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What is A Kingdom for Kelflings?
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/a/akfkxboxlivearcade/default.htm

Place your customized Xbox LIVE® Avatar in the medieval world of A Kingdom for Keflings, a new city-building game from NinjaBee. Play as your Avatar or choose from other friendly giants as you teach the local Keflings how to collect and convert resources to customize your kingdom. Educate and train your Keflings to become workers, scholars, even Mayor of the city! Build your kingdom alone or cooperatively with up to three of your friends online. The more you build, the more buildings you unlock and the more Keflings you attract, so start building today!

* City-building fun: In an original approach to a well-loved genre, A Kingdom for Keflings features a large avatar interacting with the Keflings, resources, and buildings of a small village. Resources and Keflings can be converted from one type to another. Buildings can be built and upgraded with a combination of specific resources and specific Kefling types. Buildings in turn make new resources and Kefling types available, unlock new building types, attract more Keflings, and achieve other game goals.
* Xbox LIVE Avatar: It's the first game of its kind on Xbox LIVE Arcade to support full in-game playable avatars. Move your avatar around, pick up the Keflings and pop them into buildings.
* Customization: Make your city your own by customizing the look and color of buildings, and decorating the village with additional elements such as trees and walkways.
* The time of the season: Stylized animated graphics change with the seasons, and a dynamic music soundtrack (which adapts to the season and the state of the village) gives the game an unusually strong sense of life and activity.
* Co-op play: Build cities online cooperatively with your friends.

Release Date and Price

http://www.consolemonster.com/newspost.php?id=0000004425

A Kingdom for Keflings priced and dated
Submitted on: 06 November, 2008 23:33 GMT

A Kingdom for Keflings has been given a release date and the date itself doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Being the first Xbox Live Arcade title to release with playable in-game avatars, the release date is, you guessed it, Wednesday 19th November 2008 (the same day as the New Xbox Experience).

Developed by NinjaBee (Cloning Clyde, Outpost Kaloki X), A Kingdom for Keflings is a medieval-era city-builder in which you play a God-like character. Starting with a small village, along with Keflings (tiny humanoids that follow player’s commands), players construct and decorate buildings which soon become villages and all the way up to a full-fledged city.

At 800 Microsoft Points, A Kingdom for Keflings could be a worthy purchase, even if it’s just to test the avatar support.

Special Feature: New Xbox Experience Avatar Integration

http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/18081/A-Kingdom-for-Keflings-to-Launch-with-Playable-Avatars/

NinjaBee announced today that A Kingdom for Keflings will be the first Xbox 360 title to ship with playable, in-game Avatars. Below is the press release with the announcement along with two screenshots of the game showing avatars.
A Kingdom for Keflings, the First Xbox 360 Game to Launch with Playable Avatars, Arrives on Nov. 19 with the New Xbox Experience

Giants in video games? Nothing new. But playing with your own doppelganger as the giant? That is something you can only do on Xbox LIVE Arcade.

From NinjaBee, the developer that brought fan favorites “Band of Bugs,” “Outpost Kaloki X” and “Cloning Clyde,” comes “A Kingdom for Keflings,” a new twist to the city-building game genre where you play as a giant working to turn a village of Keflings into a metropolis.

Click here to view screenshot in high resolution

The Xbox LIVE Arcade game, launching on Nov. 19 with the New Xbox Experience, is the first Xbox 360 title to ship with playable, in-game Avatars. “A Kingdom for Keflings” also comes packed with custom animations tailored for Avatars and player-controlled social emotes. The game supports 4-player Xbox LIVE multiplayer with each friend using a custom Avatar, and works perfectly with Xbox LIVE Party.

Click here to view screenshot in high resolution

But Avatar inclusion is just half the fun. In this innovative, Medieval-era city-builder, giants start out with a small village and a handful (literally!) of helpful Keflings who are tiny humanoids that follow the player’s commands and try not to get stepped on. Fun and direct interaction with Keflings includes carrying them around, assigning them jobs and training them to do simple tasks. The game features extensive customization of the city through personally constructing and painting each building and decorating the village with additional elements such as trees, statues and more. Players will have to collect and manage resources to build their village into a full-fledged city.

Other key features of the game include:

* The ability to build cities online cooperatively with up to 3 friends
* Stylized animated graphics that change with the seasons and season-based gameplay
* A dynamic-music soundtrack (which adapts to the season and the state of the village)



Developed by NinjaBee, “A Kingdom for Keflings” will be available for 800 Microsoft Points worldwide. The game is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

Previews:

Team Xbox
http://previews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/2072/A-Kingdom-for-Keflings/p1/

IGN XBLA
http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/897/897283p1.html

1UP.com
http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3169323&p=4

Video:

IGN XBLA
http://feeds.ign.com/~r/ignfeeds/all/~3/445873085/vids_1.html

Gametrailers
http://www.gametrailers.com/game/10478.html

Gamespot
http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/puzzle/akingdomforkeflings/videos.html?tag=quicklinks;videos

Screenshots:

Achievements:

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/game/a-kingdom-for-keflings/achievements/

[Printable Version ]
There are 12 achievements with a total of 200 points.

If I Had a Hammer 5
Build a lumbermill (Single Player)

Siegfried (or Roy) 5
Train a Kefling (Single Player)

Frank Lloyd 25
Unlock 25 blueprints (Single Player)

Big Bully 15
Secret

Haberdasher 20
Encounter every possible Kefling hat (Single Player)

Like Rabbits 15
Reach a total Kefling population of 30 (Single Player)

Think Big 10
Build a building made of more than 8 pieces (Single Player)

Master Builder 25
Build a cathedral (Single Player)

King 40
Finish a complete castle with three connected parts (Single Player)

Friend 10
Collect 10 unique player banners from other giants during Xbox LIVE play

World Traveler 10
Play in an online game where 20 different player banners appear

Vanity 20
Secret

Reviews:

TeamXbox
http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1630/A-Kingdom-for-Keflings/p1/
8.7

Eurogamer
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=308905
7/10

IGN XBLA
http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/932/932836p1.html
8.2

 

[EktorPR]

I honestly had no idea what this thread was about when I clicked it...shame.

 

[Shard]

I honestly had no idea what this thread was about when I clicked it...shame.

Quite, this is why we have detailed OPs.

 

[EmCeeGramr]

What did this avatar inject the kingdom with?

 

[Shard]

What did this avatar inject the kingdom with?

Indentured servitude.

 

[itxaka]

So medieval simcity with avatar integration rigth?

If the building is good and the game long, maybe i'll pick it up.800 points is cheap nowadays.

 

[charlequin]

Good job coming up with a completely incomprehensible thread title that it is almost impossible to discern the name of the game in question from.

 

[FirewalkR]

Oh Shard, Jonnyram is gonna have his way with you. Oh yes he will! Avatar Injected-style!

(whatever that means)

 

[sciplore]

So hyped. I have been craving a simulator game in the vein of this for a while now, Civ Rev really helped but it is more strategy than what I was looking for (though I still love it death). This game looks to fill that urge and I hope to see more like this appear on XBLA.

On another note it saddens me to see the lack of attention this title is getting on gaf especially since a lot of people here is in love with "Little King's Story" and seemed to like the "Harvest Moon:Rune" series.

 

[Shard]

Oh Shard, Jonnyram is gonna have his way with you. Oh yes he will! Avatar Injected-style!

(whatever that means)

Doubtful.

 

[chubigans]

Good job coming up with a completely incomprehensible thread title that it is almost impossible to discern the name of the game in question from.

Hah, instantly I knew Shard made this thread without even looking.

He's a great user, but a bit less great on the thread titles.

 

[Shard]

http://majornelson.com/archive/2008/11/19/arcade-a-kingdom-for-keflings.aspx

Arcade: A Kingdom for Keflings
Content: A Kingdom for Keflings
Price: 800 Microsoft Points
Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions
Dash Text: [ESRB: E (EVERYONE) MILD CARTOON VIOLENCE] Xbox LIVE Multiplayer 2-4, HD (High Definition). Unlock the full version of A Kingdom for Keflings for even more homes, buildings, and workshops to build! Join up to three of your friends via Xbox LIVE to cooperatively construct the kingdom of your dreams. The full version of A Kingdom for Keflings includes achievements to earn, more Keflings to attract and many more opportunities to fill your kingdom full of love! This game requires the Xbox 360 hard drive or the 512MB Memory Unit for storage. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

 

[Stitch]

Framerate is pretty terrible in this game

and it's like a boring black & white

 

[Shard]

I recall Black and White was pretty boring on its own.

 

[Gowans]

tried it and the frame rate hurts me.

Will give it a proper chance as I have heard some good things but too many other games at the mo.

 

[Peronthious]

Tried the trial and I like it quite a bit. I didn't notice anything about the framerate, but maybe I'm just blind to those sorts of issues; I didn't really notice framerate drops in Vigilante 8 either. Just from the trial it looks like it would get old and bland fast, but the screens make it look a lot deeper. Worth 800 at least, I think I'll buy. Catchy music is a definite plus.

 

[VALIS]

Only had a chance to play through a bit of the tutorial but this is one of the more unique and interesting games on the download services this year. It's like a deeper version of the gathering and building portions of a typical RTS like Age of Empires, but with villager development as well. If that doesn't sell you, it's made by the awesome Ninja Bee, who developed the excellent Outpost Kaloki X, Band of Bugs and Cloning Clyde for the XBLA.

Shame it's going to get totally overlooked with 360 users focused on the NXE this week. MS should do them a solid and have a "re-release" of this game in a few weeks, give it a week of its own.

 

[Nathan Rain]

What did this avatar inject the kingdom with?

Indentured servitude.

LOL! OK this made my day. Thanks guys!

 

[painey]

cant believe the frame rate is so bad considering how the game looks. It was ok, it seemed to be really, really dumbed down Settlers.

 

[F#A#Oo]

Meh...looks like a poor man's King Sory or MlaaK...

 

[sciplore]

The framerate could get a little jarring especially when your trying to construct something and you have keflings running afoot demanding you to work them but overall its addicting fun. I was up nearly 5:00 in the morning playing this thing.

Course I am kicking myself for making my building so far away from the resouces.

 

[Flyguy]

Not crazy about the camera, and as other have said, the framerate is inexplicably bad considering there's not much going on in-game. Despite all that, I still found myself having fun with the core gameplay. Has anyone played multiplayer yet? The game might be worth the purchase if you get Populous/Sim City/RTS-like god powers of destruction and you can wreak havok on other people's Keflings.

 

[Peronthious]

Not crazy about the camera, and as other have said, the framerate is inexplicably bad considering there's not much going on in-game. Despite all that, I still found myself having fun with the core gameplay. Has anyone played multiplayer yet? The game might be worth the purchase if you get Populous/Sim City/RTS-like god powers of destruction and you can wreak havok on other people's Keflings.

Not yet, I'll probably be on later if anyone wants to give it a shit. GT = Peronthious

 

[Speevy]

Meh...looks like a poor man's King Sory or MlaaK...

As if Mlaak was some grand production.

 

[Glix]

I tried the demo of this last night. It was really cool! I have a feeling once the niftyness of using a giant you wears off, its just a dumbed down Warcraft ...

 

[Y2Kev]

Has anyone tried this? I've heard it is unabashedly atrocious.

And it's also been injected with kingdoms.

 

[VALIS]

Has anyone tried this? I've heard it is unabashedly atrocious.

I've found it to be quite the opposite, its become one of my favorite XBLA/PSN/WiiWare games of the year.

There's a huge building upgrade path to follow that will probably keep you busy for 20 hours, the game itself hits that sweet spot mix of Advance Wars-type simplicity and depth, the graphics are charming... I'm really enjoying it, but I love management and RTS anyway.

 

[Notorious_Roy]

I like the game so far, but I can't find the 'single bow shears' to harvest wool... And I need wool to build more buildings

I did find the tool for Crystal harvesting and several books...

 

[VALIS]

I like the game so far, but I can't find the 'single bow shears' to harvest wool... And I need wool to build more buildings

I don't know if tools are in the same place every time, but I found them in the forest on the left hand side, about 7 o'clock from your Town Hall.

 

[AndresON777]

Supports avatars? Bought, it's the new trophies lol

 

[CrunchinJelly]

2 people on my Friends list haven't stopped playing this since it came out.

 

[Flyguy]

Is there online vs.? Can you lay waste to each other's Keflings? Can you destroy their houses Rampage-style? This is needed, and will mean an instabuy for me.

 

[C4Lukins]

I am loving the game.

 

[BLaZiN PRopHeT]

The game is very addicting

 

[Doodis]

Played the demo and seemed pretty simple but surprisingly fun. Kicking keflings with my avatar is surprisingly enjoyable. Might pick up the full version when I run out of things to play.

 

[adg1034]

Gelflings?

 

[Peronthious]

Gelflings?

:lol :lol

I can actually imagine them looking like that.

 

[Gowans]

So I gave the trial a proper shot before hitting some z's and I like it alot from the scrape of the top layer the trial gave me. Can see why some guys have been on this for hours.

So many games to play but I'm gonna pick it up as its giving me the same feeling I had playing Settlers.

Should be a great game to play when catching up on podcasts too.

Too many games but if you see me online and you have this game bash me a inv would love to see how we can get a city going in co-op.

 

[thetrin]

As if Mlaak was some grand production.

Maybe not a grand production, but it was a pretty solid little city sim.

 

[Gowans]

game is crack, must sleep!

 

[gregor7777]

This is a surprising turn of events...the game is actually good?

 

[VALIS]

game is crack, must sleep!

Seriously, been playing it all day even though I really want to get back to Nuts & Bolts and Left4Dead.

You get so many frigging Keflings at one point you practically need pen and paper to keep track of them.

 

[PARANO1A]

I bought. Ninjabee can do no wrong <3 Quite addicting in its "just one more objective" kind of way.

 

[Notorious_Roy]

I don't know if tools are in the same place every time, but I found them in the forest on the left hand side, about 7 o'clock from your Town Hall.

Thank you, I'll check later today. Good to know that they SHOULD be somewhere to be found, not earned through objectives.

 

[Gowans]

can't believe how late I stayed up last night playing, you really just have to give it a chance and get on with the tutorial when you have some time.

Looking forward to playing more this weekend (never mind my backlog)

 

[Metalic Sand]

Was hearing this game has framerate problems? Is that true? I didnt notice too much problems doing the tutorial on the trial. To buy or not to buy.

 

[Gowans]

Was hearing this game has framerate problems? Is that true? I didnt notice too much problems doing the tutorial on the trial. To buy or not to buy.

on my first start of teh trial it seemed to have a low but consistent frame rate, I think it still does but its consistent (tho it seemed to drop during season changes?)

 

[N.A]

I'm really enjoying the game.

Like Gowans said, the framerate only drops during the season changes.

 

[Notorious_Roy]

I don't know if tools are in the same place every time, but I found them in the forest on the left hand side, about 7 o'clock from your Town Hall.

lol, it was right next to the town hall when I started today. I've been building lots of stuff today, but now I need more books Great relaxing game. Too bad the framerate kinda sucks...

 

[F#A#Oo]

As if Mlaak was some grand production.

WTF...what has grand production got to do with anything?

It's still one of the best village/city sims on console...and that's enough that it should get a worthy mention if that what people want to get into.

I played the trial lastnight and it was pretty addicitive...but then again I'm quite a big fan of simulations so it's hard for me to get turned off and I would say it's definately worth a poke if your looking for something like that on the 360.