Difference between revisions of "Professor Asobin"

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{{CharacterSheet
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[[File:ProfessorAsobin.svg|200px|right]]
| image1 = Asobin.jpg
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'''{{PAGENAME}}''', or '''Asobin Kyouju''' (アソビン教授) is a smartly dressed anthropomorphic rabbit and an "unofficial" mascot of [[Sega]].
| image2 =
 
| charcolor = blue
 
| textcolor = white
 
| charname = Professor Asobin
 
| debut = [[Borderline]] ([[SG-1000]])
 
| debutyear = 1983
 
| species = Oryctolagus cuniculus
 
| gender = male
 
| age =
 
| height =
 
| weight =
 
}}
 
'''Professor Asobin''' (アソビン教授) is a smartly dressed anthropomorphic rabbit who was the first unofficial mascot of [[Sega]].
 
  
Although he never starred in a game of his own, Asobin gained attention by appearing in nearly every game manual of early [[SG-1000]] software since the SG-1000's retail launch on July 15 1983. He was replaced briefly by a very similar, but less leporine [[Dr. Games]] in 1984, but reappeared for the new range of [[MyCard]] software in 1985 and also appeared in a number of early [[Sega Mark III]] games as well. Often on the second or third last page, Asobin offered advice to players that was usually helpful and specifically tailored for each game.
+
Professor Asobin bares more than a passing resemblance to the "White Rabbit" character in Lewis Carroll's classic children's story "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", with a particular similarity to the popular characterisation depicted in Disney's 1951 animated version of the book "Alice in Wonderland". No information is known as to the origins of Asobin or why, or if, Sega chose to mimic these characteristics.
  
His last appearance giving advice was seen in the manual for ''[[Makai Retsuden]]'' (aka ''Kung Fu Kid'') released on 17th May 1987. He continued to appear in manuals on the page describing the correct care and maintenance of cartridges and cards during the rest of the Mark III releases, although no longer provided his customary gameplay advice.
+
==History==
 +
Although he never starred in a game of his own, Asobin gained attention by appearing in nearly every Japanese [[SG-1000]] game manual following the console's retail launch on July 15, 1983. He was replaced briefly by a very similar, but less leporine [[Dr. Games]] in 1984, but reappeared for the new range of [[MyCard]] software in 1985 and also appeared in a number of early [[Sega Mark III]] games as well. Usually printed towards the end of the manual, Asobin offered advice to players that was usually helpful and specifically tailored for each game.
  
Professor Asobin was succeeded by [[Opa-Opa]] from the [[Fantasy Zone]] series of games as the next iconic mascot of Sega
+
His last appearance giving advice was seen in the manual for ''[[Makai Retsuden]]'' (aka ''Kung Fu Kid'') released on 17th May 1987, however he continued to appear in manuals on the page describing the correct care and maintenance of cartridges and cards during the rest of the Mark III releases.
 +
[[File:asobin_sggg.jpg|thumb|right|Asobin in ''Segagaga''.]]
 +
With the release of the [[Sega Mega Drive]] in late 1988 and ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' in June 1991, Professor Asobin was retired by Sega, and has only appeared sporadically since. In 1994 the character appeared in the manual for ''[[Phantasy Star Fukkokuban]]'' promoting support hotlines. He has cameoed in the likes of ''[[Segagaga]]'' and ''[[Hi-sCoool! SeHa Girls]]'', and often appears in Sega-related throwbacks, such digital manuals for [[Sega Networks]] games.
  
==Appearance==
+
Professor Asobin is rarely printed in any non-Japanese manuals or promotional material, though is occasionaly spotted, such as on the box of ''[[Sega 3D Classics Collection]]'' for the [[Nintendo 3DS]].
[[File:TheWhiteRabbit.png|thumb|right|The White Rabbit]]
 
Professor Asobin bares more than a passing resemblance to the "White Rabbit" character in Lewis Carroll's classic children's story "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", with a particular similarity to the popular characterisation depicted in Disney's 1951 animated version of the book "Alice in Wonderland." No information is known as to the origins of Asobin or why, or if, Sega chose to mimic these characteristics.
 
  
==Mascot status==
+
==Manual appearances==
In the first release of ''[[Phantasy Star]]'' on Sega's Mark III, Professor Asobin appeared in the manual, no longer offering gaming tips, but providing information on the correct care of the ''Phantasy Star'' cartridge. He was brought back for the ''[[Phantasy Star Fukkokuban]]'' [[Sega Mega Drive]] rerelease, but only to promote a telephone help line. Scans of both versions of the manuals can be found in ''[[Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 32: Phantasy Star Complete Collection]]'' for the [[PlayStation 2]].
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===SG-1000 games===
 
+
{{multicol|
==''[[Segagaga]]'' cameo==
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Bank Panic|SG}} Page29
Professor Asobin did in fact make a cameo appearance in ''Segagaga''.
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|The Black Onyx|SG}}
<gallery>
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Bomb Jack|SG}}
File:asobin_sggg.jpg|Asobin in SGGG
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*{{ReleaseWithDate|The Castle|SG}} Page18
</gallery>
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Chack'n Pop|SG}}
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Champion Billiards|SG}} Page16
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Champion Golf|SG}}
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Champion Ice Hockey|SG}} Page19
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Champion Kendou|SG}}
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Championship Lode Runner|SG}}
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Choplifter|SG}} Page16
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|C_So!|SG}}
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Doki Doki Penguin Land|SG}}
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Dragon Wang|SG}} Page17
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Drol|SG}} Page23
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Elevator Action|SG}}
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Gulkave|SG}}
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|H.E.R.O.|SG}} Page23
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Hang On II|SG}} Page14
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Monaco GP|SG}}{{fileref|Monacogp mycard jp manual.pdf|page=13}}
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Ninja Princess|SG}}
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Pitfall II: The Lost Caverns|SG}} Page16
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Rock n' Bolt|SG}}
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Soukoban (SG-1000)|SG}}  Page37
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Star Force|SG}}
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Super Tank|SG}}
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Wonder Boy|SG}}
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Zoom 909|SG}} Page17
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Champion Boxing|SG}}
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Zippy Race|SG}}
 +
|cols=3}}
  
==Manual Appearances==
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===Master System games===
===Gallery===
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====Card====
<gallery>
 
File:Monacogp_mycard_jp_manual.pdf|page=12|C-17: [[Monaco GP]]
 
File:Zippyrace_mycard_jp_manual.pdf|page=14|C-26: [[Zippy Race]]
 
File:ChampionBoxingCardSGJPManual.pdf|page=9|C-33: [[Champion Boxing]]
 
</gallery>
 
 
 
=== List of SG-1000===
 
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
* ''[[Champion Golf]]''(C-05)
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*{{ReleaseWithDate|Comical Machine Gun Joe|SMS}}
* ''[[Monaco GP]]''(C-17) Page11
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|F-16 Fighter|SMS}} Page34
* ''[[Zippy Race]]''(C-26) Page13
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Ghost House|SMS}}
* ''[[Champion Boxing]]''(C-33) Page15
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*{{ReleaseWithDate|Great Baseball|SMS}} Page17
* ''[[Star Force]]''(C-43)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Great Soccer|SMS}} Page19
* ''[[Dragon Wang]]''(C-46) Page17
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Hang-On|SMS}} Page13
* ''[[Zoom 909]]''(C-47) Page17
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|My Hero|SMS}}
* ''[[Choplifter]]''(C-48) Page16
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Pit Pot|SMS}} Page24
* ''[[Pitfall II: The Lost Caverns]]''(C-49) Page16
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Satellite 7|SMS}}
* ''[[Doki Doki Penguin Land]]''(C-50)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Spy vs Spy|SMS}}
* ''[[Drol]]''(C-51) Page23
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Super Tennis|SMS}}
* ''[[Chack'n Pop]]''(C-52)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Teddy Boy Blues|SMS}} Page14
* ''[[Bank Panic]]''(C-53) Page29
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|TransBot|SMS}}
* ''[[Rock n' Bolt]]''(C-54)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Woody Pop|SMS}}
* ''[[Elevator Action]]''(C-55)
 
* ''[[Soukoban]]''(C-56) Page37
 
* ''[[Championship Lode Runner]]''(C-57)
 
* ''[[H.E.R.O.]]''(C-58) Page23
 
* ''[[Champion Ice Hockey]]''(C-59) Page19
 
* ''[[Hang On II]]''(C-60) Page14
 
* ''[[Bomb Jack]]''(C-61)
 
* ''[[Gulkave]]''(C-63)
 
* ''[[C_So!]]''(C-64)
 
* ''[[Ninja Princess]]''(C-65)
 
* ''[[Super Tank]]''(C-66)
 
* ''[[Champion Kendou]]''(C-67)
 
* ''[[Wonder Boy]]''(C-69)
 
* ''[[Champion Billiards]]''(C-71) Page16
 
* ''[[The Black Onyx]]''(C-72)
 
* ''[[The Castle]]''(G-1046) Page18
 
 
|cols=3|}}
 
|cols=3|}}
  
=== List of Master System===
+
====Cartridge====
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
* ''[[Teddy Boy Blues]]''(C-501) Page14
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Action Fighter|SMS}}
* ''[[Hang-On]]''(C-502) Page13
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Alex Kidd in Miracle World|SMS}} Page26
* ''[[TransBot]]''(C-503)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Astro Warrior|SMS}} Page9
* ''[[Great Soccer]]''(C-504) Page19
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Black Belt|SMS}} Page13
* ''[[Great Baseball]]''(C-505) Page17
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Enduro Racer|SMS}}
* ''[[Satellite 7]]''(C-506)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Fantasy Zone|SMS}}{{fileref|FantasyZone SMS JP Manual.pdf|page=27}}
* ''[[Pit Pot]]''(C-507) Page24
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Great Golf|SMS}}
* ''[[F-16 Fighter]]''(C-508) Page34
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Great Volleyball|SMS}} Page14
* ''[[My Hero]]''(C-510)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|High School! Kimengumi|SMS}} Page15
* ''[[Comical Machine Gun Joe]]''(C-511)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Kung Fu Kid|SMS}} Page11
* ''[[Ghost House]]''(C-512)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|The Ninja|SMS}}
* ''[[Spy vs Spy]]''(C-514)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Pro Wrestling|SMS}}
* ''[[Super Tennis]]''(C-515)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Quartet|SMS}}
* ''[[Woody Pop]]''(C-519)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Rocky|SMS}} Page14
|cols=3|}}
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Secret Command|SMS}}
{{multicol|
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Space Harrier|SMS}}
* ''[[Fantasy Zone]]''(G-1301) Page25
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Sukeban Deka II: Shoujo Tekkamen Densetsu|SMS}} Page11
* ''[[Pro Wrestling]]''(G-1302)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Wonder Boy|SMS}} Page14
* ''[[Black Belt]]''(G-1303) Page13
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|World Grand Prix|SMS}}
* ''[[World Grand Prix]]''(G-1304)
 
* ''[[Action Fighter]]''(G-1305)
 
* ''[[Alex Kidd in Miracle World]]''(G-1306) Page26
 
* ''[[Secret Command]]''(G-1307)
 
* ''[[The Ninja]]''(G-1308)
 
* ''[[High School! Kimengumi]]''(G-1309) Page15
 
* ''[[Space Harrier]]''(G-1310)
 
* ''[[Astro Warrior]]''(G-1312) Page9
 
* ''[[Great Golf]]''(G-1313)
 
* ''[[Quartet]]''(G-1314)
 
* ''[[Wonder Boy]]''(G-1316) Page14
 
* ''[[Great Volleyball]]''(G-1317) Page14
 
* ''[[Sukeban Deka II: Shoujo Tekkamen Densetsu]]''(G-1318) Page11
 
* ''[[Rocky]]''(G-1319) Page14
 
* ''[[Enduro Racer]]''(G-1322)
 
* ''[[Kung Fu Kid]]''(G-1324) Page11
 
 
|cols=3|}}
 
|cols=3|}}
 +
 +
===Other games===
 +
<gallery>
 +
Phantasystar md jp manual.pdf|page=31|''[[Phantasy Star Fukkokuban]]''
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
==References==
 +
<references />
  
 
[[Category:Sega]]
 
[[Category:Sega]]
 +
[[Category:Mascots]]

Latest revision as of 10:59, 4 October 2024

ProfessorAsobin.svg

Professor Asobin, or Asobin Kyouju (アソビン教授) is a smartly dressed anthropomorphic rabbit and an "unofficial" mascot of Sega.

Professor Asobin bares more than a passing resemblance to the "White Rabbit" character in Lewis Carroll's classic children's story "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", with a particular similarity to the popular characterisation depicted in Disney's 1951 animated version of the book "Alice in Wonderland". No information is known as to the origins of Asobin or why, or if, Sega chose to mimic these characteristics.

History

Although he never starred in a game of his own, Asobin gained attention by appearing in nearly every Japanese SG-1000 game manual following the console's retail launch on July 15, 1983. He was replaced briefly by a very similar, but less leporine Dr. Games in 1984, but reappeared for the new range of MyCard software in 1985 and also appeared in a number of early Sega Mark III games as well. Usually printed towards the end of the manual, Asobin offered advice to players that was usually helpful and specifically tailored for each game.

His last appearance giving advice was seen in the manual for Makai Retsuden (aka Kung Fu Kid) released on 17th May 1987, however he continued to appear in manuals on the page describing the correct care and maintenance of cartridges and cards during the rest of the Mark III releases.

Asobin in Segagaga.

With the release of the Sega Mega Drive in late 1988 and Sonic the Hedgehog in June 1991, Professor Asobin was retired by Sega, and has only appeared sporadically since. In 1994 the character appeared in the manual for Phantasy Star Fukkokuban promoting support hotlines. He has cameoed in the likes of Segagaga and Hi-sCoool! SeHa Girls, and often appears in Sega-related throwbacks, such digital manuals for Sega Networks games.

Professor Asobin is rarely printed in any non-Japanese manuals or promotional material, though is occasionaly spotted, such as on the box of Sega 3D Classics Collection for the Nintendo 3DS.

Manual appearances

SG-1000 games

Master System games

Card

Cartridge

Other games

References