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Earthworm Jim

Earthworm Jim is a series of platform games[1] featuring an earthworm named Jim who wears a robotic suit and battles the forces of evil. The series is noted for its platforming and shooting gameplay, surreal humor, and edgy art style.[2] Four games were released in the series: Earthworm Jim, Earthworm Jim 2, Earthworm Jim 3D, and Earthworm Jim: Menace 2 the Galaxy, with the first game released in 1994. The series had lain dormant for almost a decade before Gameloft remade the original game in HD for PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade in 2010. Interplay announced Earthworm Jim 4 in 2008; little to no information surfaced until May 2019 and August 2020,[3][4][5] and development went dormant once again by January 2023.[6][7]

Earthworm Jim
Genre(s)Platform
Developer(s)Shiny Entertainment
VIS Interactive
Gameloft
David A. Palmer Productions
Publisher(s)Interplay Entertainment (2000–present)
Virgin Interactive
Playmates Interactive (1995–1996)
Crave Entertainment (1999)
Gameloft (2010)
Creator(s)Doug TenNapel
Platform(s)Various
First releaseEarthworm Jim
October 1994 (October 1994)
Latest releaseEarthworm Jim HD
June 9, 2010 (2010-06-09)

History edit

Earthworm Jim edit

Playmates Toys, finding success with the license for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, wanted to start their own franchise.[8] Inspired by the success of the Sonic the Hedgehog series with Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, they decided that they wanted to start the franchise as a video game, a rare approach at the time.[8] From there, the game's design actually started with creator Doug TenNapel's simple sketch of an earthworm that he presented to Shiny Entertainment.[9] Impressed, David Perry and the rest of Shiny bought the rights to Earthworm Jim from TenNapel, and started developing the game.[9] From there, TenNapel would work on doing the game design, creating level ideas, and voicing Jim's character, while Perry and the other programmers created other characters and game mechanics.[9]

The game's crazy atmosphere, world, and characters were due to the fact that the company had previously always been restricted to doing licensed games, like 7up's Cool Spot, where they had to conform to the other company's preset limitations.[9] In that respect, the game was actually created as a satire of platform video games at the time; for instance, "Princess What's-Her-Name" was a parody of how so many video games had throw-away female characters that exist only to be saved from danger.[9]

The resulting game would be the original Earthworm Jim. The game would play as a 2D sidescrolling platformer with elements of a run and gun game as well. The player controls Jim and must maneuver him through the level while avoiding obstacles and enemies. The player can use Jim's gun as a method of shooting enemies, or his head a whip for whipping enemies. The whip move also allows the player to grab hold of, and swing from, certain hooks in the game. Some levels have additional requirements beyond merely getting to the end of the level. For example, the level "For Pete's Sake" involves making sure the computer-controlled Peter Puppy character gets through the level unharmed, which is accomplished by whipping him to make him jump over pits, and defeating enemies before they can damage him. Failure to do so results in Peter lashing out at Jim, taking health away from him.

The developers also created a wide variety of colorful villains for the game as well, including Psy-Crow, Queen Slug-for-a-Butt, Evil the Cat, Bob the Killer Goldfish, Major Mucus, and Professor Monkey-for-a-Head.

The game was very well-received on both the Genesis and the Super NES. It was awarded Best Genesis Game of 1994 by Electronic Gaming Monthly[10] and was rated the 114th-best game made on a Nintendo System in Nintendo Power's Top 200 Games list.[11] The game was noted for its fluid animation, featuring a hand-drawn style that was unusual for 16-bit releases.[12][13]

A special version of the game, The Great Earthworm Jim Race, was broadcast in 1995 for the Sega Channel. The game featured an increase in difficulty level and a secret room which, when reached by the first 200 players, would display a password and a toll-free telephone number. Those that called the number were awarded special prizes, such as a book and action figures, as part of Jim's shortly-lived toyline from Playmates Toys.[14] Shortly afterwards, the same development team started work on a sequel.

Earthworm Jim 2 edit

The premise of the sequel was largely the same as the original; traverse through the levels in order to save Princess What's-Her-Name and defeat the game's numerous enemies, namely Psy-Crow.[15] While the majority of levels was still based on run and gun and platform game elements, separate levels incorporate different gameplay elements as well.[16] Some levels, such as the opening level, "Anything but Tangerines", and the game's eighth level, "Level Ate", play largely the same as the original Earthworm Jim, with the exception of there being a larger variety of moves at the player's disposal.[17] For instance, there are more types of guns to use once found in a level, such as an auto-aiming gun, or the "brick-wall" gun which takes out every enemy visible on the screen.[17] Additionally, Jim's friend "Snot" travels with him, and can be used to stick and swing to other slimy green surfaces, or as a parachute, upon jumping.[17]

Other levels stray much farther from this formula. In the third level, "The Villi People", the player must guide Jim, defenseless in the disguise of a blind cave salamander, through intestinal passages, while avoiding exploding sheep and hazards embedded in the floor and walls.[16] The latter part of the level suddenly switches to a game show/trivia format, where the player has to answer nonsensical multiple choice questions that commonly have no logically correct answer.[17] Another level, aptly titled "Inflated Head", has Jim's head inflated much like a balloon, and the player must control Jim as he floats upward, avoiding touching sharp objects which cause him to fall back down to the start of the level.[18] Yet another plays as an isometric shooter, with Jim again on his "pocket rocket", where a balloon with a bomb must be directed to the end of the level, and defended from enemies.[16] The last level of the game is not a typical boss fight, but rather, a race against Psy-Crow through an obstacle course, to get to Princess What's-Her-Name.[17]

Earthworm Jim 2 was also well-received on the Genesis and Super NES, with some reviewers such as IGN and GameZone declaring it as better overall than the original.[13][19] The game's humor, innovative gameplay, and "mini-game"-style levels spread throughout the game were also held in high regard as a welcome change from the linear gameplay common at the time,[20] although some reviewers had mixed reactions to some of various different gameplay mechanics.[16]

However, the game was later ported to the more advanced PlayStation and Sega Saturn systems, and those versions were generally criticized more due to not having any significant improvements despite the more powerful hardware.[21]

Earthworm Jim 3D edit

Shortly after the release of Earthworm Jim 2, its original developer, Shiny Entertainment, was bought by Interplay Entertainment, and then put to work on other projects,[22] most notably the PlayStation platformer Wild 9 for three years.[23] Subsequently, the franchise was given to VIS Entertainment, and it was decided that, like many platform game series at the time (Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog et al.), gameplay would transition from 2D to 3D.[22] Although development commenced shortly after Earthworm Jim 2, a lengthy three-year development cycle[22] lent itself to the occasional belief that the project was destined to become vaporware.[24]

Consequently, numerous problems and errors arose from this extended development cycle. One hurdle, early on, was the necessity to redesign the characters from side-scrolling 2D to free-roaming 3D,[25] while the frame rate and animation were still causing issues with game development more than 70% complete.[26] Error-wise, much of the content shown in previews and promotional material was either graphically different or removed from the final game; while the game's final packaging depicts Evil the Cat as the boss of the "Fear" level, Professor Monkey-For-A-Head became the actual in-game level boss.[22] Also, many locations displayed in early versions of the game, such as a level set in a house wherein Jim is ant-sized, are non-existent in the released copy.[citation needed]

Additionally, original series designer David Perry had sold the rights to the franchise. Perry and original series creator Doug TenNapel were at first involved in the game as minor consultants, but were dismissed for unexplained reasons. Both expressed that they hated what was done with Earthworm Jim 3D, but legally could not prevent anything from happening.[27] TenNapel said he felt the series was "ruined" by the game.[9][28]

The game was considered neither a critical nor a commercial success.[29] Many reviews called the game uninspired, mediocre, and unable to compete with several other similar, more highly reviewed platform games at the time, like Super Mario 64, Rayman 2, or Banjo-Kazooie.[22][24][30]

Earthworm Jim: Menace 2 the Galaxy edit

A final, fourth Earthworm Jim game was released shortly after Earthworm Jim 3D in 1999. It was developed neither by the original team, nor the Earthworm Jim 3D team, but by David A. Palmer Productions[31] and published by Crave Entertainment. The game played similarly to the first two games, but gameplay was greatly simplified, concentrating on exploring levels to collect items, rather than the constantly changing gimmicks present in the original two games.[22] Levels typically involved goals such as collecting 100 or more coins to progress through levels,[22] and if the player causes Jim to take too much damage, the player must start the level over again, with zero items collected.[32] The game was poorly-received as well, with reviewers complaining about the tedium of the collecting, and the game lacking the charm and style of the original games.[32][33]

Dormancy and cancelled games edit

The series lay dormant for the first half of the decade. Rumors of a new Earthworm Jim game for the PlayStation Portable started in 2006.[22] Referred to as Earthworm Jim, it was originally believed to be a remake of the original Earthworm Jim due to footage of Jim in a level very reminiscent of the "New Junk City" level from the first game.[22] The game was formally announced at E3 2006 by Atari, who had obtained from Interplay a five-year license of the right to develop Earthworm Jim games for handheld devices.[34] However, the game was reported to still be made by members of the original two titles, Earthworm Jim and Earthworm Jim 2, including Shiny Entertainment founder Dave Perry, Doug TenNapel, Nick Bruty, and Tommy Tallarico.[35] The developers later announced that the game would be mostly new content, with elements of the earlier games included.[22] Past characters to return in the game included Princess What's-Her-Name[36] and Peter Puppy.[36] The game was to retain the gameplay of the original two titles, playing as a 2D sidescrolling platform game with elements of a run and gun, but now with 3D computer graphics.[37] It would be two-dimensional gameplay with three-dimensional graphics, much in the vein of Sonic Rivals or Klonoa: Door to Phantomile.[36][38] Similar to the original two games, the gameplay consisted of maneuvering Jim through levels through running and jumping, and defeating enemies with a machine gun, and by using his head as a whip.[39]

By August 2006, the game was reportedly 80% complete, and many video game journalists had hands-on playable builds of the game, such as GameSpot,[40] GamesRadar,[41] and IGN.[42] It was scheduled for an early 2007 release.[40] However, Atari quietly put the game "on hold" by mid-2007.[43] The game was later reported as cancelled[22][44][45] due to financial troubles.[46] Financial problems at Atari caused it to sell off its internal development studios, including Shiny Entertainment, which it owned at the time, and ultimately to cease development on all of its game projects, including Earthworm Jim, by the end of 2007.[47]

Remakes, re-releases and future edit

Interplay announced an Earthworm Jim 4 in 2008, but little has surfaced since.[48] Series creator Doug TenNapel later denied work on it had ever started in 2010.[49] However, Interplay referred to the game as "still in development" as of May 2011.[50]

While no new, original games were released in the 2000s, the franchise was still used in the last years of the decade. With the trend of games from the 1990s being re-released digitally, the two original Earthworm Jim games were re-released on platforms such as the Wii's Virtual Console, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live.[51] The original was also ported to iOS for play on iPhones as well.

In 2010, a remake of the original game, titled Earthworm Jim HD, was released on PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3, and Xbox Live for Xbox 360. The game was very similar to the original, but had redone, smoothed graphics, and new multiplayer exclusive levels. In 2018 Earthworm Jim HD was removed from PlayStation Network and Xbox Live.

Earthworm Jim is included on the NA/PAL version of the Sega Genesis Mini, which was released on September 19, 2019.[52]

In 2019, a new game was announced as an exclusive release for the Intellivision Amico, stated then as to be developed by the original team from the 1990s; the game was announced to release as a launch title for the Amico in the 2020s.[53][5] In early 2023, video game website Time Extension reached out to members of the development staff for an update on the game; while none outright confirmed its cancellation, Jones stated that he had not done any work beyond initial brainstorming sessions years prior, similar to Perry, who had assumed the game was on hold.[6] This led to their general belief that the game had been cancelled.[7]

In other media edit

Earthworm Jim also starred as a fighter on Interplay's Nintendo 64 title Clay Fighter 63 1/3 in 1997 and the Blockbuster rental title Clay Fighter 63 1/3: Sculptors Cut in 1998. In the original, Jim was a default character, however in the Sculptor's Cut, he was required to be unlocked. Also in the game, he and Boogerman hold a strong rivalry between one another.

A line of Earthworm Jim toys and action figures was released in late 1995.[54] In 1995 Marvel Comics published a 3-issue comic based on the character.[55] In May 2019 Doug TenNapel raised money through Indiegogo to self-publish a new Earthworm Jim graphic novel called Launch the Cow. The comic book successfully raised more than $100,000 in its first 24 hours on Indiegogo and nearly $900,000 over the course of its crowdfunding campaign.[56][57] A crowdfunding campaign for a second new comic book, Earthworm Jim 2: Fight the Fish, was announced in August 2020; this also eclipsed the $100,000 threshold in its first day.[58]

Shiny has also made references to Earthworm Jim in its later titles; their game Sacrifice features an earthwormlike god of earth called James, and there were additional references in the game MDK. Earthworm Jim also appears as a secret character in the first Battle Arena Toshinden game for PC.

Television series edit

Universal Cartoon Studios made an animated series based on the franchise, and it ran for 23 episodes in 2 seasons from 1995 to 1996 on the Kids' WB programming block on The WB Television Network (now merged with UPN to form The CW).[59] The show maintains much of the absurd and surreal humor of the original games, as well as introducing its own features. Most of the episodes revolve around one of Jim's many enemies trying to reclaim the super suit or otherwise cause mayhem throughout the galaxy. Actor Dan Castellaneta, known for voicing various characters on The Simpsons, including its main protagonist, Homer Simpson, voiced Jim in the animated series.[60]

Reception and legacy edit

The original two Earthworm Jim games of the series have been praised for their detailed graphics, well-developed platforming, and wacky humor.[61] The original game was received very well, being rated the 114th best game made on a Nintendo System in Nintendo Power's Top 200 Games list.[11] Earthworm Jim 2 was also received very well. Both were better received than many of the other projects Interplay was working on around the same time, such as Boogerman, which was criticized as being cretinous, disgusting, and patronizing,[62] and Cool Spot, a project Perry and Tallarico worked on, which was criticized for having a "lack of personality".[62]

The music from Earthworm Jim has been praised, with music from Earthworm Jim 2 being included in Game Central's Best of the Best CD compilation of video game music.[63] It has also been requested at concerts where game composer Tommy Tallarico has had his music performed.[64]

The first two games were compiled into a package called Earthworm Jim 1 & 2: The Whole Can 'O Worms for the PC. Next Generation reviewed the package, rating it four stars out of five, and stated that "This is what the PC really needs sometimes – a nice, fast-action game that will distract the player from the more mundane pursuits of word processing or data entry, without requiring the commitment of a huge RPG or strategy title."[65]

Earthworm Jim 3D started a downward trend for the series' popularity, being considered neither a critical nor commercial success,[29][66] with many reviewers claiming the game was uninspired, mediocre, and unable to compete with many other similar, higher reviewed platform games at the time, such as Super Mario 64, Rayman 2, or Banjo-Kazooie.[22][24][30] Earthworm Jim: Menace 2 the Galaxy was even more poorly-received,[66] with reviewers claiming it had lost the charm of what made the originals good, and pretty much "killed the series".[22]

IGN recognized the character Earthworm Jim as a notable animal protagonist in video games.[67]

In July 2020, Megalopolis Toys announced a partnership with Interplay to release a line of 6″ action figures based on the games.[68]

References edit

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  58. ^ ""EARTHWORM JIM 2: Fight the Fish."". Kickstarter.com. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 8 Oct 2020.
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  62. ^ a b "Page 2 - The 13 most hateful video game mascot characters of the '90s". GamesRadar. 2012-06-23. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
  63. ^ IGN Music (2007-06-06). . IGN. Archived from the original on 2007-08-15. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
  64. ^ Svend Joscelyne (2007-10-23). "Interviews// Tommy Tallarico". Spong. Retrieved 2008-04-24.
  65. ^ "Finals". Next Generation. No. 21. Imagine Media. September 1996. p. 154.
  66. ^ a b "GamesRadar+". gamesradar.
  67. ^ News & Features Team (2006-11-17). "Essential Games for the Animal Within". IGN. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  68. ^ "Megalopolis Announces Battletoads, Clay Fighter, and Earthworm Jim, and More Retro Action Figures". The Toyark - News. 2020-07-23. Retrieved 2020-07-26.

External links edit

  • Doug TenNapel the creator of Earthworm Jim
  • Earthworm Jim at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016.

earthworm, other, uses, disambiguation, series, platform, games, featuring, earthworm, named, wears, robotic, suit, battles, forces, evil, series, noted, platforming, shooting, gameplay, surreal, humor, edgy, style, four, games, were, released, series, menace,. For other uses see Earthworm Jim disambiguation Earthworm Jim is a series of platform games 1 featuring an earthworm named Jim who wears a robotic suit and battles the forces of evil The series is noted for its platforming and shooting gameplay surreal humor and edgy art style 2 Four games were released in the series Earthworm Jim Earthworm Jim 2 Earthworm Jim 3D and Earthworm Jim Menace 2 the Galaxy with the first game released in 1994 The series had lain dormant for almost a decade before Gameloft remade the original game in HD for PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade in 2010 Interplay announced Earthworm Jim 4 in 2008 little to no information surfaced until May 2019 and August 2020 3 4 5 and development went dormant once again by January 2023 6 7 Earthworm JimGenre s PlatformDeveloper s Shiny EntertainmentVIS Interactive GameloftDavid A Palmer ProductionsPublisher s Interplay Entertainment 2000 present Virgin InteractivePlaymates Interactive 1995 1996 Crave Entertainment 1999 Gameloft 2010 Creator s Doug TenNapelPlatform s VariousFirst releaseEarthworm JimOctober 1994 October 1994 Latest releaseEarthworm Jim HDJune 9 2010 2010 06 09 Contents 1 History 1 1 Earthworm Jim 1 2 Earthworm Jim 2 1 3 Earthworm Jim 3D 1 4 Earthworm Jim Menace 2 the Galaxy 1 5 Dormancy and cancelled games 1 6 Remakes re releases and future 2 In other media 2 1 Television series 3 Reception and legacy 4 References 5 External linksHistory editEarthworm Jim edit Main article Earthworm Jim video game Playmates Toys finding success with the license for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles wanted to start their own franchise 8 Inspired by the success of the Sonic the Hedgehog series with Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 they decided that they wanted to start the franchise as a video game a rare approach at the time 8 From there the game s design actually started with creator Doug TenNapel s simple sketch of an earthworm that he presented to Shiny Entertainment 9 Impressed David Perry and the rest of Shiny bought the rights to Earthworm Jim from TenNapel and started developing the game 9 From there TenNapel would work on doing the game design creating level ideas and voicing Jim s character while Perry and the other programmers created other characters and game mechanics 9 The game s crazy atmosphere world and characters were due to the fact that the company had previously always been restricted to doing licensed games like 7up s Cool Spot where they had to conform to the other company s preset limitations 9 In that respect the game was actually created as a satire of platform video games at the time for instance Princess What s Her Name was a parody of how so many video games had throw away female characters that exist only to be saved from danger 9 The resulting game would be the original Earthworm Jim The game would play as a 2D sidescrolling platformer with elements of a run and gun game as well The player controls Jim and must maneuver him through the level while avoiding obstacles and enemies The player can use Jim s gun as a method of shooting enemies or his head a whip for whipping enemies The whip move also allows the player to grab hold of and swing from certain hooks in the game Some levels have additional requirements beyond merely getting to the end of the level For example the level For Pete s Sake involves making sure the computer controlled Peter Puppy character gets through the level unharmed which is accomplished by whipping him to make him jump over pits and defeating enemies before they can damage him Failure to do so results in Peter lashing out at Jim taking health away from him The developers also created a wide variety of colorful villains for the game as well including Psy Crow Queen Slug for a Butt Evil the Cat Bob the Killer Goldfish Major Mucus and Professor Monkey for a Head The game was very well received on both the Genesis and the Super NES It was awarded Best Genesis Game of 1994 by Electronic Gaming Monthly 10 and was rated the 114th best game made on a Nintendo System in Nintendo Power s Top 200 Games list 11 The game was noted for its fluid animation featuring a hand drawn style that was unusual for 16 bit releases 12 13 A special version of the game The Great Earthworm Jim Race was broadcast in 1995 for the Sega Channel The game featured an increase in difficulty level and a secret room which when reached by the first 200 players would display a password and a toll free telephone number Those that called the number were awarded special prizes such as a book and action figures as part of Jim s shortly lived toyline from Playmates Toys 14 Shortly afterwards the same development team started work on a sequel Earthworm Jim 2 edit Main article Earthworm Jim 2 The premise of the sequel was largely the same as the original traverse through the levels in order to save Princess What s Her Name and defeat the game s numerous enemies namely Psy Crow 15 While the majority of levels was still based on run and gun and platform game elements separate levels incorporate different gameplay elements as well 16 Some levels such as the opening level Anything but Tangerines and the game s eighth level Level Ate play largely the same as the original Earthworm Jim with the exception of there being a larger variety of moves at the player s disposal 17 For instance there are more types of guns to use once found in a level such as an auto aiming gun or the brick wall gun which takes out every enemy visible on the screen 17 Additionally Jim s friend Snot travels with him and can be used to stick and swing to other slimy green surfaces or as a parachute upon jumping 17 Other levels stray much farther from this formula In the third level The Villi People the player must guide Jim defenseless in the disguise of a blind cave salamander through intestinal passages while avoiding exploding sheep and hazards embedded in the floor and walls 16 The latter part of the level suddenly switches to a game show trivia format where the player has to answer nonsensical multiple choice questions that commonly have no logically correct answer 17 Another level aptly titled Inflated Head has Jim s head inflated much like a balloon and the player must control Jim as he floats upward avoiding touching sharp objects which cause him to fall back down to the start of the level 18 Yet another plays as an isometric shooter with Jim again on his pocket rocket where a balloon with a bomb must be directed to the end of the level and defended from enemies 16 The last level of the game is not a typical boss fight but rather a race against Psy Crow through an obstacle course to get to Princess What s Her Name 17 Earthworm Jim 2 was also well received on the Genesis and Super NES with some reviewers such as IGN and GameZone declaring it as better overall than the original 13 19 The game s humor innovative gameplay and mini game style levels spread throughout the game were also held in high regard as a welcome change from the linear gameplay common at the time 20 although some reviewers had mixed reactions to some of various different gameplay mechanics 16 However the game was later ported to the more advanced PlayStation and Sega Saturn systems and those versions were generally criticized more due to not having any significant improvements despite the more powerful hardware 21 Earthworm Jim 3D edit Main article Earthworm Jim 3D Shortly after the release of Earthworm Jim 2 its original developer Shiny Entertainment was bought by Interplay Entertainment and then put to work on other projects 22 most notably the PlayStation platformer Wild 9 for three years 23 Subsequently the franchise was given to VIS Entertainment and it was decided that like many platform game series at the time Super Mario Sonic the Hedgehog et al gameplay would transition from 2D to 3D 22 Although development commenced shortly after Earthworm Jim 2 a lengthy three year development cycle 22 lent itself to the occasional belief that the project was destined to become vaporware 24 Consequently numerous problems and errors arose from this extended development cycle One hurdle early on was the necessity to redesign the characters from side scrolling 2D to free roaming 3D 25 while the frame rate and animation were still causing issues with game development more than 70 complete 26 Error wise much of the content shown in previews and promotional material was either graphically different or removed from the final game while the game s final packaging depicts Evil the Cat as the boss of the Fear level Professor Monkey For A Head became the actual in game level boss 22 Also many locations displayed in early versions of the game such as a level set in a house wherein Jim is ant sized are non existent in the released copy citation needed Additionally original series designer David Perry had sold the rights to the franchise Perry and original series creator Doug TenNapel were at first involved in the game as minor consultants but were dismissed for unexplained reasons Both expressed that they hated what was done with Earthworm Jim 3D but legally could not prevent anything from happening 27 TenNapel said he felt the series was ruined by the game 9 28 The game was considered neither a critical nor a commercial success 29 Many reviews called the game uninspired mediocre and unable to compete with several other similar more highly reviewed platform games at the time like Super Mario 64 Rayman 2 or Banjo Kazooie 22 24 30 Earthworm Jim Menace 2 the Galaxy edit Main article Earthworm Jim Menace 2 the Galaxy A final fourth Earthworm Jim game was released shortly after Earthworm Jim 3D in 1999 It was developed neither by the original team nor the Earthworm Jim 3D team but by David A Palmer Productions 31 and published by Crave Entertainment The game played similarly to the first two games but gameplay was greatly simplified concentrating on exploring levels to collect items rather than the constantly changing gimmicks present in the original two games 22 Levels typically involved goals such as collecting 100 or more coins to progress through levels 22 and if the player causes Jim to take too much damage the player must start the level over again with zero items collected 32 The game was poorly received as well with reviewers complaining about the tedium of the collecting and the game lacking the charm and style of the original games 32 33 Dormancy and cancelled games edit Main article Earthworm Jim cancelled video game The series lay dormant for the first half of the decade Rumors of a new Earthworm Jim game for the PlayStation Portable started in 2006 22 Referred to as Earthworm Jim it was originally believed to be a remake of the original Earthworm Jim due to footage of Jim in a level very reminiscent of the New Junk City level from the first game 22 The game was formally announced at E3 2006 by Atari who had obtained from Interplay a five year license of the right to develop Earthworm Jim games for handheld devices 34 However the game was reported to still be made by members of the original two titles Earthworm Jim and Earthworm Jim 2 including Shiny Entertainment founder Dave Perry Doug TenNapel Nick Bruty and Tommy Tallarico 35 The developers later announced that the game would be mostly new content with elements of the earlier games included 22 Past characters to return in the game included Princess What s Her Name 36 and Peter Puppy 36 The game was to retain the gameplay of the original two titles playing as a 2D sidescrolling platform game with elements of a run and gun but now with 3D computer graphics 37 It would be two dimensional gameplay with three dimensional graphics much in the vein of Sonic Rivals or Klonoa Door to Phantomile 36 38 Similar to the original two games the gameplay consisted of maneuvering Jim through levels through running and jumping and defeating enemies with a machine gun and by using his head as a whip 39 By August 2006 the game was reportedly 80 complete and many video game journalists had hands on playable builds of the game such as GameSpot 40 GamesRadar 41 and IGN 42 It was scheduled for an early 2007 release 40 However Atari quietly put the game on hold by mid 2007 43 The game was later reported as cancelled 22 44 45 due to financial troubles 46 Financial problems at Atari caused it to sell off its internal development studios including Shiny Entertainment which it owned at the time and ultimately to cease development on all of its game projects including Earthworm Jim by the end of 2007 47 Remakes re releases and future edit Main article Earthworm Jim 4 Interplay announced an Earthworm Jim 4 in 2008 but little has surfaced since 48 Series creator Doug TenNapel later denied work on it had ever started in 2010 49 However Interplay referred to the game as still in development as of May 2011 50 While no new original games were released in the 2000s the franchise was still used in the last years of the decade With the trend of games from the 1990s being re released digitally the two original Earthworm Jim games were re released on platforms such as the Wii s Virtual Console PlayStation Network and Xbox Live 51 The original was also ported to iOS for play on iPhones as well In 2010 a remake of the original game titled Earthworm Jim HD was released on PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox Live for Xbox 360 The game was very similar to the original but had redone smoothed graphics and new multiplayer exclusive levels In 2018 Earthworm Jim HD was removed from PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Earthworm Jim is included on the NA PAL version of the Sega Genesis Mini which was released on September 19 2019 52 In 2019 a new game was announced as an exclusive release for the Intellivision Amico stated then as to be developed by the original team from the 1990s the game was announced to release as a launch title for the Amico in the 2020s 53 5 In early 2023 video game website Time Extension reached out to members of the development staff for an update on the game while none outright confirmed its cancellation Jones stated that he had not done any work beyond initial brainstorming sessions years prior similar to Perry who had assumed the game was on hold 6 This led to their general belief that the game had been cancelled 7 In other media editEarthworm Jim also starred as a fighter on Interplay s Nintendo 64 title Clay Fighter 63 1 3 in 1997 and the Blockbuster rental title Clay Fighter 63 1 3 Sculptors Cut in 1998 In the original Jim was a default character however in the Sculptor s Cut he was required to be unlocked Also in the game he and Boogerman hold a strong rivalry between one another A line of Earthworm Jim toys and action figures was released in late 1995 54 In 1995 Marvel Comics published a 3 issue comic based on the character 55 In May 2019 Doug TenNapel raised money through Indiegogo to self publish a new Earthworm Jim graphic novel called Launch the Cow The comic book successfully raised more than 100 000 in its first 24 hours on Indiegogo and nearly 900 000 over the course of its crowdfunding campaign 56 57 A crowdfunding campaign for a second new comic book Earthworm Jim 2 Fight the Fish was announced in August 2020 this also eclipsed the 100 000 threshold in its first day 58 Shiny has also made references to Earthworm Jim in its later titles their game Sacrifice features an earthwormlike god of earth called James and there were additional references in the game MDK Earthworm Jim also appears as a secret character in the first Battle Arena Toshinden game for PC Television series edit Main article Earthworm Jim TV series Universal Cartoon Studios made an animated series based on the franchise and it ran for 23 episodes in 2 seasons from 1995 to 1996 on the Kids WB programming block on The WB Television Network now merged with UPN to form The CW 59 The show maintains much of the absurd and surreal humor of the original games as well as introducing its own features Most of the episodes revolve around one of Jim s many enemies trying to reclaim the super suit or otherwise cause mayhem throughout the galaxy Actor Dan Castellaneta known for voicing various characters on The Simpsons including its main protagonist Homer Simpson voiced Jim in the animated series 60 Reception and legacy editThe original two Earthworm Jim games of the series have been praised for their detailed graphics well developed platforming and wacky humor 61 The original game was received very well being rated the 114th best game made on a Nintendo System in Nintendo Power s Top 200 Games list 11 Earthworm Jim 2 was also received very well Both were better received than many of the other projects Interplay was working on around the same time such as Boogerman which was criticized as being cretinous disgusting and patronizing 62 and Cool Spot a project Perry and Tallarico worked on which was criticized for having a lack of personality 62 The music from Earthworm Jim has been praised with music from Earthworm Jim 2 being included in Game Central s Best of the Best CD compilation of video game music 63 It has also been requested at concerts where game composer Tommy Tallarico has had his music performed 64 The first two games were compiled into a package called Earthworm Jim 1 amp 2 The Whole Can O Worms for the PC Next Generation reviewed the package rating it four stars out of five and stated that This is what the PC really needs sometimes a nice fast action game that will distract the player from the more mundane pursuits of word processing or data entry without requiring the commitment of a huge RPG or strategy title 65 Earthworm Jim 3D started a downward trend for the series popularity being considered neither a critical nor commercial success 29 66 with many reviewers claiming the game was uninspired mediocre and unable to compete with many other similar higher reviewed platform games at the time such as Super Mario 64 Rayman 2 or Banjo Kazooie 22 24 30 Earthworm Jim Menace 2 the Galaxy was even more poorly received 66 with reviewers claiming it had lost the charm of what made the originals good and pretty much killed the series 22 IGN recognized the character Earthworm Jim as a notable animal protagonist in video games 67 In July 2020 Megalopolis Toys announced a partnership with Interplay to release a line of 6 action figures based on the games 68 References edit David Perry The Emerald Isle s Shiny Happy Game Developer Inner Visions Vol 8 no 10 February 2006 pp 131 132 Matt Casamassina 2008 04 22 Earthworm Jim Returns IGN Archived from the original on 2008 04 27 Retrieved 2008 04 23 Earthworm Jim Returns IGN 2008 04 22 Archived from the original on 2008 04 27 Retrieved 2021 10 16 Hall Charlie 2019 05 01 Earthworm Jim game in development for the new Intellivision console Polygon Retrieved 2021 06 12 a b Oh No Earthworm Jim Kotaku Australia 2020 08 11 Retrieved 2021 06 12 a b So What s Happening with Earthworm Jim 4 16 January 2023 a b Intellivision Amico Exclusives Shark Shark And Astrosmash Are Coming to Switch 24 May 2023 a b Earthworm Jim Hardcore Gaming 101 Retrieved 2013 09 08 a b c d e f Laughing Stock Doug TenNapel Kill Screen Killscreendaily com 2011 09 08 Archived from the original on 2013 06 22 Retrieved 2013 09 08 EGM s Best and Worst of 1994 Electronic Gaming Monthly s Buyer s Guide 1995 a b NP Top 200 Nintendo Power Vol 200 February 2006 pp 58 66 Davis Ryan June 8 2001 Earthworm Jim Review Gamespot com Retrieved January 14 2012 a b Earthworm Jim Review IGN 2008 10 27 Archived from the original on 2012 03 23 Retrieved 2013 09 08 Sega Channel is Off to the Races Electronic Gaming Monthly Issue 69 Pg 28 April 1995 Nintendo Review Earthworm Jim 2 Official Nintendo Magazine Archived from the original on 2012 09 06 Retrieved 2013 09 08 a b c d Earthworm Jim 2 Wii Virtual Console Mega Drive Review Nintendo Life Vc nintendolife com 4 December 2009 Retrieved 2013 09 08 a b c d e Earthworm Jim Hardcore Gaming 101 Retrieved 2013 09 08 Marriott Scott Alan Earthworm Jim 2 Review allgame Archived from the original on 2014 11 15 Retrieved 2010 04 27 Dubin Jayson May 4 2012 Earthworm Jim Sega Genesis Super Nintendo Entertainment System GameZone Archived from the original on November 16 2012 Burch Anthony 2007 08 29 Destructoid Games time forgot Earthworm Jim 2 Retrieved 2010 04 29 Fulljames Stephen 2004 06 27 Review Earthworm Jim 2 Review ComputerAndVideoGames com Retrieved 2010 04 29 a b c d e f g h i j k l m Earthworm Jim Hardcore Gaming 101 Retrieved 2013 09 08 Wild 9 Ships Today IGN October 1998 Retrieved 2013 09 08 a b c Earthworm Jim 3D IGN 15 June 2000 Retrieved 2013 09 08 Gamasutra Staff 2006 06 06 Digging For Worms Why Doug Tennapel Doesn t Care What His Fans Think Gamasutra Retrieved 2008 04 23 IGN Staff 1998 11 02 Unearthing Jim IGN Retrieved 2014 05 16 Ken Horowitz 2005 06 10 Sega 16 Interview David Perry Sega 16 com Retrieved 2013 09 08 INTERVIEW In Conversation With Doug TenNapel Graphic Novelist Alternative Magazine Online 9 April 2010 Retrieved 2013 09 08 a b Digging For Worms Why Doug Tennapel Doesn t Care What His Fans Think Gamasutra 2006 06 06 Retrieved 2013 09 08 a b Earthworm Jim 3D Review GameSpot com 2000 06 29 Retrieved 2013 09 08 Earthworm Jim Menace 2 the Galaxy GameSpot com 1999 11 10 Retrieved 2013 09 08 a b Earthworm Jim Menace 2 the Galaxy IGN 1999 11 17 Retrieved 2021 10 16 Alan Brett 2010 10 03 Earthworm Jim Menace 2 the Galaxy Review allgame Archived from the original on 2014 11 14 Retrieved 2013 09 08 E3 2006 Earthworm Jim Crawls Again IGN 2006 05 10 Retrieved 2021 10 16 The worm has returned GamesRadar 2012 06 23 Retrieved 2013 09 08 a b c Andy Robinson 2006 08 17 News Earthworm Jim wiggles in new PSP screens ComputerAndVideoGames com Archived from the original on 2014 02 22 Retrieved 2013 09 08 Earthworm Jim hands on GamesRadar 2013 06 14 Retrieved 2013 09 08 Screenshots of Earthworm Jim s PSP revival Siliconera 2006 08 16 Retrieved 2013 09 08 Page 2 Earthworm Jim hands on GamesRadar 2013 06 14 Retrieved 2013 09 08 a b Earthworm Jim Hands On GameSpot com 2006 08 14 Retrieved 2013 09 08 Page 3 Earthworm Jim hands on GamesRadar 2013 06 14 Retrieved 2013 09 08 Earthworm Jim Hands on IGN 2006 08 09 Retrieved 2021 10 16 Atari s Earthworm Jim project is in stasis Siliconera 2007 06 19 Retrieved 2013 09 08 Dubin Jayson May 4 2012 The Reason Why Earthworm Jim PSP was Canceled GameZone Archived from the original on April 3 2015 Video Earthworm Jim PSP Cancelled GameTrailers 2011 05 25 Retrieved 2013 09 08 Why Was Earthworm Jim for the PSP Canceled GameZone 2010 02 23 Retrieved 2013 09 08 ATARI INC Form 10K Annual Report for Fiscal Year Ending 31 March 2008 PDF Atari Inc 1 July 2008 Retrieved 8 Oct 2020 See page 2 B eginning in 2005 because of cash constraints we substantially reduced our involvement in development of video games and announced plans to divest ourselves of our internal development studios During fiscal 2006 and 2007 we sold a number of intellectual properties and development facilities in order to obtain cash to fund our operations By the end of fiscal 2007 we did not own any development studios During fiscal 2008 we stopped developing games even through independent developers Casamassina Matt April 22 2008 Earthworm Jim Returns IGN Retrieved November 26 2019 TenNapel Earthworm Jim 4 not in development Destructoid 30 April 2010 Retrieved 2013 09 08 Fallout in doubt as Interplay fears collapse Game Development News by Develop MCV Develop online net 30 May 2011 Retrieved 2013 09 08 Jack DeVries 2008 04 21 Cows Will Launch on the Virtual Console This Year IGN Archived from the original on 2008 04 24 Retrieved 2021 10 16 Sega Genesis Mini Archived from the original on August 17 2019 Retrieved November 26 2019 Fingas Jon May 1 2019 Earthworm Jim returns after 20 years as an Intellivision exclusive Engadget Retrieved May 2 2019 Earthworm Jim Toys to Hit UK Sega Saturn Magazine No 2 Emap International Limited December 1995 p 11 15 Things You Forgot About Earthworm Jim ScreenRant 21 April 2017 Retrieved 20 May 2019 EARTHWORM JIM The Comic Book IndieGOGO 12 July 2019 Retrieved 8 Oct 2020 EARTHWORM JIM The Comic Book and New Print Kickstarter com 12 August 2020 Retrieved 8 Oct 2020 EARTHWORM JIM 2 Fight the Fish Kickstarter com 12 August 2020 Retrieved 8 Oct 2020 Gamasutra Staff 2008 04 22 Interplay TenNapel Partner For Earthworm Jim Game Cartoon Revival Gamasutra Retrieved 2008 04 24 IGN Staff 2003 07 04 BBC Staff BBC Retrieved 2008 04 24 Daemon Hatfield 2005 05 10 E3 2006 Earthworm Jim Crawls Again IGN Retrieved 2008 04 24 a b Page 2 The 13 most hateful video game mascot characters of the 90s GamesRadar 2012 06 23 Retrieved 2013 09 08 IGN Music 2007 06 06 Game Central s Best of the Best CD IGN Archived from the original on 2007 08 15 Retrieved 2008 04 23 Svend Joscelyne 2007 10 23 Interviews Tommy Tallarico Spong Retrieved 2008 04 24 Finals Next Generation No 21 Imagine Media September 1996 p 154 a b GamesRadar gamesradar News amp Features Team 2006 11 17 Essential Games for the Animal Within IGN Retrieved 2021 10 16 Megalopolis Announces Battletoads Clay Fighter and Earthworm Jim and More Retro Action Figures The Toyark News 2020 07 23 Retrieved 2020 07 26 External links editOfficial Earthworm Jim section at Interplay Doug TenNapel the creator of Earthworm Jim Earthworm Jim at Don Markstein s Toonopedia Archived from the original on June 4 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Earthworm Jim amp oldid 1218848610, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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