Kung Foo! is Perfect World's latest Free to Play / Micro-transaction business model MMORPG to be introduced to the US market. Currently undergoing not only localization but a re-write of the story for this market, we spoke with Product Manager Craig Beers and Special Guest Writer Devin Grayson. For those unfamiliar with the name, Devin Grayson is best known for her work in comic books, having written titles such as Batman: Gotham Knights, Ghost Rider, The Titans and Nightwing. This is the first "sneak peek" into the world of Kung Foo!
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MMORPG.com: |
Tell us about Kung Foo! |
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Craig Beers: |
Well, it is a Chinese game that we are localizing for the market. The original game, Wulin2, is loosely based on a slapstick kung fu comedy show, but in the US we are creating our own story for the game, which is where Devin comes in. |
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Devin Grayson: |
It's a classic Hero's Journey story. You are in a strange new world and have to master the Foo! to advance. It's a humorous world though, and we are satirizing and spoofing game culture and pop culture. Kung Fu movies, Sci-Fi movies, squirrels with scythes, you name it. We're even making fun of localization! |
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MMORPG.com: |
So it's a modern world? |
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Devin Grayson: |
It's a fantasy world with NPCs in the traditional fantasy dress, but player characters will be able to wear not only traditional armor and robes but all sorts of clothing styles. There's a general and a fashion paperdoll and what shows on your character can be changed with a click of a button. |
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Craig Beers: |
Level gear has a glow so other players can tell what level you are, but cosmetics can mask the glow. |
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Devin Grayson: |
Boutique items are mall items, but you gotta express your inner Foo! If you want to run around the world dressed as Elvis or a cowgirl or a street punk, you can. |
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MMORPG.com: |
What are the classes in Kung Foo! Are they all martial arts classes? |
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Craig Beers: |
We call our classes disciplines. You start off as a Grasshopper with no specific class but you have a few skills. At level 10, you can choose to progress down the path of Might or Magic. You gain skill points as you level and place them where you wish. Then at level 30, you can further specialize in that discipline. |
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Devin Grayson: |
Oh yes, you can decide to be a Meatshield if you prefer to be a defensive tank type. We're totally spoofing the class names too! For long time MMO players, they will know immediately what roles the characters play, but for new players, it will be an introduction to MMO terminology. |
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MMORPG.com: |
What's available in Kung Foo! for the players to do? |
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Craig Beers: |
It's a full 3-D world. We will have dungeons, auction houses, crafting and mounts besides the combat and quests. |
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Devin Grayson: |
What makes it fun is the humor; we play with names, quest texts, clichés, you name it. We hope that players won't just click through quest text without reading, but rather will find it engaging and amusing. |
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Craig Beers: |
We have a missing princess and one of the main storylines is rescuing her. |
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Devin Grayson: |
Yes. A missing princess, complete with self important state official types you need to get information out of. We're aiming for a "Pixar" level of humor. You know, the type of humor that would totally sail over the head of a nine year old, but as an adult, you do a double-take and go... Did they really say that?? Not ESRB friendly, but certainly not R or M rated either. |
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MMORPG.com: |
What about PvP? |
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Craig Beers: |
Oh yes. Although there are safe zones and safe newbie levels, it's an open PvP world. Players can create Clans of 15 max, and make Alliances which also level like players do, and we will have territory wars where players fight over the control of a territory. |
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Devin Grayson: |
The ultimate goal, of course, is some sort of unification. Rescue the princess, reunite the world. |
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MMORPG.com: |
Devin, a question for you. What made you decide to write for an MMO. A satirical one at that? |
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Devin Grayson: |
Well, I am a Freelance Writer and that's my job, but really, I am very excited about it. I love playing games so the medium is close to my heart. This is so large it's actually daunting, but I am challenged and excited. Kung Foo! is going to be like a visual dictionary. It is mainly quest based and the familiar hero's journey is the core of the game. You know, the princess bit. But through it all, there's also a lot of fun and laughter. We've tried to have different themes in different zones, and you name it, we make fun of it. |
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MMORPG.com: |
Like what? |
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Devin Grayson: |
Oh... Martial Arts, Super Heroes, Bad Translations, Fairy Tales, Travel Agencies... |
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MMORPG.com: |
And current pop culture as well? |
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Devin Grayson: |
Like what? |
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MMORPG.com: |
Well, you know, maybe Dracula yelling at young skinny, blonde emo vampires that they are not supposed to glow? |
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Devin Grayson: |
(laughing) Oh... oh... okay. Interview over. I've got some NPCs to rename! |
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MMORPG.com: |
Thanks Devin and Craig, for talking to us about Kung Foo! We look forward to more information soon. |
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