Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2008 October 6

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October 6

Zork

No Zork games have been released for over 10 years. But is it possible that there could be another one soon? 58.165.15.180 (talk) 02:34, 6 October 2008 (UTC)

Everything is possible. Are you asking if it is probable? If so, it is not. The rebirth of Bard's Tale was not enough of a success to drum up a lot of interest in going back to all the old games. -- kainaw™ 02:58, 6 October 2008 (UTC)

Mega Man 9. Splatterhouse. Bionic Commando. Golden Axe: Beast Rider. Just to name a few. There's a bit of a retro revival that's been going on the past half-decade or so in video gaming, so kainaw's conceit is perhaps a little short-sighted. While there has been no announcement for a new Zork title, it definitely doesn't render it impossible given the current trends in game development. Also, from the Zork article, see this:

In 2006, an over-the-phone version of Zork entitled Zasterisk entered beta testing. Programmed by Simon Ditner using Asterisk and the Festival Speech Synthesis System, players can call in and play Zork over the phone by speaking voice commands. The results are read back by the automated text-to-voice synthesis system. It is now known as Zoip, a reference to VoIP.

Interesting. Poechalkdust (talk) 11:12, 7 October 2008 (UTC)

It depends a lot on whether you mean a real commercial, licensed game or a fan game. Fan remakes and games are being made all the tim so in that sense, I would say it's easily possible. In terms of commercial games, a lot depends on who has the license (if it's even clear). One good (or bad) thing is that with the increasing interest in episodic games, a lot of things are being done now that perhaps weren't before. For example, there is now a relatively successful Sam & Max series which was released over 10 years after the last game and ~5? years after the cancellation of the last planned LucasArts game. In this case, the rights reverted to the person who invented Sam & Max after LucasArts failed to make a game over a defined period of time. Similarly there is currently a Gobliins game under development. I'm not quite sure what happened with the rights there but somehow they appear to have ended up back with one of the original developers. Whether it will be released is anyone guess but the developers appear to be serious and they don't appear to be greatly relying on external money so something may be made (whether it'll be good or not is anyone's guess). There is also currently an Inherit the Earth episodic game under development. Again, whether it'll be released is anyone guess but it too appears to be largely independent. Then there is Tex Murphy. While no game is under development, Chris Jones and Aaron Conners are working on another game with some similarties [1]. They do own the rights to Tex Murphy (purchased from Microsoft a while back) and have indicated a desire to work on a future Tex Murphy game so presuming the game/series they're currently working on succeeds, I would say it's easily possible there will be a game. One key thing to remember is that if the developers are sufficiently interested, independent and have the rights, then they may not care that their game is not GTA4. Provided they make enough money for a resonable stadard of living, some will be satisfied if they can get their 'baby' out. Of course, whether such a game will satisfy you is something we can't answer. On the other hand, if the rights still belong to a big studio, then you can expect they probably won't be developing a game for the PC unless they expect it to be a resonable hit (for other platforms they may not be so demanding). Eric Chahi also released an updated PC version of Another World, a GameBoy version and I believe a mobile version Nil Einne (talk) 18:25, 7 October 2008 (UTC)

"The Yankee Doodle Boy" using last names

In 1976, in a special bicentennial episode of I've Got a Secret, Charles Nelson Reilly assembled a group of people from the Manhattan phone book, such that when each person sang their last name in order, it sounded similar to the chorus of The Yankee Doodle Boy. That is, the lyrics were something like "Elmer Yankee Tuttle Dundy…", where every word in the lyrics was the singer's last name. I saw the episode when it was broadcast in 1976, and I can find a web reference to it[2], but I can't find the lyrics that were used. Where can I find the lyrics that were used? I've already tried YouTube. Red Act (talk) 03:50, 6 October 2008 (UTC)

Sorry, I can't answer your question, but it reminded me of another I've Got a Secret where Meredith Wilson had people singing their names to In the Good Old Summertime. I remember the guy whose name was "Somerstein", singing way off key.  :) Little Red Riding Hoodtalk 20:06, 6 October 2008 (UTC)

I was watching TV the day this appeared and I never forgot it because it was so awesome. You are correct that Charles Nelson Reilly used the New York City telephone directory to find these people with the right last names. My best memory is that is went like this:

Ima Yanke Tootle Dundee, Yanke Tootle Dewar Dye. A. Reel Life Nephew Hoffmeyer Unker, Sam, Bjornson DiForza July. Agata Yanke Tootle Sweet Heart Cheesemeyer Yanke Tootle Joy. Yanke Tootle Wente London Chester Rider Ponee. Iyam Dat Yanke Tootle Boy.

Pretty good considering it was 32 years ago, right? I've thought about it many times over the years.It was wonderful , clever and multicultural. I wish I could see it again.(MTO) I made a few corrections to the name list(CCS)

I remember this as well. I'ts amazing that I can remember as much as I do and would so much like to see the video. What I remember is very similar to the last entry. The only differences, I think, are the Emeer or Emier instead of Ima, Lief instead of Life, Bjornson instead of Bjorn. But please does anyone know where a video is?

I also recall this clever fun. I remember Einer instead of Ina, Bjornong instead of Bjorn, Agotta instead of Iva, Cheeseman instead of Shesme, Higham instead of Iyam, and Poi instead of Boy.

Wow. I thought I was the only one who saw/remembered this. It was terrific. I remember the names a little differently - DeForte instead of DiForza, Bjornson instead of Bjornong, Agatta in lieu of Agotta, yes on Cheeseman, and a big yes on Poi (and I believe his first name was Ed!). Reilly ran them through it at least twice on the show it was such a hit (and he specifically singled out Ed Poi because it was difficult to find a name that rhymed with "boy"). I can still see them all in my mind after these many years. And I believe Sam Unker was the only one who sang his complete name, albeit in reverse! — Preceding unsigned comment added by Dobizzo2 (talk • contribs) 23:17, 15 April 2019 (UTC)

I saw this too and loved it! I didn't remember I've Got a Secret; I thought I'd seen it on either the Mike Douglas or Merv Griffin show. Maybe he also did that performance on one of those shows? I also think it was a few years earlier than 1976 when I saw it.

I second Ima, Poi, Chester, and Higham. I believe Agata was spelled with one t, and I have always remembered Yanky as the spelling, though I suppose that could be wrong. I'm pretty sure the guy you're referring to was named DaForta. And the only one whose full name was used, directory-style, was definitely "Yunker, Sam".

When I saw it, everybody held a placard with their name written on it, and whenever Reilly pointed to them, they'd hold it up as they sang or spoke the name.

I called my parents to come see it and they also thought it was hilarious and so clever. Like you, I would love to find video of it! It's such a vivid, mostly clear memory from my youth, even though it was so long ago, because it was unique (and still is), and such an original exercise in collaborative, audience participation entertainment.

I found this page via a search, but I honestly hadn't expected to find anything. Thanks so much: It's so gratifying to find I'm not the only one who saw and remembers this! Gailkitties (talk) 11:52, 14 March 2023 (UTC)

Nintendo

If Nintendo stopped GoldenEye 007 from being released on X-Box Live, why aren't they stopping Banjo-Kazooie from being released? 58.165.15.180 (talk) 02:53, 6 October 2008 (UTC)

Saying that they "stopped it" implies that Nintendo just doesn't want it released on Xbox LIVE. This is very unlikely, since Nintendo, like all companies, does like it very much when it gets paid. The problem with GoldenEye 007 was that reportedly, Nintendo and Microsoft couldn't come to an agreement about the "financial side of things" -- that is to say, how much Nintendo should be paid. Presumably in the case of Banjo-Kazooie, the companies could come to an agreement. It's difficult, if not downright impossible, to know what the difference here was, since the details of the negotiations haven't been made public. -- Captain Disdain (talk) 06:39, 6 October 2008 (UTC)

It's also likely that there are licensing issues. GoldenEye will have been made under license from whoever holds the rights for Bond movies (EON or MGM/UA or the Broccoli family or Ian Fleming's heirs or someone); under these terms, Nintendo may have to pay a royalty for every game distributed, which might make distributing it on X-Box Live uneconomic, or the license may not cover the X-Box format. In contrast the characters in Banjo/Kazooie were originated by Rare, the creators of both games. It's unlikely that the precise terms will be publicly available, however. And as Captain Disdain said, it may have been impossible to negotiate around these problems. --Maltelauridsbrigge (talk) 17:20, 7 October 2008 (UTC)

Singer of Beauty and the Beast demo

I recently bought the beauty and the beast special edition soundtrack and on that CD there is a demo/worktape version of the song Beauty and the Beast. Does anyone know who sings the song on the demo, I have searched all over the internet but can not find anything. It seems as though the person singing it is writing and changing the lyrics as he goes so I wonder if it is Howard Ashman's voice. I appreciate your help :) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ivyice (talk • contribs) 17:43, 6 October 2008 (UTC)

Do the CD liner notes say anything about it? ···日本穣^{? · Talk to Nihonjoe} 00:32, 8 October 2008 (UTC)

Audrey Hepburn's eye color

Anybody know? 80.123.210.172 (talk) 20:31, 6 October 2008 (UTC)

This says "large and velvety brown". Little Red Riding Hoodtalk 20:54, 6 October 2008 (UTC)

Which was also how someone described her... well, never mind. I shouldn't say that out loud... --Jayron32.talk.contribs 00:57, 7 October 2008 (UTC)

You're right. A photograph would be much more effective in illustrating the point(s). Poechalkdust (talk) 11:05, 7 October 2008 (UTC)

A look at the article Audrey Hepburn should provide you with the answer. Granted the first few images are black and white but if you scroll down further you get some colour ones...Or type in 'audrey hepburn' into google and do an 'image search'. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 194.221.133.226 (talk) 14:10, 7 October 2008 (UTC)

Google has color pictures of Audrey Hepburn's... OHHHH... You were responding to the OP, and not my snide comment. Never mind... --Jayron32.talk.contribs 14:13, 7 October 2008 (UTC)