Bumper (character): Difference between revisions

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|image=[[File:BumperDKRDSArtwork.png|200px]]<br>Bumper, as he appears in ''Diddy Kong Racing DS''
|image=[[File:BumperDKRDSArtwork.png|200px]]<br>Bumper, as he appears in ''Diddy Kong Racing DS''
|full_name=Bumper the Badger
|full_name=Bumper the Badger
|species=Badger
|first_appearance=''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'' ([[List of games by date#1997|1997]])
|first_appearance=''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'' ([[List of games by date#1997|1997]])
|species=Badger
|latest_appearance= ''[[Diddy Kong Racing DS]]'' ([[List of games by date#2007|2007]])
|latest_appearance= ''[[Diddy Kong Racing DS]]'' ([[List of games by date#2007|2007]])
|portrayed_by= Lee Schuneman<ref>"The 25 Greatest Nintendo Games", ''GamesTM'' Issue 134, page 58.</ref>
|portrayed_by= Lee Schuneman<ref>"The 25 Greatest Nintendo Games", ''GamesTM'' Issue 134, page 58.</ref>
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A promotional e-mail by [[Rare Ltd.]] in 2004 to promote the release of ''[[Wikipedia:Conker: Live & Reloaded|Conker: Live & Reloaded]]'' implied that one of the racers from ''Diddy Kong Racing'' had been jailed.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080804094926/http://www.the-nextlevel.com/feature/conkers-public-address/ The Next Level]. Accessed December 3, 2017.</ref> An instance on the Rare Ltd. website in 2012 further confirmed that the imprisoned individual in question had been "Bumper the badger".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140210121309/http://rare.co.uk/blog/2012/05/18/mini-scribes-may-18-2012/ Rare Mini-Scribes: May 18, 2012]. Accessed December 3, 2017.</ref> A later tweet, made in 2021 in response to a joke made by the Super Mario Wiki Twitter account, further added that Bumper at some point in time was put on parole, and that he was superficially apologetic for his actions.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20211006193931/https://twitter.com/RareLtd/status/1445797744640208896 "Oh, Bumper's been a free badger (well, on parole) for a while now and he's superficially sorry for all those bad things he did."]. RareLtd. October 6, 2021. ''Twitter''. Retrieved October 6, 2021.</ref>
A promotional e-mail by [[Rare Ltd.]] in 2004 to promote the release of ''[[Wikipedia:Conker: Live & Reloaded|Conker: Live & Reloaded]]'' implied that one of the racers from ''Diddy Kong Racing'' had been jailed.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080804094926/http://www.the-nextlevel.com/feature/conkers-public-address/ The Next Level]. Accessed December 3, 2017.</ref> An instance on the Rare Ltd. website in 2012 further confirmed that the imprisoned individual in question had been "Bumper the badger".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140210121309/http://rare.co.uk/blog/2012/05/18/mini-scribes-may-18-2012/ Rare Mini-Scribes: May 18, 2012]. Accessed December 3, 2017.</ref> A later tweet, made in 2021 in response to a joke made by the Super Mario Wiki Twitter account, further added that Bumper at some point in time was put on parole, and that he was superficially apologetic for his actions.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20211006193931/https://twitter.com/RareLtd/status/1445797744640208896 "Oh, Bumper's been a free badger (well, on parole) for a while now and he's superficially sorry for all those bad things he did."]. RareLtd. October 6, 2021. ''Twitter''. Retrieved October 6, 2021.</ref>
==Character development==
==Character development==
[[File:BumperOG.png|thumb|left|Early model for a blue Bumper.]]
[[File:BumperOG.png|thumb|left|Early model for a blue Bumper.]]
An early design of Bumper was shared online by [[Kevin Bayliss]], former [[Rare Ltd.|Rare]] graphic and character designer that worked on ''Diddy Kong Racing''.<ref>[https://tcrf.net/Development:Diddy_Kong_Racing Development:Diddy Kong Racing]. ''The Cutting Room Floor''.</ref><ref>[https://twitter.com/render_archive/status/1445174824553394182 @render_archive]. ''Twitter''.</ref> This early incarnation of Bumper was seemingly colored blue.
An early design of Bumper was shared online by [[Kevin Bayliss]], former [[Rare Ltd.|Rare]] graphic and character designer that worked on ''Diddy Kong Racing''.<ref>[https://tcrf.net/Development:Diddy_Kong_Racing Development:Diddy Kong Racing]. ''The Cutting Room Floor''.</ref><ref>[https://twitter.com/render_archive/status/1445174824553394182 @render_archive]. ''Twitter''.</ref> This early incarnation of Bumper was seemingly colored blue.
{{br|left}}
{{br|left}}
==History==
==History==
===''Diddy Kong Racing'' series===
===''Diddy Kong Racing'' series===
Line 39: Line 39:
==Profile and statistics==
==Profile and statistics==
===''Diddy Kong Racing''===
===''Diddy Kong Racing''===
*'''''Diddy Kong Racing'' instruction manual:''' "''(Medium acceleration, medium weight, good handling, medium top speed) Unlike most of his kind, Bumper the badger prefers speed and thrills to a quiet nocturnal lifestyle. He gets even more worked up than his friends when he realizes how much racing and excitement will be involved in the crusade to get rid of Wizpig...''"
*'''''Diddy Kong Racing'' Official Nintendo Player's Guide:''' "''Recruited by Timber to join the resistance against Wizpig, this burly badger is ready to take on all comers. It's not just his sense of justice that's spurring him on, though. He's in it as much for the sheer thrill of racing as anything else.''"
*'''''[[Nintendo Power]]'' Issue 103:''' "''Bumper the badger breaks from the time-honored badger traditions of burrowing and sleeping twenty hours a day. This fellow lives for speed. Although all his starts put him in the middle range, he has good handling in every vehicle. With Bumper, you may never need to choose another driver.''"
*'''Character stats'''
*'''Character stats'''
**'''Weight group:''' Middle
**'''Weight:''' Middle
**'''Acceleration:''' 2.5/5
**'''Acceleration:''' 2.5/5
**'''Turning:''' 2.5/5
**'''Handling:''' 2.5/5
**'''Top Speed:''' 3/5
**'''Top Speed:''' 3/5
**'''Vehicle Color:''' Yellow
**'''Vehicle Color:''' Yellow
*'''Instruction booklet bio''' (page 24): "''(Medium acceleration, medium weight, good handling, medium top speed) Unlike most of his kind, Bumper the badger prefers speed and thrills to a quiet nocturnal lifestyle. He gets even more worked up than his friends when he realizes how much racing and excitement will be involved in the crusade to get rid of Wizpig...''"
*'''[[Nintendo Power#Player's Guides|Player's Guide]]''' (page 6): "''Recruited by Timber to join the resistance against Wizpig, this burly badger is ready to take on all comers. It’s not just his sense of justice that’s spurring him on, though. He’s in it as much for the sheer thrill of racing as anything else.''"
*'''''[[Nintendo Power]]'' Volume 103''' (page 15): "''Bumper the badger breaks from the time-honored badger traditions of burrowing and sleeping twenty hours a day. This fellow lives for speed. Although all his starts put him in the middle range, he has good handling in every vehicle. With Bumper, you may never need to choose another driver.''"
*'''''Nintendo 64 Game Secrets, 1999 Edition'' [[Prima Games|Prima]]'s Official Strategy Guide''' (page 36): "''Trending toward the heavy end of the weight spectrum, Bumper suffers from slightly sluggish handling and lower-than-average acceleration (but not by much). On the plus side, he’s got a higher top speed than any animal but Banjo or Krunch. His added weight and relatively midground attributes make him a good candidate for any Hover race, especially as long as there are no extremely tight corners.''"
*'''[https://web.archive.org/web/19990902211255/http://www.rareware.com/recent/games/racing/castlist/cast_bumper.html Rarewhere]''': "''Unlike most of his kind, Bumper the badger prefers speed and thrills to a quiet nocturnal lifestyle, and he gets even more worked up than his friends when he realises how much racing and excitement will be involved in the crusade to get rid of old snout-face Wizpig!''"


===''Diddy Kong Racing DS''===
===''Diddy Kong Racing DS''===

Revision as of 15:11, March 28, 2023

Bumper
Bumper's artwork from Diddy Kong Racing DS.
Bumper, as he appears in Diddy Kong Racing DS
Full name Bumper the Badger
Species Badger
First appearance Diddy Kong Racing (1997)
Latest appearance Diddy Kong Racing DS (2007)
Portrayed by Lee Schuneman[1]

Bumper is a badger playable character in Diddy Kong Racing and its Nintendo DS remake, Diddy Kong Racing DS. After Microsoft purchased Rare Ltd., in 2004, the rights of Bumper were given wholly to Microsoft.

A promotional e-mail by Rare Ltd. in 2004 to promote the release of Conker: Live & Reloaded implied that one of the racers from Diddy Kong Racing had been jailed.[2] An instance on the Rare Ltd. website in 2012 further confirmed that the imprisoned individual in question had been "Bumper the badger".[3] A later tweet, made in 2021 in response to a joke made by the Super Mario Wiki Twitter account, further added that Bumper at some point in time was put on parole, and that he was superficially apologetic for his actions.[4]

Character development

Early model for a blue Bumper.

An early design of Bumper was shared online by Kevin Bayliss, former Rare graphic and character designer that worked on Diddy Kong Racing.[5][6] This early incarnation of Bumper was seemingly colored blue.

History

Diddy Kong Racing series

Bumper, driving his kart in Diddy Kong Racing.

Diddy Kong Racing

Bumper was one of many characters contacted by Timber in Diddy Kong Racing, in order to prevent Wizpig from taking over Timber's Island. Bumper's theme instrument on the character selection menu is a steel guitar.

Bumper has average speed, acceleration, and turning abilities. His top speed without bananas is 56.5 mph, like with Conker and Timber. His vehicle color is yellow.

Diddy Kong Racing DS

Bumper returns for the remake, Diddy Kong Racing DS, with very slight changes, including having a more mature voice.

Mario no Bōken Land

Bumper (character) in Mario no Bōken Land
Bumper in Mario no Bōken Land

Bumper makes a small non-speaking cameo in the Diddy Kong Racing segment of, Mario no Bōken Land, titled "Go Go Diddy!". He is shown competing in a race, in his car, in second place.

4-koma Gag Battle

Bumper appears throughout the 4-koma Gag Battle manga adaptation of Diddy Kong Racing.

Mario Artist: Paint Studio

His Diddy Kong Racing artwork appears as a stamp in Mario Artist: Paint Studio.

Profile and statistics

Diddy Kong Racing

  • Character stats
    • Weight: Middle
    • Acceleration: 2.5/5
    • Handling: 2.5/5
    • Top Speed: 3/5
    • Vehicle Color: Yellow
  • Instruction booklet bio (page 24): "(Medium acceleration, medium weight, good handling, medium top speed) Unlike most of his kind, Bumper the badger prefers speed and thrills to a quiet nocturnal lifestyle. He gets even more worked up than his friends when he realizes how much racing and excitement will be involved in the crusade to get rid of Wizpig..."
  • Player's Guide (page 6): "Recruited by Timber to join the resistance against Wizpig, this burly badger is ready to take on all comers. It’s not just his sense of justice that’s spurring him on, though. He’s in it as much for the sheer thrill of racing as anything else."
  • Nintendo Power Volume 103 (page 15): "Bumper the badger breaks from the time-honored badger traditions of burrowing and sleeping twenty hours a day. This fellow lives for speed. Although all his starts put him in the middle range, he has good handling in every vehicle. With Bumper, you may never need to choose another driver."
  • Nintendo 64 Game Secrets, 1999 Edition Prima's Official Strategy Guide (page 36): "Trending toward the heavy end of the weight spectrum, Bumper suffers from slightly sluggish handling and lower-than-average acceleration (but not by much). On the plus side, he’s got a higher top speed than any animal but Banjo or Krunch. His added weight and relatively midground attributes make him a good candidate for any Hover race, especially as long as there are no extremely tight corners."
  • Rarewhere: "Unlike most of his kind, Bumper the badger prefers speed and thrills to a quiet nocturnal lifestyle, and he gets even more worked up than his friends when he realises how much racing and excitement will be involved in the crusade to get rid of old snout-face Wizpig!"

Diddy Kong Racing DS

  • Character stats
    • Speed: 3/5
    • Acceleration: 2/5
    • Handling: 3/5

Gallery

Artwork

Screenshots and sprites

Scans

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese バンパー[?]
Banpā
Bumper

Trivia

  • A "Dark" version of Bumper would have appeared in Diddy Kong Racing Adventure, which was a rejected pitch for a Diddy Kong Racing sequel. He would have used mud tornados as his special move.

References

  1. ^ "The 25 Greatest Nintendo Games", GamesTM Issue 134, page 58.
  2. ^ The Next Level. Accessed December 3, 2017.
  3. ^ Rare Mini-Scribes: May 18, 2012. Accessed December 3, 2017.
  4. ^ "Oh, Bumper's been a free badger (well, on parole) for a while now and he's superficially sorry for all those bad things he did.". RareLtd. October 6, 2021. Twitter. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  5. ^ Development:Diddy Kong Racing. The Cutting Room Floor.
  6. ^ @render_archive. Twitter.