Dig Dug Question

[Immutable]

Does anyone know the reason why DigDug was released for the original Famicom console but not for the US NES?

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Unaware of any controversy.

Namco didn't do any publishing themselves on the NES during that era and companies were severely restricted with how many games they could release per sales quarter.

Perhaps BanDai who published Dig Dug II thought that title in the series would be more appealing to audiences that had previously only gotten the original Dig Dug several times over on Atari consoles and 8-bit computers.

[InsaneDavid]

Unaware of any controversy.

Namco didn't do any publishing themselves on the NES during that era and companies were severely restricted with how many games they could release per sales quarter.

Perhaps BanDai who published Dig Dug II thought that title in the series would be more appealing to audiences that had previously only gotten the original Dig Dug several times over on Atari consoles and 8-bit computers.

This. I've always assumed that Bandai just went for the most "current" of the handful of Namco ports they could release stateside and decided Galaga and Dig Dug II were the best choices. Nothing really wrong with the Famicom Dig Dug and I too think it would have done okay on the NES.

I've been drifting into Famicom arcade ports in my NES'cade column at RTM now and then, if this type of stuff interests the OP. While Dig-Dug is solid, Quarth and Pooyan are excellent arcade translations that should have had NES releases.

Galaxian
Dig-Dug
Chase H.Q.
Mappy
Quarth (currently only hosted at RTM)
Pooyan (currently only hosted at RTM)

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Personally I was always bummed that Nintendo/Konami never gave us "Vs. Goonies" in the US.

IMO that's the superior game of the two on that platform.

Thankfully it wound up on like, practically every bootleg 1000-in-1 multicart.

[davidbrit2]

A LOT of early Namco FC games never made it to the US.

Galaxian
Dig Dug
Mappy
Metro Cross
Pac Land
Tower of Druaga
Battle City
Warp Man
Valkyrie no Bouken
Final Lap

I'm sure there are more. The ones that did come to the US were the exception, if anything.

[treismac]

A LOT of early Namco FC games never made it to the US.

Galaxian
Dig Dug
Mappy
Metro Cross
Pac Land
Tower of Druaga
Battle City
Warp Man
Valkyrie no Bouken
Final Lap

This looks like a fine lineup for a muticart repro.

[buzz_n64]

This looks like a fine lineup for a muticart repro.

I think all or most of those are already on most multi-carts. Those are like the standard titles on those.

[Immutable]

Personally I was always bummed that Nintendo/Konami never gave us "Vs. Goonies" in the US.

IMO that's the superior game of the two on that platform.

Thankfully it wound up on like, practically every bootleg 1000-in-1 multicart.

At least it is possible to create a homebrew cartridge. I can share a pic of my repro cart if you want.

This. I've always assumed that Bandai just went for the most "current" of the handful of Namco ports they could release stateside and decided Galaga and Dig Dug II were the best choices. Nothing really wrong with the Famicom Dig Dug and I too think it would have done okay on the NES.

I've been drifting into Famicom arcade ports in my NES'cade column at RTM now and then, if this type of stuff interests the OP. While Dig-Dug is solid, Quarth and Pooyan are excellent arcade translations that should have had NES releases.

Galaxian
Dig-Dug
Chase H.Q.
Mappy
Quarth (currently only hosted at RTM)
Pooyan (currently only hosted at RTM)

Cool articles!

[dendawg]

Is it possible that Atari held the home rights to Dig Dug at the time?

[Jorpho]

An interesting idea, but Dig Dug did appear on the Game Boy. (And of course, so did Quarth.)

I rather think that Dig Dug's appearance on practically every other console of the day meant that it was not a desirable choice for Namco.

[Steve W]

I'd guess that they had licensed out the rights in the US, but by the time the Gameboy came out those licenses had expired. Kind of like how LucasFilm Games (later LucasArts) couldn't make Star Wars games in the beginning since they'd given exclusive rights to Parker Bros. They had to wait until the license expired (or in this case, possibly until Parker Bros. went out of business).

[sloan]

On a similar note, why did Lock n' Chase never see NES release?

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

At least it is possible to create a homebrew cartridge. I can share a pic of my repro cart if you want.

Yeah, I've seen a few different label variants of Goonies repros. What does yours look like?

[Graham Mitchell]

Personally I was always bummed that Nintendo/Konami never gave us "Vs. Goonies" in the US.

IMO that's the superior game of the two on that platform.

Thankfully it wound up on like, practically every bootleg 1000-in-1 multicart.

While I love both games, I'm curious as to why you feel like vs goonies is better than goonies 2. I think the sequel is an improvement in nearly every capacity. It doesn't lend itself to a quick arcade style play through very well, but there's just so much more to it, and the audio and visuals are pretty darn impressive for the time, much more than the black backgrounds that permeate every level of goonies 1.

That said, I own a goonies famicom cart, vs goonies, and goonies for the playchoice 10, so clearly I'm a fan of the original

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

While I love both games, I'm curious as to why you feel like vs goonies is better than goonies 2. I think the sequel is an improvement in nearly every capacity. It doesn't lend itself to a quick arcade style play through very well, but there's just so much more to it, and the audio and visuals are pretty darn impressive for the time, much more than the black backgrounds that permeate every level of goonies 1.

That said, I own a goonies famicom cart, vs goonies, and goonies for the playchoice 10, so clearly I'm a fan of the original

It doesn't lend itself to a quick arcade style play through very well.

That's pretty much it right there. It's like the difference between Castlevania and Castlevania II. The "rooms" in Goonies II break up the action severely and make for too much back-tracking and fetching for my taste.

Goonies II is a fine game, but I prefer the more straightforward, linear arcade quality of Vs. Goonies.

[Immutable]

Yeah, I've seen a few different label variants of Goonies repros. What does yours look like?

Here ya go!

[Polygon]

I'd say just get it for the 7800 and you'd be happier anyways.

[treismac]

I'd say just get it for the 7800 and you'd be happier anyways.

What does the 7800 version have over the Famicom version?

[davidbrit2]

What does the 7800 version have over the Famicom version?

Terrible music and selectable difficulty levels.

[Polygon]

What does the 7800 version have over the Famicom version?

Terrible music and selectable difficulty levels.

I was told I was the closest console release to the arcade... or maybe it was the 5200? I've never plated the Famicom version. I was always upset we never got it for the NES. Maybe I'll find a Gyromite cart with a converter and make my own NES Dig Dug.