The problem with the development of mk, is that they hire more and more artists, but they use very little programmers. I have to assume that programmers salaries, are a lot more than artist salaries.

Whatever the case.. in stead of hiring five more artists, hire one more programmer. There is a serious lack of 'dynamic'ness in the mk code.

You can tell by the backgrounds of mk5/mk:da that they were planning to have the ability to fight on stair-cases/different player-heights. I kept wanting to chase the opponent up the stair-case in the background of Shang's Lair/Palace. Another example of dynamic physics/programming would have been if a player could hang onto the swinging bodies in the boat-hull in mk:deception, and let go at chosen moments to build up momentum for hits.

They wouldn't have to have so many testers looking for 'infinities', if they made it possible to block during combos. It's not realistic at all, to have the character become catatonic just after one-punch.
In stead of preventing infinite combos, add multiple forms of blocking/evading. Two professional fighters can swing at each other for minutes without making a hit, and it's a staple of martial arts movies, with someone jumping over a leg-sweep, then swinging, and the opponent back-swings, etc.
In other words, the ninjas don't act like ninjas. Add more reflexive fighting.

Motion-capture is definately not the way of the future. It's static. Combining rag-doll physics with a dynamic nervous system has already been used by some games. Dynamic physics also give realistic weight distribution.
Most of the fighters in mk:da, etc. don't match their weight/size.

Keep the mk staff, but give them software/etc. research to do, in stead of fighting over which fighters to return.
If only Phil Hartman was still alive, then he could sit at his grand-piano in the mk office, while doling out real-work.

If they don't, then one of these days, someone might do a second-life/mk type program, and put them out of business.

Kreate-a-fatality was a fine idea, but the execution was a 1/10.
Repeat that with even 5/10 execution/animation quality, and it would win out over 8/10 static finishers.

At least allow fighters to share finishers that fit, e.g. 40 finishers for 20 fighters, but 5+ of the 40 to be used by each.
Perhaps have finisher combos. Where some finishers can be done after others if done quickly.

And please more of the reptile in mk1 type glitches/secrets. More, 'What the what just happened!'

It would also make it more fun to manually experiments with sequences, if there 5+ different sequences, to iniate a given finisher.
Humans prefer memorizing things, when the data is very dissimilar, i.e.
Sequences should range from 1 to 8+ buttons.
Have a special that requires 10 inputs, but does ridiculous damage.

Break the monotony.. for Heaven's sakes.. break the monotony!


It's time that games/movies start doing voice rendering/digital waveguides.
It would give dynamic commenting abilities, and open the way for a truly complete piece of software.

If the mk team can rise to the occasion, regarding dynamic(rather than scripted) programming, then they could have multiple fighters fighting each other in a single arena, shaolin monks style.

Moral of the story..

MK needs more programmers/software engineers.

A lot more. Even if the current mk team have to learn new programming skills. One of them mentioned that a 4-legged Motaro needed lots of special case-ing. Then do lots of special case-ing.

Vogel sound like an open-minded guy, with people skills. Give him a new type of position, like liason between programmers and conceptual programmers(rest of mk staff). It could potentially make their jobs easier, since dynamic motion requires motion-capture only for reference/research.
Procedural textures save artist time. Check out the program facegen modeller, to see how good dynamic face models can be, that's only $1000 to licence for developers, has a great demo. It's even used by police artists.

They waste time making some characters too ornate. They should always do the type of work, that can be perfectly re-used, and improved.

I would like to see the use of a Mortal Kombat space in Playstation Home with game launching for matches. and have like a test your might/sight minigame for the home space. even have mk kostumes for the characters. ie: unlock something in the game gives you access to something in ps home I think that could be implimented well if thought through properly.