Rag Doll Kung Fu
An independently-made game created by Lionhead artist Mark Healey, featuring string puppets that allow for complete control over their hands, arms, and the like. Other Lionhead employees, such as Glen Watts and Alex Evans, have had a hand in things as well. The game is created in C++ and Direct3D though it is only played in two (and a half) dimensions and exclusively with the mouse. RDKF uses multiple mice to incorporate hotseat competitions, but this feature is limited to Windows XP due to the use of this Raw input code to implement this idea. An online multiplayer feature has been added to the game as well, and so will make it into the initial release.
Mark's description of the game (from RagDollKungFu.com):
Imagine having a Kung Fu Fight with string puppets, except you dont have to worry about getting the strings tangled up, and you dont have to have a kung fu fight.
You control the characters on screen with the mouse there are no pre-scripted animations in the game its all up to you to walk, you have to literally pick up one foot, then place it in front of the other.
Sounds tricky maybe, but it doesnt take long before you're spinning through the air like a Russian gymnast.
This means you get to create your own style, and can act out whatever you feel like, and of course, if you really feel like it, you can have a fight.
Its about Chi power.
The project was first announced during an interview with Healey by LHTimes. In the interview, Healey explained that the game was started after he and a few friends made a £50 kung fu movie, and Mark felt a game should go along with it. A trailer is available on the interview site, and is mirrored on many game-related sites around the Internet. Since then, he has put up a site dedicated to RDKF on the Lionhead server, and it can be found here, and the trailer and other RDKF media are hosted there.
A thriving thread (over 2900 replies) was established on the Lionhead forums, and can be found in the Rag Doll Kung Fu category of the Lionhead forums, along with 20+ other threads. With the revamping of the Lionhead forums, RDKF was given its own section, and from this an additional 20 threads have spawned on discussion of the game and a wide variety of other topics.
Current Status
As of late April 2005, a closed beta of the game has been released to a select group of people, who are working to find all present bugs and submit reports to Mark so he can fix them. There is a definitive release date (hopefully?) is for June 1st, 2005, and a demo will likely be released at the same time as the full game. The game will be digitally distributed, via a major distribution system (still unannounced), but speculation is that Valve's Steam is being used. The cost will be £10.
A custom skin competition is being held [here, and four lucky winners will have their skins placed in the game, their names in the credits, and will also receive a free copy of RDKF. The competition runs until about the time the game is going to be released.
Additional Links
Rag Doll Kung Fu – The Fansite – The first RDKF fansite created, now hosted at PlanetLionhead hosting the screenshots and work in progress movies created by both Mark and the beta testers.
Louren's Rag Doll Kung Fu stuff – A mirror of the work in progress movies and official files of RDKF.