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Authenticity is a factor in gaming that had to wait for the technology to catch up to it. In the early days, the two blips on the screen could easily service as “ping pong paddles,” but not as something like a real-life personality or established fantasy characters (like the infamous dragon-duck from the Atari 2600 classic, “Adventure”). Now that consoles can push life-like experiences in both graphics and immersion, games are held to a higher standard of authenticity, whether its how a receiver catches a pass or a comic-book hero destroys a building. There’s no room for scuttling details away because of technological limitations. Lucky for us, developers are rising to the occasion, earning success through remaining authentic to the core values behind their titles and representing them in the unique ways that gaming allows.

This week, UFC Undisputed 2009 hits store shelves after two weeks of clutching gamers attention with a fantastic demo, pitting famed UFC fighter Chuck Liddell against Mauricio “Shogun” Hua in a match that mirrored the most recent UFC pay-per view event. Players were expecting a typical brawler, what with the pedigree of developer Yukes, famous for its series of WWE-themed titles that put style squarely over substance. To the pleasant surprise of fans, the game retained the pomp and circumstance of a UFC event, but those bells and whistles were coupled with a fighting system that echoes the strategy and physical maneuvering of an MMA match, rewarding the patient, precise fighter who masters the finer points of combat. The game was the top-selling Xbox 360 title on Amazon this week, and the #2 best-selling PS3 title (just behind the truly awesome inFamous, which comes highly recommended by our team).

By staying true to what makes the UFC unique and successful, THQ has published a title that rewards fans and gamers alike. UFC benefits as well, with gamers (who rank among the sport’s core demographic) experiencing everything compelling about the UFC, thus extending the passion into a real life interest offline. UFC Unleashed 2009 could have been an easy cash-in for both parties, working off both THQ and the UFC’s core fandom for a guaranteed sales figure, but staying true and authentic to the UFC’s core values and uniqueness has garnered critical and financial success for all parties involved; including lucky gamers who get a well made, competitive title that will likely keep them submittiing hapless opponents online and paying close attention to the growing sport of MMA and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

 

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