EA Sports MMA Updated Impressions

We suffer a nasty cut above the eye with our latest look at EA's upcoming mixed martial arts brawler.

The public slanging match between THQ and EA’s competing mixed martial arts franchises has been heating up of late, with both sides more than happy to take shots at each other, including UFC VP Don Gold and MMA fighter King Mo. EA is the latest to take a swing, unveiling more details on EA Sports MMA at an event held overnight at GDC 2010.

Oh yes. There will be blood.

Oh yes. There will be blood.

While our last look at the game focused more on what EA’s overall goals were when it came to transferring the brutal sport of mixed martial arts to home consoles, EA’s GDC event got more granular, unveiling a few tidbits on how the game would control. As was previously hinted, EA Sports MMA will use a system called total strike control, a modified version of the right-stick focused controls found in Fight Night Round 4. Players will use the right stick for all strikes, with different stick movements resulting in different attacks (flicking down and up, for example, will make your fighter attempt his version of a roundhouse). Holding down the left bumper will modify the attacks to become leg moves, while moves will also change depending on the distance your fighter is away from his opponent. If you’re not a fan of the right stick, then EA still has you covered: All of these moves can also be assigned to your controller’s face buttons.

While EA let out some details about standing attacks, it still didn’t unveil the control scheme for defense, clinches, or ground moves. One thing EA reps did confirm, however, is that a controller’s rumble functionality will be used when fighters are grappling on the ground. When on the mat, rumbling will indicate that your opponent is trying to move position, giving you a tactile indication of what your opponent is planning and allowing you to perform a countermove should your skills permit.

When it comes to finally taking down your opponent, each fighter will sport both a stamina and health meter (although the only visible one on the heads-up display will be stamina). Your stamina will decrease with missed blows, prolonged clinches, or constant movement, and it will regenerate with time, but its total value will slowly decrease as the match progresses. As for health, each fighter will have three health measurements--head, gut, and legs. Each measurement will be tracked individually, with more strikes to each area affecting fighters in specific ways. And, yes, fighters will display damage specific to where they’ve been hit. In our hands-off demo, we saw plenty of cuts resulting from successful head strikes, with the blood splashing on the mat and opponents in a realistic but grizzly manner.

While that was about all EA chose to disclose about gameplay at its GDC event, it did let out more detail about the game generally. First up, while the Strikeforce organisation would indeed be one of the promotions featured within the game, the hexagon won’t be the only type of arena players will battle in within EA Sports MMA. Circular and square rings will also be featured, as will three different rule sets: unified (which allows elbow strikes), Japanese (which allows foot stomps), and Strikeforce rules.

The final bits of information we gleaned about the upcoming MMA game came from the demo fight EA showed at its GDC event; a fight that featured Nick Diaz and Cung Le. First up, as you’d expect from an EA Sports game, presentation was top notch, with each fighter receiving a flashy ring intro before the match (complete with his own music and walk down the ramp). From the loading screen, it looks like fighters in EA Sports MMA will be rated on the attributes of stand up, clinch, ground, submission, and health. They will also be able to focus on one specific fight style. Real-life MMA personalities will make appearances, including announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. and former UFC ref John McCarthy. Once within the fighting arena, fighters will also exhibit unique stances depending on their specialities: Cung Le, for example, stood in a classic martial arts pose, while jujitsu expert Nick Diaz sported a more fists-in-the-air stance.

EA Sports MMA is looking impressive, and we can’t wait to finally get our hands on the game to see if the game can match the looks. Look for more on this mixed martial arts game in the coming months on GameSpot.

50 Comments

  • AlbionsGreatest

    Posted Sep 4, 2010 5:53 pm GMT

    My main problem with UFC 2010 is the submissions... ugh the submissions...

    Also what is with the auto blocks that happen on the ground, any one else notice that...?

  • Coronius

    Posted May 24, 2010 3:56 am GMT

    education:

    Fedor is the best in the world. It looks like you need an mma education before posting your garbage. And if you post a comment like that you should also write who you think is the best. Neither Carwin or Lesnar has fought better opponents than Fedor and they have not been on undefeated for 10 years and 30 fights either. Go back to sleep.

  • education

    Posted Apr 28, 2010 11:30 pm GMT

    it looks great. the striking looks good. im gonna take a pass on ufc 2010, im sick of every punch or kick being auto blocked and turned into a take down. and i hate the rotating to get an advantage. ufc 09 was a terrible game and ufc 10 looks like ufc 09 with swaying and an extra grapple option. ea mma looks promising so im waiting for that. as for real life i would like to see fedor vs lesnar or carwin. how many years of beating hand me down ufc has beens will it take people to realize that fedor is not the best in the world?

  • legioniers

    Posted Mar 14, 2010 1:10 pm GMT

    It hope it's alot better than UFC Undisputed

  • GSPgreases

    Posted Mar 12, 2010 6:12 am GMT

    EA MMA will be great for showcasing global MMA. Multiple venues, Multiple Promotions, Multiple rulesets, Unique fighters & Ring/Cage. Japan rules will be a completely different experience in the game. 10 min & 5 minute round, judging is not a 10 pt scoring system, Soccer Kick & Stomps. All this confirmed in his GDC interview http://www.gamereactor.eu/news/3103/EA+Sports+MMA+interview/

  • G4m3_0n

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 1:59 pm GMT

    Can't wait till a demo drops for this to try it out as it sounds very promising... Thank goodness they added button controls as it some what sounded like the WWE: Smackdown series with all the main controls being done through the right stick with a combination of a shoulder button when grappling and we all know how that turned out...

    Anyways will more than likely pick this up along with UFC 2010 as the different fighting areas sounds cool...

  • scottxfree

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 11:31 am GMT

    So tight. UFC 09 was like a demo for all the reaaaaall MMA games. 2010 is the year of the video game, i swear, so many tight games are coming out.

  • OfficialBed

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 10:47 am GMT

    Can't wait for this!

  • Fat_Boy_PT

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 10:40 am GMT

    ill give this a try. UFC 2010 i dunno because i have 09 and seems a bit of a waste of money but this one, i might get. Fedor FTW!

  • SithChampion

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 7:31 am GMT

    @ jfcundiff
    I couldn't have said it better myself. Besides, a true MMA fan would be better off getting both UFC 2010 as well as this one. UFC and Strikeforce are two significantly different organizations. I can't wait for both. They should make Chuck Norris a secret unlockable character for both games though.

  • zato_number_one

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 6:39 am GMT

    Come on, you all know you're gonna want 'em both!!!

  • ukogmickey

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 3:52 am GMT

    Il get this just coz I like the UFC, but I will never buy DLC for this and am FOREVER a die hard UFC fan, Undisputed 2010 is the game for me, Bring it on ! This is just a case of EA trying to earn some money as always from what the UFC has done, Its blown up, Its popular so it was only expected EA would like a piece of that pie, I hope they fail personally. I hope its the worst MMA game to ever be made and is only because of the way EA treat and have treated fans/customers alike across the world, They dont care about us guys. Turn 10 have become more like them by the day. Now Dice have kept their feet on the ground and imagine always will. R.I.P EA MMA.

  • tamd

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 11:57 pm GMT

    i still prefer ufc over mma , even if mma gameplay is much bettre , but i hardly know any stars in mma , bobby lashley n some others , but in ufc there are lots of star i like

  • jfcundiff

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 9:09 pm GMT

    3 different promotions, rings and cages, entrances, signature stances and moves, and 3 different rules sets (Unified rules with elbows, Japanese rules with soccer kicks and stomps, and Strikeforce rules without elbows). This game is going to be a blast.

  • jerkface96

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 8:34 pm GMT

    @MasonChaos: FNR4 was highly acclaimed by many people, the only people that really down played it was the guys who dont know how to use joysticks, I thought it was the best one yet, for the fight night series. THe only franchise they bought out was Madden,,, THey make great NHL, SOccer and Golf Games. Give or take NBA live being crappy. I honestly think you are a casual observer of MMA, just because a game has the UFC name doesnt mean its better.....

    StrikeForce has many great Japanese fighters, Up N Comers and one of the greatest HeavyWeights ever. and UFC owning Pirde is realllllyyyy ollllddd neeewwwwsss. EA has Strikeforce and Dream and possibly another organization.

  • MasonChaos

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 8:26 pm GMT

    @jerkface Compared to Fight Night 3 Ea's FN Round 4 was garbage. I think EA's only chance to out do THQ is if they focus their game on stand-up. Even though their punching controls were garbage in FNr4. EA has also had dominance in Sports games because they buy out the franchises and have had no good competition. THQ not only has UFC to back them up but all the ufc fighters, UFC even owns Pride now. So EA has strikeforce? Which is only around because of UFC.

  • shinspikes

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 8:16 pm GMT

    I love intros. Come on EA, you have a chance to make this big. Don't mess up. Can't wait for both games.

  • jerkface96

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 8:06 pm GMT

    @masonchaos: question,,,, was any of THQs wrestling games good? No? yea exactly.... yes they have feedback, but how much do you think theyre gonna change.

    you could also say that EA has had experience with boxing games, and that their physics work in the latest one is awesome. Im pretty sure EA isnt just doing some sort of Random MMA game, if it includes Japanese fighters, the possible option to fight in a cage or a ring, and plenty of other extras. also another question..... Does EA have a better track record when it comes to video games of all genres? yes, yes it does,,,, the past few sports games its released all are of critical acclaim.

    and if yoe read one of the comments below you will find out, EA was under different management when it blew off Dana WHite.

  • Fr0wnyface

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 7:52 pm GMT

    Wait, you actually want EA to fail? Why? So UFC Undisputed can become as terrible as the Smackdown vs Raw series? Instead of blindly following UFC and Dana White how about you get a mind of your own. None of the companies involved with these games care about you, so why take sides? Two great MMA games > one.

  • ElMeerkat

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 7:46 pm GMT

    This game is gonna be awesome. Hope all weight classes can fight each other now. GSP vs Lesnar would be fun