I heard about this on the AllGenGamers podcast as they were talking about the Portland Retro Gaming Expo coming up in October. (web site here: http://retrogamingexpo.com/) A game designer, Mike Mika, did some reprogramming of classic Donkey Kong for his daughter who asked him "How can I play as the girl?". So he moded the game to do just that. There's a great write up by Mike himself at Wired's GameLife site here: http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2013/03/donkey-kong-pauline-hack/.
Additionally, there was a full arcade cabinet done up with original art and everything for the game. It will be playable at Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade and at their setup at Portland's Retro Gaming Expo.
I think it's so cool to do all this. It's something great for his daughter, but it's also something great for women and girls everywhere to have one more female hero starring in a video game.
that's one beautiful cabinet, man.
That purple is fantastic!
The details on this cabinet is crazy. Even the panel is done up with Pauline sprites.
Kind of wish it said "Save Jumpman From" or "Save the Man From" just to be consistent with the original.
"Save the Lady from Donkey Kong" it says. Yea, it should read "Save the Man from Donkey Kong". You're right.
That looks really cool. I'd like to play that and see Pauline heft those big hammers and such.
There's a video of a complete playthrough in that Wired article, and here it is.
That's a really good idea! I wonder if this is the start of redoing classic titles with role reversal or from another character's p.o.v.
That's the first thing I thought of. What other games could be role reversed like this I wonder?
Yea lets see duck hunt you know ducks hunting me lol!!
I realized latter that Pac-Man already did it with Ms. Pac-Man. Going beyond gender reversal though, ducks hunting men would be pretty cool.
That's not a video game, Lee. That's a nightmare brought on by eating too many Halloween Oreos before bedtime.
Ooo Halloween Oreos! Nam nam nam.
Haha! True say!
That is an awesome cabinet I want it lol!!
So apparently Mike Mika's version is the NES one and this guy Clay Cowgill did the arcade version for the cabinet. Here's his gamplay video:
Thats pretty cool hey since they updated youtube I cant get a url how do you get the url??
Just click "share" on youtube and a URL comes up. Paste it in the Insert/Edit Embedded Media button and presto.
Thanks I have been so busy nit knowing lol!!!
So apparently Clay Cowgill, who did the ROM hack as described here: http://groundkontrol.com/2013/05/behind-the-barrels-hacking-donkey-kong-part-1/, is co-ower of Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade in Portland, Oregon. I've been trying to find out who did the arcade cabinet itself, the side art, panels and everything, but I can't see to find out. I guess it's someone at Ground Kontrol or Clay himself, but I'll keep searching.
Well, they might not have done it originally, but looks like you can buy it there soon.
That's a Mighty Boosh. If I may say so.
Why, thanks. I work hard on my boosh.
Whenever I hear that word I think of my all-time favorite TV show, The Mighty Boosh. I just can't resist plugging it one more time. http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/mightyboosh/
Hahaha!
That cabinet is a dream of mine.
That is nice. Hope nintendo don't try to do anything to "shut it down" like they did with trademarking that Donkey Kong phrase and shutting down "Let's Play" videos on youtube.
We can only hope they aren't stupid enough to get in the way of such a good story that also shines a light on one of their properties.