EXCLUSIVE: UFC 2009 Undisputed Full Roster Reveal, Video Interview

JE: We have a great batch of fighters like Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Georges St-Pierre and BJ Penn who are hot today, but we felt it was equally important to feature fighters who we think will be hot tomorrow. We worked closely with the UFC's own resident matchmaker, Joe Silva, to make this happen. Fighters like Cain Velasquez, Wilson Gouveia, Demian Maia, Anthony Johnson and Gray Maynard immediately come to mind as lesser known fighters in the game who we think will make big waves in the UFC of the future.

GS: Your fighters are split into five different weight divisions in the game. How will those different weight classes "feel" to someone who plays the game?

JE: The differences are pretty much what fans would expect. Lightweights are in general faster than Welterweights, and Heavyweights are stronger than Light Heavyweights, and so on. This comes through in the game in some important ways; however, that can change strategies depending on the weight class. Heavyweight bouts are definitely more prone to ending in quick knockouts, for example, so while getting knocked out cold is something a player should be aware of in any division, it is way more of a factor when fighting against Brock Lesnar in the Heavyweight division.

GS: How do your fighter ratings work? What attributes does each fighter have? Can attributes change over time?

JE: Fighter ratings are based on an average of all of a fighter's Attributes (Strength, Speed and Cardio) and Fighter Skills (which reflect things like Standing Striking Offense or Submission Defense). Higher overall ratings generally reflect a fighter who is dominant and extremely versatile, exhibiting no major weaknesses.

While a fighter's ratings definitely play into the outcome of a match, player skill represents a much greater factor overall. The game is after all a game, and not a number crunching simulation. It wouldn't be very much fun if there were matchups that were completely unwinnable based on a fighter's Attributes or Fighter Skills, would it? Having said that, Attributes and Fighter Skills are still a very important aspect to the gameplay and ones that make every match play out a little differently from a strategic standpoint by allowing players to craft game plans around a fighter's strengths or weaknesses.

Official UFC fighters are meant to be representations of their real life counterparts, so their attributes are not modifiable.

GS: Some fighters can switch weight classes—for example, Anderson Silva who can go from Middleweight up to Light Heavyweight. How does that work in the game and how does that change the fighter's abilities/attributes?

JE: Fighters who move up in class may exhibit changes in their core Attributes (Strength, Speed or Cardio). Fighters' attributes are relative to the division they are fighting in, so moving up a weight class will generally be reflected with a slightly reduced Strength rating or lower overall Speed due to carrying a little extra muscle or some excess "baggage."

GS: For a UFC beginner, who would you suggest to start with on the roster? Conversely, which fighter(s) do you think caters to an experienced gamer?

JE: Each fighter is directly reflective of his real life counterpart, so for beginners, it is usually beneficial to choose a fighter with a high overall rating. This usually translates in-game to a fighter being well-rounded or being exceptionally gifted in a few critical statistics, which makes it easier for a beginner to succeed as they can concentrate more on all facets of the game and not be overly concerned with any particular deficit. Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre, BJ Penn, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson … these are all very beginner-friendly fighters.

Some fighters have unique techniques available only to them that also can facilitate a beginner being better able to compete. Anderson Silva, for example, can pull opponents directly into a Muay Thai clinch by countering a high punch, which is a very powerful technique.

GS: Thanks, John.