In the world of film, few franchises are as symbolic and beloved as those of the Rocky saga. A series that spans nearly four decades, the films have resonated with fans of all-ages through a mixture of heart-pounding action and relatable characters that seem to leap through the screen.
This Thanksgiving, a new chapter in the Rocky story unfolds as Creed hits theaters worldwide. The upcoming film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema is directed by award-winning filmmaker Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station) and stars Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station, Fantastic Four) as Adonis Johnson, the son of Apollo Creed and Academy Award nominee Sylvester Stallone in his iconic role.
In Creed, Adonis Johnson (Jordan), son of world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed heads to Philadelphia to track down Rocky Balboa (Stallone) and ask him to be his trainer. Agreeing to take him on, Rocky trains the young fighter, even as the former champ is battling an opponent more deadly than any he faced in the ring. The film hits theaters worldwide on November 25, 2015.
In celebration of this monumental release, Vivid Games recently released Real Boxing 2 CREED for mobile, the follow up to 2012’s Real Boxing. Allowing players to take control of Adonis, the game offers players an exclusive new vantage point into the world of the film, which is an exciting prospect for both the fans and the developers.
“It’s a great privilege to work with such a legendary property.” said Vivid Games’ Jan Chichlowski. “Looking back at the Rocky franchise and how it inspired entire generations across almost four decades really inspired us to create the best boxing experience for mobile that does justice to the movies.”
In the past properly translating a larger-than-life cinematic experience like CREED to the realm of gaming would have been challenging for most developers. Yet, Chichlowski explains that with Unreal Engine 4 the team hasn’t had to cut any corners, creating a blockbuster title worthy of the franchise.
“Real Boxing 2 CREED uses a wide range of different tools offered by Unreal Engine 4 to make it not only the best boxing title for mobile, but also a fantastic gaming experience in general.” he said beamingly. “With a lot of effort from everyone on the team and the power of Unreal Engine 4 we were reach new heights when it comes to visual quality.”
Thanks in part to Unreal Engine 4, Vivid Games has created a technical knock-out. Features baked into the engine, such as post-processing, advanced particle systems, new shader technology and realistic physics give Real Boxing 2 CREED fidelity worthy of its cinematic inspiration.
Moreover, tools like Unreal Engine 4’s Blueprint Visual System have also played a large role in the game’s development. Among many other applications, the tool allows developers to create a reference build and smoothly translate it to mobile devices, taking some of the pain out of the overall process.
“One of the most important ways in which Unreal Engine 4 helped us is the new Blueprint system, which lets you create game logic using an object-based language.” Chichlowski said. “Combined with the ability to create build references, this new feature allowed us to speed up the development process considerably and allowed us to focus on the creative aspects of developing Real Boxing 2 CREED.”
It’s not enough for the characters in the game to look like the characters from the film, they need to move and feel like them too. Through an appreciation for the franchise and a dedication to detail, Vivid Games has gone to great lengths to ensure the characters in Real Boxing 2 CREED feel as good as they look.
“Adonis not only looks unique, but also plays differently to other characters in the game.” explained Chichlowski. “Every aspect of the character, including his gear, is unique in order to have our players feel as if they are part of the movie”
Much like the game’s titular protagonist, Real Boxing 2 CREED isn’t pulling any punches. Armed with Unreal Engine 4, the game is poised to deliver a knockout, one you can take everywhere you go.
The launch of Real Boxing 2 CREED is just the beginning. With the Rocky franchise’s fortieth anniversary around the corner they’re committed to going the distance, promising that there’s much more to be excited about ahead.
“We have some very exciting plans for the game that will start early next year to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Rocky’s first appearance on the silver screen.” Chichlowski hinted. “We have some amazing plans regarding the whole Rocky universe and the way we can blend it with the Real Boxing experience, so players will have a lot to look forward to.”
Real Boxing 2 CREED is available now on the App Store and Google Play: www.PlayCREED.com
CREED © 2015 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
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