Bonkinator and other Treasures

henrycsc · 01/05/2011, 02:30 PM

I've met some great people since getting back into Turbo stuff, and they all have great stories to tell. The latest is no exception.

I recently met a guy who worked for NEC back during the Turbo days as a game tester. He said it was a dream job - I bet! Last night, I got an email from him asking me what the heck Bonkinator was. I hadn't heard that term before, so I asked him what he meant. He sent me some pics, so I immediately started digging.

I saw that the Jun/Jul 1992 issue of Turbo Play announced a new unnamed character. By the Aug/Sep 1992 issue, Air Zonk had his name.

Turns out, this guy has a demo EPROM called Bonkinator.

Have any of you seen this version before? I didn't have any luck searching for it. Pretty awesome though. I asked him for some more pics of the actual EPROM and more screen shots/info.

What other treasures have been uncovered?

NEC did make a wise choice on the name change. At least they got something right.

blueraven · 01/05/2011, 02:32 PM

Wow. This is the first I've heard of this. Maybe Tatsujin can shed some light?

henrycsc · 01/05/2011, 02:33 PM

Maybe, but Tats is a PCE guy... this is totally Turbo. NEC America would have done the name changing probably.

Arkhan Asylum · 01/05/2011, 03:08 PM

Bonkinator is the stupidest name change I have ever heard, lol

NecroPhile · 01/05/2011, 03:08 PM

Heh, Bonkinator. I've never heard of it, but I'm glad they changed the name; sure he's a cyborg, but that's where the parallels end.

DragonmasterDan · 01/05/2011, 03:08 PM

I remember they had a contest to name the character. The winner was Air Zonk. Bonkinator might have been the working name TTI used.

henrycsc · 01/05/2011, 03:14 PM

yeah, it obviously was a working name.... probably dreamed up by the same guy that drew the Dungeon Explorer box.

I'll see what other neat stuff he may have in his collection and try to get pics.

SignOfZeta · 01/05/2011, 03:56 PM

This is news to me. Cool find!

Arkhan Asylum · 01/05/2011, 04:43 PM

Quote from: DragonmasterDan on 01/05/2011, 03:08 PMI remember they had a contest to name the character. The winner was Air Zonk. Bonkinator might have been the working name TTI used.

That explains alot, lol.

TheClash603 · 01/05/2011, 06:45 PM

Bonkinator is better than Air Zonk, especially due to the Terminator being so popular at the time of release.

henrycsc · 01/05/2011, 06:46 PM

I invited him to join us here, so we're just waiting on his membership approval. Nice guy.

MotherGunner · 01/05/2011, 06:52 PM

I remember submitting an entry for the contest at the time. They were supposed to credit the kid who named with with some recognition and gift although I can't remember if they ever did that and where.

Very cool, thanks for sharing!

turbogrfxfan · 01/05/2011, 06:56 PM

I think bonkinator would of been cool. Think of the Time period. . I never heard of or seen this cefore. pretty cool bit of history. Imagine if it was on a turbo cd or huey. now that would be amazing

SignOfZeta · 01/05/2011, 06:59 PM

Quote from: TheClash603 on 01/05/2011, 06:45 PMBonkinator is better than Air Zonk, especially due to the Terminator being so popular at the time of release.

Yes, because you should always pick the most dated and derivative names you can! They could have got a Wayne's World or House Of Pain joke in there too, if they tried.

I think Zonk is good because it rhymes with Bonk, and is rather evocative of the same vibe as the whole Genjin/Denjin thing. Its pretty much perfect. Bonkinator isn't bad either though.

Tatsujin · 01/05/2011, 07:10 PM

Quote from: henrycsc on 01/05/2011, 02:33 PMMaybe, but Tats is a PCE guy... this is totally Turbo.

You are totally right. The only guy who comes to my mind which may bring some more light in this is Thibaut.

Great proto stuff. Does he have more such things'n'stuff?

DragonmasterDan · 01/05/2011, 07:10 PM

Quote from: SignOfZeta on 01/05/2011, 06:59 PMYes, because you should always pick the most dated and derivative names you can! They could have got a Wayne's World or House Of Pain joke in there too, if they tried.

I think Zonk is good because it rhymes with Bonk, and is rather evocative of the same vibe as the whole Genjin/Denjin thing. Its pretty much perfect. Bonkinator isn't bad either though.

The "Air" in Air Zonk was definitely borrowed from the 1992 popularity of Air Jordan. You have to remember, part of the idea was to create a "modern" for the time Sonic like mascot. So there's a very 90s feel to both names.

turbogrfxfan · 01/05/2011, 07:40 PM

Quote from: DragonmasterDan on 01/05/2011, 07:10 PM
Quote from: SignOfZeta on 01/05/2011, 06:59 PMYes, because you should always pick the most dated and derivative names you can! They could have got a Wayne's World or House Of Pain joke in there too, if they tried.

I think Zonk is good because it rhymes with Bonk, and is rather evocative of the same vibe as the whole Genjin/Denjin thing. Its pretty much perfect. Bonkinator isn't bad either though.
The "Air" in Air Zonk was definitely borrowed from the 1992 popularity of Air Jordan. You have to remember, part of the idea was to create a "modern" for the time Sonic like mascot. So there's a very 90s feel to both names.

ahh good point i bet ur right!

MotherGunner · 01/05/2011, 07:44 PM

We need the rom of that eeprom! =)

SignOfZeta · 01/05/2011, 08:37 PM

Quote from: DragonmasterDan on 01/05/2011, 07:10 PM
Quote from: SignOfZeta on 01/05/2011, 06:59 PMYes, because you should always pick the most dated and derivative names you can! They could have got a Wayne's World or House Of Pain joke in there too, if they tried.

I think Zonk is good because it rhymes with Bonk, and is rather evocative of the same vibe as the whole Genjin/Denjin thing. Its pretty much perfect. Bonkinator isn't bad either though.
The "Air" in Air Zonk was definitely borrowed from the 1992 popularity of Air Jordan. You have to remember, part of the idea was to create a "modern" for the time Sonic like mascot. So there's a very 90s feel to both names.

Really? I suppose you could be right, but I had Air Jordans in 1986...and they were a year old even then.

DragonmasterDan · 01/06/2011, 07:28 AM

Quote from: SignOfZeta on 01/05/2011, 08:37 PMReally? I suppose you could be right, but I had Air Jordans in 1986...and they were a year old even then.

You're thinking of the shoes, remember the name Air Zonk was chosen in 1992, at what at that time was a peak of Air Jordan's popularity. The Jordan led Dream Team captured the worlds imagination that Summer Barcelona by absolutely annihilating all competition to such a degree that it could hardly have been called a sport, and Michael Jordan was perhaps the most famous person on the planet at the time.

SignOfZeta · 01/06/2011, 12:51 PM

Oh yeah...I kind of forgot that stuff. I think Jordan is a fucking asshole, I just liked his shoes.

henrycsc · 01/06/2011, 05:12 PM

He's joined pcenginefx - just waiting for moderator approval now.

And yeah it sounds like he has quite a bit of other stuff in his collection as well.

I'm sure he got to play a lot of the great stuff that we've only read about. He said that once TTI came into the picture, he did not move to California to continue the job. He can probably give us some great stories from those NEC days though.

MotherGunner · 01/06/2011, 11:50 PM

Would be really cool if he made a podcast recounting his days at NEC/TTI. Perhaps you can ask him to?

henrycsc · 01/07/2011, 10:04 AM

Hopefully he'll be here soon enough and we can ask him. Dream Job, indeed.

He said that he also has EPROMS of New Adventure Island, Dead Moon, Order of the Griffon, and one called "TV Sports Baseball" (maybe the early name for World Class...)

Jared4781 · 01/07/2011, 11:45 AM

wow. this is just awesome. can't wait to hear this guys stories.

shubibiman · 01/07/2011, 01:43 PM

Nice find! Thanks for sharing!

Quote from: Tatsujin on 01/05/2011, 07:10 PMYou are totally right. The only guy who comes to my mind which may bring some more light in this is Thibaut.

Great proto stuff. Does he have more such things'n'stuff?

Thibaut is more into japanese protos and stuff, even though he owns the Off The Wall prototype.

nat · 01/07/2011, 06:58 PM

Quote from: henrycsc on 01/07/2011, 10:04 AMHopefully he'll be here soon enough and we can ask him. Dream Job, indeed.

He said that he also has EPROMS of New Adventure Island, Dead Moon, Order of the Griffon, and one called "TV Sports Baseball" (maybe the early name for World Class...)

No way. TV Sports Baseball was developed, but never released. It most certainly is not a working title for World Class.... If an actual copy of TV Sports Baseball were to come to light (ie, if what your friend says is accurate), that'd be just fantastic.

Just please, PLEASE make sure your buddy doesn't sell these things to Thibaut & friends. Those guys will make sure they never see the light of day again outside of their "trust circle."

Mathius · 01/07/2011, 11:50 PM

This is so very cool!

MotherGunner · 01/08/2011, 12:07 AM

Quote from: nat on 01/07/2011, 06:58 PM
Quote from: henrycsc on 01/07/2011, 10:04 AMHopefully he'll be here soon enough and we can ask him. Dream Job, indeed.

He said that he also has EPROMS of New Adventure Island, Dead Moon, Order of the Griffon, and one called "TV Sports Baseball" (maybe the early name for World Class...)
No way. TV Sports Baseball was developed, but never released. It most certainly is not a working title for World Class.... If an actual copy of TV Sports Baseball were to come to light (ie, if what your friend says is accurate), that'd be just fantastic.

Just please, PLEASE make sure your buddy doesn't sell these things to Thibaut & friends. Those guys will make sure they never see the light of day again outside of their "trust circle."

Totally agree. I think sharing the rom would be a forum violation but perhaps we can ask him to at least let someone like Bucci review it?

ParanoiaDragon · 01/08/2011, 03:45 AM

Wow, I'm surprised I didn't know about this! Though, the connections I had back then were near the end of TTI's days, & you said he didn't move to California, so, he probably didn't know their secretary Eun Lopez, who I got info from. Plus I talked to one of the Shirley boys(of WD) back then as well & got some info, so, since it's been so long, I'm fuzzy on what they really told me....& what I dreamt of them telling me

I tried to get Vic Ireland to speak up over in the Sunsoft forums, but, he never answered any specific questions

As for Zonk, the original working name I knew about was Bonk's Thunder Shooting(I think I remember them even calling it Bonk 3 at one point, with Bonk's Quest/RPC Genjin being called Bonk 4). Good grief, I'd like to know if this guy has an eprom of The Riftwar Saga! That's a game I've been trying to track down more info on for years! I did have a friend, whose friends dad was working on some hack n' slash that never got released(the dude lived somewhere around Calabasas California). My friend said it was pretty good. Always wondered if that was Riftwar Saga.

On TV Sports Baseball, Game Dude down here in Southern Cali had a listing for it for years, which always made me wonder if they somehow at one time got ahold of an eprom! As far as I ever heard, the game was done! Not to mention they were supposed to be doing a TV Sports Collection on cd(not to mention TV Sports Boxing). I have no idea if there supposed to be any enhancements(probably not).

Also, my friends dad(Art Huff) did the gfx for Ghost Manor, though, there's really nothing exciting about that. Though, note that Arthur in the game is modeled after Art Huff. He seemed to hate the Turbo from what I recall.

Oh, I've probably mentioned this before, but it seems like I recall Eun telling me that Robotech/Macross 2036 was done, but, there were bugs near the end, & they just plain ran out of money. Ofcoarse, if that's true, I wonder what the final title would've been. Seems unlikely they would've paid to use the Robotech name, I could be wrong though.

DragonmasterDan · 01/08/2011, 12:29 PM

Quote from: ParanoiaDragon on 01/08/2011, 03:45 AMWow, I'm surprised I didn't know about this! Though, the connections I had back then were near the end of TTI's days, & you said he didn't move to California, so, he probably didn't know their secretary Eun Lopez, who I got info from. Plus I talked to one of the Shirley boys(of WD) back then as well & got some info, so, since it's been so long, I'm fuzzy on what they really told me....& what I dreamt of them telling me I tried to get Vic Ireland to speak up over in the Sunsoft forums, but, he never answered any specific questions

As for Zonk, the original working name I knew about was Bonk's Thunder Shooting(I think I remember them even calling it Bonk 3 at one point, with Bonk's Quest/RPC Genjin being called Bonk 4). Good grief, I'd like to know if this guy has an eprom of The Riftwar Saga! That's a game I've been trying to track down more info on for years! I did have a friend, whose friends dad was working on some hack n' slash that never got released(the dude lived somewhere around Calabasas California). My friend said it was pretty good. Always wondered if that was Riftwar Saga.

On TV Sports Baseball, Game Dude down here in Southern Cali had a listing for it for years, which always made me wonder if they somehow at one time got ahold of an eprom! As far as I ever heard, the game was done! Not to mention they were supposed to be doing a TV Sports Collection on cd(not to mention TV Sports Boxing). I have no idea if there supposed to be any enhancements(probably not).

Also, my friends dad(Art Huff) did the gfx for Ghost Manor, though, there's really nothing exciting about that. Though, note that Arthur in the game is modeled after Art Huff. He seemed to hate the Turbo from what I recall.

Oh, I've probably mentioned this before, but it seems like I recall Eun telling me that Robotech/Macross 2036 was done, but, there were bugs near the end, & they just plain ran out of money. Ofcoarse, if that's true, I wonder what the final title would've been. Seems unlikely they would've paid to use the Robotech name, I could be wrong though.

Yeah, it was called Bonks Thunder Shooting at the Summer 1992 CES when I went to the TTI booth. But they were advertising the contest to name the new Bonk and win a free package including a Duo and games.

SignOfZeta · 01/08/2011, 01:00 PM

Quote from: ParanoiaDragon on 01/08/2011, 03:45 AMOh, I've probably mentioned this before, but it seems like I recall Eun telling me that Robotech/Macross 2036 was done, but, there were bugs near the end, & they just plain ran out of money. Ofcoarse, if that's true, I wonder what the final title would've been. Seems unlikely they would've paid to use the Robotech name, I could be wrong though.

I remember hearing that 2036 was done too. I think I heard it on the phone from a TTI/TZD guy at some point in time.

At the time Harmony Gold wasn't being such a huge pain in the ass like they are now, so it might have been possible. I think even of you call it "Macross" you stillhave to pay them (the rights-squatting money vampires) although not as much...maybe?

henrycsc · 01/08/2011, 07:45 PM

Wow Nat, I didn't know that. He said that the EPROM is marked as such. One big issue though - he said that is one of the ones that doesn't work. Once he gets here he may need some expert advice on getting it working again.

He did say that these were given to him a while back from the widow of one of his former coworkers. So it's possible that they are from after his tenure with NEC. Given the late nature of some of the titles, they probably were some of the last that NEC America converted.

When he showed me the Bonkinator screen shot, I jokingly told him that an EPROM might be the only way to get a TV Sports game to have some value... I had no idea..... Hopefully Aaron will get him approved here shortly and he can comment first hand on everything.

Quote from: nat on 01/07/2011, 06:58 PM
Quote from: henrycsc on 01/07/2011, 10:04 AMHopefully he'll be here soon enough and we can ask him. Dream Job, indeed.

He said that he also has EPROMS of New Adventure Island, Dead Moon, Order of the Griffon, and one called "TV Sports Baseball" (maybe the early name for World Class...)
No way. TV Sports Baseball was developed, but never released. It most certainly is not a working title for World Class.... If an actual copy of TV Sports Baseball were to come to light (ie, if what your friend says is accurate), that'd be just fantastic.

Just please, PLEASE make sure your buddy doesn't sell these things to Thibaut & friends. Those guys will make sure they never see the light of day again outside of their "trust circle."

Sparky · 01/08/2011, 08:27 PM

nice henry!!! final had time to read all this thread and a good read and hope more is to come

ParanoiaDragon · 01/08/2011, 10:09 PM

Quote from: DragonmasterDan on 01/08/2011, 12:29 PM
Quote from: ParanoiaDragon on 01/08/2011, 03:45 AMWow, I'm surprised I didn't know about this! Though, the connections I had back then were near the end of TTI's days, & you said he didn't move to California, so, he probably didn't know their secretary Eun Lopez, who I got info from. Plus I talked to one of the Shirley boys(of WD) back then as well & got some info, so, since it's been so long, I'm fuzzy on what they really told me....& what I dreamt of them telling me I tried to get Vic Ireland to speak up over in the Sunsoft forums, but, he never answered any specific questions

As for Zonk, the original working name I knew about was Bonk's Thunder Shooting(I think I remember them even calling it Bonk 3 at one point, with Bonk's Quest/RPC Genjin being called Bonk 4). Good grief, I'd like to know if this guy has an eprom of The Riftwar Saga! That's a game I've been trying to track down more info on for years! I did have a friend, whose friends dad was working on some hack n' slash that never got released(the dude lived somewhere around Calabasas California). My friend said it was pretty good. Always wondered if that was Riftwar Saga.

On TV Sports Baseball, Game Dude down here in Southern Cali had a listing for it for years, which always made me wonder if they somehow at one time got ahold of an eprom! As far as I ever heard, the game was done! Not to mention they were supposed to be doing a TV Sports Collection on cd(not to mention TV Sports Boxing). I have no idea if there supposed to be any enhancements(probably not).

Also, my friends dad(Art Huff) did the gfx for Ghost Manor, though, there's really nothing exciting about that. Though, note that Arthur in the game is modeled after Art Huff. He seemed to hate the Turbo from what I recall.

Oh, I've probably mentioned this before, but it seems like I recall Eun telling me that Robotech/Macross 2036 was done, but, there were bugs near the end, & they just plain ran out of money. Ofcoarse, if that's true, I wonder what the final title would've been. Seems unlikely they would've paid to use the Robotech name, I could be wrong though.
Yeah, it was called Bonks Thunder Shooting at the Summer 1992 CES when I went to the TTI booth. But they were advertising the contest to name the new Bonk and win a free package including a Duo and games.

I could be wrong, but I feel like I remember them having to choose between several people that came up with "Zonk", so maybe did some kind of random draw for them. My entry I think was Chomp or Crunch or something like that, cuz of the teeth weapon. I wish I had come up with Zonk!!

blueraven · 01/11/2011, 04:23 AM

Thanks again for all of your work on bringing this to everyone's attention!

Quote from: nat on 01/07/2011, 06:58 PMJust please, PLEASE make sure your buddy doesn't sell these things to Thibaut & friends. Those guys will make sure they never see the light of day again outside of their "trust circle."

I couldn't agree more. Greed Circle is more like it.

ParanoiaDragon · 01/15/2011, 07:48 PM

Found this video with some early Turbo stuff at the 92' CES!

Bonk 3 with a Bonk 1 esque title screen, Bonk's Thunder Shooting, & guys in Bonk & Zonk suits!!

I hope Aaron approves this guy soon so we can see more of this kinda stuff!

91' CES, Bonk Bonk's a guy at 1:05

shubibiman · 01/16/2011, 06:26 AM

Quote from: nat on 01/07/2011, 06:58 PMJust please, PLEASE make sure your buddy doesn't sell these things to Thibaut & friends. Those guys will make sure they never see the light of day again outside of their "trust circle."

BTW, who are those friends you're reffering to?

nat · 01/16/2011, 02:12 PM

That prick "Adol" and his alleged "twin," and anyone else involved in their l33t "trust circle."

MotherGunner · 01/16/2011, 05:53 PM

Wasn't Thibaut getting rid of all his shit now?

shubibiman · 01/18/2011, 01:45 PM

Not at all. All the games he's selling are extra copies.

RoyVegas · 01/18/2011, 02:44 PM

Quote from: MotherGunner on 01/16/2011, 05:53 PMWasn't Thibaut getting rid of all his shit now?

He bought a huge box of stuff from me when I sold mine, I wouldn't think so.

henrycsc · 01/19/2011, 08:33 PM

He's still awaiting approval to the site, but got another email today - he also has another non-working EPROM called "Spring Ninja". Is this a working title for Ninja Spirit, or another fantastical story like the TV Sports Baseball? I sent him the great vids that ParanoiaDragon posted! Awesome stuffs!

nat · 01/19/2011, 08:37 PM

No idea... Never heard of Spring Ninja. Aaron told me he just approved a batch of accounts, so I'm curious why he hasn't been approved yet. Maybe he needs to try re-registering.

TheClash603 · 01/19/2011, 10:12 PM

Quote from: ParanoiaDragon on 01/15/2011, 07:48 PMFound this video with some early Turbo stuff at the 92' CES!
Bonk 3 with a Bonk 1 esque title screen, Bonk's Thunder Shooting, & guys in Bonk & Zonk suits!!

I hope Aaron approves this guy soon so we can see more of this kinda stuff!

91' CES, Bonk Bonk's a guy at 1:05

That Zonk suit actually was pretty cool... but what the hell is wrong with Bonk? That looked terrible! It looked like a bad costume of someone trying to be a Garbage Pail Kid from the movie.

MotherGunner · 01/20/2011, 12:15 AM

Yeah Aaron seems to have approved some guys and not the guy we're waiting on?

ParanoiaDragon · 01/20/2011, 01:43 AM

Quote from: henrycsc on 01/19/2011, 08:33 PMHe's still awaiting approval to the site, but got another email today - he also has another non-working EPROM called "Spring Ninja". Is this a working title for Ninja Spirit, or another fantastical story like the TV Sports Baseball? I sent him the great vids that ParanoiaDragon posted! Awesome stuffs!

Spring Ninja was the working name for Somer Assault/Mesapotamia. So, nothing real exciting, other then probably a different title screen.

esteban · 01/20/2011, 02:35 AM

HOLY DEAR LORD ALMIGHTY!

I can't believe what I've missed in my absence. I'm still trying to work my way through 50 pages of unread messages.

BONKINATOR, indeed.

I love finding out about stuff like this.

VERDICT: "Bonkinator" is most certainly not as good as (Air) Zonk. As someone mentioned already, "Zonk" has a continuity with "Bonk".

"Bonkinator" suffers from extra chromosomes. Sorry.

Quote from: ParanoiaDragon on 01/20/2011, 01:43 AM
Quote from: henrycsc on 01/19/2011, 08:33 PMHe's still awaiting approval to the site, but got another email today - he also has another non-working EPROM called "Spring Ninja". Is this a working title for Ninja Spirit, or another fantastical story like the TV Sports Baseball? I sent him the great vids that ParanoiaDragon posted! Awesome stuffs!
Spring Ninja was the working name for Somer Assault/Mesapotamia. So, nothing real exciting, other then probably a different title screen.

In that case, I'll glady take the Spring Ninja EPROM and the non-working TV SPORTS Baseball EPROM

Possibly interesting:

Review: TV SPORTS Baseball (TurboPlay #11, Feb/March 1992)

TV SPORTS Baseball slated for September 1992 release (TurboPlay #13, June/July 1992)

Bonk to the Future. Bonk's Thunder Shooting slated for November 1992 release (TurboPlay #12, June/July 1992)

malicedoom · 01/25/2011, 12:51 PM

Hello to all! This is Frank from Chicago, and this is my first post.

Thanks to Henry for letting me know about the site and forums here. Interesting to know what this 'Bonkinator' game I have is all about - I myself never had the chance to play Air Zonk (it came out after NEC had sold everything to Hudson Soft and moved from Wood Dale, IL to CA), so I wasn't quite sure WHAT it was when I first booted it up.

As for TV Sports Baseball, that is a 4-chip EPROM that I can't seem to get to load - not sure it ever did. Makes me wonder if it ever was a 'working' prototype or just what the story is, etc.

Nice to meet you all!

--Frank

NecroPhile · 01/25/2011, 12:57 PM

Welcome aboard, Frank. I look forward to hearing what'll hopefully be many inside stories of NEC's US operations.