Yie Ar Kung-Fu (ColecoVision) is almost here...

[+opcode]

Hi!

 

Dale Crum did it again! The Yie Ar Kung-Fu package is completed and ready to go to the printer, which will happen in the first week of 2005. Again, Dale's work is nothing less than stellar, and here is a sample for the label. The box artwork shows more elements (fighters) than the label itsef, but I think it is a good sneak preview.

 

 

The ColecoVision version will include two "variations" of Yie Ar Kung-Fu: the original MSX version, released in January 1985 (exactly 20 years ago!) and an enhanced version based on the Famicom incarnation (released April 1985). The Famicom version has sightly different graphics (better IMO), a totally revamped Lang (the female fighter) and a more challenging game play. The Famicom version is the default, while the original MSX version can be selected during the boot-up. Just keep in mind it isn't the same game as the arcade version, but don't let the simplified graphics fool you, as the fun factor here is equally high. The MSX version was one of the top sellers MSX games ever, staying in the top position for 3 months (and in the top 5 for 6 months), and generated a sequel.

 

Yie Ar Kung-Fu is a one-on-one comical fighting game, and while it wasn't the first game in this genre to come out, probably it introduced the concept of challenging different fighters with different fighting styles (and weapons), years before Street Fighter was introduced. The ColecoVision version features 5 fighters: Wang, the quarterstaff (bojutsu) fighter; Tao, the flame wielder; Chen The Chainfighter; Lady Lang, expert with the razor-sharp throwing stars (shuriken); and finally Wily Wu, the mystery man. Also included is a bonus stage.

 

 

The finished ColecoVision version of YAKF will sell for $25 plus shipping, and will include cartridge, box and manual, everything offset printed.

 

To pre-order the game (if you haven't already done so) please send email to: [email protected]

 

Thanks!

 

Eduardo

[+opcode]

UPDATE: January 14th 2005.

 

While waiting for the printer to start accepting orders after the holiday season, I decided to add a 2 players versus mode with Yie Ar Kung-Fu. I just completed the task. Hmm, two weeks... not bad.

Player 1 controls Lee, while player 2 can select any of the 5 Shop Suey Gang fighters. All fighters are fully playable and all moves are available in the 2 players mode.

 

I will now ask Jess to revise the manual to reflect the new changes and then all material will be sent to the printer.

 

Eduardo

[joeybastard]

Man, that looks sweet! I'll have to bug my wife to get this for me for my birthday

[Atariboy2600]

Oh MNA!! You guys are great! Now if only you can get the rights to do really good Konami Game Lineups like Gradius, Contra, Castlevania or dare to say... Metal Gear? You can use the Colecovision's Keypad to use for Metal Gear it did came out on the C64^_^

[+opcode]

Oh MNA!! You guys are great! Now if only you can get the rights to do really good Konami Game Lineups like Gradius, Contra, Castlevania or dare to say... Metal Gear? You can use the Colecovision's Keypad to use for Metal Gear it did came out on the C64^_^

 

Gradius and Metal Gear are definitively coming... I have the first stage of Gradius (the MSX version) running on my modified version of MESS. I haven´t started MG yet, though, but I can already say it will be based on the original MSX version, the only one created by Hideo Kojima himself. The Famicom/NES port was made by a different team.

[Atariboy2600]

Oh MNA!! You guys are great! Now if only you can get the rights to do really good Konami Game Lineups like Gradius, Contra, Castlevania or dare to say... Metal Gear? You can use the Colecovision's Keypad to use for Metal Gear it did came out on the C64^_^

 

Gradius and Metal Gear are definitively coming... I have the first stage of Gradius (the MSX version) running on my modified version of MESS. I haven´t started MG yet, though, but I can already say it will be based on the original MSX version, the only one created by Hideo Kojima himself. The Famicom/NES port was made by a different team.

 

WOW! You are The Man! And Yes I do know about the two diffents on but MSX and Famicom/NES ones of Metel Gear I have both version of them and yes I do have MSX and MSX2+ computers, and played Metal Gear the REAL version! The Famicom/NES one was a water-down version of the first MG and it's kind of good but your right that the MSX version was WAY better then the US one;) And if you do get one running on Colecovision then IM the FIRST to put down a pre-order on it! Same with Gradius.

[Dr. Van Thorp]

How difficult is it to translate a game from MSX to Colecovision? I know that the graphics capabilities are somewhat similar, but the proccessors are different. Are their tools available for translating Z-80 code to run on 6502?

[frax]

How difficult is it to translate a game from MSX to Colecovision? I know that the graphics capabilities are somewhat similar, but the proccessors are different. Are their tools available for translating Z-80 code to run on 6502?

 

MSX and Colecovision both use a Z-80

[Dr. Van Thorp]

I thought that the Coleco was 6502-based.

 

MSX was modeled after a spectrovidio machine. Do you suppose that Spectrovideo modeled their computer after Colecovision?

[Jess Ragan]

The reason the hardware in the Spectravideo computer, the ColecoVision, and the MSX are so similar is because they all use off-the-shelf hardware which was readily available to the manufacturers. Nothing had to be custom built but the outer shell, the joysticks, and the system BIOS. That's what I've heard, anyway.

 

JR

[Dr. Van Thorp]

I found the master page that explains the relationship between Colecovision, MSX, and some machines I've never heard of. Even the Sega Master System is part of the family.

 

http://www.pelikonepeijoonit.net/confusingfacts.html

 

Someone could have made a nice cross-development system to write games once to play on all these machines.

[birdie3]

Really looking forward to this. This looks totally rad!! Are we able to order it yet?

[Vic George 2K3]

"Hey, Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of a ColecoVision!"

[birdie3]

Damn you Bullwinkle..