The new direction of Mane6: Fighting is Magic

I've discussed Fighting is Magic before.  But, as a refresher, Fighting is Magic was a well developed completely fan made fighting game which used the IP of "My Little Pony" to, well, create a fighting game. 

The reason I say "Was" is because Hasbro finally gave them a cease and desist when they were very close to it being released.  The Mane6 team knew that was a possibility for a while, they had actually been working under that possibility. 

However, recently some fans put the almost complete build up for a slot at EVO (a prominent fighting game tournament) and it's widely speculated this is why Hasbro had to step in.  The game was always unofficial and when it was just some bronies and some fighting game fans who knew about the game it could not severely damage the MLP brand.  However, going for the slot (even against the Mane6 development team wishes)  may have forced Hasbro to take notice because the game IP and fighting style could have lent the idea that Hasbro endorsed both the game and the idea that their main characters could fight each other. 

After several attempts, work arounds, and other ideas, the project has been cancelled.  The current build will not be released.  There is an old build going around, but that was leaked and incomplete.

However, ALL IS NOT LOST!!!

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Lauren Faust, creative producer and designer of this current generation of My Little Pony (The Friendship is Magic part)   is now apart of the Mane 6 team.  She is developing a new IP for them to use and the team has confirmed that the IP will include (if not based up) four legged creatures.  (As most fighters use two legged creatures, the four legs did add a new dimension)

Not much is known beyond that.  And Mane6 has taken down all their previous development posts.  But, in those posts they discussed how the abilities they gained working on Fighting is Magic would help them as they went forward and now that they have a new IP they don't have to worry about any sort of Cease and Desist order from Hasbro or any other company.

Beyond that, we're just waiting for information. 

Why new ideas, people, games, and platforms are always needed.

Do you watch My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic?

The show is well respected, known for crossing age and demographic lines, is lauded for it's fleshed out all female cast, and would not exist if Hasbro didn't decide to start a TV channel. 

When you start a TV channel, you have two options.  Make wildly original shows or show repeats.  MLP fell into the "Original Shows" Category and has been a boon for Hasbro and it's marketing department. 


The same idea applies to games.

Valve is releasing the steambox. 

The PS4 is speculated to be announced on February 20th. 

The Xbox 720 may be announced before then.


Everytime something new comes out, there are the two instincts.  Do something new, and do something old.  Mario and Pokemon WILL sell systems.  That is without a doubt.  So will  Nathan Drake.  Sly Cooper still has buying power.  Infamous might, but the way Infamous 2 ended who knows if it can go on to Infamous 3 with Cole.

As for Valve, Valve has Half Life 3/Half Life 2 episode 3.  That is their ace in the hole.  No matter what, people will buy the steambox to play this game.  It's not going to be on GOG.  No one really sells PC boxed games anymore, not when Valve made Digital Download so easy.  If Half Life 3 comes preloaded and several months before it's released to the public on steam?   Sweet Celestia, the sales would be enormous.  People would buy it anyway, but that would push people on the edge over the edge. 


People always crave the new and the familiar.  The familiar can help them grasp something easier.  It's why Mario and Luigi are used to sell Nintendo systems.  People know how they work.  People know they will be good games, or at the very least pretty decent. 



People also crave the new.  They have something in front of them, they want to know what it can do!


And that fresh blood is always critical.  New creators give fresh ideas. Portal is a very original puzzle game.  It started because Valve hired some new and forward thinking college students.  They got a new, popular, and reasonably all ages series out of it. 



If people and games just retread the same paths, they become stale.  Others retread but mix it up to become more interesting.  That doesn't always work out (I'm looking at you, Sonic Unleashed. Day parts were good, fun, and typical.  Night parts... interesting but not as much fun) 



But is important is that games try and learn.  It's why Journey, Flower, and Shadow of the Colossus are well regarding, because they are unique.  They take ideas and concepts that shouldn't work, and do. 

It's also why Final Fantasy is having difficulty.  They are trying very hard to change and keep their formula, but it is having trouble gelling.  Fresh blood must come into Square Enix.

Then again, with a fresh system (A bit of Fresh Blood on it's own) we get The World Ends With You which is one of the most original and FANTASTIC games I've played.

Everything needs a new idea, a new system, so new blood.  It gets creative juices flowing, allows old ideas to become fully fleshed out and realized, and let's people resee classics in a new light. 

To the Steambox, WiiU, PS4 and Xbox 720 (or whatever you'll be called) !  May we have fresh games and wonderful ideas to look forward to in the future.

I can't think of anything today

Have some music!

This is for the fan fighting game "Fighting is Magic" Basically, someone is programming a game that involves the My Little Pony characters fighting eachother similar to Street Fighter.  It actually doesn't look that bad. 

It's in Pre Alpha now, but they are recording voices and they just released a long explanation on how they are making the sprites.  It's a good read:
Read it here.

And finally, yes, I am a Brony.  (Or pegasister.)