Australian rating board issues classification for new release of Konami coin-op beat-'em-up; Backbone Entertainment listed as developer.
The Simpsons Arcade Game may finally be in line for its first console port. As reported by XBLA Fans, the Australian government's Classification Board has updated its database with a listing for The Simpsons Arcade Game on multiple platforms.
Originally released in 1991, The Simpsons Arcade Game was a four-player beat-'em-up from Konami. The game allowed players to plow through side-scrolling levels as Bart, Lisa, Homer, and Marge, pummeling generic suit-wearing bad guys, Matt Groening Life is Hell extras, and recognizable residents of Springfield alike. The arcade game was ported to the PC and Commodore 64 the same year, but never made it to the consoles of the time.
In 2009, Electronic Arts released a mobile phone game called The Simpsons Arcade, but the new classification suggests that the project is unrelated. Handed down yesterday, the listing details Konami as the publisher and retro specialist Backbone Entertainment as the developer. The Emeryville, California-based studio has previously released downloadable versions of Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, and Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix. It also developed Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, a compilation of 40 games from Sega's 16-bit system, for the Xbox 360 and PS3.
The Simpsons is another in a line of downloadable console ports for Konami's licensed coin-op games of the late '80s and early '90s. Last year, Konami and Backbone teamed up to release X-Men: The Arcade Game on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The publisher also worked with Ubisoft for 2007's Xbox 360 release of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game and in 2009 saw the French publisher remake the game's arcade sequel, Turtles in Time.
Despite the classification, there are still a handful of licensed Konami arcade games of the era still awaiting a modern rerelease. Notably, the publisher's 1992 arcade games Bucky O'Hare and Wild West C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa have yet to find their way to contemporary consoles.
Brendan Sinclair has been a games journalist since 1999. His tastes are eclectic, though he has a definite affinity for games with arcade roots. He's Canadian, but has also been at home in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco.
@BlueFlameBat im fairly good at side scrollers but yes, how you described metroid is exactly my problem. I've tried Metroid and Super Metroid and honestly get to the point where I'm like.."ok know where do I go/do" but unlike most games I continue to stay stuck in that question rather than discovering the answer. It's always a series I WANTED to be good at and failed every time ha ha. Thank you for the encouraging words though.
@wolfbm By "classic Metroid", do you mean the side-scrollers in general or the NES game which was very maze-like with no map for help? Metroid games are not known for being easy so don't beat yourself up.
I think we can do without Bucky O'Hare and Wild West C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa being re-released. They look terrible even when they were new.
"The arcade game was ported to the PC and Commodore 64 the same year, but never made it to the consoles of the time". Back in the days, games could get ported to the PC, but not the consoles, lol. It's hard to imagine that now, isn't it? The history of games can sometimes be as interesting and fun as the game itself.
Ahh yes, 'The Simpsons Arcade Game'... one of the best (most MEMORABLE) beat-em-ups ever conceived. I was 13 years old when this title was first released, and can remember playing this coin-op whenever passing-by one at the arcade. Regardless of whatever technological advancements have been made within the Gaming Industry over the last few decades, this particular time era (early '90's) STILL remains my favorite. Perhaps I'm just a sucker for nostalgia, but the overall experience derived from these games during that time was absolutely PRICE-LESS.
I remember playing this at an airport arcade machine with my cousins in 1995. So long ago, yet the memories still seem so fresh and vivid. Time flies.
Holy crap! I played this game so much at the arcade. Please, please, please, please come to PC, but if not, I may have a reason to bring my 360 out of the closet! Nostalgia overload!
I loved the coin-op simpsons! the colours and gfx were so sharp!! Anyone remember "The Simpsons: Bart vs Space Mutants", i had it on C64, not sure what else it was on?
just a point to raise but THE SIMPSONS ARCADE is unofficially available for Segas DREAMCAST console using a MAME emulator
Awesome news, they will make a ton of money and I will definetly contribute. I just hope it's a straight port and not a re-jigged 'Turtles in Time Re-shelled' type travesty.
Simply put, great news! I for one can never have enough coin-op beat-em-ups. Keep em coming Konami and friends!
The only con to all these arcade games being re-released is they're really short. Without the restriction of feeding quarters to a machine, breezing thru these games take maybe an hour. It's always fun at first but you can only go thru it but so many times before it starts getting boring.
I will never forget going to the arcade (that is loooong gone now) as a kid and playing this game. It was one of the center peices and man was it fun. Really glad to hear it has not been forgotten and we all can get another shot at it :)
@BlueFlameBat I only hate to admit it since it shows my age ha ha. Honestly Bucky is a really great game. What I do hate to admit is the fact that i've been a gamer since the early 80's and til this day still can't get the hang of classic metroid. Thats a game I always wanted to be good at but fail every time.
I've been asking where this game was for the last 10 years, its nice to see them finally release it! Now if we could get a kinetic\move enabled T2:Arcade or Revolution X... Now that I'm thinking about it Virtue Cop 1 and 2 would be sweet as well.
Now they decide to do it after I beat it at my local arcade not too long ago. I got my fix and although the game is good, it is not strong on replay value. I will regretfully pass on this after waiting so long for it to happen.
"Vendetta" was an Konami Arcade game from 1991 (anyone remember?). This game was amazing it had a wrestler that looked like Hulk Hogan. If anyone loved streets of rage or final fight would love this. Come on Konami bring this arcade classic out on a console platform.
Well that cool. Was a super fun arcade game! Glad people that never got a chance can play it, on their consoles! :D
That was the best arcade game I ever played; I still have it for PC, it's a great game. It has a fantastic attention to details on levels and characters... Guys, you're gonna love this!!
Excellent! @TheArcade I don't think you have to worry too much about the voices. No one could ever come close to doing it as well as the original actors.
Finally Mr. Burns will go down! I ran out of quarters in the final boss fight and couldn't finish years ago. :( I shall have revenge!
Loved this game. I don't know how many quarters I lost to this game. One of my fondest memories is when I played this game on a broken machine, and I just kept pushing the button inside the machine to give myself unlimited lives. Ahhh those were the days. I can't wait to play this when it comes out. I'd love it if G-Mode would release some old Data East games, I want to play Bad Dudes vs Dragon Ninja.
@wolfbm Buck Ohare. That takes me back. I didn't know an arcade for that old cartoon even existed until one of friends introduced me to it. It wasn't half bad.
Really. It took this long for the Simpsons Arcade Game to appear? If someone gets Alien Vs. Predator, the real TMNT: Turtles in Time (Not that sad, uninspired Ubisoft version), and Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder on consoles; then I will be truly happy.
@wolfbm Why do you hate to admit liking Bucky O'Hare? It's an arcade beat- and shoot-em-up with space furries. What's not to like?
Wonder if it will have the 'press start to play' achievement again...easiest achievement EVER !
HD update of 1991 beat-'em-up confirmed for release on PlayStation Network on February 7 for paying subscribers only; four-player online co-op included.
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