“17 Surprising Facts About Your Favorite Video Games” uncovers the hidden gems and unexpected tales behind the scenes of the most beloved titles in gaming history. From secret inspirations to development quirks, prepare to be amazed by the stories that have shaped the worlds we love to explore.
The First Easter Egg in Gaming History
In 1979, the game Adventure for the Atari 2600 included the first known Easter egg in video game history. Created by programmer Warren Robinett, this secret room contained the text “Created by Warren Robinett,” a feature included without the knowledge of his employers. This hidden message was a form of signature from the developer, at a time when creators’ credits were not commonly included in games.
The Origin of Lara Croft’s Name
Lara Croft, the iconic protagonist of the Tomb Raider series, originally had a different name. The developers wanted a universally British name, so they flipped through a phonebook and landed on “Lara” for its British resonance, and “Croft” was chosen for its strong, short sound, marking the birth of a gaming icon.
The Accidental Creation of the Creeper in Minecraft
The Creeper, an iconic adversary in Minecraft, was actually the result of a coding error. Developer Markus Persson intended to create a pig, but accidentally swapped the figures for height and length when coding its model, resulting in the Creeper’s tall, slim, and explosive character.
Final Fantasy’s Name Origin
The Final Fantasy series was named under the belief it would be Square Enix’s last game due to financial difficulties. The “final” game ended up saving the company and spawning one of the most successful gaming franchises in history.
The PlayStation’s Accidental Origins
The PlayStation was originally conceived as a Nintendo console, with Sony developing a CD-ROM add-on for the Super Nintendo. Disagreements over contract terms led Sony to develop the PlayStation independently, revolutionizing console gaming with its release.
Pac-Man’s Shape Inspired by a Pizza
Toru Iwatani, the creator of Pac-Man, was inspired by a pizza missing a slice, leading to the character’s iconic circular shape with an open mouth. This simple design has become one of the most recognizable symbols in gaming.
The Legend of Zelda Named After Zelda Fitzgerald
Shigeru Miyamoto named The Legend of Zelda after Zelda Fitzgerald, the American socialite and wife of author F. Scott Fitzgerald. Miyamoto thought her name sounded pleasant and significant, fitting the princess’s character in the game.
GTA’s Free Roam was a Glitch
The free-roam style of Grand Theft Auto was the result of a glitch. Initially designed as a racing game, a bug caused police AI to aggressively pursue the player, leading developers to pivot the game towards the open-world criminal adventure it’s known for today.
The Hidden Code in Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong harbored a secret message left by its programmer, Landon M. Dyer, intended to trigger only if the game crashed in a specific manner. It took 26 years before someone discovered the message: “CONGRATULATIONS! THIS STORY IS HAPPY END. THANK YOU.”
Super Mario Bros. was Influenced by Alice in Wonderland
Shigeru Miyamoto drew inspiration from Alice in Wonderland when creating Super Mario Bros., particularly in designing the game’s world where characters could grow and shrink in size—a novel concept that contributed greatly to the game’s enchanting atmosphere.
Portal’s Companion Cube Inspiration
The Companion Cube in Portal was introduced to help players navigate through test chambers. However, its emotional attachment was unintended; playtesters felt lonely during testing, leading developers to add the cube as a “companion” to alleviate this, unexpectedly creating an iconic symbol of friendship in gaming.
The True Origin of the Name ‘Xbox’
The Xbox was originally named the “DirectX Box,” intended to showcase Microsoft’s DirectX technology. The name was eventually shortened to Xbox, launching a new era for Microsoft in the gaming industry.
Call of Duty’s Hidden Tribute to Developers’ Children
In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the high-pitched noise the Predator drone makes when targeting is actually a recording of the developers’ children making shooting noises, serving as a hidden tribute and adding a personal touch to the game’s audio design.
The Morse Code Mystery in Battlefield 1
Battlefield 1 players discovered mysterious headphones on various maps that, when collected, broadcasted Morse code. This led to a community-wide effort to decode the messages, revealing hidden lore and challenges designed by the developers.
The Voice of Mario and Luigi
Charles Martinet, the voice actor for Mario, Luigi, and others in the Mario franchise, initially crashed the audition without an invitation. His improvisation of an Italian plumber from Brooklyn scored him the role, defining the voices of some of gaming’s most iconic characters.
The Accidental Invention of the Konami Code
The famous Konami Code was created by Kazuhisa Hashimoto while developing the NES version of Gradius. Finding the game too difficult to test, he implemented the code for extra lives, forgetting to remove it before shipping. It has since become a staple in gaming culture.
Skyrim’s “Arrow to the Knee” was an Inside Joke
The line “I used to be an adventurer like you, then I took an arrow to the knee” from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was actually an inside joke among the developers. It’s speculated to refer to marriage, as “taking an arrow to the knee” was old Norse slang for getting married, although this is debated among fans.
This article originally appeared on UnifyCosmos.
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