Dukes of Hazzard Video Games - 100th Post

The Dukes of Hazzard is a popular property.  It has had its ups and downs, but it has remained popular since 1979.  Video games have become increasingly popular over roughly those same thirty-four years.  Of course the two would have to intersect.  This is my 100th blog post here on DukesCollector.  I thought it would be fitting to celebrate with a discussion on all of the Dukes of Hazzard Video games that we have been treated to.  This post will include pictures of the game cartridges, discs, and boxes as well as video of each game in action.  Please enjoy my 100th post: Dukes Of Hazzard Video Games.

The first Dukes video game came out in 1984. It was released for the ColecoVision Family Entertainment System by Coleco.  It was also compatible with the Adam system, though I don't know what that is.  This game was the only Golden Era of Dukes video game.

I have one game with the original box and one French language version of the game.  

The game follows an original story about Jeremiah Stinge, a scheming financier and his dastardly plot to capture Daisy and hit the road.  You play as Bo and Luke and you must chase him down while keeping an eye on your rear-view mirror and not let Boss Hogg catch you.  I find it interesting that they would introduce a new villain just for the game.  It is also strange that Boss chases you and not Rosco.

Playing this game proved to be a challenge.  Not that game itself, but gathering everything needed to make it work.  Jeff happened to have a ColecoVision at his house.  The first time we hooked it up, we thought we could play Dukes but found out we needed the above pictured Expansion Module 2.  Jeff didn't have one, so we spent some time playing Dig Dug, Smurfs, Centipede, and Q*bert.  I searched the internet for one, but couldn't justify paying for something I would use for about 10 minutes tops.  I ended up at the Video Game Vault in Uniontown, PA and they were nice enough to loan me the module so I could play the game.  I was surprised the the module had a gas pedal included.  I don't think newer steering wheel add-ons have that today.

The story is in no way portrayed in the game.  You just drive and try not to crash or get caught.  But I was surprised with the graphics and controls from 1984.  I don't remember anything on Nintendo being like this.  It certainly had a Pole Position arcade game feel to it.  I also like the digital dixie horn sound effect.

You have to install the standard ColecoVision controller into the module and the joystick acts as a gearshift.  You have to drive with your left hand, shift gears with your right, and accelerate with your foot.  That's a lot of coordination for an early 80s video game.  It isn't easy either.

Here is a video of Jeff playing the game.  He was better at it than me.  Notice how much you have to turn the wheel for the car to turn.  As expected, the game was fun for about 10 minutes.  I'm glad I got to play it once, but I don't need to ever play it again.  I am very grateful to the Game Vault for loaning me the steering wheel and of course Jeff for having the console in his basement.  Video games have come a long way since 1984.

The mid to late 80s saw the explosion in popularity of the Nintendo and later the Sega Genesis.  But of course this was the Dark Ages for the Dukes and there were to be no video games.  But the silver Era sure brought a wealth of them.

 
The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home came out in 1999 for the Sony Playstation.  It was an immediate success.

The box featured new artwork that had not been used on any other Dukes merchandise.  This game again introduces a new villain.  This time around, Black Jack Perril kidnaps Daisy to get revenge on Uncle Jesse.  Poor video game Daisy, she needs to duke it out.  This game featured the voice talents of all of the living cast members except John Schneider.  Waylon Jennings also reprised his role as Balladeer for this video game,  something he did not do for the reunion movies when he was still alive.  You got to drive the General Lee and other cars from the show.  For some reason, the General is not a Charger in this game, it's close, but just not right.



The game was a world of difference from the Coleco game.  In 1999, I was at a point in my life where I didn't think I needed to buy another video game console.  The last one I had was a Sega Saturn and I hadn't played it in years.  But if Dukes was coming out for PS1, I needed to own a PS1.  I have had every Playstation since.  Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in, to video gaming.

The game was a huge hit.  It was later rereleased as a Greatest Hit on Playstation.

It was also released for PC.  The box for the PC game was huge.  The box says the Playstation was a top ten game.

The PC version came out a year later and is the same game as the Playstation.  I loaded it on to my work computer, and it works just as well.  It's fun to have the game at work.

Racing For Home was also released for the Game Boy Color.  Again, I had a Gameboy back when they first came out, but I had to play this game so I bought a Gameboy Advance when this game was released.  Given the limited capabilities of the Game Boy, this game is quite different from the PS1 version.  It features a top down view of the cars and a limited version of the story.  You do get to drive different cars other than the General, including Daisy's Jeep and Uncle Jesse's Pickup.  This is what a Dukes game would have been if it was released for Nintendo in the 80s.  Maybe Super Nintendo.



The original Playstation game was such a success that it was quickly followed up with a sequel.

At the same time the Gameboy and PC versions of the first game came out, Dukes of Hazzard II: Daisy Dukes It Out was released for Playstation.  About time video game Daisy got some revenge.  This time around, John Schneider was also a part of the cast, along with everyone else.  The game was very similar to the original, but had a deeper story, and more gameplay.  Daisy was the center of this story, and she didn't even get kidnapped this time.

This cardboard stand-up display that I was lucky enough to get my hands on promotes the release of Daisy Dukes It Out for Playstation as well as the original on Playstation Greatest Hits, Gameboy, and PC.

Shortly after the release of the second game in the series, the Playstation 2 was released in 2000.  Video gamers were taken to another level of gameplay.  It took a little time for another Dukes game to come out, but fans were treated with the Dukes on the next level in 2004 with The Dukes Of Hazzard: Return of the General Lee.

This game was released on both consoles of the time, Playstation 2 and X-Box.  At this point, I already had a PS2.  It finally featured a General Lee that was the correct Charger and was much improved from the previous versions. Inspiration came from Grand Theft Auto III, letting the player free roam through Hazzard completing side missions, as well as the main story line.  The only limit to the game was the inability to leave the cars.   

The box, once again, featured original artwork.  It also advertised the release of the show on DVD.  

Boss Hogg was the main bad guy in this game.  It also featured the 00 Mustang.  The story followed the Dukes trying to save the local orphanage from Boss, who was trying to foreclose on it.  Boss was trying to raise money from the foreclosure to build a statue of himself in Hazzard square.  Now that is a scheme befitting of ol' JD.



The final Dukes video game is a lot of fun to play.  Preparing for this blog post, I put them all on my Playstation 3.  I plan on playing this one entirely again soon.  The cut scenes really captured the feel of the show.  The game starts with the boys driving a black Charger and the first mission is gathering parts and orange paint from the junkyard to create the legend.  The voice actors hired to portray Boss and Uncle Jesse did a good job.  This is the last time the actors played their roles from the show, and the interviews, which were extras on the game, showed that they had a lot of fun doing it.  The Playstation 2 version works on the current Playstation 3, though the X-Box version is not compatable with the X-Box 360.  If you have a console that will play the game, it would be a lot of fun to play for the first time, or revisit.

The Dukes aren't as popular as they were in the early 80s, the late 90s, and mid 2000s, (Golden Era, Silver Era, and beginning of the Modern Era) so there are no more Dukes video games planned.  That isn't to say we won't get one in the future.  Every time WB realizes Dukes are popular, they release new products.  We have seen new items like the tin signs, and pint glasses.  Maybe soon we could see new video games.  I can imagine a General Lee driving app being huge.  Time will tell.

Thanks for reading 100 blog posts here on DukesCollector.  We are only getting stated.

New Dukes Stuff - 11/14/2013 - Folders, Blankets, KITT, It's a Doozy

Did some Dukes shopping, got a whole bunch of stuff.

I bought so much that I even got to take home the bin.  When is the last time I bought a bin full of stuff?  You can only do that at Pop Culture Connection.  That place is better each time I go there.  I see big things in the future for our pal Jeremy, trust me.  This load of Dukes came mostly from Pop Culture, but I made a few other stops nearby as well.  

I go a ton of WriteRight folders and two notebooks.  Some are duplicates and they are all in great shape. These things get pretty rare.  I know I have several of these already, but it never hurts to have more.  If you are in dire need of one, let me know.

Three Boss Hoggs!!

These notebooks are the smaller versions.

They are quite small compared to the folder.  There is a larger notebook that is the standard school tablet size.  I have a bunch of these bad boys now.

This watch is the same one I already have in package.  Funny story, someone contacted me through the site and said they make their living buying storage lockers.  They found this watch in it and didn't know what to do with it.  I said send it my way and they did.  I bet they found some interesting things.  I asked them what their most interesting find was and they said they paid $100 for a locker that contained a baby grand piano. They sold the piano for two grand.  Pretty cool.

This item came with the haul from Pop Culture.  I didn't really want it, but it was a package deal.  These are fan made beads from a Dukes event.  I have seen several versions at different fests.

This is the General Lee Finger Racer.  It is rare to find one with the launcher.  It's in very good shape.

Along with the finger racer, I picked up a two Wrist Racers, a General and a Rosco.  I have a bunch of these, but only one or two launchers.  These are also in great shape.

I like that the mold was made specifically for Rosco's Police Car.  It looks just like his car from the show. We haven't had too many great representations of his car in the Modern Era.

I stopped at another toy store in Greensburg that specializes in mostly video games and picked up this lunchbox cheap.  That was the third Toy/Antique store we visited in Greensburg that day.  Why are there so many great stores in that town?  I got a heck of a deal on this thing.  Couldn't pass it up.

I got this belt buckle at Jeremy's.  These buckles have eluded me in the past.  Not sure why.  I like them, and I'll have to get the others.

It has the copyright info and year on a sticker on the back.  1980 huh?  A year earlier than most items.

I got this footie pajama thing online.  Not 100% certain it isn't just a pajama set that someone sewed a Dukes patch onto.  I have seen similar Dukes one though.  Any thoughts fellow Dukes Collectors?

I told Jeremy that I already had all the Dukes trays and he might want to keep this one in store for another Dukes enthusiast that may wonder in, but he insisted I take it.  That's nice of him.  Anyone need a Dukes tray?  Nearly perfect shape.

This is an odd piece that he pulled out of the back.  It is an unlicensed shirt that was autographed by John Schneider at some point.  Then framed.  Package deal and all...it came home with me.  Ok dokey.

It is definitely John's signature.  I'd recognize that anywhere.

Now the majority of that bin was filled with Dukes bedding.  I got a ton of it.  Pictured here is a beadspread, fitted sheet, sheet, pillow cases, and several window curtains.  Once the museum is up and running, all this stuff will come in very handy.  I can't wait.

This is the cream of the crop.  It is a very rare Dukes fleece.  The only other ones I have seen have been incredibly faded.  Jeremy told me about this over the phone and I was hoping it was this one.  I lucked out.
It is pretty big and would keep you quite warm.  The colors are vibrant and it's in great shape.  I am very happy to add it to the collection.  It has five different designs that have been used on other items.  I really like this blanket.

I like that Rosco and the Hazzard County Police get as much love as the Dukes.

And finally I picked up the 2013 Hallmark Keepsake Knight Rider KITT ornament.  I saw it in the store a while ago and decided not to buy it.  But once the 2014 General Lee ornament was announced, I knew I had to get this one so I could compare them next year.  The package is similar to all the other ornaments and not Knight Rider specific.

I think this is an item specific blurb about KITT.  I wonder if they will write something new next year for the best TV car.

The car has nice detail, and it seems they really worked hard to make it right.

I like the little Hallmark crown symbol on the bottom.  This really gets me excited for next year's General Lee.

The car is almost twice the size as a 1/64 car.  Here it is with the standard Hot Wheels KITT.



The ornament features lights and sounds.  It has the standard "I am the voice of Knight Industries Two Thousand..." that has been used on the 2012 SDCC Exclusive, the Diamond Select Voice Car, and a few other items.   The scanner light feature is only made up of two little lights, but they do fade and I think it does the effect nicely.  How come most of my videos on this blog have to do with Knight Rider?  I need to do more Dukes videos...hmmm, what can I video around here?