E3 2010: Supremacy MMA Preview


The folks at Kung Fu Factory know exactly what kind of game they want to make. EA Sports’s MMA Fighter, also seen at this year’s E3, is too tame, too “TV” for them and their audience. Their upcoming MMA game- revealed only a few days ago- is shaping up to be a brutal look at underground MMA fighting. Rather than opting for realistic combat, Kung Fu Factory wants to keep the game fun, fresh and fast, while accurately capturing the “culture” surrounding the MMA phenomenon.

Kung Fu Factory liken themselves to the Harmonix of their respective genre, in that, well, they’ve been around for a while making solid games. They created what they claim to be the first UFC game on the Dreamcast, as well as numerous titles since then, including last year’s UFC Undisputed 2009.

The version of the game they showed us today was only 35-40% complete, according to the developers, and it was admittedly pretty rough. They assured us, though, that every aspect will be massively improved, from the graphics to the sound and everything in between. What was made apparent, however, especially through a trailer shown behind closed doors today, was the tone the developers are shooting for.

They want to explore “no-holds barred fighting and the origin of the sport” in the most authentic way possible. Despite the early stage the game was in, much of the combat was playable, and Kung Fu Factory showed off two fighting styles: Karate and Muay-thai. They stressed that the various fighting styles, when pitted against one another, will create the bulk of the game’s depth and replay value. Characters’ power and stats will be less important than how players use their styles advantageously. Button mashing will also be effective, though, as they want players of all abilities to be able to pick up the game and have fun.

The studio has apparently done extensive research to make the game’s environments and atmosphere authentic, including watching Youtube videos- and attending international underground MMA fights. That may be where they got the idea to include strippers and a cockfight in the environment they showed off during today’s presentation. They also remarked that the game will feature online, though they weren’t ready to go into detail, and that they’re “keeping an eye on” their competitors.

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