Kotaku: Earthworm Jim

Weekly Wii Update - Earthworm Jim And Strong Bad, Together At Last

Mike Fahey — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:20:00 MDT

It's a banner week in Nintendo downloadables, with two releases that are so exciting they could only be accompanied by one of Nintendo's little Art Style WiiWare Titles. Poor little Art Style: Rotohex (600 points) is fixing to be completely overshadowed by the third episode of Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, Baddest of the Bands (1,000 points), in which our titular hero attempts to completely dominate the “Battle Royale of the Bands” with his signature style and dashing good looks.

As if another dose of Strong Bad weren't good enough, today marks the day that North Americans finally get our hands on Earthworm Jim for the Sega Genesis (800 points), the best game starring a worm since....Worms. Help Jim save Princess What's-Her-Name from Psy-Crow and Queen Slug-for-a-Butt. See?! It's even fun to type it! It's a fine day to be a Wii owner.

Earthworm Jim Shines On Euro VC

Mike Fahey — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:20:00 MDT

I'm not usually one for posting about the European Wii Shop Channel releases, but this week's offerings have me completely jealous and it's just not fair at all. Today sees the release of two of the best games the Sega Genesis (or Mega Drive, if you prefer) had to offer, and I am going to hold my breath until the come to North America. Not only do you Europeans get the Shiny classic platformer Earthworm Jim, they're also getting Shining Force II, Sega's tactical role-playing gem, possibly the sweet spot in the entire series. Dammit. Both are going for 800 Wii points, and they're both eventually coming here, but still.

And yes, I do own both cartridges for my Genesis, but that's hardly the point. You guys have better food, better women (with notable exceptions!), and better VC games. Next World War we're staying home.

Unless of course we start it.

Wii Shop Channel releases

The first of this week's Virtual Console offerings welcomes back classic '90s gaming hero Earthworm JimTM! Jim was an ordinary earthworm who did very earthworm-like things such as flee from crows and eat dirt. One day, during an outerspace fight, a suit drops to Earth, and falls around Jim. It mutates him into a large and intelligent (at least by earthworm standards) superhero.

Play as Jim in this SEGA MEGA DRIVE classic! When you learn of the evil plans of Psy-Crow and Queen Slug-for-a-Butt, you decide to rescue Princess What's-Her-Name. Run, gun, swing on hooks by your head and launch cows at the interesting characters you meet along the way, such as Major Mucus, Chuck and Fifi, Evil the Cat and Bob the Killer Goldfish. Earthworm JimTM is available now for 800 Wii Points.

Next up this week is the acclaimed strategy role-playing game Shining ForceTM II, also for SEGA MEGA DRIVE. It's a dark and stormy night in the kingdom of Granseal, when a thief steals two jewels from the Tower of the Ancients. He sets in motion strange events that lead to the resurrection of Zeon, the Devil King.

Granseal's king falls sick, the princess is kidnapped and a door to Arc Valley, the Devil King's home, is opened. The young swordsman, Bowie, realising the grave danger Granseal faces, must lead the Shining Force to find the Holy Sword, the stolen jewels, and protect Granseal against the invading armies of Zeon. Shining ForceTM II is available now for 800 Wii Points.

Virtual Console offers users the ultimate retro gaming experience. This week's titles join the list of 252 classic titles already available for Virtual Console in Europe.

New Earthworm Jim Games? And Cartoons? Thanks!

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:20:00 MDT

Aged between, lemme see, around 22-40? Like spacemen and earthworms? Let's dance. Because Douglas TenNapel, the creator of Earthworm Jim, has just signed a deal whereby he'll act as creative consultant on not only a new Earthworm Jim game (Earthworm Jim 4), but also a new animated series and feature film as well. No details on timeframes or anything like that - for the game or cartoons - but publisher Interplay will no doubt have something to say about that come E3.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., April 22, 2008 — Interplay Entertainment Corp. (OTC Bulletin Board: IPLY) announced today that the company signed a partnership arrangement with Earthworm Jim creator Douglas TenNapel to relaunch the videogame icon.
TenNapel will serve as a creative consultant on Earthworm Jim 4, and will simultaneously develop an animated series and feature film to expand the well known brand.

TenNapel created the original Earthworm Jim character, which Interplay developed into a video game with Shiny Studios for the Sega Genesis console in 1994. The game became an immediate hit, and later spawned sequels on various computer and video game platforms, including Earthworm Jim 2, Earthworm Jim 3D, and Earthworm Jim: Menace 2 the Galaxy.

The iconic character became a virtual hero whose popularity took him far beyond video games into TV and toys. An animated Earthworm Jim television series, produced by TenNapel, aired for two seasons from 1995 to 1996, on The Kids WB! with Dan Castellaneta of "The Simpsons" providing the voice for the title character.

Earthworm Jim, Clayfighter Coming To Virtual Console

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:30:00 MDT

I know, you're a little over the Virtual Console. Sure, pleasant surprises like C64 games get your attention now and again, but for the most part, you're done with it. Just...look, give it one more chance, OK? For Interplay's sake. Because, yes, they're releasing some of their classic titles onto the service, including Clayfighter, Boogerman and both Earthworm Jim titles. All four are due "later this year", and if this is a deal-breaker, they'll be the Genesis/Mega Drive versions.
Earthworm Jim, Clayfighter to Virtual Console [1UP]

Interplay Sequelizing Earthworm Jim, Dark Alliance, Descent, MDK

Brian Crecente — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:00:00 MDT

Interplay Entertainment sure is making a come back. Late last year they were talking about securing cash for their proposed Fallout MMO, then they set up a sexy new website and now they're gushing about their 520 percent jump in revenue and churning out sequels.

During their annual earnings report the company said that their net revenue for last year was just over $6 million, with a net income of $5.86 million, most of which came from the sale of the Fallout IP.

The company also went over what they called a two-pronged strategy for 2008. Prong one: Secure loads of money to turn Fallout into a money-printing MMO. Prong two: create sequels, lots of sequels.

At the same time, the company will leverage its portfolio of gaming properties by creating sequels to some of its most successful games, including Earthworm Jim, Dark Alliance, Descent, and MDK.

Interplay says they want to do all of this in-house and is currently on a hiring binge.

Massively Multiplayer Online Game, Sequels Seen as Key to Resurgence

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., April 8, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Interplay Entertainment Corp. (OTC Bulletin Board: IPLY - News) recently announced its earnings for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, and its plan for the company going forward.

Net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2007 were $6,001,000, an increase of 520 percent compared to the same period in 2006.

The Company reported net income of $5.86 million, or $.059 per basic share and $.057 per diluted share, compared to net income of $3.08 million, or $.032 per basic and diluted share, in the same period last year. The net income reported in the twelve-month period of this year was primarily the result of the recording of $5,750,000 in income from recognition of the sale of the "Fallout" intellectual property.

In addition to reporting the annual results, the company also pointed to its two-pronged growth strategy. First, management is working to secure funding for the development of a Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG) based on the popular "Fallout" franchise. Interplay sold "Fallout" in 2007 while obtaining a license back, under certain conditions, to create and develop a "Fallout" MMOG.

At the same time, the company will leverage its portfolio of gaming properties by creating sequels to some of its most successful games, including Earthworm Jim, Dark Alliance, Descent, and MDK.

The company has recently reinitiated its in-house game development studio, and is hiring game developers.

Interplay Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Herve Caen said, "2007 set the foundation for our growth strategy. Going forward, we have the vision, unique intellectual property, and low debt and operational costs to help us pursue financing for our various projects. Our new Website will streamline our ability to communicate development progress with the public, share brand information with the fans and support our customers."

About Interplay

Founded in 1983, Interplay Entertainment is a developer, publisher and licensor of video game software headquartered in Southern California. Interplay is best known for its successful titles in the Role-Playing Game (RPG) genre with hit series like "Fallout" and "Baldur's Gate." The company has produced and licensed titles for many of the most popular interactive entertainment software platforms in the action/arcade, adventure/RPG and strategy/puzzle categories. Its portfolio of well-recognized Intellectual Properties includes Battlechess, Clayfighter, Dark Alliance, Descent, Earthworm Jim, Freespace, Giants, Messiah, MDK, Run Like Hell, Sacrifice and others.

Interplay Readies Sexy New Website

Mike Fahey — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:00:12 MDT

Ahhh, now there is a sight for sore eyes. Up until recently, Interplay.com looked like this. Ugly, right? I wasn't kidding about he sight for sore eyes bit. Now they're getting ready to resurrect their website just as they have resurrected their intellectual property. All of the players are in place too, making my nostalgia gland pump out extra past-tosterone over images of Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, Earthworm Jim, Descent, Fallout, and the awesome MDK coil suit. Oh how I've missed you, Kurt Hectic. That's one damn fine lineup right there. Let's see what they do with it!

Interplay.com [Official Website - Thanks Patrick!]

Earthworm Jim Commercial

fdemarco — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 17:00:00 MST

From the depths of 1994 comes this bizarre Earthworm Jim commercial. It features a kindly grandma telling the story of Earthworm Jim to a surrounding group of Disney-esque cast of cartoon animals. But things quickly sour as grandma goes from kindly to creepy in a manner of a few seconds. Those with weak constitutions or an aversion to old ladies eating worms may want to skip this one.

Foundation 9 Buys Shiny Entertainment, But Not Earthworm

Brian Crecente — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 18:00:33 MDT

Foundation 9 Entertainment, which already owns Backbone, Pipeworks Circle of Confusion, Digital Eclipse and Imagine Engine, just snatched up Shiny Entertainment from Atari.

Shiny Entertainment, creators of the Earthworm Jim franchise, will "co-locate" with The Collective, creators of crap movie knock-off The Da Vinci Code, in 2007.

While F9 managed to wrestle the studio out of Atari's weakening grasp, then didn't get away with the Earthwork Jim IP, which remains firmly in claws of Atari.

"Shiny Entertainment fits well with the current studios of Foundation 9 Entertainment and aligns with our long-term goals for the future," said Jon Goldman, Chairman and CEO. "The studio has tremendous talent and experience working with big Hollywood franchises and will be working with us on a major, as-yet-undisclosed day and date release. The Shiny team will only add to our capabilities and technology base."

What is this, buy-out Monday? Brian Crecente

LOS ANGELES, CA - October 2, 2006 - Foundation 9 Entertainment, the largest
independent game developer in North America, announced today that it acquired
the non-game assets of Shiny Entertainment Studio from Atari, Inc. in an
acquisition funded by Foundation 9's recent investment from Francisco Partners.

"Shiny Entertainment fits well with the current studios of Foundation 9
Entertainment and aligns with our long-term goals for the future," said Jon
Goldman, Chairman and CEO. "The studio has tremendous talent and experience
working with big Hollywood franchises and will be working with us on a major,
as-yet-undisclosed day and date release. The Shiny team will only add to our
capabilities and technology base."

Under the terms of the deal, the Shiny team will remain intact and will
co-locate with The Collective, one of the Foundation 9 studios, in 2007.

Shiny Entertainment was started in 1993 and has shipped eight products including
two games based on The Matrix film franchise. The studio develops for all
platforms and is perhaps best known for its original property, Earthworm Jim
(which remains an Atari property), which debuted on the Sega Genesis and Super
Nintendo in 1994. Shiny was acquired by Atari in 2002.

Shiny will join current F9E studios - The Collective, Backbone Entertainment,
Pipeworks, ImaginEngine and Digital Eclipse - solidifying Foundation 9's
presence as the largest independent developer in North America. The company
develops in all genres for all platforms and age groups, and has shipped more
than 300 titles, including many bestsellers.

The company is currently at work on more than 20 titles, including two new
editions of its original property, Death, Jr., to be published by Konami; Dirty
Harry to be published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment; and Sonic
Rivals to be published by Sega. The company's Backbone studio just recently
shipped MechAssault: Phantom War for the Nintendo DS, published by Majesco
Entertainment.

Hollywood and Gaming = Oil and Water

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 06:22:43 MDT

Hollywood and video games haven't exactly been a match made in heaven. The appropriately titled Hollywood and Games Summit in Los Angeles aims to figure out how to meld these two mediums effectively. (And made loads of money in the process.) What did the pundits have to say?

Keynote Speaker Paul W.S. Anderson, director of the Mortal Kombat and Resident Evil claims that "true synergy is waiting to happen." Why? No clue.

Anderson also claims that games make better movies, "when the games themselves are cinematically influenced." He even stated that appealing to game's fanbase was all about "enhancing and expanding on the original I.P." (read: making it crappy.)

Earthworm Jim creator Dave Perry pointed out how the film and game industry are similiar. "Many of the big successes are developed in California... like World of Warcraft." Clever.

It was noted that small teams can create and find their own publisher or distribute games via Xbox Live Arcade. Such a system is less Hollywood, where it is more difficult for indie works to get picked up.

Games and movies couldn't be more different. One is passively active, while the other is actively active. How do you combine those? To borrow a line from Insert Credit's Tim Rogers: My advice to Hollywood on adapting video games? Don't. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Next-Gen]

Doug Tennapel isn't Bitter, He's Tangy

egauger — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 15:40:00 MDT

Earthworm Jim creator Doug Tennapel is the sort of man I admire, while I simultaneously fear the possibility that I will end up like him. He goes into detail about this duality in a new interview over on Gamasutra.

They're spending so much that now they're making $30 million games. Big business is big business, and I think some of the smaller mom-and-pop shops got closed down or bought out, and again, I think it was kind of because the gamers weren't even in it for the art of gaming. They wanted to sell their company and make big stocks to swell up the company to 70 people and try to unload a bunch of cash.

Just look at his portrait over there. If that is not a man who is deadly talented and pays dearly for it, I dunno who is. Jim is this vague spectre from my childhood, a standout amongst a milling herd of forgettable platformers. What's sad is that so many of these cartoonists end up mushing along at Nickelodeon, pumping art and comedy into properties that are largely ignored, or at least pigeonholed into the "children's entertainment" heading. Eliza Gauger

More on Earthworm Jim for the PSP, art in video games, and an assertive jadedness in the complete interview. [Gamasutra]

Next-Gen Earthworm Jim Plans

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 08:22:21 MDT

The team birthed the original Earthworm Jim is gangbusters to begin work on a new title for next-gen consoles. The team, which includes Shiny Entertainment's Dave Perry, hopes to revive the original's humor and creativity. All hinges on Perry wrangling the title's license from Atari and securing funding. Looks like somebody's counting their consoles before they hatch, huh.

More Here [ComputerandVideogames]