#warp games

[mendelpalace]

"Which way to the underground?" An article from Next Generation #36 (December 1997) looking at the idea of "underground" games that step outside of expectations of the mainstream game industry. Features Kenji Eno of Warp Games, Kazutoshi Iida of Artdink, and Crack Dot Com. It also touches on the PS1's Net Yaroze and some era-specific game development software.

[mendelpalace]

Rare deluxe special edition for Enemy Zero (1997, Sega Saturn). Only 20 were made, and were sold for 200,000 yen. Kenji Eno, the founder and lead designer of WARP Games literally delivered these crates to people personally via a flatbed truck. Proof that:

1) Absurd and excessive special editions are far from a recent thing and 2) When Kenji Eno did something, he did it big. The man was dedicated and crazy, and I respect that. 

Each package included: 

A copy of the “regular”  Enemy Zero special edition

A full set (leather outfit w/gloves, hat, tights, EO-logo badge and earrings) of the outfit worn by the companion girls at WARP’s 1996 Tokyo Game Show booth, designed by Yasushi Nirasawa

A towel embroidered with the EO logo

A model of an “enemy” corpse, complete with bodily liquid

A metallic bookmark

A flyer and ticket to an Enemy Zero art exhibit held in 1996

A set of press releases for Enemy Zero (back when these were faxed around instead of emailed)

A VHS video of Enemy Zero music clips

A large 3D lenticular sheet

A set of stickers

An Enemy Zero T-shirt

A replica of the gun Laura uses in the game, again designed by Nirasawa

Actual design documents used in developing the game

Floppy disks, envelopes, and paper bags with the WARP logo

A Sega Saturn-stamped CD-R (contents unknown)

Back in 2009 someone bought off of Yahoo Auctions in Japan for roughly $3400.

[rewak]