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Post by shion on Aug 15, 2009 20:26:28 GMT -5
FYI: Lobb never worked for Rare--he was an employee of NOA but worked closely with them on their games. (He was also, in all likelihood, the main driver behind MS' ill-fated purchase of the one-time, top-shelf, developer when he hopped over to Xbox.)
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2009 20:58:44 GMT -5
Interesting case this Ken Lobb fellow. Thanks for sharing this, ReyVGM.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2009 23:40:16 GMT -5
(He was also, in all likelihood, the main driver behind MS' ill-fated purchase of the one-time, top-shelf, developer when he hopped over to Xbox.) Could have sworn that Ed Fries was the main instigator on that point... |
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Post by neomerge on Aug 16, 2009 0:53:27 GMT -5
I think he worked on Great Greed too.
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Post by shion on Aug 16, 2009 0:59:06 GMT -5
(He was also, in all likelihood, the main driver behind MS' ill-fated purchase of the one-time, top-shelf, developer when he hopped over to Xbox.) Could have sworn that Ed Fries was the main instigator on that point... I should clarify that my comment was based on informed speculation and the strong impression that Lobb was, err, lobbying for it hard. |
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Post by kal on Aug 16, 2009 3:35:36 GMT -5
>_>
What a cool guy.
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Post by CRV on Aug 16, 2009 7:25:12 GMT -5
He produced and/or created Burai Fighter, Low G Man and G.I Joe for Taxan. Did some stuff for Namco and then apparently left for Taito and made the G.I. Joe clone Kick Master (pretty cool game too). After that, he worked on Super Punch Out and then went to Rare, where KLOBB was born. Lobb worked for Taxan USA and Namco Hometek, but not Taito. Kickmaster and G.I. Joe: The Atlantis Factor were supposed to be released by Taxan, but probably weren't because of Taxan USA exiting the game industry. He's only given special thanks on Super Punch-Out!! Here's a site all about KID's games. It's in Japanese, so use appropriate online tools where necessary. Here's the soundtrack from the unreleased Burai Fighter arcade game, which was apparently recorded directly from a board. |
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Post by ReyVGM on Aug 16, 2009 21:09:42 GMT -5
Well, I contacted Ken Lobb directly and he actually emailed me back.
Here's my original query:
"Hello Ken.
I got a question about your old school NES games from Taxan and Taito.
Who is that KAL guy that gets credited in the ending messages for the games Low G Man, GI Joe, Kickmaster and Burai Fighter?
Does KAL stand for Ken A. Lobb?
Did you have a company for hire or something like it? Because Kickmaster is from Taito but it feels a lot like GI Joe from Taxan. Also Burai Fighter is from Taxan but Taito published it in Japan. Can you give me some insight as to what the whole deal was?
Have a nice day. "
And here's his reply:
"I am KAL, alan is my middle name. I played a lot of arcade games back then, and they forced 3 initials for high scores, so that lived on in my early games. I produced/designed all of those games. The reason that Kick Master was released from Taito was that Taxan was closed when the game shipped. I moved to Namco when Taxan closed.
All of the games had a similar feel because they were all developed by KID, Kindle Image Develop, out of Tokyo. Great guys, I miss that company and working with them!!
Of course, I have done a lot more since then, but those were good times. At least my GI Joe was FAR better than the current one!"
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2009 21:12:51 GMT -5
At least my GI Joe was FAR better than the current one! Too effing true. That's pretty cool that you were able to talk to the man himself. |
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Post by ReyVGM on Aug 16, 2009 21:16:24 GMT -5
Yeah, I was amazed he emailed back. I asked him a few more questions too, hope he answers back soon enough.
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Post by Discoalucard on Aug 16, 2009 21:23:55 GMT -5
That's really damn cool. I might update the Natsume one properly then get on to a KID one. I discovered Burai Fighter not too long ago and was surprised at how excellent it was.
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Post by Haz on Aug 16, 2009 21:28:56 GMT -5
Yeah, and here I was thinking he'd be some hardass. Good sleuthing.
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Post by kal on Aug 16, 2009 22:19:34 GMT -5
I like the way he smacked talked the new GI Joe game  what a great guy. |
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Post by Shellshock on Aug 16, 2009 23:04:32 GMT -5
Awesome Rey. I'm actually writing about GameBoy Burai Fighter right now, so I'll use some of this info.
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Post by ReyVGM on Aug 16, 2009 23:28:10 GMT -5
Is the GB Burai Fighter a port or a sequel to the NES game?
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what a great guy.