Mascots:An Explosive Start

Throughout the history of video gaming, companies have created numerous characters. However, some characters act as a symbol, representing all that a company is. They are known as mascots.

In the year of 1985 video game company Hudson Soft developed an explosive game, and a nuclear series. All because of Hudson Soft's, intuitive and patient video game developing skills. His name is Bomberman.

I.Who is Bomberman?
The original Bomberman is a robot forced to work at a bomb factory. He is the best bomb maker there. Bomberman starts growing bored of making bombs in a factory day in and day out. He hears a rumor that any Bomberman that makes it from the underground factory gets a wish. Bomberman, desperate to escape his job, sets out on a journey to the surface and to turn Bombermen into human Bombermen, using his wish. The only thing standing in his way is the factory security guards who will do anything to keep the factory working.

II. Bomberman through the years.
Generation one
In 1983, the original Bomberman, also known as the white bomber, is the common Bomberman that is seen in many of the games. He is white with blue areas on his armor.

Games featuring Generation one Bomberman:
Bomberman 1983
Special Bomberman 1984
Bomberman II 1991
Dynablaster 1986

Generation two
In japan, it was 1990. The Turbographix-16 was only 2 years old, and Bomberman, received a make-over. Bomberman now had depth, as well as more vibrant colors to represent him. This design created a sort of animated persona.

Games featuring generation two Bomberman:
Bomberman (TG-16) 1990
Bomberman '93 1992
Mega Bomberman 1993
Super Bomberman 1993
Super Bomberman 2 1994
Super Bomberman 3 1995
Super Bomberman 4 1996

Generation Three
Bomberman already seemed to be animated. But in the year 1996, his upgrade animation gave him some unique appearance traits. Such as his eyes being bigger than his head, the spherical balls on his hands, as well as a kick-butt personality.

Games featuring generation three Bomberman:
Saturn Bomberman 1996
Saturn Bomberman Fight!! 1997
Atomic Bomberman 1997
Neo Bomberman 1997
Bomberman 64 1997
Bomberman World 1998
Bomberman Hero 1998
Bomberman 64 :The second attack 1999
Bomberman Party Edition 1998
Bomberman 64 2001
Super Bomberman 5 1997
Bomberman Quest 1998
Bomberman Max 1997

Generation 4
The final Bomberman design was figured in 2002, showing a slimmer Bomberman all while keeping his trademark symbols.

Games featuring generation four Bomberman:
Bomberman Generation 2002
Bomberman Jetters 2002
Bomberman Bakufuusentai Bombermen 2006
Bomberman (PSP) 2006
Bomberman Act Zero 2006
Bomberman Live 2007
Bomberman (DS) 2005
Bomberman Blast 2008
Gachapin☆Bomberman ????
Bomberman Online 2001
Online Bomberman 2004
Net de Bomberman ????
Bomberman Online Japan 2008
Bomberman Tournament 2001
Bomberman Story DS 2007
Bomberman Max 2 2002
Bomberman Land 2000
Bomberman Land 2 2003
Bomberman Land 3 2005
Bomberman Land Touch! 2006
Bomberman Land (Wii) 2007
Bomberman Land Touch! 2 2007
Bomberman Land (PSP) 2007

Some of you may interpret this list as insanley long, and you might be thinking that's such a successful game list!
Well your wrong! During the times of Bomberman, the video game developers abused his image and created a multitude of games. However, you would not believe me if I told you that the company behind this Konami.
That's right! Hudson Soft is a subsidiary of Konami, which is a surprise to most people that I tell.

III. Company Interpretations of Bomberman (Development)
A.) Hudson Soft:
Hudson Soft is a subsidiary of Konami. They also are responsible for the creation of Bomberman. Hudson soft started the franchise with Bomberman (1983), on the MSX. This game was ported to other systems of course, such as the NES. Hudson Soft which I will now refer to as HS, was tight on Bomberman's licensing, as most Bomberman games created were developed by HS. As the Turbographix-16 was introduced, a new Bomberman game was being created. In 1990, the remade version of Bomberman was released on the Turbographix-16. Bomberman games were starting to become very popular on every system, and by 2000, 15 Bomberman titles were released. Despite the tough licensing rules, in 1997 HS allowed Interplay Entertainment to develop a Bomberman game. This game was known as Atomic Bomberman and it was the first original Bomberman game to be developed for Windows. Even though the Nintendo 64 was a success world-wide. The sunset of Nintendo 64 games in Japan, was the remake of Bomberman 64, a Japanese exclusive, released in 2001. Bomberman took the main series online with Bomberman Live on the Xbox Live Arcade. Even though it is a remake, it remains similar to the arcade style of the original Bomberman. Up until 2004, HS had not worked along side any other company, that is until HS agreed to help develop Online Bomberman with MGAME Corporation in 2004. The second partnership was with Racjin, the company known for releasing the final Nintendo 64 game in Japan. HS worked with them to create Bomberman Land on the Wii in 2007. HS continued to rule the series by releasing countless numbers of sequels. Most of these however, didn't cross the ocean to America. I spoke earlier of the strict licensing rules, but to Jaleco, a video game company, finding a loophole was easy. For in 1988, they released Robowarrior. This was a blatant rip-off of Bomberman.

B.) Interplay Entertainment:
Interplay Entertainment is well known for the PC game Baldur's Gate, and more commonly known for Clayfighters. They were allowed by HS to develop Atomic Bomberman, a game not widely known by the American Community.

C.) Racjin:

Racjin developed,with the permission of HS, Bomberman 64 (2001), the last Nintendo 64 game to be released in Japan. They made a return after a long term hiatus to develop another Japanese exclusive PS2 Bomberman game by the name of Bomberman Land 2, as well as 3.

D.) Backbone Entertainment:
Backbone Entertainement developed Bomberman Live, the first main series Bomberman game to be on the internet, on the Xbox Live Arcade. They are known for Sonic Rivals, as well as Death Jr.

E. Hudson Soft/ MGAME Corporation:
Although alot is know about Hudson Soft, little to nothing is known about the Japanese video game corporation MGAME. The jump to a partnered game release was with Online Bomberman (2004).

F. Shockwave Entertainment:
Shockwave Entertainment is not to be confused with Adobe's Shockwave. This company is a Japanese exclusive company that helped in the creation of Bomberman Online Japan.

G.) Hudson Soft/Racjin:
The two companies focused on continuing the Bomberman Land series by creating Bomberman Land on the Wii (2007).

IV. Repeated elements found in Bomberman games:

-The structure, which was mostly a maze.
-The Bird's eye perspective, or more commonly known as the 2D perspective point.
-Bomberman, of course the protagonist.
-The Black Bomber, and the most popular antagonist.
-Bombs! The weapon of choice for our armored friend.
-Japanese sequels and releases. Over 18 Japanese exclusive,games.

8 PC Games
27 Console Games
12 Handheld Console Games
1 Xbox Live Arcade Game

V. Closing

In closing, I would like to point out that quantity doesn't affect quality when making a game. Unless of course that game kicks butt. Bomberman still holds his throne as Mascot of Hudson Soft.

Peace.

Ruston