ame Informer touched down in Sin City this week for Midway Gamer’s Day and has a jackpot of info to share with you as a result. We were able to get our hands on some playable builds, learned about a new twist to a staple Midway franchise and even received confirmation of the return of an old favorite. All in all, Midway caught our attention with their flashy presentations, optimistic views of the future and solid 2008 lineup. Read on to get the scoop about Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Blitz the League II, This is Vegas, Unreal Tournament 3, TNA Impact and The Wheelman. Also, make sure to check out our media tab for five new trailers specifically released for Midway’s Gamer Day – including your first peek inside MKvsDC.

Announcements

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
Yes, you read the title correctly. Mortal Kombat – the game that has been outraging faint-of-heart mothers since 1992 is pairing with comic-book giant DC for its next installment in the series. Since the arcade classic debuted, Midway has attempted to breathe fresh life into the franchise several times by straying from the path cleared by previous games. Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero featured platform-style gameplay and focused on the backstory of one of the game’s staple characters. Similarly, Mortal Kombat: Special Forces and Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks were both action games that drifted from their versus-fighting roots.

Ed Boon – co-creator of the Mortal Kombat series – took the stage during Midway’s initial presentation to show us a short clip and tease us with scarce details about the game. Apparently, a cataclysmic force merges the universe of Mortal Kombat with that of our favorite DC characters and as Kombat forces both friends and foes to fight, a brawl of epic proportions is inevitable. Midway brought on the combined experience of comic book writers Jimmy Palmiottie ( Painkiller Jane, Marvel Nights, Jonah Hex, 21 Down) and Justin Gray (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, JLA Classified, Punisher, Red X-mas, The Resistance) to the development team – using their expertise to craft a believable story for this unique concept. A new fighting system was briefly outlined and will include Freefall Kombat and Klose Kombat fighting elements.

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe will debut this fall on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 with four confirmed characters: Scorpion, Sub Zero, Batman and Superman. We have to admit, while the concept seems like a bizarre combination of an excessively violent fighting game with a handful of the most loved comic book IPs in existence, it is intriguing and will hold our attention throughout the development process. The title has essential elements to succeed, but we’re not sure how fans of DC’s greatest heroes will react to the bloody context in which the game will undoubtedly take place. In the mean time, look forward to some Mall Rat-esque type discussions about the infallible strength of Superman and as a result his unquestionable dominance in the upcoming game.

Blitz the League II
Oh, the carnage. Also confirmed during the Midway presentation was the return of Blitz the League. Blitz the League is a 2005 Midway title based on the longstanding NFL Blitz series. When the NFL signed an exclusive licensing deal with EA Sports, the title of the series changed, but the vicious core elements remained intact. Established in 1997, the Blitz series brought a twist to your usual football title, featuring fewer players on the field and more flexible positions among other notable differences. Animated clips would allow players to engage in pro-wrestling type moves, and the game featured unstoppable action-packet gameplay. 

Disassociating themselves with the NFL allowed Blitz the League to increase in-game brutality to levels it wasn’t allowed to before. In Blitz the League, downs are given at 30 yards, eight men outfit a team, and referees are nonexistent. Painkillers are used to numb injuries instead of treating them, and building up the Clash Meter allows for dirty tactics such as stiff-arming opponents. Both legal and illegal drugs can be purchased in the game, and they increase the athlete’s performance when consumed. Players can sabotage other teams by sending prostitutes to their quarters before game-time, leaving them with less energy remaining for the field. Long and short – this is not your dad’s game of football. Blitz the League is in its own class and is coming back this fall.

Midway Casual Games
Midway interim president and CEO Matt Booty also announced the publisher’s intention to maintain producing titles for the casual game market. On an unrelated note – Booty showcased his sense of humor when he informed us that he was impressed with the sheer number of creative combos involving the words “Booty” and “Call” that graced headlines when his new title was recently announced.

Back to business – Midway tried its hand in the current casual game market and liked the results. Last year, Midway released Game Party for the Wii, a collection of seven party and skill games including darts, shuffle board, ski ball and table hockey. Up to four players could test their skill at a time, two simultaneously if desired. Midway also released TouchMaster for the Nintendo DS, a game that showcased a wide selection of mini-games such as are commonly found in bars and arcades. Trivia, solitaire and mahjong made an appearance in the DS title, and players were able to connect via the DS Wi-Fi feature to check high scores and rakings online.

Midway intends to bring back new versions of both titles in the fall of 2008 and also plans on launching a casual games site in the spring. While casual games such as the above may not appeal to all individuals – a gamer taking the time to read this review for example – it does seem like a good strategy for Midway to create titles that appeal to a full portfolio of demographics.