


Some combinations are based on well-known classics (such as Fry + Money), others are tongue in cheek while others are geared towards the unexpected.Īt the same time, any CCG lives or dies by its gameplay. The idea was that gameplay consistently brings a smile to your face and really digs into the worlds of the shows. We spent months on end combing through season after season of each show. Peter Eykemans: The game developers and producers spent months on end combing through season after season of each show, picking characters and moments that would blend together in order to be accessible to new fans while giving die-hard fans a shout out. How much time did you spend making sure these were pitched correctly and did you ensure there were die-hard fans of these shows on the dev team?
#Animation throwdown the quest for cards pvp tv#
It was really cool to see that level of excitement and involvement.Ī key part of the game's appeal is in the nods to classic moments from the TV shows when you combine cards. In the weeks leading up to launch, show creators and producers were sending over funny new dialogue, and suggesting new animation for use in the game. Peter Eykemans: Every piece of art and writing passed through Fox Digital Entertainment and the shows, requiring strict approvals and oversight to ensure everything was on brand.Īs the shows got a better picture of what we were creating, they got more excited about the in-game content and comedy. To what extent were Fox Digital Entertainment and the creative stakeholders (including the shows) on hand to help make it an authentic experience? So by mining the rich worlds of these five shows and bringing game mechanics that are extremely popular with our audience, we knew we had a winning combination. We pitched the idea of it being a CCG as Kongregate’s seen great success from card games in the past with Tyrant, Little Alchemist, Spellstone, and Battehand. Peter Eykemans: Animation Throwdown was a unique undertaking for both Fox Digital Entertainment and Kongregate.This was the first time they’ve incorporated this number of IPs in a single title. Was the idea always to produce a game mashing up the five shows in question? When was it proposed that this should take the form of a CCG, and how did the idea evolve? With Kongregate leading production, both developers added unique perspectives, expertise and game mechanics influenced by their past titles. To create the best possible game, Kongregate recruited two of its strongest developers, Synapse Games ( Tyrant, Global Assault, Spellstone) and Chinzilla ( Little Alchemist), to partner up and bring their expertise to the complex project.īoth developers added unique perspectives, expertise and game mechanics.

Kongregate wanted to create a collectible card game incorporating licensed IP and Fox Digital Entertainment expanded upon the initial concept by including multiple shows.Įarly promotional art for Animation Throwdown Peter Eykemans: The partnership began about two years ago as a theoretical discussion between Kongregate and Fox Digital Entertainment. : How and when did the partnership between Fox and Kongregate first come about? delved behind the scenes with Kongregate's Senior Producer Peter Eykemans and Senior Director of Marketing Jeff Gurian to find out. Not least because of the five big-name IP it was packing in to this single game: Family Guy, American Dad, Futurama, King of the Hill and Bob's Burgers.Īfter a period in soft launch, the game - which was co-developed by Chicago-based Synapse Games and Chinzilla Games of San Francisco - was launched in mid-September.īut how did this melting pot of companies and well-loved properties come together and what was the development process like? It came as a surprise back in June when Fox and Kongregate announced they were teaming up for a mobile collectible card game.
