KOFXIII

[Cyanide]

He's still ash though. Don't care about ash. Tell us how much more grapply you're going to make clark. Or that ralf is getting galactica phantom and tackle back.

[Nero D.]

Ralf with no Galactica Phantom makes me disappoint. I have high doubts about them giving him his tackle back though, as it's not "explosive" enough. Ugh.

[S.D.]

Uh, Ralf had the Galactica Phantom in XII and: http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q458/howardhui/SAM_0373.jpg
Pretty much confirms that he still has the move in XIII.

[Bea]

No super vulcan punch, though. 

[Nero D.]

super vulcan punch

This is the move I was thinking about, the Umanori version specifically. Not GP. I got mixed up in Cyanide''s post

[videoman]

Translated by YasakaniHeir

Yagami's team story

Although this region is known for its hot weather, that night was all but hot. Sometimes, strong winds were even blowing...
Indeed, what woke Chizuru Kagura was not heat; it was more of an evil presence feeling.
"..."
She took a look at the Shoji facing the garden. Beautiful shining blue-ish light of the full moon were illuminating the room.
Suddenly, a long thin silhouette drew up in the shoji. Noticing it, Chizuru's went completely alarmed.
"Huh! Who's there?"
Chizuru realized her inexperience as she asked for the person's identity in a concealed voice. Quickly thinking back the situation, this familiar silhouette that went unnoticed through the garden. Before seeing him, she had already figured it out.
Chizuru felt ashamed of her own inexperience as it seemed obvious who the mysterious visitor was.
"...you've become such a coward, Kagura"
A small derisive laughter briefly showed.
"You too..."
Chizuru closed her white summer undershirt that partially exposed her chest, and then sat on her futon.
"You too, you lost your flames, didn't you?"
"So what?"
Before that arrogant answer, Chizuru remained silent.
Even though his purple flames were lost, his strength definitely is not. The Kagura residence is extremely well guarded place with countless strong bodyguards... Just the fact that he is standing before her right now, means there is no doubt about his strength.
For Chizuru, whose self-confidence was greatly affected when she lost the powers of the mirror, it was clear that it was not the case for him. Thinking about that, she was biting her lips in anger...
"I came here to see whether you regained your powers yet... As I thought, it seems that brat will just have to be taken care of."
Said the man as he turned to take his leave. Chizuru reached for him in confusion.
"Wait, Yagami! This might be your only chance!"
"...What chance?"
"For the last 660 years, the Yagami flames you wield have been affected by Orochi's evil power. But, now that the flames and the Magatama were lost... now... now, maybe it's your only chance to free your family from Orochi's curse."
"Nonsense!"
Chizuru's complaint made the man laugh.
"... I'm who I am. I don't give a damn about the Yagami family line whatsoever!"
"Yagami---"
Chizuru was intending to talk him on it, only then did she realize how inconsistent her request was.
The Yagami Family flames, which power come from the Yasakani Magatama--- If these flames are bonded to the Orochi blood, then freeing himself from Orochi would inevitably mean abandoning his flames forever.
But it also means that one of the 3 sacred treasures, used to seal Orochi, would be lost forever.
Chizuru's face turned pale with such a dilemma.
"Rest assured. Your mirror will get back to you soon."
Chizuru remained silent, and the man greeted her while taking his leave.
"... However, next thing to be lost is the Sword"
"Stop, Yagami!"
Chizuru quickly got out of her futon, opened the Shoji and rushed out of the room.
However, there was only a silent garden bathed in the shining light of the full moon. The figure of the redheaded man was nowhere to be seen.

◆◇◆◇◆

The old bridge was shaking considerably every time a truck was passing by the road under it.
Endlessly exposed to wind and rain, its coating wore off all over and its rusty spikes smelled as like the remains of some huge dead animal.
Walking slowly past a spike, Iori Yagami stopped for a while and gazed up at the moon.
"...."
The cigarette in his right hand was slowly burning out... Suddenly, burnt out ashes fell on the ground.
"... What business do dead-like people have with me?"
With a cool-headed look, he lowered his head from the sky towards a spot at the ground next to the bridge where was gathering a deep black shadow.
"Holding a grudge against me? Or is it going to be "Kill me please" once again?"
After Iori said that, the dark shadow responded.
"Such a greeting, Yagami... Although it's been a long time since we last met"
"Staring at the sky once again... Didn't we say it before? That we shall meet someday again in a full moon night."
"-----"
Hearing those charming women voices, Iori didn't move a single eyebrow.
As Iori was watching, the shadow was writhing in agony. Quietly, but surely, it started to gradually take shape.
Finally, once it stood out from a 2D world to a 3D one, the shadow had shaped into two beautiful ladies. (Now, I am raising an eyebrow)
The man tossed his cigarette. He narrowed his eyes then muttered.
"...Then it must be some sort lingering affection that made come out"
"Affection? There's no such a thing"
The redheaded Vice grandly twisted her stretched body, as she talked. The shape of her body concealed in black pants was completely reminiscent of that of a large snake.
"---- Originally we weren't planning to come out."
"Then, why are you here?"
"Well, I wonder why... Couldn't it be because you guys were disappointing beyond expectations?"
A distinctive eye patch showed on Mature's clear face. The blonde lady moved her shiny red lips to answer Iori's sarcasm.
-----------------
"... What are talking about?"
"After Kagura, it was Yagami's turn... It seems even you got tricked, weren't you?  Deceived by that Ash Crimson boy!"
"And on top of that, it looks like his strange colleagues are aiming at Orochi's power. You know, the ones who call themselves "those from the distant land""
"... Whatever, I don't care"
"That sure sounds like you. Because, all you ever care about is yourself, right?"
"However, it does matters for us. We can't let it happen!"
"We can't possibly allow Orochi's power to be helplessly exposed, now can we?"
"And that's why we came back."
Burdened in darkness, their 3 eyes (Vice's 2 + Mature's 1) were suspiciously shining. Vice and Mature, both are supposed to have been killed at Iori's own hands.
Iori put his hands in his pockets, and then spoke.
"It's nice of you to bear the consequences of Kagura's mistake. ... Still, what the hell the two of you can do?"
"Weeeeeell...However if we join forces, then there must be something we can do. Right?"
"Your aim is the boy; ours is the other guys... If we keep advancing in the tournament, we will run into them sooner or later."
"...The same ridiculous mockery again!"
"Indeed. But, using that ridiculous mockery is the fastest way to find them. And for this to work we'll need to be teammates, even if it's for the mere formalities. Get it, Yagami-kun?"
"Hmph---"
With that sound, Iori walked away indifferently. Passing next to Vice and Mature, he continued his way down the bridge.
Without stopping to speak, he added.
"I'll warn you in advance. If it turns out to be useless for me---"
""Then I'll have no more use for you!"  Right? ...........we'll keep it in mind."
Vice's suppressed laugh was slowly fading out.
"We're excited as well! Excited about the extents of your strength after losing your flames. -----But since it's you, we probably won't be disappointed."
"...Even dead, it seems you're as smooth talker as ever"
At the bridge exit, he stopped then looked back over his shoulder.
The two ladies' shadowy shapes were nowhere, and all Iori could see was the blue moon shining in the clear dark sky.
"....................."
Iori took out another cigarette, and lit it up with his lighter that he has been using for a while.
The thin smoke of the tossed cigarette rose up towards the full moon night sky, while a red flickering light was glowing from the silhouettes lurking in the dark.

Sorry for the long post.
Next in line are Team Japan, Elizabeth Team then Fatal Fury Team 

[Nero D.]

This was already posted brother, albeit, now it's better translated. But yeah.

[Alhambra]

a better translation is always welcome

[videoman]

Here's the rest of the blog tranlation.

Q: What is Fructidor like?

Yamamoto:
Fructidor is a throw move. It's a NeoMAX DM, so it's quite powerful. You can think of it as a powerful addition that lets you crush your opponent.

Yamaguchi:
We might change the animation of this move somewhat from the version that was usable at the location test.

Q: What about the EX versions of his special moves?

Yamamoto:
Most of Ash' EX moves do multiple hits. In particular I'd like to call attention to his EX Genie. Unlike the regular version, the EX version activates fast on contact with the opponent, like an explosion, so it's not possible to escape by dashing or jumping. In addition, the explosion does multiple hits, so you can easily use it to start a combo. Of course, the fact that you can put this out anywhere on the screen makes it very difficult for the opponent to approach you.

In any case it's effective just by placing it on the screen. It's a 'disgusting' move that fits pretty well with Ash' image, isn't it?

Q: Are there any other moves we should take note of?

Yamamoto:
His Thermidor has faster startup and a smaller window of vulnerability, so it's a lot easier to use.
On top of that because it moves slowly, it's hard to avoid by jumping or rolling, and blocking it will cause the opponent to take tick damage. In addition while they're blocking you can mix up high and low attacks - much like the EX Genie I mentioned before, it's a move that will cause disgust in your opponent just by you throwing it out there.
Ash has a lot of moves that allow him to show off - I suppose it's an extension of his personality (laughs).
To anyone who uses Ash, I encourage you to play him in a way that creates advantageous situations for you.

Yamaguchi:
He's very much a character aimed at people who want to mess with and provoke their opponents.

Thank you very much. Next week we'll talk about the three members of the Elisabeth Team. Please look forward to it!

[EnlightendShadow]

The official KOF XIII website has been updated once again there are new screenshots showing kyo's aerial serpent wave and Neo Max and an update for the fatal fury team's story. 
I don't know if I should post this here but I also found something on another KOF game called King of fighters world.  I remember a while back they showed a video that was in 3d but now they have screenshots and it looks life KOFXIII styled sprites. Here is the website http://game.snkplaymore.co.jp/event/kof-world/ and http://blog.sina.com.cn/u/1735440434

[Alhambra]

I kinda wish Vice had a move with the skull geyser from the old games in it. I really miss that effect.

[S.D.]

Yeah, her EX DM feels pretty generic. She definitely needs the skull pillar, I mean the effect is there, Mature has it.

[Nero D.]

From what I'm seeing, they'll most definitely add it. Hell they added Yuri's Chou Upper, and the skull is just cosmetic, so they'll add it.

[Alhambra]

You got a point maybe by the May round of Loktests it'll be in. Her moves are just one of the few without any super special effects, so its kinda strange. I'm kinda worried that they're rushing to much. I've never seen a loktest schedule like this one.

[Nero D.]

Well coming off that obvious beta XII, they're doing what they can and working all the trimmings in before their release date.

I say it's a pretty good schedule cause they're slowly improving and adding shit that we're used to week by week.

[Cyanide]

Yuri needed chou upper. Her saifa just doesn't cut it as anti air.

[Luce]

you think iori is gonna have dark/black flames instead of purple?

[Bastard Mami]

crimson flames if any.

[Sean Altly]

Just visited the Japanese site for the game, and in the background of the first page they were showing off a new stage. Well, I'm not usually the first person to jump on this bandwagon, but it seems kind of...well, racist. The tribesman in the background have those overly exaggerated lips that people used to draw black people with back in the 20's and stuff. It's pretty bad.

Any thoughts? Am I reading too much into it? Keep in mind, I was one of RE5's biggest defenders, so I don't throw out the term "racist" lightly.

Also, I didn't have time to go through 57 pages to see if anyone mentioned this. If it's already been discussed, kindly point me to which page and I'll leave it be, and I apologize if I brought up an old issue.

[Mgbenz]

That stage was supposed to be in KOFXII but was cut due to the racism reason. I don't see what's so serious about it though, everyone in the Japanese stage are sumo wrstlers and everyone in the France stage are fat women. The stage makers love fat people apparently...