Topic: Frogger Hits the Quarter Century Mark

[Pryopizm]

Konami celebrates with a veritable cornucopia of Frogger for the entire year.

KONAMI’S FROGGER TURNS 25!    

One of The Most Iconic Characters in The Video Game Industry Celebrates   25 Years Of Jumping, Hopping and Dodging Traffic with   New Products and a National Sweepstakes    

   

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – March 17, 2006 – Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. announced today details about the 25th anniversary of the classic Frogger video game series.  Celebrating a quarter century of video game history, the Frogger franchise marks a milestone as one of the most universally adored characters in the industry. Ever since the game first appeared in the arcades in 1981, Frogger has captured the hearts of gamers everywhere. The initial objective of the game was to scoot a friendly frog across a busy five-lane highway and over a perilous river to peaceful lily pads.  The simple, yet addictive "Hop 'N Dodge" gameplay made Frogger accessible to players of all skill levels, allowing it to quickly develop an immense fan base and become an instant success.  With over 20 million games sold to date, Frogger continues to be one of the most memorable and beloved characters in the history of video games.    

“One of the original video game icons, Frogger remains just as popular today as when he first tried to cross that busy street 25 years ago," said Catherine Fowler, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. “We are celebrating Frogger’s silver anniversary with a variety of new products and programs that will ensure that he remains an enduring figure to an all-new generation of gamers as well as the millions of existing fans of the franchise."    

As part of this anniversary celebration, Konami plans to introduce a host of new and exciting Frogger products throughout the year. Starting this month, a dedicated Frogger 25th anniversary website will be launched at www.frogger25th.com.  This site will provide up-to-the-minute information on all activities tied to the year long celebration, from events and contests to product information and special surprises. Konami will also introduce new Frogger games, including a special Frogger 25th Anniversary mobile game that will take players through the evolution of the character, from classic arcade trendsetter to console gaming hero.    

In celebration of his birthday, Frogger will also be hitting the road to celebrate with all of his fans. Starting with the St. Patrick’s Day parade today in New York, the costumed character will be sharing the gift of green, commemorating 25 years of entertainment by handing out special anniversary gift items. In addition, Frogger will be hopping across America throughout the year, making appearances at the Game Developers Conference in San Jose in March, CTIA Wireless 2006 Conference in Las Vegas in April, the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles in May and the San Diego Comic Con event in July.    

Also starting this month, the Frogger faithful will be able to participate in a national sweepstakes entitled “Show us Your Frogger." Participants will be able to submit photographs that demonstrate their devotion to Frogger throughout the year at the official Frogger 25th anniversary web site and be entered into a drawing to win a number of prize packages. Prizing and entry details for the “Show us Your Frogger" sweepstakes will be made available at www.frogger25th.com.

[Ian Sane]

Aside from the original game has Frogger been involved with anything even remotely worth a damn?  You see companies make a big stink about pre-crash era "icons" all the time yet all they ever use them for are as a brand name for really substandard titles.

Any time I see a game with Frogger, Pong, Asteroids, Space Invaders, Pitfall and even Pac-Man in the name I usually assume the game is junk and 99% of the time I'm right.  Who are all these people who buy this junk and keep these horrible cash-ins profitable enough to continue being made?  "All those Frogger games I bought sucked but THIS time i think they're going to get it right."  How much value does a franchise that has been totally irrelevent for 20+ years really have?

[Darkheart]

Its mostly because they get reduced to nothing and then people buy them all up and use them as stocking stuffers.  Seriously I have seen it with my own eyes, Christmas time = the best sales for crappy cheap games.

[Ian Sane]

"Its mostly because they get reduced to nothing and then people buy them all up and use them as stocking stuffers. Seriously I have seen it with my own eyes, Christmas time = the best sales for crappy cheap games."

This is a phenomenon foreign to me as no one I know has ever given me a videogame for a gift unless I specifically asked for it.  I consider myself quite fortunate to have friends and family who aren't insensitive dolts who would be pissed if I bought them a CD for a band they didn't like or a DVD of a movie they hate but feel that somehow this doesn't apply for games.

I haven't escaped this with CDs though.  Stupid Now 3 sticking out like a sort thumb in my otherwise high quality CD collection.

Anyway, I imagine that selling games for cents is going to cost someone money so if that's the reason then someone somewhere in the retail chain has pretty sh!tty business sense.

[TMW]

I love how in the Frogger games the FROG CANNOT SWIM.

Its like...Bizzaro Frog or something.

[Infernal Monkey]

Quote
the Frogger franchise marks a milestone as one of the most universally adored characters in the industry

Yeah. Okay. =|

[jasonditz]

Frogger II: Three Deep for the Atari 2600 had its moments.  

[UncleBob]

I don't care what anyone says, Pac Man Vs. rocked and I want a DS Wi-Fi version.

[jasonditz]

I'm surprised they didn't throw something like that in with Pac N' Roll... maybe next Pacman release will see it.

It's really more of a Pac-in title

[Nephilim]

I doubt it, pacman vs was made by nintendo
cant expect konami to make a quality pacman game inhouse

[Bartman3010]

I liked Pac-Man World 2, it was a fun romp of a game.

Back on topic, I dont even think a lot of people even care about Frogger these days. Pac-Man aged well, but Frogger isnt an 80's game I like very much, or even hear from others. Maybe once when I brought Konami Arcade Classics with my GBA one day but thats it.

Plus they didnt start trying to cash in on Frogger until the days of the 64 and Playstation, when they came out with the remake on Playstation that had a single player adventure. Then they came out with Frogger 2 around the time of the Dreamcast, and once the GCN/PS2/XBX era came in, they gave him this weird cartoony look, put some pants on and hey! Marketable cartoon character! (Not)

[KDR_11k]

Aside from the original game has Frogger been involved with anything even remotely worth a damn?

Ehm, Frogger 3d?