9 bizarre video game facts you (probably) won’t believe
Any tome with a foreword from outspoken gaming firebrand Jim Sterling is likely to be worthy of your time, and the forthcoming Video Game Quiz Book by Louie Falls has certainly caught my attention.
My time with a preview copy of this feast of gaming trivia has taught me a whole host of weird and wonderful things about classic titles, famous characters and treasured developers that I would have had no idea about otherwise.
For example, did you know that…?
1. Sonic sidekick Knuckles has got a four-headed penis
Given that he’s an anthropomorphic Echidna, or ‘spiny anteater’ to you and me, it stands to reason that the tough-nut character shares his species’ rather unusual genitalia (look it up). We’re glad Sega showed restraint when it came to displaying Knuckles’ assets on screen.
2. Lance Bass voiced Sephiroth in Kingdom Hearts
You can imagine the conversation in Square Enix’s head office. ‘Who should we get to play one of the most iconic, feared and downright gravitas-laden villains in all of entertainment history?’ ‘Hmm…how about that guy from NSYNC?’
3. Pyramid Head is a playable character in New International Track And Field
If the seminal horror creation wasn’t already inappropriately over-used enough, the mannequin-loving Freudian abomination also has a decidedly weird cameo in this cartoony athletics sim. Nice one Konami!
4. Super Mario Land was based on alien conspiracy theories
It seems tinfoil hats were all the rage among the developers here. The kingdoms are based on Egypt, Easter Island, Bermuda and China, which have all been associated with UFO phenomena and claims of extraterrestrial intervention – particularly in terms of ‘impossible’ monuments. There’s even a spaceship beaming Mario down in the clip above. Feel free to hum the X-Files theme while playing.
5. Sonic was originally going to be called ‘Mr Needlemouse’
We’re pretty glad they made the decision to alter that moniker. Shown here in early concept drawings, and sounding more like a family-friendly musical than a hi-octane 16-bit era pin-up, you can hardly see that becoming a household name, can you?
6. Michael Jackson allegedly composed the soundtrack to Sonic 3
The pop superstar, who also worked on a breathtakingly weird Moonwalker game with Sega, has been repeatedly linked to the music on this popular platforming sequel. Brad Buxer, who worked on the soundtrack, claims that Jackson had key input on the project before later dropping out, while producer Roger Hector suggests Sega ditched the singer’s work once certain allegations about him began to emerge.
7. Link’s Awakening was censored in some countries because of a naked hippo
Forget ‘Hot Coffee’. The original gaming sex controversy involved a clothing-free animal shamelessly giving kids an eyeful in this 1993 Zelda classic. Non-Japanese versions actually altered the pixelated exhibitionist to cover her up. Perhaps the game should have been re-titled ‘Link’s sexual awakening’?
8. The Sega Mega Drive was known as the ‘Super Aladdin Boy’ in South Korea
When they released the Sega Master System in the third-party insisting nation, Samsung dubbed it the ‘Aladdin Boy’ for some reason. So when the successor came along a few years later, naturally they pulled a Nintendo and added a ‘Super’ to the thing. The 80s and 90s truly were a confusing time for console owners.
9. Nintendo was founded in 1889
Yep. That’s right. The Japanese gaming giant can date its history all the way back to when Queen Victoria’s ample ass was glued to the English throne. Originally set up as a playing cards firm, it eventually expanded into the toy market in the 1960s – landing its first big success with a weird extendable arm thing called ‘The Ultra Hand’.
The Video Game Quiz Book boasts 1,200 questions on all things gaming, and is due out at the end of April from Apex Publishing.
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By Mark Butler
Mark is the content manager for WOW247 in Leeds. When he isn't waxing lyrical about Ben Wheatley and Caravan Palace, he's writing about cult cinema, obscure horror movies and outlandish games.
