How did Sakurai know about the Duck Hunt Dog = Banjo meme?

[cybersai]

Remember for years people used to taunt/troll with "Duck Hunt Dog is Banjo Kazooie" because they're an animal and bird combo? Saying things like, "Oh Banjo is already in the game!" While Duck Hunt Dog's laughter is from the game of course and what he is most known for, the whole Banjo troll was something that originated in online forums over the years. Does Sakurai know more about the fandom than he lets on?

 

[Sean Wheeler]

Of course he should know. He has asked us to stop begging for characters, and he would want to look around for his fanbase enjoying his games and would want data to help patches. He would have to come across the memes related to Smash.

 

[StupendousMike]

What's to know? They're both furry animals with birds on their backs.

 

[Game2018]

News flash: developers don't live under rocks.

 

[xwingz900]

Despite the fact that it seems like Sakurai never takes time off from work, I bet he browses forums occasionally.

 

[pupNapoleon]

I think Banjo and Kazooie used the base model of Duck Hunt, and then altered it.
Just as King K Rool probably did for King Dedede.

 

[Gameboi834]

News flash: developers don't live under rocks.

Iunno, I just got my BA in Game Design, and the rock market is looking pretty good.

 

[lukinator1]

i think you can figure it out just by comparing the 2, a brown, furry animal carrying around a bird on it's back helping it in action

 

[MAtgSy]

It's a more on the nose comparison than K. Rool & Dedede.

 

[DownBCounter]

He always claims to not pay attention to this type of thing. I bet he would claim that he didn't know about any memes if asked, and that he just thought Banjo & Kazooie = Duck Hunt was a logical comparison and he thought of it on his own.

 

[ze9]

Of course he knows, he's the one who made Duck Hunt into a B-K lookalike in the first place. He obviously had B-K in mind when designing Duck Hunt. It's Banjo that inspired Duck Hunt, not the other way around.

Plus, that was the best choice to pull off the joke anyways.

 

[CroonerMike]

What's to know? They're both furry animals with birds on their backs.

Literally this. I hate the “SAKURAI KNEW THAT DUCK HUNT WUZ LEIK BANJO.” Hate when people on this website assume ****.

 

[CosmicQuark]

Literally this. I hate the “SAKURAI KNEW THAT DUCK HUNT WUZ LEIK BANJO.” Hate when people on this website assume ****.

I actually wonder how much of Smash's Duck Hunt was inspired by Banjo & Kazooie. It definitely looks inspired, though I wonder how much of it is connecting dots retroactively. Would be interesting if in a month or few months, Sakurai has a column where he talks about the duo.

 

[Sean Wheeler]

Despite the fact that it seems like Sakurai never takes time off from work, I bet he browses forums occasionally.

Do you think Sakurai has an account here? Is anyone here Masahiro Sakurai? Will the real Sakurai please stand up?

 

[xwingz900]

Do you think Sakurai has an account here? Is anyone here Masahiro Sakurai? Will the real Sakurai please stand up?

He probably does have an account, he just watches from the shadows with Google translate.

 

[PSIGuy]

Sakurai doesn’t work as closely on the cinematic as people think. He said in a recent interview the ones for Smash 4 and Ultimate were outsourced and had their own director overseeing them (obviously everything gets his approval though).

 

[Buzzwole]

Its not like its difficult to see the similarities between Duck Hunt and Banjo Kazooie. I didn't think the trailer was a reference to a meme or anything. Its just that they're both duos with birds on their backs.