Within the Nintendo Switch firmware prior to Version 4.0.0 (for Japanese, US and European systems only), there is a hidden NES emulator stub called "flog" that can be unlocked under very specific conditions. flog can only be unlocked on the Home Screen and when the console's internal clock is set to July 11th (if the date is changed in System Settings, but the console is connected to the internet and can see the actual date, this method will not work). The method to unlock it involves detaching the Joy-Cons from the console, holding them pointing forwards/downwards, then moving them to a vertical position and holding it for a few seconds. This gesture may take some time to hone due to it being a specific movement tracked by the Joy-Cons, but when it is matched, the system will check to see if flog is installed. When checked, an audio clip of a man saying "chokusetsu" ("直接"), the Japanese word for "direct", will play and the screen will cut to black and launch the 1984 NES title Golf. This emulator is unique in that it includes specific instructions in English and Japanese on how to play depending on how the Joy-Cons are held, and has a more stripped-down and simplistic appearance than the emulators that would be used for NES games on Nintendo Switch Online. Pressing the Home button while playing Golf will return you to the Home Screen without any visible software running there.
With Version 4.0.0, Nintendo removed all of the code required to launch flog and play Golf, but the company seemed unusually hesitant to even acknowledge its existence when asked by news outlets. One month before its removal, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Amie released two statements regarding it when asked by Kotaku:
"So, two comments on this. It was identified by folks playing around in the firmware. We've got nothing officially to announce for that content or what the plans are for that content. So that's that. Certainly anything that pays respect to my friend Mr. Iwata is something that is near and dear to me personally, but in terms of that execution and what it was meant to do or what the plans are, we've got nothing to announce."
"I'm struck whenever I go back to Kyoto and spend time in our headquarters and spend time in the offices where Mr. Iwata, myself and others would be meeting. It's always personally touching. And so, again, no comment on that particular execution."
While this seems to allude that the secret emulator and Golf's inclusion were not authorized within Nintendo, this all but confirms that their purpose was to act as a tribute to Nintendo's late CEO Satoru Iwata. Iwata, who programmed Golf and previously hosted the company's Nintendo Direct showcase series, passed away on July 11th, 2015, with the method to unlock the emulator mimicking a gesture he used during Nintendo Directs. Japanese fans on social media referred to the Easter egg as an "omamori", an amulet purchased at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan that if kept close are said to protect the bearer and bring good luck, speculating that Golf was included by Iwata as a secret charm to watch over every Nintendo Switch unit after his death.
In the Hall of Justice Area, two tribute plaques can be found for Kevin Conroy and Arleen Sorkin, the respective voices of Batman and Harley Quinn in "Batman: The Animated Series" who passed away during the game's development.
One of the picture frames seen in Chapter 3's Home Sweet Home area contains the phrase "A clap and a half to you. We'll miss you." This is a reference to a catchphrase used by YouTuber Matthew "MatPat" Patrick, the host of the webseries "Game Theory", who had announced that he would be retiring from making YouTube content a few days before the chapter was released.
The skin Dark Star Cho'Gath was made in collaboration with a critically ill League of Legends player named Bryan, who met Riot Games through a partnership with the non-profit charity the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Bryan wished to "meet the creators of Riot Games, and make a skin with them." Dark Star Cho'Gath was chosen between three skin designs and inspired by Bryan's love of outer space. The skin's theme music is based on a clarinet performance from Bryan. All profits collected from the skin until July 20, 2018 were donated to various non-profit organizations around the world.
During the reboot of Archie's Sonic the Hedgehog comics, several characters and aspects adapted into the comic from the 1993 Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon (commonly referred to as "Sonic SatAM") were noticeably altered for a variety of factors:
• Ixis Naugus (referred to simply as Naugus in the show) was changed to "Walter Naugus". His species (which was never actually stated in the show, though the pre-reboot comics depicted him as a rhino-bat-lobster hybrid) was changed to that of a troll, with a tail being added to his design to help make him look as such, alongside his attire being updated to more resemble a warlock. Additionally, despite what was initially believed, the term "Ixis" was originally applied to Naugus' cartoon production materials, and was not invented by former writer Ken Penders. This meant it was still usable in the comics, and was later given to the deity worshipped by the troll species. • Muttski was changed to "Ben "Mutt" Muttski", and was changed from a non-anthropomorphic dog to an anthropomorphic one. Notably, his new name was given in honor of Ben Hurst, the main writer of "Sonic SatAM" who sadly passed away in 2010. • Snively Robotnik (referred to simply as Snively in the show) was changed to "Doctor Julian Snively", with his first name being a nod to "Sonic SatAM", as Dr. Robotnik's original name in the show was Julian. According to Ian Flynn, he is no longer related to Dr. Eggman in the reboot due to Sega's mandates not allowing other media to invent family members for the main "SegaSonic" cast. Ironically, while his half-sister Hope Kintobor was removed from the reboot, Snively inherited her position as G.U.N.'s R&D Specialist. • Maximillian Acorn (referred to simply as "The King" in the show) was changed to "King Nigel Acorn". His name was most likely changed due to being coined by former writer Ken Penders. Notably, his new name, speech pattern and mannerisms are shared with Nigel Thornberry from the animated series "The Wild Thornberrys": Nigel was voiced by British actor Tim Curry, who also voiced the King in "Sonic SatAM". • Nicole the Holo-Lynx's new backstory in the reboot has her being created by Dr. Ellidy in an attempt to digitize the consciousness of his dying daughter Nikki. This may have been loosely inspired by Ben Hurst's plans for the cancelled third season of "Sonic SatAM", where it would have been revealed that Nicole was originally a normal girl until she was tricked by Dr. Robotnik into having her entire personality transferred into a computer satellite. • Although the Wolf Pack originated from "Sonic SatAM", the only member of the group who was not created by Ken Penders was their leader Lupe the Wolf, who also originated from the show. As such, when the comic was rebooted, she was the only member of the group to be carried over. • Aside from King Acorn, the only parent of a "Sonic SatAM" character to make it into the reboot was Sabina, the mother of Dulcy the Dragon and herself a character from the show. However, while Ian Flynn did confirm that she was still Dulcy's mother in the reboot, she never actually appeared in the comic prior to its cancellation. Additionally, given that Dulcy refers to her with present tense, it's likely that Sabina is still alive in the reboot, whereas she had died in the original continuity.
This trivia has been marked as "Not Safe for Work". It may not be appropriate for all visitors and definitely isn't appropriate for work or school environments. Click here to unhide it.
▲
3
▼
Inverse Ninjas vs. The Public Domain marks one of the first uses of Mickey Mouse in a non-parody-protected legitimate commercial product for a North American market without Disney endorsement, with Mickey's update being planned to come out to the hour of his entrance into the public domain, but releasing early by mistake. The social media account for the game noted that, although the game's concept is quite silly and lighthearted, utilizing the juxtaposition of characters who would typically not be armed wielding guns, and in spite of the long history of counterculture artists highlighting Mickey Mouse for mockery because of the saccharine image he would develop and how it juxtaposes against Disney's cutthroat corporate activities, it was intended as a sincere tribute to the characters featured, rather than a satire or parody, also noting that Mickey Mouse had been depicted wielding guns in earlier Disney cartoons:
"We're not the Winnie The Pooh: Blood And Honey guys, we actually like Mickey Mouse.
This isn't a parody, it's a love letter, and the mouse deserves his damn gun back."
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore is heavily inspired by Link: The Faces of Evil and Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon, two games generally considered bad that have sustained a long lasting popularity as a meme. Arzette creator Seth Fulkerson noted that, although his first introduction to the CD-i Zelda games was through YouTube Poops and memes, he had a sincere love for the titles and was not making his game as a joke nor an attempt to shock people, but rather to bring the redeeming qualities he felt those games had to the forefront.
The Nintendo Switch version of Batman: Arkham Trilogy pays tribute to Kevin Conroy, a long-time voice actor of Batman including the Arkham Trilogy, who passed away in November 2022. Once the credits roll on the first game in the trilogy, Batman: Arkham Asylum, a black and white drawing of Gotham City appears with the text: “In memory of Kevin Conroy”.
A cat can be found in the game who has a distinct fur pattern resembling the series emblem on his face. This was not just an Easter egg snuck in by developers, but was based on a real cat. According to a Reddit comment supposedly from the father of the person who caused this Easter egg to happen, the cat was named Master Chief and he belonged to a girl named Rebecca, the roommate of his daughter Alanna Sas. After the cat's passing, Sas commented on a Ubisoft or Assassin's Creed-related Facebook post asking the company to include the cat in the game in his memory, and if so she said she would reward the developers who included him with free coffee and Timbits from Tim Hortons. Upon players discovering the cat in the game, a moderator for the Assassin's Creed subreddit shared a screenshot of the Facebook comment revealing its origins.
Shortly before his death, Marlon Brando who played Vito Corleone in the original film, had recorded dialogue for the character. However, almost all of it was unusable due to the condition of his health and mumbly voice. Doug Abrahams instead provided the voice for the character, but one useable voice line recorded by Brando was included in the final game as a tribute to him, making it his final acting performance.
In the Hall of Justice Area, two tribute plaques can be found for Kevin Conroy and Arleen Sorkin, the respective voices of Batman and Harley Quinn in "Batman: The Animated Series" who passed away during the game's development.
The skin Dark Star Cho'Gath was made in collaboration with a critically ill League of Legends player named Bryan, who met Riot Games through a partnership with the non-profit charity the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Bryan wished to "meet the creators of Riot Games, and make a skin with them." Dark Star Cho'Gath was chosen between three skin designs and inspired by Bryan's love of outer space. The skin's theme music is based on a clarinet performance from Bryan. All profits collected from the skin until July 20, 2018 were donated to various non-profit organizations around the world.
A cat can be found in the game who has a distinct fur pattern resembling the series emblem on his face. This was not just an Easter egg snuck in by developers, but was based on a real cat. According to a Reddit comment supposedly from the father of the person who caused this Easter egg to happen, the cat was named Master Chief and he belonged to a girl named Rebecca, the roommate of his daughter Alanna Sas. After the cat's passing, Sas commented on a Ubisoft or Assassin's Creed-related Facebook post asking the company to include the cat in the game in his memory, and if so she said she would reward the developers who included him with free coffee and Timbits from Tim Hortons. Upon players discovering the cat in the game, a moderator for the Assassin's Creed subreddit shared a screenshot of the Facebook comment revealing its origins.
