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Dan Johnson skin from TOD

The Dan Johnson skin in Tools of Destruction.

Daniel Aric Johnson (1974 - December 2006) was a former Insomniac Games employee and artist who worked with the company for many years. As an inside joke, Insomniac Games hid cameos of Johnson in many of their games, starting with Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!, and throughout the Ratchet & Clank series. Johnson also worked for High Impact Games along with many other Insomniac Games employees, who also included references to him.

Johnson died on December 3, 2006, during the production of Size Matters. Both Size Matters and Tools of Destruction were dedicated to his memory. Johnson has appeared in almost every Ratchet & Clank game, except for Deadlocked and Going Mobile.

Allusions to Dan Johnson[]

Ratchet & Clank (2002 game)[]

Dan Johnson's face appears on some of the monitors at the edge of the landing area of the Blarg Tactical Research Station. His face is also seen in Jowai Resort, Pokitaru, as all starfish scattered on the beach show his image. Additionally, his face is textured on the inside of the purple mushrooms that are commonly found growing on the side of trees in Eudora.

Going Commando[]

Dan Johnson's face appears on a snowman, known as the Snow Dan, in Siberius. A skill point, "You can break a Snow Dan", is unlocked by smashing it.

The name "DAN" lays out on the soda cans after they are smashed in Megapolis, Endako, and in the binary code signs in Canal City, Notak, the binary can be translated to "Dan Johnson". Johnson was also seen on some cereal boxes in Allgon City, Damosel. Additionally, in the Insomniac Museum, Dan Johnson's face is seen floating outside on the opposite side of the grav-ramp.

Up Your Arsenal[]

Up Your Arsenal also features a Snow Dan in Qwark's hideout, Thran Asteroid Belt, and the skill point "Break the Dan" is unlocked for smashing it.

Dan Johnson's face is scattered on the pictures in the Insomniac Museum. He was also a multiplayer skin unlockable by going to the Insomniac website and acquiring a code unique for each username, which was then entered in-game online.

Size Matters[]

Johnson is an unlockable skin in Size Matters' multiplayer. In the PlayStation Portable version he is unlocked by winning five matches in each of the three game modes, or by playing ten matches without dying (the skin unlocks upon starting another). In the Playstation 2 version he is unlocked by getting all twenty titanium bolts in one savefile.

Johnson has a tribute in the credits, and is seen in a High Impact Games Treehouse computer with concept art for Luna.

Secret Agent Clank[]

Johnson is an unlockable skin in Secret Agent Clank for the price of three titanium bolts.

Tools of Destruction[]

Dan Jonhson has an unlockable skin, purchased with 6 gold bolts. A tribute for him is given in the end credits.

Quest for Booty[]

Dan Johnson was hidden in the far end of a cave in the Hoolefar Island's bay. After blowing down some gates, he could be found at the far end of a ledge as an action figure in its packaging.

A Crack in Time[]

Dan Johson was yet again an unlockable skin and could be unlocked for 24 Gold Bolts. He could also be seen in the Insomniac Museum, staring into space.

All 4 One[]

The Dan Johnson skin is unlockable for Ratchet only, with 40 hero bolts.

Full Frontal Assault[]

Dan Johnson has an unlockable skin for multiplayer.

Into the Nexus[]

Here stands the heroic figure of Dan Johnson. Mr. Johnson once lived on a primitive planet called "Earth" where he mixed Techno music, raised cats, and discovered the often overlooked secret of enjoying life: Go outside, meet friends, and share their company while consuming delicious food and a sparkly beverage.

Dan Johnson appears in the Intergalactic Museum of History in Meridian City, Igliak. His statue is found by going through a ventilation shaft in one of the rooms. The tourbot has a museum entry for him, stating that he came from planet Earth, made Techno music, owned cats, and knew the secret to enjoying life.

Ratchet & Clank (2016 game)[]

A Dan Johnson head mask can be obtained in the Extras menu, unlocked with 25 gold bolts. Additionally, the Snow Dan can be found on Batalia on a small island just east of the anti-air gun turret, but cannot be destroyed. He also appears as action figures in the Insomniac Museum.

Ratchet & Clank (2016 movie)[]

Dan Johnson Ratchet movie

Dan Johnson in the Ratchet & Clank movie

Dan Jonhson briefly appears when Clank is trying to identify Ratchet's race, along with Daxter and Sly Cooper.

Rift Apart[]

Dan Johnson in RA

Dan Johnson in Rift Apart

Rift Apart Legend Stickers

The four Legend stickers.

Dan Jonhson appears as an action figure behind the bar at Zurkie's and scattered around the Nefarious Business Factory. The price shown on the box is 1.000.000 bolts and the serial code is "1974-2006". Additionally, collecting all of the CraiggerBears across both a regular and Challenge mode playthrough will unlock four Legend stickers for the photo mode honoring past Insomniac Games employees, with Dan Johnson being one of them.

Skins[]

Behind the scenes[]

Dan Johnson was hidden throughout Insomniac's levels as a running gag, as he was one of two original artists at Insomniac, and the other would try to hide his face everywhere possible. Dan Johnson was described by former Insomniac employees Mike Stout and Tony Garcia as "one of the nicest guys" they've ever met.[1]

Citations[]

References[]

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