I can never pull of the fatalities to save my life! I don't know if it's the timing required or the different distances but I can only get them to work once every 10 times

all these years later fatalities where i have to hit up still screw me over

The new ones are generally 4 directional inputs and an attack. And you can redo the combination a maximum of 3 times (in my case anyways)
 
Easy as it gets. 
 
 
Also, Fatalities are like the cherry on top. It's not the main draw of the game.

I can do scorpions fatality in the MK9 demo, but the stage fatality you do with double up I can't get to work.

Hold the "block" button while you are doing the directional moves, but let go before you hit the action move. 
Such as  (hold block)  forward, up, up  (release block) square.

Friend, I have some good news for you. This version of MK comes equipped with a game mode specifically designed to teach you how to do EVERYONE'S fatalities. It allows you to turn a timer on or off, shows you exactly where to stand, and anything else that might help you become a murdering machine.

The fatalities in MK9 seem a hell of a lot easier to pull on now than they used to be.  After playing the demo with a friend for a while (really, we played the demo for probably an hour, I can't wait for this game to come out now) I tried throwing in Mortal Kombat Trilogy since it's the only old MK game I own, and I can't pull off a single fatality in that game for the life of me.  MK9 demo I was hitting the fatality almost every single time, with all four characters too.  That said though, at least in MK9 if you fail to do a fatality they at least give you a cool little "victory scene" instead of just giving you a very standard victory pose.

" Friend, I have some good news for you. This version of MK comes equipped with a game mode specifically designed to teach you how to do EVERYONE'S fatalities. It allows you to turn a timer on or off, shows you exactly where to stand, and anything else that might help you become a murdering machine. "

" @IBurningStar said:

" Friend, I have some good news for you. This version of MK comes equipped with a game mode specifically designed to teach you how to do EVERYONE'S fatalities. It allows you to turn a timer on or off, shows you exactly where to stand, and anything else that might help you become a murdering machine. "

Finally, the game can show me how to murder people! "

" Friend, I have some good news for you. This version of MK comes equipped with a game mode specifically designed to teach you how to do EVERYONE'S fatalities. It allows you to turn a timer on or off, shows you exactly where to stand, and anything else that might help you become a murdering machine. "

" @President_Barackbar said:

" @IBurningStar said:

" Friend, I have some good news for you. This version of MK comes equipped with a game mode specifically designed to teach you how to do EVERYONE'S fatalities. It allows you to turn a timer on or off, shows you exactly where to stand, and anything else that might help you become a murdering machine. "

Finally, the game can show me how to murder people! "

That's what GTA's for, foo! "

" Friend, I have some good news for you. This version of MK comes equipped with a game mode specifically designed to teach you how to do EVERYONE'S fatalities. It allows you to turn a timer on or off, shows you exactly where to stand, and anything else that might help you become a murdering machine. "

" Friend, I have some good news for you. This version of MK comes equipped with a game mode specifically designed to teach you how to do EVERYONE'S fatalities. It allows you to turn a timer on or off, shows you exactly where to stand, and anything else that might help you become a murdering machine. "

You can also hold down the "change stance button" at the correct distance and input the entire command without any threat of accidently hitting the stunned opponent. 

I found the older games much, much harder to pull off fatalities, but in MK9 I have found them so much easier! I'd say about 98% of the matches I've played, I have ended it with a fatality. I think it helps that it actually tells you on the moves list as well, so you never have to take your eyes off the screen, which may sound silly, but I'm sure it's helping!

Yeah, they take a lot of work/practice in the older games especially but you should know in this new MK there will be a first time ever Fatality training mode! That is a great idea, MK team really outdid themselves this time I have to say.

it's great

" I can never pull of the fatalities to save my life! I don't know if it's the timing required or the different distances but I can only get them to work once every 10 times "

yeah dont worry, they have a tutorial of sorts in the game :)

I suck at pulling off fatalities in other MK's but I can pull them off easily in this one. It helps when it tells you the distance you need to be ie: Touching.