Awesome Possum: Tengen's Failed Mascot
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 พ.ค. 2024
- In 1993, Tengen wanted their own Mario or Sonic. They created Awesome Possum. On the surface, it's nothing special. But behind the game is a story about climate change, possums, and a ridiculous lawsuit.
CHAPTERS
00:00 - Introduction
01:14 - Awesome Possum
14:21 - The Not-So-Awesome Lawsuit
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#AwesomePossum #GamingHistorian #SEGA - เกม
Did I really make a 20 minute video on Awesome Possum? Yes, I did! I promise you the story is way more interesting than you think. Stay safe, everyone!
Gaming Historian you too! can you also look at more videos about the gameboy (color, light, pocket, advance, advance SP and micro)? like it doesn’t matter what it is just make it about the gameboy, that would be awesome thanks!
Yes
Dang it
Yah yeah YEAH!
@Bryant Barth everyone know the history of playstation tho
Man Awesome Possum's phrase "I'm gonna clean up this world yet" sound like he will go full Thanos if he has the chance
Four snaps ought to do it... Five for good measure.
Kinda sounds like hulk Hogan "I'm gonna clean this world up yet brother"
He honestly should.
I would read that manga
Well Doug Lawrence a.k.a Mr. Lawrence did the voice
Atari Games/Tengen gets taken to court...
Is there a time when Tengen wasn’t fighting it out in a courtroom??
To be fair his arcade ports on the NES and genesis were very good.
At least they won the lawsuit this time around since the attacker had no solid evident that they may had stole their comic idea. Seriously, that lawsuit was so dumb...
THey were a bit of a cheeky company
i just find it funny that its ATARI that started making unlicensed games, considering they fought the battle against that themselves after refusing to credit programers
@@Slash0mega Yeah, Atari are probably the worse culprits for this considering what they tried to do over the years.
I'm surprised you didn't show the ending! It actually has Awesome Possum kick Dr Machino's butt, for once no false advertising in the title!
Well At Least Its A Lil Reward For All The Gamers Who Had To Play And Go Through Awesome Possum.
Did he kick him off a cliff?
@@hilariousskullnamedcatzo647 nah, he just sends Dr. Machino blasting off like Team Rocket
@@benitosierrajr3958 more satisfying
That’s pretty epic, the game may not be great and it’s a shame it didn’t turn out better, but I love how he actually kicks his butt at the end. They really didn’t falsely advertise at all. I feel like an environmentally conscious but cool mascot genuinely is a good idea, I think if would be fascinating to see an alternative take on this game with a brighter more comic-themed art style, and improved code with less slowdown. If Awesome Possum was less annoying and slightly cooler and had more charm, like Sonic does, I think this could’ve been great. Imagine if you could see the game’s levels become more polluted and dark as you go through it then see things get better in a prologue level after beating Dr. Machino.
WOW. 6:24 The fact that you had an interview segment about the actual animal itself is SO AMAZING!!!
Totally agreed!
Dude is super high quality
The goofy, wide-eyed stare of American opossums always make me crack up.
Especially since their blind I'm told.
@@ChristopherSobieniak nah they aren't blind. They just can't see super well.
@@TheUnluckyEverydude Thanks. We had one once in our backyard a couple years back.
But what about the deranged stare of an Australian possum?
its kinda cute isnt it?
I mean... There is a game with a mascot that heads a Resistance against a scientist polluting and transforming his native environment for profit and power through automatives processes.
It's Sonic.
And Sonic did a better job inspiring hope, but you know how environmental PSAs go. Dr. Suess' The Lorax is a big example of this: It was banned because it blasted controversey, the movie had ironic advertising, and people crushed hard on the mogul "The Onceler", setting the stage for Tumblr's downfall.
barely sorta. There are some themes of that in the first 3 games, but they never really focused on that.
@@yeetleslaw8529 it's the central conflict of the entire series
Well, the 3D-games is not about environment, I think..their stories are all over the place, I think the games before 06 is about peace and pacifism though (especially Sonic battle, which is a bit ironic).
It's Ecco the Dolphin
I love how this became a nature documentary with interviews from local biologists and actual footage 7:00
That's the moment I hit the thumbs up button. Every GH video is excellent for a multitude of reasons but that felt next level!
@@logicaldojo1901 That's 7 minutes 15 seconds later than I hit it.
would like to know the name of the organisation
@@ze90s Lakeside Nature Center in Kansas City, MO
@@TehVulpez thank you very much!
"I'm awesome!"
Well, we know one thing......Awesome Possum wasn't humble.
Sounds like that loser Elliott Rodger..
Talking about humble... It's one game about bobcat that shake ass on start screen. XD
lmao
It exemplifies the common worldsaving do-gooder attitude.
Might have to do with the whole advertising approach for the agenda which is reminiscent of the MMO concept of telling everybody they are a hero ... (for making the corporation profit).
@Nobody comments are not funny you troglodyte Of course you have to believe it is not real. Your inferiority complex got triggered, that is why you perceive it as obnoxious.
If you are still a teenager, you have a good chance of growing out of it.
“The first design of Awesome Possum was a North American possum... But the character wasn’t exactly cute, and looked too vicious.”
*could somebody please show me where the North American possum presented in the video looked vicious*
i think the meant the drawn character, not the real animal. the fault of a artist.
What are y'all talking about? The real animal scared the heck out of me. Those beady eyes are the ingredients of "don't mess with me".
Yeah probably because the face is angular it might have looked more vicious as when rendered as an anthropomorphic character while the ringtail does have a cute face and with bigger ears.
The actual American possum is a lot mode Vicious looking when scared or angry when they hiss or bare their teeth they are very unfriendly looking . The demeanor of an animal can mean a massive difference in how threatening they look. Case in point wolves can look majestic and can represent the untamed beauty in nature but when angry have been used to represent all of man’s worst fears of the unknown (big bad wolf and werewolf mythology)
Girly Glorious 😂
I remember playing this game as a kid and being super excited about the fact that character talks a lot. To me this was the first time when i had an experience with voice in videogames (there was EarthWormJim but it had only few phrases, seeing character talking with voice just like in cartoons was cool at that time).
However even as a kid i didn't like the art style that much. The style of the game could have been a little more polished.
For example the comic book version looks great. If they kept that bright simplified style and not the muddy mess that we got, the game would get more praise even with that terrible level design (i beat that game as a kid but my god that water level...how i hated going through it...i was just rushing through those late levels without caring about the game itself)
Game was also killed by oil indusrty. At the time anywayz.....
Yeah! I had it too. I live in Russia and in the 90s the coolest console you could get was the Megadrive or the SNES. My father (he's the sailor) got me a japansese Megadrive in 1995 with the three games which were Sonic & Knuckles, Awesome Possum and Virtua Racing))))) That voice in AP got me hooked and I played all the shit of it! Questions were the pain in that Japanese though!)))) Funny to think now of how my father got it bought in japan)) Like "Is it discounted?? Well, then I want it and the best 3 games please!"))))))))
Something that isn't a muddy game on the Mega Drive? Well, you'd have to export to Japan where they knew how to do that. It was already doomed from the start since TenGen was a western operation.
Too bubsy talking
I like the interview you did with an animal expert. Never would've thought there would be any need for a video game, but it works (such as the bit about playing possum). These in-depth documentaries are so fun and informative to watch! Very well done!
Robin Williams's agent: "he's not interested in video games"
Robin Williams: *names daughter Zelda*
what the agent meant was 'I'm not interested in him being in video games'
I mean, he was probably busy with Aladdin at the time Atari called.
And the only videogame he ever voiced... was an edutainment PC software about Aladdin.
@@ultimateman1234 The cachet of Robin Williams in 1993 would had been bigger than the game's entire budget :)
aka "He's only interested in good video games."
This was so wholesome! Glad you made such an extensive video about this weird lil game. The possum lady interview was so good 100/10
7:33 "After watching the movie 'Godzilla,' he wondered what it would be like if an ordinary animal was given extraordinary abilities."
We now need a game starring a kaiju possum.
I'd play it
Links to said game?
@@ricky-sanchez Watch "Crispin Glover "Clowny Clown Clown"" on TH-cam
th-cam.com/video/AtOXxH6KVX4/w-d-xo.html this should do.
You point a gun at Posszilla and it just rolls over dead.
@@Chadius haaa haaaa. Love it.
The only Genesis game starring an opossum that matters is Rocket Knight Adventures.
I love Rocket Knight Adventures. It's such a polished game, one of the few from a 3rd party publisher that matched that Sonic or Mario level of polish. And I love the spin off game Pop'n Twinbee Rainbow bell Adventure. Plays just like Rocket Knight but with a cutesy look to it, and it's quite a bit easier. Sparkster for SNES is great too. Sparkster for Genesis though, is no match for the original Rocket Knight game or Rainbow Bell
It also got released for the Super Nintendo as Sparkster the opossum and it got a remake for the PS3 and Xbox 360. Sadly it didn't get the love and attention it deserves and it's very unlikely Konami will ever use their armored marsupial because of how shamefully greedy they have been.
@@elmono6299 I'd bet half the executives that work there now don't even know what a rocket knight adventures is.
Agreed
@@elmono6299 Just "Sparkster" and a different game so far. I mean a lot of people thinks its same game and it is completely wrong.
This is so strange! I was in a low mood so I decided to watch some Gaming Historian to calm my nerves (I hadn't done so in quite a while). Once I was finished with Punch-Out you posted this... and it felt so crazy. Thank you, brother!
Ok... Holy Shit... I'm also from Clarks-Summit, PA area... WTF Haha
I'd love to see you do a video on the PS1 title Intelligent Qube and it's little known history. It's an amazing game with some big names attached to it's development.
Ralph Sandwich Perrrrfect idea. One of my favorites of all time.
What about Irritating Stick
Yes yes yes! I would LOVE an Intelligent Qube episode!
@MultiTarded well, considering your name it's not the game for you.
(It's "MultiTarded" in case he changes it later future readers)
@MultiTarded Calm your tits.
In my world, I classify my TH-cam feed into two categories: "junkfood for the eyes" and "food for the brain". This channel is the latter.
There is a lot of junk food for the brain on YT.
How about Food Wishes?
The PBS style end credits are a nice touch.
6:07 Tengen predicted sonic ocs
First Sonic OC
Im a animal science student and I grew up with more Sonic, and I found it really touching with this info of Awesome Possum. Even though video games and agriculture/biology dont really go together at least its nice to see people’s intentions of making the world a better place
I've always thought this show is one that deserves a series on Netflix or something. It's always very professionally done. Great and interesting video!
So Netflix can get full control over what is created and then is canceled after one season? Idk why people think creators who get millions of views need to sabotage themselves.
Dear lord the framerate is giving me motion sickness.
"the most straight-ahead kinetic experience on the Genesis since the original Sonic the Hedgehog"
@@amisner2k How much blow did he do with Tengen sales reps that weekend?
@@phattjohnson That's what I want to know as well.
@@phattjohnson You mean how hard did he blow the tengen sales rep that weekend...
I think it's because he was playing the game on an emulator called 'Kega Fusion' which on Windows 8 and above runs at a poor frame rate.
I rented this game around 95 for a week and it was a difficult but rewarding time. I've just never met very many people who remember it , I seemed to be one of the few genesis owners in my circles
my first thought:
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?
Aside from the constant, lame wisecracks, Bubsy was a pretty decent game. My brother and I both enjoyed it growing up.
@@scramblesthedeathdealer a decent game...at causing tons of frustration from it's confusing level design, continuous annoying quips, a very poor system where Bubsy is trying too hard to be both Mario and Sonic while being unique, and no extra cool cheats that can at least make the game fun sometimes.
You enjoy what you enjoy, but we think it's one of the worst games ever made.
@@autistichades5552 Let me specify that we did not *own* Bubsy, merely enjoyed the memories we had of the rust-colored smart ass.
I will probably end up purchasing a copy of Bubsy just for shits and giggles, but I have to be careful while modifying a replacement Genesis plastic case to fit this special-shaped cat turd.
@@scramblesthedeathdealer ah I see, good to see you are left unscarred.
HHAAHHHH, SCARRED...GET IT!!! Kill me
"I'm Awesome!"
I think a blue hedgehog says otherwise.
And a jetpack-toting possum too.
I'll give him this: His title jingle is catchy.
jfc why did I read this as "his tits jiggle" kill me
Aaawesome possum!! Kicks Dr.Machino's buuutt!! 🎶
Nostalgia focuses so much on the positive stuff sometimes we forget there was stuff like this back then, too. lol
Shitty games have always been around in large amounts; we just tend to forget them and only remember the good ones.
In other words, there was more positive stuff back then.
@@MileyCyrusPartyUSA no there were thousands of shitty games back. The ones we all remember we're the good ones.
Consoles usually have 75% shit games, 15% good, 10% great.
@Sour Puss You mean GRID?
The fact that possums look so derpy and cross eyed all the time, like they're the 'special' one in the marsupial family is adorable, at least to someone not from the North American continent
I actuaLLY really like how The Gaming Historian ends with the Brought to you by Message similiar to the WNED thing I grew up with.
Did you live in western New York? That’s where WNED is broadcasted and I remember it as well
@@mike_pogo No I grew up in the GTA right across from Buffalo where WNED was broadcasted and they had offices in Toronto as well,
The animation in Awesome Possum reminds me of when I was a lazy animation student and I would run my animations at double speed so it looked like I drew more frames than I actually did. In practice it just looked ungodly choppy
I think he's using an emulator called 'Kega Fusion' which on Windows 8 and above it runs at a poor frame rate.
@@supakusuta nope, that's the game's actual framerate. It goes up and down like that.
It is speculated that Awesome Possum was written in (very unoptimized) C compiled to the M68000.
@@luisjogos821 1st part, I have known some time after this comment. It runs like this on different emulators and on a real Mega Drive.
2nd, that's what I thought. The game running on unoptimised C code.
@@supakusuta yeah. The dev team probably saw a opportunity for efficiency (since C is higher-level than a 68000 assembler), but not optimizing it was a big L for this game.
6:20 hey I'm thankful to this lady for all these good information about the animal. I wasn't expecting this in video game content, but the job is definitely all-around. Well done!
Norman makes such great mini documentaries. So informed and well researched. This channel is absolute gold and deserves wayyy more subs.
I feel bad for the dude who never got to publish his book.
Possums pretend to be dead, salivate, and produce a foul smelling fluid... all the game mechanics you could ever want.
Sounds like me after a night of partying.
sounds like me when i have to actually do stuff at work.
“Awesome Possum” - most popular appetizer at Roadkill Chili’s.
Yum
😂😂
Optional Sides: Salad or red beans and rice with minced with roadkill deer.
I remember seeing a full-size 'Roadkill Cafe' menu. It was hilarious.
@@infinitecanadian bomb ass steak.
Thank you for the true effort you put into these videos.
The in-person interview, artists renderings, VO in previous episodes, etc.
You're one of the best on the platform.
Thank you for such great content!
5:18 dude, this was pretty much a jumpscare
No joke
This is a surprisingly wholesome story.
With that opening music I seriously got nervous Norm was going to start with a "hey guys." These are weird times indeed.
This channel is like the PBS of gaming. Professional, high quality, and engaging. Amazing work as always!!
I think you have one of the best, if not the best, gaming history channels on TH-cam. I’m always anticipated for the next video you released. I have literally run out of content to watch on your channel is how much I enjoy watching. Also seeing the level of work you put I and to see how your channel has evolved over the years. I wish there was faster content releases, but also understand that would dilute the quality of content that you release. Keep it coming gaming historian. Can’t wait for the next one.
Great video Norman..love learning about games even those that weren’t too popular...so many games I would to see you make a video on but I also respect the process necessary to deliver that quality content 👍🏼
A cherry blossom,
that gets eaten by a possum,
isn't that awesome.
*_Snorts_* Dude! xD
The second line has 8 syllables
@123phi123 I know. It's taken from AVGN's 'Ninja Gaiden Outtakes' video.
Very profesional, Mr Historian. With each episode, it just keeps getting slicker and more polished.
I’m always delighted to see a new video from you, I swear they get better with each upload! I love that you included information about the animal itself, the interview was a brilliant and welcome inclusion! Thank you for taking the time to so thoroughly cover gaming history in such an engaging way. These videos really reflect how much work you put into your content!
When you did the mascot roll call at 5:33 , i was kinda disappointed that there was no mention of Apollo the Cheetah Man from the game The Cheetahmen by Active Enterprises for their hit multigame cartridge Action 52.
Even though I like all your episodes, this is the best kind! The ones that focus on the behind the scenes stuff and the factors from outside of the video game inudstry! Great job mr Caruso!
What’s the name of the music starting at 17:53?
Yet another amazing video! Great work!! Love watching these and talking about it in my local retro game stores. I always tell them to check you out!
Gosh, Gaming Historian, I genuinely hope your smooth, professional and elegant style of video-making becomes more normal. You're 10 notches above most videos, and at least 5 notches above most other video essays
Consistently one of the top TH-cam creators. Always well researched ,high-quality videos!
This game was only ever a vague reference to me; just something I had heard about from being alive and being a gamer during the time of its release. So yeah, always fun and interesting to get the story behind something that would otherwise just be a small blip in the vast world of video games. Thanks for the video!
Also, I know your redesigned logo and overall color scheme has been around for quite a few videos now, but I have to say how much I like it. Suits the channel and content well!
Absolutely amazing video, as always. You were able to turn something as mundane as a second rate mascot platformer from the 90's into a wholesome story with real emotion and spirit. Norm, you're really a treasure.
Great video as always! Your production quality just keeps getting better and better!
Great video, I especially liked the interview with the rescue worker. Kind of surprised to hear the North American possum was rejected, the one you got footage of was a cute little bugger.
I do think it's maybe a bit of a reach to say that this game or other environmentally themed media at the time were about climate change. Global warming was just one among many broader issues of natural preservation and sustainability and not the overruling concern it is today. I don't think this game actually makes any references to the climate at all, including in the comic in the instruction manual. I'd be surprised to hear this specifically led anyone to wanting to be a climate scientist.
Sonic also, in his own way, had a more subtle pro-environmental position in its premise: A hedgehog restores nature from an industrialist who wanted to convert everything to machines. Sonic CD shows nature & technology in cooperation, but it's still a game in favor of reducing the pace of every-increasing industrialization at the cost of nature.
Another quality video and worth the wait as always. Not the story I think anyone would have expected behind Awesome Possum. Thanks Norm, hope you're staying safe :D
Those drawings look stunning!
The Garfield phone and that coffee mug the PA guy was holding evokes some strong nostalgia from me.
I can’t tell whether he says “I’m Awesome!” Or “I’m Possum!” on the title screen
"I'm Awesome!".
I need to know the music in the end credit!!!
Same here
trippnonice131 I Shazam-ed it, but it wasn’t recognized. Anyone figure this out?
It's a good groove. I'd also love to know the song/artist name.
Sounds like porn music
Seems that the song was a remixed/edited version of another song called Lonely Moon by Yton Color
10:51 the Sound Effect was used in Sonic Spinball when defeating badniks
The footage you are able to track down for your videos never ceases to me. Excellent content.
Dude, I saw a video of yours of my favorite device ever, the GameGear, yesterday and was in love with this new channel that was recommended. When I looked carefully, the video was from nearly 10 years ago! Damn man, new subscriber here- and your quality has been A 1 since Day 1- good shit!
"It's considered one of the best games on the Genesis."
Shows video of Sparkster tripping balls while swinging upside down.
That Garfield Phone was too much, haha!
love the passion you put in every video or project. Thanks, hope this get as many views as deserves
Hey I’m here pretty early! Also I remember this awesome possum game as a kid growing up.
Ok that possum you saw irl was super cute and cross eyed. The possums I see irl that run under my car tires do NOT look that cute. They look like serial killers on drugs
Of course they used the word "Butt" in the title. It was the early 90's, and the word "butt" finally crossed that taboo and was deemed okay for use in kid's programming. It was the fart joke of its day. Easiest way to get a laugh out of your fellow school kids was to say "butt." Watch a cartoon from that era, especially Animaniacs or Ren and Stimpy. Hell, there was that weird episode of Tiny Toons that had characters with big butts in it.
AS far as the lawsuit goes, the name "Awesome Possum" should be absolutely obvious. Wasn't that Bonkers's catchphrase?
I know it's probably not the same thing, but there is a cartoon from the 90's that was called "Pit Possum, Super Dynamic Possum of Tomorrow" that featured a possum who would save his forest city Superman style(and other superheroes were spoofed as well, he does have a superhero car like Batman). One of the bad guys is a French-Canadian lumberjack. I dunno, the similarities are there. Worth a check if you haven't seen an episode. It was funny shit back in the day.
Great to have a new video from you during this time of being stuck in the house. You do great work!
Love your work Norm. Great video.
New content from TGH during tough times? Heck yes. Thank you so much for this.
I love the art style always used in these stories! Keep up the great work!
It's interesting you bring this to light, cause I've seen things claiming the ozone is already healing because of the circumstances as of late. And I find is super hard to believe, when this was a problem all the way back in the day. Great vid as always btw
Great video, this is really some of the best content on youtube.
Your documentaries are just amazing. Always make me feel great.
A really well done video! Your production values are even better than usual, too, and the possum was adorable.
Amazing job once again Norm! That song at the intro and the credits, that’s a great beat. What was it? Anyways, take care and keep up this amazing work!
I saw this game on Vinesauce streams. Noticing the deforestation equipment that Possum smashes, I had a sneaking suspicion regarding the game's environmental message. Even then, Sonic CD conveyed the message a bit better.
Agreed! Driving the point of environmental destruction home with bad futures and the ominous, insanely catchy music accompanying the stages was a fantastic way to drive the point home. Night and day from the constant stream of highly irritating synthesized speech that Awesome Possum had to offer.
Ironic, isn't it? ;)
I think I heard about this game a while ago but don't remember much. This video was really good. Always learn something new with your videos. Also I thought the character from Rocketknight Adventures was a dog this whole time
Is that a ‘knock-off’ Ziggy mug at 16:48? Lol love it!
The fact that you even interviewed someone to give information about possums! Awesome video :)
Before I watch the video I want to say thank you gaming historian.
Your videos are some of the most well made and we'll put together videos on youtube.
No matter how long it takes I'll be in every video if I can.
Thank you so much for all your contributions to the community.
I'm willing to bet that this isn't the most ridiculous lawsuit ever filed by somebody from Clarks Summit. There's some weird people with too much time and money up there.
Your videos are just so.... nostalgic. I love them! Thank you.
The quality of your videos continues to increase with every one! Keep it up
Dang, being reminded of the term "Greenhouse Effect" takes me back. Haven't heard of it in so many years, probably decades even. It's still relevant too, we just keep renaming it.
We ? Think about it, who did and with what intent?
Anti environmental agencies killed the term off in 2000.
0:25 actually it mimicked the success of Bubsy.
Yea. Such achievement. It don't even need a 3d game to die out.
Great episode as always, Norm.
Question, what's that music you played during the credits? It was nice.
Thank you for informing me on this great little story, and shedding light on a game not as well known. You did a good job gathering all the info you presented.
Super-well-researched and presented, and I'm glad you contextualized WHY early-90s US pop-culture began to focus on environmental issues.
Really love the rebranding. The colors are so warm and inviting. Now I have a slightly better understanding for Awesome Possum.
So happy you are back Norm! Your videos have amazing production quality and information! Love it and keep them coming!!
Gaming Historian one of my favourite
Channels 👍
Good to see another video!
That Ziggy coffee cup was quality!!
Also, a Garfield phone made me chuckle.
The 90s were filled with game mascots that tried to capitalize on the success of sonic & mario, & they were forgettable.
Yet we did got some good mascots that were memorable.
I was thinking about this in my mind.
Like Crash or Spyro. Then you get the ones we remember for how blatant they were, like Gex or Bubsy. But there is definitely the “forgotten for good reason” category as you described.
@@lh757
Though im not born in the 90s myself & i haven't played these games (the exception crash bandicoot cause i played it on an emulator), i agree that both crash & spyro are pretty good.
Their are also some forgotten games in the 90s that i heard are considered decent.
I think Vectorman would be a good Sega mascot, given how good the game is and how cool he looks. Still dreaming of a new Vectorman game…
Once again amazing video man. I love your videos and look forward to your next upload. Hope all is well with you and your family, stay safe and keep up the good work
Fantastic video! Your videos are always so detailed. I love watching these videos.