Featuring Toys ‘R Us as the grinch!
Everybody knows that December is a quiet time for news in the game industry. If you’re releasing a hot new game or even a new system, common business practice is to get it advertised and on the shelves way before the festive rush.
However, it’s been a while since I did one of these, and I did wonder what the industry would come up with. Some good stories here!
On this day in:
1982 – The ABC TV network airs the half-hour animated special Christmas Comes to Pac-Land. Aww, very festive!
1993 – Toys ‘R’ Us in the USA ceases selling the Night Trap video game due to public complaints about violence. The game helps spark the debate about age ratings for video games, and eventually the ESRB is formed to control who plays games like these!
1997 – Sega Saturn magazine reviews Croc: Legend of the Gobbos and gives it a credible 91%. This is a triumphant moment for developers Argonaut, as Croc started life as a 3D Mario/Yoshi game, being made for Nintendo. Bosses at Nintendo were so incensed that Yoshi had been used in the prototype that they ordered development to stop dead in it’s tracks – and “borrowed” some of Croc’s ideas for use in a little game called Mario 64!
2003 – Electronic Arts releases The Sims: Bustin’ Out video game for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, and Game Boy Advance in the US. The game is more “mission” focused than your typical sims game, and reviews fairly well. I couldn’t find sales data.
2003 – SNK releases the Metal Slug 3 video game for the PlayStation 2 in the US. More arcade perfect, blasting action! Expect a Metal Slug video sometime soon.
I’ll have at least one more post before Christmas – but in the mean time, Wrap up warm you lot!
Years later, all those headlines about Night Trap seem so silly.
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