Player Two Start: An SNES-CD Timeline

[Golden Darkness]

Upcoming Lineup Packed With Star Wars Titles

In life, there are only three things that are certain: death, taxes, and new Star Wars video games, and in the year 2000, assuming Y2K doesn't send us back to the Stone Age, we'll have plenty of Star Wars games to keep us busy for ages to come.

Rare's hit game Star Wars: Masters of Juyo finally gets a sequel, but it looks to be arcade-only. Star Wars: Grandmasters is set to release in arcades everywhere during the summer of 2000, and will feature a lineup studded with new characters, including Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul from Star Wars: Episode I. It's likely that if successful, the game will receive a home console port, but we likely won't see it until 2001.

Coming to the Ultra Nintendo next year is Star Wars: Rebel Fighter, a space combat-based game that puts you in the cockpit of an X-Wing, flying some of the most dangerous missions in the galaxy. It promises to faithfully re-enact battles like the classic Death Star trench run, and the graphics look amazing. We should see Rebel Fighter sometime next fall.

The Sega Saturn doesn't feature any new Star Wars games next year, but Lucasarts has let slip that they're developing a future title for the Katana, said to be a third-person lightsaber based action game. Information is scarce, but more info is likely to be revealed at Sega's E3 presentation next spring.

Finally, the PC is playing host to several new Star Wars games, including a new sequel to the classic X-Wing/TIE Fighter series that introduces a brand new class of space fighter and is said to feature some of the biggest aerial battles ever depicted in a video game.

-excerpted from a Gamespot article posted on November 17, 1999

I was about to ask what happened to X-Wing Alliance. That was supposed to be an early '99 release for PC. Hopefully though the X-Wing/Tie Fighter series can get a modernized version.

Rebel Fighter. That's going to be this timeline's Star Wars game from Factor 5, right? Are the X-Wing books/novels not notable enough to use the Rogue Squadron name?

And what of OTL's Dark Forces/Jedi Knight PC shooter series?

And Kamiya's comment on Devil May Cry, wasn't it in OTL derived from a prototype for Resident Evil 4 that was deemed too actiony?

 

[Unknown]

Good update.

For the December update, I would like to see how Polly is adjusting to Stanford...

The handling of the Elian Gonzales situation IOTL was one of the things that led to Gore's losing (or, alternatively, having it stolen from him) Florida.

Y2K is nealy here...

 

[KamuiArchetype]

Gamespot's quote about The Shining Stones was so stupid it made my head spin. Would a real-life reviewer say, "Breath of Fire III is a beautiful, emotional game with outstanding music and a greatly rewarding character progression system. However, Chrono Trigger is still better, so I can only give it a 7 out of 10"?

Actually, no, I can totally see a reviewer doing that.

This gamespot, what you expected? fair and impartial judgement

No offense but gamespot was kotaku of the 90's and for a good reason.

Heh, of course. It's gaming journalism: it's going to take an ASB for it to not be corrupt, inept, incompetent and spineless bandwagoners in general.

 

[RySenkari]

My final guesses are: Chloe Dykstra, Alison Haislip, Lisa Foiles, Felicia Day, or Michelle Trachtenberg. (I would've guessed Lyssa Fielding or Brittany Saldita, but "teenager in '03" ruled them out.)

It's none of those There is an actress who IOTL in high school participated in building robots, she was part of a recent OTL movie where her character was a scientist.

Gamespot's quote about The Shining Stones was so stupid it made my head spin. Would a real-life reviewer say, "Breath of Fire III is a beautiful, emotional game with outstanding music and a greatly rewarding character progression system. However, Chrono Trigger is still better, so I can only give it a 7 out of 10"?

Actually, no, I can totally see a reviewer doing that.

I really need to try harder on those quotes

I was about to ask what happened to X-Wing Alliance. That was supposed to be an early '99 release for PC. Hopefully though the X-Wing/Tie Fighter series can get a modernized version.

Yeah, that 2000 PC release is going to be a butterfly-altered version of X-Wing Alliance (probably won't be called that though).

Rebel Fighter. That's going to be this timeline's Star Wars game from Factor 5, right? Are the X-Wing books/novels not notable enough to use the Rogue Squadron name?

Butterflies killed Rogue Squadron, nothing more, nothing less. Rebel Fighter is Factor 5 and takes pieces from the OTL Rogue games, yes.

And what of OTL's Dark Forces/Jedi Knight PC shooter series?

Mmm, I'll have to address those in a later update.

And Kamiya's comment on Devil May Cry, wasn't it in OTL derived from a prototype for Resident Evil 4 that was deemed too actiony?

Yes, and it still is, however Squad Four: Rebellion is a big influence on it also ITTL. It's actiony Resident Evil by way of Squad Four: Rebellion.

Good update.

For the December update, I would like to see how Polly is adjusting to Stanford...

The handling of the Elian Gonzales situation IOTL was one of the things that led to Gore's losing (or, alternatively, having it stolen from him) Florida.

Y2K is nealy here...

I'll think about addressing Polly in that update depending on how much else I end up touching on. As for Gore, things seem to be lining up for him quite nicely ITTL.

 

[Golden Darkness]

Butterflies killed Rogue Squadron, nothing more, nothing less.

By that you mean the EU material that followed Wedge and his fellow X-Wing pilots post Endor?

Makes you wonder what the Star Wars EU looks like at this point of time. At this time OTL they were starting the New Jedi Order project with the extra-galactic Vong as the threat to the New Republic and Luke's new Jedi order.

How much of the OTL Star Wars EU exists? Given the POD date the Thrawn trilogy novels and the Dark Empire comics are the only ones I know of that should avoid butterflies.

 

[RySenkari]

By that you mean the EU material that followed Wedge and his fellow X-Wing pilots post Endor?

Makes you wonder what the Star Wars EU looks like at this point of time. At this time OTL they were starting the New Jedi Order project with the extra-galactic Vong as the threat to the New Republic and Luke's new Jedi order.

How much of the OTL Star Wars EU exists? Given the POD date the Thrawn trilogy novels and the Dark Empire comics are the only ones I know of that should avoid butterflies.

By that I mean the game, not the comics, I should've clarified

I'm not sure how much of the rest of the EU was affected though. I'm sure it was but I'd need to do a considerable amount of research before being able to say exactly what got removed or added.

It's something that's open for reader contributions if someone would like to offer!

 

[TheAngryMan]

You guys just love hiding devil's in the details, don't you?

...Squad Four: Upheaval in 2003...

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Squad Four: Rebellion is the third game in the Squad Four series, the first and only Squad Four title for the Ultra Nintendo...

Now, admittedly, Upheaval COULD be a Nova title, but I really doubt that the character changes in a portable title would be as damning to the main series as Sarkeesian makes it out to be. Plus, 2003 is about as long as I can see Nintendo putting off a new console with both the Katana and Xbox on the market.

But enough about my speculation, the update was fantastic, as always. I especially loved the Black Friday deals at Best Buy. It made me REALLY want some of these games (That's the main downside of this TL, we can never play the awesome games that come from it )

 

[woweed]

This gamespot, what you expected? fair and impartial judgement

No offense but gamespot was kotaku of the 90's and for a good reason.

Hey, I like Kotaku! Now, Gawker Media, they're a different story but Kotaku? Pretty cool, certainly better then, say, IGN or 1-UP in my book.

 

[HonestAbe1809]

Could it be possible to see a better version (or analogue) of Spirit of Speed 1937? I just think that the concept, being a racing game with vintage cars, has potential. It would be able to stand out from all the other racing games because of it. Just have someone other than Laughin' Joking Numbnuts making it.

 

[James1996]

Could it be possible to see a better version (or analogue) of Spirit of Speed 1937? I just think that the concept, being a racing game with vintage cars, has potential. It would be able to stand out from all the other racing games because of it. Just have someone other than Laughin' Joking Numbnuts making it.

Great idea... but only if someone competent developed the game instead of Laughin' Joking Numbnuts.

 

[Nivek]

Could it be possible to see a better version (or analogue) of Spirit of Speed 1937? I just think that the concept, being a racing game with vintage cars, has potential. It would be able to stand out from all the other racing games because of it. Just have someone other than Laughin' Joking Numbnuts making it.

Great idea... but only if someone competent developed the game instead of Laughin' Joking Numbnuts.

I watch that nerd video too, but LJN i think is too late to saved it( Laughin' Joking Numbnuts was for nothing,Xd) and we need still need crap-kusoge games,xd.

 

[Lavanya Six]

PCGamer: You think on an even playing field, you could've beaten games like Metal Gear Solid and Squad Four: Rebellion?

Levine: We did! Several times, in fact. When they combined the PC and console games into one category, we came out on top more than once. So Junction Point definitely could've done better if more mainstream publications had given it its due. But, you know, eventually Bill Gates did come calling.

-excerpted from an interview in the April 2005 issue of PCGamer

So, belated (remastered) port? Or backing for an alt-BioShock?

Hints of the ATL-Xbox there. Snapping up an underselling critical darling suggests they're either porting every PC game they can get their hands on, or they're cultivating quality PC developers.

 

[Nivek]

So, belated (remastered) port? Or backing for an alt-BioShock?

Hints of the ATL-Xbox there. Snapping up an underselling critical darling suggests they're either porting every PC game they can get their hands on, or they're cultivating quality PC developers.

Maybe the former, maybe the later, maybe a little of both...

 

[RySenkari]

Yeah, we're keeping our Xbox plans close to our chest for a while

 

[HonestAbe1809]

I watch that nerd video too, but LJN i think is too late to saved it( Laughin' Joking Numbnuts was for nothing,Xd) and we need still need crap-kusoge games,xd.

I didn't ask whether or not it was possible to save LJN. I know that ship sailed long ago. I asked whether or not it was possible for someone competant to create a vintage car racing game. It's a good concept given that most focus on contemporary racing cars. Just give it to someone who can make it work.

 

[James1996]

I didn't ask whether or not it was possible to save LJN. I know that ship sailed long ago. I asked whether or not it was possible for someone competant to create a vintage car racing game. It's a good concept given that most focus on contemporary racing cars. Just give it to someone who can make it work.

Yeah, I agree with HonestAbe1809 here a good vintage car racing game would be cool.

 

[RySenkari]

Yeah, I agree with HonestAbe1809 here a good vintage car racing game would be cool.

Apart from Ridge Racer 2 in January, 2000 is lacking in good racing titles for the Sega Saturn. We could add it to the schedule.

 

[James1996]

Apart from Ridge Racer 2 in January, 2000 is lacking in good racing titles for the Sega Saturn. We could add it to the schedule.

Cool.

 

[HonestAbe1809]

Apart from Ridge Racer 2 in January, 2000 is lacking in good racing titles for the Sega Saturn. We could add it to the schedule.

You know what would be cool? If Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was an unlockable Easter egg. It would be incredibly OP, but that can be compensated for by having the unlocking process be difficult.

On a similar note, I would think that a Wacky Races-style racing game could be a good competitor for Mario Kart if designed well.

 

[eldandythedoubter]

Hmm new racing games for the saturn. How bout a little project that deals with "Gotham"? *wink wink*