Soda Popinski
Encyclopedia
, originally known as , is a fictional boxer from Nintendo
's Punch-Out!!
series. Soda Popinski first appeared in the Arcade game
game Super Punch-Out!!, featuring the above mentioned Vodka Drunkenski name. He was designed by Makoto Wada for the NES video game Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
in 1987, and by Eddie Viser for the Wii
video game Punch-Out!!
in 2009, his most recent appearance. Ihor Mota portrays him in the 2009 Punch-Out!! release.
Nintendo changed his name from Vodka Drunkenski to Soda Popinski in Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! in order to avoid controversy, replacing his affinity for vodka
with soda
. However, other Soviet
stereotypes, such as his wearing red, his ability to handle cold weather, his use of the Song of the Volga Boatmen as his entrance music
, and scenes depicting him doing the Kozachok
remained throughout the series. While his country of origin was originally the USSR, this was changed to Russia
in the 2009 Punch-Out!! due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union
after the release of Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!.
Since his appearance in Super Punch-Out!!, he has received both criticism and praise for his racial stereotyping; 1UP.com
used Soda Popinski as an example of the racism in Punch-Out!!. The challenge involved in defeating him has been a notable aspect, with Destructoid editor Colette Bennett expressing her disposition for the character, considering him one of her most frustrating encounters. He has also appeared in some merchandise related to Punch-Out!!, which includes being a part of a series of Topps
trading cards.
by Makoto Wada, with his most recent design being made by Eddie Viser in the Wii
Punch-Out!!
. He is voiced by Ihor Mota in the Wii Punch-Out!!. Soda Popinski is a Russian boxer from Moscow
, and the #1 boxer in his country. He is both tall and muscular, featuring redder skin than other boxers, a moustache, and no hair. He's the only left handed fighter in the game. He is physically capable of handling extremely cold weather, and has a propensity to soda pop. He is noted as being powerful, using a Russia
n fighting style. In the Wii Punch-Out!!, he can utilize his soda to gain energy or to become more powerful. He first appeared in the arcade game Super Punch-Out!! in 1985, and again in the NES game Punch-Out!! in 1987. A port of the arcade game was released for the Commodore 64
and the ZX Spectrum
, where Popinski was renamed "Andra Puncharedov". He would not appear again until the Wii video game titled Punch-Out!!
. In the original Super Punch-Out!! arcade game, he is referred to as Vodka Drunkenski, a stereotype of the people of the USSR at the time. To avoid controversy, his name was changed to Soda Popinski in the NES Punch-Out!!, changing his vice from vodka to soda. However, other stereotypes, such as the ability to handle cold weather, as well as being known to do the Kozachok
.
trading cards. He was chosen as the favourite character by one of the producers of Punch-Out!!
for the Wii
. As a part of the "Obscure Character of the Day" series, IGN
editor Christopher Monfette discussed Popinski, describing him as "the USSR's meanest heavyweight contender ever to grace the NES." They also listed Popinski as one of Punch-Out!!s top fighters. Both IGN and G4TV described him as being a comical character. GamePro
listed him as one of the boxers they hope to return, stating that the US is on good enough terms with Russia to allow it. Sarcastic Gamer
editor Havoc Saunders, before Popinski was revealed, commented that if they added Soda Popinski, he would buy the Wii Punch-Out!!.
In spite of the positive reception, Destructoid
editor Colette Bennett referred to Popinski as being a frustrating battle, stating that while others find him easy, she found him very difficult. She specifically cited his taunt as part of her frustration, suggesting that the taunt was as if to say "You will never beat me, you pathetic weiner!" GameZone editor jkdmedia commented that while he may have the "power of cola
on his side," he comments that it's his "super-fast attacks that make him deadly." Kotaku editor Michael McWhertor criticized Punch-Out!! for the Wii, stating that some of the boxers' cues feel cheap. He specifically cited Soda Popinski, asking the readers if they want to see his notes on how to beat him. However, Operation Sports editor Christian McLeod commented that he was "surprisingly easy", considering that it was late in the game. Humour web site The Onion
wrote an article about a series of interviews with Mike Tyson
and other Punch-Out!! characters, including Soda Popinski.
listed Punch-Out!! as the fourth most racist video game, citing Soda's "Soviet roughneck" stereotype
as one of the contributing factors. GameSpy
listed Punch-Out!! as the sixth greatest console video game of the 80's, with GameSpy Villoria discussing the various stereotypes, specifically mentioning Popinski as a "Russian booze enthusiast who kept missing his Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in favor of boxing matches." Kotaku editor Michael McWhertor joked that a petition exists to change Popinski's name back to Vodka Drunkenski.
GamesRadar
editor Dave Meikleham included him in his "top seven biggest drunks in games" article, describing him as the "drink to feel invincible drunk". He also calls him a "true pioneer of 8-bit drunks". Fellow GamesRadar editor Brett Elston discussed Soda Popinski in his "Fun with Stereotypes: Starring Punch-Out!!" article. He discussed how the stereotypes he featured, which includes vodka drinking, an affinity for red clothing, and resistance to very cold temperatures, had to have been intentional, considering that he originated in 1984, which was when Russians were painted as "anti-American villains". In his "Nintendo: Banned in the USA" article, Chris Antista of GamesRadar listed an example of Nintendo's censorship of alcohol in video games. He also pointed out that even after the change, Soda's mid-fight quotes are still alcohol references, such as "I drink to prepare for a fight. Tonight I am very prepared!". In discussing the Wii remake, freelance journalist Sumatra Lahiri suggested that despite the inherent nostalgic value, the stereotypes exhibited by the characters that seemed harmless in the 1980s had not aged well when early 21st century attitudes towards cultural and racial sensitivity were taken into account. In discussing Popinski, he stated that he seems far less innocent when players realize that his soda used to be vodka.
The Guardian
editor Aleks Krotoski described the change from Vodka Drunkenski to Soda Popinski as one of Nintendo's "most dramatic additions/subtractions". In another Guardian.co.uk article, they discussed what they described as the "shamelessly politically incorrect characters," citing Soda Popinski. While they comment that his name was changed from Vodka Drunkenski to avoid being unfair to Russians, they noted that his mid-match quotes don't make sense, using "I drink to prepare for a fight. Tonight I am very prepared!" as an example. AskMen, in discussing Punch-Out!!, described the stereotyping as being "decidedly in poor taste". GamePro Germany
called Soda Popinski a "cliché," describing him as an "eternally drunk Russian."
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
's Punch-Out!!
Punch-Out!!
is a 1983–1984 boxing arcade game by Nintendo. It was the first in a series of successful Punch-Out!! games that produced an arcade sequel known as Super Punch-Out!!, a spin-off of the series titled Arm Wrestling, a highly popular version for the NES originally known as Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!,...
series. Soda Popinski first appeared in the Arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
game Super Punch-Out!!, featuring the above mentioned Vodka Drunkenski name. He was designed by Makoto Wada for the NES video game Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
Punch-Out!!, originally known as Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!, is a boxing video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System developed and published by Nintendo in 1987. It is a port of both the Punch-Out!! and Super Punch-Out!! arcade games with some variations. It has consistently been ranked among...
in 1987, and by Eddie Viser for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
video game Punch-Out!!
Punch-Out!! (Wii)
Punch-Out!! is a boxing video game for the Wii. It is the latest game in the Punch-Out!! series. It was developed by Canadian developer Next Level Games. Game designer Shigeru Miyamoto served as the game's producer. It was first revealed at Nintendo's conference on October 2, 2008...
in 2009, his most recent appearance. Ihor Mota portrays him in the 2009 Punch-Out!! release.
Nintendo changed his name from Vodka Drunkenski to Soda Popinski in Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! in order to avoid controversy, replacing his affinity for vodka
Vodka
Vodka , is a distilled beverage. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains, potatoes, or sometimes fruits....
with soda
Soft drink
A soft drink is a non-alcoholic beverage that typically contains water , a sweetener, and a flavoring agent...
. However, other Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
stereotypes, such as his wearing red, his ability to handle cold weather, his use of the Song of the Volga Boatmen as his entrance music
Entrance music
Entrance music is a musical piece or song that is played for sports persons or celebrities when they enter the ring or the playing field.-Wrestling:...
, and scenes depicting him doing the Kozachok
Kozachok
Kozachok or kazachok is a folk dance from Ukraine. It is a fast, linear, couple-dance in 2/4, typically in a constantly increasing tempo and of an improvisatory character in a major key...
remained throughout the series. While his country of origin was originally the USSR, this was changed to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in the 2009 Punch-Out!! due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the disintegration of the federal political structures and central government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , resulting in the independence of all fifteen republics of the Soviet Union between March 11, 1990 and December 25, 1991...
after the release of Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!.
Since his appearance in Super Punch-Out!!, he has received both criticism and praise for his racial stereotyping; 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
used Soda Popinski as an example of the racism in Punch-Out!!. The challenge involved in defeating him has been a notable aspect, with Destructoid editor Colette Bennett expressing her disposition for the character, considering him one of her most frustrating encounters. He has also appeared in some merchandise related to Punch-Out!!, which includes being a part of a series of Topps
Topps
The Topps Company, Inc., manufactures chewing gum, candy and collectibles. Based in New York, New York, Topps is best known as a leading producer of baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards, hockey cards and other sports and non-sports themed trading cards.-Company history:Topps itself was...
trading cards.
Concept and appearances
Soda Popinski was designed for the NES Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
Punch-Out!!, originally known as Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!, is a boxing video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System developed and published by Nintendo in 1987. It is a port of both the Punch-Out!! and Super Punch-Out!! arcade games with some variations. It has consistently been ranked among...
by Makoto Wada, with his most recent design being made by Eddie Viser in the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
Punch-Out!!
Punch-Out!! (Wii)
Punch-Out!! is a boxing video game for the Wii. It is the latest game in the Punch-Out!! series. It was developed by Canadian developer Next Level Games. Game designer Shigeru Miyamoto served as the game's producer. It was first revealed at Nintendo's conference on October 2, 2008...
. He is voiced by Ihor Mota in the Wii Punch-Out!!. Soda Popinski is a Russian boxer from Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, and the #1 boxer in his country. He is both tall and muscular, featuring redder skin than other boxers, a moustache, and no hair. He's the only left handed fighter in the game. He is physically capable of handling extremely cold weather, and has a propensity to soda pop. He is noted as being powerful, using a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n fighting style. In the Wii Punch-Out!!, he can utilize his soda to gain energy or to become more powerful. He first appeared in the arcade game Super Punch-Out!! in 1985, and again in the NES game Punch-Out!! in 1987. A port of the arcade game was released for the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
and the ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
, where Popinski was renamed "Andra Puncharedov". He would not appear again until the Wii video game titled Punch-Out!!
Punch-Out!! (Wii)
Punch-Out!! is a boxing video game for the Wii. It is the latest game in the Punch-Out!! series. It was developed by Canadian developer Next Level Games. Game designer Shigeru Miyamoto served as the game's producer. It was first revealed at Nintendo's conference on October 2, 2008...
. In the original Super Punch-Out!! arcade game, he is referred to as Vodka Drunkenski, a stereotype of the people of the USSR at the time. To avoid controversy, his name was changed to Soda Popinski in the NES Punch-Out!!, changing his vice from vodka to soda. However, other stereotypes, such as the ability to handle cold weather, as well as being known to do the Kozachok
Kozachok
Kozachok or kazachok is a folk dance from Ukraine. It is a fast, linear, couple-dance in 2/4, typically in a constantly increasing tempo and of an improvisatory character in a major key...
.
Reception
Since appearing in Punch-Out!!, Soda Popinski has received mostly positive reception. He has been referred to by many sources as being a notable character to the series as well as a fan favourite. He has appeared in several pieces of merchandise, including being included in a series of Punch-Out!! ToppsTopps
The Topps Company, Inc., manufactures chewing gum, candy and collectibles. Based in New York, New York, Topps is best known as a leading producer of baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards, hockey cards and other sports and non-sports themed trading cards.-Company history:Topps itself was...
trading cards. He was chosen as the favourite character by one of the producers of Punch-Out!!
Punch-Out!! (Wii)
Punch-Out!! is a boxing video game for the Wii. It is the latest game in the Punch-Out!! series. It was developed by Canadian developer Next Level Games. Game designer Shigeru Miyamoto served as the game's producer. It was first revealed at Nintendo's conference on October 2, 2008...
for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
. As a part of the "Obscure Character of the Day" series, IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
editor Christopher Monfette discussed Popinski, describing him as "the USSR's meanest heavyweight contender ever to grace the NES." They also listed Popinski as one of Punch-Out!!s top fighters. Both IGN and G4TV described him as being a comical character. GamePro
GamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
listed him as one of the boxers they hope to return, stating that the US is on good enough terms with Russia to allow it. Sarcastic Gamer
Sarcastic Gamer
SarcasticGamer.com is an independent video gaming related blog and community site. A part of the GamerCast Network, a community of independent podcasters, the website focuses on parodying the latest events happening in the gaming industry. Although the website is best known for its satirical news...
editor Havoc Saunders, before Popinski was revealed, commented that if they added Soda Popinski, he would buy the Wii Punch-Out!!.
In spite of the positive reception, Destructoid
Destructoid
Destructoid is an independent video game-focused blog based in San Francisco, California that was founded in March 2006. It has since grown into one of the most widely read video game sites on the Internet, reaching more than 3 million unique visitors per month...
editor Colette Bennett referred to Popinski as being a frustrating battle, stating that while others find him easy, she found him very difficult. She specifically cited his taunt as part of her frustration, suggesting that the taunt was as if to say "You will never beat me, you pathetic weiner!" GameZone editor jkdmedia commented that while he may have the "power of cola
Cola
Cola is a carbonated beverage that was typically flavored by the kola nut as well as vanilla and other flavorings, however, some colas are now flavored artificially. It became popular worldwide after druggist John Pemberton invented Coca-Cola in 1886...
on his side," he comments that it's his "super-fast attacks that make him deadly." Kotaku editor Michael McWhertor criticized Punch-Out!! for the Wii, stating that some of the boxers' cues feel cheap. He specifically cited Soda Popinski, asking the readers if they want to see his notes on how to beat him. However, Operation Sports editor Christian McLeod commented that he was "surprisingly easy", considering that it was late in the game. Humour web site The Onion
The Onion
The Onion is an American news satire organization. It is an entertainment newspaper and a website featuring satirical articles reporting on international, national, and local news, in addition to a non-satirical entertainment section known as The A.V. Club...
wrote an article about a series of interviews with Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
and other Punch-Out!! characters, including Soda Popinski.
Racial stereotyping
Soda Popinski has been a component in racial discussion in video games since his appearance in Super Punch-Out!! for the arcades. 1UP.com1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
listed Punch-Out!! as the fourth most racist video game, citing Soda's "Soviet roughneck" stereotype
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
as one of the contributing factors. GameSpy
GameSpy
GameSpy Industries, Inc., known simply as GameSpy, is a division of IGN Entertainment, which operates a network of game websites and provides online video game-related services and software. GameSpy dates back to the 1996 release of an internet Quake server search program named QSpy. The current...
listed Punch-Out!! as the sixth greatest console video game of the 80's, with GameSpy Villoria discussing the various stereotypes, specifically mentioning Popinski as a "Russian booze enthusiast who kept missing his Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in favor of boxing matches." Kotaku editor Michael McWhertor joked that a petition exists to change Popinski's name back to Vodka Drunkenski.
GamesRadar
GamesRadar
GamesRadar is a multi-format video game website featuring regular news, previews, reviews, videos, and guides. It is owned and operated simultaneously in the UK and US by worldwide publisher Future Publishing...
editor Dave Meikleham included him in his "top seven biggest drunks in games" article, describing him as the "drink to feel invincible drunk". He also calls him a "true pioneer of 8-bit drunks". Fellow GamesRadar editor Brett Elston discussed Soda Popinski in his "Fun with Stereotypes: Starring Punch-Out!!" article. He discussed how the stereotypes he featured, which includes vodka drinking, an affinity for red clothing, and resistance to very cold temperatures, had to have been intentional, considering that he originated in 1984, which was when Russians were painted as "anti-American villains". In his "Nintendo: Banned in the USA" article, Chris Antista of GamesRadar listed an example of Nintendo's censorship of alcohol in video games. He also pointed out that even after the change, Soda's mid-fight quotes are still alcohol references, such as "I drink to prepare for a fight. Tonight I am very prepared!". In discussing the Wii remake, freelance journalist Sumatra Lahiri suggested that despite the inherent nostalgic value, the stereotypes exhibited by the characters that seemed harmless in the 1980s had not aged well when early 21st century attitudes towards cultural and racial sensitivity were taken into account. In discussing Popinski, he stated that he seems far less innocent when players realize that his soda used to be vodka.
The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
editor Aleks Krotoski described the change from Vodka Drunkenski to Soda Popinski as one of Nintendo's "most dramatic additions/subtractions". In another Guardian.co.uk article, they discussed what they described as the "shamelessly politically incorrect characters," citing Soda Popinski. While they comment that his name was changed from Vodka Drunkenski to avoid being unfair to Russians, they noted that his mid-match quotes don't make sense, using "I drink to prepare for a fight. Tonight I am very prepared!" as an example. AskMen, in discussing Punch-Out!!, described the stereotyping as being "decidedly in poor taste". GamePro Germany
GamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
called Soda Popinski a "cliché," describing him as an "eternally drunk Russian."