Bizarre merchandise time

[rereboy]

Yes, but since they had already used adult Gohan...

[Silver Sinspawn]

Well they have two Buus.

[SonGokuGT]

Does anyone have pics of the GT chess set?

[Xyex]

Well they have two Buus.

Kid Buu and Super Buu are distinct enough as separate characters for that. Plus, you know, it's Buu. Buu can split himself like that.

But that DBZ Chess Set is awesome, I want it. Though, seriously, Princess Snake? Wouldn't Zangya have been a better choice?

[Silver Sinspawn]

Well, the pawn on the hero side is Goku, so, I don't really see a good reason.

[DNA]

Well, the pawn on the hero side is Goku, so, I don't really see a good reason.

The pawn is Goten riding Kintoun.

[Xyex]

I can't believe they used Kid Buu as the pawn for the villains. And yet Jeice is a knight? Cell and Freeza are the Rook and Bishop? What?

[Velasa]

Clearly whoever made this up just looked through a bunch of pictures that seem to have only been labeled "good" and "bad" and just picked things out willy-nilly. It really just adds to the hilarity.

[DNA]

Well.... I think Buu (Pure) was chosen has a pawn due to the fact that he is small, although a Saibaiman would have been a better choice. Cell is a good choice has a bishop due to the shape of his head I guess. Freeza as a rook... beh, why not?
Buu (Gotenks), Jeice in space scooter and Jadoushin are kinda random though. But I really can't think of anyone else from Z who could serve has the queen. With the whites the only odd thing is Trunks on Haya Dragon, but I guess it fits the purpose and at least we don't get two Gohans.

[Silver Sinspawn]

A Saibaman would be a good pawn, or a Cell Jr.

But for the good side, a better pawn would be a Namek. Just a random namek. Since they are the closest to disposable people, or a Gotenks ghost.

[Velasa]

<_< *poketh* dunmake me punch your teeth out boy.

Any of the kids works just fine, they're small.

[Silver Sinspawn]

I kid, I kid. I love the Nameks. Except Elder Tsuno. He was a prick.

Goten and Trunks are overrated and small.

[Xyex]

My choice of characters for chess pieces:

-Good-
Pawn - Krillin
Rook - Vegetto
Knight - Piccolo
Bishop - Gohan
Queen - Android 18
King - Mr. Satan

-Bad-
Pawn - Saibamen
Rook - Super Buu
Knight - Freeza
Bishop - Cell
Queen - Zangya
King - Babidi

[Silver Sinspawn]

My choice of characters for chess pieces:

-Good-
Pawn - Krillin
Rook - Vegetto
Knight - Piccolo
Bishop - Gohan
Qeen - Android 18
King - Mr. Satan

-Bad-
Pawn - Saibamen
Rook - Super Buu
Knight - Freeza
Bishop - Cell
Qeen - Zangya
King - Babidi

What a mix and match of characters. I'd choose:

-Good-
Pawn - Ghost Gotenks'
Rook - Krillin
Knight - Vegeta
Bishop - Piccolo
Queen - Android 18
King - Goku

-Bad-
Pawn - Buu Ghosts
Rook - Yakon
Knight - Pui Pui
Bishop - Dabura
Qeen - Babidi
King - Super Buu

Gave the bad guys a theme.

[Gaffer Tape]

Hate to butt in, but doesn't the word "queen" have a "u" in it? Or is this a regional difference I'm not aware of?

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

Hate to butt in, but doesn't the word "queen" have a "u" in it? Or is this a regional difference I'm not aware of?

No, I'm pretty sure that it's always "Queen".

[DNA]

I'm pretty sure it was just a typo...

And Silver Sinspawn, I think the idea was to have characters from all over Dragon Ball Z series. That, unfortunately Xyex, I take it to mean no movies, hence no Zangya. At the time that chess set came out I'm sure there were many people who didn't have a clue who Zangya was, like me. At least Jadoushin was a little bit more recognizable because it was in the actual series. Although, one could always put #18 as the black queen and put Chichi or Videl as the white queen.

[ThunderPX]

A Saibaman would be a good pawn, or a Cell Jr.

But for the good side, a better pawn would be a Namek. Just a random namek. Since they are the closest to disposable people, or a Gotenks ghost.

What about Yamcha?

Also, I'd take pics of the GT set, but I don't have a working camera. So instead, here's some random tidbits:

The line-up is as follows (keep in mind I never saw the latter part of GT so I'm going to describe the dragons to the best of my abilities):

White
King - SSJ4 Goku
Queen - Chi Chi
Bishop - Piccolo
Knight - SSJ Trunks (the board shows a pic of Future Trunks, but the actual figure is GT Trunks.)
Rook - Uub
Pawn - Kid Goku (or, according to them, Goten)

Black
King - That white dragon who's the final enemy... Ii Shinron, I think?
Queen - That female(?) dragon
Bishop - Rilldo
Knight - Super 17
Rook - That dragon with the big lips and the pointy ears
Pawn - Baby

Now, at least in the Netherlands, these sets were released bit-by-bit on a weekly basis, available in stores or through a subscription. The first set of both Z and GT included the boxes (GT had one for each side instead of one big one, I dunno why) and a binder you would gradually fill up with badly translated info based on the French dub; you'd get four pages on characters with each installment.
Then, each installment would have one figure, the aforementioned pages and a small magazine containing some tips on how to play chess, with a bunch of random DBZ art thrown in.
The last DBZ set also included the first GT set, as well as an additional promo booklet. Interestingly enough, the booklet prominently features some prototype figures, including a retarded-looking SSJ4 Goku, base Trunks, Uub with a full gi (as opposed to just pants), Kid Goku without Kinto'un and a Pan figure, which I think was supposed to be the queen. I guess they decided that last one would just be too weird.

[DNA]

Crud, now I want one of them GT sets as well :<

[Xyex]

What a mix and match of characters.

That was the point.

Gave the bad guys a theme.

So did I. All of the primary bad guys, the strongest female villain, the disposable monsters, and the little man who pulls the strings. :p

Also, Goku and Super Buu as Kings? The hell? You do realize that the King is the most worthless piece on the board, yes? Sure, it's the most important, but it can barely move and it only captures pieces of the other guy is either a horrible player or trying to lure you into a trap.

Hate to butt in, but doesn't the word "queen" have a "u" in it? Or is this a regional difference I'm not aware of?

Typo. ^^; Only typed the list once, then C&Ped it for the bad guys.

And Silver Sinspawn, I think the idea was to have characters from all over Dragon Ball Z series. That, unfortunately Xyex, I take it to mean no movies, hence no Zangya. At the time that chess set came out I'm sure there were many people who didn't have a clue who Zangya was, like me. At least Jadoushin was a little bit more recognizable because it was in the actual series. Although, one could always put #18 as the black queen and put Chichi or Videl as the white queen.

Yeah, I figured they'd left out the movies on purpose. But Zangya's a superior choice for the bad guy Queen over Princess Snake, and I didn't feel like staying with just the series. I suppose Videl as Queen would work for white, with 18 over on black.