Kotaku
Sony Online Entertainment and its SOGA Studio are developing a game based on Stephen Chow's 2004 international hit Kung Fu Hustle. That's the good news. The bad news is that it's being developed specifically for the Chinese market, with no indication of a global release.
The fighter, which promises a "branching storyline" and supports up to eight players in an online Versus Mode, will be free to play. However, Kung Fu Hustle will follow the microtransaction business model that allows for character customization with purchases of virtual items (and "extra lives") coming in at a "nominal fee."
While ultimately a bit disappointing, the announcement takes us one step closer to a possible God of Cookery or Shaolin Soccer game. Make it happen, people.
Full press release after the jump.
Sony Online Entertainment introduces Kung Fu Hustle
Taipei-Based SOGA Studio and Shanghai Northstar Join Forces to Develop Original Title Based on Stephen Chow's Hit Film for Chinese Market
San Diego and Taipei, (ANTARA News/PRNewswire-AsiaNet) - Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in the online games industry, today announced that its Taipei-based SOGA studio, in conjunction with Shanghai Northstar is developing a game based on the hit movie Kung Fu Hustle.
Designed specifically for the Chinese market, SOGA is also collaborating with development talent from across China to assist in the design and development of the game.
"Working with Stephen Chow has been a fantastic experience," says John Laurence, General Manager of [SOGA]. "His sense of humor, directing and martial arts expertise has been an enormous asset for us; he's an avid video game player, with a strong sense of game design."
Kung Fu Hustle combines the best elements of classic fighting games from the past and adds compelling character designs, new technology and trademark humor from the movie for a new generation of gamers.
Players will encounter familiar characters from the movie, such as Sin, the Sidekick, the Landlady, Beast and more.
Kung Fu Hustle features a branching story mode, where players can hone their Kung Fu skills against a host of wacky enemies as they battle their way across China.
By cooperating with friends, players can learn new sets of moves to add to their martial arts arsenal.
In Versus Mode, eight players can go head to head in all out multiplayer mayhem, creating that old-school arcade feeling online.
Gamers can even watch and scout potential opponents online before challenging them.
While Kung Fu Hustle will be free to play, players will be able to purchase extra lives and hundreds of virtual items for a nominal fee.
"Kung Fu Hustle represents a decidedly different and exciting direction for SOE in terms of creating territory-specific content utilizing local development talent," says David D. Christensen, Vice President of Business Development & International Operations for Sony Online Entertainment. "We are confident this approach will help us to further extend SOE's global business."
About Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe.
SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets.
Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest(R), EverQuest(R) II, Champions of Norrath(R), Untold Legends(TM), and PlanetSide(R), as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies(TM), SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms.
Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, Denver, CO, and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development. SOE is owned by Sony Pictures Digital and Sony Computer Entertainment America.
SOE, the SOE logo, EverQuest and PlanetSide are registered trademarks of Sony Online Entertainment LLC.
Untold Legends is a trademark of Sony Online Entertainment LLC.
All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.
About Shanghai Northstar
Shanghai Northstar Software Technology Co., Ltd. ("Shanghai Northstar") is an exclusive foreign-owned company specializing in online game development and operation.
As a new rising star among gaming companies in one of the world's largest online game markets — China, Shanghai Northstar recruited young talents with extensive knowledge and experience on developing and operating Chinese and Korean games in China and captured over 5 million game players within one year.
Backed by a team of professional game developers, programmers and experienced game players, who refuse to compromise on producing general online games, the company is eager to develop games for players who demand for more heartfelt advanced game experience.
In 2007, Shanghai Northstar will introduce its upcoming products "Wulitou Tetris", a witty wacky style casual online game, and the next generation MMORPG "Discovery Online".
Comments
Yet another online game that you might play for an hour (probably never at all) and forget about. Being successful in the online market is just too difficult to even bother with. You really need something new and exciting. WoW has the market right now with games like LOTR taking a little bit of the pie. I'd rather play a 10 hour throw away (which means that you play it once and never play it again even if it's an awesome game) single player game than throw away hours of my life on something that results in nothing (95% of all online games).
LOL I'm in!
Huh, that might be good. I remember a promotional flash fighter game that came out around the time the movie did. It was very well made. Good graphics for a flash. Great game. Entertained me for a while. It was also a pretty good movie. I wish I could try this.
If I can do the "Buddha Palms" Im so there.
Is this going to be on PC or PS3? SOE doesn't seem to connect very well with SCEI, so chances are it will be PC first, and it may never see the light of day on PS3... Sony needs to install a "cell" processor in their corporate structure and get their divisions to work together... *cough*
should make it for the wii
i never seen the english version of the movie (me being chinese and all, no need)
This hardly sounds like an MMO, more like a typical first-person shooter, minus guns, since it's up to 8 players at once. And paying for extra lives sounds like what people were talking about with Gauntlet II, hope those lives are cheap... like say, a quarter. Hmmm, where have I heard this business model before?
And while I'm at it, this better come to the U.S. even if it's not very good, though I think I'd also like a Shaolin Soccer game.
@gshock888: You left out who should make it for the wii... oh look, it's Sony. Nintendo should make Mario Kart for the ps3 too.
Sounds like super fun. Hope it comes to US and UK.
NOOOOO make a Shaolin Soccer game, that'd be so much more awesome.
Because you mentioned God of Cookery, you have earned a special place in my heart. The fact you even wrote Pissing beef balls only shows that you really know your stuff.
Now I really want a bowl of noodles...
I <3 Michael McWhertor
@androvsky: SOE is not SCEI... They are seperate divisions, so it is very possible to see an SOE game on another platform. Many of them started on PC, afterall...
It's going to take more than this to put down the gold farm market in China.
And it is wise to not release it here. It'd be a financial bloodbath. Everyone I know thought the movie was cool, but didn't connect with it at all.
SOE is a platform agnostic Sony division, but they never developed on another console other than their parent company's. Plenty of Windows PC and PDA games though.
Agree with Eumenides. Your knowledge on other Chow's lesser known (in the west) films has increased my respect for you.
Alright, I loved the movie but this seems like a bit much.
These sort of things scare me, I feel like it could ruin the original film somehow.
OMG...I definitely need to look into this. Major points for knowing about Stephen Chow and his awesome films. Kung Fu Hustle was actually my least favorite of the 3 you mentioned...so I guess I'd rather see a Shaolin Soccer game.
Im still waiting on my He-Man MMORPG
A God of Cookery game would pretty much be Cooking Mama with a "folding chair" button.
@ArmyofJuan: Screw that, Thundercats all the way baby!
Oh yes and a GI JOE MMOFPS plz.
Dear god I could imagine a part of our childhood dying when the developers stuff up something as simple as those 3 shows.
I'm really interested to see how this game turns out. The movie was good I guess, its just that I can't imagine a huge mmo based on what basically is a Jackie Chan movie.
You just listed my top three favorite asian films!
The where they're all being questioned and laughing that should've been cut on God of Cookery is the best!
I remember watching all Stephen Chow's comedy movie since I was a little kid. I always love parts of theose movie when that man-lady character (who was a schoolgirl in God of Cookery) appears.
We need a God of Cookery game NOW! Also, a 60 Million Dollar Man game.
There was also a Shaolin Soccer game that came out only in China.
I really liked that movie, too bad for non-global, guess i'll just have to make a chinese account like I did for japanese titles.
@ajayvideogamer:
Eh? Care to tell everyone how Kung Fu Hustle is a Jackie Chan film? (I'm a fan of both. Especially Chan's old films). Chan is not that big on Special Effects and their humor style is totally different.
It's really nice that some Chinese IPs (me being part Chinese and all). Are being made into games.
Now they should make a game about 1,000 fists of fury. (his Bruce Lee parody film).
If only they just add up all the movies he has been involved and make a MMO out of it...
So. Do we get to run like Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote? :D
I hate Sony. Ever since 2 broken PS2s + SWG + Rootkitgate, I just hate Sony. I refuse to buy anything with the Sony name on it.
If this came out in the US, I would reconsider. KFH is one of the best movies I have ever seen, and it COULD make an awesome videogame.
On the Shaolin Soccer game point - I think the closest we'll get is NCSoft's Soccer Fury if and when it ever chooses to appear.
man i dunno how, but i had never heard of god of cookery!!! im gonna try to get it tonight!
Please Sony... put this on ps3, get rid of the pay-for-extra-lives crap, and don't mess up the gameplay.
Oh yeah, and bring it to the US.
Otherwise, this could be pretty cool.
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