Space Channel 5

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For the Canadian television network, see Space (TV channel)

Space Channel 5

European boxart, Dreamcast version
Developer(s) United Game Artists
Publisher(s) Sega
Platform(s) Dreamcast, PlayStation 2
Release date Dreamcast
Flag of Japan December 16, 1999
Flag of the United States June 4, 2000
Flag of Europe October 6, 2000
PlayStation 2
Flag of Europe March 15, 2002
Flag of Japan December 12, 2002
Flag of the United States November 18, 2003 (SC5 Special Edition)
Genre(s) Music
Mode(s) Single player, multiplayer
Rating(s) ESRB: T (Teen)
ELSPA: 3+

Space Channel 5 (スペース チャンネル５）is a console game, which was first released in Japan for the Dreamcast on December 16, 1999. It was later released in the United States on June 6, 2000 and in Europe on October 8, 2000. The producer of this game is Tetsuya Mizuguchi, the man who is also behind Sega Rally Championship. It features the character Ulala . The game is similar to PaRappa the Rapper and earlier memorization games like Simon where the computer shows a sequence of moves—dance steps in this case—and the player must copy them successfully to advance.

Contents

[edit] Commands and gameplay

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The dance commands merely use the existing movement buttons. The "up" button corresponds to the aliens raising both paws or Ulala raising both hands. For "down", Ulala lowers only her right hand. Her left hand contains a microphone. When either the "left" or "right" button is pressed, she only moves her hand in the respective direction. Their legs move, and their torsos automatically bend.

The "A" button is used for shooting at the Morolians or simply another dance move. The "B" button is used for rescuing hostages (In report 2, however, in the first phase of the boss, the "B" button is not used for shooting directly at the hostages). There also appears to be mispronunciation of "shoot" when the player presses either the "A" or "B" button. In the manual, it says "shoot", but the Morolians say words that are quite similar to "kiss", "chin". Ulala, Pudding, Jaguar and Evila say "chu', while Fuse says "shoot" or "chu".

In between these scenes, Ulala appears to be taunting the opponent (if the player gets all the moves correct) or have messed up the dance (if the player gets incorrect moves or misses a move). Ulala is given a certain number of hearts in case she misses a move or get an incorrect move. If she does so, she will lose a heart. If she loses all the given number of hearts, she will then hunch over and become upset, with Fuse shouting at her.

[edit] Development

In discussing the study of target demographics, Mizuguchi related the story of designing Space Channel 5, which was at first a vague assignment from Sega that asked only that Mizuguchi design a game with a broad enough appeal to draw in even casual female gamers. "This was the first I'd heard of casual female gamers", he said, "so I didn't really know what to do. I personally interviewed a lot of young girls, trying to find out what they like." Women, he says, tend to enjoy puzzle games, while male gamers "want to be on top, they want to accomplish something and be the champion." It's difficult, he insists, to create a game that appeals to both males and females on an equal level.[1]

[edit] Series history

Space Channel 5Special Edition (PS2)
Space Channel 5
Special Edition (PS2)

Space Channel 5 was first released on the Dreamcast in Japan on December 16, 1999 and in America on June 4, 2000 and Europe on October 6, 2000. The Japanese packaging featured a sparkling silver cover and the American release a lenticular cover. Space Channel 5 was given a budget DriKore release in Japan on December 21, 2000 in simpler packaging.

In 2002, Space Channel 5 was ported to the PlayStation 2 and released in Europe on March 15, 2002 and in Japan on December 12, 2002.

The sequel, Space Channel 5: Part 2 was released in Japan on February 14, 2002 both for the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2. A limited edition was released in Japan featuring a carrying case and a set of large headphones. In Europe, it was released only for the PlayStation 2 (a European Dreamcast version was planned, but it was eventually canned) on February 12, 2003. Oddly enough, it was not released in the United Kingdom.

Finally, both PlayStation 2 versions of Space Channel 5 and Space Channel 5 Part 2 were released in North America in November 18, 2003 as part of a sole package called Space Channel 5 Special Edition.

Space Channel 5: Ulala's Cosmic Attack for the Game Boy Advance in 2003 was released by THQ as part of an agreement that gave THQ the exclusive rights to make GBA games based on Sega franchises.

Rez, also developed by UGA, featured a Morolian alien as an additional, unlockable evolution for the main character.

A minigame called Dance was included in the 2004 Nintendo DS handheld game Feel the Magic: XY/XX which has a near-identical format to Space Channel 5, and even starts off with a sound clip from it. If the game is played with a Space Channel 5: Ulala's Cosmic Attack Game Boy Advance cartridge in the system at the same time, Ulala's hairstyle could be unlocked for the female lead.

Space Channel 5 also appeared as a minigame in Sega's PlayStation 2 EyeToy-based game, Sega Superstars.

Ulala also appeared as a hidden playable character in the game Sonic Riders.

According to an article on Eurogamer.net, Several "Higher Ups" At Sega are pushing for a new SC5 game to be made for a next-generation console. However, producer Takashi Yuda says that "nothing has been decided."[2] Series producer Tetsuya Mizuguchi has expressed interest in another Space Channel 5 sequel for the Nintendo Wii, although no plans appear to be in the works at this time.[3]

A girl having a similar striking appearance to Ulala appears in Phantasy Star Universe in single player mode. Around Chapters 10 and beyond, she reports for the Gurhal Channel 5 News. The intro theme is the same as Ulala's Space Channel Intro.

Ulala and Pudding also appear in the Sega Superstars Tennis, alongside other Sega franchises.

[edit] Special guests

Michael Jackson makes a cameo appearance as Space Michael in Space Channel 5,[4] near the end of the game.

The May 2007 issue of EGM contains a quote from series creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi concerning what it was like to work with Michael:

"We were in the middle of production of Space Channel 5, in 1998 or 1999. I got a call from the U.S. from my partner - the executive producer of Space Channel 5 - and he said, 'Oh, Michael wants to act in Space Channel 5.' I said, 'Who's Michael?' 'Who is Michael Jackson?' he said, 'The Michael Jackson - the real Michael Jackson'
My partner had shown him the 60-to-70 percent complete version, when it was almost at the end of the game. We had one month to finalize. But Michael wanted to do something, so we suggested that if he was OK with it, we could program the people in the game to do the Michael Jackson dance when taken over by aliens. he said 'yeah.' We initially had five aliens who danced. One of them became Michael Jackson."

He had a more prominent role in Space Channel 5: Part 2 where he became the new head of Space Channel 5. Whilst Ulala is distracted by a fake scoop, the headquarters are attacked and Space Michael is kidnapped by Purge and the Rhythm Rogues and has to be rescued by Ulala in a level featuring several of Michael's trademark dance moves. Then when faced up against a singing robot, Space Michael 'sings' using trademark noises such as his infamous howl. He then joins Ulala in facing up against Purge.

In both versions of the game, Michael speaks in English, which is subbed into Japanese in the Japanese version. He tends to have the habit of calling Ulala, 'you-la-la.'

[edit] Lawsuit

In early 2003, Lady Miss Kier, formerly of the band Deee-Lite, initiated a lawsuit against SEGA corporation for allegedly stealing her former persona and using it as the basis of a video game character. The lawsuit was based on accusations of copying her look of knee-high boots, short skirts and a pink ponytail, for SEGA's Ulala character design [5].

Lady Miss Kier (whose real name is Kier Kirby) claims that SEGA offered to pay her $16,000 to license her name, image and songs for the game, though she rejected their offer. Kirby later learned that the videogame maker went ahead and used her resemblance anyway, and she decided to initiate the lawsuit. She ultimately lost the suit and a later appeal and was liable to pay Sega's legal fees of $608,000 (reduced from $763,000 requested). [6]

[edit] Voice cast

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Clifaldi, Frank (2005-05-20). E3 Report: The Path to Creating AAA Games. Retrieved on 2007-05-26.
  2. ^ Space Channel 5 to return?. eurogamer.net. Retrieved on 2006-10-22.
  3. ^ Tetsuya Mizuguchi interview: Thoughts on Lumines III, and Space Channel 5 for the Wii. QJ.net. Retrieved on 2006-10-22.
  4. ^ Michael Donahue, "Forced Guests: Cameos that make us sceam 'Yessss!'" in Electronic Gaming Monthly 226 (March 2008): 34.
  5. ^ Lady Kier VS Sega. ladykier.com. Retrieved on 2006-12-11.
  6. ^ "Lady Miss Kier" Hammered With Opponent's Attorney's Fees. legalreader.com. Retrieved on 2006-12-11.

[edit] External links

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