Tekken director: Unlockables are 'outdated'

  • Posted July 3rd, 2009 at 10:08 EDT by Mike Harradence
  • 3,611 views
  • 33 Comments

Tekken boss Katsuhiro Harada has declared that the process of unlocking additional characters in fighting games has now become redundant, noting that Tekken 6 will feature all 40 playable fighters available from the start of the game.

Speaking to VideoGamer.com, Harada stated, “Why we locked the characters originally was that in the arcades, it was kind of to extend the life of the game by gradually unlocking characters. And also with the home versions as well, because you can rent games or whatever, it was to protect us against that.”

He went on to say how the unlocking process has been rendered outdated with the introduction of online functionality:

“That’s kind of outdated now though, especially with online play. If we were to have locked characters it would irritate a lot of people, to be playing against others online and to not have all the characters available. So I think it’s no longer useful.”

Tekken 6 is due out later this year on PS3, PSP and Xbox 360.

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What are your thoughts?

  1. no1kevlin | no1kevlin

    • 10:23am BST - July 3rd, 2009

    I bought the original PS1 Tekken to play on my PS3 the other day and it was fun for half an hour.  Graphics have moved on a little since then I think!

  2. ttech10 | Scheller

    • 10:23am BST - July 3rd, 2009

    I don't know, I still like when games have some unlockables.

     

    If they're worried about the online aspect then just have all of them unlocked in MP no matter what and then you can have them locked in SP.

  3. Sonan | Sonan

    • 10:45am BST - July 3rd, 2009

    I dunno. I kind of like having to work for certain things, as long as it's not overdone.

  4. nickjd331 | nickjd331

    • 10:47am BST - July 3rd, 2009

     Personally, I prefer unlockables. It gives more of a sense of achievement!

  5. higgos22

    • 10:57am BST - July 3rd, 2009

    I can see both sides

    i would definetly not like to be put at a disadvantage online but at the same time working towards unlocking characters can give the game more sense of achievment

  6. GranTurismoOwnsPs3

    • 11:06am BST - July 3rd, 2009

     That is so stupid. What is the point of playing this game now ?

  7. darksora | Rav_M

    • 11:07am BST - July 3rd, 2009

    I can understand where he's coming from, but I enjoy seeing new characters that I haven't unlocked in online matches. Kind of builds the motivation to unlock that character, with that teaser mentality.

    I thought it worked well in smash brothers and street fighter (although i've heard Akuma being pretty damn powerful XD ). The same things being done with marvel vs capcom 2 as well.

  8. HalfOfZero | HalfOfZero

    • 11:41am BST - July 3rd, 2009

    Basically, what he means is, Unlockables in games are no longer needed, since they can now charge you for extra content via the glorious interwebz.

    And before you go "eeew! That's wrong!", think how many expanssions you've already bought for various other games. Whos to say that they weren't originaly part of the game?

     

    I think Tekken is taking a risky move with this one..

  9. Nunalho | Nunalho

    • 11:48am BST - July 3rd, 2009

    Shame, i loved to work to get all characters...

  10. XSpike

    • 12:36pm BST - July 3rd, 2009

    40 characters is alot, I would say put all the new characters as unlockables at least make them play the story a few times to unlock something. But its annoying when you have to do heaps just to unlock one dude. Also unlock more equipment when beating the game with whatever character you just used

  11. princevegeta1980

    • 12:54pm BST - July 3rd, 2009

    I think this statement is quit dumb, I like unlocking new characters, gives all the sense in playing the game sp mode!

  12. mackrob07 | orochimaru07

    • 3:50pm BST - July 3rd, 2009

    @6 i agree, with all the characters unlocked y should we bother playing

  13. pirulee | evoPiru

    • 3:54pm BST - July 3rd, 2009

    What the h3ll happened to tekken devs? Are they n$%s?

    Unlockables was one of the things that added tekken replay value. Hopefully tekken 6 will have at least unloackable endings other wise I would be pissed.

  14. jams_shop | Jams_shop

    • 4:23pm BST - July 3rd, 2009

    No, they are not outdated they became DLC.

  15. cb_32 | cb_32

    • 4:47pm BST - July 3rd, 2009

    thats lame, i liked unlocking characters. gives me a reson to play through arcade mode with every single character lol

  16. The Mask | JSack20

    • 5:50pm BST - July 3rd, 2009

    at least this game has a proper tekken force mode now I don't have to wait for streets of rage to be re made. and you should at least get to see each characters ending when you play that character rather than buying intros and endings with game credits what about unlocking tekken bowling and volley ball or will I have to pay extra for those?

  17. Neo_Aeon666

    • 5:51pm BST - July 3rd, 2009

    well I think its ok. The only nice unlockable things are costumes and funny props. Having all characters is a must if they plan on going online. I liked how soul calibur had a ON and OFF item stats online. So you could show off your gear combination or just pure skill vs skill.

  18. Ghostm

    • 6:27pm BST - July 3rd, 2009

    Unlockables are outdated because it's better for the companies to sell you them. LOL!

  19. 6toes

    • 6:42pm BST - July 3rd, 2009

     Not saying that they should have unlockable characters but he definately had a point about how unlockables extend the life of a game. i.e. New costumes, colors, taunts, stages, etc.

  20. C-Carcharias | C-Carcharias

    • 7:07pm BST - July 3rd, 2009

    "If we were to have locked characters it would irritate a lot of people, to be playing against others online and to not have all the characters available"

    Uh, I thought thats the point...that person can use that character because they have earnt it. But all in all, I think its a good move. They can just focus on costume/mode unlockables instead, and those who rent it can still get the most out of the game without spending hours just to unlock a certain character they want to play as.

     

  21. Epyon_1 | MoneyM07

    • 7:22pm BST - July 3rd, 2009

    what the f**k! i like unlocking characters. now theyve just taken out a factor in why i play the story mode. this gen has gone outrageous because of online, dlc, and patches. its stupid of them to take this out. you wont be at a disadvantage if you are a good player and are very skilled at playing with any fighter

  22. Godzeela | Godzeela

    • 8:33pm BST - July 3rd, 2009

    This is retarded, not everybody has online, and what happens when somebody buys this game, wanting to just play, and has NOTHING to do, because all of the characters have been handed to them?

    This takes away the sense of achievement that I got from unlocking the characters, and I was expecting there to be atleast  "Unlock All Hidden Characters" and "Unlock A Hidden Character" as trophies, but I'm guessing those won't be there.

  23. jinxk

    • 9:08pm BST - July 3rd, 2009

    i think the last tekken that had any "hard" unlocks (unlocked by not just beating story mode) was tekken 3. tag, 4, and 5 was just beat story mode to unlock.

    besides, you should play with each character through story mode anyways to see their specific scenes and endings. it's not like having all 40 unlocked from the beginning will stop you from that.

  24. DBZ0wnz | DBZ0wnz

    • 12:35am BST - July 4th, 2009

    about time!

  25. Pledius

    • 1:56am BST - July 4th, 2009

    @ 22

    if that's the reason you play fighting genre then you shouldn't buy fighting genre

    you really feel like you achevive something by unlocking characters in Tekken? which is basically play story mode of someone to unlock another character and play that character's story line to unlock someone else?

    everyone is going to play every characters story mode atleast once to see their ending/story

    thus, what's the point of having unlockable characters in this game?

  26. Hartia

    • 5:06am BST - July 4th, 2009

    Exactly the reason i dont play SF4, cuz it's a pain to unlock the characters.

  27. toasty_T | toasty_T

    • 5:10am BST - July 4th, 2009

    Awesome. One of the things that annoyed me about Street Fighter IV is that you had to jump through hoops to unlock Akuma. A lot of people want to start playing the game online straight away so having to grind through the game to unlock characters became a tedious affair.

  28. Majin187 | Majin187

    • 5:47am BST - July 4th, 2009

    no unlockables? how boring half the fun in tekken is unlocking the characters

  29. whatisdelicious

    • 6:35am BST - July 4th, 2009

    It'll be interesting how they handle the Cardboard Tube Samurai then, if he's just... there. From the start. Seems like a secret character sort of situation.

    Beyond that, I totally agree. Unlocking most stuff in games, not just fighting games, doesn't really make a lot of sense in today's world. Like Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Unlocking songs is dumb. Stuff like that.

  30. RallenR87

    • 7:33am BST - July 4th, 2009

    @2 i agree 100% i like the fact that fighters have some unlockables it always adds more gameplay so you get more bang for your buck in a way.

  31. PS3-The Ultimate Machine

    • 9:43pm BST - July 4th, 2009

     I did enjoy unlocking fighters in such games cuz,everytime i unlocked a new one,i felt a sense of accomplishment,and the process did continue for months,any other game i would end in maximum a week,but fighters stuck around cuz there was a reason to replay these games,that and gettin' my *** kicked by my elder brother in em always wanted me to learn every move so i'd have the upper hand for once.XD

  32. AhhYuKen | DSNCB

    • 12:08pm BST - July 5th, 2009

    I dunno. I had a sense of achievement when I finally unlocked Akuma & Goken in SFIV. It was frustrating but definitely worth it. I have yet to unlock Seth btw. At the same time I can understand & appreciate Tekken 6 for having all characters available for the start.

  33. Playstation_3 | U83R_1337

    • 6:22pm BST - July 5th, 2009

    I had the first tekken imported from Japan, it was alot harder and faster than the PAL version.

Related information

  • Related game: Tekken 6

    Release date (US):
    October 27th, 2009
    Developer:
    Namco Bandai
    Genre:
    Fighting - One on One
    Rank:
    15 of 1,470 Games
    Up 0 places (in last 7 days)

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