Oh man, what a day. E3 has always been an exhausting run of news and interviews. If there is one thing about E3 that our contributing editor, Scott Ellison II, has figured out is that the show is a cruel mistress. She will give up the goods, but only if you really work for it.

Thanks to help from Community Manager, Rigo Cortes, we were finally provided a unique opportunity to play Injustice: Gods Among Us and speak to the man of the show, NetherRealm Studios creative director, Ed Boon. We asked Ed several questions regarding the origins of Injustice along with storyline, characters and gameplay in an exclusive interview from behind closed doors at E3 2012.

TRMK: The models look more detailed than the characters did in Mortal Kombat 9. There also seems to be a vast difference in character sizes in Injustice. For instance Solomon Grundy is HUGE when compared to someone smaller like Harley Quinn. Are there any notable enhancements being made under the hood to the engine after Mortal Kombat was completed that you want to point out to fans?

Ed Boon: One of the things we did with Mortal Kombat is that we consciously added features that are kind of like for the tournament guys, like there are details that maybe the more casual player isn’t even going to pick up on, but the tournament guys are going to count frames, take things apart, cancels and all those kind of more advanced strategies. We want to expand that way with this game. We want this game to be a tournament game, like EVO and what not. But at the same time, it’s going to be attracting a lot of players that don’t normally play fighting games. So we really want to make sure that we still have the accessibility that Mortal Kombat has always had. While also layering in those deeper features.

Again, we would like to thank Ed Boon, for sitting down with us and answering a few questions in the short time we had with him. Check back with us later as we conclude our E3 2012 Show Floor Coverage with a report on how Injustice plays. We got a chance to sit down with NetherRealm Studios Lead Designer Paulo Garcia, and will detail what we learned in our hands-on session.

If you still have any lingering questions regarding gameplay, please leave a comment in this news post as we may have an opportunity to follow-up with another chance to play Injustice again tomorrow.

Mortal Kombat has always impressed me with its accessibility. If I brought Street Fighter to a friends house who has not played it before I would have to give them a long explanation on ultra combos and how to input them correctly along with the variety of specials. They mostly just end up punching and kicking. When I invite newcomers to MK they can jump right in, do specials easily and do awesome things like X Rays with the simple press of two buttons. And with these simpler controls, MK can still make the competitive scene well so I'm glad they are taking the same approach with Injustice.

TBH, I'd really hate to see a simple mode in Injustice. It takes away from learning the game and Leveling up your execution, plus it limits you from unleashing your full potential during a match. I'm glad that Ed is deciding to release Frame Data on Day 1. I'm going to look over all the characters Data, another thing I like is how NRS are trying different things to make this game stand out from MK, Game Mechanics-wise. Holding back to block, and the ability to cancel normals into specials or Supers if we have them. I'm worried about how well the competitive community receives this game also, I don't want it to be another SFxT.. A good game, but people let their ignorance get the best of them and call it a bad game.

Originally Posted by : iViTal
TBH, I'd really hate to see a simple mode in Injustice. It takes away from learning the game and Leveling up your execution, plus it limits you from unleashing your full potential during a match.

I believe every fighting game should have a simple mode BUT it can only be used offline. I love playing MvC3 with my friends because they actually have a change to win unlike in Tekken 6, SSF4, MK9 etc because of simple mode. I play offline a lot with my buddies and I don't like to keep beating them or forcing myself to lose.

Originally Posted by : Shirayuki Mizore
I believe every fighting game should have a simple mode BUT it can only be used offline. I love playing MvC3 with my friends because they actually have a change to win unlike in Tekken 6, SSF4, MK9 etc because of simple mode. I play offline a lot with my buddies and I don't like to keep beating them or forcing myself to lose.

This is why we teach them how to play or at least give them enough knowledge to play a Standard *Insert Character name* My friend and I played MvC3 offline, he plays on simple and I still beat him. I'm not saying that everyone should play on a high level, but the game is more interesting when both players are evenly match and are on a decent skill level.

Originally Posted by : iViTal
This is why we teach them how to play or at least give them enough knowledge to play a Standard *Insert Character name*

Dude they don't want to learn the game if they only play it like twice a week lol. One dude whores Battlefield One whores PS3 And another whores nothing So they have no intentions of learning the game. I'm not trying to get competitive with them. I just want us all to have fun. Simple mode is fun for them and gives them a change. I still whoop them 16 times out of 20 matches but at least they got some wins in by the end of the day. Not everyone wants to take a fighter seriously.

You're saying it like it takes an entire day just for them to learn Special move motions, Button layout, and General match-up knowledge.. I've explained all of that to one of my friends who's never touched a MK game in his life, and he picked up on it in less than 2 hours.

Originally Posted by : iViTal
You're saying it like it takes an entire day just for them to learn Special move motions, Button layout, and General match-up knowledge.. I've explained all of that to one of my friends who's never touched a MK game in his life, and he picked up on it in less than 2 hours.

Dude. Not. Everyone. Is. Good. At. Fighters. Do you know Dudley's cross counter in SSF4? It took one of my friends a legit full 5 minutes to pull it off. My friends do hadokens by mistake. They suck at the command. My friends play SHOOTERS, not fighters.

Bro. I. Already. Know. This. No one can pick up a fighter and become God tier their first day. I play Shooters, so that's an excuse not a reason.

Originally Posted by : iViTal
No one can pick up a fighter and become God tier their first day. I play Shooters, so that's an excuse not a reason.

Originally Posted by : Shirayuki Mizore
I play offline a lot with my buddies and I don't like to keep beating them or forcing myself to lose.

Are you not seeing my point? None of them have any interest in getting a fighting game. All of them don't own any fighting games. They just want to play and have a chance to win. They don't want to try hard. They don't want to use up time. We play like 4 different fighting games each time we hang out. Simple mode is fine. This isn't EVO. We have fun and both sides have a chance at winning.

I never understood the concept of having fun by button smashing or playing with no control over my character. Yea, I'm very competitive and sometimes c0cky at times, but that's what makes a fighter fun. If I'm just pressing buttons and have no clue what I'm doing I feel lost and that's what motivates me to learn the game and to stand a chance against other good players, especially the ones that bodies me in a set.

I just hop MK10 will be the best MK once it comes out.

I liked the fact that they are using different sized character models for each character and I hope they will implement it in MK10 as well.

When can we expect to see new gameplay footage, I would love to see a video of the presentation NRS gave to everyone. @iVital and Shirayuki= You.Guys.Are.Hilarious!

Originally Posted by : THEundying27
When can we expect to see new gameplay footage, I would love to see a video of the presentation NRS gave to everyone.

The demo shown to people in the theatre, or people getting their hands on the game behind the scenes, is not to be recorded at all. The game is fairly early so they want to control what is given out as much as they can. That said Injustice Senior Producer Adam Urbano said this on Twitter:

Originally Posted by : @thePizzaMasta
@Urbanjabroni Are there any plans to release actual gameplay footage, with the hud and everything, anytime soon? Clash system sounds crazy!

Originally Posted by : @thePizzaMasta
@thePizzaMasta I know @NinjaBoy66 is chomping at the bit to make something the second he is given the greelight.

So I'd be guessing stay tuned in the coming month, I bet we get a video before Comic Con.

Hmmm. Very interesting concept. Although I'm not great with telling frame datas, but I'm very good at figuring out which moves to cancel or/and combo into, and my timing is right there, but not perfect.

First off, I would like to say how AMAZING I think this game looks so far!!!!!! I was just wondering though... are players able to combo in their "specials"? In the trailers and gameplay footage when I see a special being performed I see that there is a little cut scene animation that starts off first (when there's fire in the background for ex. Batman, or even purple for Harley Quinn), and then they perform the special.. BUT if specials are indeed able to be combo'd in, how would it work? Would you be able to start off with a regular 3 - 4 hit combo and then link in the special with it {like in Street Fighter X Tekken or any of the Marvel VS. Capcom games})? Also are specials able to be blocked? Also another key element I seen in the gameplay demo video from E3 it showed, what it looked like to me, Harley Quinn starting a special and then Flash retailiated with a special right after and then they ran to eachother and when Flash's fist connected with Harley's malet it caused a massive power explosion which knowcked them both back away from one another and even the background was damages due to the massive effect of the blast. But my question is, is that what happens when both players try and activate their special at the exact same time?.. looks really COOL though either way! And one more tiny question I have is... will there perhaps be a character from Mortal Kombat in the game as a secret player? or even making a hidden cameo of some sort (seeing as how Kano made an appearance in the Batman Arkham City Lockdown game for iOS as an ester egg) ? It would make perfect sense if you think about it seeing as how the MK TEAM (NetherRealm) made both MK vs. DCU (well Midway at the time, but same sh*t), and worked on Batman Arkham City Lockdown. I dunno, its not necessary, but it would be kind of cool to see Rayden or Shinok or Shao Khan or even Fujin make an appearance, seeing how they are all "Gods" too and this game is called: Injustice: "Gods" Among Us. Even back in the day when Midway worked on Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict, Rayden was a playable character AND the MK Announcer was an option to use when selecting announcers in the options. Even though Rayden really had no place in that game/realm (holding/firing guns) but he still made it in because Midway made the game. Oh well its just a thought! ;P

Originally Posted by : Patrick McCarron
The demo shown to people in the theatre, or people getting their hands on the game behind the scenes, is not to be recorded at all. The game is fairly early so they want to control what is given out as much as they can. That said Injustice Senior Producer Adam Urbano said this on Twitter: So I'd be guessing stay tuned in the coming month, I bet we get a video before Comic Con.

Haha that's my question! ;D And I am REALLY looking forward to seeing gameplay footage, although you all know that from reading the quoted post xD

Ed everytime I see him in an interview he always answers every question pretty straight forward and if he can't say he'll say so. My question is about Nightwing so I know he can't say if he's in or not but a maybe would work just as well. lol I really hope no Mk characters are in this at all. I think it would be a really bad idea.

I definitely agree that this game should a DC exclusive game. If they want to add guest DLC characters, fine, but keep the core game full of relevant characters that are all hopefully featured as much in the story.

Originally Posted by : PizzaMasta
I definitely agree that this game should a DC exclusive game. If they want to add guest DLC characters, fine, but keep the core game full of relevant characters that are all hopefully featured as much in the story.

But then again I don't want to beat a dead horse here but if nightwing's confirmed and he's set in stone I'd have no issue with a few guests being put in. Of course in his new 52 red bat design.

Guests are fine as long as they don't interfere with the story. I didn't mind Kratos in MK9 and I don't even like GoW. But don't put stupid people like Freddy Kreuger.

Originally Posted by : AMES32
But then again I don't want to beat a dead horse here but if nightwing's confirmed and he's set in stone I'd have no issue with a few guests being put in. Of course in his new 52 red bat design.

I've got a SLIGHT feeling, you want Nightwing to be in this game.

Originally Posted by : PizzaMasta
I've got a SLIGHT feeling, you want Nightwing to be in this game.

Just maybe a little bit...

Originally Posted by : Shirayuki Mizore
I didn't mind Kratos in MK9 and I don't even like GoW. But don't put stupid people like Freddy Kreuger.

They were both stupid. Neither of them made sense, as far as MK9 is concerned, but that's a whole different story. OT: As far as Injustice is concerned, I'd love to see Deathstroke in it. Injustice doesn't need any guest characters. They have more than plenty DC characters to go off of, that they don't need guest characters.