Mr. Bones

n/a

NTSC-U/PAL
NTSC-J

Mr. Bones

Publisher: Sega

Developer: Zono, Pacific SoftScape^[1]

Supporting companies: Angel Studios Interactive Entertainment^[2] (cutscenes), SegaSoft, T.L.A. Developments (some stage programming)

Sound driver: SCSP/CD-DA (9/11 tracks)

Genre: Action^[3]^[4]

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1997-06-26^[4]	¥5,8005,800	GS-9127
US	1996-10-18^[5]	$49.9949.99^[6]	81016
EU	1997-03-13^[7]		MK81016-50
DE	1997-03-13^[7]		MK81016-50
PT	199x
UK	1997-03-13^[7]	£39.9939.99^[7]	MK81016-50
PL	1997	229zł229
AU	199x		FMRB01SSC
BR	199x		193126

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Mr. Bones (ミスター・ボーンズ) is a Sega Saturn experimental action game developed by Zono and published by Sega. Conceptualized by Ed Annunziata, the game is an eccentric and surreal experience combining numerous gameplay styles and mechanics, ranging from action platformer to rhythm game to Tempest-like, and was first released in the United States in October 1996 - two weeks before Halloween.

The game is notable for being composed by famed American guitarist Ronnie Montrose, and for being one of the few Western games of the era to receive a published soundtrack in North America, Mr. Bones (album).

Production credits

Developed by Zono Inc.

Project Leader: Jeff Fort
Hero/Core/Stage Programmer: Simon Hallam
Core/Stage Programmer: Dave Castelnouvo
Stage Programmer: Thibault Lepoutre
Stage Programmer: Bob Meissner
Hero Animator/Game Artist: Michael Gates
Game Artist: Jason Hough
Supplemental Sprite Artist: Brian Collins
Administrative Coordinator: Marion Fort
Managing Producer: Ed Zobrist
Game Design: Annunziata, Novak

Art & Cinematics: Angel Studios

Creative Director: Jill Hunt
Producer: Jennifer Johnston
Cinematic Design/Storyboards: Allen Battino
Art Director: Daren Bader
Animators: Michael Limber, James Polk, Peter Megow, Rod Stafford
Lighting: Carlos Cabral
3D Artists: Stacy Curry, Rob Howard, Lisa Mulvaney, Brian Newlin
Technical Consultant: Jim McLeod
Technical Support: Mark Adan, Scott Vye, Teresa Shaw
Motion Capture Programmer: Tim Monk
Motion Capture Support: Art Wasem
Production Assistant: Glen Hernandez

Segasoft

Music Composed And Performed by: Ronnie Montrose
Additional Music Composition, Arrangement And Programming For The Saturn by: Jim Hedges
Generator Room Level Music Composed & Produced by: Brian Coburn
Interactive Music Design and Audio Programming: Tom Miley
Sound design: Brian Coburn
Recording And Mix Engineer: Gordon Lyon
Audio Production Coordinator: Gordon Lyon
Audio: Philip Perkins
Midi Sound Recordist: Jennifer Hruska
Percussion: Michele Graybeal
Song Lyrics: Merle Kessler, Ronnie Thanks Tim Derwallis & Jeremy Stappard @ Sony USA
Screenplay by: Merle Kessler
Cinematic Post Production: Eric Caplain
Talent Coordinator: Adam Sevillia
Production Coordinators: Marianne Arotzarena, Debbie Kramer
Animator: Suzie Greene, John Broenen
Artist: Ernie Chan
Additional Animation: Metropolis Digital, Bruce Straley
Additional Programming: Ray Frericks

Live Action Crew

Director of Photography: Bill Holshevnikoff
Ultimattist: Jim Rolin
Key Grips: Jamie Campana, Jim Stewart
Gaffer: Daryl Flowers, Greg Davies
Swing/Grip: Lana Bernberg, Chris Schellenberger
Jib Arm Operator: Maciel Lopez
Jib From Northern Lights: Mike Murphy

Additional Crew

Costumes & Props: Laura Hazless
Fiber Optic Specialist: Richard Dubin
Make-Up & Props: Joeann Edmonds
Assistants On The Set: David Young, Jennifer Hruska, Joe Cain

Actors
- As "Dagoulian": Brian Vouglass
- Talent Stand-In: Alana Huchital
- As "Blind Man": Ronnie Montrose
Voices
- As "Mr. Bones": F.Houston
- As "Little People/Sparky": Marlowe Keffley
- As "Little People": Brian Coburn
- As "Blues Man": Paul Pena
- As "Yeah!": Gerry Blau
Product Manager: Matt Dunbar
Marketing Manager: Anne Moellering
Packaging: Sarah Wittmer, Angel Studio, Mike Mangano
Manual: Curtis Clarkson
Instrumental Beings: Dave Albert, Bob Hardy, Mark Miller, Chris Walker
Lead Tester: Atom Ellis
Assistant Leads: Ben Rubright, Brendan Cahill, Matthew Cogley, Trent Haskins
Testers: Matt Underwood, Steve Perez, Marcus Montgomery, Len Jung, Amy Albertson, Ian McGuinness, Essie Hamadani, Sean Potter, Laughing Lloyd Kinoshita, David Dodge, John Fosnaugh, Nicole Tatum, Karen Brown, Samson "Bones" Maciel, Mike Callahan, Tom Collins, Greg Pett, Michael McCollom, Peter Young, Fred Selker, Ferdinand Villar, Oscar Ying, Dan Madar, Andrew Byrne, Scott Solmonson, Dennis Lee, Rey Alferez, Howard Gipson, Steve Perez, Jeff Hedges, Don Carmichael, Jeff Sanders, Brian Thoroman, Lance Nelson, Steve Thompson, Jason Cordero
Special Thanks To: Deborah Annunziata, John Shirley, Steve Payne, Michelle Higkey, ALI, Kelly, Nancy, Tina, Cindy, Jeffrey Mellem, Iain Davies, Paul, Byford, Anthony Gaud, Gary Blum, Bob Schonfisch, Arvin Carlson, Eileen Sacman, Frontline Marketing, Jef Feltman, Janine Cook, And Larry Loth, Jimme Mathews @Plus Four Marketing, Rick Gentry @ Hafler
Extra Special Thanks To: Mackie Designs, Seymour Duncan & Tom Waters @ Seymour Duncan Pickups, Sean Beresford & Jim Aschow @ Mesa Boogie, John Page, Gene Baker & Mark Carlson @ Fender Custom Shop
Producers: Ed Annunziata, Crisi Albertson
Original Story And Game Concept: E. Ettore Annunziata

Source:

In-game credits^[8]

Japanese Localization Staff: Yukimi Shimura, Osamu Shibamiya, Keith Palmer, Shinobu Shindo, Hideki Yohkaichiya, Ryutaro Nonaka
Japanese Voice For "Mr. Bones": Hiroyuki Kato

History

Development

Mr. Bones began development in December 1994 at Zono, but as the project progressed into 1995, producer Ed Annunziata began looking for another company to finish development. Ed Zobrist of Pacific SoftScape reached out to Annunziata about filling that role, which resulted in the game being largely finished by Pacific SoftScape staff. This also resulted in a number of SoftScape staff migrating to Zono. Development concluded in September 1996.^[9]

Magazine articles

Main article: Mr. Bones/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in EGM² (US) #29: "November 1996" (1996-xx-xx)
also published in:

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #89: "December 1996" (1996-xx-xx)^[10]

Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1997-23: "1997-23 (1997-07-11)" (1997-06-27)

Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1997-24: "1997-24 (1997-07-18)" (1997-07-04)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Consoles + (FR)

PAL

89

^[12]

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US)

NTSC-U

86

^[13]

Famitsu (JP)

NTSC-J

63

^[14]

Fun Generation (DE)

PAL

70

^[15]

GameFan (US)

NTSC-U

82

^[16]

GamePro (US)

NTSC-U

80

^[17]

Game Informer (US)

NTSC-U

72

^[18]

Gry Komputerowe (PL)

90

^[19]

Intelligent Gamer (US)

NTSC-U

58

^[20]

MAN!AC (DE)

PAL

26

^[21]

Mega Fun (DE)

PAL

58

^[22]

Next Generation (US)

NTSC-U

50

^[23]

Player One (FR)

89

^[24]

Saturn Fan (JP)

NTSC-J

62

^[25]

Saturn Fan (JP)

NTSC-J

75

^[26]

Secret Service (PL)

56

^[27]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

72

^[28]

Sega Saturn Magazine (UK)

PAL

66

^[29]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

70

^[30]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

83

^[31]

Ultra Game Players (US)

NTSC-U

76

^[32]

	70
Based on 21 reviews

Mr. Bones

Saturn, JP
Cover
Spinecard Disc 1 Disc 2 Manual Jewel Case Reg Card

Saturn, US
Cover
Disc 1 Manual

Saturn, EU
Cover

Saturn, PT

Saturn, GR
Cover

Saturn, AU
Cover

Saturn, BR
Cover

Technical information

Main article: Mr. Bones/Technical information.

References

↑ K Horowitz (2016). Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games
↑ K Horowitz (2016). Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games
↑ File:MrBones Saturn JP Box Back.jpg
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/segasaturn/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-03-27 20:57)
↑ http://sega-saturn.com/software.htm (Wayback Machine: 1996-12-15 06:01)
↑ Sega FY 1997 Brand Review, page 10
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 ^7.2 ^7.3 Press release: 1997-02-26: Manx TT Leads Sega's Games Line Up For March
↑ File:Mr Bones Saturn credits.pdf
↑ K Horowitz (2016). Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games
↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 162
↑ GamesMaster, "May 1997" (UK; 1997-04-16), page 72
↑ Consoles +, "Janvier 1997" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 118
↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 85
↑ Famitsu, "1997-07-04" (JP; 1997-06-20), page 1
↑ Fun Generation, "12/96" (DE; 1996-11-13), page 98
↑ GameFan, "Volume 5, Issue 1: January 1997" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 20
↑ GamePro, "January 1997" (US; 1997-xx-xx), page 114
↑ Game Informer, "December 1996" (US; 1996-1x-xx), page 76
↑ Gry Komputerowe, "7-8/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1
↑ Intelligent Gamer, "December 1996" (US; 1996-1x-xx), page 89
↑ MAN!AC, "01/97" (DE; 1996-12-11), page 91
↑ Mega Fun, "12/96" (DE; 1996-11-20), page 90
↑ Next Generation, "January 1997" (US; 1996-12-17), page 180
↑ Player One, "Janvier 1997" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 88
↑ Saturn Fan, "1997 No. 12" (JP; 1997-06-xx), page 180
↑ Saturn Fan, "1997 No. 16" (JP; 1997-08-xx), page 90
↑ Secret Service, "Czerwiec 1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 66
↑ Sega Power, "March 1997" (UK; 1997-02-12), page 47
↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "June 1997" (UK; 1997-05-14), page 66
↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "1997-22 (1997-07-04)" (JP; 1997-06-20), page 173
↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "Readers rating final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 12
↑ Ultra Game Players, "Holiday 1996" (US; 1996-12-03), page 88

Mr. Bones

Music: Mr. Bones (1996)

Demos: Mr. Bones Taiken Sample Ban (1997)

[1] K Horowitz (2016). Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games

[2] K Horowitz (2016). Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games

[:File:MrBones_Saturn_JP_Box_Back.jpg_p-3] File:MrBones Saturn JP Box Back.jpg

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20200327205716.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Fhistory.2Fhard.2Fsegasaturn.2Fsoftware.html-4] 4.0 ^4.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/segasaturn/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-03-27 20:57)

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F19961215060114.2Fhttp:.2F.2Fsega-saturn.com.2Fsoftware.htm-5] ttp://sega-saturn.com/software.htm (Wayback Machine: 1996-12-15 06:01)

[:File:SegaFY1997BrandReview_US.pdf_p10-6] Sega FY 1997 Brand Review, page 10

[Press_release:_1997-02-26:_Manx_TT_Leads_Sega.27s_Games_Line_Up_For_March-7] 7.0 ^7.1 ^7.2 ^7.3 Press release: 1997-02-26: Manx TT Leads Sega's Games Line Up For March

[:File:Mr_Bones_Saturn_credits.pdf_p-8] File:Mr Bones Saturn credits.pdf

[9] K Horowitz (2016). Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games

[:File:EGM_US_089.pdf_p162-10] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 162

[11] GamesMaster, "May 1997" (UK; 1997-04-16), page 72

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_061.pdf_p118-12] Consoles +, "Janvier 1997" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 118

[:File:EGM_US_089.pdf_p85-13] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 85

[14] Famitsu, "1997-07-04" (JP; 1997-06-20), page 1

[:File:FunGeneration_DE_1996-12.pdf_p98-15] Fun Generation, "12/96" (DE; 1996-11-13), page 98

[:File:GameFan_US_0501.pdf_p20-16] GameFan, "Volume 5, Issue 1: January 1997" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 20

[:File:GamePro_US_100.pdf_p114-17] GamePro, "January 1997" (US; 1997-xx-xx), page 114

[:File:GameInformer_US_044.pdf_p76-18] Game Informer, "December 1996" (US; 1996-1x-xx), page 76

[19] Gry Komputerowe, "7-8/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1

[:File:IntelligentGamer_US_07.pdf_p89-20] Intelligent Gamer, "December 1996" (US; 1996-1x-xx), page 89

[:File:MAN.21AC_DE_1997-01.pdf_p91-21] MAN!AC, "01/97" (DE; 1996-12-11), page 91

[:File:MegaFun_DE_1996-12.pdf_p90-22] Mega Fun, "12/96" (DE; 1996-11-20), page 90

[:File:NextGeneration_US_25.pdf_p180-23] Next Generation, "January 1997" (US; 1996-12-17), page 180

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_071.pdf_p88-24] Player One, "Janvier 1997" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 88

[:File:SaturnFan_JP_1997-12_19970627.pdf_p180-25] Saturn Fan, "1997 No. 12" (JP; 1997-06-xx), page 180

[:File:SaturnFan_JP_1997-16.pdf_p90-26] Saturn Fan, "1997 No. 16" (JP; 1997-08-xx), page 90

[:File:SecretService_47_PL.pdf_p66-27] Secret Service, "Czerwiec 1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 66

[:File:SegaPower_UK_90.pdf_p47-28] Sega Power, "March 1997" (UK; 1997-02-12), page 47

[:File:SSM_UK_20.pdf_p66-29] Sega Saturn Magazine, "June 1997" (UK; 1997-05-14), page 66

[:File:SSM_JP_19970704_1997-22.pdf_p173-30] Sega Saturn Magazine, "1997-22 (1997-07-04)" (JP; 1997-06-20), page 173

[:File:SnGwSISDRZK_Book_JP.pdf_p12-31] Sega Saturn Magazine, "Readers rating final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 12

[:File:UltraGamePlayers_US_092.pdf_p88-32] Ultra Game Players, "Holiday 1996" (US; 1996-12-03), page 88

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Mr. Bones

From Sega Retro

Contents

Production credits

History

Development

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Technical information

References