THE ARCHIVES
MFL Fanatics Club FIRST LOOK - December 2023:
Greetings Mutant Football League community,
As the holiday season unfolds, the Mutant Football League team extends warm wishes to each and every one of you for a safe and joyous holiday! We also want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support over the past few years. Your commitment to us and the game is truly indescribable, and we can't thank you enough.
This year has presented its share of challenges, but we're resilient and dedicated to delivering MFL2 to you next year. Currently, our focus is on refining the online gameplay, and in the coming weeks, we'll be bringing in some hardcore players for a closed Early Access phase to fine-tune and test the game. Following this, we plan to open Early Access to all of you in late February or early March.
As a token of our appreciation, here are some new screenshots showcasing the latest look of the game. We hope you enjoy them!
The MFL2 Main Menu
The stars are out in this match-up.
MFL2 still has mines... so watch out for the mines.
The key word in quicksand is QUICK.
Dirty Tricks duel: Shotgun vs Ginormous
Shotgun can do some damage.
Clean-up on aisle 10.
Not sure what's cooler: the sunglasses or the new Chainsaw Massacre chainsaw.
The Karcass City Creeps take the field.
MFL2 screenshot of the Malice Hellboys stadium.
You could put on your make-up in that reflection on the ball.
A face not even a mother could love.
Best regards,
The Mutant Football League Team
Season's Beatings to all the MFL Fanatics Community!
MFL Fanatics Club FIRST LOOK - September 2023:
Greetings, Mutant League fans!
As we kick off the NFL season, we're here to provide you with an update on all things Mutant Football League. We reached out to you on our social media channels, asking for your burning, itching questions (you should really get that looked at), and we've selected some of the most intriguing and popular ones to answer. But before we dive into the Q&A, let's bring you up to speed on where we stand in the development process.
Big blue is coming for you!
We had high hopes of delivering at least an early access version of MFL2 to all of you before the start of the season, but unfortunately, that wasn't possible. As many of you may already know, our development team is primarily based in Kyiv, Ukraine. The ongoing war that Russia has unleashed has had a significant impact on our development efforts. While some of our team members are still in Kyiv, others have been scattered across Europe, from Spain to Sweden, and even the United States. The process of relocating our team members has presented both challenges and rewards, but we're grateful to report that everyone is safe. #SupportUkraine
Despite the hardships imposed by the war, we've been making good progress on the game. We're nearing the point where we'll be inviting some of our dedicated players to help us playtest the game, but we'll provide more details on that shortly.
Your support and enthusiasm continue to drive us forward, and we can't wait to bring you an incredible Mutant League experience with MFL2. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and unwavering dedication to the game.
Now, some news and then we’ll jump to the Q&A you've all been waiting for!
MFL2 screenshot of the Lost Wages Invaders throwing a long bomb.
A Special THANK YOU for Mutant Football League Fans!
MFL1 Roster Update
Last year, we announced that there wouldn't be any more updates for Mutant Football League 1 (MFL1). However, due to some unexpected delays in bringing you MFL2 early access this fall, we wanted to express our gratitude for your support.
So, here's what we have in store for you:
Get ready to dive back into the gridiron action with a brand-new 2023 roster update for MFL1! to keep your MFL1 experience exciting and up-to-date.
But that’s not all…
We're also unveiling an epic Complete Bundle! For those who haven't had the chance to experience the Mutant League world, we're introducing the ultimate Mutant League bundle. It combines MFL Dynasty with all available DLC in one affordable package. It's the perfect opportunity to discover the thrills of Mutant League for the first time.
Both of these will be available in October across all platforms.
MFL2 screenshot of the Midway Mutants at the Malice Hellboys
MFL2 Elite Test Team on Steam (November)
Calling All Mutant Football League Fanatics and Die-Hard Players!
We're on the hunt for the true MFL enthusiasts and dedicated players who can help us shape the future of MFL2. We're assembling a select “elite” team to playtest MFL2 in a closed Steam environment and provide us with valuable feedback on the game.
Here are some key details -
Closed Playtesting: This is your chance to get an early look at MFL2, but please note that it will be focused on the core game's online multiplayer and single-player modes. Features like Dynasty won't be included in this initial phase.
Your Feedback Matters: Your feedback is invaluable to us. We're counting on you to identify and report any game issues, glitches, or areas for improvement. Your insights will play a crucial role in making MFL2 a fantastic gaming experience.
Help Us Make MFL2 Great: By participating in this closed playtesting, you'll be an integral part of the development process. Your dedication and passion for Mutant Football League are what drive us to create an outstanding game.
We'll be reaching out to the chosen few who will join this exclusive playtesting team. It's a unique opportunity to get hands-on experience with MFL2 before anyone else and contribute directly to its development.
Requirements:
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An NDA will be required – you will not be able to discuss or share any details of the game with anyone until we go public with those features.
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You cannot currently work for another game studio, developer, or publisher.
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You can help us test when it is convenient for you.
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It will be a small group of around 10-15 players to start.
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You should be a good player and already understand the game.
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You will need a decent PC to run the game.
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You will need to communicate effectively with the team.
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Communications and feedback to the devs will be through forums.
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Everyone helping us will get a game credit in MFL2.
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Everyone helping us will get an exclusive MFL2 Elite Test Team Shirt
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Everyone helping us will get to pick and name their own player who will be in MFL2.
If this sounds interesting please send us an email and tell us why you should be a member of the MFL2 Elite Test Team to: info@digitaldreamsent.com
MFL2 screenshot of an armored sand worm at the Malice Hellboys stadium
Community Questions - These are questions that the community has been asking us on our social media sites.
R. Workman: What would you say are the biggest improvements that you're working on compared to the original game?
Mendheim: Without spilling the beans or going too deep on our feature set, I’ll respond with high-level overview answers to this one.
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The graphical improvements are significant. The game now looks as good as it plays. You can look at the screenshots in this newsletter. The unretouched screenshots provided in the newsletter are just a taste of what's in store. While there's still work to be done, the visual experience is shaping up to be truly impressive.
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Engaging Metagame: Get ready for a compelling metagame that will captivate players both online and offline. This addition promises to elevate the fun and competitiveness of playing against other Mutant Football League players. It's a feature that's sure to keep players immersed and coming back for more.
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Characters in MFL2 are about to burst with personality and uniqueness. From visual damage that reflects their on-field battles to different hairstyles and tattoos. Upgraded players undergo visual changes in the game, sporting larger armor and unlocking new levels of customization to enhance their visual style and unique badassery.
D. McCall: Can't wait, I hope you guys cover on how the on-field gameplay and presentation has improved as well as go over some dynasty mode details and reveal more player races.
Mendheim: We're taking the brutality of tackling and hitting to the next level. In MFL we can do things that other football games can't. That's our superpower – so when designing the game, we push that aspect to the limits. Making the hits bigger with better camera work during the violence. We’ve also added a lot of post-play sequences.
While we won't be introducing a slew of new species types for the release of MFL2, our commitment is to include all the species types that fans loved in MFL1. Our focus has shifted towards making each individual player truly unique and customizable. This is a significant step forward in enhancing player immersion and diversity. We understand the importance of new species types to our community, and we've taken the approach that allows for greater player customization, offering a bigger bang for the buck. Developing this technology has been a substantial undertaking, and we're excited to showcase the results.
I’ll be sharing some Dynasty Supreme features later in this newsletter.
K. Hofer: Aside from being excited for MFL2, I am hoping that in the future we'll get Mutant Hockey League. What are the chances that will happen one day?
Mendheim: The chances are very strong. The entire team wants to work on a different Mutant Sports game. We’ll keep supporting MFL2 with Live Ops but we will be working on a different sport project. The community wants hockey. We usually do what our community wants. Stay tuned.
T. Heins: Most recent gameplay video?
Mendheim: Sorry, we can’t show videos yet. It's essential to strategically time these reveals to ensure the game gets the coverage it deserves from major video game sites who want to be the first to show the game. If we start showing MFL2 videos we will hurt our chances to get coverage. This is why we haven’t released any videos yet.
B. Edmonson: This looks so amazing. Is there a longer pre-game presentation now and a new halftime mini-game?
Mendheim: We do have a cool new opening leading up to the kickoff but I’m not sure if that’s what you mean by pre-game. Halftime mini-games are here to stay. We're hard at work developing a couple of new mini-games that will be featured in the halftime show.
J. Small: Really excited for this one after how great the 1st game turned out! I know it's probably too early in development to say for sure yet, but what release date do you think you'll be aiming for?
Mendheim: We are targeting next Fall 2024.
C. Allison: What are some of the new game plays? Will there be a draft at the beginning of the season?
Mendheim: Here are a few new features for Dynasty Supreme.
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2 League Structure:
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Pro League (32 Teams) – The best, most successful teams (default Parody Teams).
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Minor League (16 Teams) – Weaker, less successful teams (fantasy MFL teams / Orcs of Hazzard, etc.) and User-created teams (with unique names and generic logos).
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Player Drafts
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There is a snake draft at the start of every season.
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All Dynasty teams draft 7 new rookie players to their team at the start of every season.
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Rookie players will have different skill ratings (they will NOT all be the same).
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More Interesting Player Management
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Player contract management (manage and negotiate salaries – will be casual and entertaining).
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When players reach a certain XP level, they will want a new contract negotiated.
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After their third season, players' skill attributes start to decline (10% to 25% skill attribute reduction every season thereafter) but their salary does not.
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Older players eventually get cut or retire.
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S. Goodman Jr: Will this also be on the switch?
Mendheim: Not initially at release. It’s a technology issue and nothing more. We love the Nintendo Switch platform.
C: McLaughlin: Will there be a more "simulation" style franchise mode? Being able to draft, having contracts, computer teams adding and losing players over time.
Mendheim: I mentioned above some of the new features will include player contracts, etc. but nothing in a Mutant Sports game is “simulation” – everything is about entertainment. Our player issues and contract negotiations are going to parody professional sports in humorous and over-the-top ways. It’s also going to be simplified and casual. MFL at its core is an arcade style game.
C: McLaughlin: The dynasty mode in MFL1 is a cool idea, but can be tough and you're the only team that changes. It would be awesome to just choose a team as is and go through multiple seasons.
Mendheim: Interesting idea, if I have this correctly, you want Dynasty to be more like other football game franchise modes. In those, you pick your team and the players have their current ratings instead of their ratings being dropped down to a lower level and then earned as you play. We’ll bounce this idea with the team.
Thank you everyone for submitting your questions. We'll answer more questions in our next newsletter and sorry if you did not get your question answered this time around.
Well, that’s a wrap! We’ll send out another newsletter in November! Thank you for your support and awesomeness!
MFL2 screenshot of an armored sand worm at the Cardinal Sins stadium
In MFL2 the stadium info screens now show you what the field hazards look like.
MFL Fanatics Club FIRST LOOK - January 2023:
Hi Everyone,
We’re not going to say Mutant Football League 2 development has been going smoothly and everything is great, because it hasn’t been. Our team has been split up since the war. We have team members still in Ukraine and other team members everywhere from Sweden to Spain. The people in Kyiv must endure constant missile strikes and power outages. When there is no power there is no heat, so it gets cold and It’s hard to code when you’re freezing and can hear explosions outside your window. Yet, these dedicated guys continue to work on and persevere.
One of the features we have been working on is character customization. We have redesigned our entire character model system to allow for this. Not only will players have different hair and skin tones, but they will also have different armor sets. Here is a preliminary example of how a character could progress in Dynasty:
MFL2 preliminary character progression example
Customizing players so they look different on the field is becoming a very BIG feature for MFL2. Players can also wear earrings, glasses, hats, and have tattoos on their arms and face. When we release MFL2 it will have modest customization assets, but over time we will be creating a wide variety of items to customize your players.
Everyone at Digital Dreams is very excited about this feature. We think it has huge potential in the long run and it just makes the game more fun to play.
Here are some screenshots of characters:
MFL2 screenshot of Ratspew Splattered on the Los Scandalous Damned
MFL2 screenshot of Hatrick MyHomies performing some of his skele-magic
MFL2 screenshot of Hoodwinka Glitzpatrick on the Blitzburg Steelheads
There is so much we wish we could share with all of you, but we need to wait until we get a little bit closer to our release date, which right now is targeting late summer next year. Of course, this is all going to depend on how the war is going, and right now it’s not going well with these constant attacks on civilian areas. Please keep our team in your prayers. #SupportUkraine
There is one more little tidbit we can share though, and only because it’s the holiday season and all...
Dynasty Mode in MFL2 is going to be called Dynasty Supreme! (working title which we will change if you all hate it)
One of the most dramatic changes to Dynasty Mode is the overhaul of the entire league structure. Instead of 1 league, we will use a 2-league system consisting of Pro and Minor leagues. Users start in the Minor League (easier league) and advance to the pro-league (harder league).
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The Minor League – Weaker, less successful teams (a mix of fantasy MFL teams, like the Orcs of Hazzard, etc.) and REDACTED (too early to share this information).
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16 teams are in the Minor League.
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REDACTED (too early to share this information).
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The Minor League has a 13-game season and a 3-round playoff bracket.
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The 4 minor league teams who play in the Conference round of the playoffs will be promoted up to the Pro League the following season.
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The Pro League – Best, most successful teams (default NFL Parody Teams).
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32 teams are in the Pro League.
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REDACTED (too early to share this information).
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The Pro League has a 17-game season with a bye week (18 total weeks) and a 4-round playoff bracket.
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The 4 Pro League teams with the worst record in their conference (2 each), will be relegated down to the Minor League the following season.
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The Mayhem Bowl is the championship game and is the biggest and most anticipated sporting event in the Galaxy!
This change should make Dynasty a bit easier when you start playing and ramp up much slower over several seasons. There were several issues with the previous Dynasty in MFL1 that you all told us about and this is one new feature (out of many) that should improve Dynasty and make it more fun and challenging over multiple seasons.
Lastly, a few more screenshots of the product:
A Karcass City Creeps player is getting after it so he doesn't have to play in the Minor League.
Lost Wages Invaders at the Karcass City Creeps
A Lost Wages Invaders player is blown away by the Dynasty Supreme news!
Never Let Them Drag You Down!
Hope you like what you've seen, and there will be more to come. The development team is doing what they can to keep pushing the game forward no matter what's trying to drag them down. #SupportUkraine and persever in the New Year!
MFL Fanatics Club FIRST LOOK - September 2022:
Hi Everyone,
The dev team is hard at work on a Vertical Slice for Mutant Football League 2. What is a Vertical Slice? It's a sliver of the game that shows what MFL2 is going to look, sound, and play like. For example, we are finalizing one stadium and two teams. The teams we picked were the Karcass City Creeps (home) and the Malice Hellboys (away). The dev team's job is to elevate the game, which is early in development, up to the first playable quality. This will serve as our demo up until the end of the year. From this demo, we will be able to create some game videos to show everyone. Our internal deadline for this milestone is November 2022.
Our "core" goal for MFL2 is to make the game look as good as it plays. None of the screenshots below have been retouched in any way. While we still have a way to go, you can see that there have been tremendous visual improvements.
One of our key features is adding personalization and itemization to the on-field player characters. We’re attempting to infuse more character personality and uniqueness into the game. What you see in these screenshots are early technology tests. We’ll keep you updated in future MFL Newsletters, and slowly unveil more cool features.
For now, check out some of these new screenshots of MFL2.
Prepare to be blown away!
Even Pennywise is afraid of this Skeletal Deadhead.
They don't clown around in Karcass City.
New on-the-field down notice.
Super-Human with skull facepaint on the visiting Malice Hellboys
Mind blown on a mined field.
MFL2 will feature 8-vs-8 gameplay, allowing for more formation options.
Drink Beast Boost - for that unstoppable feeling.
Run. Like. Hell.
Welcome to the Freak Show, Smudge!
That’s it for this newsletter! We’ll be talking to you shortly again around Christmas time. Thank you all for your ongoing support and dedication of the Mutant Football League!
MFL Fanatics Club FIRST LOOK - December 2021:
Hi Everyone,
This is Michael Mendheim, creator of the original Mutant League Football and Hockey, and Digital Dreams Entertainment's re-imagined spiritual successor, Mutant Football League. First, I want to wish all of you a happy and safe holiday season, and also want to extend a huge thank you from me and everyone at Digital Dreams Entertainment LLC for supporting Mutant Football League !
We want to share some never-before-seen images of MFL2 for new generation platforms. These are the very first MFL2 screenshots seen by anyone outside of the development team. The MFL2 community helps us with our development focus, like which features to implement and what types of characters, weapons, and hazards they want to see in the game. You are the most thoughtful, loyal, and dedicated fan base we’ve ever had the pleasure to interact with.
Could we have released these new screenshots to the press first? Yes – but we aren’t doing that. The first eyes that are going to see MFL2 are YOURS!!!
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING MFL!!!
Now without further ado…
The game is still in early development. We are about 6 to 10 months away from Alpha, but it is up and running on next-generation platforms and is currently playable. One of the highest priorities is to bring the game's graphical presentation up to a much higher level of quality than MFL1.
That means every aspect of the game will be improved.
All the screenshots shown are taken directly from the game without any retouching.
MFL1 screenshot of the Scarolina Panzers' stadium
MFL2 screenshot of the Scarolina Panzers' stadium
The first thing you’ll notice we now have Physical Based Rendering, soft shadows from players, geometric grass, higher poly counts everywhere, and improved lighting from secondary sources.
Now check out our crowds from MFL1 and the improvements for MFL2.
MFL1 crowd screenshot - Crowds were animating sprite billboards.
MFL2 crowd screenshot - Crowds now are 3D, with lighting and bone animation.
Improving our player characters and models is one of the most important aspects of the visual development for MFL2.
MFL1
MFL2
Beyond the improved graphics, we also working on a tighter collision system and more fluent animations to improve every aspect of MFL2.
MFL1 screenshot of the Malice Hellboys' stadium
MFL2 screenshot of the Malice Hellboys' stadium
MFL1 screenshot – Line of scrimmage
MFL2 screenshot – Line of scrimmage
Lighting and shadows are more realistic and bright. You’ll also notice we now have 8 players per team instead of 7. Makes the use of Bruise Receivers more impactful and allows us to have more interesting formation sets.
Additional screenshot of the Malice Hellboys' stadium from MFL2
Additional screenshot of the Malice Hellboys' stadium from MFL2
You Rock!
Hope you like what we’ve shown, and there will be more to come soon. The development team is doing a tremendous job of improving every aspect of what you loved about MFL1 to make MFL2 an even more amazing experience for all of you.
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