Heroes Will Fall, But Legends Live On: Michael Jackson… Devoted Gamer

Written by Jessica Nunez: A lot of people recognize the significant contributions made by pop legend Michael Jackson to the music industry, but many fans may be unaware that he also had another passion: Gaming. Yes, my fellow video game addicts; the late King of Pop was also a gamer. And more than a little serious about his habit, by the looks of it. His own personal collection was quite impressive, including titles like Super Street Fighter II, Neo Geo, Need For Speed, and his own personal Zoltar The Fortune Teller. In addition to that he apparently enjoyed consoles like PlayStation, Sega Dreamcast, and 3DO. Talk about old school.

So, what do you get for the person who already has everything? Not video games apparently. Or at least in this case, since MJ did indeed seem to have one of everything. The majority of which was put up at a public auction held in Beverly Hills this past April. Collectors, fans and enthusiasts had a chance to bid on Jackson’s classic arcade games which included The Simpsons, NBA Hang Time, and Donkey Kong to name a few, in addition to newer titles such as Top Skater and Dance Dance Revolution. Original favorites like Mortal Kombat and Ms. Pac Man were of course also on the roster. I could shed a tear in appreciation right now.

Simply playing games was not enough to satisfy Jackson, who was well known for his grandeur sense of style and a love for all things “flashy”. Flashy as in cooperating with Sega© to develop a series of multi-platform games based on his 1988 film, Moonwalker. The basic storyline (which followed Michael himself as the hero), incorporated the singer’s notorious dance moves and synthesized versions of hits such as “Beat It” and “Smooth Criminal” on a mission to rescue kidnapped children from the game’s villain, “Mr. Big”. Bubbles the Chimp, as well as a variety of magical superpowers were available to assist players in their quest.

Lack of originality notwithstanding, since their release in 1990 the games have since gathered a cult following and managed to retain a sizable fan base. I suppose mindless entertainment is necessary for us all, at times. Anyone who ever played Space Channel 5 might certainly agree. In this one, Jackson is a character known as “Space Michael”, an interstellar pop icon who defeats his opponents (evil robots) with his out-of-this-world vocal abilities. Who would have guessed?

Recent rumors have leaked that yet another, all-new Michael Jackson rhythm game is in development and could be released towards the end of the year. Whether this is legit or not has yet to be confirmed. Regardless, it’s obvious that The Gloved One had a passion for living life to the fullest. Though his bizarre story had a tragic end, supporters around the world hope he is able to rest in peace. Memories of Michael Jackson’s unique character, generosity and free spirit live on through an impact he left on the world that can only be described as… sonic boom.