Marvel vs. Capcom 2 Message Board

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 for iOS controls pretty much how you'd expect it to - with a virtual "joystick" and buttons. But there is one attempt to make the system work better than other virtual buttons - to redesign the controls in consideration of the platform.

The on-screen "assist" and "special" buttons, used to call a teammate for a special attack or to launch one of your own special moves, can be "swiped" in four different directions, each one corresponding to a different attack.

While the virtual joystick works about as well as most, and I had a predictably difficult time playing the game, this is a smart adaptation that makes the on-screen interface somewhat more usable for a complex game. At least it shows thought toward usability on a touchscreen.

I realize I'm probably not exactly explaining this well, so I took screencaps of the help screens from the game. Swipe your way into our gallery to learn more.

#marvelvscapcom Long before Capcom started packing its discs with downloadable content, there was Marvel Vs. Capcom 2. No "downloadable" characters, no EX Super Hyper version; just perfection. On April 25 that perfection hits the iPhone and iPod Touch. Who's excited? More »

The craziest, flashiest, most screen-fillingly manic fighting game ever is being shrunk down for iOS. Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes is coming to iPhone and iPad on April 25, finally allowing you to take it for a ride in your pocket.

All 56 characters are present, as are the three-character team format and the tag functionality. What doesn't appear to be present, at least in the screens shared by Capcom, are virtual buttons. As of right now the controls for this iOS release are a mystery. Unless the game is iCade exclusive, however, expect an adjustment period (perhaps an infinite adjustment period) before you get comfortable playing this on a phone.

Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade is having its own Black Friday sale, with Fallout 3 25% off and Marvel vs Capcom 2 a handy 73% off. More details here. More »

Marvel executive vice president Ira Rubenstein says that the comics company has been experimenting in-depth with Flash games (not to be confused with games about DC's The Flash), and that it's looking to bring some of its most popular online minigames to console download services. The comic book company's strategy in terms of gaming was "like a TV pilot system," he told an audience at today's LA Games Conference.

The plan was to come up with lots of Flash games and deploy them on Marvel's websites very quickly. Now, some hits are emerging (he gave the example of the Super Hero Squad Stark Tower Defense game), and the next step for the company is to focus on improving and supporting those hits on platforms like XBLA, iPhone, and iPad.

Rubenstein says "the combination of classic gameplay with a brand twist" like that found in Stark Tower Defense is what's selling with audiences. And he says that big sales like those of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 prove that there's a space for Marvel games on the downloadable game platforms, so it makes sense to invest in Flash "hits" by taking them there. Which is fine by us -- let us know when we can pay our $10 for our Deadpool Match-3 on PSN.

For those of you thinking that Capcom's recently revealed Marvel vs. Capcom 3 was born from the strong sales of last year's Marvel vs. Capcom 2 downloadable release, well, Capcom's Ryota Niitsuma has some learnin' for you. "We really started working in development in summer 2008. But all the contract and legal negotiations -- that came way before that, as well. So ... we started to produce this game before the success of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 as a downloadable title," Niitsuma told GameTrailers, speaking through a translator during an interview at Captivate 2010 (found after the break).

Notably, Niitsuma's timeline contradicts statements made by Capcom last May. At that time, Capcom's Seth Killian told us, "What we're hoping is that if people get really juiced about [the MvC2 downloadable release], and we can show Marvel that there's a lot of heat behind this, then they'll open up the door for us to do something with '3,' which is something we'd love to do." Boy, the things a company representative will say to guard an early-in-production title.

[Via VG247]

While it's true that the high-rolling blogging lifestyle has left us out-of-touch with the needs of the unwashed masses, even the fat cats at Joystiq understand that everyone loves a deal (if only to free up some much needed capital for, let's say, a chronically underfunded game publishing division).

To help lighten the burden on your wallets, Capcom is offering the following: 50% off a single PSN game every week for five weeks, beginning with Marvel vs. Capcom 2. In total you could scoop up all five games for just under $30 and, since this is a 50% off sale, that also means you'll have saved just under $30. That's math. We've pasted the full list below for you to mull over:

February 18, 2010 - Marvel vs. Capcom 2 for $7.49
February 25, 2010 - Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix for $7.49
March 4, 2010 - Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix for $4.99
March 11, 2010 - Age of Booty for $4.99
March 18, 2010 - 1942: Joint Strike for $4.99

We're guessing that the person at Microsoft whose job it is to choose the discounted XBLA games of the week is a huge New Orleans Saints fan. Filled with the overwhelming spirit of victory from last night's engagement, this person couldn't stop him or herself from repeatedly hitting the price reduction button. We're afraid of what might have happened if they were a diehard Colts fan. Can XBLA prices be increased?

Fortunately, things panned out in our favor. During the discounting spree, three titles got their prices reduced: Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is now 800 ($10, down from 1200), TMNT: Turtles in Time Reshelled is 400 ($5, down from 800) and Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao is available for 800 ($10, down from 1200). Basically, if you've got an itch to watch ninjas or superheroes beat the snot out of things, Xbox Live has you covered for the next seven days.

Now this, this is a deal. This isn't Avatar glasses or an episode of Stargate (seriously, that was yesterday's deal). No, this is a very good game at a very good price. Today, and today only, you can pick up Marvel vs. Capcom 2 for only 560, that's seven bucks. That's slightly more than fifty percent off the usual $15 price. So yeah, good luck resisting that. Shortcut: Add Marvel vs Capcom 2 to your 360 download queue [Via Xbox.com] [Via @majornelson]