Proce, who contributed to Midway’s final fighting game before being snapped up by Warner Bros, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, wrote that the re-imagining of the MK franchise proposed “mixing modern muti-player and dismemberment game design with the original fighting mechanic.” The artist’s take on four Mortal Kombat mainstays—Raiden, Kano, Scorpion and Sony Blade—are more dramatic, grittier and certainly a welcome change.

Proce describes his Scorpion as “a wraith wearing the yellow blood of the demon” that resurrected him and his Kano as “half Japanese half US military bad arse.” His Sonya, which will likely draw the most criticism, was redesigned as “the daughter of a Texas Ranger who’s sex appeal weakens her opponents while her Special Forces training kicks their asses.” Finally, his Raiden pitch portrays “a god [whose] feet rarely touch the ground.”

We’re not sure what direction the Mortal Kombat team is taking the series at its new home, but I’m personally hoping it’s more along these lines—a darker, more dramatic, less comic book-like tone with a pared down cast—than what we got with Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. I enjoyed that game as much as the next guy, but I like my MK with a little less Wonder Woman.

Here are the never before seen Mortal Kombat characters… [Vincent Proce Art Blog via GameSetWatch/SRK Forums]

Southpeak will release TNA iMPACT: Cross the Line for PSP, PSPgo and Nintendo DS at an unspecified date, with future TNA Wrestling licensed games sounding likely, according to a press release from the publisher.

The TNA licence was acquired as part of the bankruptcy sell-off of Midway. Warner Bros. invested in a large stake of what Midway published and developed, but it did not pony up the cash for TNA it seems. THQ, doing its part, acquired the San Diego–based development studio responsible for Midway’s pro wrestling titles.

Perhaps the Southpeak TNA effort will fare better than what Midway’s team brought to the ring.

SouthPeak Interactive Corporation Reports Results for Fiscal Q1 2010 [Southpeak Interactive]

Mark Turmell, programmer on the original Smash TV and its spin-off Total Carnage, says on the RetroGaming with Racketboy podcast that Midway, before it “hit the fan,” was already hard at work on a modern day revival of the game. While it sounds like work on the game — a 3D but still top-down shooter — was halted, Turmell says the project moved at least as far as the programming stage.

He expects that Smash TV “will rise again” at Midway’s new home Warner Bros. given the media conglomerate’s snapping up of the classic IP and, presumably, the popularity of twin-stick shooters on digital platforms like XBLA and PSN.

RetroGaming with Racketboy Podcast Episode #2 [Racketboy]

That purchase gets THQ the development studio—well, “substantially all” of its assets—but not the rights to the TNA iMPACT! licence. It also means jobs for 40 or so members of the former Midway San Diego studio, as THQ has extended offers of at-will employment to some former Midway employees.

The San Diego studio wasn’t included in Warner Bros.’s purchase of Midway’s assets, nor was the publisher/developer’s Newcastle group. The whole thing is pending on a judge’s approval, as the Chicago Tribune points out, but it sounds like a done deal.

While THQ has downsized over the previous year, it recently had a damn good quarter, thanks in part to UFC 2009 Undisputed. And considering the publisher has plans to expand upon its UFC licensed game offerings, we wouldn’t be at all surprised to see those previously tasked with TNA wrestling game duties working on another fighting game.

Seems like a good fit, no?

Midway Games selling San Diego studio, related assets for $US200,000 [Chicago Tribune - thanks, Dawn!]

While we were well aware that the WB would secure properties like Joust and Spy Hunter, new trademark ownership of some classic Midway IP give us insight into what the new home of Mortal Kombat also secured. Some of it is positively ancient, like the Super Sprint spin off Badlands, and the classic Sinistar and Defender.

Trademark snooper superannuation dug up at some of the trademarks transferred to Warner Bros. so far, a list expected to update as time goes on. Missing from the list is Mortal Kombat, actually, which should show up as a WB property any day now.

Warner Bros. has contacted the United States Patent and Trademark Office to transfer proprietorship of the following Midway trademarks, Part One [superannuation]

Despite being caught up in the implosion of Midway (the game’s former developer/publisher) and its own development troubles (it’s been coming along quietly for years now), new publishers Warner Bros. have told G4, “This Is Vegas has not been cancelled. The game is currently in production.”

That’s… great?

Warner Bros. Says This Is Vegas Not Canceled [G4]

Steven Pick, senior GUI artist for Midway Newcastle’s Wheelman, gives a painful blow-by-blow of the studio’s final days. From the start up on cop drama Necessary Force to its multiple, failed pitches to numerous studios to the final visit Midway CEO Matt Booty, himself axed not long after giving last rites to Midway Newcastle.

Pick doesn’t offer a great deal of hope for Necessary Force to ultimately see release, but does touch on the positive impact the in-development open world game had on Midway Newcastle, even if it didn’t save the developer. At this point, only UK outlet Edge has seen Necessary Force in action, outside of the development team and a few unnamed publishers.

Hopefully we haven’t seen the last of it. It looked interesting—small things, like Necessary Force’s moral choices affecting the weather and time of day, for example—if a bit familiar.

I’d highly recommend reading Pick’s account of the last days of Midway Newcastle. He paints a sobering picture of the developer’s demise, one very humanizing and informative.

Midway Newcastle R.I.P. [Embittered Mutterings]

But they could have! Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon has today revealed some artwork for a proposed crossover between the two franchises, which would have seen a Mortal Kombat-infused court made available in NBA Jam. With spinal columns, dismembered heads, the works.

Sadly, despite allowing gamers the chance to play as Bill Clinton and Prince Charles, playing on a Mortal Kombat court was a bridge too far for the NBA, who said nothankyou to the whole thing.

[noobde @ Twitter, via 1UP]

As per the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the employees were given 60 days notice on Monday. Those among the casualties include Midway Chief Executive Matthew Booty, along with “other senior executives”.

These cuts aren’t related to Midways’ Chicago development studio, where 100 employees have been offered jobs at Warner.

For reference, the 60 employees given notice constituted 20% of Midway’s entire workforce.

Midway Games lays off all 60 at corporate office [Chicago Tribune]

“We can confirm we closed the Newcastle studio this morning, our time,” said Geoffrey Mogilner, Midway spokesman. “During the notification period we were actively searching for bidders, and since we didn’t find any unfortunately it was necessary to close it down.

“We tried really hard to find a solution for the Newcastle studio.”

Midway CEO Matt Booty traveled to the studio to make the announcement in person to the roughly 80 people let go, Mogilner said. The announcement of the closure came at the end of the notification time required by UK law.

While the Wheelman IP is now owned by Warner Brothers Interactive, along with the Midway trademark and games such as Mortal Kombat and This is Vegas, no one has yet purchased Necessary Force, Mogilner said.

Under California law, Midway’s San Diego studio still has until September to find a buyer.

“We are still hoping to find a buyer for the studio,” Mogilner said.