Shaquille O’Neal is taking another crack at video game stardom with an Indiegogo campaign to fund “Shaq-Fu: A Legend Reborn,” and he stopped by TheWrap and Indiegogo’s Live Interview Studio at South by Southwest to explain why.
“Even though it’s just labeled as a cult classic, it was a pretty good game,” the former NBA star told film reporter Lucas Shaw in the interview (above). “Now with the new technology we have, I think it’s going to be an exciting game.”
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O’Neal and his collaborators working on the update of the 1994 2-D console fighting game (think “Mortal Kombat” with Shaq) are aiming for an “early 2015” release date, providing fans rally behind the crowdfunding campaign hoping to raise $450,000.
“Let’s get one thing straight. It’s going to take more than $450,000 to fund the game. Yes, I am putting my money into the game. And the fans have always been my partners,” O’Neal said. “We just wanted to use it as a measuring source, to see if there’s some excitement, and there has been a lot of excitement.”
Just over $71,000 worth of excitement to date, which isn’t a bad start for a campaign that has 41 days left to flourish.
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So what the hell is “Shaq-Fu” you ask?
“A lot of people my age remember the game. People that know me know about my Shaq-Fu,” O’Neal said. “Shaqfu is a legendary Kung Fu master, just like i am in real life. I could kick your ass right now.”
Spoiler alert: Shaw survived the interview, but he did not escape completely unscathed.