Dan 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 every Ratchet & Clank game, except in Deadlocked and Going Mobile.

Allusions to Dan Johnson

Ratchet & Clank (2002 game)

Dan Johson'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 Jognson'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 sashing 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 multiplayer. It is unlocked by winning five matches of each game, playing 10 death matches without dying, or getting all titanium bolts consecutively.

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

Secret Agent Clank

Johnson, is an unlockable skin but purchased with 3 titanium bolts.

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

Th 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

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

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]