Ignition Entertainment has partnered with Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) and the EVO Championship Series, the largest and longest-running fighting game tournaments in the world, to host the THE KING OF FIGHTERS XII international championship tournament on Saturday, May 30th, from 12-7 p.m. at Element, located at 1642 Las Palmas Ave, Hollywood, CA 90028.

The KING OF FIGHTERS series is celebrating its 15th Anniversary with the release of THE
KING OF FIGHTERS XII, coming this July for PLAYSTATION 3 system. The KOF series has been a hallmark of the fighting game genre with iconic characters, fierce special moves and as one of the originators of the 3-on-3 fighting scenario. For the first time in its history, this epic martial arts game has undergone a complete graphical overhaul featuring all-new, high-resolution fighters fluidly animating across painstakingly detailed, 100% hand-drawn backgrounds.

128 players will be invited to battle in a single-elimination, five-round tournament, for the grand prize of a limited edition KOF XII arcade cabinet imported from Japan. KOF tournament players and spectators are invited to experience the game up close and personal preceding the tournament, in an open morning training session from 10am-12pm.

Entry into the tournament will be free and all ages are welcome; however, entrants must register in advance in order to claim one of the 128 available slots. Sign-ups will be available online at evo2k.com/koftournament on a first-come, first-served basis.

More than 300 spectators and tournament fighters will be treated to event festivities, complimentary food and drink and exclusive raffles for premium giftbags packed with PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and KOF merchandise. To coincide with the tournament, a KOF cosplay costume contest will be held. Additional special guests and surprises will be announced in the weeks leading up to the event. For more information, visit www.kingoffighters12.com