Making Them's Fightin' Herds: The Story of Mane6

In our latest documentary, we take a look at the origins of Mane6 and their work on Them's Fightin' Herds to see just what goes into making an indie fighting game.
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Match footage from:
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Warcraft Map Editor Footage:
Soothing World Editor: • Soothing World Editor ...

[@wirlogx]

Lauren Faust is really good on creating characters and worlds, she should seriously consider also creating stories for games in the future.

What do you think this is?

[@wirlogx]

@ Her first try

[@antibots2426]

And Transformers Transformers tactical arena

[@Thalanox]

The story mode is cancelled.

[@fightinfoenatic]

I've never herd of this game.

[@ClexYoshi]

You guys don't get enough thanks for this crazy miracle story of a game that you're working on endlessly. Besides maybe Keet. He doesn't need a bigger head.

[@FlowWolf7]

Me neighthor

[@ergastolo4281]

I love TFH and i love your channel! ❤

[@Rulytasho]

Makes sense, I believe this game is just for little girls. We bois are too tall to notice it (I'm 5'1" and 29 years old)

[@LunaMinuna]

Hasaaaaaa

[@iceguy7769]

Good documentary, I hope more people play this game.

[@SmashCentralOfficial]

I don't even like MLP but the fact that the creator was down to make you original characters gave me goosebumps. That's just amazing

[@antibots2426]

Wes sei want to see Hasbro Transformers

[@BobbyMiller64]

This game has so much personality, and it's a lot of fun to watch. I'll definitely pick it up once the story mode launches. In retrospect, I'm glad the cease-and-desist happened so that we could get such a nuanced game!

[@Ene-Chan]

the update just came out

[@meyeneetuks4680]

lol u right. if it wasn't for Hasbro getting their panties in a twist we wouldn't have this fun game would we XD

[@MrMarinus18]

Many reviewers say the small roster is the biggest downside but I really like it. One really cool thing it allows is that every character combination has a unique dialogue. Even more so because they have 2; one as challenger and one as accepter. For something like Smash ultimate that has 50+ characters this just wouldn't be feasible. Even with the small roster here it still is 72 unique interactions. Adding one more character increases it to 98.

[@antibots2426]

Hasbro was necessary, it’s like the official video games in the style of Hasbro Transformers

[@kc3197]

This video actually made me tear up. I'm so glad the team was able to reach their goal.

[@unripetheberrby6283]

Me too man :')

[@antibots2426]

Yess

[@7ru7h0n3s7yf0r3v3r]

Who's here after TFH got accepted into EVO Online?

[@ChaosContrl]

It's like back to the beginning all over again

[@meister4597]

literally everyone lmao

[@AlriikRidesAgain]

Took me a minute. Now binging everything on this fucking channel.

[@Nice_Boy_555]

Yeah about that.....

[@AlriikRidesAgain]

@@Nice_Boy_555 WHY DID YOU HAVE TO BE SO CREEPY, MR. WIZ!? WHY!?!?

[@ronhalmen67]

Game is out now. Game is good. Bought and played, no regrets and a whole lotta fun.

[@deficit06]

Same, i bought it out of curiosity (and because it was cheap!) and i dont regret it.

[@jasonkok9905]

Same dude, story mode is quite fun and this is my first fighting game I've played

[@yeetusthefeetus3380]

"drop in your favorite street fighter characters" *plops jotaro*

[@mindwarp42]

One name: Dong Dong Never Die. What I think of when I hear 2DFM.

[@critical_monkey]

so sad to hear about the game losing support, i hope the community can stay alive, wish nothing but the best for the devs

[@HomerGumther]

Super cool that Lauren reached out to them especially with it being a fan project Also, That's crazy that LabZero and Mike Z came in to help them out like that with the engine Absolutely incredible story

[@HealyHQ]

And they went and made one of the best fighting games I've ever played. It's *so* much fun. Such an impressive feat. Well done, Mane6.

[@antibots2426]

From Hasbro

[@PiercingSight]

Man, I remember when they first started working on this. I loved seeing the little pixel animations of the MLP character moves come out every once in a while. I love the new character designs. And I'm really looking forward to playing the finished game when it comes out. I may not be into MLP anymore, but I'm still into well made fighting games, and that's what I'm looking forward to playing.

[@Thalanox]

The updates on the development blog where they talk about the old engine they were using, it's various limitations, and how things worked were fascinating.

[@claudiomonteverdi847]

Thank you, this is very high quality

[@marrksr3971]

I’m making a fighting game with my friends and this really encourage us to don’t give up

[@eletgres519]

YEA! LETS GO! GOGO DONT GIVE UP!

[@DaPurpleSharpie]

Great video! Definitely made me think about all the hard work and dedication went into this game. Was even influenced to play the game a bunch tonight because of it. Overall, this video really makes me feel proud to be in a community where TFH exists. Thanks so much for the upload!

[@antibots2426]

Fandom gameplay Transformers

[@Trecherousbeast]

Love this documentary! I was especially interested in why Lauren Faust wanted to help, since it's usually pretty rare for someone like her to help a ragtag team of fans. Really cool! I hope in the future that they release a console version!

[@LimeyLassen]

It's kind of amazing they got so much talent together in their original team because that doesn't usually happen in fan projects. Especially considering they were experienced players but not experienced devs.

[@ratedpeej14]

Loosely followed the project as a fighting game fan. Only played it after it was released on Humble Choice. I was ready to dismiss it as a troll game but it's actually fantastic. I wish I was a part of the original crowd funding. Hearing the amazing origin story of this (well produced, btw!!) makes me view the game in a different light. How many times do we go "Man, you know what would be cool?" and just leave the thought there? These guys took that, ran with it, got shut down, juked around it then galloped (ha) to the finish line. Really incredible story. Thank you all so much for sharing and I'm looking forward to future updates!

[@garethmagis]

If not for Sajam I wouldn’t have found this absolutely amazing channel

[@starsheep1140]

Ikr, I've heard the name hold back to block before but until the jam radio episode with este an I had no idea what it was and no interest in watching it but I was missing out

[@mimipeahes5848]

I’ve been following this game for so long, it’s amazing to see how far they’ve come

[@ClexYoshi]

Nappy sounds SO different over an actual quality mic that I almost didn't recognize his voice.

[@andrewhickinbottom1051]

I actually wish they had their nicknames on the documentary, because ive heard them talking loads in the workstreams, but i wasnt quite sure who was who while watching this, since they use their nicknames on the streams.

[@ClexYoshi]

I hear you, and got you covered, Fam. Omari Smith is Nappy Greg Barboza is Oreo Lucas Ellinghaus is Leedin Aaron Stavely is Infinaron and Lauren Faust is... well, I guess I could say "Fyre-Flye", but I'm pretty sure she's more recognizable as herself.

[@andrewhickinbottom1051]

@@ClexYoshi Gotcha - thanks!

[@cerealboxkiller420]

Watching this after seeing TRO's vid on Yandere Dev is like the Night n' Day of good and bad game development. If it didn't allready feel to little to late i'd say YD could take a page from the Mane6's book. -sigh-

[@cesarreynoso8366]

"But they are a team of people and not making the type of game that I am making." -YanDev as he codes in some random memes into his game.

[@FengLengshun]

...that was forty minutes? Goddamn, I thought it was shorter. Wasn't even terribly interested in the game but the way you guys put it together and how I can just feel how passionate the devs are... There really is just something special about fighting games and the people they attract man.

[@Shnatsel]

In case anyone's wondering what the shirt at 5:53 reads: it's "sparkypants" in Daedric.

[@SubrosianDimitri]

I just saw myself in the video at 34:09, and my god, what was I even talking about to be moving around that much, even if I'm a very expressive individual? Luckily, everyone else in those clips of Combo Breaker were enjoying themselves too. Great video overall, definitely very detailed.

[@NotOrdinaryInGames]

You were phyne.

[@uis246]

You are expressive indeed

[@Holdbacktoblock]

Thanks for watching our look behind Mane6 and Them's Fightin Herds! Would you like us to keep going behind the scenes of more fighting games in the future? Let us know! - Esteban

[@claudiomonteverdi847]

Please, keep doing those. They are unique and needed for the FGC (But i wouldn't mind your take on the many beginners questions that afflicts everyone who walks into the genre. You know, every FGC KZbinr has to do those at one point)

[@Elena-tj3so]

Yes, please! This was a great watch, I love seeing these behind the scenes sorta things.

[@pizzaham7219]

"loook"?

[@arafathb]

Please do. This makes people fall in love more with the games. But consider a teaser kind of thing or 10 min edited short version or maybe a short personal reason why you decided to cover this game. Just to generate interest in the final documentary.

[@thattagen]

I've met a lot of casual fans of the game who kind of had the behind the scenes story a bit wrong. Now that you've made this documentary, there's something I can point them to!

[@RadiantBlazeVA]

And now it's at EVO!

[@dogman15]

I really liked being able to see the 3D stage backgrounds/maps when the camera rotated in Maya. More Boundary Break, please!

[@antibots2426]

Yess mlp 2017 movie from Hasbro ( Transformers)

[@theboneman7379]

Once the game is finished they've got to try and port it to the switch. It would bring in a way bigger audience.

[@LaserBungalow]

Ports cost $$$. They probably arent going to worry about ports until story mode is done

[@theboneman7379]

@@LaserBungalow that's why I said when they finish it. I not saying it won't cost anything. But the game is family friendly so I don't think Nintendo will deny them once they have the money.

[@LaserBungalow]

@@theboneman7379 I don't think Nintendo cares about family friendly anymore lol

[@theboneman7379]

@@LaserBungalow true but it is a bonus.

[@minxyayala]

I would play if it got on the switch.

[@Thriving_in_Exile]

Lauren Faust wasn't the only OG to lend support; Tara-goddamn-Strong lended voicework to the game, too.

[@ArpeggioPegasusMusic]

She was very probably hired though.

[@magicmanscott40k]

Ok you got me. I'm gonna buy the game and try it out. I love art and how it was a passion project. Plus I love skull girls so learning it's a skull girl engine game sold me. I'm not in it ponys or the show at all. I'm impressed that from the sounds of it this is their first game and they didn't have any real training when they made it. Really impressive stuff

[@akaneonfox]

Great video! it really shows how Mane6 involved into a fan made MLP fighting game to something original, exciting and so much fun.

[@gbursine]

idk if its new, but I love the logo animation opening esteban

[@Holdbacktoblock]

It is new! I rotoscoped an actual stick and the sounds are from a Next Level local I was at. Hope you're well. Let's play Vsav soon!

[@antibots2426]

Yess from Transformers from Hasbro Transformers tactical arena from Hasbro

[@Genoh_]

"when everyone is crazy, then no one is crazy" finally a developer that gets it. I'm sick of these modern fighting games like dbfz where every character is more or less the same.

[@andrewhickinbottom1051]

Great documentary about a great bunch of folks! I didnt know about the game until after the crowdfunding period (unfortunately), but i bought it the day it came out on steam as an alpha, and i love it. Really fun characters and excellent animation

[@Wladislav]

Nice work, Esteban!

[@whiteboyz6942]

Damn this documentary has inspired me to make my own game. Thank you for showing this great story.

[@supermario863]

Good luck!!

[@thepear6684]

How is it going?

[@marcelo55869]

35:45 MVP right here

[@sol8013]

I wanna make games like these in the future and this is really useful for me and to other people that want to make games in this stile. I loved the documentary

[@shmallowlol]

Fantastic documentary. Thank you so much for making this!

[@YiffyShonryu]

Great shtuff! Here’s to seeing that full release and ever-increasing support TFH and any/everybody working on it deserves. 💞 ... andthatzonadivekick -cough-

[@Janfon1]

I am very happy to see them succeed.

[@JagiFrisbee]

Very nicely made documentary, just started playing this game and it's pretty damn great.

[@JagiFrisbee]

@GH Loop It runs really well on my old laptop, might wanna give it a try!

[@agusarce1]

This was a great documentary, thanks for making it.

[@potatotablet727]

When all hope was lost... Remember that there is always a way out. Basically MLP's story.

[@BoatsAndJoes]

Great video! Very interesting. Would *love* to see more behind the scenes stuff on passion projects like this!

[@zeldaochclintan004]

I really like this video, im not into my little pony, but fighting game is my passion. Watching this video is super inspiring!

[@eliasnicolasmiranda4940]

god bless fighting games

[@jasonharris3502]

Indeed! :)

[@Stylez-13]

I love fighting games and always wanted to beat the shyt of my little ponies and this people let me so I will support them, Ilve the irony of this fighters lol

[@tarique8620]

You’re gonna blow up, your quality is very good keep it up please.

[@McCat98]

Fell in love with the devs, such good guys

[@magic_pink_horse]

Incredible documentary job, my applause goes to you!

[@ZeroZealotan]

I am seriously wondering why your channel is not popular. This is a really good production video. Please do not stop.

[@unripetheberrby6283]

This was so amazing~ Can't wait to try it out one day

[@GatoEpico]

i didnt actually care for the game , not even played it yet but the OST is the most awesome idea i have seen in a game till now. Every character as a dedicated ost to them like any other game but everytime a character is fighting another the two songs mix with each other creating another version of the music. So you can have the alpaca as player 1 having her song mixed with the music from the other character and then you get a different mixed song if you are playing the alpaca but as player 2. Not only that but there seems to have more versions of the dedicated character music if they are idle or if they are in the final round. example: normal alpaca /watch?v=xscTVAsXMq8 alpaca as player 1 /watch?v=8p6gYc4UiZc alpaca as player 2 final round /watch?v=TDsK20keCXY i have also heared two versions of the training stage one with guitar and another which sounds like a 16bit game. Too bad they didnt talk much about the music in the game.

[@jonahabenhaim1223]

If you didn’t care for it why are you here then?

[@GatoEpico]

@@jonahabenhaim1223 because hearing the OST in youtube makes the algorithm show a lot of fighting herds videos and i came here to see if they talk about the one who made the music from the game. Also wanted to ask why i cant heard the ost on spotify anymore , its disabled now for me.

[@Steve-Fiction]

Awesome watch, I loved this! What's been holding me back from playing this game is the lack of a console version, so I hope that's on the horizon.

[@jasonharris3502]

Let's all pray that idea becomes a reality. :)

[@CADPgamer]

@@jasonharris3502 I've been playing this game a lot recently, and I hope that it eventually also comes out on consoles so that more people get into this game.

[@supermario863]

I know this is a year late but the devs have said that linux and mac ports that they are currently working on will help them on console ports in the long run, and will make it easier to port!

[@zestysword]

You may already know this but as of October 18th, 2022 the game is available on all consoles

[@GregInTechnicolor]

Congrats on EVO!

[@RocRolDis]

I’ve tried so many times to get into fighting games. Something just doesn’t click. I have a hard time remembering moves that are more complex than a single direction and a button. Then you add in the speed that everyone else seems to play at and I just end up being a punching bag for other players and it’s loses all appeal.

[@Jotamide]

Power Rangers Battle for the Grid uses 1 direction + button specials

[@johntenconnary144]

Get gud lmao

[@ShimmerScarlet]

Idk if it's worth saying, but this game does have one of the best fighting game tutorials out there, so that you can learn each individual character

[@thanyou]

Where capitalism fails: Executives deem a fan project a threat to their IP, and instead of noticing the positive feedback and audience it created, instead decided to shut it down. Them's fightin Herds is small and growing, but _exists._ Because of passionate individuals who, instead of having a one-off project that would be forgotten a few months after its release, were pushed into having to create something much more than the original ever could've been. Hasbro's loss, Mane6 and Faust's gain.

[@antibots2426]

While the famous Transformers Franchise will continue to take out Hasbro handsome

[@KMCA779]

Man, all those clips with the placeholder animation. So much cardboard in those clips, I always loved the cardboard. It was just so whimsical and fit the style perfectly.

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

Friendship is violence, love and tolerance!

[@antibots2426]

And War for cybertron gameplay ( Hasbro)

[@flyingspaghettimonster2132]

we're on 2.0 now and it's excellent.

[@BimBurger]

Saw Them's FIghting Herds on IGN or something a couple days ago, then saw Nihonggo Gamer's video and saw that one of the devs jumped into the chat. I bought it before I even started watching this documentary.

[@kuaikukia]

Even though i'm not into fighting game these days, i'm interested this game future

[@crazycreaturestudios]

I don't even like fighting games, but after watching this and seeing the characters a wanna try it now.

[@Wolfmansgeneralchannel]

Now that the physical version is out I got a copy off of Walmart, it’s a great fighting game and I really like how creative they managed to keep the campaign from being just a “walk till you get to location” kinda game by implementing the fighting mechanics into environmental challenges

[@Dr.Oofers]

Welp, officially announced their cutting support for the game… in a DLC announcement post… While the game is still unfinished.

[@harryshum4139]

And it seems that they were in the same boat as their fans too, mind you. “Story Mode has always been an ambitious feature and one we truly desired to implement. We know how much our fans have been looking forward to Story Mode chapters, and we hope you understand how much we looked forward to working on and releasing them.” Don't think of this as something done intentionally.

[@Max-sh6zu]

I remember following this game waaay back when it first started development. Eventually I fell out of the community for reasons I won't go into, but I'm glad this project still found a way to come to fruition. I might check it out at some point.

[@P0rk_Sinigang]

The main theme for TFH is so good, it always gets be shuckin' and jivin' when it comes on.

[@Midekai]

I had been following this game ever since it was still on 2DFM and I'm so glad to see it come into its own despite it all

[@jesterje]

Amazing Doc. I just started playing this game when it got a console release and I’m signed up to compete at frosty Faustings. I can’t wait to meet other people that play this game! It’s so good.

[@Keyguin]

This became recommended for me after it became a main game for Evo online lol.

[@SlateofGranite]

Just bought my Switch copy and already I'm getting the urge to draw again.

[@JusRed48]

I'm here after getting this game for free on the Epic Games store. I heard about it before, I thought it looked good, and I've been a fighting gamer since I was a kid but let me tell you, I am glad I gave it a shot because it is fucking fun and what a story this game and the team behind it have! I've never seen anything MLP before in my life but here I am with 12 hours put into this game trying to find a main!

[@thePANDEMlC]

What a crazy ride and all to make such a great game and this game is just getting started.

[@Starryeyeddreamer2001]

Cool a Jotaro Cameo

[@Thalanox]

I find this game tricky to get into because the characters are so much more complex than almost every other fighting game character I've tried. There's no basic Ryu Shoto archetype to start off with. Each character is a blend of multiple archtyles. That's without going in to the fact that it's a heavily combo-oriented game, which I'm already not so good at. That said, I'm enjoying my time with it. I just have to take the characters to training mode to try to learn their moves and walk through the basic combos, then try to work those combos and moves into muscle memory by playing against the CPU until I can consistently beat the first 2 or 3 levels of the CPU.

[@zigaudrey]

I knew Fighting is Magic is seven years ago and I recognize the starting point for Them's Fightin' Herds. I gotta says MLP has the strangest fandom. It was made for young girls but adults enjoy it. 11:49 Thus why it is the highest donated game. 14:08-16:05 Lauren Faust's saving grace. 20:44 Look holds a character story even without a telling story. Early Access help to build a fandom and receive feedback.

[@Magnet_Chaos]

To be fair. Lauren Faust was aiming for the whole family. Not just girls. Limiting he audience is not in her MO.

[@sheilavixen5384]

Im am happy I backed this up, they did ana amazing job!

[@leekotvfilms5236]

Bruh y'all making the world a better place

[@awesomeaustin5704]

Anyone watching after xbox dropped the trailer

[@matiasmorales073]

yep, cool story

[@amanofnoreputation2164]

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic is a story about a unicorn who's bad at making friends because her head is permanently stuck in some fantasy land of sugar, spice, everything nice, and chemical X, and when she does pay attention to the waking word, it's in a rigid and meticulous fashion. Most viewers see, "Friendship is Magic" in the title and don't realize that it's a paradox. All of the things which seem make Twilight magical also isolate her from other ponies -- set her apart. From this basic contradiction, everything unfolds.

[@FenexTheFox]

That's a nice breakdoown. Also worth noticing how Twilight loves studying all kinds of magic, but always failed to learn the most powerful magic of all. It's like the title itself is trying to hammer down this lesson to her head. Funny how such a cheesy name actualy makes a lot of sense when you break it down like this.

[@ivansotelo4622]

Omg, this was really a beautiful story

[@sagewaterdragon]

This was great!

[@shellblast2249]

Can you do a similar video of rivals of aether

[@Holdbacktoblock]

Possibly! I'll keep it in mind for the future.

[@shellblast2249]

@@Holdbacktoblock thank you, also great video. I love documentary type videos in regards to pop-culture especially video games. Cant wait to see more!

[@maixshinra6152]

With what program do you create art and animations? Greetings and congratulations on your work.

[@yurexpi]

Hope this game comes out on console

[@RetroGrazer]

and now it's in EVO!

[@gocedimitroski]

Such a good doco

[@jonahabenhaim1223]

5:00 I think Pony haters need to listen to this part

[@PocoQuinn]

This game is dope, you guys gotta try it if you haven't edit: oh shit my Carly Rae Jepsen stick is in it at 37:45 ! and me at 38:56, that's sick as hell lol

[@LizaPlz]

26:29 bald velvet

[@currentlybeingremade9706]

When the beta had so much Jotaro. OH MY DEAR JOATRO. YOU ARE THE ONE I KNOW-

[@jordanlucasthemusician]

skull girls vs TFH would be funny if we never get to have a skullgirls vs Darkstalkers

[@bubblebloom3942]

Skullgirls

[@colonelpopcorn7702]

@@bubblebloom3942 Skullgirls

[@antibots2426]

And Transformers would against would Vs TFH

[@EveryGamerLife]

"I'm sure our friends would never steal and leak our beta fan game" Few days later....

[@FlameJackstar]

For the love of god, this needs more views.

[@NotOrdinaryInGames]

This could have been a birthday present if I watched it on release day.

[@deethegamer8699]

after watching this Doc, i'll buy this game.

[@khandarwilliam5439]

and now they're official EVO tournament 2020

[@GregInTechnicolor]

Great game. I bought it because these guys really show passion for their product.