10 Celebrity Musicians Hidden In Your Favourite Video Games
6. Michael Jackson - Space Channel 5 Series
Not content with starring in his own arcade game (later released on the Sega Mega Drive) based on the film Moonwalker, the late King of Pop appeared in the rather unusual but charming Sega series Space Channel 5.
According to the official lore and fandom, “Space Michael” is a “caring soul who does his best to keep the crew of Channel 5 safe”. Former Sega employee Jake Kazdal told Siliconera Jackson approached then head of Sega development Shuji Utsumi after having seen the game, and asked to be in it.
Despite the game being very near completion, the developers worked tirelessly around the clock to ensure Space Michael was able to strut his stuff across the galaxy.
Briefly cameoing in the first Space Channel 5 game, Space Michael had a more featured role in SC5 Part 2, as the station chief of Space Channel 5 itself. In the sequel, he combats Purge the King with his vocal cords, acts an impromptu cheerleader to main character Ulala, and moonwalks to celebrate the breaking of Dance Dimension X.
All of these things actually happened