Bruce Buffer launches Kickstarter campaign, recruiting beta testers for social game ‘MMA Federation’

Longtime UFC announcer Bruce Buffer is seeking out backers and beta testers for a new MMA-themed social game “MMA Federation.”

The title, which is set to launch in full later this year, is being created by a team of veteran game developers who boast past experience at EA, Disney, Sega and Sony Computer Entertainment, according to an official press release.

“I have been involved in some of the most successful fighting video games of all time,” Buffer stated. “But this time I wanted creative control to really take fan participation to a new level in a way that hasn’t been done before. Built by MMA fans, for MMA fans, this is an open invitation to join our campaign.”

According to an initial announcement, “MMA Federation” sees gamers “become a professional fighter and join a virtual team directly linked to a real MMA team like American Top Team, AMA Fight Club, Tristar in Canada and Team Nogueira and Nova Uniao in Brazil.

“They build their virtual fighter’s MMA skills, challenge other players across the world, face challenges, and win fights – all to achieve ‘points.’ Those ‘points’ unlock real rewards in the physical world – like signed memorabilia, VIP tickets to top live MMA events and even once-in-a-lifetime experiences, like entering a full arena, broadcast live around the world, alongside your favorite MMA fighter.”

The game is being developed as an application for iOS, Android and online platforms.

Buffer and the London-based Mixed Martial Mobile, Ltd. are currently seeking £100,000 (approx. $164,000) to help fund the project. All money pledged through the Kickstarter campaign will be returned to the “backers” in the form of in-game currency. Pledges start at less than $2, with those giving $10 or more earning access as a beta tester. Larger pledges are rewarded with additional swag, including a VIP experience at an MMA event and post-fight drinks with Buffer, himself.

“We wanted to take all our experience around games and really build something different from the video games we know and that would have much more interaction within the MMA fighting community on a massive scale,” Buffer stated. “‘MMA Federation’ is a social game that is complementary to the large fighting video games that I am, and have been, involved with. We are a small, independent studio and are proud of our flexibility and fan-driven focus.”

Pledges can be add at Kickstarter.com.