Forums

Posted by Johnny Undaunted at http://forums.lostlevels.org/viewtopic.php?t=2615

Not sure if this old news, but here's a scan from the October 1988 issue of BEEP! which shows Sega's release schedule at the time. 1988 was the last year Sega truly supported the Mark III/Master System in Japan, since they only released exactly one game in 1989 before discontinuing the hardware.

Highlighted on the page are Nekkyū Kōshien, Battle Wings (which was retitled Bomber Raid, the aforementioned final Mark III game in Japan) and Poseidon Wars 3D (which only saw an overseas release).

The release schedule is what's really interesting.

A few of the games listed did saw Japanese release. Namely Double Dragon, R-TYPE, Maō Golvellius, Sports Pad Soccer, Chōon Senshi Borgman (Cyborg Hunter) and Ys.

Other scheduled games were canceled in Japan, but released overseas. These were Outrun 3D, Rampage, California Games, World Games, Galaxy Force and Ultima IV. This helps explains why some of these games had FM sound support despite their western origins.

The three most interesting games on the list, since they were never released anywhere, are Phantasy Star II (apparently it was planned for the Master System before shifting development to the Mega Drive), Hot Rod (a port of the Sega arcade game) and Wolfman (I have no idea what it could be, it's possible it's an early name for a released game).

BEEP!198810_p030.jpg (142.64 KB)

Thanks for posting this, it was an interesting little read.

Quote

Other scheduled games were canceled in Japan, but released overseas. These were Outrun 3D, Rampage, California Games, World Games, Galaxy Force and Ultima IV. This helps explains why some of these games had FM sound support despite their western origins.

Always wondered about this, why western games had FM sound.

Have also wondered why SEGA included the FM chip in the Japanese MS despite its lack of success however they removed it and other cool features from the western MS's despite its significant success in some regions. Was it just a cost cutting measure or is there more to it?

A lot of western games had FM just because they were made by Sega (or their associates) in Japan with an existing dual-chip sound engine, even if no Japanese release was ever planned.

It's nice to see the Battle Wings title screen (not the same as the final game) - maybe they had planned to use a different name in Japan from the start.

The article also identifies "Battle wings" as a port of Sonic boom from the arcade, but moved into the past.

Wolfman must have been a working title for Altered Beast. It features a man who turns into a wolf, FM sound, and a 1988 copyright title screen. The Mega Drive version released in Japan in November 1988, the same month as Wolfman is listed.

Altered Beast was announced in the October 1988 issue of Computer Entertainer newsletter, along with "Buggy Dash" (Hot Rod?).

Beep April 1989 still lists Out Run 3D, apparently the last issue to feature a Mark III title in the release schedule.

https://twitter.com/marukajiri/status/545541383428124672

Quote

セガ3D復刻アーカイブス届いた。手持ちの資料のなかでは最後にアウトラン3Dの名前が確認できたのがBeep1989年4月号だった。5月号6月(最終)号は分類がセガからメガドラになったので消えてしまった。パワードリフトの名前もありますねw

Beep 1989 04.jpg (79.92 KB)

Author	Message
Bock Site Admin Joined: 08 Jul 2001 Posts: 8649 Location: Paris, France	Fwd: Japanese Master System schedule from October 1988 Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 3:25 pm
	Posted by Johnny Undaunted at http://forums.lostlevels.org/viewtopic.php?t=2615 Not sure if this old news, but here's a scan from the October 1988 issue of BEEP! which shows Sega's release schedule at the time. 1988 was the last year Sega truly supported the Mark III/Master System in Japan, since they only released exactly one game in 1989 before discontinuing the hardware. Highlighted on the page are Nekkyū Kōshien, Battle Wings (which was retitled Bomber Raid, the aforementioned final Mark III game in Japan) and Poseidon Wars 3D (which only saw an overseas release). The release schedule is what's really interesting. A few of the games listed did saw Japanese release. Namely Double Dragon, R-TYPE, Maō Golvellius, Sports Pad Soccer, Chōon Senshi Borgman (Cyborg Hunter) and Ys. Other scheduled games were canceled in Japan, but released overseas. These were Outrun 3D, Rampage, California Games, World Games, Galaxy Force and Ultima IV. This helps explains why some of these games had FM sound support despite their western origins. The three most interesting games on the list, since they were never released anywhere, are Phantasy Star II (apparently it was planned for the Master System before shifting development to the Mega Drive), Hot Rod (a port of the Sega arcade game) and Wolfman (I have no idea what it could be, it's possible it's an early name for a released game). BEEP!198810_p030.jpg (142.64 KB)

Frank_fjs Joined: 19 Aug 2011 Posts: 115 Location: Australia	Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 4:51 pm
	Thanks for posting this, it was an interesting little read. Quote Other scheduled games were canceled in Japan, but released overseas. These were Outrun 3D, Rampage, California Games, World Games, Galaxy Force and Ultima IV. This helps explains why some of these games had FM sound support despite their western origins. Always wondered about this, why western games had FM sound. Have also wondered why SEGA included the FM chip in the Japanese MS despite its lack of success however they removed it and other cool features from the western MS's despite its significant success in some regions. Was it just a cost cutting measure or is there more to it?

Maxim Site Admin Joined: 19 Oct 1999 Posts: 14740 Location: London	Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 4:58 pm
	A lot of western games had FM just because they were made by Sega (or their associates) in Japan with an existing dual-chip sound engine, even if no Japanese release was ever planned. It's nice to see the Battle Wings title screen (not the same as the final game) - maybe they had planned to use a different name in Japan from the start.

idrougge Joined: 01 Jan 2005 Posts: 360 Location: Stockholm, Sweden	Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 5:09 pm
	The article also identifies "Battle wings" as a port of Sonic boom from the arcade, but moved into the past.

BKK Joined: 01 May 2011 Posts: 467	Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2015 7:44 pm
BKK Joined: 01 May 2011 Posts: 467	Wolfman must have been a working title for Altered Beast. It features a man who turns into a wolf, FM sound, and a 1988 copyright title screen. The Mega Drive version released in Japan in November 1988, the same month as Wolfman is listed. Altered Beast was announced in the October 1988 issue of Computer Entertainer newsletter, along with "Buggy Dash" (Hot Rod?).

BKK Joined: 01 May 2011 Posts: 467	Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2016 9:59 pm
BKK Joined: 01 May 2011 Posts: 467	Beep April 1989 still lists Out Run 3D, apparently the last issue to feature a Mark III title in the release schedule. https://twitter.com/marukajiri/status/545541383428124672 Quote セガ3D復刻アーカイブス届いた。手持ちの資料のなかでは最後にアウトラン3Dの名前が確認できたのがBeep1989年4月号だった。5月号6月(最終)号は分類がセガからメガドラになったので消えてしまった。パワードリフトの名前もありますねw Beep 1989 04.jpg (79.92 KB)

Forums

View topic - Fwd: Japanese Master System schedule from October 1988