut (not Juggernaut) of the industry but with no record on fighting games. Personally I think Nemesis was a brave effort if not entirely perfect. Now I think there are several likely options. 1. Scrap their fighting game line for now, They've got plenty of other things going on in terms of games. most likely I think 2. Go with an existing partner 3. Form a partnership with a company which is a current leader in fighting games. (Namco, Tecmo, Sega I suppose) 4. Make a deal with another big company, unlikely Sega fits the bill on 2 and 3. I don't list Capcom because their fighting game development is in a funny place. They geared it down and never really transitioned to 3D. They had to build a team to make SF3. Maybe longer term they will be back on track. Just my thoughts though.

Strike_Zer0 5 pts

Well that stinks. Since Marvel.com had removed their footage of the game with the closure of the EA studio it seemed pretty obvious that it was dead. A shame since it actually looked like it was gonna be pretty good.

Spyhunter_101 5 pts

MARVEL v. CAPCOM 3!!!!!!!!! come on give the fans what they want

jknight5422 5 pts

Since Marvel is being ditched by Softy & EA, I think Capcom will most likely go back to Marvel & ask to pick up the license. I don't think Marvel has to push the deal to Capcom. Capcom should be running towards it. Perhaps we'll see another Ultimate Alliance sequel as well?

Seymour47 5 pts

The Marvel MMO might be done for, eh? Why am I not surprised. How sad is it when a company having nothing to do with super heros (Cryptic) can make an outstanding MMO, but the original supoer hero creators can't even make a lousy one? It's no wonder they were trying so hard to sue Cryptic and NCsoft. They knew they couldn't make one so they tried to get some quick money out of someone that could.

hobotech64 7 pts

[This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

4themob1 5 pts

oh yeah! Marvel vs. Capcom would be sweet!

GuyverV 5 pts

i'll throw my hat in this. MARVEL v. CAPCOM 3. let's get dante and viewtiful joe in there for good measure. maybe some power stone characters

DMC2677 5 pts

Alright....say it with me now: "WE WANT MARVEL VS. CAPCOM 3"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

twiztdmike 5 pts

one more vote for marvel vs capcom.

pewens 5 pts

Oh yes, best news of the year so far!! Come Capcom you know we want you to make more Marvel games, get that license back!!!!!!!

the-obiwan 5 pts

im agree with kamuifei we need Marvel vs. Capcom 3.

Aurey 5 pts

Well, in first place, Marvel games were nice when Capcom produced them. Since that relationship ended every game sporting the Marvel logo was awful! I Just hope Capcom get the license again.

KamuiFei 31 pts

"new EA-created heroes". Like who? Anyways, Marvel+ EA doesn't add up properly. Stick with Capcom, Marvel. We need Marvel vs. Capcom 3, with Capcom's new heroes and villians.

CMakaCreative 10 pts

jocaju EA su***!! I'm EA free for 3+ years. You're so lucky, show me way....Madden & Burnout got me hooooked.

Jokul 5 pts

I didn't think Rise of the Imperfects was that bad, I admit it was cheap but I assumed It had been out for a while

jocaju 5 pts

EA su***!! I'm EA free for 3+ years.

Unknown_Legend 5 pts

Marvel fighting games would be better in 2-D or cell sheded 3-D IMO. All I want is a great Marvel fighting game, we've been long overdue for one.

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