History Trivia / Clayfighter

** After the ScrewedByTheLawyers cases of fangames, it is noticed that with the exception of the compilated SNES games for UsefulNotes/{{Evercade}}'s ''Interplay Colection'', there's no legal way to play any of the games in these days, only by UsefulNotes/{{Emulation}}, repro cartridges and casual market.

** Recently, [[https://clayfighter.fandom.com/wiki/User_blog:RMaster007/More_about_ClayFighter_needs_to_be_uncovered! this ClayFighter Wiki user]] discovered more Clayfighter content unveiled until now:

* ExecutiveMeddling: The series was hit VERY hard by this during UsefulNotes/TheFifthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames. ''63⅓'' was originally going to be titled ''Clayfighter III'' and appear on a VaporWare console called the M2 (an add-on for the [[UsefulNotes/ThreeDOInteractiveMultiplayer 3DO]]). However, about a year before the M2 was officially cancelled, Interplay abruptly moved development of the game to the UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 and retitled it ''Clayfighter 63⅓''. This caused MANY problems during development: character animation needed to be stripped down due to the N64's cartridge limitations[[note]]This was when Nintendo 64 cartridges were thought capable of only holding up to 96 megs of data[[/note]], several of the game's planned fighters needed to be cut, etc. Adding insult to injury, the game was rushed to be released during the 1997 Holiday Season, resulting in an ObviousBeta with numerous glitches and underdeveloped ideas. The ''Clayfighter 63⅓'' debacle was, in fact, so bad that about six months later Interplay released a rental only update to the game titled ''Clayfighter: Sculptor's Cut''. To make things even MORE messy, a UsefulNotes/PlayStation game titled ''Clayfighter Extreme'' was also in development but scrapped for being behind schedule. These problems, combined with ''63⅓'''s extremely poor critical and public reception, were what ultimately [[FranchiseKiller killed the franchise.]]

** Averted this trope as well VaporWare when a copy of ''Clayfighter Extreme'' prototype was [[https://archive.org/details/ClayFighterExtremeApr41997prototype released in April 2021]] by [[https://hiddenpalace.org/News/Project_Deluge:_PlayStation_1,_Saturn,_and_CD-I_(Part_2) Project Deluge]], an initiative that want to release on the internet old and forgotten betas from many consoles, included UsefulNotes/PlayStation, [[UsefulNotes/PhilipsCDi CD-i]] and UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn, ''Extreme'' being one of those games.

* RoleReprise: The Nintendo 64 games have Creator/DanCastellaneta reprise his role as Earthworm Jim from [[WesternAnimation/EarthwormJim the animated series]]. Dan also voiced VideoGame/{{Boogerman}} ([[TheOtherDarrin replacing]] Creator/MichaelMcConnohie). [[TalkingToHimself Both of them are also rivals in this game.]]

** A UsefulNotes/ThreeDOInteractiveMultiplayer [[https://clayfighter.fandom.com/wiki/File:0EA706EA-DF84-40E4-995B-60B940AA7B37.jpeg advertisement]] about an updated version of ''C2'' for the 3DO has been discovered. Of course, that went to nothing since it coincided with the debacle of that console.

** A ported/parallel developed version (it's unclear which) of ''63⅓'' was planned for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation entitled ''Clayfighter Extreme'' but was cancelled.

*** A port/updated version of ''C2'' for UsefulNotes/ThreeDOInteractiveMultiplayer announced in a magazine ad, which would include Claytalities and new features.

* FanworkBan: Interplay doesn't seem to take kindly to ''Clayfighter'' fan games, with both ''[=ReSculpted=]'' and ''[=Infinite Clayfare=]'' getting cancelled due to C&D's.

* RoleReprise: The Nintendo 64 games have Creator/DanCastellaneta reprise his role as Earthworm Jim from [[WesternAnimation/EarthwormJim the animated series]]. Dan also voiced VideoGame/{{Boogerman}} ([[TheOtherDarrin replacing]] Creator/MichaelMcConnohie). [[ActingForTwo Both of them are also rivals in this game.]]
* ScrewedByTheLawyers: Not one but two recent cases for {{fangame}}s:
** In July 2023, ''[=ClayFighter: ReSculpted=]'', a new game made under UsefulNotes/{{Unity}}, was abruptly cancelled because Creator/{{Interplay}} sent [[https://twitter.com/TTGames77/status/1680602394336415744 a Cease and Desist mail to his creator]].
** Time later, in September 2023, another Cease and Desist mail was sent, this time to ''VideoGame/ClayFighterInfiniteClayfare'' [[https://mugenguild.com/forum/topics/i-got-cd-mail-interplay--198282.0.html creator]]. But different from the other case, [[https://twitter.com/ClayFighterIC/status/1699595194956435525 Basara-kun mailed them back]] clarifying about his game and stating it as a non-profit {{fanart}}, and he won't get a decision until Interplay answers him. [[https://network.mugenguild.com/basara/CD4.PNG The answer came...]] and so the game will be canned just as ''[=ReSculpted=]''.

** However, some names were revealed to the internet, such as Creator/MichaelMcConnohie voicing Bad Mr. Frosty and TheNarrator, and Creator/RichardEpcar playing Tiny as well his EvilTwin Butch.

** An installment for the Nintendo DS and Wii entitled ''Clayfighter: Call of Putty''. Screenshots suggest it was an UpdatedRerelease of ''63⅓'' with remade stages and HD artwork. Interplay eventually stopped talking about it, and it was quietly cancelled later on.

** Ickybod Clay and a female gorilla called Lucy were planned for ''C2: Judgment Clay'', but were ultimately cut. Ickybod's bio from ''Clayfighter 63⅓'' even hints at this development, stating that he was "exiled" from that game. As seen how that game was managed, both characters would have to get their own evil twins too, getting 4 new characters on the game. Dr. Kiln also was supposed to physically appear in the game but was removed [[TheGhost remained in the backstory]]. A [[https://clayfighter.fandom.com/wiki/File:1453242125236.jpg model of him]] was shown after the 2016 Interplay closure (see below).
*** Recently was known that Ickybod Clay would appear in ''C2'' reusing his sprites from the first game as Tiny, but was eventually rejected. His stage would be used for Tiny in the final game.

** [[https://sta.sh/2z9mi1tb6z9 This folder from a Danger Productions employee]] reveals that Danger was originally contracted to work on C2 but were later replaced. It also shows several rejected characters, such as a construction worker with an interchangeable tool arm meant for the first game, as well as a caveman and a skeleton pirate meant for C2. Additionally, there are also some early designs for various characters that did make the game, and some of these early designs were used in promotional material.

* ScrewedByTheLawyers: Not one but two recent cases for {{fangame}}s.

** Time later, in September 2023, another Cease and Desist mail was sent, this time to ''VideoGame/ClayFighterInfiniteClayfare'' [[https://mugenguild.com/forum/topics/i-got-cd-mail-interplay--198282.0.html creator]]. But different from the other case, [[https://twitter.com/ClayFighterIC/status/1699595194956435525 Basara-kun mailed them back]] clarifying about his game and stating it as a non-profit {{fanart}}, and he won't get a decision until Interplay answers him. It has to be seen if the creator got the bless of Interplay or the game will be canned as ''[=ReSculpted=]''.

* ScrewedByTheLawyers: A recent case. In July 2023, the {{fangame}} ''[=ClayFighter: ReSculpted=]'', a new game made under UsefulNotes/{{Unity}}, was abruptly cancelled because Creator/{{Interplay}} sent [[https://twitter.com/TTGames77/status/1680602394336415744 a Cease and Desist mail to his creator]].

** [[https://sta.sh/2z9mi1tb6z9 This folder from a Danger Productions employee]] reveals that Danger was originally contracted to work on C2 but were later replaced. It also shows several rejected characters, such as a construction worker with an interchangeable tool arm meant for the first game, as well as a caveman and a skeleton pirate meant for C2. Additionally, there are also some early designs for various characters that did make the game, and some of these early designs were used in promotional material.
* TheWikiRule: [[https://clayfighter.fandom.com/wiki/ClayFighter_Wiki There's one]], very up-to-date and complete, especially about the [[https://clayfighter.fandom.com/wiki/Untitled_ClayFighter_2016_Game 2016 untitled game]] that never was.

*** [[https://sta.sh/2z9mi1tb6z9 This folder from a Danger Productions employee]] reveals that Danger was originally contracted to work on C2 but were later replaced. It also shows several rejected characters, such as a construction worker with an interchangeable tool arm meant for the first game, as well as a caveman and a skeleton pirate meant for C2.

* RoleReprise: The Nintendo 64 games have Creator/DanCastellaneta reprise his role as Earthworm Jim from [[WesternAnimation/EarthwormJim the animated series]]. Dan also voiced VideoGame/{{Boogerman}} ([[TheOtherDarrin replacing]] Creator/MichaelMcConnohie). [[TalkingToHimself Both of them are also rivals in this game.]]

** Averted this trope as well VaporWare when a copy of ''Clayfighter Extreme'' prototype was [[https://archive.org/details/ClayFighterExtremeApr41997prototype released in April 2021]] by [[https://hiddenpalace.org/News/Project_Deluge:_PlayStation_1,_Saturn,_and_CD-I_(Part_2) Project Deluge]],

* ExecutiveMeddling: The series was hit VERY hard by this during UsefulNotes/TheFifthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames. ''63⅓'' was originally going to be titled ''Clayfighter III'' and appear on a VaporWare console called the M2 (an add-on for the [[UsefulNotes/ThreeDOInteractiveMultiplayer 3DO]]). However, about a year before the M2 was officially cancelled, Interplay abruptly moved development of the game to the UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 and retitled it ''Clayfighter 63⅓''.\\
This caused MANY problems during development: character animation needed to be stripped down due to the N64's cartridge limitations[[note]]This was when Nintendo 64 cartridges were thought capable of only holding up to 96 megs of data[[/note]], several of the game's planned fighters needed to be cut, etc. Adding insult to injury, the game was rushed to be released during the 1997 Holiday Season, resulting in an ObviousBeta with numerous glitches and underdeveloped ideas. The ''Clayfighter 63⅓'' debacle was, in fact, so bad that about six months later Interplay released a rental only update to the game titled ''Clayfighter: Sculptor's Cut''. To make things even MORE messy, a UsefulNotes/PlayStation game titled ''Clayfighter Extreme'' was also in development but scrapped for being behind schedule. These problems, combined with ''63⅓'''s extremely poor critical and public reception, were what ultimately [[FranchiseKiller killed the franchise.]]

** Averted this trope as well VaporWare when a copy of ''Clayfighter Extreme'' prototype was [[https://archive.org/details/ClayFighterExtremeApr41997prototype released in April 2021]] by [[https://hiddenpalace.org/News/Project_Deluge:_PlayStation_1,_Saturn,_and_CD-I_(Part_2) Project Deluge]], an initiative that want to release on the internet old and forgotten betas from many consoles, included UsefulNotes/PlayStation, [[UsefulNotes/PhilipsCDi CD-i]] and UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn, ''Extreme'' being one of those games.
* QuietlyCancelled: One of the reasons the franchise died. In 2016, Creator/{{Interplay}} announced a new game with a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obWtO4i5yH0 teaser trailer]], which made the video game community hyped for a new release of this franchise. Sadly, some time later it was announced in financial news that Interplay went to bankruptcy and all their franchises were on sale. This inevitably meant that ''[=ClayFighter=]'' was no more in the works.
* RoleReprise: The Nintendo 64 games have Creator/DanCastellaneta reprise his role as Earthworm Jim from [[WesternAnimation/EarthwormJim the animated series]]. Dan also voiced VideoGame/{{Boogerman}} ([[TheOtherDarrin replacing]] Creator/MichaelMcConnohie). [[TalkingToHimself Both of them are also rivals in this game.]]
* UncreditedRole: Subverted. Even though the voice actor lists appear for [[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3681484/?ref_=tt_rec_tt both]] [[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3685538/?ref_=tt_trv_cnn games]] in Website/IMDb, it's not certain who voiced who.
** However, some names were revealed to the internet, such as Creator/MichaelMcConnohie voicing Bad Mr. Frosty and TheNarrator, and Creator/RichardEpcar playing Tiny as well his EvilTwin Butch.
* VaporWare:
** ''Clayfighter Extreme'' was a parallel release for ''63⅓'' made under [=PlayStation=], but it was cancelled for being behind schedule. The official word was they didn't want [=PlayStation=] fans to think their game was "a port of ''63⅓''" -- so they opted to release ''nothing at all'' for the console.
** An installment for the Nintendo DS and Wii entitled ''Clayfighter: Call of Putty''. Screenshots suggest it was an UpdatedRerelease of ''63⅓'' with remade stages and HD artwork. Interplay eventually stopped talking about it, and it was quietly cancelled later on.
** A new installment was announced by Interplay in 2015 to be released as a new game in 2016. Sadly [[http://shoryuken.com/2016/09/08/clayfighter-ip-now-up-for-grabs-as-interplay-sells-the-majority-of-its-intellectual-property/ in September 2016 Interplay sold the majority of its intellectual property]], so the release of a new Clayfighter game (even an UpdatedRerelease) is totally cancelled.
** A UsefulNotes/ThreeDOInteractiveMultiplayer [[https://clayfighter.fandom.com/wiki/File:0EA706EA-DF84-40E4-995B-60B940AA7B37.jpeg advertisement]] about an updated version of ''C2'' for the 3DO has been discovered. Of course, that went to nothing since it coincided with the debacle of that console.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** Ickybod Clay and a female gorilla called Lucy were planned for ''C2: Judgment Clay'', but were ultimately cut. Ickybod's bio from ''Clayfighter 63⅓'' even hints at this development, stating that he was "exiled" from that game. As seen how that game was managed, both characters would have to get their own evil twins too, getting 4 new characters on the game. Dr. Kiln also was supposed to physically appear in the game but was removed [[TheGhost remained in the backstory]]. A [[https://clayfighter.fandom.com/wiki/File:1453242125236.jpg model of him]] was shown after the 2016 Interplay closure (see below).
*** Recently was known that Ickybod Clay would appear in ''C2'' reusing his sprites from the first game as Tiny, but was eventually rejected. His stage would be used for Tiny in the final game.
** A homeless vigilante called {{Hobo|s}}[[Franchise/RoboCop Cop]] was planned for ''Clayfighter 63⅓''. Theories over his being cut range from Nintendo saying no due to the alcoholic references, to fears of a lawsuit from Orion Pictures. However, in the leaked ''Clayfighter Extreme'' beta for PSX appears him as selectable character, so it's been speculated he was intended to be PSX-exclusive.
** Some characters' moves were also nixed, including Lockjaw Pooch [[UrineTrouble peeing on the opponent]] and Zappa Yow Yow Boyz [[CannibalClan eating the enemy alive]].
** A ported/parallel developed version (it's unclear which) of ''63⅓'' was planned for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation entitled ''Clayfighter Extreme'' but was cancelled.
** There was an [[http://clayfighter.fandom.com/wiki/Untitled_ClayFighter_2016_Game untitled new Clayfighter game]] to be released on 2016, but ended up canned. [[http://arch.b4k.co/v/thread/324531728/ One of ex-Interplay developers]] revealed what could have been of this game: the reappearance of [=HoboCop=] as a selectable character, characters and stages now with high resolution, all characters with new moves from unused sprites from past games and in general would be a megamix of all games in one in a similar way than ''Videogame/MortalKombatTrilogy'' (i.e [[https://clayfighter.fandom.com/wiki/File:Footage.PNG 63⅓ Frosty fighting in C1 Taffy stage]]).
** Recently, [[https://clayfighter.fandom.com/wiki/User_blog:RMaster007/More_about_ClayFighter_needs_to_be_uncovered! this ClayFighter Wiki user]] discovered more Clayfighter content unveiled until now:
*** A port/updated version of ''C2'' for UsefulNotes/ThreeDOInteractiveMultiplayer announced in a magazine ad, which would include Claytalities and new features.
*** There's ''Sculptor's Cut'' unused content that already is in the game but with unknown commands, like new Claytalities for Zappa Yow Yow Boys and Art/LadyLiberty, as well some Claytalities for returning characters that were supposedly cut (like Earthworm Jim's [[DropTheCow Cow Drop]]), but they changed commands instead.
* TheWikiRule: [[https://clayfighter.fandom.com/wiki/ClayFighter_Wiki There's one]], very up-to-date and complete, especially about the [[https://clayfighter.fandom.com/wiki/Untitled_ClayFighter_2016_Game 2016 untitled game]] that never was.

** Various voice actors for N64 games made more than one character, the most exceptional case was Creator/DanCastellaneta, who voiced both [[GuestFighter guest fighters]], Earthworm Jim and Boogerman.

* AllStarCast: The N64 games showcase some of the top American cartoon voice actors from TheNineties, such as Creator/JimCummings, Creator/CharlieAdler, Creator/TressMacNeille, Creator/JessHarnell, and Creator/RobPaulsen.

*** There's ''Sculptor's Cut'' unused content that already is in the game but with unknown commands, like new Claytalities for Zappa Yow Yow Boys and Lady Liberty, as well some Claytalities for returning characters that were supposedly cut (like Earthworm Jim's [[DropTheCow Cow Drop]]), but they changed commands instead.

This caused MANY problems during development: character animation needed to be stripped down due to the N64's cartridge limitations[[note]]This was when Nintendo 64 cartridges were thought capable of only holding up to 96 megs of data[[/note]], several of the game's planned fighters needed to be cut, etc. Adding insult to injury, the game was rushed to be released during the 1997 Holiday Season, resulting in an ObviousBeta with numerous glitches and underdeveloped ideas. The ''Clayfighter 63⅓'' debacle was, in fact, so bad that about six months later Interplay released a rental only update to the game titled ''Clayfighter: Sculptor's Cut''. To make things [[UpToEleven even MORE messy]], a UsefulNotes/PlayStation game titled ''Clayfighter Extreme'' was also in development but scrapped for being behind schedule. These problems, combined with ''63⅓'''s extremely poor critical and public reception, were what ultimately [[FranchiseKiller killed the franchise.]]

** An a UsefulNotes/ThreeDOInteractiveMultiplayer [[https://clayfighter.fandom.com/wiki/File:0EA706EA-DF84-40E4-995B-60B940AA7B37.jpeg advertisement]] about an updated version of ''C2'' for the 3DO has been discovered. Of course, that went to nothing since it coincided with the debacle of that console.