What You Didn't Know About Scribblenauts

Tidbits

by Andrew Reiner on October 05, 2009 at 01:53 PM

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Game development often lasts for years. And in that stretch of time, studios have their fair share of ups and downs. From humorous game bugs to stress-relieving antics, Game Informer peers behind the curtain of game development. In our second Tidbits entry, developer 5th Cell reveals glitches that didn't make it into the retail game.

Before AI finalization, a lion would eat itself when gluing bacon to it.

At one point in development, two rabbits next to each other would infinitely spawn additional rabbits until the game crashed.

At the 11th hour, we discovered that we didn’t add “lowrider” to the game. It is now one of the most beloved objects.

We created a tool that would spawn/delete every object in the game like a slideshow. This would let you ‘fast forward’ through all the objects making sure they spawn without crashing.

Guns initially had unlimited ammo, but we limited ammo to three for game balance.

There was a bug similar to the two rabbits, where two Santas would keep giving each other gifts until the screen was full of presents and the game crashed.

We had a team of “Wordsmiths” whose job was to basically comb dictionaries and the Internet for words to put into the game.

We put in code that played a donkey’s “heehaw” at max volume on a loop if the level was missing its music track.

There was a bug that prevented tank shells from doing damage, but still would push people around when shot. This allowed you to ‘surf’ on a stream of tank shells.

For other Tidbits entries, click the desired game name: Batman: Arkham Asylum, Scribblenauts

Comments

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by Meagan Marie Monday, October 05, 2009 at 03:05 PM

Haha. I like the first one. I want to see a lion eat itself.
Staff

by Tim Turi Monday, October 05, 2009 at 03:07 PM

I would like to surf on a tank shell over a sea of gifts and rabbits while a donkey's "heehaw" plays in the background. Please. Now.
by Vote 4 Pedro Monday, October 05, 2009 at 03:08 PM

Ditto.
by Vote 4 Pedro Monday, October 05, 2009 at 03:08 PM

Ditto for Megan's comment, I mean.
by Wes Skerven Monday, October 05, 2009 at 03:12 PM

Yea, they should have left more quandries like the lion in...and fixed the controls.
by Sean Lowery Monday, October 05, 2009 at 03:15 PM

How is the first one a bug? It's bacon, for crying out loud.
by Jason R. Monday, October 05, 2009 at 03:32 PM

HaHa that lion one is pretty funny. Why didnt you keep that in the game?
by dragonballjoseph Monday, October 05, 2009 at 03:36 PM

"At one point in development, two rabbits next to each other would infinitely spawn additional rabbits until the game crashed."

I'm 10 years old. What does this mean?

On a serious note, the game would be much more entertaining if some of this was left in the game. The game has crashed on me once though.

(I was opening the music shop >_>;)
by kickaroo Monday, October 05, 2009 at 03:56 PM

Oh! What would we do without the lowrider!
by George McBain Monday, October 05, 2009 at 04:05 PM

"We put in code that played a donkey’s “heehaw” at max volume on a loop if the level was missing its music track. "

Yikes, that would kill.
Mod

by Mr PMS Monday, October 05, 2009 at 04:09 PM

Hilarious stuff for a hilarious game. The bacon and the lion is classic
Mod

by Treestump Monday, October 05, 2009 at 04:13 PM

Surfing on tank shells? That would've been awesome!
Staff

by Mark Burger Monday, October 05, 2009 at 04:49 PM

hmmm bacon...

awkwardfamilyphotos.com/.../comment-page-1
by LittleBigEthan Monday, October 05, 2009 at 06:14 PM

Man, I wish they had left those bugs in. They could easily have been amongst the most awesome things in the game.
by WITA Monday, October 05, 2009 at 06:18 PM

How does a lion eat itself? >:)
by ItsameMatt03 Monday, October 05, 2009 at 06:57 PM

That would be pretty epic Tim.

Funny stuff. I love the crap out of Scribblenauts.
by lawlwaitwhat Monday, October 05, 2009 at 07:01 PM

Hell, i would eat myself if someone glued bacon to me. Just so long as it were cooked, it's not worth it if the bacon's raw.
by eSphere Monday, October 05, 2009 at 07:34 PM

The two Santa's glitch sounds awesome.
by Brandon Cornett Monday, October 05, 2009 at 09:35 PM

Oh yes, lowrider :)
by Eric M. Bee Monday, October 05, 2009 at 09:48 PM

The rabbits gag might have pushed the game into M-rating territory.

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What You Didn't Know About Scribblenauts