Hardcore Gaming 101 article on TMNT

[Ninjinister]

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/tmnt/tmnt.htm

I've been a fan of hcg101 for a while. Although not perfect, I always find their articles fascinating and well-researched.

With this TMNT article, there are many things including the TMNT1 dam trick the cropped up a few years back being a hoax, as well as the secret origins of Aska, that surprised even me, and I consider Turtles video games my forté.

I've only skimmed the article briefly thus far though, so I hope a thorough read will only bring more treasures.

[oldmanwinters]

Been looking forward to this one for a while! I remember you mentioned they were working on a big TMNT feature a while back.

EDIT:

HOLY COW!!! "Aska" was originally supposed to be Princess Mitsu!

Now I kinda wonder if Genesis TF April O'Neil was also supposed to be Mitsu too, since there are some similarities to the sprites.

[ToTheNines]

Wow. Haven't read it all, but I've literally found 0 errors in their findings. It's definitely a pleasure to read something so large and thorough without having to put up with the usual misinformed bull crap. I'll do the whole thing tomorrow.

EDIT: He said Ultrominator... lol

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by ToTheNines

It's definitely a pleasure to read something so large and thorough without having to put up with the usual misinformed bull crap. I'll do the whole thing tomorrow.

So true! This is amazing work!

Originally Posted by ToTheNines

Wow. Haven't read it all, but I've literally found 0 errors in their findings.

I found a couple of surprising errors on the 2nd page. April O'Neil is said to be "Channel 9's most eager reporter." Heck, who knew she was said to have been Splinter's daughter in the Japanese version of the first NES game?

And there's a sentence that reads: "Though probably more of an accidental move rather than planned marketing, the use of Mike Dooley's art from the TMNT #2 issue from 1986 drew in the comic book fans with a familiar image"

The references to Mike "Dooney" appear to be correct in the rest of the article. The art piece to which they were referring was actually the reprint of TMNT #4.

Nitpicks aside... I am in awe of their command of the history of TMNT video games. I had no idea there were so many mobile games! I'd like to play "Ninja Training NYC" and "TMNT: The Power of 4" someday!

[Ninjinister]

Yeah, most of the errors I've come across so far are typographical - both in letters and numbers.

[Powder]

Regarding the SNES TF entry, I too am quite surprised by the Mitsu bit (would've preferred her, I think), but I'm surprised by something else...
It says there that the cover was Dooneys work, I always thought it was Chris Allan who drew the characters. The background painting I could see being MD, though.

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by Powder

Regarding the SNES TF entry, I too am quite surprised by the Mitsu bit (would've preferred her, I think), but I'm surprised by something else...
It says there that the cover was Dooneys work, I always thought it was Chris Allan who drew the characters. The background painting I could see being MD, though.

Yeah, it was clearly Allan's style. Another one of those errors that you at least had to give them credit for trying though.!

[Xav]

On the supporting cast page they list Slash as first appearing in issue #1 and Karai in issue #2.

[Ninjinister]

I like how they mention the elevator being a tradition to beat-'em-ups. My brother and I have said for years that a game isn't a real beat-'em-up unless it has an elevator sequence. The only game we've given a pass is Ninja Baseball Batman, and that's only because it's so f**king awesome.

[Audi]

Hey brothers in shell. I'm Audun Sorlie, the writer of this article.
First of all, thanks so much to you who read it already! As a lifelong TMNT fan, just the chance to give something back to a franchise that has given me so much entertainment makes me feel very glad.

Let me also apologize for the errors that are made, which are both from auto corrections slipping past my eye and fumbles from my side due to the sheer size of the article and work involved. I did numerous interviews with both Konami and members of the Mirage group, which really gave me some excellent insight. A number of these interviews, along with the inclusion of the LCD games will be added soon, as well as corrections based on your feedback already.

In the mean time, feel free to send a link to the article to the numerous game websites and tmnt sites out there and have them report on it, not so much for my own sake, but because I feel that many of these games truly deserve to be rediscovered, like Tournament Fighters and Radical Rescue.

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

You can also follow me on twitter or facebook in my signature to keep up with future articles and projects for magazines and game companies. My interviews with former Mirage staff were not only for this article....

[oldmanwinters]

Audi, I am honored by your presence on these forums!

You have done TMNT fans and classic gaming enthusiasts a tremendous service!

[Ninjinister]

Damn, your research was impressive. The Rockstar pickup of TMNT3D/Next Mutation rumor was something that my old fansite ran as an exclusive way back in the day. I don't know of anyone outside of an obscure PlayStation magazine that ever ran that story.

[Audi]

Ah so it was your website? I do remember that from way back when, but could not find any info on it anymore. Do you remember if there was ever any materials released, or was there only mentions in text?

winters: Thank you!!

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by The Ninjinister

Damn, your research was impressive. The Rockstar pickup of TMNT3D/Next Mutation rumor was something that my old fansite ran as an exclusive way back in the day. I don't know of anyone outside of an obscure PlayStation magazine that ever ran that story.

What was the url address? I'd love to run interarchive on that site to see what I might find!

Originally Posted by Audi

winters: Thank you!!

The pleasure was all mine!

Also, in your analysis of the first NES game, I appreciate how you put Michelangelo at the bottom of the tier. Like you, I consider Raphael to be a most useful character than Mikey, although most other players tend to elevate Mikey above Raph. Mike does have the advantage of gaining attack power once his health drops below 50%. I believe Leonardo has a similar attribute as well.

[Ninjinister]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

What was the url address? I'd love to run interarchive on that site to see what I might find!

http://www.geocities.com/donturtle_2000/TMNT.html

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by The Ninjinister

http://www.geocities.com/donturtle_2000/TMNT.html

Ah, Geocities... Yeah, those sites are pretty much dead as doornails nowadays!

[Xav]

Originally Posted by Audi

Let me also apologize for the errors that are made, which are both from auto corrections slipping past my eye and fumbles from my side due to the sheer size of the article and work involved. I did numerous interviews with both Konami and members of the Mirage group, which really gave me some excellent insight. A number of these interviews, along with the inclusion of the LCD games will be added soon, as well as corrections based on your feedback already.

Hate to break it to you but the first appearances of Slash and Karai are still wrong Slash first appeared in Slash The Evil Turtle from Dimension X and Karai in issue 53. You also appeared to have mixed up the bio of Scratch with that of Hallocat from the comics. Also Kevin and Peter didn't create Bebop and Rocksteady it was Dave Wise.

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by Xav

Also Kevin and Peter didn't create Bebop and Rocksteady it was Dave Wise.

That's seems to be a continuous subject of debate among TMNT fans, but Eastman and Laird did the original concept art for the warthog and rhino mutants that became Bebop and Rocksteady. David Wise just gave them their personality and origin story. Mirage Studios owned both characters and the rights now belong to Viacom, not David Wise or Fred Wolf Films.

[ToTheNines]

Originally Posted by Xav

Hate to break it to you but the first appearances of Slash and Karai are still wrong Slash first appeared in Slash The Evil Turtle from Dimension X

Which is episode #84 of the 1987 cartoon show and first aired in 1990, in case you were wondering Audi. His first comic book appearance would be Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures #23.

[Xav]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

That's seems to be a continuous subject of debate among TMNT fans, but Eastman and Laird did the original concept art for the warthog and rhino mutants that became Bebop and Rocksteady. David Wise just gave them their personality and origin story. Mirage Studios owned both characters and the rights now belong to Viacom, not David Wise or Fred Wolf Films.

How do you know that? All I know is that Peter did a Rhino Mutant rough sketch at one point.