Trivia Browser
subdirectory_arrow_right MySims Kingdom (Game)
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On the cover of both versions of MySims Kingdom, King Roland is depicted as having light blue eyes. While this is reflected in the Wii version, the DS version instead depicts him with grey eyes in-game.
Wii version gameplay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAmTwz2v5Ao#t=630s
DS version gameplay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F87iuK1acQ#t=138s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAmTwz2v5Ao#t=630s
DS version gameplay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F87iuK1acQ#t=138s
Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System
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Popular conceptions about Nintendo's release history in Europe claim that their hardware was never released in the former Eastern Bloc until the 21st century. Rather, these countries instead saw the proliferation of various clone consoles called "Famiclones", such as the Dendy (a Taiwanese-built bootleg that achieved widespread popularity in the Commonwealth of Independent States, made up of the ex-republics of the former Soviet Union) and the Pegasus (which became as popular in Poland as the Dendy did in Eastern Europe). However, while Famiclones did indeed dominate the Eastern European gaming market during the 1990s, Nintendo was not only aware of this, but actively attempted to halt the spread of bootlegs in these regions in favor of officially sanctioned products.
In 1994, Nintendo made a deal with Steepler, the Dendy's distributor in Eastern Europe, to permit continued sale of the Dendy in exchange for equal distribution of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy in the Commonwealth of Independent States; official Russian releases of these systems even included Dendy stickers on the packaging to reflect the arrangement. Meanwhile, in various other parts of the former Eastern Bloc, Nintendo made deals with other third-party distributors; among others, the NES, SNES, and Game Boy saw official releases in Poland, Hungary, and the former territories of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia during 1993–1994.
In 1994, Nintendo made a deal with Steepler, the Dendy's distributor in Eastern Europe, to permit continued sale of the Dendy in exchange for equal distribution of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy in the Commonwealth of Independent States; official Russian releases of these systems even included Dendy stickers on the packaging to reflect the arrangement. Meanwhile, in various other parts of the former Eastern Bloc, Nintendo made deals with other third-party distributors; among others, the NES, SNES, and Game Boy saw official releases in Poland, Hungary, and the former territories of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia during 1993–1994.
Joshua Rogers video about Nintendo in Eastern and Central Europe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q75Re7deJC0
Russian-language articles about the Nintendo/Steepler deal:
https://web.archive.org/web/20190427025842/https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/94004
https://web.archive.org/web/20240601223552/https://dtf.ru/games/970617-legenda-o-slone-kak-it-kompaniya-steepler-sozdala-dendy-i-osnovala-rossiiskii-konsolnyi-rynok
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q75Re7deJC0
Russian-language articles about the Nintendo/Steepler deal:
https://web.archive.org/web/20190427025842/https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/94004
https://web.archive.org/web/20240601223552/https://dtf.ru/games/970617-legenda-o-slone-kak-it-kompaniya-steepler-sozdala-dendy-i-osnovala-rossiiskii-konsolnyi-rynok
Franchise: The Simpsons
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In 1990s-era marketing for The Simpsons, Bart was consistently seen wearing light blue shirts in place of the orange shirt seen in the series, a still-unexplained phenomenon that has been referenced within the show itself. This element of marketing was reflected in many of the show's tie-in games, often with inconsistent shirt colors between a single game:
• The Simpsons Arcade Game features Bart in his light blue shirt for a majority of the game. However, in the opening, Bart can be seen wearing a red shirt for a brief moment when he jumps out of the school building.
• Most versions of The Simpsons: Bart vs. The Space Mutants depict Bart wearing a red shirt, a slight difference from orange. The Amiga, Atari ST, and Amstrad versions, however, depict him wearing light blue in gameplay, though the red can still be seen on the title screen, cutscenes, and box art.
• Bart wears a show-faithful orange in all versions of The Simpsons: Bart vs. the World. However, the sliding puzzle minigame in the NES version features an image of Bart with the light blue shirt, based on the famous "Don't have a cow, man!" t-shirt.
• The Simpsons: Bart's Nightmare primarily uses Bart's orange shirt. However, the title card shows Bart with a green shirt, and the Bartman minigame has Bart wear a bluish grey shirt, Bartman being assigned the blue shirt while regular Bart wears red or orange becomes a common theme from this point.
• The Simpsons: Bart Meets Radioactive Man is primarily a blue shirt game. However, in the intro, Bart begins with his orange shirt, which becomes a blue shirt when he dons the Bartman mask.
• Virtual Bart, while typically showing alternate universe Barts, shows Bart with an orange shirt whenever he is in his original outfit. However, the box art shows Bart wearing blue.
• The Simpsons: Night of the Living - Treehouse of Horror primarily features the orange shirt Bart, but he wears a blue shirt briefly in the intro.
• The Simpsons: Hit & Run is entirely an orange shirt game, but Bart can be seen with a dark blue shirt on the box art.
• In The Simpsons: Tapped Out, the most recent Simpsons video game, Bart wears an orange shirt, but Bartman wears a blue shirt.
The Simpsons: Bart's House of Weirdness, The Simpsons: Virtual Springfield, The Simpsons Bowling, The Simpsons Wrestling, and all versions of The Simpsons: Road Rage and The Simpsons Game all feature Bart wearing only orange shirts (even when Bartman appears), while The Simpsons: Cartoon Studio is the only game where Bart only wears blue shirts. Cartoon Studio was the final game to primarily use blue shirt Bart, while The Simpsons: Bart's House of Weirdness was the first game to not have any blue shirt Bart whatsoever. The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Juggernauts and The Simpsons: Escape from Camp Deadly depict blue and red shirt Bart respectively on their box arts, but do not have color, being Game Boy games.
• The Simpsons Arcade Game features Bart in his light blue shirt for a majority of the game. However, in the opening, Bart can be seen wearing a red shirt for a brief moment when he jumps out of the school building.
• Most versions of The Simpsons: Bart vs. The Space Mutants depict Bart wearing a red shirt, a slight difference from orange. The Amiga, Atari ST, and Amstrad versions, however, depict him wearing light blue in gameplay, though the red can still be seen on the title screen, cutscenes, and box art.
• Bart wears a show-faithful orange in all versions of The Simpsons: Bart vs. the World. However, the sliding puzzle minigame in the NES version features an image of Bart with the light blue shirt, based on the famous "Don't have a cow, man!" t-shirt.
• The Simpsons: Bart's Nightmare primarily uses Bart's orange shirt. However, the title card shows Bart with a green shirt, and the Bartman minigame has Bart wear a bluish grey shirt, Bartman being assigned the blue shirt while regular Bart wears red or orange becomes a common theme from this point.
• The Simpsons: Bart Meets Radioactive Man is primarily a blue shirt game. However, in the intro, Bart begins with his orange shirt, which becomes a blue shirt when he dons the Bartman mask.
• Virtual Bart, while typically showing alternate universe Barts, shows Bart with an orange shirt whenever he is in his original outfit. However, the box art shows Bart wearing blue.
• The Simpsons: Night of the Living - Treehouse of Horror primarily features the orange shirt Bart, but he wears a blue shirt briefly in the intro.
• The Simpsons: Hit & Run is entirely an orange shirt game, but Bart can be seen with a dark blue shirt on the box art.
• In The Simpsons: Tapped Out, the most recent Simpsons video game, Bart wears an orange shirt, but Bartman wears a blue shirt.
The Simpsons: Bart's House of Weirdness, The Simpsons: Virtual Springfield, The Simpsons Bowling, The Simpsons Wrestling, and all versions of The Simpsons: Road Rage and The Simpsons Game all feature Bart wearing only orange shirts (even when Bartman appears), while The Simpsons: Cartoon Studio is the only game where Bart only wears blue shirts. Cartoon Studio was the final game to primarily use blue shirt Bart, while The Simpsons: Bart's House of Weirdness was the first game to not have any blue shirt Bart whatsoever. The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Juggernauts and The Simpsons: Escape from Camp Deadly depict blue and red shirt Bart respectively on their box arts, but do not have color, being Game Boy games.
The Simpsons Arcade intro:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tCZiHLFk5A
Bart vs. The Space Mutants Amiga longplay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2StoU8xo2cg
Bart vs. The Space Mutants Atari ST:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUAxZ_2pp78
Bart vs. The Space Mutants Amstrad CPC longplay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg66PEX1RRI
Hit & Run box art:
https://www.mobygames.com/game/10421/the-simpsons-hit-run/cover/group-191694/cover-517763/
Bart vs. the World NES sliding puzzle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWN-37Teja0#t=1848
Grey Shirt Bartman in Nightmare:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZyCyQI77kw#t=475
Shirt swap in Bart Meets Radioactive Man:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpJS5Lej8FI#t=62
Virtual Bart gameplay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joAK1pY0qxk
Night of the Living - Treehouse of Horror gameplay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYfmKXL3jsw
Bartman in Tapped Out:
https://tstoaddicts.com/2015/03/04/should-i-spend-donuts-on-bartman/
Bartman's model from Hit & Run:
https://www.models-resource.com/pc_computer/simpsonshitrun/model/12480/
Bartman gameplay in The Simpsons Game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeioSaKsP1k#t=t=131
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tCZiHLFk5A
Bart vs. The Space Mutants Amiga longplay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2StoU8xo2cg
Bart vs. The Space Mutants Atari ST:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUAxZ_2pp78
Bart vs. The Space Mutants Amstrad CPC longplay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg66PEX1RRI
Hit & Run box art:
https://www.mobygames.com/game/10421/the-simpsons-hit-run/cover/group-191694/cover-517763/
Bart vs. the World NES sliding puzzle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWN-37Teja0#t=1848
Grey Shirt Bartman in Nightmare:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZyCyQI77kw#t=475
Shirt swap in Bart Meets Radioactive Man:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpJS5Lej8FI#t=62
Virtual Bart gameplay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joAK1pY0qxk
Night of the Living - Treehouse of Horror gameplay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYfmKXL3jsw
Bartman in Tapped Out:
https://tstoaddicts.com/2015/03/04/should-i-spend-donuts-on-bartman/
Bartman's model from Hit & Run:
https://www.models-resource.com/pc_computer/simpsonshitrun/model/12480/
Bartman gameplay in The Simpsons Game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeioSaKsP1k#t=t=131
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The box arts of Japanese Crash Bandicoot localizations have historically used a redesign for Crash with larger eyes. This has been done for all games except for the "Titans" sub-series, which had its own distinct Crash design, and the Toys for Bob-developed games.
However, the only games that feature the design in-game for the Japanese localizations are the Japanese-developed Crash Boom Bang!, and Crash Tag Team Racing, which had a skin system that allowed Japanese Crash to appear abroad as well. A good chunk of Crash's costumes in Crash Tag Team Racing also got Japanese versions, though these combination costumes were not included in the Western release.
However, the only games that feature the design in-game for the Japanese localizations are the Japanese-developed Crash Boom Bang!, and Crash Tag Team Racing, which had a skin system that allowed Japanese Crash to appear abroad as well. A good chunk of Crash's costumes in Crash Tag Team Racing also got Japanese versions, though these combination costumes were not included in the Western release.
Explanation of box art changes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbusKVM37Fw?t=68
Image gallery of assorted JP Crash design appearances:
https://crashbandicoot.fandom.com/wiki/Japanese_Crash
Localizations:
https://tcrf.net/Crash_Boom_Bang!
https://tcrf.net/Crash_Tag_Team_Racing#Japanese
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbusKVM37Fw?t=68
Image gallery of assorted JP Crash design appearances:
https://crashbandicoot.fandom.com/wiki/Japanese_Crash
Localizations:
https://tcrf.net/Crash_Boom_Bang!
https://tcrf.net/Crash_Tag_Team_Racing#Japanese
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The international logo for the game contains a tiny vectoring error at the bottom of the first "R" of "Riders". This mistake can't be seen on the title screen due to the lower resolution used, but it can barely be seen on the cover art for differing releases of the game.
Sonic Riders American and European title screens:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7rVMMUSKzQ?t=183
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdtLpm_kcc0?t=114
Sonic Riders different box arts with logo error:
https://www.mobygames.com/game/21419/sonic-riders/covers/
Sonic Riders high quality logo with error:
https://www.steamgriddb.com/logo/15129
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7rVMMUSKzQ?t=183
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdtLpm_kcc0?t=114
Sonic Riders different box arts with logo error:
https://www.mobygames.com/game/21419/sonic-riders/covers/
Sonic Riders high quality logo with error:
https://www.steamgriddb.com/logo/15129
subdirectory_arrow_right Yum Yum Cookstar (Game)
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Yum Yum Cookstar appears to have been made as some kind of contingency over Cooking Mama: Cookstar's legal disputes, being made by the same developers and publishers and having gone on sale on Steam a mere week before Cooking Mama: Cookstar was withdrawn from sale. While it is not known to what extent Yum Yum Cookstar is based on Cooking Mama: Cookstar, it does have a substantial difference in gameplay, having a psuedo-rhythm element that does not exist in the latter game.
Some prints of the box art have a printed sticker noting the game's connection to Cooking Mama: Cookstar, in spite of the controversy. The official website, TikTok account, and trailers for Yum Yum Cookstar proclaim the game to be made by "the creators of the best-selling hitgame[sic] Cookstar" (without acknowledging the Cooking Mama series by name) and use the slogan "This ain't your mama's kitchen!". The veracity of the claim of the first Cookstar being a best-seller is not known as sales figures have not been released.
Some prints of the box art have a printed sticker noting the game's connection to Cooking Mama: Cookstar, in spite of the controversy. The official website, TikTok account, and trailers for Yum Yum Cookstar proclaim the game to be made by "the creators of the best-selling hitgame[sic] Cookstar" (without acknowledging the Cooking Mama series by name) and use the slogan "This ain't your mama's kitchen!". The veracity of the claim of the first Cookstar being a best-seller is not known as sales figures have not been released.
Steam page with release date:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1827430/Yum_Yum_Cookstar/
Article about Cookstar being withdrawn, note the release dates:
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/-i-cooking-mama-cookstar-i-to-be-delisted-following-court-ruling
The TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@cookstar/video/7150753875803311402?lang=en
Box art scan with Cooking Mama: Cookstar sticker:
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/switch/328786-yum-yum-cookstar/boxes/908306
Yum Yum webpage:
https://galaxygames.co/yum-yum-cookstar/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1827430/Yum_Yum_Cookstar/
Article about Cookstar being withdrawn, note the release dates:
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/-i-cooking-mama-cookstar-i-to-be-delisted-following-court-ruling
The TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@cookstar/video/7150753875803311402?lang=en
Box art scan with Cooking Mama: Cookstar sticker:
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/switch/328786-yum-yum-cookstar/boxes/908306
Yum Yum webpage:
https://galaxygames.co/yum-yum-cookstar/
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According to art director Ikeno "Daigo Ikeno" Metaka, Dragon's Dogma's cover artwork was inspired by the Japanese covers of Dragon Quest, and also Dragon Quest II, because of the pawn placement on that cover. Both covers were illustrated by Akira Toriyama, and this information was revealed after his death was announced in March 2024.
Daigo Ikeno tweet:
https://twitter.com/goidanokei/status/1766244020274200862
Article by a Dragon Ball fan website compiling over 100 tributes to Akira Toriyama:
https://web.archive.org/web/20240401173328/https://www.kamisama.com.br/mais-de-100-homenagens-ao-falecimento-de-akira-toriyama/
https://twitter.com/goidanokei/status/1766244020274200862
Article by a Dragon Ball fan website compiling over 100 tributes to Akira Toriyama:
https://web.archive.org/web/20240401173328/https://www.kamisama.com.br/mais-de-100-homenagens-ao-falecimento-de-akira-toriyama/
subdirectory_arrow_right Mario Bros. (Game)
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Mario & Luigi, with their appearances from the promo art for the Atari 2600 version of Mario Bros., are featured on the box art of 32-in-1, but no Mario-related games are included. The rough drawing of the art, believed by some to be a rough sketch for, or traced from, an "Atari Advantage" poster promoting the Atari 7800 and other products, led some to believe the compilation was a bootleg.
Article on 32 in 1 featuring box art link:
https://www.atariprotos.com/2600/software/32in1/32in1.htm
Atari Advantage poster:
https://www.reddit.com/r/retrogaming/comments/12al20t/the_atari_advantage_1988/
https://www.atariprotos.com/2600/software/32in1/32in1.htm
Atari Advantage poster:
https://www.reddit.com/r/retrogaming/comments/12al20t/the_atari_advantage_1988/
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In early February 2024, one month prior to the game's release, multi-time WWE World Champion Brock Lesnar was removed from the cover of the "Forty Years of WrestleMania" showcase edition of the game in response to a sexual assault and sex trafficking lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE. Although Lesnar's name was not directly mentioned in the lawsuit, his reported connection to the case led to his removal as part of a wider effort by the WWE to disassociate from him. The cover was updated to feature a larger version of John Cena, where Lesnar used to be.
Content creators who got early access to the game on February 23 confirmed that both Lesnar and McMahon were no longer playable characters in WWE 2K24. While the extent of McMahon's removal is unknown, Brock Lesnar’s data remains locked away in the game due to his matches with The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 30 and Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania 31 being featured in the "Showcase of the Immortals" Showcase mode, and it being too far into development to remove them.
Content creators who got early access to the game on February 23 confirmed that both Lesnar and McMahon were no longer playable characters in WWE 2K24. While the extent of McMahon's removal is unknown, Brock Lesnar’s data remains locked away in the game due to his matches with The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 30 and Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania 31 being featured in the "Showcase of the Immortals" Showcase mode, and it being too far into development to remove them.
Brock Lesnar Removed From WWE 2K24 Special Edition Cover:
https://www.ign.com/articles/brock-lesnar-removed-from-wwe-2k24-special-edition-cover
Brock Lesnar's replacement on WWE 2K24 cover revealed:
https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe/news-brock-lesnar-s-replacement-wwe-2k24-cover-revealed
[Below source and additional info provided by SOGESNAKE.]
WWE 2K24 Final Roster Confirms Removal of Brock Lesnar and Vince McMahon:
https://www.ign.com/articles/wwe-2k24-final-roster-confirms-removal-of-brock-lesnar-and-vince-mcmahon
https://www.ign.com/articles/brock-lesnar-removed-from-wwe-2k24-special-edition-cover
Brock Lesnar's replacement on WWE 2K24 cover revealed:
https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe/news-brock-lesnar-s-replacement-wwe-2k24-cover-revealed
[Below source and additional info provided by SOGESNAKE.]
WWE 2K24 Final Roster Confirms Removal of Brock Lesnar and Vince McMahon:
https://www.ign.com/articles/wwe-2k24-final-roster-confirms-removal-of-brock-lesnar-and-vince-mcmahon
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The instruction booklet for the game pays homage to the video game box art style used for games released on the Sega Master System. This also ties in with the original series where the lead characters Mordecai and Rigby can sometimes be seen playing games on a Sega Master System. Series creator J.G. Quintel revealed in a 2016 interview that it was his favorite video game console during his childhood.
Instruction booklet screenshots:
https://www.reddit.com/r/regularshow/comments/s1xy0u/got_this_in_the_mail_today_the_manual_is_styled/
J.G. Quintel interview:
https://www.polygon.com/tv/2016/10/8/13210930/regular-show-video-games-new-york-comic-con-2016
https://www.reddit.com/r/regularshow/comments/s1xy0u/got_this_in_the_mail_today_the_manual_is_styled/
J.G. Quintel interview:
https://www.polygon.com/tv/2016/10/8/13210930/regular-show-video-games-new-york-comic-con-2016
subdirectory_arrow_right Mortal Kombat 1 (Game)
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According to series co-creator Ed Boon in a video/interview on Mortal Kombat's YouTube channel on May 19, 2023, Liu Kang was chosen to be on the cover of Mortal Kombat 1 to signify a new story arc, in turn diverting from Scorpion and Sub-Zero, who were regularly chosen for the games' covers.
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The US NES cover art portrays a human pilot, which seems misleading as the game's main characters, Red Baron and Blue Max, are actual birds along with the whole game taking place during World War I in the country of Bird Land which is inhabited by birds, and not the actual United States as depicted on the box cover.
Box Arts of both versions with game backstory
http://www.videogameden.com/fc.htm?skk
Bird Land, where the game takes place
https://www.co-optimus.com/game/8391/classics-arcade/sky-kid.html
http://www.videogameden.com/fc.htm?skk
Bird Land, where the game takes place
https://www.co-optimus.com/game/8391/classics-arcade/sky-kid.html
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The infamous American Mega Man 2 box art, where Mega Man wields a pistol instead of his signature Mega Buster, was not an attempt to make Mega Man appear more "edgy", but was actually born from a misconception where Capcom's art director believed Mega Man was using a gun too small to be seen in sprite form rather than transforming his arm. Artist Marc Ericksen would say to Nintendo Age in 2012:
"So we're talking about the infamous Mega Man 2 where Mega Man is actually running around waving a pistol! Okay so, the question on everyone's mind is 'how could the illustrator be such a complete idiot that he didn't realize that Mega Man had a cannon for an arm, and why is he holding a pistol for God's sake.'
What happened was I had to go down to Capcom and do a game they just got in from Japan. They had a beta version; they were in a hurry to get this thing out. So I went down there. The gentlemen was the art director was there with the beta guy and they were waiting for me and I came with my pad and they started running the game. What we saw was this little pixelated figure of the famous Mega Man running around on the screen shooting. Bang, bang, bang, he's shooting obviously like this with his arm [Marc points his arm forward]. So I said to the art director, 'what is he shooting? What is he shooting with?' The art director said, 'he must have a pistol because I don't see that he's got a rifle so he must have a pistol.'
'So... a pistol? You want me to do a pistol?' And he said, 'yeah, let's put a pistol in there.' So I did what I was told and I put the pistol in there. Add to the fact that they only had, like, a day and a half for me to do the painting and what you wound up with was not the greatest result but certainly a result that was not my fault. It was one of those things. Here's my opportunity: I'm saying to everybody now that was not my fault! Talk to Capcom about the pistol."
What happened was I had to go down to Capcom and do a game they just got in from Japan. They had a beta version; they were in a hurry to get this thing out. So I went down there. The gentlemen was the art director was there with the beta guy and they were waiting for me and I came with my pad and they started running the game. What we saw was this little pixelated figure of the famous Mega Man running around on the screen shooting. Bang, bang, bang, he's shooting obviously like this with his arm [Marc points his arm forward]. So I said to the art director, 'what is he shooting? What is he shooting with?' The art director said, 'he must have a pistol because I don't see that he's got a rifle so he must have a pistol.'
'So... a pistol? You want me to do a pistol?' And he said, 'yeah, let's put a pistol in there.' So I did what I was told and I put the pistol in there. Add to the fact that they only had, like, a day and a half for me to do the painting and what you wound up with was not the greatest result but certainly a result that was not my fault. It was one of those things. Here's my opportunity: I'm saying to everybody now that was not my fault! Talk to Capcom about the pistol."
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The Lion King 1 1/2 for Game Boy Advance was released in European territories not as as the movie's European title The Lion King 3, but rather simply The Lion King, with a large image of cub Simba added to the box art, despite not being playable in-game. The blurb does specify that the game is based on The Lion King 3 and alludes towards only Timon and Pumbaa being playable however.
The original US box art could also be considered misleading to a much lesser degree. While being open about what movie it is an adaptation of and having a giant Timon and Pumbaa ripping through the paper at the top, it uses a modified version of the first film's promo art, featuring Mufasa's spirit head, with cub Simba also present in silhouette (albeit significantly smaller relative to Timon and Pumbaa than on the European box art). This imagery that was not used to market The Lion King 1 1/2 anywhere else. Both boxes' blurbs also feature a screenshot where Simba, as an NPC, is in the center.
The original US box art could also be considered misleading to a much lesser degree. While being open about what movie it is an adaptation of and having a giant Timon and Pumbaa ripping through the paper at the top, it uses a modified version of the first film's promo art, featuring Mufasa's spirit head, with cub Simba also present in silhouette (albeit significantly smaller relative to Timon and Pumbaa than on the European box art). This imagery that was not used to market The Lion King 1 1/2 anywhere else. Both boxes' blurbs also feature a screenshot where Simba, as an NPC, is in the center.
Longplay of European version using altered box art as the thumbnail:
https://youtu.be/9dQEzwzaBVo
Both regional boxes:
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/gba/918712-disneys-the-lion-king-1-1-2/boxes/53260
European cartridge, sourced from a UK retro gaming store:
https://www.fullyretro.com/product/disneys-the-lion-king,83964390
European blurb, sourced from an eBay listing:
https://postimg.cc/f33HD2b0
https://youtu.be/9dQEzwzaBVo
Both regional boxes:
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/gba/918712-disneys-the-lion-king-1-1-2/boxes/53260
European cartridge, sourced from a UK retro gaming store:
https://www.fullyretro.com/product/disneys-the-lion-king,83964390
European blurb, sourced from an eBay listing:
https://postimg.cc/f33HD2b0
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Although Billy and Lance on the NES cover art are believed to be inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, both characters' poses and attire were based on only Arnold Schwarzenegger's appearance in the movie "Predator".
Clips from Predator showing Arnold Schwarzenegger's attire matching Billy and Lance on the box art:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgzxSr6l9Y4?t=85
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU7CDejp6Lw?t=115
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgzxSr6l9Y4?t=85
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU7CDejp6Lw?t=115
subdirectory_arrow_right Dinosaur Planet (Game)
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One of the Krazoa shrines in Star Fox Adventures, the Test of Fear, features the only in-game appearance of a mysterious dromeosaur-esque race known as the "ShadowHunters".
The ShadowHunters had a larger role in the original Dinosaur Planet. Krystal, accompanied with a LightFoot guide in place of Kyte (mirroring how Sabre was supposed to get a temporary sidekick in place of Tricky in the form of a infant RedEye within Walled City), would come across them in an area called BlackWater Canyon, which was said to be the dinosaur's sacred burial grounds, and the home of the Tree of Souls, which was said to return the magic energy of a dinosaur into the planet after their death. The ShadowHunter Tribe were the protectors of this place, with their leader being one of the SpellStone guardians, who agrees to give Krystal his SpellStone, only for his jealous son to run off with it, leading to Krystal and the LightFoot to chase after him. Eventually this leads to the ShadowHunter being trapped within the rib cages of a giant skeletal monster, which would act as the boss fight of BlackWater Canyon. After Krystal and the LightFoot defeated it, the ShadowHunter would realize that they were really trying to save Dinosaur Planet, and gave them the SpellStone, which would then be activated by the ShadowHunter leader.
BlackWater Canyon appears in the leaked December 2000 build of Dinosaur Planet, but is notably devoid of any actual design work or puzzles. The voice lines from the ShadowHunters found in this build seem to indicate a different story from what was presented in the Condensed Story; instead of a SpellStone guardian father with a jealous son, they're portrayed as brothers who live as scavengers in BlackWater Canyon, who come across the SpellStone and claim it as their own, only to come across Krystal as well as Kyte, who would accompany her to BlackWater Canyon in place of the alformentioned LightFoot tribe member. One of the ShadowHunters siblings is willing to hand over the SpellStone, but the other seems to run off with it, which leads to Krystal and Kyte chasing after him, which leads to them encountering a ghostly apparition of Kyte's mother, the Queen CloudRunner (who was killed by General Scales back in CloudRunner Fortress) who encourages them on and warns them about the angry spirits within the area, presumably referring the aforementioned skeleton monster boss (that does not appear anywhere in the leaked build). After they retrieve the SpellStone, they seem to use the Tree of Souls to activate it in place of a proper SpellStone guardian.
BlackWater Canyon would be removed entirely in the transition to Star Fox Adventures, but it seems that Rare still had substantial plans for the ShadowHunters, as an unused briefing from Peppy Hare says this:
Which seems to indicate that earlier on in SFA's development, Rare had considered having the ShadowHunters fill in the role intended for the HookClaw tribe (who had already been cut by the time of the December 2000 Dinosaur Planet build) as the secondary carnivorous antagonist of the Walled City. This of course was scrapped in the final game, where only the RedEye tribe is present.
The senior animator of Star Fox Adventures, Michael Cawood, had mentioned on his website that when animating the Test of Fear, his goal for it wasn't well defined, and he didn't have enough time or resources to request additional assets and thus had to improvise. Fortunately for him, he had access to a library of animations for the ShadowHunters that had originally been planned as enemies in the game but had never got around to being implemented past the animation stage, very likely referring to when they planned as enemies encountered in SFA's iteration of the Walled City.
Funny enough, despite having such a minimal role in the final game, the ShadowHunters were present in some of Star Fox Adventures' Japanese material, most notably on the boxart, oddly utilizing their original Dinosaur Planet renders (presumably because the GCN models were not given an official render, due to them being a last minute addition after initially being scrapped).
The ShadowHunters had a larger role in the original Dinosaur Planet. Krystal, accompanied with a LightFoot guide in place of Kyte (mirroring how Sabre was supposed to get a temporary sidekick in place of Tricky in the form of a infant RedEye within Walled City), would come across them in an area called BlackWater Canyon, which was said to be the dinosaur's sacred burial grounds, and the home of the Tree of Souls, which was said to return the magic energy of a dinosaur into the planet after their death. The ShadowHunter Tribe were the protectors of this place, with their leader being one of the SpellStone guardians, who agrees to give Krystal his SpellStone, only for his jealous son to run off with it, leading to Krystal and the LightFoot to chase after him. Eventually this leads to the ShadowHunter being trapped within the rib cages of a giant skeletal monster, which would act as the boss fight of BlackWater Canyon. After Krystal and the LightFoot defeated it, the ShadowHunter would realize that they were really trying to save Dinosaur Planet, and gave them the SpellStone, which would then be activated by the ShadowHunter leader.
BlackWater Canyon appears in the leaked December 2000 build of Dinosaur Planet, but is notably devoid of any actual design work or puzzles. The voice lines from the ShadowHunters found in this build seem to indicate a different story from what was presented in the Condensed Story; instead of a SpellStone guardian father with a jealous son, they're portrayed as brothers who live as scavengers in BlackWater Canyon, who come across the SpellStone and claim it as their own, only to come across Krystal as well as Kyte, who would accompany her to BlackWater Canyon in place of the alformentioned LightFoot tribe member. One of the ShadowHunters siblings is willing to hand over the SpellStone, but the other seems to run off with it, which leads to Krystal and Kyte chasing after him, which leads to them encountering a ghostly apparition of Kyte's mother, the Queen CloudRunner (who was killed by General Scales back in CloudRunner Fortress) who encourages them on and warns them about the angry spirits within the area, presumably referring the aforementioned skeleton monster boss (that does not appear anywhere in the leaked build). After they retrieve the SpellStone, they seem to use the Tree of Souls to activate it in place of a proper SpellStone guardian.
BlackWater Canyon would be removed entirely in the transition to Star Fox Adventures, but it seems that Rare still had substantial plans for the ShadowHunters, as an unused briefing from Peppy Hare says this:
"This is dangerous ground, Fox! The Walled City was built to hold the flesheating RedEye and ShadowHunter tribes, to ensure that they do not eat the other dinosaurs. General Scales has imprisoned Tricky's father, the King EarthWalker, within its walls. You must rescue the King and find that SpellStone. But hurry, Fox! Those nasty beasts are mighty hungry. Peppy out!"
Which seems to indicate that earlier on in SFA's development, Rare had considered having the ShadowHunters fill in the role intended for the HookClaw tribe (who had already been cut by the time of the December 2000 Dinosaur Planet build) as the secondary carnivorous antagonist of the Walled City. This of course was scrapped in the final game, where only the RedEye tribe is present.
The senior animator of Star Fox Adventures, Michael Cawood, had mentioned on his website that when animating the Test of Fear, his goal for it wasn't well defined, and he didn't have enough time or resources to request additional assets and thus had to improvise. Fortunately for him, he had access to a library of animations for the ShadowHunters that had originally been planned as enemies in the game but had never got around to being implemented past the animation stage, very likely referring to when they planned as enemies encountered in SFA's iteration of the Walled City.
Funny enough, despite having such a minimal role in the final game, the ShadowHunters were present in some of Star Fox Adventures' Japanese material, most notably on the boxart, oddly utilizing their original Dinosaur Planet renders (presumably because the GCN models were not given an official render, due to them being a last minute addition after initially being scrapped).
Dinosaur Planet condensed story:
https://rarethief.com/dinosaur-planet/
Dinosaur Planet - BlackWater Canyon (December 2000 build):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVV-DQa9HOY
Dinosaur Planet (N64 Dec. 2000 Build) ShadowHunter Voice Lines:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK6CKH_WlTY#t=9
Dinosaur Planet Audio Reconstruction: Kyte encounters the CloudRunner Queen at the Tree of Souls:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxSh9aZxYFQ
Dinosaur Planet (N64 Dec. 2000 Build) Princess Kyte Voice Lines:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYDXD9w4Qk4
Star Fox Adventures voice clips:
https://sf.krystalarchive.com/AdventuresVA/
Test of Fear - Star Fox Adventures:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaYGdKFx4uw
Micheal Cawood explaining the Test of Fear animation:
http://www.michaelcawood.com/StarfoxAdventures.htm
JP Star Fox Adventures boxart with ShadowHunter:
https://images.nintendolife.com/be95c3553b01e/star-fox-adventures-jp.900x.jpg
https://rarethief.com/dinosaur-planet/
Dinosaur Planet - BlackWater Canyon (December 2000 build):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVV-DQa9HOY
Dinosaur Planet (N64 Dec. 2000 Build) ShadowHunter Voice Lines:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK6CKH_WlTY#t=9
Dinosaur Planet Audio Reconstruction: Kyte encounters the CloudRunner Queen at the Tree of Souls:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxSh9aZxYFQ
Dinosaur Planet (N64 Dec. 2000 Build) Princess Kyte Voice Lines:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYDXD9w4Qk4
Star Fox Adventures voice clips:
https://sf.krystalarchive.com/AdventuresVA/
Test of Fear - Star Fox Adventures:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaYGdKFx4uw
Micheal Cawood explaining the Test of Fear animation:
http://www.michaelcawood.com/StarfoxAdventures.htm
JP Star Fox Adventures boxart with ShadowHunter:
https://images.nintendolife.com/be95c3553b01e/star-fox-adventures-jp.900x.jpg
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An early version of the game's box art features Cat Luigi in a similar position to the original Super Mario 3D World box art, alongside a placeholder section for Bowser's Fury displaying the campaign's logo. The final box art removes Cat Luigi entirely to make room for artwork representing Bowser's Fury.
subdirectory_arrow_right Giana Sisters (Collection)
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Hard 'n' Heavy was originally conceived as a sequel to The Great Giana Sisters titled Giana 2 - Arthur and Martha in Future World, but was changed due to the threats the developers had received from Nintendo over the previous Giana game. Screenshots and a box art for Giana 2 exist, and show that seemingly only the character of Giana was removed in the transition to Hard 'n' Heavy, but the version of the game with Giana is not known to exist.
subdirectory_arrow_right Sonic 3D Blast (Game)
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