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>
}}
}}
'''Bumper''' is a badger playable character in ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'' and its [[Nintendo DS]] remake, ''[[Diddy Kong Racing DS]]''. After {{wp|Microsoft}} purchased Rare Ltd., in 2004, the rights of Bumper were given wholly to Microsoft.
{{quote|Badgers don't stink, no matter what anyone else says.|Bumper|Nintendo Power}} <ref>[https://twitter.com/dkvine/status/1479422567513395202/photo/1 @DKVine], ''Twitter''.</ref>
'''Bumper''' is a badger playable character in ''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]'' and its [[Nintendo DS]] remake, ''[[Diddy Kong Racing DS]]''. He is described across multiple supplemental material to ''Diddy Kong Racing'' as a lover of speed, thrills and races. After {{wp|Microsoft}} purchased Rare Ltd., in 2002, the rights of Bumper were given wholly to Microsoft.


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 tweet made by Rare Ltd. in 2021 in response to a joke made by the Super Mario Wiki Twitter account 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==
==History==
[[File:BumperOG.png|thumb|left|Early model for a blue Bumper.]]
===Concept and creation===
[[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==
===''Diddy Kong Racing'' / ''Diddy Kong Racing DS''===
===''Diddy Kong Racing'' series===
[[File:Bumper.jpg|thumb|Bumper, driving his kart in ''Diddy Kong Racing''.]]
[[File:Bumper.jpg|thumb|right|Bumper, driving his kart in ''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 {{wp|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''====
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 {{wp|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.
Bumper returns for the remake, ''[[Diddy Kong Racing DS]]'', with very slight changes, including a more mature voice.
 
====''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''===
===''Mario no Bōken Land''===
Line 36: Line 33:
His ''Diddy Kong Racing'' artwork appears as a stamp in ''[[Mario Artist: Paint Studio]]''.
His ''Diddy Kong Racing'' artwork appears as a stamp in ''[[Mario Artist: Paint Studio]]''.
{{br|left}}
{{br|left}}
===Unused appearances===
A "Dark" version of Bumper would have appeared in the ''[[Diddy Kong Racing Adventure]]'', which was a rejected pitch for a ''Diddy Kong Racing'' sequel. He would have used mud tornadoes as his special move.


==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.''"
*'''[https://web.archive.org/web/19981206065714/http://www.dkr.com/driversed.html Diddy's Drivers Ed]''': "''Bumper's a light-heavyweight who does well on courses where there isn't a lot of turning required. His handling is slightly better than Conker's, but his acceleration is not as good.''"
*'''''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''===
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Bumper0.png|''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]''
Bumper0.png|''[[Diddy Kong Racing]]''
Bummper.png|''Diddy Kong Racing''
Bummper.png|''Diddy Kong Racing''
BumperSide.png|''Diddy Kong Racing''
BumperBack.png|''Diddy Kong Racing''
Bumper2.png|''Diddy Kong Racing''
Bumper2.png|''Diddy Kong Racing''
Bumper DKR art.png|''Diddy Kong Racing''
Bumper DKR art.png|''Diddy Kong Racing''
Line 75: Line 79:
Character Selection DKR.png|Bumper on the character selection menu
Character Selection DKR.png|Bumper on the character selection menu
DKR64 CrescentIsland2.jpg|Bumper in [[Crescent Island]]
DKR64 CrescentIsland2.jpg|Bumper in [[Crescent Island]]
DKRJPNC.png|Cast of ''Diddy Kong Racing'', Japanese commercial
Bumper-CSS-DKR.png|''Diddy Kong Racing'' icon
Bumper-CSS-DKR.png|''Diddy Kong Racing'' icon
DKRDS icon Bumper.png|''Diddy Kong Racing DS'' icon
DKRDS icon Bumper.png|''Diddy Kong Racing DS'' icon
Line 90: Line 95:
|JapR=Banpā
|JapR=Banpā
|JapM=Bumper
|JapM=Bumper
|Fre=Bumper<ref>[https://www.nintendo64ever.com/Scans-Magazine,52,Le-Magazine-Officiel-Nintendo-03.html Official Nintendo french magazine N3], page 25</ref>
|FreM=-
}}
}}
==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==
==References==

Revision as of 15:14, March 4, 2024

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]
“Badgers don't stink, no matter what anyone else says.”
—Bumper, Nintendo Power [2]

Bumper is a badger playable character in Diddy Kong Racing and its Nintendo DS remake, Diddy Kong Racing DS. He is described across multiple supplemental material to Diddy Kong Racing as a lover of speed, thrills and races. After Microsoft purchased Rare Ltd., in 2002, 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.[3] An instance on the Rare Ltd. website in 2012 further confirmed that the imprisoned individual in question had been "Bumper the badger".[4] A tweet made by Rare Ltd. in 2021 in response to a joke made by the Super Mario Wiki Twitter account added that Bumper at some point in time was put on parole, and that he was superficially apologetic for his actions.[5]

History

Concept and creation

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.[6][7] This early incarnation of Bumper was seemingly colored blue.

Diddy Kong Racing / Diddy Kong Racing DS

Bumper, driving his kart in 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.

Bumper returns for the remake, Diddy Kong Racing DS, with very slight changes, including 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.

Unused appearances

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

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."
  • Diddy's Drivers Ed: "Bumper's a light-heavyweight who does well on courses where there isn't a lot of turning required. His handling is slightly better than Conker's, but his acceleration is not as good."
  • 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

  • Diddy Kong Racing

    Diddy Kong Racing

  • Diddy Kong Racing

    Diddy Kong Racing

  • Diddy Kong Racing

    Diddy Kong Racing

  • Diddy Kong Racing

    Diddy Kong Racing

  • Diddy Kong Racing

    Diddy Kong Racing

  • Diddy Kong Racing

    Diddy Kong Racing

  • Diddy Kong Racing

    Diddy Kong Racing

  • Diddy Kong Racing group artwork

    Diddy Kong Racing group artwork

  • Diddy Kong Racing, Bumper and Tiptup

    Diddy Kong Racing, Bumper and Tiptup

  • Diddy Kong Racing DS

    Diddy Kong Racing DS

  • Diddy Kong Racing DS

    Diddy Kong Racing DS

  • Diddy Kong Racing DS

    Diddy Kong Racing DS

Screenshots and sprites

  • Bumper on the character selection menu

    Bumper on the character selection menu

  • Bumper in Crescent Island

    Bumper in Crescent Island

  • Cast of Diddy Kong Racing, Japanese commercial

    Cast of Diddy Kong Racing, Japanese commercial

  • Diddy Kong Racing icon

    Diddy Kong Racing icon

  • Diddy Kong Racing DS icon

    Diddy Kong Racing DS icon

Scans

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning
Japanese バンパー
Banpā
 Bumper

French Bumper[8]
 -

References

  1. ^ "The 25 Greatest Nintendo Games", GamesTM Issue 134, page 58.
  2. ^ @DKVine, Twitter.
  3. ^ The Next Level. Accessed December 3, 2017.
  4. ^ Rare Mini-Scribes: May 18, 2012. Accessed December 3, 2017.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ Development:Diddy Kong Racing. The Cutting Room Floor.
  7. ^ @render_archive. Twitter.
  8. ^ Official Nintendo french magazine N3, page 25
[Edit]
Diddy Kong Racing / Diddy Kong Racing DS
Playable characters Diddy Kong • Krunch • Drumstick • Bumper • Tiptup • T.T. • Pipsy • Timber • Banjo† • Conker† • Tiny Kong‡ • Dixie Kong‡ • Taj‡ • Wizpig‡
Vehicles Car • Plane • Hovercraft
Bosses Tricky the Triceratops • Bluey the Walrus • Bubbler the Octopus • Smokey the Dragon • Wizpig
Worlds Dino Domain • Snowflake Mountain • Sherbet Island • Dragon Forest • Future Fun Land • DK Island‡
Tracks Ancient Lake • Fossil Canyon • Jungle Falls • Hot Top Volcano • Everfrost Peak • Walrus Cove • Snowball Valley • Frosty Village • Whale Bay • Crescent Island • Pirate Lagoon • Treasure Caves • Windmill Plains • Greenwood Village • Boulder Canyon • Haunted Woods • Spacedust Alley • Darkmoon Caverns • Spaceport Alpha • Star City • Thunder Cove‡ • Meandering Mount‡ • Splashdown Pass‡ • Strangled Shrine‡
Boss tracks Tricky's Course • Bluey's Course • Bubbler's Course • Smokey's Course • Wizpig's First Strike • Wizpig Strikes Back
Challenge levels Fire Mountain • Icicle Pyramid • Darkwater Beach • Smokey Castle
Items & objects Banana† • Coin‡ • Golden Balloon • Power-Up Token‡ • Silver Coin • Taj Token‡ • T.T. amulet • Weapon Balloon • Wish Key • Wizpig amulet • Zipper
Other Gallery (N64 · DS) • Media • Timber's Balloon Pop • Trophy Race • Wish Race
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