Johnny Turbo Returns?!

jlued686 · 12/22/2017, 10:47 AM

This is so strange...

LINK

QuoteFlying Tiger Entertainment has announced that it is bringing some of Data East's most beloved arcade titles to the Switch.

Over 20 titles are coming to Switch, PS4, Xbox One and Steam, with the only confirmed game so far being the 1990 fantasy action release Gate of Doom (also known as Dark Seal). Games are expected to sell for $7.99 each on the eShop.

The really weird part of all of this is that Flying Tiger is using Turbo Technologies Inc. mascot Johnny Turbo to promote this range of games.

The apparent connection here is that Flying Tiger was founded by Johnny Brandstetter, the brand manager for the TurboGrafx-16 (PC Engine) in North America. The character of Johnny Turbo was based on Brandstetter, and we assume that since TTI's collapse in the '90s and Hudson Soft's purchase by Konami in more recent years, he's retained the rights to the character.

Psycho Punch · 12/22/2017, 10:54 AM

It's obvious that JT is using his powers to enhance the arcade feel on those data east games...

I'm glad that he isn't bitter about his time at TTi anymore.

SignOfZeta · 12/22/2017, 11:06 AM

...yeah, that ought to move millions of units.

CrackTiger · 12/22/2017, 11:09 AM

Proof that he never got the joke.

crazydean · 12/22/2017, 11:29 AM

What are these "worst mascot" lies?

NecroPhile · 12/22/2017, 11:43 AM

Ha! Maybe he thinks it's so bad it's good..... or that lulz press making fun of him reusing Johnny Turbo is better than the no press he'd otherwise get.

NightWolve · 12/22/2017, 12:25 PM

Quote from: crazydean on 12/22/2017, 11:29 AMWhat are these "worst mascot" lies?

Johnny Turbo resurrected for a new generation, why, I never thought I'd live to see the day! Brings a tear to my eye... *sniff*

Johnny on Twitter?!?!? WHAT?!

https://twitter.com/ItsJohnnyTurbo

Too bad it's a dead account, he lost the will to fight on since 2 years ago.

Gredler · 12/22/2017, 12:37 PM

How can we not assume this means he's working towards license deals to release turbob and pce games on the switch? Data east is what his company has rights to now, but who's to say he's not talking to people about using it as lightning rod to people like us who love this old obscure silly stuff.

Regardless, I am behind it. If we have bubsy coming back, why not johnny t?

exodus · 12/22/2017, 02:25 PM

he's been around for ages, but what's new is he managed to get the trademark for turbografx (I think) and johnny turbo (definitely), so now he's pushing that more than ever. He's been in the game of localizing japanese games for phones and other things for some time now.

(and by the way, *anyone* with money can have the rights to data east games - their rightsholders are renting them out non-exclusively - I know this because we were going to do a Bad Dudes game but we cut off the conversation after learning they'd also given the license, at the same time, to two other groups who had no experience with anything. one of them was that dumb failed kickstarter)

esteban · 12/22/2017, 03:40 PM

Quote from: exodus on 12/22/2017, 02:25 PMhe's been around for ages, but what's new is he managed to get the trademark for turbografx (I think) and johnny turbo (definitely), so now he's pushing that more than ever. He's been in the game of localizing japanese games for phones and other things for some time now.

(and by the way, *anyone* with money can have the rights to data east games - their rightsholders are renting them out non-exclusively - I know this because we were going to do a Bad Dudes game but we cut off the conversation after learning they'd also given the license, at the same time, to two other groups who had no experience with anything. one of them was that dumb failed kickstarter)

Brandstetter (possibly) has TurboGrafx?

Damn.

I am clueless on this, but how much does something like that cost? (Not that you know the answer, but...)

SignOfZeta · 12/22/2017, 03:43 PM

I look forward to buying massively discounted Turbografx merch from the crap bins at Toys R Us like it was the 90s.

seieienbu · 12/22/2017, 09:31 PM

I was going to bring up the new Bubsy but it seems my work is already done.

turboswimbz · 12/23/2017, 08:28 PM

Quote from: exodus on 12/22/2017, 02:25 PMhe's been around for ages, but what's new is he managed to get the trademark for turbografx (I think)

Unrelated to anything here, I searched for the trademark recently. Konami still has Turbografx And monkeypaw has turbografx-16 although this is limited to mobile releases.

esteban · 12/23/2017, 08:59 PM

Quote from: turboswimbz on 12/23/2017, 08:28 PM
Quote from: exodus on 12/22/2017, 02:25 PMhe's been around for ages, but what's new is he managed to get the trademark for turbografx (I think)
Unrelated to anything here, I searched for the trademark recently. Konami still has Turbografx And monkeypaw has turbografx-16 although this is limited to mobile releases.

Ha!

The whole "TurboGrafx" vs "TurboGrafx-16" is interesting.

jlued686 · 02/15/2018, 12:40 PM

Out today: Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Gate of Doom.

QuoteGate of Doom a is classic multiplayer action RPG for one to two players. Originally release in 1990, and a noted classic arcade title from the 90s.

TheClash603 · 02/15/2018, 06:46 PM

Quote from: KingDrool on 02/15/2018, 12:40 PMOut today: Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Gate of Doom.

QuoteGate of Doom a is classic multiplayer action RPG for one to two players. Originally release in 1990, and a noted classic arcade title from the 90s.

Am I the only one that thinks is fucking bizarre?

Also, I've never played this game and it wasn't in any of the many arcades I used to frequent. Is it just dumb luck, or are they using the term "classic" too liberally here?

ParanoiaDragon · 02/16/2018, 02:18 AM

Quote from: TheClash603 on 02/15/2018, 06:46 PM
Quote from: KingDrool on 02/15/2018, 12:40 PMOut today: Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Gate of Doom.

QuoteGate of Doom a is classic multiplayer action RPG for one to two players. Originally release in 1990, and a noted classic arcade title from the 90s.
Am I the only one that thinks is fucking bizarre?

Also, I've never played this game and it wasn't in any of the many arcades I used to frequent. Is it just dumb luck, or are they using the term "classic" too liberally here?

It's not just you. This is.......surrea perhapsl? Very strange. As for the game, I didn't know it existed till today, so I don't think I ever saw it in arcades BITD.

Psycho Punch · 02/16/2018, 03:47 AM

I'll only buy old data east arcade games from Tubbs if he confirms whether or not the shiny Duo is real.

jlued686 · 02/16/2018, 09:49 AM

I downloaded the game yesterday and played it for a bit. I'm pretty sure I've played this before on MAME. It's a really well-done port of a pretty shit game. I don't care for it, at least. It's an isometric adventure game, with a Dungeons & Dragons arcade vibe, but it's just not very fun. And the sound effects are garbage.

The intro screen is hilarious, though. It's got the Johnny Turbo logo and (I assume) Brandsetter's voice saying, "Johnny Turbo Presents..." From there, they've got lots of settings (RGB, HD, S-Video, Composite, 4:3, Stretch, etc.), which is nice to see. It's a two-player game, and you can select one of four characters.

The game is alright, I guess. It just didn't feel right to me.

jlued686 · 03/15/2018, 12:53 PM

Okay, this is pretty hilarious:

QuoteThe promo art for the Switch port of Bad Dudes on http://Nintendo.com is probably the most amateurish thing I've ever seen. It's literally just sprite edits from fighting games (such as Double Dragon '95, Art of Fighting 2 and KOF) and pretty obvious ones at that.

I can understand not having access to the original art assets for such an old game (especially one from a defunct company like DECO), but it's not like there aren't scans of the arcade flyers and boxarts online. Or better yet, just use a screenshot from the actual game.

So, for context, Johnny Turbo's next game on Switch is a port of Bad Dudes. For the promo art on Nintendo.com, his company took pixel art from other games and slapped it on the banner. Check it out:

Promo art:

Actual games:

EDIT: Oh holy shit. I just noticed that the semi and the city background were both totally photoshopped in there. Genius.

CrackTiger · 03/15/2018, 04:16 PM

Johnny Turbo was obviously a joke poking fun at TTi guys. Johnathan Brandstetter is genuinely ruining his actual reputation all on his own.

exodus · 03/16/2018, 03:45 PM

it's worse - he took the promo image from someone on deviant art who copied those sprites. I think it's fair game to do that as a deviant art fan - but to steal stuff which is stolen, that takes some real guts!

https://tonatello.deviantart.com/art/Bad-Dudes-vs-Dragon-Ninja-213761281

jlued686 · 04/26/2018, 01:47 PM

Next up from Johnny Turbo: Sly Spy.

QuoteSecret Agent: Use your jetpack and the golden gun and save the world from Evil.

It is the year 199X, Secret Agent Sly must protect the U.S. from a nuclear missile attack from the terrorist organization CWD (Council for World Domination). Play an arcade classic! Secret Agent: Use your jetpack and the golden gun and save the world from Evil.

Platform Nintendo Switch
Release Date May 03, 2018
No. of Players 1 player

It's a shame, I'm not seeing any jacked up photoshop fuckery on this page.