Perfect World Entertainment Q & A

MMORPG.com:

Firstly, let’s go over the name change. KUNG FOO! actually seemed like a perfectly good name to me for this game. It’s a humorous and light MMO romp that parodies things like old martial arts movies and even game shows. So why the change to something a little more serious?

Perfect World Entertainment:

Kung Foo’s initial release was met with a mixed reception. At that point we decided to go back to the drawing board and looked at player feedback, behavior, and data to see what aspects of the game people enjoyed most. After going through that process, we decided that humor was not one of the main aspects that people enjoyed. Legend of Martial Arts has a lot to offer besides the humor and with the renaming, we wanted to highlight the game’s content and in-depth features.

MMORPG.com:

You’re also re-launching the Closed Beta at the end of this month, and state that there have been many changes based on the earlier beta feedback. Could you delve into some of the changes and what kinds of things players can expect with the new round of Beta?

PWE:

The first thing that returning players will notice is the vast improvement in graphics. We’ve given Legend of Martial Arts a complete graphical overhaul. Players can also look forward to expansive new zones, the new Reavers race with two new classes and a Legendary Weapon System that will grant a select few of the most elite players on a server with ultra rare and unique weapons.

MMORPG.com:

One of your early touted features for the game is the Transformation System. Care to shed some light on what exactly that entails and why it’s a significant part of the game?

PWE:

The Transformation System is definitely one of the most unique aspects about Legend of Martial Arts. There are over 100 different transformation items in the game and players will be able to obtain these items throughout the game. Players can leverage transformations to complete certain quests or even to gain that edge in PvE or PvP.

MMORPG.com:

There are seven classes planned for launch, with four more in the works. But the area I’m really intrigued to know more about is the Disciple system. Is it true that there are nineteen to choose from? How do they affect your character and what he or she is capable of?

PWE:

There are a multitude of martial arts disciplines that players will be able to choose from within Legend of Martial Arts and as players progress through the game, they will be faced with tough decisions on how they want to build and evolve their characters. All characters start as one base/default class, and then as they level up their progression forks as they’re prompted to make decisions that will ultimately shape their class and the abilities they have available to them.

MMORPG.com:

LoMA is promising a unique take on PvP. But really, let’s face it… so is just about every game out there. How is Legend of Martial Arts’ PvP system going to be different from the other guys?

PWE:

This is a really good question. For instance, PvP dungeons in most other games are primarily tank and spank, but the PVP dungeons in Legend of Martial Arts gives gamers an opportunity to explore dungeons for loot and fight other players for the right to defeat powerful monsters and bosses. Additionally we have the Legendary Weapon System, where periodically the top players on the server will receive unique weapons that are otherwise unattainable. This drives the competition level up a few notches in terms of world PvP.

MMORPG.com:

The light, comedic tone is one many players are used to seeing in their MMOs. While there are some very successful cartoon-esque games out there (Maple Story comes to mind), more often than not such a vibe can put off some players. Say I’m the kind to shy away from the humorous take on an MMO. What would you say to me to make me give LoMA a try? Why is the humor in your game part of the experience and not just a gimmick?

PWE:

I would say that looks can be deceiving and that while Legend of Martial Arts does have a unique art style; players that give the game a try will soon discover the content and in-depth game mechanics such as the unique PvP dungeons and Dungeon Matchmaking/Queue System, which will challenge even the most hardcore players. The humor does play well into the story and players will see it consistently pop up throughout the game, but humor is far from the primary draw for players of Legend of Martial Arts.

MMORPG.com:

Just one more quick question and then I’ll let you get back to making a fun game. The classes seem like a great twist on the traditional structure. I’m anxious to know more about the Grasshopper myself. But since I’ve got you here, how about you give our readers your favorite class and then tell us all why? No worries, we won’t cry “favoritism” when every other class gets nerfed but yours… but we’ll be thinking it.

PWE:

I’m a big fan of the new Oracle and Berserker classes that we’ve added with the Reavers race. The Oracles have the ability to summon gods from the underworld to activate special powers and magic spells, but if I had to pick between the two, I would say that the Berserker class is my favorite. The Berserker class lets me transform into a wolf or cat; giving me greatly enhanced physical abilities that helps me with DPS or for tanking when I’m in a group.