California Games (NES)

Music (Louie Louie): The main title theme of California Games is clearly based on the song "Louie Louie". It also bears a slight resemblance to "Summer Days" from Grease. (Credit: Flying Omelette, Deven711, & Kairobi King)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. (Midi of Summer Days) and (Midi of Louie Louie) for proof.

Cannon Spike (DC)

Cross-Series (Various): Arthur from Ghosts 'n Goblins, Cammy, Charlie, and Vega from Street Fighter, B.B. Hood from DarkStalkers, and Mega Man are all in this game. However, Vega is called "Balrog" here. (Credit: Crawl and 1000 & Flying Omelette)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Cross-Series (Resident Evil): One of the stages is a homage to Resident Evil.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Capcom vs. SNK 2 (DC/PS2)

Character Cameo: Falcon from the Power Stone games makes an appearance in the background of the Nairobi stage standing atop a car. The person standing next to him is Leona Heidern. (Credit: PenguinMan26 & Sotenga)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: It's pretty hard to miss the giant E. Honda and Haohmaru mock-ups in Aomori, but look closely in the background, and you can see a giant Guile, too. (Credit: Sotenga)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: In the rotating Shanghai background, you can identify Li Xiangfei from Real Bout Fatal Fury 2 and June from Star Gladiator. (Credit: Sotenga)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: Quite a few people in the London background, including Karman Cole from Art of Fighting 3, who is talking with Billy Kane and his sister, Lilly. You can also spot Elena and Dudley from Street Fighter 3. (Credit: Sotenga)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: In the Osaka Arena, notice the screen in the background. The Capcom vs SNK 2 Tournament was sponsored by the Masters Foundation (as in Ken Masters) and the Garcia Concern (Robert Garcia.) Kinda ironic, as Robert isn't playable, but Ryo and Yuri are. (Credit: Sotenga)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: Yun's brother, Yang, appears for a couple of his super combos. Batsu and Hinata appear in Kyosuke's Final Symphony Remix super combo. (Credit: Sotenga)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: When Yamazaki and Chun-Li fight, Hon Fu from Fatal Fury 3 appears, then Yamazaki uses the HP form of the Serpent Slash on him. (Credit: Sotenga)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: When night falls in the London stage (Round 2), you can see Rose from Street Fighter Alpha. Also in Shanghai, you can see Hsien Ko from Darkstalkers. (Credit: Deguello1)
Status: Unverified

Castlevania (NES)

Cross-Series (Gradius): There's a secret Moai head item that can be found in the 2nd Quest, which is a reference to the Moai heads in Gradius.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Famous Person (Various): The names in the end credits are spoofs of real actors who played monsters in old monster movies, such as Lon Cheney and Bela Lugosi. And Vram (Bram) Stoker, who wrote the original Dracula novel, is credited, too. (Credit: ErniePants)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Movie (Various): The Dracula, Mummy, and Frankenstein bosses are all based on famous movie monsters.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. This appears to be true. The weird ending credits and the film spokes on the title screen seem to prove it.

Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest (NES)

Movie (Alien/A Nightmare on Elm Street): This could be really stretching it, but I noticed that the enemy called "Freddy" bears a striking resemblance to the Alien from the first Alien movie. It's something about the dark coloring, smooth head, little square mouth, and humanoid form. It's not entirely implausible because many of the monsters in the early Castlevania games were based on movie monsters. Even if the Alien resemblance wasn't intentional, this enemy was most likely named after Freddy Krueger. Here's a (screenshot) of him (left), but you'll probably need to see him while actually playing the game to notice the resemblance.
Status: Unproven

Specific Reference: One of the villagers says, "After Castlevania, I warned you not to return", which is a direct reference to the first game in the series. (Credit: James FP)
TRUE: This was proven on my (Oddities Page).

Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse (NES)

Miscellaneous: Alucard is just Dracula spelled backwards. (Credit: Al Bhed)
Status: TRUE: Common knowledge.

Mythology (Mesopotamian): The final form of Dracula is based on the Mesopotamian demon Pazuzu. This, incidentally, was the demon that possessed Reagan in The Exorcist. Given the number of movie references in the Castlevania series, I'm slightly tempted to think this was the reason for its inclusion, though I don't know that for a fact.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Famous Person (Vlad Tepes): In the credits, Alucard has the name Adrian F. Tepes, which is a reference to Vlad Tepes, "The Impaler". He was referred to as a "real life vampire" because of his savage habits. (Credit: ShadOtterdan & Ultimate Chicken)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Castlevania 64 (N64)

Music: "Opposing Bloodlines" from Dracula X is the music that plays on the title screen. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. It's a much slower, violin version of it.

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (GBA)

Cross-Series (Kid Dracula): Galamoth from Kid Dracula is mentioned. (Credit: Jason Krietsch)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: Alucard is also in the game, under an assumed name and with black hair again. (Credit: Jason Krietsch)
Status: Unverified

Castlevania: Bloodlines (Genesis)

Famous Person (Elizabeth Bathory): The penultimate boss is Elizabeth Bartley, who is based on Elizabeth Bathory, an actual English noble. Supposedly she used to hire staff, kill them, drain their blood and bathe in it. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Music: "Beginning" from Castlevania 3, "Vampire Killer" from Castlevania, and "Bloody Tears" from Castlevania 2 are hidden tunes in the game that can only be accessed by putting a code in and upgrading your weapon to Level 4. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: John Morris is supposed to be the son of Nathaniel Morris, who was killed by Dracula in Bram Stoker's original Dracula novel. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: Eric LeCarde's weapon was the Alucard spear in the Japanese version, a reference to Dracula's son. I'm not entirely sure on this one, but I heard that Eric LeCarde *was* Alucard in the Japanese version. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (GBA)

Specific Reference (Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest): Castlevania 2 is at the core of the storyline. Maxim mentions how Simon Belmont had to collect the parts of Dracula, and you have to do that in this game as well. (Credit: ShadOtterdan)
Status: Unverified

Famous Person (Vlad Tepes): The Dracula parts are called Eye of Vlad, Rib of Vlad, etc. References to Vlad Tepes, "The Impaler". (Credit: ShadOtterdan)
Status: Unverified

Cross-Series (Donkey Kong): The ape skeletons throw barrels at you, an obvious Donkey Kong reference. (Credit: ShadOtterdan)
Status: Unverified

Castlevania: Lament of Innocence (PS2)

Music: The music in the final level is a revamped version of "Calling from Heaven" from Castlevania: Bloodlines. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Music: The credits music is an orchestral version of "Wicked Child" (Castlevania) and "Bloody Tears" (Castlevania 2). (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness (N64)

Music: The music that plays when you fight Dracula's first form is "Illusionary Dance" from Dracula X. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Music: The music that plays in the Art Tower is "The Sinking Old Ship" from Castlevania: Bloodlines. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS1)

Cross-Series (Gradius): If you perform a special move (like a Street Fighter 2 fireball move) while holding the Shield Rod, a shield from Gradius will appear in front of Alucard. (Credit: Dire 51)
Status: Unverified

Literature (Hamlet): Right after leaving Dracula's chamber in the inverted castle, you can go up or go down. Go down and you'll encounter a skeleton that's comically kicking his own skull around. The skeleton's name is Yorick, quite obviously named after the Shakespeare character. (Credit: Dire 51)
Status: Unverified

Movie (The Wizard of Oz): There are enemies in the game based on the Scarecrow, Lion, and Tin Man from "The Wizard of Oz". (Credit: Crawl and 1000)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. Source: Castlevania Dungeon.

Cross-Series (Kid Dracula): Garamoth from Kid Dracula is a boss. (Credit: Crawl and 1000)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. Source: Castlevania Dungeon.

Character Cameo: One of the bosses is three ghosts mimicking Trevor, Grant, and Sypha from Castlevania 3. (Credit: Codie Martin)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. Source: Castlevania Dungeon.

Cross-Series (Gradius): If you use the Shield Rod together with the Fire Shield, you can summon three dragons from the Gradius series. (Credit: Iqniz)
Status: Unverified

Literature (The Lord of the Rings/The Silmarillion): The Castlevania: Symphony of the Night staff obviously liked Tolkien. The Ring of Varda's description says, "The golden ring to rule over all!" This is obviously a reference to the One Ring in The Lord of the Rings. Also, Karasuman drops a ring called "Ring of Feanor". Feanor is a popular character in The Silmarillion, also written by Tolkien. Lastly, the Fire Demon drops a powerful sword called the "Marsil". This may be a reference to "Narsil", the sword that Isildor used to cut the ring from Sauron's hand at the beginning of The Lord of the Rings. (Credit: Iqniz)
Status: Unverified

Champions of Norrath (PS2)

Literature (The Lord of the Rings): You fight a monster called Shelox that is most definitely a rip-off of Shelob from The Return of the King. (Credit: ShadOtterdan)
Status: Unverified

Cho Aniki (SNES)

Art (The Birth of Adam) Adam from Michelangelo's "The Birth of Adam" is one of the playable characters. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: TRUE: Verified by (Encyclopedia-Obscura).

Cross-Series (Wings of Wor): The runaway fantasy train is based on the locomotive monster from Wings of Wor. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: TRUE: Verified by (Masaya's Ai Cho Aniki Site).

Famous Person (Elvis Presley): Sabu is based on Elvis Presley. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: TRUE: Verified by (Encyclopedia-Obscura).

Programmers: Uminin is the mascot of the company who made the game. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Chocobo Racing (PS1)

Music: The White Mage's theme is the town theme from the original Final Fantasy. Mythril Mines uses the Gurugu Volcano theme, which is strange because Gurugu Volcano is also in this game. (Credit: Isaac)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: You can unlock Cloud and Squall as playable characters. You can also unlock Bahamut, King of the Espers. (Credit: Isaac)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Chrono Cross (PS1)

Character Cameo: In the scene where you visit Kid's past in Lucca's house, you can see pictures of the main characters from Chrono Trigger, as well as a broken-down Gato. (Credit: PenguinMan26)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference: Serge's level 5 tech is Luminaire, which shares the same name as Crono's most powerful tech from Chrono Trigger. Also, Glenn and Serge can perform the dual tech called X-Slash, just like Frog and Crono could in Chrono Trigger. (Credit: MJB817)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: If you use Serge's flying arrow tech with the Mastermune equipped, Masa & Mune's combined form from Chrono Trigger will appear during the attack. (Credit: MJB817)
Status: Unverified

TV Shows (Looney Tunes): Janice's Level 7 tech is called "What's Up Doc", which is a reference to Bugs Bunny's catch phrase. (Credit: MJB817)
Status: Unverified

Specific Reference: ***SPOILER WARNING*** If you beat the game with the cave girl Leah in your party, she'll tell you that she plans to name her daughter Ayla. This is a reference to the cave girl Ayla from Chrono Trigger. (Credit: MJB817)
Status: Unverified

Character Cameo: There is an archipelago south of Mount Pyre (the chain of islands in the center of the ocean, in the middle of all the other islands) called the "Bend of Time". After beating the game once, play it again on New Game+ up to the point where you get the boat. Land your boat there, and you will see portals and a save point. Enter the door, and you'll see a pig-creature tell you to walk around the room three times (similar to when you first meet Spekkio in the original Chrono Trigger). After doing so, you'll encounter and fight Ozzie, Slash, and Flea from Chrono Trigger. (Credit: MJB817)
Status: Unverified

Chrono Trigger (SNES/PS1)

Programmers/Cross-Series (Final Fantasy 2): When you get the programmer's ending, one of the characters will say something like, "If you think this is hard, try Final Fantasy 2!"
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Mythology (Biblical): Melchior, Belthasar and Gaspar are the names of the three wise men in the Bible. (Credit: Deathspork)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. The game's translator has admitted to naming these characters after the three wise men in at least one interview.

Famous Person (Various): Slash, Flea and Ozzie are all named after famous rock stars. (Credit: Deathspork)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Movie (Star Wars): Biggs, Wedge, and Piette, who are all located in Norstein Bekkler's lab, are named after Star Wars characters. (Note: Biggs is called "Vicks" on the American SNES version.)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Chu Chu Rocket (DC)

Console (Dreamcast): One of the levels in puzzle mode is called "Dreamcatch" and features the Dreamcast logo in the middle of the board (the rocket is in the middle of the Dreamcast spiral). (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

City Connection (NES)

Music (Chuck Berry): The theme song is a derivation of a Chuck Berry song, either "Johnny B Good" or "Back in the USA". (Credit: Kairobi King)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Civilization 2: Test of Time (PC)

Famous Person (Jules Verne/JRR Tolkien): Two of the tracks are called "Jules Verne" and "Tolkien" after the authors of "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and "The Hobbit", respectively. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Clay Fighter (SNES)

Famous Person (Elvis Presley): Blue Suede Goo is a spoof of Elvis Presley, and his name is a take on the song "Blue Suede Shoes". (Credit: ErniePants)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Clay Fighter 2: Judgment Clay (SNES)

Movie (Terminator 2: Judgment Day): The title is a spoof of Terminator 2: Judgment Day. (Credit: ShadOtterdan)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Famous Person/Real Places (Various): The level Mudville Gardens seems to be based on Madison Square Garden, even down to a caricature of Don King. Mount Mushmore is a spoof of Mount Rushmore, but the only identifiable head is Elvis Presley. (Credit: ShadOtterdan)
Status: Unverified

Clay Fighter 63 1/3 (N64)

Cross-Series (Boogerman/Earthworm Jim): Boogerman and Earthworm Jim are playable characters.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. Source: Nintendo Power.

Columns 3 (Genesis)

Music: There is a remix of "Clothos" from the original Columns game hidden in the sound test. (Credit: Andy Thorley)
Status: Unverified

Conker's Bad Fur Day (N64)

Cross-Series (Banjo-Kazooie): In the option room/file select you can see a Banjo head from the Banjo-Kazooie series. There is also a Kazooie umbrella. (Credit: Kysy)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Cross-Series/Console (Killer Instinct/Game Boy): When Conker gets bored he takes out a Game Boy and plays Killer Instinct. (Credit: Kysy)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Cross-Series (Banjo-Kazooie): The wasps are from Banjo-Kazooie. (Credit: Kysy)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Cross-Series (Donkey Kong 64): The robot bear shoots a missile that resembles the one of Donkey Kong 64. (Credit: Kysy)
Status: Unverified

Movie (Aliens): The final boss is the alien from the Alien movies. Before fighting him, Conker comes out of a small room wearing a "power loader" suit and says Ripley's, "Get away from her, you bitch!!" line from Aliens. And you defeat the Alien by throwing it out of an airlock. (Credit: Kysy & Flying Omelette)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. (Screenshot) proves it.

Movie (The Matrix): The Bank Heist level parodies The Matrix. (Credit: Kysy)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. (Screenshot) proves it.

Movie (The Terminator): The haystack boss and his background music is based on the Terminator. He even has Arnold's famous line from the first movie, but it's been changed to, "Buff you, asshole!"
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Movie (The Wizard of Oz): When you beat the Great Mighty Poo, he quotes the Wicked Witch's "I'm melting!" speech from The Wizard of Oz, but it's been changed to "I'm flushing!"
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Movie (Jaws): When you get close to the dogfish, you hear the theme music from Jaws. The final cutscene with the dogfish also parodies Jaws.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Movie (The Untouchables): The Weasels parody a scene from The Untouchables. (Credit: Crawl and 1000)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Movie (The Godfather): Don Weasel also says, "I'll make you an offer you can't refuse", which is the most famous line from The Godfather.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Movie (Dracula): When Conker talks to the Vampire, the characters, scenery, and dialogue parody both Francis Ford Coppola's version of Bram Stoker's Dracula and the original Dracula with Bela Lugosi.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Movie/Music (A Clockwork Orange/Purcell): The expression on Conker's face, the way he drinks the milk, the music (Henry Purcell's "Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary"), and the camera angle used in the beginning and the end when he's sitting on the throne is a reference to A Clockwork Orange.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Movie (The Exorcist): The robot bear boss with the hand puppet parodies The Exorcist.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Movie (Star Wars: Return of the Jedi): When the Panther King appears on his throne in the bank vault, the background is based on the Emperor's Throne in Return of the Jedi.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Movie (Pulp Fiction/The Matrix): The ending scene where Conker goes through a bunch of weapons and decides on a Samurai sword is a Pulp Fiction reference. Also, the way the weapons are presented (a long rack against a blank white screen) is another Matrix reference. (Credit: Crawl and 1000)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Movie (Apocalypse Now): At the end of "It's War!", the general quotes Apocalypse Now. ("The horror...the horror...")
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Movie (Alien3): The zooming view down the tunnel in "It's War!" is an Alien3 reference. (Credit: Crawl and 1000)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO. Note: Because the camera is twisting upside-down, and Conker runs to the end of the tunnel and closes a door shut on the spider-like enemies that are chasing him, I am inclined to believe this is an Alien3 reference, but I could be wrong.

Movie (Saving Private Ryan): The war chapter also spoofs Saving Private Ryan. The events in the first cutscene are taken completely from Ryan, and one sub-chapter is called "Saving Private Rodent". (Credit: Crawl and 1000)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Movie (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade): Conker's line, "Tediz...I hate these guys!", is a spoof of Indiana Jones's line in The Last Crusade, "Nazis...I hate these guys!" (Credit: Crawl and 1000)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

TV Shows (Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?): Sometimes, when Conker picks up money, he says, "Who wants to be a Millionaire?", a reference to the game show of the same name.
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Contra (NES/Arcade)

Movie (Alien): The giant Red Falcon head in the final level looks like the alien from the Alien movies. The pods that surround the Heart (the final boss) look very similar to the eggs in the Alien movies, and the scorpion-like things that leap out resemble facehuggers.
Status: TRUE: Too many similarities here to be coincidence. Screenshots for proof: (Red Falcon) (Facehuggers)

Movie (Predator/Rambo): The picture of the blonde commando on the cover of Contra's box and label is based on the picture of Arnold Schwarzenegger from the cover of the "Predator" movie. The other commando looks a bit like Sylvester Stallone from the "Rambo" movies. (Credit: Crawl and 1000)
Status: TRUE: Too many similarities to be coincidence. I don't think Konami could possibly deny it. See Oddities 16 for picture comparisons.

Contra 3: The Alien Wars (SNES/GB)

Movie (Alien): The big Alien-like Red Falcon head is in the final level of this game, too. It looks more like a (very large) chestburster in this game, though.
Status: TRUE: (Screenshot) from (Contra HQ) proves it.

Movie (Predator): After you kill the Red Falcon from Super C (the crawling thing), the music will sound a lot like the stuff in several parts of the movie Predator. (Credit: Phyllis LaForte)
Status: Unverified

Bizarre Coincidence (Independence Day): The introduction where the Red Falcon blows up the city has a VERY strong similarity to the movie, Independence Day. (Credit: Mando Garza)
Status: Coincidence: It's a rare case of a movie imitating a game (possibly) instead of the vice versa, because Contra 3 was actually made long before the movie Independence Day. However, this entry is too bizarre to leave off.

Contra: Hard Corps (Genesis)

Cross-Series (Castlevania): There is a secret stage in which you fight a really strange robot "Belmont". The boss's music even begins with the first few notes of the Castlevania Level 1 theme, "Vampire Killer". (Credit: Crawl and 1000)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Contra: Legacy of War (PS1)

Cross-Series (Gyruss/Pac-Man): In stage 2, there are two arcade machines set up in an open hut. Presuming that you don't shoot either of them, you can play Gyruss and some sort of Tank game that was obviously inspired by Ms. Pac-Man. (Credit: jup)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Crack Out (NES)

Cross-Series (Wai Wai World): In this Breakout clone, Konami Man's head appears as an item. (Credit: Sverker Johansson & Dire 51)
Status: TRUE: The OPCFG confirms it.

Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure (GBA)

TV Shows (The Three Stooges): After defeating the first three bosses, Uka-Uka says "Cortex! Crash has defeated 3 of your stooges!", a Three Stooges reference. (Credit: Deven711)
Status: Unverified

Crash n the Boys Street Challenge (NES)

Music (Various): All of the songs that play in this game's opening cinema are classical songs, among them Beethoven's 5th Symphony and the first movement of Spring from Antonio Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons". (Credit: Junus Crowe & Flying Omelette)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Critical Depth (PS1)

Movie Reference (James Bond): There's a secret character called Agent 326 who's obviously a spoof of James Bond. He's a British agent who likes wine and women, and his vehicle is a stylish sportcar submarine similar to the Lotus Esprit S2 in the James Bond movies "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "For Your Eyes Only". (Credit: Ace Whatever)
Status: Unverified

Crusader of Centy (Genesis)

Cross-Series (Sonic the Hedgehog): Sonic the Hedgehog is relaxing on a beach. (Credit: FlowingMindspin)
Status: Unverified

Crystal Castles (Atari 2600/Arcade)

Music (Tchaikovsky): Part of the Nutcracker Suite plays when you clear a level. (Credit: Kairobi King)
Status: TRUE: Verified by FO.

Crystalis (NES)

Cross-Series (Athena): The slime enemies originally appeared in SNK's early NES game, Athena.
Status: TRUE: Screenshots prove it: (Athena Slime Enemy) (Crystalis Slime Enemy)

Character Cameo: There's a rumor that SNK puts the characters "Kensu" and "Athena" into a lot of their games. So, the character "Asina" might be based on "Athena". (Credit: Magical Yard Gnome)
Status: Unverified

Curse of Monkey Island, The (PC)

Cross-Series (Grim Fandango): Murray from Grim Fandango (another LucasArts game) makes a cameo on Puerto Pollo, or at least a skeleton looking exactly like him. He also wears a button that says "Ask Me About Grim Fandango", which could be a reference to the pirate in the SCUMM Bar wearing the "Loom" button in The Secret Of Monkey Island. (Credit: SlyDante)
Status: Unverified