Sunday 16 December 2012

Video game impostors throughout history

Whether you're a gamer or not, video games have been a global phenomenon for decades and that was before the impact of online gaming.

Success is not without its consequences as others will cash in on your idea by basically creating a near carbon clone of what has gone before, with usually enough alterations to 'get away with it'.

Some weren't so lucky as the piss was frankly taken a wee bit too much.

In various posts, I will be bringing many to justice.

Okay, I'll admit in this set that I probably won't be telling you anything new because these are so famous, the average hobo could tell you but if not, it's a bonus.

Some have already been named and shamed in my link machines and even in my varieties but don't worry, my knowledge bank has plenty more to share as I've also got the visual proof too.

The first you'll see is the rip, followed by the original work.

As always, expect the unexpected.

I really am uninterested in forming a top 'whatever' list as it would drive me to distraction trying to decide which order these should go in so like spinning a roulette wheel, it's purely at random.

Fighter's History, Data East 1993 vs Street Fighter II, Capcom 1991.








So Feilin isn't Chunners and Ray isn't Ken right?  Those that have played and heard Fighter's History will recognise the fact that even the sound effects for hitting and swiping are almost identical to Capcom's classic.

The courts dismissed Capcom's claim as Data East got away with it because some chars are based on Chinese mythology.  Karate Champ was also thrown into the defensive mixer...

Okay, but could the sprites be any more blatant?

The Great Giana Sisters, Time Warp 1987 vs Super Mario Bros, Nintendo 1985.

This isn't really very well known either...










Just for shits and giggles, directly above is the very shitty Bram Stoker's Dracula on the NES in 1993.  Look at those curious looking ? blocks.

Anyway, Time Warp didn't get away with it but 22 years later...





... it's back and unlikely to be taken off the shelves.

Giana Sisters DS was released by Spellbound Interactive and obviously Nintendo are quite happy with this 'sequel' unlike The Great Giana Sisters.

This makes no sense as apart from obviously looking prettier, everything is as it was before.  The infamous owl, diamonds instead of coins, basic layout, star blocks instead of ?, and look, isn't that the fire flower in action?

The Simpsons Road Rage, Radical Entertainment 2001 vs Crazy Taxi, Sega 1999.

Hey hey hey, it's time to make some crazzzyy money, are ya ready? Here we go!  Yeah yeah yeah.






All that I can say is that those dudes at Radical have more front than Blackpool.  It's exactly the fucking same in all parallels as all they did was change the sprites and replaced the green arrow with a yellow hand.

Sega sued all concerned...

I hope you're hungry because we're now feasting on healthy fodder.

Mr Wimpy, Ocean 1984 vs Burger Time, Data East 1982





If anybody says retro isn't relevant, important or whatever way you want to fucking dress it up, they're wrong.

Now it's time for Sega to rip off an iconic franchise in its very early form

Golden Axe Warrior, Sega 1991 vs The Legend of Zelda, Nintendo 1986







Well what can you say?  It's the worst yet as look at his, ahem, sword and, er, the plump trees.

However, I believe this beats it as this is literally a knockout.

Frank Bruno's Boxing, Elite 1985 vs Super Punch Out!!, Nintendo 1984.

First off, also in 1984, there was Punch Out!! but in their infinite wisdom, Elite preferred to screw the shit out of the sequel.











They couldn't even be bothered to change the celebration...

Elite changed the names of the sprites they shoplifted, namely

Bear Hugger became Canadian Crusher
Dragon Chan became Fling Long Chop; and
Vodka Drunkenski became Andra Puncheredov

There were other original fighters but too late, the damage was done.

Nintendo were slaughtered for that Vodka name and unsurprisingly, changed his name to Soda Pipinski in 1987 when he appeared in Mike Tyson's Punch Out.

Next time, the more obscure clones will be slapped on the operating table which is something that should get fans of this shit rather excited.

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