Difference between revisions of "Fighting Circus: Elandoll"

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(→‎History: rewrote to be more comprehensive and accurate, based on 2 new sources)
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==History==
 
==History==
Newly-hired planner [[Yosuke Okunari]] and another low-ranking member of staff were brought onto the ''Fighting Circus'' project in 1994 to replace a more senior developer, [[Naoto Ohshima]]. Okunari states this departure of talent was a purposeful move by [[Sega of Japan]], an attempt to bring ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'''s original developers back together into a single team (and in particular, coaxing [[Yuji Naka]] in returning to Japan).{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20230906223052/https://twitter.com/gosokkyu/status/1694904776691986771}}
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Some time after the release of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog CD]]'' in late 1993, director [[Naoto Ohshima]] and another senior game designer (possibly [[Masahide Kobayashi]] based on patents{{ref|1=https://jglobal.jst.go.jp/detail?JGLOBAL_ID=201103041768553990&}}) began work on the ''Fighting Circus'' project{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20191012020045/https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/interview/190909a/2}}. The senior game designer was transferred away from the project in 1994, exchanged for 3 newcomers{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20191012020045/https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/interview/190909a/2}} who joined in April of 1994: game designer [[Yosuke Okunari]], and 2 programmers, [[Koji Aiba]] and [[Yasuhiro Watanabe]]{{ref|1=https://jglobal.jst.go.jp/detail?JGLOBAL_ID=201103041768553990&}}. The team also included [[Masahito Shimizu]] (more commonly known as Roppyaku Tsurumi), a former arcade game director who had been reassigned to Sega Saturn development and would coordinate these newcomers{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20191012020045/https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/interview/190909a/2}}.
  
Ultimately, the freeing of Ohshima from ''Fighting Circus'' did result in Naka moving back to Japan and the original ''Sonic'' developers reuniting under the newly-created [[Sonic Team]].
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A prototype of the game was developed within 2 months to be presented to executives, with design documents compiled by Okunari and rough polygonal models created by the programmers using a [[Sega Saturn]] development kit{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20191012020045/https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/interview/190909a/2}}. While feedback was positive, it also happened around October, when [[Sega Technical Institute]] in America had just finished developing ''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]'', leading to discussions of bringing that game's team (and in particular, producer/lead programmer [[Yuji Naka]]) back to Japan, and attempt to bring ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'''s original developers back together into a single team{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20230906223052/https://twitter.com/gosokkyu/status/1694904776691986771}}. Ultimately, this necessitated Ohshima be let go from ''Fighting Circus'' to coax Naka moving back to Japan so that the original ''Sonic'' developers would reunite under the newly-created [[Sonic Team]]. ''Fighting Circus'' was left in the hands of the new developers like Okunari,{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20191012020045/https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/interview/190909a/2}} but due to a corporate restructure which took place in October, the project was abandoned{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20230830134523/https://twitter.com/NaotoOhshima/status/1694798352947286039}}, with Okunari saying that he had only been a game designer for 6 months before being given a new role in publicity{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20191012020045/https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/interview/190909a/2}}.
  
 
==Production credits==
 
==Production credits==

Revision as of 06:31, 10 February 2024

Notavailable.svg
Fighting Circus: Elandoll
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega CS1
Development timeframe: 1994[1]
Genre: Fighting
State before cancellation: Early in development

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Fighting Circus: Elandoll: Elandoll is an unreleased 3D fighting game. In development around 1994, it is thought that Sega of Japan's desire to use the game's director, Naoto Ohshima, in what would become Sonic Team eventually lead to the project's cancellation.[1]

History

Some time after the release of Sonic the Hedgehog CD in late 1993, director Naoto Ohshima and another senior game designer (possibly Masahide Kobayashi based on patents[2]) began work on the Fighting Circus project[3]. The senior game designer was transferred away from the project in 1994, exchanged for 3 newcomers[3] who joined in April of 1994: game designer Yosuke Okunari, and 2 programmers, Koji Aiba and Yasuhiro Watanabe[2]. The team also included Masahito Shimizu (more commonly known as Roppyaku Tsurumi), a former arcade game director who had been reassigned to Sega Saturn development and would coordinate these newcomers[3].

A prototype of the game was developed within 2 months to be presented to executives, with design documents compiled by Okunari and rough polygonal models created by the programmers using a Sega Saturn development kit[3]. While feedback was positive, it also happened around October, when Sega Technical Institute in America had just finished developing Sonic & Knuckles, leading to discussions of bringing that game's team (and in particular, producer/lead programmer Yuji Naka) back to Japan, and attempt to bring Sonic the Hedgehog's original developers back together into a single team[1]. Ultimately, this necessitated Ohshima be let go from Fighting Circus to coax Naka moving back to Japan so that the original Sonic developers would reunite under the newly-created Sonic Team. Fighting Circus was left in the hands of the new developers like Okunari,[3] but due to a corporate restructure which took place in October, the project was abandoned[4], with Okunari saying that he had only been a game designer for 6 months before being given a new role in publicity[3].

Production credits

Source:
Various sources


Artwork

FightingCircus artwork.jpeg
FightingCircus artwork.jpeg

References