GBKiss.org - GBKiss Mini Games

GBKiss Mini Games

Release Date: 1997-11-01
Product Code: DMG-AKAJ-JPN
Mapper: HuC-1
ROM Size: 2Mbit (256KiB)
RAM Size: 256Kbit (32KiB)
Storage: $7f00 (32512 bytes)
Cartridge Code: $fe

Description

The 1997/12 issue of Famitsu Bros introduced a promotional campaign for distributing GB Kiss minigame software. Subscribers could go to one of a list of participating stores and request software by name and number:

GB Kiss MINI GAME

ジービーキッス　ミニゲーム

協力店に行くまえに、これだけは確認してね!!

ミニゲームを送信できるのは、GB Kiss対応のゲームボーイソフト(「スーパービーダマンファイティングフェニックス」など、今後も続々発売される予定)だけだぞ。ほかのゲームボーイソフトを持って行っても、送信できないから注意してね。

GB Kissメニューに十分な空き容量がないと、ミニゲームは送信できないぞ。65~68ページにそれぞれのゲームが使用する容量を明記したので、参考にしよう。

協力店へは、GB Kiss対応ソフトとゲームボーイ本体も忘れずに持っていくこと。送受信するときは電池が消耗するので、電池は新しいものを用意しよう。

協力店に行ったら、「ファミ通ブロスみました。〇番の〇〇のゲームを送信してください」とお店の人にはっきり言おう。

送信してもらうときは、GB Kissメニューを立ち上げ、ミニゲームを保存したいエリアを指定しておくこと。

さあ、お店の人から赤外線通信でミニゲームが送信されるぞ。“受信”のコマンドを洗濯して、Ａボタンを押そう。

受信完了。キミのソフトに新しいミニゲームが保存されたぞ。このゲームをキミから友達に送信してあげてもいいのだ。

Translation:

GB Kiss MINI GAME

Before going to a participating store, please take note!!

Only GB Kiss-compatible software (such as “Super B-Daman Fighting Phoenix”; others are planned for release) can receive minigames. If you bring other software, please be aware that it cannot receive minigames.

If there are not enough available storage blocks in the GB Kiss menu, you cannot receive minigames. Storage sizes are written on pages 65-68, so please keep it in mind.

Please don’t forget to bring your GB Kiss-compatible software and Game Boy to the participating store. Communication consumes batteries, so please use new batteries.

When you go to a participating store, please clearly say “I saw Famitsu Bros. Please send me software #__, ______” to the store staff.

When you are ready to receive, open the GB Kiss menu and select the space where you want to save the minigame.

The store staff will send the minigame with infrared communication. Select the “Receive” command and press A.

Transmission complete. The new minigame is saved to your software. You can also send this minigame to your friends.

11 different minigames were presented in the December issue (for distribution in November). More software was also promised for distribution in the following months.

November 1997: Default and KISSMON groups
1. Kiss-Mon
2. Mogutte Nanbo
3. Drive
4. Bakechu Relay
5. Biorhythm
6. SameGame
7. Shot
8. Watch & Timer
9. Calculator
10. Magnets
11. Sound Test
December 1997: Unknown
January 1998: Unknown

Although the article makes no explicit mention of the GBKiss Mini Games cartridge, it is likely that this was the mechanism for distribution, given:

The cartridge has a printed Famitsu Bros logo.
The distribution lists line up with the passwords.

In particular, the password system would have been an effective way to distribute physical media to participating stores once and later expand distribution to additional minigames.

Groups

By default, one of three games will be randomly unlocked: Drive, Mogutte Nanbo, or SameGame, from the default group. Upon exiting from the GBKiss menu with B, a menu for installing additional software will appear.

Initially, the available options are password entry and キャラバンバージョン 5ゲーム (“Caravan Version: 5 Games”). There are five passwords which will unlock additional menu options:

KISSMON: キスモン&バケちゅリレーほか4 (“Kiss-Mon & Bakechu Relay + 4”)
CANNON: 15パズル&キャノンほか4こ (“15 Puzzle & Cannon + 4”)
BINARY: バイナリーランド&BJほか2こ (“Binary Land & Blackjack + 2”)
GAMEDATA: ミニゲームがぞういれかえデータ (“Mini Game Image Replacement Data”)
KISSTOOL: GB KISS TOOLS

These passwords were first documented by CaH4e3 in 2017.

Default

Also referred to as the “Caravan version”. In the late 90’s, Hudson operated a bus around Japan called Caravan shooting Bomberman promotional videos. It’s possible that these same games were distributed from the Caravan bus before they were made available from this cartridge.

Mogutte Nanbo (もぐってナンボ)
SameGame (SAMEGAME KISS)
Drive (ジャカジャカジャンプでポン)
Magnets (がんばれマグネッツMAIN)
Magnets Data (がんばれマグネッツDATA)
Shot (SHOOTING MASTER)

KISSMON

The KISSMON group contains Kiss-Mon, Bakechu Relay, and four apps. An improved version of Kiss-Mon was later released in Pocket Bomberman as Kiss-Mon-2.