The game has already gone Gold this we know.

The whole game has a very minimalist approach to it so I'd say it's safe to assume that yes the interface / UI is final.

Why the Deadwoods of all things, though?

This is what I don't get.

It's a nice enough arena, I suppose, and it's a refreshingly serene setting for an MK game, but how important could it possibly be to the plot?

^because bitching about favorite characters not making it is too mainstream.

LOL

I think somewhere it was said that the menu reflects the faction you pick, so the woods theme would be lin kuei. As for how the select screen looks i like it. Simple but still pretty badass with the walk ups and animations

Yes, Ed confirmed that a while back on Twitter.

yes backgrounds will change based on which faction u choose

There are achievements for changing multiple visual stuff, so I think it's customizable beyond the faction wars that probably will be featured just in the main menu. I think one of the achievements is for changing the arena in the select screen background (though I really like the deadwoods background).

I'd rather have The Kove.

Im kind of surprised they have the Roster interface horizontally at the bottom, besides Deception and MK VS DC, its always been in the center and going down vertically.
Very Minor, just Vertically they could fit more fighters in whilst keeping the same Roster Pic size.

The background changes depending on faction, Ed confirmed. Dead woods being the Lin Kuei one...Personally I love the simple menus/interface/fonts...Everything looks slick.

Agreed!!! Love it all. Though I am super curious to see if and how the select screen changes via faction. I know they've mentioned it, but part of me thinks the select screen will always be dead woods

Yep Ed Boon has confirmed that the select screen specifically changes depending on your faction. Along with other menus.

Also, Im not sure the Dead Woods is the Lin Kuei theme. More likely its the default, factionless background. It would be strange for the other factions to use their stages and not the Lin Kuei.

I don't understand why people keep whining about the select screen so much. This is by far the best select screen MK has ever had. It is different from all other MK games in that fighters actually interact with each other and have their own animations when selected. Backgrounds also change depending on your unlocks and faction choices. Sometimes it seems you people just whine because you have nothing else to do.

I was sold on the to and fro walking animations. 50x better than the stagnant renders. We get a glimpse of a character's personality even before having to select them.

I'm amazed. And customized menus? Fuck. Me.