Pinobee: Wings of Adventure

{{Expand section|date=September 2022}}

Pinobee: Wings of Adventure was developed by Artoon, which was founded by former Sega senior director Yoji Ishii in August 1999 with other ex-Sega staffers such as Yutaka Sugano, Naoto Ohshima, Manabu Kusunoki, and Hidetoshi Takeshita.{{cite web |author=TNP staff |date=October 5, 2000 |url=http://www.tendoproject.com/oct00/481.shtml |title=Exclusive: The Pinobee Interview |website=The Nintendo Project |publisher=IGN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010204053000/http://www.tendoproject.com/oct00/481.shtml |archive-date=February 4, 2001 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 16, 2022}} Sugano, who co-directed and co-designed the game, stated that Ohshima conceived the game as a story that expressed the growth of the human heart. The story about a robotic bee brought to life by a grandfatherly scientist was inspired by the fantasy novel The Adventures of Pinocchio.{{cite web |author=Artoon staff |year=2001 |url=http://www.artoon.co.jp/eng/pinobee/pinobee.htm |title=Pinobee: Quest of Heart |website=Artoon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324002124/http://www.artoon.co.jp/eng/pinobee/pinobee.htm |archive-date=March 24, 2009 |url-status=dead | access-date=September 16, 2022}}{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Craig |date=January 28, 2001 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/01/29/pinobee-wings-of-adventure-2 |title=Pinobee: Wings of Adventure (Preview) |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922053635/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/01/29/pinobee-wings-of-adventure-2 |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=February 17, 2024}} The game's original main theme was that of the love between a parent and child, but this was eventually toned down.{{cite web |author=Artoon staff |year=2001 | url=http://www.artoon.co.jp/eng/pinobee/de.htm |title=Story Board |website=Artoon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071120004705/http://www.artoon.co.jp/eng/pinobee/de.htm |archive-date=November 20, 2007 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 16, 2022}} Ishii claimed that the transition from Sega platforms to the GBA and the game's development were smooth due to the handheld's 32-bit CPU and C-based programming. The new GBA hardware presented a unique challenge for the project team and was chosen as the best fit to represent the game's art style. The characters were created using pre-rendered CG models while the backgrounds were hand-drawn. The CG models differed little from their initial concepts, although the antagonists changed from living insects to robots. The game's world map was modeled after the Vincent van Gogh oil painting series Langlois Bridge at Arles.{{cite web |author=Artoon staff |year=2001 |url=http://www.artoon.co.jp/eng/pinobee/worldimg.htm |title=The World of the Adventure |website=Artoon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071120004715/http://www.artoon.co.jp/eng/pinobee/worldimg.htm |archive-date=November 20, 2007 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 16, 2022}}

Leading up to the release of Pinobee, it was shown at Nintendo Space World, the European Computer Trade Show, Jump Festa, and the Tokyo Game Show.{{cite web |last=Gerstmann |first=Jeff |date=August 25, 2000 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hands-on-pinobee-quest-of-heart/1100-2620130/ |title=Hands On: Pinobee: Quest of Heart |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020114025923/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2620130,00.html |archive-date=January 14, 2002 |url-status=live |access-date=February 17, 2024}}{{cite web |last=Lake |first=Max |date=September 3, 2000 |url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/4905/ects-small-gba-showing |title=ECTS: Small GBA Showing |website=Nintendo World Report |publisher=NINWR, LLC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831013159/https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/4905/ects-small-gba-showing |archive-date=August 31, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=February 17, 2024}}{{cite magazine |author=Dengeki staff |date=December 22, 2000 |url=https://dengekionline.com/news/kako/new/200012/1222/1222jumpfesta.html |title=マンガとゲームのイベント「ジャンプフェスタ2001」。いよいよ23日から開催！ |trans-title=Manga and game event "Jump Festa 2001". It will finally start on the 23rd! |language=ja |magazine=Dengeki Online |publisher=ASCII Media Works |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220917141327/https://dengekionline.com/news/kako/new/200012/1222/1222jumpfesta.html |archive-date=September 17, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=September 17, 2022}}

The game was published by Hudson Soft as a launch title for the GBA in Japan on March 21, 2001. A software bug that softlocks the game in two instances was found by consumers shortly thereafter. A workaround for the bug and an apology was posted by Hudson on its official Japanese website on April 11, 2001.{{cite web |author=Hudson staff |date=April 11, 2001 | url=http://www.hudson.co.jp/gamenavi/gamedb/softinfo/pinobee/bug_report.html |title=Bug report |language=ja |website=Hudson Soft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021227073230/http://www.hudson.co.jp/gamenavi/gamedb/softinfo/pinobee/bug_report.html |archive-date=December 27, 2002 |access-date=September 16, 2022}} Activision struck an overseas distribution deal with Hudson to release Pinobee alongside the GBA in North America and Europe on June 11 and June 22, 2001 respectively.{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Craig |date=April 18, 2001 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/04/18/bomberman-and-pinobee-for-us-launch |title=Bomberman and Pinobee for US Launch |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922052512/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/04/18/bomberman-and-pinobee-for-us-launch |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=February 17, 2024}}{{cite magazine |author=TGG staff |url=https://archive.org/details/total-games-guide-to..-gameboy-advance-01/page/n26/mode/2up |title=Pinobee: Quest of the Heart [sic] [Import] |magazine=Total Games Guide to... Game Boy Advance |publisher=Paragon Publishing |issue=1 |date=June 2001 |pages=26–27 |isbn=1-873650-87-6}} Artoon and Hudson collaborated on a sequel titled Pinobee & Phoebee, released in Japan for the GBA on July 18, 2002. The game gives players the ability to switch between the titular brother-sister duo, each with unique abilities, in search of 20 heart pieces in every stage.{{cite web |author=Hudson staff |date=June 2002 |url=http://www.hudson.co.jp/news/pino_phoe.html |title=ピノビィー＆フィービィー |language=ja |website=Hudson Soft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020701062816/http://www.hudson.co.jp/news/pino_phoe.html |archive-date=July 1, 2002 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 16, 2022}} Ohshima said Hudson suggested Pinobee could be enjoyable as a PlayStation game and a port of the original game was developed for it.{{cite web |last=Leone |first=Matt |date=August 9, 2004 |url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3133926 |title=Talking: Naoto Ohshima |website=1Up.com |publisher=Ziff Davis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041204073740/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3133926 |archive-date=December 4, 2004 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 17, 2022}} Hudson began advertising both the port of Pinobee and the GBA release of Pinobee & Phoebee (including English language promotional artwork for the sequel) on its North American website in 2002.{{cite web | author=Hudson staff |year=2002 |url=http://www.hudsonsoft.net/ww/games/games.html |title=Current Games |website=Hudson Soft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020805231802/http://www.hudsonsoft.net/ww/games/games.html |archive-date=August 5, 2002 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 16, 2022}}{{cite web |author=Hudson staff |year=2002 |url=http://www.hudsonsoft.net/ww/wp/wp.html |title=Wallpaper |website=Hudson Soft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021011081349/http://www.hudsonsoft.net/ww/wp/wp.html |archive-date=October 11, 2002 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 16, 2022}} Konami acquired the distribution rights to the Pinobee series and displayed both games at its E3 booth in May 2002.{{cite web |author=IGN staff |date=May 23, 2002 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/23/konami-e3-booth-report |title=Konami: E3 Booth Report |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922064426/https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/23/konami-e3-booth-report |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=September 22, 2022}} Hudson released the PlayStation port of Pinobee in Japan in September 2002 while Konami handled distribution for North America and Europe in 2003.{{cite web |author=Hudson staff |date=September 9, 2002 |url=http://www.hudson.co.jp/gamenavi/gamedb/index.cgi?mode=info&f=PinobeeBest |title=ピノビィーの大冒険 【ハドソン ザ ベスト】 |trans-title=Pinobee's Great Adventure {{[Hudson the Best]}} |language=ja |website=Hudson Soft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040804114749/http://www.hudson.co.jp/gamenavi/gamedb/index.cgi?mode=info&f=PinobeeBest |archive-date=August 4, 2004 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 17, 2022}}{{cite magazine |last=Steinman |first=Gary |url=https://archive.org/details/official-u.-s.-playstation-magazine-issue-68-may-2003/page/98/mode/2up |title=Pinobee |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=68 |date=May 2003 |page=98 |issn=1094-6683 |access-date=February 17, 2024}}{{cite web |last=Bramwell |first=Tom |date=November 26, 2002 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/article-47055 |title=Konami Karts in 2003 |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118140945/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/article_47055 |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=February 17, 2024}} Pinobee & Phoebee remained exclusive to Japan.

{{Video game reviews

| GBA = true

| PS = true

| na = true

| GR_GBA = 67%{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/gba/445178-pinobee-wings-of-adventure/index.html |title=Pinobee: Wings of Adventure for Game Boy Advance Reviews |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501011042/https://www.gamerankings.com/gba/445178-pinobee-wings-of-adventure/index.html |archive-date=May 1, 2019 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 2, 2022}}

| GR_PS = 50%{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/580655-pinobee/index.html |title=Pinobee for PlayStation |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527022302/https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/580655-pinobee/index.html |archive-date=May 27, 2019 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 2, 2022}}

| MC_GBA = 61/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/pinobee-wings-of-adventure/ |title=Pinobee: Wings of Adventure |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014150347/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pinobee-wings-of-adventure/ |archive-date=October 14, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=February 17, 2024}}

| Allgame_GBA = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Carroll |first=Tom |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=34667&tab=review |title=Pinobee: Wings of Adventure - Review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114143449/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=34667&tab=review |archive-date=November 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 2, 2022}}

| Edge_GBA = 5/10{{cite magazine |author=Edge staff |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/c/c6/Edge_UK_097.pdf |title=Pinobee: Quest Of Heart [JP Import] |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future Publishing |issue=97 |date=May 2001 |page=79 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627223044/https://retrocdn.net/images/c/c6/Edge_UK_097.pdf |archive-date=June 27, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=February 18, 2024}}

| EGM_GBA = 6.5/10{{cite magazine |last=Johnston |first=Chris |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/e/ea/EGM_US_144.pdf |title=Pinobee: Wings of Adventure |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=144 |date=July 2001 |page=91 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119023333/https://retrocdn.net/images/e/ea/EGM_US_144.pdf |archive-date=January 19, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=February 18, 2024}}

| Fam_GBA = 25/40{{cite magazine |url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=14601&redirect=no |title=ピノビィーの大冒険 [GBA] |language=ja |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014150346/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=14601&redirect=no |archive-date=October 14, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=February 18, 2024}}

| Fam_PS = 27/40{{cite magazine |url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=5542&redirect=no |title=ピノビィーの大冒険 [PS] |language=ja |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014150348/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=5542&redirect=no |archive-date=October 14, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=February 18, 2024}}

| GI_GBA = 8/10{{cite magazine |title=Pinobee: Wings of Adventure |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=99 |date=July 2001}}

| GSpot_GBA = 5.4/10

| GSpy_GBA = 65%{{cite web |last=Bub |first=Andrew S. |date=March 14, 2002 |url=http://www.gamespy.com/reviews/march02/pinobeegba/ |title=Pinobee: Wings of Freedom [sic] |website=GameSpy |publisher=GameSpy Industries |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020408120125/http://www.gamespy.com/reviews/march02/pinobeegba/ |archive-date=April 8, 2002 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 2, 2022}}

| IGN_GBA = 6/10

| NGen_GBA = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/NextGen79Jul2001/page/n67/mode/2up |title=Pinobee: Wings of Adventure |magazine=NextGen |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=79 |date=July 2001 |page=66 |access-date=September 2, 2022}}

| NP_GBA = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Pinobee: Wings of Adventure |magazine=Nintendo Power |publisher=Nintendo of America |volume=145 |date=June 2001}}

| NWR_GBA = 6/10{{cite web |last=Metts |first=Jonathan |date=July 1, 2001 |url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/3784/pinobee-wings-of-adventure-game-boy-advance |title=Pinobee: Wings of Adventure |website=Nintendo World Report |publisher=NINWR, LLC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902175946/https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/3784/pinobee-wings-of-adventure-game-boy-advance |archive-date=September 2, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=February 18, 2024}}

| OPM_PS = {{Rating|2|5}}

}}

The Game Boy Advance version received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. NextGen called it "A cute but ultimately underachieving entry in an already crowded market." In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 25 out of 40 for the GBA original, and 27 out of 40 for the PlayStation version.

{{clear}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090324002124/http://www.artoon.co.jp/eng/pinobee/pinobee.htm PINOBEE（ARTOON）] - Internet Archive
• {{moby game|id=/6490/pinobee-wings-of-adventure/}}

{{Artoon}}{{Pinocchio}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pinobee: Wings Of Adventure}}

Category:2001 video games

Category:Activision games

Category:Artoon games

Category:Video games about bees

Category:Game Boy Advance games

Category:Hudson Soft games

Category:Konami games

Category:Platformers

Category:PlayStation (console) games

Category:Single-player video games

Category:Video games about insects

Category:Video games developed in Japan

Category:Video games with pre-rendered 3D graphics

Category:Works based on The Adventures of Pinocchio