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Good god, LJN still exists?!

 
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Kitsune
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Joined: 20 Nov 2003
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 5:33 pm    Post subject: Good god, LJN still exists?! Reply with quote

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15112&item=3064081055

Jesus! I though that Acclaim had 'retired' this fake brand during the SNES days! I had no clue that Acclaim brought it back to publish Dreamcast games...

Why? WHYYYYYYYYYY?!

Seriously, why? I thought the 'X number of games per year' rule that Nintendo had imposed didn't apply anymore, and that other companies [Sega] didn't have that rule either.
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Ichiban Crush
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 7:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I actually heard LJN was still around in name. Weren't they originally a company that had nothing to do with video games, but rather a toy manufactorer under Universial? Seems I remember they carried the Karate Kid line of action figures back in 80's well before I heard of Acclaim.
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Smeg
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 7:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeah, LJN was a toy company before they were associated with Acclaim. They are a seperate entity, not simply a false name designed to work around the old Nintendo publishing restrictions.
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lugnut
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 7:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeah, LJN was a toy company. I have no idea exactly how or when Acclaim acquired them, but I think perhaps the first few LJN NES games may have been done pre-Acclaim. Games like Jaws, Karate Kid and Friday the 13th seem to have been developed in-house by LJN, or perhaps they just didn't bother to credit the developer anywhere. All the later stuff seems to have been developed by Rare or a few of the other companies Acclaim relied on a lot, and is credited as such.
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kap
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2003 1:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Major League Baseball :D
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ClamIAm



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PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2003 1:16 am    Post subject: Heh. Reply with quote

This is odd, in a "blast from the past" (or, perhaps "blast from gaming hell's ass) type of way. Wow. I still have scars.
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Ichiban Crush
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2003 4:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

lugnut wrote:
I have no idea exactly how or when Acclaim acquired them, but I think perhaps the first few LJN NES games may have been done pre-Acclaim.


I'm not sure about the timeline, but I'm almost positive that they were originally owned by Universial that went into mostly video game development at some point. I seem to recall reading about this in Game Over. Basically, Universial wanted to get out of the game biz and sold their game house to Acclaim, who I suppose took the offer not only to have a second "company", but to have at their lucrative franchise deals (as shitty as the movie-licenced games were, they still made money).

I'm not sure what year Acclaim purchased LJN, but it might not have been that early on in the NES' lifespan; Nintendo Power once stated that the first Simpson's game was supposed to be released by LJN, and that was probably in a 1989-1990 (give or take) issue as it was announced at the same time as MegaMan 3 (the game was very delayed).

Had avoiding the X number of games rule been the only reason to buy LJN, Acclaim could have probably saved their money and taken the do-it-yourself route Konami did with Ultra by making their own new label(s), which I guess they did during the 16-bit era with the Flying Edge and Arena monikers on the Sega consoles.

As to why Acclaim used the LJN name for Dreamcast titles, that I have no idea...
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Dobie



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PostPosted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 4:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I must admit... I actually liked an LJN title back in the day on the SNES. Roger Clemen's Baseball. The NES version blows even bigger ass, but I played that SNES version to death.

The computer AI is so stupid that you can pitch a perfect game every time with a simple trick... if your opponent hits the ball, run away from the infield, and at the exact instance the runner breaks for second (or third), throw the ball. The runner will be out every time, and the game will not credit your opponent for a hit (even though real baseball rules say it is one).

Ahh yes. I love Roger Clemen's Baseball.
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kap
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 03, 2004 5:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dobie wrote:
I must admit... I actually liked an LJN title back in the day on the SNES. Roger Clemen's Baseball. The NES version blows even bigger ass, but I played that SNES version to death.

The computer AI is so stupid that you can pitch a perfect game every time with a simple trick... if your opponent hits the ball, run away from the infield, and at the exact instance the runner breaks for second (or third), throw the ball. The runner will be out every time, and the game will not credit your opponent for a hit (even though real baseball rules say it is one).

Ahh yes. I love Roger Clemen's Baseball.


Try out Major League Baseball for the NES, it has the same exact problem, though I can't remember if a hit is credited or not.

The cart I had of the game was the first revision and it had all sorts of fucked up, fascinating bugs as well. Loved the hell out of that game.
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nateJC



Joined: 08 Nov 2003
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 06, 2004 2:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Damn, I almost did a spit take with my coffee when I read this. The eBay auction is dead now, BTW. What game was being posted? I can't seem to find any info on a Dreamcast game by LJN.

Also, LJN started as a subsidiary of Matsushita. Only between 1986-1988 were they owned by MCA/Universal. After 1988, they were owned by Acclaim, as we all know.

Oh, I did find mention of a game much more horrible than whatever Kitsune posted. A Sega CD WWF wrestling game made by LJN called WWF Rage in the Cage. Given those factors (Sega CD, LJN, WWF wrestling), I imagine this has to be the worst game ever made.

-n
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Kitsune
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 06, 2004 9:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Of course the auction is dead. This post was first done SIX MONTHS AGO. :P

The game was Spirit of Speed 1937.
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nateJC



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PostPosted: Mon Jun 07, 2004 1:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Kitsune wrote:
Of course the auction is dead. This post was first done SIX MONTHS AGO. :P

The game was Spirit of Speed 1937.


What, you expect me to LOOK at the DATE on the POST before I write something? Silly rabbit. :P

-n
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