Even though we've long since reached the point where pop-culture recycling--both in specific cases and in broader trends--has become the norm, there are still rare occasions where some piece of fleeting, completely disposable pop-culture ephemera gets dragged back up that leaves me completely baffled. Take, for example, today's announcement from independent developer Playbrains that it's releasing an Xbox Live Arcade game this summer based on Madballs. That's right. Madballs.
If you're too young to remember, or your atrophied old brain refuses to cough up any recollection, Madballs were balls... that were mad. They were basically a cross between Garbage Pail Kids and Nerf, and they were popular for an intense 45 seconds in the mid-80s. Just as bizarre as this forced Madballs revival is the nature of the game itself, which is being touted as an "arena based 3D shooter" and looks more than a little bit like the kind of dual-joystick shooter of which there is no shortage on XBLA. Playbrains promises 16-player multiplayer, 4-player coop, level customization, and avatar support, though I can't get over the fact that you'll play as a Madball with a freaking gun bolted on the side.
If this is the kind of deep-diving that we're now doing for cheap, vaguely recognizable intellectual properties to slap onto games, what's next? A Wacky WallWalker color-matching puzzle game? A Weeble kart racer? A Shrinky Dinks first-person shooter? I'm going to stop now, as I fear I might be giving the wrong people bad ideas. Check out some screenshots and the full press release below for additional details on the awkwardly titled Madballs in Babo: Invasion.
OTTAWA, CANADA- May 28, 2009 Playbrains, an independent game development studio specializing in the digital download arena, are proud to announce that their debut console title, Madballs in Babo Invasion, will be releasing on Xbox LIVE(R) Arcade in Summer of 2009.
A gameplay rich, feature laden 'casually hardcore' action shooter, Madballs in Babo: Invasion (MiBI) is that rarest of gaming commodities; a genuinely unique title. Featuring the recently re-released Madballs (tm) characters, Oculus Orbus(tm) and Horn Head(tm), from the popular 1980's toys best remembered for their outrageously bad looks and graphically colorful names. MiBI is an arena based 3D shooter where players are able to design their own combat maps almost instantaneously by placing a combination of map tiles to create a never before seen map before gameplay starts. Truly, no two games are ever the same. And with up to 16 player Multiplayer support, MiBI will boast the highest number of players over Xbox LIVE Arcade upon its release.
Offering players a satisfying and immersive experience in both single-player and multiplayer, Madballs in Babo:Invasion has a plethora of features and game modes such as 4 player online co-op along with, never-before-seen in an Xbox LIVE Arcade title, being able to incorporate your Xbox LIVE Avatar into multiplayer combat via the 'Avatar Attack' mode. Yes, Xbox LIVE Arcade combat just got personal.
Much more on this groundbreaking game will be revealed in greater depth leading up to its release in the Summer of 2009, including additional information on the following features;
·Single Player - Hours of repeatable gameplay through 10 epic levels
·2-4 Player Online Co-op - challenge individual campaign levels with your friends or play the whole campaign in 'Enduro' mode
·16 Player Multiplayer - 21 maps to match all game sizes
·'Invasion' Mode - the signature mode of the game, players take turns placing map tiles to create a unique multiplayer map prior to each match
·'Avatar Attack' - Multiplayer combat with your Xbox LIVE Avatar
·Classes - 10 character classes (each with 2 special abilities) over two warring factions, with each faction having 5 unique weapons each with two distinct firing modes
·Madballs Characters - Oculus Orbus(tm) and Horn Head(tm) from the infamous 80's toy craze as in-game characters
·5 Archetypes - Assault, Heavy, Runner, Flyer, Support
·Deployables - active (rocket turrets) or passive (healing towers) can be placed in Invasion mode
·Unlocks and Secrets - 50 unlocks and 50 Secrets to find during campaign gameplay
·Action - emphasis on fast-paced, visceral action that is easy to pick and play, yet offers a real strategic challenge for hardcore gamers
That entire sentence makes me sad. Also, I remember Madballs!
Hur, hur.
My favourite is Reddy.
Dear lord, was I that into them?
Thank you, Ryan, for posting the entire press release. Frightening.
The game's existence is awful, but the design approach actually seems sound, if uninventive.