Unknown Michael Jackson arcade game
From Sega Retro
Unknown Michael Jackson arcade game |
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System(s): Arcade[1] |
Publisher: Sega Enterprises, Ltd. |
Licensor: Michael Jackson[1] |
State before cancellation: Early in development |
An unknown Michael Jackson arcade game was once planned to be developed and published by Sega sometime in the latter half of the 1990s. Reportedly promised to Michael Jackson earlier in the decade, and usually implied to be a follow-up to Michael Jackson in Scramble Training, it was likely meant to utilize the VR-1, AS-1, or a similar mid-size attraction platform.
In 1993, Jackson was famously accused of sexual abuse. While neither Sega of Japan and Sega of America took any official stances on the matter, it did result in the two experiencing a "cooling period" of their relations.[1] Whether these promises had been made before or after the 1993 allegations is unknown.
Six years later in 1999, Jackson requested an official meeting with a representative from Sega. Sega of Japan sent Shuji Utsumi to meet with the artist in New York's Plaza Hotel. Upon introducing himself to Jackson in the hotel's entirely rented-out floor, Jackson grew upset and began protesting over the lack of progress on his promised arcade game. To counter Jackson's frustrations, Utsumi mentioned that another game, Space Channel 5, was nearing completion, and that Jackson might somehow be included in the final release - framing the offer as if the cameo had been planned from the beginning. As Utsumi described the game in detail, particularly its cutting-edge presentation and style, Jackson grew enamored with the idea, and ultimately accepted his cameo as consolation for the lack of a proper follow-up game.[1]
Production credits
- Conceptualized by: Michael Jackson
References
- ↑ Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 https://otocoto.jp/column/utsumi32/ (Wayback Machine: 2022-11-27 11:15)