Slamfest '99 aka "Super Smash Bros. LIVE" (lost livestream of promotional event for Nintendo 64 crossover fighting game; 1999): Difference between revisions

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{{InfoboxLost
{{InfoboxLost
|title=<center>Super Smash Bros. Slamfest '99 (lost livestream)</center>
|title=<center>Slamfest '99 aka "Super Smash Bros. LIVE" (lost livestream)</center>
|image=SSB64Costumes.jpeg
|image=SSB64Costumes.jpeg
|imagecaption=Costumes for the characters used in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' commercial and the ''Slamfest '99'' event.
|imagecaption=Costumes for the characters used in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' commercial and the ''Slamfest '99'' event.
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''Super Smash Bros.'' is a Nintendo 64 game released in 1999 where players can fight each other using various iconic Nintendo characters. The game was a massive success, spawning a large fanbase and five other games, with the most recent game being ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' in late 2018.
''Super Smash Bros.'' is a Nintendo 64 game released in 1999 where players can fight each other using various iconic Nintendo characters. The game was a massive success, spawning a large fanbase and five other games, with the most recent game being ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' in late 2018.


To promote the first game on the Nintendo 64, Nintendo held a promotional event called ''Super Smash Bros. Slamfest '99''. This event featured various costumed characters from the game fighting each other in a boxing ring. '''The 17 minute long "fight" was livestreamed via RealPlayer, however, a recording of it has never surfaced.'''<ref name="nwr">[https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/5291/this-beats-monday-night-raw Nintendo World Report - This beats Monday Night RAW!] Retrieved 01 Jun '21</ref>
To promote the game, Nintendo held a promotional event called ''Slamfest '99'' on April 24th, 1999.<ref name="ign">[https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/04/22/nintendo-stages-smashing-fight IGN - Nintendo Stages Smashing Fight] Retrieved 18 Oct '21</ref><ref name ="nintendorks">[http://web.archive.org/web/19990822125542/http://nintendorks.com/news/04-22-99/ Nintendorks - And in this corner…] Retrieved 18 Oct '21</ref> This event featured various costumed characters from the game fighting each other in a boxing ring. '''The 17 minute long "fight" was livestreamed via RealPlayer, however, a recording of it has never surfaced.'''<ref name="nwr">[https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/5291/this-beats-monday-night-raw Nintendo World Report - This beats Monday Night RAW!] Retrieved 01 Jun '21</ref>


==History==
==History==
On August 22nd, 2014, NeoGAF user Rösti mentioned the event in a discussion about ''Super Smash Bros. for 3DS & Wii U'' DLC leaks and revealed that they had found the original webpage promoting it.<ref>[https://www.neogaf.com/threads/super-smash-bros-for-3ds-wii-u-thread-xiii-leak-dynasty.878930/page-90 The NeoGAF thread mentioning ''Super Smash Bros. Slamfest '99'' (post #4,500).] Retrieved 18 Oct '21</ref> The website, hosted by MediaOnDemand, revealed the official name of the event being ''Slamfest '99'', as well as a link to the rebroadcast that turned out to be dead.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19990908073715/http://media.internetbroadcast.com/nintendo/19990424/product_announcement/ Archive of the official ''Slamfest '99'' page.] Retrieved 29 Jun '20</ref> This is the first time in over 12 years that it had been referenced again.
On August 22nd, 2014, NeoGAF user Rösti mentioned the event in a discussion about ''Super Smash Bros. for 3DS & Wii U'' DLC leaks and revealed that they had found the original webpage promoting it.<ref>[https://www.neogaf.com/threads/super-smash-bros-for-3ds-wii-u-thread-xiii-leak-dynasty.878930/page-90 The NeoGAF thread mentioning ''Slamfest '99'' (post #4,500).] Retrieved 18 Oct '21</ref> The website, hosted by MediaOnDemand, revealed the official name of the event being ''Slamfest '99'', as well as a link to the rebroadcast that turned out to be dead.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19990908073715/http://media.internetbroadcast.com/nintendo/19990424/product_announcement/ Archive of the official ''Slamfest '99'' page.] Retrieved 29 Jun '20</ref> This is the first time in over 12 years that it had been referenced again.


Along with this, Rösti also found that the website ''Zelda 64 Planet'' had a page that had more info about the event.<ref>[http://z64central.tripod.com/specials/smashbros/slamfest99/ Zelda 64 Planet's page on ''Slamfest '99''.] Retrieved 29 Jun '20</ref>  This website confirmed that the event was held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, with a summary of the event included.  It hosted many images of the event (see Gallery). While this had very useful info about the event, the livestream was still nowhere to be found.
Along with this, Rösti also found that the website ''Zelda 64 Planet'' had a page that had more info about the event.<ref>[http://z64central.tripod.com/specials/smashbros/slamfest99/ Zelda 64 Planet's page on ''Slamfest '99''.] Retrieved 29 Jun '20</ref>  This website confirmed that the event was held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, with a summary of the event included.  It hosted many images of the event (see Gallery). While this had very useful info about the event, the livestream was still nowhere to be found.
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The following Lost Media Wiki members found articles and images which also advanced the search for ''Slamfest'' in some way.
The following Lost Media Wiki members found articles and images which also advanced the search for ''Slamfest'' in some way.


On June 26th, 2020, LSuperSonicQ found 2 items pertaining to ''Slamfest''. The first was an IGN article dated April 21, 1999. This one confirmed that the MGM Grand area dedicated to the event would be open from 11 AM to 1 PM. The exact address used is 3779 Las Vegas Blvd. South. It was on “Salem Avenue” or the “Salem Waterfront.”<ref>[https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/04/22/nintendo-stages-smashing-fight IGN - Nintendo Stages Smashing Fight] Retrieved 18 Oct '21</ref> The second was an article from Nintendorks dated April 22nd, 1999. It confirmed that the fight started at 11:30 AM Pacific Standard time.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/19990822125542/http://nintendorks.com/news/04-22-99/ Nintendorks - And in this corner…] Retrieved 18 Oct '21</ref>
On June 26th, 2020, LSuperSonicQ found 2 items pertaining to ''Slamfest''. The first was an IGN article dated April 21, 1999. This one confirmed that the MGM Grand area dedicated to the event would be open from 11 AM to 1 PM. The exact address used is 3779 Las Vegas Blvd. South. It was on “Salem Avenue” or the “Salem Waterfront.”<ref name="ign" /> The second was an article from Nintendorks dated April 22nd, 1999. It confirmed that the fight started at 11:30 AM Pacific Standard time.<ref name ="nintendorks" />


On October 1st, 2020, Foxlet found a NintendoWorldReport article dated April 26th, 1999. This confirmed that the fight itself lasted for 17 minutes.<ref name="nwr" />
On October 1st, 2020, Foxlet found a NintendoWorldReport article dated April 26th, 1999. This confirmed that the fight itself lasted for 17 minutes.<ref name="nwr" />
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====''N64 Magazine'': Issue 29 Page 13====
====''N64 Magazine'': Issue 29 Page 13====
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px>
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px>
SSBSF99N64MagazineIssue29Page13.png|An excerpt mentioning ''Super Smash Bros. Slamfest '99'' on page 13 of issue 29 of ''N64 Magazine''.<ref name="n64mag" />
SSBSF99N64MagazineIssue29Page13.png|An excerpt mentioning ''Slamfest '99'' on page 13 of issue 29 of ''N64 Magazine''.<ref name="n64mag" />
SSBSF99N64MagazineIssue29Page13Image1.png
SSBSF99N64MagazineIssue29Page13Image1.png
SSBSF99N64MagazineIssue29Page13Image2.png
SSBSF99N64MagazineIssue29Page13Image2.png

Revision as of 19:15, 20 November 2021

Costumes for the characters used in the Super Smash Bros. commercial and the Slamfest '99 event.

Status: Lost

Super Smash Bros. is a Nintendo 64 game released in 1999 where players can fight each other using various iconic Nintendo characters. The game was a massive success, spawning a large fanbase and five other games, with the most recent game being Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in late 2018.

To promote the game, Nintendo held a promotional event called Slamfest '99 on April 24th, 1999.[1][2] This event featured various costumed characters from the game fighting each other in a boxing ring. The 17 minute long "fight" was livestreamed via RealPlayer, however, a recording of it has never surfaced.[3]

History

On August 22nd, 2014, NeoGAF user Rösti mentioned the event in a discussion about Super Smash Bros. for 3DS & Wii U DLC leaks and revealed that they had found the original webpage promoting it.[4] The website, hosted by MediaOnDemand, revealed the official name of the event being Slamfest '99, as well as a link to the rebroadcast that turned out to be dead.[5] This is the first time in over 12 years that it had been referenced again.

Along with this, Rösti also found that the website Zelda 64 Planet had a page that had more info about the event.[6] This website confirmed that the event was held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, with a summary of the event included. It hosted many images of the event (see Gallery). While this had very useful info about the event, the livestream was still nowhere to be found.

Later on May 11th, 2020, the Supper Mario Broth Twitter account posted an image showing Yoshi, Pikachu, Mario, and Donkey Kong costumes, along with their actors.[7] These costumes were used in the North American commercial for Super Smash Bros., with the costumes being made by KCL Productions. The tweet gained much attention from the Mario community, being used in many memes and being retweeted 4.1k times (as of June 2020).

Andre Segers' tweet, mentioning the Slamfest '99 livestream.

Andrè Segers, founder of YouTube channel GameXplain, retweeted the image with a comment mentioning "a real-life Super Smash Bros. Battle using the same costumes used in the commercial that was livestreamed." He also said in the same tweet that he has found no one else mentioning it exists online. This kickstarted the search, with many people scouring for an archive of the livestream on databases and video-sharing sites to no avail.

By the time Andrè posted his tweet, the original rediscovery on NeoGAF had been forgotten. People speculated that the event was held around April-May 1999 and that it was being held at the MGM Las Vegas' Grand Adventures Connected Theme Park[8] in a boxing ring specifically built for the event.

YouTube user and contributor to the Lost Media Wiki LSuperSonicQ, along with a small search team on Twitter had looked into other websites mentioning the event and old magazine scans, all with no success. It wasn't until Twitter user Robert Sephason tweeted to Andrè Segers an image of a page in a magazine Donkey Kong in a boxing ring. This image originates from video game historian Steven Kent's book The Ultimate History of Video Games.[9] This peaked interest for LSuperSonicQ, who proceeded to contact employees who were suspected to have some involvement in Slamfest.

On the Hunt 5

Soon after the On The Hunt search for Slamfest '99 began on May 25, 2021, Lost Media Wiki Discord user SpartaYoshi researched and documented how MediaOnDemand's livestream technology worked. The "OTH Contact Team" then followed LSuperSonicQ's lead by reaching out to more people in search for a recording. Those who weren't part of the team also researched for press records. It was through these combined efforts that garnered a ton of newly discovered information.

Aside from the following developments, the search started to slow down a bit. It stayed this way until October 9th, 2021 when a Nintendo PR employee working at Golin privately messaged LSuperSonicQ. Slamfest '99 was one of his first assignments on the job. In addition to posting a picture of himself with Mario and Donkey Kong to Instagram, he also stated that:

  • They hired people from Cirque du Soleil to perform in KCL's costumes.
  • The commentator's "cheesy" script was inspired by the 1989 movie, No Holds Barred.
  • The Columbine High School shooting which happened 4 days before Slamfest forced Nintendo to limit the amount of outgoing publicity so they could keep a non-violent image. As a result, only about 100 video game review platforms knew of the event.
  • A Los Angeles based Associated Press photographer was there to take professional shots.
  • A satellite truck from Golin was brought in for the livestream.

Contact Findings

  • Steven Kent, who had attended the event, stated that several video game magazine reporters were there. Demo booths were set up for people to play Super Smash Bros. before and after the fight. He also provided a colorized version of the photo found in The Ultimate History of Video Games and a new one which can be viewed in the Lost Media Wiki Discord server.
  • Eric Mangol, a former Director of Sales for MediaOnDemand, suggested that Onstream Media may have a recording, since they bought out the former company.
  • Jimmy Vaughan, a former MediaOnDemand Project Manager for live and on-demand web casts, confirmed that it was up to Nintendo to tell the company to record Slamfest or not.
  • Ed Espinoza, PR for Golin Harris claimed that the Costume performers were from Cirque du Soleil. Ed had also stated that a photographer based in the L.A area was hired to take shots for the event, a satellite truck from Golin was used to livestream, Steve Honig had done truck work for the event, and that Golin would have had a recording from the event.

Article and Image Findings

The following Lost Media Wiki members found articles and images which also advanced the search for Slamfest in some way.

On June 26th, 2020, LSuperSonicQ found 2 items pertaining to Slamfest. The first was an IGN article dated April 21, 1999. This one confirmed that the MGM Grand area dedicated to the event would be open from 11 AM to 1 PM. The exact address used is 3779 Las Vegas Blvd. South. It was on “Salem Avenue” or the “Salem Waterfront.”[1] The second was an article from Nintendorks dated April 22nd, 1999. It confirmed that the fight started at 11:30 AM Pacific Standard time.[2]

On October 1st, 2020, Foxlet found a NintendoWorldReport article dated April 26th, 1999. This confirmed that the fight itself lasted for 17 minutes.[3]

When the On The Hunt first started, former user Binzy Boi found 2 new photos in the 29th issue of N64 Magazine.[10] They do not feature any compression artifacts typical for livestreams in 1999, which fuels a rumor that they came from a VHS copy.

Also on the same day, Tornadic found another Nintendorks article that was dated April 26th, 1999. This provided another brief overview of events during the fight.[11]

On June 8th, 2021 Rno found a Nintendojo article dated April 22nd, 1999. This stated that the fight will be split up into 2 matches; the first being Pikachu vs. Yoshi, and the second one being Mario vs. Donkey Kong. This description contradicts that on the Zelda 64 Planet site, as Mario went up against Donkey Kong first.[12]

On October 15th, 2021, SixtyFours and Rno found a new photo in the April 25th, 1999 issue of The Sacramento Bee newspaper.[13] This confirms the Nintendo PR employee's claims of an Associated Press photographer being at the event.

Availability

While many people made many efforts to find the livestream, such as contacting people possibly involved and finding a possible archive of the stream, the livestream has not been found as of the writing of this article.

Although the stream was not found, several photos taken at the event were found on the websites of interest, shown in the gallery.

Gallery

Images on Zelda 64 Planet

On the Hunt

Steven Kent

N64 Magazine: Issue 29 Page 13

Nintendo PR Employee

April 25th, 1999 Issue of The Sacramento Bee

Other Images

Videos

The North American commercial for Super Smash Bros., using the costumes used for Slamfest '99.

Blameitonjorge's video which mentions the Slamfest '99 search (8:32-12:43).

LSuperSonicQ's video on the subject.

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References