(And yes it’s the CD version. I’ve not sold my soul enough times to come close to affording an original AES version yet)

Blast away and go, go, go with this Metal Slug 1 English Neo Geo manual scan! Just in time for the game’s 30th anniversary… it’s the terrible twosome’s rollicking assault!
rq87.flyingomelette.com/RQ/NG/MS/MS1...

Paper Mario – 2000 Developer Interviews - shmuplations.com In these interviews, developers from Nintendo and Intelligent Systems discuss the making of the original Paper Mario, an RPG with a unique papercraft aesthetic.

This week we have an exciting new Paper Mario interview from the 11/00 edition of Famitsu 64! Director Ryota Kawade and Hiroyasu Sasano share their favorite characters and scenes, and reveal cut content and alternate battle systems. shmuplations.com/papermario/

German Kenshiro YouTube video by Minsc Adib

This video sums up my thoughts on the matter
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzUK...

New SNES Endings!

Japanese vs butchered endings 3: Shinseiki GPX Cyber Formula vs Cyber Spin.

US version removed the entire story mode and cutscenes. Japanese version has multiple endings.

US:
www.vgmuseum.com/end/snes/b/c...

Japan:
www.vgmuseum.com/end/snes/b/s...

Phantasy Star II – 1993 Developer Interview - shmuplations.com This short interview from 1993 talks about various aspects of the development of Phantasy Star II, including the reason for its terrifically complex dungeons.

Phantasy Star II celebrates its 37th anniversary today, and we have two great interviews covering its development. This one comes from The World of Phantasy Star; my favorite detail is how the fiendishly complex dungeons were the result of a tryharding new employee. shmuplations.com/phantasystar...

Mega Man Legends – 1998 Developer Interview - shmuplations.com This humorous Mega Man Legends interview with director Keiji Inafune originally appeared in the 2/98 issue of GameJin magazine.

In this humorous Mega Man Legends interview from 2/98, Keiji Inafune shares the inspiration behind Tron's design, the challenges of finding the right difficulty, and other mecha-centric anecdotes. shmuplations.com/rockmandash/

Cyberbots – 1998 Developer Interview - shmuplations.com This Cyberbots interview with producer Takashi Kyono and designer Katsuhiro Nakano originally appeared in the 10/98 issue of Gamejin magazine.

Learn about Cyberbots' character and mecha design in this vintage interview from 1998! This was part of a mecha-themed interview series conducted by Oh My Goddess! manga artist Kosuke Fujishima for GameJin magazine.
shmuplations.com/cyberbots/

Extending the demo: Ridge Racer (PlayStation) Reverse engineering an early look at one of the first PlayStation titles

There's a PlayStation demo CD with a restricted build of *Ridge Racer*. It's from 3 weeks before the final, making it some of the earliest PlayStation software.

I patched out the limits to enable full access. There are lots of differences!

32bits.substack.com/p/extending-...

Today I'm starting a new weekly tradition called "Saturday Shmuplations" to highlight some of the greatest hits from our archive of over 500 translated interviews. The weekend is the perfect time to relax and revisit these long-form, deep-dive slices of gaming history!

Attention all Cyberbots: Fullmetal Madness fans! With thanks to @shmuplations.bsky.social you can now enjoy English story mode translations of the console exclusive characters. Have closed captions turned on. First up, Shade:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lue...

Finally, if you'd rather read the text without the videos, I've made transcripts available over at my site:
rq87.flyingomelette.com/RQ/CB/1.html

If you’ve ever wondered why Devilotte’s Marvel Vs. Capcom assist involves an accidental self-destruct, it’s referencing part of her Cyberbots story mode!

And finally, the one you’ve been waiting for: Princess Devilotte de Death Satan IX!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PBd...

Second up, Chiyomaru and Tessan:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GMG...

Attention all Cyberbots: Fullmetal Madness fans! With thanks to @shmuplations.bsky.social you can now enjoy English story mode translations of the console exclusive characters. Have closed captions turned on. First up, Shade:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lue...

Odd how the liner notes don't discuss where the inspiration for Mujoe's theme came from!

My Bomberman site updated with some guff after who knows how long. Want to read about the behind-the-scenes on the Bomberman Jetters anime? How about the minute differences between four unique ports of NES Bomberman? If not, that's all I got, sorry.
randomhoohaas.flyingomelette.com/bomb/

[lifeline] it is complete. the lifeline archive is up and public!!
please please please go check it out!! it has a ton of cool stuff about everyone's favorite Voice Action Adventure for PlayStation 2
heyoperator.neocities.org

Shigeru Miyamoto x Shigesato Itoi – 1989 Interview - shmuplations.com This lengthy interview captures a high-level meeting of the minds between Shigesato Itoi, Shigeru Miyamoto, and author Seiko Itou.

Today we have an amazing interview from 1989 with Shigeru Miyamoto and Shigesato Itoi. Conducted shortly after the release of Mother, it's full of deep musings about realism, creative exhaustion, the moral panic over kids & gaming, and prescient visions of the future. shmuplations.com/itoimiyamoto/

Did you know there's a 3rd Fighter's History exclusive to the SNES and only released in Japan?

You can now enjoy its multiple endings completely in English thanks to Niz (he transcribes Japanese instruction manuals here setsumei.cloudfree.jp/index.html)

www.vgmuseum.com/end/snes/b/f...

I got nothing copyright-wise for that one... yet

If it's anything like my Injustice uploads, it'll get blocked in Russia. Everywhere else is ok

Bill Bull sprite

picture of Bill Craven

According to Akira Nishitani, Bill Bull from Final Fight was based on former Capcom USA VP of Sales & MarketingBill Craven.
xcancel.com/game7650/sta...

This week's Arcade Archives release is RAVE RACER. 31 years since its arcade debut, Namco's 3D racing sequel comes with two brand new courses, a slipstream mechanic, smooth drifting and a soundtrack of nothing but hot jams.

Dreamwidth post!
tepidsnake.dreamwidth.org/38146.html

Capcom CPS Promo from VHS Tape YouTube video by ottosb

learning about this new-fangled capcom arcade system from the guy from the street fighter 1 stage www.youtube.com/watch?v=m029...

Masanobu Endo x Shigesato Itoi – 1985 Interview - shmuplations.com In this vintage interview from the 12/85 issue of LOGiN magazine, Shigesato Itoi and Masanobu Endo discuss the formation of Game Studio.

For our final translation this month, we have a vintage interview with Masanobu Endo and Shigesato Itoi from 1985, shortly after Endo departed Namco and founded Game Studio. This is a "friendly banter" style interview with lots of witty, provocative assertions from Itoi. shmuplations.com/endoitoi/

Earnest Evans Collection is currently £34.99 on Switch and PS5, but only £15.99 on PS4.

For some reason, the price of the Earnest Evans Collection has recently increased on Switch and PS5. The PS4 and Steam versions haven't had their prices changed yet, the Steam version is even currently 20% off.

A screenshot from The Cutting Room Floor's page on Space Gun, taken via Windows' Print Screen function. Shown are two alternate title screens for the game- Annihilator and Creatures Shock- both being displayed over a sinister green alien with giant prple eyes and horrid fangs. According to Atsuchi Taniguchi, one of the game's producers, "Space Gun" was originally only a tentative title. During the location test phase, two different titles were proposed, only for the game to end up with the provisional title anyway. [The two sets of bolded text link to tweets made by Atsuchi Taniguchi that are no longer available due to the account being suspended / inactive.]

Taito's ultra-violent rail shooter Space Gun has two alternate titles hiding in the game's data- Annihilator and Creatures Shock.
tcrf.net/Space_Gun_(A...

The tweets linked on TCRF sadly no longer exist, but at least they were paraphrased- Space Gun was only meant as a tentative name, but it stuck!

Esprade – 2010 Developer Interview - shmuplations.com This in-depth Esprade interview with creator Junya Inoue first appeared in the Guwange/Esprade Artworks book published in 2010.

Back to our shmup roots, this week we have a super in-depth Esprade interview with art director Junya Inoue! I've wanted to do this one for a long time and it didn't disappoint: tons of fascinating lore on the characters and world design. Plus concept art! shmuplations.com/esprade/