An Alternate History work by MegaToon1234 on AlternateHistory.com, Nintendo’s New Groove
is a pop culture timeline that focuses on Nintendo with one significant change, a change that promises to not only impact the landscape of gaming, but all of pop culture and beyond.
Somewhere, in the early 1980s, Atari and Nintendo had plans for releasing the Famicom outside of Japan. But due to some unfortunate setbacks such as The Great Video Game Crashof 1983, something involving Coleco showing a demonstration of a prototype of Donkey Kong for its forthcoming Coleco Adam home computer system in the CES, and a failed contract, things fell apart, but luckily for Nintendo, they managed to release the Famicom outside of Japan in 1985, and it was named the “Nintendo Entertainment System”. Because of that, the world wasn’t the same thanks to the release of the NES.
But however, what if Atari and Nintendo actually managed to release the Famicom outside of Japan?
Well, enter the world where the Great Video Game Crash of 1983 never happened, Nintendo at its very best, lesser-known games such as Crystal Castles and Ristar become big-name franchises, and all other details that happen throughout this timeline!
A recap of all the changes to gaming, culture, and the broader world featured in the game can be found here.
This work contains examples of:
- Adaptation Expansion: The Nintendo Vortex port of Final Fantasy VII contains another storyline where after Aerith lives if the Phoenix Down is used on her after her death in-story, and also another storyline where Sephiroth gets assasinated, thus leading to Professor Hojo becoming the main villain of this game.
- Allohistorical Allusion: There’s spades of this, and how.
- Different World, Different Movies: With Nintendo and Atari joining forces (as well as the Super-CD (the add-on for the Super Atari-Nintendo Advanced Video System)), brand new franchises have come into being, as well as different sequels to existing games.
- Dream Team:
- Nintendo and Atari, teaming up to release the Famicom outside of Japan? What a concept!
-
Flagship Franchise:- Nintendo's usual flagships IOTL (Mario, Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Pokemon, and Super Smash Bros.) retain this status ITTL. Joining those franchises, however, are BowserQuest (a series spin-off to the Mario series original to TTL), F-Zero, and Golden Sun.
- When Nintendo bought Rare in 2002 ITTL, their flagships include Banjo-Kazooie and Killer Instinct.
- When Nintendo teamed up with Sega in 2001 ITTL, their flagships include Sonic the Hedgehog, Puyo Puyo, Ristar, and Daytona USA.
- Nintendo's usual flagships IOTL (Mario, Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Pokemon, and Super Smash Bros.) retain this status ITTL. Joining those franchises, however, are BowserQuest (a series spin-off to the Mario series original to TTL), F-Zero, and Golden Sun.
- Richard Nixon the Used Car Salesman: A number of figures from OTL go on different career paths.
- Derek Savage (known for the Cool Cat Saves the Kids) started to become an actor after being an extra for the 1985 film known as "Back to School".
Tropes Impacted by the Timeline
- Marth Debuted in "Smash Bros.": As In-Universe, Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem is actually localized in this timeline, this trivia trope cannot apply to Marth anymore, much less be named after him. So instead, the trope ITTL is renamed to “Sukapon Debuted in Smash Bros.”, where Sukapon from Joy Mech Fight being playable in TTL’s Super Smash Bros. Melee.
