Fight Night Round 4 Gets Free Updates, Button Patch Soon

16 Comments Posted July 7, 2009 - By Sterling McGarvey

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Fight Night Round 4. From the time I picked up the controller and got the crap knocked out of me, I knew that EA’s next boxing iteration would be something special. And it seemed like a sequel designed to bring the series up to speed with other EA Sports franchises that came after Fight Night Round 3. So it wasn’t a surprise to see an e-mail from EA announcing new downloadable content for Round 4.

The content itself? As Hamlet once said, “Ay, there’s the rub.”
Fight Night Round 4
At least, if A: you’re a hardcore Fight Night purist, and B: you’re playing on PS3. Looks like the latter’s coming first. Xbox 360 owners will be happy to know that early next month, Pizza Hut’s footing the bill to sponsor a platform-exclusive alternate version of Sugar Ray Leonard. But that’s the tip of the iceberg. Fans of Round 3 who bemoaned the lack of button-support will get their wish. EA has promised a September update that will enable button-mashers to step into the arena. Good news for some fans and a poison pill for others.

EA’s say on the matter? Here’s the press release quote from senior producer Dean Richards:

"The depth and variety of new content we have planned this summer is going to make one of the most critically acclaimed games on the market even better. Among the new content in development, our new button control scheme will give fans a choice for how they want to throw punches in the game. We strongly believe that the refined Total Punch Control is the most intuitive way to throw punches in Fight Night Round 4, but we also want fans of the franchise to have an option."

TheFeed subsequently contacted a representative at EA for more information and were told, "EA will have more announcements on the DLC in the near future." Does that mean online filtering options for stick players versus button-mashers? The mind boggles.

It’s not all doom and gloom by any means. EA also promises a new training gym, gameplay sliders, and new equipment. Personally, my fingers and toes are crossed for that new training gym to include some better minigames --my sole bone of contention with an otherwise stellar boxing experience.

In the end, EA needs some good filtering options for button-mashers and stick-based boxers online. This could be as game-breaking for online as the Haymaker was in Round 2. I’ve always been of the school of thought that you don’t play pool by throwing the white ball at other balls on the table. That’s what button-boxing represents to me, a gamer who’s been playing Fight Night for a half-decade. On the other hand, with proper handling on EA's part, it could be a happy compromise.

What do you think fight fans?

Tags: PlayStation 3, Videogames, Xbox 360

Comments

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Displaying 1–16 of 16

muchtoomuch

the button idea completely contradicts the new form of gameplay for fight night

Posted: July 7, 2009 5:15 PM | Reply | Report

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r_pad

People that use the face buttons shouldn't be allowed to play online.

Posted: July 7, 2009 5:17 PM | Reply | Report

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d_dirdy

I like the total punch control while i'm playing an actual fight but i don't really like it while i'm training my boxer in legacy mode. i rather just use the face buttons on the training to get his skills up and use the total punch control in the boxing matches.

Posted: July 7, 2009 5:28 PM | Reply | Report

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mikemill

I don't want to fight the button mashers... lazy gamers. The analog total punch control is much more intuitive once you actually put some time into learning it.

Posted: July 7, 2009 6:20 PM | Reply | Report

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Da_Reverberator

I love the current control scheme (xbox 360) and I wish there will be a character pack also.

Posted: July 7, 2009 6:30 PM | Reply | Report

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cole1114

I want to get it, but i am saving up for Champions.

Posted: July 7, 2009 6:57 PM | Reply | Report

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Silverweed

YES!!!!!! My button scheme is back. Using the stick is awkward and tedious. This will not only sell more copies of the game but also make it more accessible to older fans of the series like myself. Thank you EA.

Posted: July 7, 2009 7:47 PM | Reply | Report

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Yamato101

People should be allowed to use buttons in all game modes EXCEPT ranked matches.

Posted: July 7, 2009 7:47 PM | Reply | Report

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firefist

Got used to the analog. I don't need no stinking buttons. But it's a good addition for players who aren't familiar with the game.

Posted: July 8, 2009 5:19 AM | Reply | Report

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hardwirecars

i really dont care

in all the times i got to play the other fightnights online at my cousins i fought people with like 500 - 24 win/loss found out they were button players so i sent em to the mat.
twas loads of fun.

Posted: July 8, 2009 5:22 AM | Reply | Report

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samr64

screw the button mashers.

Posted: July 8, 2009 6:32 AM | Reply | Report

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DrBeard

Button Mashing??? F off. Its all about stick mashing now.

Anyway hitting different buttons to do different punches is slower to do then flicking a stick up and down

also if stick mashers are so good and can play using the stick why should it matter what controls different people use?

and before anyone says anything i can play with both. I took the time to adapt and give the game a real chance, i just dont enjoy the game at all using the stick.

Posted: July 10, 2009 1:49 PM | Reply | Report

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DrBeard

Button Mashing??? F off. Its all about stick mashing now.

Anyway hitting different buttons to do different punches is slower to do then flicking a stick up and down

also if stick mashers are so good and can play using the stick why should it matter what controls different people use?

and before anyone says anything i can play with both. I took the time to adapt and give the game a real chance, i just dont enjoy the game at all using the stick.

Posted: July 10, 2009 1:50 PM | Reply | Report

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TJD43

Button Mashing? yeah right when the buttons weren't in the game all the TPC users were saying "OH YEAH NOW THE BM's CAN GET OWNED ON THE STICKS!!". Now that the buttons are back seems like most of the TPC users are getting nervous lol. Fact is if you're good you're good, If you can beat all the TPC users out there using it, but you can't beat someone using the sticks, you're not the best. I use both but prefer buttons due to the fact that X is always a jab(xbox360) B+A is always right uppercut not a guessing game like the TPC best overall should have the belt not the best in certain controls.

Posted: July 16, 2009 10:07 AM | Reply | Report

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premythous

stupid ea give gamers the choice between buttons or analog people r not use to using the analog sticks like this learn from lair dont force new ways of playing the game

Posted: July 18, 2009 5:40 PM | Reply | Report

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Birmingham_Chuck

Thank you EA for bringing the buttons back! It's too bad there are people out there that seem to think it's cool having the way you play the game dictated to you. If you don't like playing against button pushers, then don't play against them. It's that simple. All your whining and moaning gets really old. Just because you don't like using buttons doesn't mean the rest of us shouldn't have a choice. Thanks again EA! Smart move!

Posted: August 3, 2009 9:07 PM | Reply | Report

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