It's a really good feeling to visit Universal Studios Hollywood and hang out at City Walk cuz right in the heart of it all is Gamestop. It's been a while since I went to City Walk and you can imagine my happiness when I saw their flashing neon sign loaded with famous video game characters and among them Crash Bandicoot of course. Wanted to share this with all the many Crash fans who visit my blog.
20 comments:
Always that overused Twinsanity render.
Why it's so popular?
I don't care about the design but I'm sure happy that Crash is included with a bunch of other great characters.
Hey Charles, when you visited Universal Hollywood, did you see the Crash costume dancing along with Woody Woodpecker and Fivel Mousekevitz entertaing tourist who wonder the park?
I saw a video about that costume dancing with other characters. A little strange that they have the old costume but never actually thought about doing something with the character other than videogames. Even the horrible Bubsy had a cartoon!
Charles why don't you create something like a comic about Crash and show it to Universal? Maybe they will like it and produce an entire series.
Pat, I didn't see the costumed characters walking around. I think they're at the tour which is a different area than City Walk. There's three characters in costume at Universal that I created / designed and am attached to. Crash, Spyro and Fievel.
Gabriele, if I create a Crash comic for Universal they couldn't do anything about it. I'd have to take it to Activision. Probably the path would involve licensing the rights to Crash in order to produce and market the comic and it's a complex process. I'm working on a comic for my own project that's taking up most of my time. I'd rather work on that as I don't need to get approval to do something with my own concepts. Maybe down the line something can be worked out for Crash. For the time being it makes more sense to put my energy into my own projects.
I was thinking about it because Activision don't care about the character so they won't spend money on a new game, maybe if you explain to them how loved the character is and how the costs for a comic are much lower than the one of a game(I think) they MAYBE will allow you to do something. But that's only an idea. ;)
I have no connections or experience with Activision and wouldn't know where to start within the organization. I'm not enthusiastic about dealing with big corporations. I avoid them when I can. If Activision can't see the forest for the trees when it comes to the popularity of Crash I doubt if what I say or do will convince them.
This is something ND or Sony or Universal should be doing. They should be talking to Activision. This is what happens when you sell out. You no longer have control.
For what I know Sony tryed to talk to Activision for Crash in PlayStation All- Stars Battle Royale. Omar Kendall (Superbot Entertaiment) said that "nothing is free". So I guess Activision asked too much money. The same happened for the movie Wreck-It Ralph, Disney wanted to insert the game Call of Duty but the price was too high so they created a parody called Hero of Duty.
Hey Charles!It's nice to see you are back near your old "Work" lol. I have to ask; can you give me info on the Animated adaption of "A Christmas Carol" you worked on? It is very rare, as I can't find much info on it except for your IMDB credits. And apparently Fox animation was the studio that made it.
Do you also think that you could show us some rare Spyro concepts that you probably haven't shown yet (maybe after you get all of the Crash & Jak ones out of the way.) I also believe you are my #1 favorite animator, as you created some of the best Gaming icons, and are still very supportive to the Crash fanbase! (Honestly way better than ND's support, as they think the "true" fans should hate every Crash game after CTR.)
Charles, continuing the conversation in the Coco post, it's good that you reveal all what happened when you were working in Naughthy Dog on Crash, so we can understand why you are annoyed with the people of ND and why you don't want to work with them again. I'd also feel like you if ND don't give my the rigths credits for my work, if they don't give me my space and distort the facts. Your reaction is fair and understandable.
But things are now different from the time you were working in ND during the 90's. Jason and Andy are not longer in ND and probaly the majority of the people who you worked it in the 4 games of Crash, are not longer there neither. And also the company is now owned by Sony. Sony is a very serious and profeessional company, I don't think they well treat like the people of ND treat you in that time, I don't think that they hide or distort the real roll that you had in desinging and creating the chareacters. Sony will respect you and will give the rights credits for your work and all the necesarry to work whit your own capacity. So that's why I don't think that it wouldn't be bad if you and Joe Parson go back to ND to work in a new Crash game and make look Crash and all the characters like originally were, because now Sony have the control and it's very sure that the work and experience will be totally different. At least I think so.
Hi Jacob. Thanks for your comments and for checking in. I appreciate the good word.
A Christmas Carol was produced through DIC. Originally I think it was for CBS TV. I was developing a series of direct to video concepts. Somehow this one went forward. I have some development art from the project which I'll post. There wasn't much but whatever I have I'll dig up and feature here. I'm pretty sure it was in 1996 or 1997 that I did the work.
As far as Spyro goes, most if not all that I have I've already featured online. Will see if there's anything else I missed. I did a very small amount of work on Spyro 2 in 1998. I'll try and find it.
As far as the former owners of ND goes I don't know what they're saying or doing concerning Crash. It's natural for them to feel strongly about the post CTR games.
In fairness to ND they did do a few things when we were associated that I appreciate. Got some special gifts from them every once in a while that made me feel like I was part of the team but all of that ended after J&D.
Also when I was working with Vicarious Visions they informed me of some not so nice stuff that went down after CTR. I'll refrain from describing it online but it wasn't very sporting of those guys.
David there's nothing that Joe and I or the current ND or even Sony can do to get something new going with Crash. It's up to Activision. They own him. Only they can do it.
If there's a way to convince Activision to get another Crash game in the works I think the best thing to do would be for all the Crash fans the world over to get together and start flooding Activision with emails. Not just signing the Bring Back Bandicoot petition but being way more pro-active. Find an email address for Activsion and start email campaigns targeted directly at the company.
You fans have more power and influence that I do individually or even Sony. Think about it. Don't you think it would be a good idea to send hundreds of individual emails from fans across the planet earth to Activision every day calling for a new Crash game?
You guys have the real power to influence things. Why not put it to good use and start sending emails to Activision calling for a new Crash Bandicoot game.
Well for me I have conflicted ideas: in one hand I would like to see a new game, but in the other hand I fear that he could be a low budjet game with lots of stuff cut out and rushed at the last minute like Crash Twinsanity or The Wrath of Cortex, or a game that changes everything except the names of the characters like Crash Of The Titans. We should sent mails with your and Joe's names on it for the perfect Crash Bandicoot 4.
Hey Charles, who came up with Aku Aku's name? Was it your conception or Joe Pearson's idea?
Pat - I don't know who came with with the name Aku Aku. It might've been Joe or someone within ND. Wasn't me. Joe was dealing with ND in a different way than I was. He was writing Willy the Wombat so names would've naturally been an area that he was involved in.
Gabriele if you and other Crash fans want to include my name in emails to Activision feel free. I'm sure Joe would be open to that as well.
The important thing is that fans start communicating with Activision directly. Don't worry about what the game will turn out to look like. Would you rather have a game that wasn't exactly what you wanted or no game at all?
When you send your emails to Activision be sure to include that you would like to see a return to Bandicoot's roots. Tell them you're partial to the classic Crash. That way at least they'll know how you feel.
Think about what I'm saying guys. Take the initiative and communicate with Activision. When they get a continuous stream of email asking for a new Crash game maybe they'll listen and take this seriously.
If everyone that signed the petition will do it they will notice for sure that we are a lot of fans and we want a new game with the right ammount of time, money and number of people. I think that everyone would love to see a game that continue the evolution of the series in the style of Crash Bandicoot 2/Crash Bandicoot 3 but in free-roaming like Jak and Daxter!
Charles, I know that it's up to Activision to make a new Crash game, but what I was saying in the earlier comment is describing you that how the situation would be, accordin to me, in case ND, or rather Sony, buys and onws Crash again. It would be better for Crash is he gets back to his original owner, they know how to use Crash and make a new game, because like you said, the people of Activision have no idea what Crash means, how important is and how much potential Crash has. The executives of Activision see the finger when the wise points to the moon. It's been almost five years since they released the last game and since they didn't do nothing. They left Crash dropped in the basement. While Activision owns Crash, there will no be future for him. Unless they shake themselves and know what Crash really worths and make a new game according to his greatness, like the first 3 games of the ND era. And this is why you and if it's possible, Joe should be involved.
Here's what you can do. Organize an email list. Go to http://mailchimp.com. It's a free email newsletter service. You can have 2000 email addresses per account for free and send 12,000 emails a month for free per account. This way Crash fans can start to organize with mass communication. That's one option.
Fans need to organize and take action. Don't leave it to me and Joe cuz nothing will be accomplished. Activision will not be persuaded to produce another Crash game if it's just me and him trying to convince them. Only fans can do it. You're the ones they'll ultimately listen to if you can organize and make a concerted and ongoing effort to communicate that you'll buy a new Crash game if they make one.
What do you think about this idea:
A new game with low budjet and in 2d dowloadable from the PlayStation Network. The art style should be similar to this: http://www.compranoerisparmi.it/immagini-prodotti/rayman-origins-wii-screenshot-1.jpg. You draw the character, enemies, bosses etc. Joe Draws backgrounds and levels, Andy Gavin programm it, Josh Mancell compose the music and Brendan O' Brien make the voices for all the characters. What if we sent this idea to Activision?
Gabriele - Great idea! Count me in.
Great :D
I hope that we can convince Activision, even if it's very very difficult.
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