The game was first released in 1998 on the PlayStation exclusively in Japan as Theme Aquarium, part of the "Theme" series of games by Bullfrog Productions. However, when it was released in 2000 for the PC exclusively in Europe, it was simply titled Aquarium with the "Theme" name and any mentions of Bullfrog Productions dropped.
The reason for the PlayStation version featuring the "Theme" brand was that the previous Theme games had proved popular in Japan so publisher EA Square wanted to help further generate interest by asking Bullfrog to use it in its marketing. When porting it to the PC for the West, the reason to simply release it as Aquarium was due to the belief that "the game quality wasn't high enough for it it come out in the West as a Theme game, with the Bullfrog brand," according to Shintaro Kanaoya, who provided localization assistance.
The reason for the PlayStation version featuring the "Theme" brand was that the previous Theme games had proved popular in Japan so publisher EA Square wanted to help further generate interest by asking Bullfrog to use it in its marketing. When porting it to the PC for the West, the reason to simply release it as Aquarium was due to the belief that "the game quality wasn't high enough for it it come out in the West as a Theme game, with the Bullfrog brand," according to Shintaro Kanaoya, who provided localization assistance.
Contributed by KnowledgeBase
While pausing the game during a meeting with the titular characters of Battletoads in the Xbox One version of the game, the pause menu theme from Battletoads will play.
Contributed by CuriousUserX90
Six unused modes (Smoke Show, Party, Car Show, Cash Knockout, Tournament, and Theater) were all planned to appear in the GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC versions of the game.
Contributed by GamerBen144
The GBA version was planned to have character's emotions within the text boxes similar to their previous Game Boy Color games. The character's faces were originally cartoonish in comparison to their more realistic ones seen in the final game.
Contributed by GamerBen144
Eleven of the game's licensed songs from the Japanese PlayStation version were removed in international release, instead utilizing four songs from Dance Dance Revolution 4th Mix and DDRMAX.
Contributed by GamerBen144
The game was originally to be released as Free Wheelin' USA, but it was later changed to Hooters Road Trip featuring the Hooters license. The PC version however retained the original title with the Hooters brand completely absent.
Artwork for the original PlayStation version of Free Wheelin' USA can be found in the game's files.
Artwork for the original PlayStation version of Free Wheelin' USA can be found in the game's files.
Contributed by KnowledgeBase
A bizarre image of a turkey leg inside the EA Sports ring can be found in the original Playstation version's data. This also appears in the Madden 2002 to 2005 games.
Contributed by GamerBen144
NSFW - This trivia is considered "Not Safe for Work" - Click to Reveal
A lot of error messages, sometimes vulgar, others hilarious, can be found in the PS2 version's data, including:
"Pad disconnected sometime in past...
duh? The fooking camera has fooked off!
Bad media type or no disk - PTOOIE!...
DVD drive is smoking crack!
Wot the hell? safety camera deleted!!!!"
"Pad disconnected sometime in past...
duh? The fooking camera has fooked off!
Bad media type or no disk - PTOOIE!...
DVD drive is smoking crack!
Wot the hell? safety camera deleted!!!!"
Contributed by GamerBen144
In the Arklay Laboratory, the 'MO disk reader' is actually the GameCube console, as at the time the game was exclusive to the GameCube. However, for the HD Remastered version, the 'MO disk reader' was altered on all platforms to avoid using a console related to Nintendo, even on Nintendo Switch.
Contributed by ProtoSnake
Text can be found in the PC version's data which simply states "This is the ultimate key!!!"
Contributed by GamerBen144
Cole, Toro and Kuro all have continue animations for the Arcade Mode in the PlayStation 3 version of the game. Because neither of these characters are playable in this mode, these animations go unused.
Contributed by ShyanVixen
Typing in "BR&ND@R@CKS" at the password screen in the Game Boy Color version will show off two shoutout images made by a developer: one of his friends and family, and another of his/her dog named Brando.
Contributed by GamerBen144
In the updated rerelease of the game, Wheel of Fortune 2nd Edition, unused categories regarding "Fictional Place," "Place," "Person/Title," "Foreign Word," "Slang," "Proper Names," "Song/Artists," and "Events" can all be found in the PlayStation version's data.
Contributed by GamerBen144
Unused categories regarding "Fictional Place," "Person/Title," "Slang," and "Foreign Word" can be found in the PlayStation version's data.
Contributed by GamerBen144
In the Dreamcast version's files there is text simply stating "Joe Rules."
Contributed by GamerBen144
The data for the American version of the GBA release suggests that a Japanese version for the game was planned. However, because the GBA was discontinued the previous year in that country, it was cancelled.
Contributed by GamerBen144
NSFW - This trivia is considered "Not Safe for Work" - Click to Reveal
A bunch of rather vulgar passwords can be found in the GBA version's files. All of the passwords (except for B1TCHK!) are six characters or less, compared to the seven character passwords used for the game. Using B1TCHK!, however, doesn't do anything, making this also unused.
Contributed by GamerBen144
The song "Go Faster" by The Black Crowes can be found in the GameCube version's data.
Contributed by GamerBen144
The game has several .txt files within it containing long messages from the developers. One file called Wacky.txt lists a set of facts about the game.
Contributed by GamerBen144
In the Wii version of the game, there are letters and numbers floating in the middle of empty space outside of SpongeBob's house.
Contributed by GamerBen144
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