MUGEN: The Story of Matthis and the Cheapy Wars

Introduction

• MUGEN: Freeware 2D fighting game by Studio El Bite.
• Developed in response to lack of good commercial fighting games on PC.
• Released in the late '90s with updates until the 2010s.
• Emphasis on imagination and creativity.

What is MUGEN?

• Name derived from Japanese word meaning dream, fantasy, or infinite.
• Vast roster with around 104,000 characters.
• Allows players to create characters, stages, mini-games.

The Cheapy Wars

• Cheapy character: Far surpasses usual 'cheap' character; no hurt boxes, AI-controlled, can't be killed by debug options.
• A Bomb: Starts a match with any action causing an instant win explosion.
• Escalation: Creators created more powerful cheapy characters to outdo each other.
• Skill tiers: A scale developed to categorize dangerous characters, top tier being Dragon tier.

Matthis: The Ultimate Cheapy

• Origins & Reputation: Infamous in the MUGEN community, said to transcend into real computers causing significant damage.
• Folklore: Largely a myth/creepypasta; not a factual existence.
• Cheapy Scale Placement: Top tier, categorized as Dragon tier.

Investigation into Matthis

• Little concrete evidence of Matthis' existence.
• Sparse collection of screenshots and manipulated footage.

Searching for Matthis & Creator

• MUGEN archives: Only 29 posts about Matthis.
• UTO Fanboy: Linked to Matthis' creation, but with dead links and defunct accounts.
• Documentation: Discussion posts and archives describing destructive effects.

Analysis of the Matthis Myth

• Effect Descriptions: Penetration of servers, cutting connections, and extreme destruction.
• Origins of the Model: Based on a character from Warcraft 3.
• Name Theories: Man-Dragon, derived from Russian heavy metal band or Welsh translation of crushing.

Modern Interpretations & Community Impact

• Fan-Made Content: Numerous fan interpretations of Matthis exist online.
• Conclusion: Matthis likely a hoax but inspired creativity in MUGEN community.
• Caution & Mistrust: Concerns over file sharing and potential bad actors.

Broader Context of Digital Folklore

• Elf Bowling: 1999 viral game rumored falsely to contain malware.
• Friday Night Funkin': Modern game with similar user-led content and horror stories.
• Two Fears: Fear of the unknown and mistrust of others in digital communities.

Final Remarks

• Modern Retrieval: Potential real identity of Matthis' creator found but not pursued out of respect.
• Call for Respectful Interaction: Avoid stalking or harassing people involved in the story.
• Open Dialogue: Creator invited to share stories or clarify myths.