Talk:Ohga Shrugs

I noticed that most of the alternate histories around here are politically or militarily based or inspired. Now, there's nothing wrong with that, but I was surprised by how few, say, technological or cultural alternate histories there are, and not just on this wiki. I thought that something like this, though of a much lesser scale than some other alternates, could be interesting to make.

Are there any other cultural and/or technological alternate histories I should know about? I'm a bit new at this, so I need all the help I can get. Thanks!--Salnax (talk) 23:28, December 11, 2012 (UTC)

Hi! Yeah, I would say most people feel more comfortable commenting on political actions rather than creative ones. I guess that's down to personal interests. Although there are a few out there that start talking about music and films once they've sort of laid the groundwork of what kind of world it is.

Anyway... good job so far! Good luck! Yan Hoek (talk) 09:36, December 12, 2012 (UTC)

Yeah, that's always been a bit of a problem within the genre. Political/Military changes tend to be easier for people to follow, and more interesting in many ways.

Culture and Technology changes..... Hmmm.... I know that we do indeed have a few around here. Have to think a bit on that one. Though, if memory serves, the authors of the better ones aren't around anymore. A few other ones with political PoDs, namely Napoleon's World, have very extensive info on such matters.

Send me a note in a couple days, I'll get back to you on it.

Lordganon (talk) 09:40, December 12, 2012 (UTC)

There's What if Sonic the Hedgehog began in 1929?, No Nintendo, No Star Trek, and Captain Pike on Star Trek for some other technology/culture.

Anyway, in this time-line, what happened to the Xbox? -Kogasa 2012年12月12日 18:54:59 (JST)


 * Thanks for the timelines! I'll read them ASAP!


 * As for what happened to the Xbox, in real life, the Xbox brand was largely made to counter Sony. Microsoft saw Sony's PlayStation as a possible threat for control of the general electronics market, since it had the capacity to act as a CD player and the PS2 would be able to play DVDs. Microsoft made the original Xbox to protect their flank and compete with Sony on their own terms. Plus, the PlayStation was drawing developers away from PC game development.


 * Without the original PlayStation, in other words, the Xbox had no reason to exist. Multimedia functionality in consoles would have progressed at a much slower and more limited rate and more developers would have stuck by the PC. Sony was responsible for the creation of the Xbox!


 * And that's reason # 937 I love video game history.--Salnax (talk) 20:09, December 13, 2012 (UTC)

Yeah, those are probably the only ones of any note. You can find more in the ASB Technology category, as well as hints in the Technology category to more, but there really isn't many of them, with regards to technology.

Cultural.... the biggest ones that come to mind have to do with gay rights, and the Beatles. There's also several Elvis ones hanging around, though those do tend to be centered around him eventually becoming/running for the Presidency. And there is also one on Pink Floyd that has some good aspects to it. The names of these, however, really escape me right now. Should be searchable, I'd imagine.

There's also a cultural topics category that you may find more in.

Lordganon (talk) 10:26, December 14, 2012 (UTC)

A video that might help
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bDbj4j1ylE and also does Oddworld Inhabitants exist in this timeline? (because I wouldn't be suprised if it didn't)

Ah yes, The Game Overthinker. Watching his videos helped get me more interested in video game culture and history, and I guess he was in part indirectly responsible for the creation of this timeline.

As for Oddworld Inhabitants, there's a good chance they don't exist, and practically no chance that they released any of their games for consoles. Without a console entry in the series, I doubt the series would have more than one or two entries. Personally, I haven't given Oddworld much thought, if only because, despite the praise, the games weren't that important or influential.--Salnax (talk) 00:48, December 19, 2012 (UTC)

Panasonic M2
Have you ever heard of the Panasonic M2. It was an unreleased gaming console that should have come out around 1998. It was cancel because Panasonic didn’t want to compete with the PlayStation. Perhaps you may want to incorporate into your timeline. I also suggest that you research the     Apple Pippin, PC-FX, Amiga CD32, Zeebo,L600, Neo-Geo ,and the ApeXtreme.Goldwind1 (talk) 01:58, December 19, 2012 (UTC)

Great catch! The Panasonic M2 may very well have been released in this timeline, likely in 1998. However, if the original 3DO was any indicator, it would have met a quick death or, at best, a quick slide into irrelevance. It would likely have cost FAR more than its competition and would have had little support, especially exclusive support. Still, it might be worth mentioning.

As for the other systems you mentioned:
 * The Pippin would have failed if it were the only console on the market
 * The PC-FX has poor technology for gaming, with worse 2D and 3D capabilities than the Saturn.
 * The Amiga was killed by Commodore's bankruptcy more than fierce competition.
 * The Zeebo is worth investigating, and possibly incorporating into the new seventh generation.
 * The L600 was as likely as not always going to be vaporware. I doubt a smaller market would have encouraged its existence.
 * The Neo Geo series was always meant to be niche products, although it is worth mentioning them.
 * The ApeXtreme was an even worse idea than the Pippin.

Still, there is room in this timeline for the M2, Neo Geo, and Zeebo. This calls for more research!

I'll give you some more message about the 'other consoles' who failed in OTL and how will fared in OTL.

The Several other console were already mentioned(Pippin, PC-FX,etc), the last one i can give some reason.

The M2 born as an add-on for the already dead 3DO and when try to make game for arcade the system proves to be very buggy and unreliable, the same Panansonic abandon they idea of a console and make the alliance for being the optical provider of Nintendo, who still happen here with the Gamecube.

Neo Geo was a Niche product for Arcade ports of the same SNK-Neo Geo, who they have very good tallent and skills was pretty nice but doesn't have the resources for a frontline wars like Nintendo,SEGA have in this timeline.

Zeebo was a 'third world alternative' for gaming, thanks to the high cost of the Xbox 360 and PS3 and the little availabilty of the wii in the first years, but again will be difficult to sucess for this own limited market(Brazil mostly) and lack of frontilne franchise.

Several console have pretty good histories, but again, unless you have good tradition of development(Nintendo, Sega until it ran out of money) or billons of money(Sony,Microsoft), the fate were already in motion. User:KNMC

Silicon Knight's Fate?
Well, After reading a big investigation about the very controversial Canandian Video Game Developer Silicon Knigths, http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=503761. Better know for his short time as Nintendo Second Party and the games during like this time, like the Critical Acclaimed and Cult Hit Eternal Darkness and the very well made and critical well recived but fan base divisided remake of Metal Gear Solid Remake for the Gamecube, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes.

What will happent to those guys in this world? maybe here they will still screwed over Blood Omen Rights? or maybe they will work with other company than Crystal Dinamics(like SEGA or Early Relationship with Nintendo), or will still going to his OTL fate thanks to his Primma Donna Director Dennis Dyack?.

From what I know of Silicon Knights, it was doomed to destroy itself, and is lucky it has lasted as long as it has. Quite frankly, any developer that spends over a decade making a single title is dysfunctional. The fact that they've released a couple of good games is overshadowed by the fact that they've always needed help.

Even if Silicon Knights stuck with Nintendo in this timeline for a while, they would have more likely than not have shifted to PC development when the 7th generation consoles turned out not to be behemoths like our timeline's PS3/360.

Honestly, I can imagine them self-destructing by the end of the 90's in this timeline. If the PlayStation didn't exist, Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain would have been a lesser success, even if a Saturn version were made. With this lack of success, they;d move back to the PC market, where they'd work on Too Human until committing suicide.--Salnax (talk) 04:39, December 19, 2012 (UTC)

Yes those men were dooomed, that is the History of dead men walking, well that show both the best and worst side of the videogame industry, how talent,creativy and hardwork can make people going into the sky and how hubris and not knowledge of the industry can kill you. thanks for the answer, was pretty nice to share opinions.

Handheld game player market
I don’t think that Nintendo would have a handheld game player monopoly if the PSP was never came out. For instants if the PSP was never released then the Game Park XGP may have   been released. Perhaps instead of going bankrupt   in 2007, Game Park would have been bought out by Sega to severe as it’s portable gaming division. Or may Sega would have bought out SNK for the Neo Geo Pocket Power instead. Also no PSP may mean that Namco Bandai would have keep producing the wonder swan. Also the unreleased Panasonic Jungle portable online gaming system may have been released. Also do you think that Sharp Samsung, or Toshiba would have enter the gaming market if Sony didn’t.

Game Park would probably have gone into bankruptcy in 2007 regardless of whether there was a PSP or not. Sega could try buying SNK for Neo Geo portables, but considering Sega's general weakness on the handhelds in our timeline, both while a first and third party, it is unlikely that this would have led to any success. Without Square's refusal to make games for Nintendo systems like the Game Boy series, the WonderSwan line would have been worse off, and considering how we have Gunpei Yokoi never going against Nintendo, may never even have existed. The Panasonic Jungle was essentially a laptop in different clothing rather than a gaming handheld. And by the time the handheld gaming market got big enough for them to matter, the other big Sony-like tech companies would likely have invested their money into mobile hardware like cell phones rather than gaming devices. Besides, the games industry would have a reputation as being an inhospitable land for any non-dedicated companies, at least until the iOS revolution.

In my mind, handheld gaming, though a wonderful thing, would have likely never taken off without Nintendo's support. Nobody else has ever really done a good job at it.--Salnax (talk) 17:25, December 19, 2012 (UTC)

Origins of Console Names

 * Revolution - Code name for Wii
 * Stream - Speculative name for Wii U
 * Nitro - Code name for DS
 * Pluto - based on the fact that it was one of the planet code names never used
 * Eclipse - Based on a 2011 April Fools' Day joke on a defunct website

In case you were wondering.--Salnax (talk) 19:06, December 20, 2012 (UTC)

Consoles Hoaxes
I have read about several gaming consoles hoaxes. The home console hoaxes included the Apple I Play and MITSUBISHI VR-C3 Game Console. The portable hoaxes include the Apple I Game and the Samsung HD3 .Without the PlayStation do think that at least one of these hoaxes would have become real.

Goldwind1 (talk) 14:16, December 21, 2012 (UTC)

Apple already tried to enter the console market once in both real life and in this timeline. It was called the Pippin, and it is considered one of the greatest failures of video gaming in the 90's. Combined with Apple's traditional focus not including gaming, I doubt they'd try to make a dedicated gaming machine again. That said, I expect that their iOS devices would become popular game-playing machines, much like in our timeline.

As for Mitsubishi, to my knowledge they have never had a big enough tech division to consider entering the console market.--Salnax (talk) 18:57, December 21, 2012 (UTC)



Working Designs
Working Designs was a game publisher known for helping to introducing America to RPGs. They did not publish games for Nintendo because they refused to use cartridges. Thus they did a lot publishing for the Saturn. When Victor Ireland the president of Working Designs asked to publish Arc the Lad, Bernie Stolar the president of SCEA rudely refused Victor’s offer. So working designs decided to stick publish games for the Saturn. Thus when Stolar became president of OTL Sega America, Working Designs had to start publishing for the PlayStation. I wonder want would have happen to Working Designs in the Oghra Shrugs World after Stoler tooks over Sega.

Goldwind1 (talk) 00:05, December 23, 2012 (UTC) talk) 23:12, December 22, 2012 (UTC)

Another Interesting Question, again who say Stolar would be with SEGA without his name thanks to Sony of America? he would be still with Mattel or Unemployent during the 90's, and Dreamcast Sucess was thanks to SEGA of Japan Marketing Budget. but still the SEGA of America Leadership will be wary of launch any non-SEGA RPG(Shining Title are safe for that, hopefully).

Let's make that Working Desing didn't manage to get licenses in USA, that leave Nintendo, who have Square with him thanks to Special Oversized Cartidge for their RPG... maybe Working Desings will  offer as a translator for Square in exchange of Support?

Or the company will goes bankrupt early for not accept the cartidge of Nintendo 64 and Game Boy/Color/Advance?

I need a little more info, Salnax your turn.

(For me they goes with Nintendo for a while, Helping Both Square and other niche RPG)

KNMC (talk) 03:12, December 23, 2012 (UTC)

Bernie Stolar would probably not ever obtain a position of power in Sega. However, I still can imagine Sega of America having some similar positions to him, to a lesser extent. After all, the best way to advertise the Saturn's superiority to the SNES would be 3D and real time games. Still, I'd imagine Working Designs would find it easier to get games onto the Saturn, and would not necessarily die young. In that case, they'd be running at 80% of real life capacity on the Saturn and Dreamcast instead of the PS and PS2.--Salnax (talk) 05:26, December 23, 2012 (UTC)

Big Rain Studios
Big Rain was founded by former Square Soft employee Ted Woolsey. It was bought out by Crave Entertainment in 1997.Crave renamed Big Rain Crarveyard .The studios only product was a game for the PlayStation called Shadow Madness. It was praised for its storyline but was panned for its Graphics. Big also worked   on a N64DD Game called Project Cario but it was cancalled because N64DD wasn’t selling well. What do you think would have to Big Rain Ohga Shurgs.Goldwind1 (talk) 00:27, December 27, 2012 (UTC)

Umm, Another Niche studio with a former big name, those are my opinion, can or cannot be canon if Salnax say otherwise.

For me that Studio still will be Doomed, if the make the game, that would still be an 'american final fantasy' for saturn and still will flop, here nintendo have collaboration with Square(note: the special cartidge who use Square are based of what the N64DD was to be, for me the 64DD never passed as a proposal mostly because a butterffly make Genyo Takeda remember that increasing the  Cartidge Size and modifing the pins can increase the capacity), Project Cairo will never pass as other proposal, because Nintendo here have Square in a second-party esque exclusivity deal for a while.

Wait for Salnax, for me Ted Woosley will still be remember for bad translations. KNMC (talk) 01:04, December 27, 2012 (UTC)

I don't think Big Rain/Crave would ever be a big studio, but one could make an argument for them surviving in this timeline. As one of the few notable RPGs for the Saturn in the West, it could have had enough of a following to at least continue as a company. Crave could go on to be one of the few notable RPG developers for Sega systems, filling in a niche.

Goldwind, I guess what I'm saying is, if you want to write a history where these guys succeed, be my guest. I'll help out, and together we can make them a thing. Besides, what alternate history is complete without an obscure entity rising to the occasion?--Salnax (talk) 02:45, December 27, 2012 (UTC)

What happened to the Triforce? and F-ZERO & StarFox GCN?
Hello, sorry for not posting or editing so far, I'm being busy with my family in the vacation and at the next thing,Playing F-Zero GX in a Wii who was loanded to me, and the game is amazing, simple SEGA and Amusement Vision surpass EAD and Miyamoto in that regard(except music, that is recycled Jet Set Radio Music Vocaless).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Sega_arcade_system_boards#Triforce

But talking abou that, the Triforce arcade board(Nintendo,SEGA and later Namco joint venture) who was the reason of F-ZERO AX/GX, will not happen here or Namco will be the one to make that venture, witha  third company(Konami,Capcom, Tecmo,Taito,SNK)?

And what will be of F-Zero and Starfox game for the gamecube, without SEGA and Amusement Vision, that game is butterfly away, and I butterfly Starfox Adventures(because the feud between Nintendo and Rare by Microsoft never happen here and the game was released as the NEW IP whar Rare Wants) but will Starfox Assault happen here? maybe with the Arcade(Starfox Armada) happen in this world?

That is big question, i'm playing F-ZERO alittle more before finishing both Square, Enix and maybe start level-5 articles. KNMC (talk) 20:33, January 3, 2013 (UTC)

Game Overthinker
I don't think it should exist in this timeline, because Hard Truth, Bob created it so he could complain about "hardcore" gamers, which wouldn't be as influential in this timeline thanks to a lack of Xbox Truteal (talk) 00:52, January 15, 2013 (UTC)

I don't remember that show ever being mentioned in this timeline, but even then, so what? Bob sounds like the kind of person who would have made a show regardless of the gaming climate. Maybe he'd focus more on retro games in this timeline, or lament the lack of innovation that would be even more prevalent than in OTL.--Salnax (talk) 20:24, January 15, 2013 (UTC)