The practice of acquiring a customized fighting game built upon the M.U.G.E.N engine, featuring characters and assets from the Mortal Kombat franchise, involves locating and retrieving the necessary files from online sources. This typically encompasses a compilation of character sprites, stages, sound effects, and program configurations assembled by independent developers and shared within online communities.
This method provides access to a unique gaming experience that is generally unavailable through official channels. Its popularity stems from the ability to experience Mortal Kombat characters in novel scenarios, engage in combat with fighters from other franchises, and utilize customized game mechanics. Historically, this phenomenon has thrived due to the modification-friendly nature of the M.U.G.E.N engine and the passionate community surrounding fighting game customization.