Feature: When Developers Hide Secrets In Games

Author: by Staff

Gamasutra's latest feature looks at content hidden in games -- Easter eggs -- that have a message beyond offering a cool secret to the player, including gay SimCopter characters, sarcastic Wave Race announcers, and a very naughty Naughty Dog. "What makes a game developer decide to "go rogue" and insert content without the knowledge and approval of their employers and colleagues? We will explore the question by examining instances of this phenomenon that have arisen in games from such prominent companies as Maxis, Naughty Dog, Nintendo and Atari," writes developer Jamey Stevenson. A recently-discovered code in Wave Race: Blue Storm turns the Gamecube launch title into something less family-friendly. "The code, which had apparently passed under the collective radar of gamers for nearly a decade, replaces the audio files for the game's announcer with quips that taunt and belittle the player," writes Stevenson. The full article, live now on Gamasutra, covers an even more provocative secret from the early days of Naughty Dog and a subversive SimCopter addition that got the developer fired from Maxis -- and more. The full feature, Saboteurs, Smugglers, And Stowaways, is live now on Gamasutra.