Joystiq

Developer Kung Fu Factory tapped to expand Konami's mobile catalog

Danny Cowan — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST

In a bid to expand its presence in the mobile marketplace, Konami has partnered with Bellator: MMA Onslaught developer Kung Fu Factory as part of a plan to "publish multiple mobile titles throughout 2013."

"As we continue to build upon Konami's social and mobile offerings, we look to partner with more independent developers like Kung Fu Factory to expand the variety of content," said Konami Digital Entertainment's director of digital publishing John Coligan. "Kung Fu Factory does a great job of creating engaging and unique gaming experiences for audiences of all kinds, and we intend to support them through the entire development and release process."

Konami was an early supporter of the App Store, having released iOS-exclusive entries in its Silent Hill and Metal Gear Solid franchises alongside original efforts like Dragon Collection and Alcatraz Breakout. Kung Fu Factory is no stranger to the platform, either; its most recent release is the top-selling Nickelodeon-published platformer Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Rooftop Run.

Specific titles under development by Kung Fu Factory will be announced soon.

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Developer Kung Fu Factory tapped to expand Konami's mobile catalog originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spartacus Legends goes free-to-play on XBLA

David Hinkle — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 04:15:00 EST

The Kung Fu Factory-developed Spartacus Legends will be a free-to-play game on XBLA, Ubisoft has announced. Spartacus Legends is the first third-party entry in Microsoft's free-to-play pilot program on XBLA, following Ascend: New Gods and Happy Wars. Spartacus Legends will also be available (and free) on PSN when it launches in Q1 2013.

Outside of combat, players can develop their own staple of warriors in Spartacus Legends and control their progress, equipping them with personal weapons and training them in one of eight different fighting styles.

I spent some time playing it during Ubisoft's unveiling event and, at first glance, it's very reminiscent of Deadliest Warrior - though combatants in Spartacus Legends can withstand a lot more punishment. The combat is more combo-focused, so you won't lose an arm with a single swipe.

It's a bit less realistic, but since permadeath is in play you may be glad fighters can take more of a beating. Yes, once your gladiator dies, he's dead forever.

Gallery: Spartacus Legends

Spartacus Legends goes free-to-play on XBLA originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 04:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bellator MMA Onslaught brings arcade-style grappling to XBLA and PSN

JC Fletcher — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST

During GDC, Deadliest Warrior publisher 345 Games showed off its latest licensed project, a mixed martial arts game based on the "Bellator" MMA organization, which can be seen on 345 partner Spike TV. 345 informed me that the major hook of Bellator is that fighters advance through single-elimination tournaments rather than having bouts chosen.

In general, however, the idea is that you don't have to be a person who knows the nuances of MMA organizations, or an armchair MMA strategist, to understand the gameplay of Bellator MMA Onslaught, as it's designed with simplicity and pick-up-and-play qualities in mind.

In the demo I saw, punches and kicks were mapped to one button each (left and right punch, left and right kick), and grappling maneuvers are mapped to the right stick, allowing you to reach out and then push the right stick in different directions to perform different holds, attempt to get out from a hold, etc. -- the technical stuff of MMA fighting, turned into a simple mechanic.

The version I played was considered early -- the TV-style UI was not yet present, and developer Kung Fu Factory and 345 had yet to even decide on all the mechanics to be included. The final game is due this summer.

Gallery: Bellator MMA Onslaught (XBLA/PSN)

Bellator MMA Onslaught brings arcade-style grappling to XBLA and PSN originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 10 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Girl Fight' is pretty much what it sounds like

JC Fletcher — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:30:00 EST

We normally don't let video game press releases speak for themselves, but we'd like to present two excerpts from the announcement for Girl Fight, by Microprose(!) and Kung Fu Factory, published by Majesco.

"Get Ready to Lick the Competition with Girl Fight, Coming Soon to Xbox LIVE Arcade and PSN"

"With hair flying, long legs kicking and the ear-piercing shrill of deadly vixens, Girl Fight is a unique all-female, fast-paced spin on arcade-style fighting games."

So, yeah.

Continue reading 'Girl Fight' is pretty much what it sounds like

'Girl Fight' is pretty much what it sounds like originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Supremacy MMA pummeling PlayStation Vita holiday 2011

JC Fletcher — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST

Supremacy MMA is all but guaranteed to be the supreme MMA game on at least one platform at launch: the PlayStation Vita. In addition to the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, out September 20, publisher 505 Games announced a PlayStation Vita version, due "holiday 2011," thus putting it somewhere within the hardware's launch window.

The Vita version packs exclusive stuff not seen in the console versions, including fighters, venues and undefined "features" exclusive to the handheld version. Sometimes you just need a quick shot of brutal hand-to-hand combat while you're out of the house. At least 505 hopes so.

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Supremacy MMA pummeling PlayStation Vita holiday 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Supremacy is first MMA game to have female fighters

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 06:00:00 EST

It's not easy to take down UFC as the reigning champ of MMA games. So, what is 505 Games and developer Kung Fu Factory adding to Supremacy to make it unique? The female touch.

Two female fighters have been confirmed in the Supremacy roster: Felice "Lil Dog" Herrig and Michele "Diablita" Gutierrez. Peter Matiss, VP of Marketing at 505 Games, hopes that this will convince gamers that Supremacy is "totally unique" -- but will it be enough to dissuade UFC loyalists?

Check out videos after the break.

Gallery: Supremacy MMA (Femme)

Continue reading Supremacy is first MMA game to have female fighters

Supremacy is first MMA game to have female fighters originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Supremacy MMA gets 'old school' this summer

JC Fletcher — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 14:30:00 EST

Another competitor has entered the MMA game arena, ready to grapple with EA Sports MMA and THQ's UFC Undisputed franchise. And, uh, Fighters Uncaged, we suppose. 505 Games hasn't talked much about Supremacy MMA since E3, but now it's showing of the new fighter for PS3 and Xbox 360 and has announced a scheduled summer release of the game. Find a trailer after the break, full of glorious slow-motion violence.

According to 505, Supremacy MMA differentiates itself from its competition with the inclusion of lightweight champion Jens Pulver, who has the best fighter name ever. Pulver's image and backstory will feature in the game, and he is working as a "combat and story consultant," as well.

The other big difference: Supremacy MMA is "taking things back old school," as Pulver puts it. Supremacy is all about underground, unsanctioned fights between amateurs -- getting away from all the showbiz and money in professional fighting, to focus on what it's really all about: Two men beating the crap out of each other in a cage, for no reason.

Gallery: Supremacy MMA (PS3/Xbox 360)

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Supremacy MMA gets 'old school' this summer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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505 Games enters the ring with MMA Supremacy

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

505 Games, publisher of the recently released Backbreaker, is once again stepping into the crowded sports arena. MMA Supremacy will be showcased at a behind-closed-doors event at E3 later this week. It's being developed by Kung Fu Factory, a relatively unknown team that credits itself with working on the Mortal Kombat franchise.

Considering both THQ and EA Sports are fiercely competing in this space, CVG questioned creative director Ricci Rukavina on what Supremacy could add to the franchise. "We're taking a more cinematic approach visually as opposed to a television broadcast simulation," Rukavina said. "Our approach to gameplay is concentrating on skills over statistics which should reinforce fast, fun and intuitive play."

In many ways, these are many of the same buzzwords used by NaturalMotion when promoting their Euphoria-powered football game -- one which featured many novel ideas, but didn't exactly win critics over. It'll be interesting to see if Supremacy can outperform its gridiron predecessor.

505 Games enters the ring with MMA Supremacy originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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