OK, finally some insights on KOF XIII directly from the Producer. It's a French interview so i had to use a Web Translator. I recommend using Google Translator for an easier/better understanding. Couldn't paste the translations from Google so i pasted Yahoo Translations instead:
An exclusive interview Neo-Arcadia de Masaaki Kukino, Producer of The King off Fighters XIII. It is Ben, writer for RetroGames, corresponding Japan in particular for GameFan and which passes half of the year to Japan, which owes this interview, large a thank you to him!
Yesterday took place the official presentation of The King off Fighters XIII in Akihabara, in “Beautiful Room”, located in one of the last tower of the district which overhangs the principal avenue. An event which brought together at least 200 people in a room which could receive 100 from them. May one Shiranui giantess of 5 meter out of 20 recovered the frontage, a first positive note before the presentation of the play. The evening revealed the new characters, the novel modes of plays as well as the presence of KOF XIII in Tougeki. One evening particularly successful, SNK Playmore having put small dishes in the large ones with the doubling frame of Athena 98 as master of ceremony as well as the appearance of Matsumoto Sayuki, an idol with measurements of 91/60/90, perfect in cosplay of May Shiranui.
But until we all wait, it was to see the play turning. Only 2 spectators could test themselves with the play yesterday evening, 2 privileged few hours because it is the opening of Loketest today. After a very discussed episode XII, this XIII are very awaited the turning among the fans.
They is goshawks of a coffee after the first day of LokeTest to GameCenter Hey! in Akihabara that Masaaki Kukino, the Range Producer de The King off Fighters XIII speaks to us about this new episode:
I do not teach you anything if I say to you that this KOF is very awaited! The XII were a revival in the series, but it did not know to bring together all the fans. Impatience and concerns were large goshawks of this “thirteenth” episode. How did you approach the development of such a continuation?And well with KOF XII we had made a very new KOF, we had left in a new direction, more mainstream. The XII were a failure, but we did not develop the XIII according to this failure, but really like a title with whole share. In fact when we presented the XII, we develop already the XIII!
Of course, we really took into account criticisms on the XII, we made not badly research in this direction, in order to include/understand what did not go. That the players reassure themselves, we spent much time to regulate these problems so that one does not find them in the XIII.
Moreover can you speak to us a little about the system of play, which it compared to the XII brings?And well as we presented yesterday, there is first of all the system Hyper Drive Mode, one can badly make not combo. And there are also the EX super furies. In fact to summarize, we wanted to make more dynamic system, faster but such an accessible. The combos are thus easy to realize but there is a margin of progression, one can build several tactics of plays for the confrontations, I really think that the players will like that!
The initial reactions which one hears say that KOF XIII approaches much the 2002.We particularly did not develop KOF XIII by thinking that we were going to make a KOF 2002 (a), but inside series KOF much of interesting elements are present in 2002. One can say that XIII benefit from the experiments of the last KOF since the 2002.
In this KOF one finds May, King and Yuri, they were very awaited by the fans, but there remain still several characters who did not present, apparently 6. I suspect well that the readers of Neo-Arcadia will not have early product of exclusiveness, but I risk myself with some questions: Is casting already completely stopped?Hahaha. I can answer this one: Yes.
Among will these 6 characters, be there newcomers where they come all from old KOF?Ha, there I give my joker! (to laugh)
A small last on the subject, in KOF XII it did not have there a boss. Can this time one hope to face a boss?Haha, I see. And well in the XIII scenario is based on Ash, principal scenario bases it is already finished and in this one a Boss is included. I cannot say some of advantage, but He will be announced soon!
Is the play announced finalized to 70%, which are the 30% remaining?And well, there are initially the characters who do not have yet were introduced. The balance of the play also which is not completed, not badly adjustments are thus to make thus that elements of the scenario which can be brought. In short, that includes/understands much thing, but this loketest will allow us advance enormously. We analyze the parties, look at imbalances, which does not go and also what likes. The players can also leave their opinion by filling out a questionnaire, we take all that in account. Our teams are very attentive with the played parts.
Contrary to did Capcom with Super Street Fighter IV you present a version of arcade, think that the market arcade is always priority?It is true that for the versus fighting the majority can be played on line on console, but we want to preserve this aspect of the versus fighting where the players can clash in truth on terminals. Before offering a version comforts we preferred privileged the players of arcade.
Some say that the exit comforts KOF XII was too fast compared to its exit arcade, with the passing that you think about it? Do you think of keeping the same timing for KOF XIII?And well, we left the version arcade in first but with the advent of the new consoles, the PS3 and Xbox360, we wanted to leave very quickly KOF to above give pleasure with the players. It was wanted that the players can benefit quickly from the versus on line. For KOF XIII, I confirm that There is of course a version comforts envisaged, but I cannot say some to you more before the official announcement.
Can you say to us if one can hope to play KOF XIII on our consoles this year?Haha, afflicted, I cannot really say some more, it will still be necessary to wait a little for the official announcement.
The other good news of yesterday was the advertisement of KOF XIII in Tougeki.Yes, completely! Yesterday at the time of the presentation of KOF XIII it is Masashi Sawatari, the organizer of Tougeki which came to make the advertisement; This year there will be KOF XIII and KOF 2002 Unlimited. Of course, being one of the titles chosen in Tougeki for the developers is very important. That gives him a considerable weight and the emulation that creates in the gaming rooms makes it possible a title to be thorough and to be much played. Especially that in Japan the important vents as that of yesterday are rather rare, Tougeki allows a beautiful visibility for the plays of bastons. I think that will be enthralling and that the players will be able to burst itself above!
Which message would like to address to you to your French fans?KOF is a play liked from beyond Japan and particularly in France, and we give best us even during the development in order to satisfy all the fans. I know that in France there are not many rooms of arcade, but I hope that you will on the occasion of you to test there and to burst you above!
Source:
http://www.neo-arcadia.com/2010/03/26/kofx...view-exclusive/This post has been edited by man3k: Mar 29 2010, 05:36 AM 
Mar 25 2010, 11:36 PM, updated 14y ago
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But there's also Mukai & gang in the intro. So i can't say for sure who's the boss yet.
Mod carely move this topic when the time comes.
On 2nd thought, i might just try it to satisfy my curiousity. 
Yes i know the TTX2 is basically an arcade hardware based on PC. Same with Sega Lindbergh. Seriously, i really don't see this one coming. Took a while for it to be hacked. I'll toy around with the emulator until the console version comes.
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