Matrix Runner [Sega VR – Cancelled]

10 thoughts on “Matrix Runner [Sega VR – Cancelled]”

1. Greg Zumwalt 29-03-2015 at 03:18

   Former owner of ZCT Systems Group, Inc., if you look closely at the cubes, you’ll notice Sega reversed the image as ZCT appears on the surface of the cubes.

   We engineered and wrote the code for this demonstration.

   Reply ↓
   1. monokoma Post author29-03-2015 at 11:25

      Hi Greg! Thanks a lot for your comment, it’s always great to read memories from who worked on lost games :) Do you remember how much of the game was done before cancellation and if there were any relations with the Saturn game Free Runner?

      Reply ↓
      1. Greg Zumwalt 29-03-2015 at 22:53

         We had demonstrated the matrix with animated opponents of various shapes and powers. Sega video taped this version and distributed a shortened version of it news outlets. We were beginning the game AI when Sega cancelled the program, so we were
         about 2/3 finished.

         There was no relation to Free Runner.

         Reply ↓
2. monokoma Post author30-03-2015 at 22:35

   Thanks you! It’s good to be able to preserve more info from this lost project :) Do you know if there could be some more screenshots / videos saved somewhere?

   Reply ↓
   1. Greg Zumwalt 31-03-2015 at 04:19

      When Sega cancelled the VR headset, we were required by contract to destroy all code, video, test data, etc., and we did.

      However, I’ve since seen video of the Mateix Runner game on a few websites, but haven’t been able to locate them as of yet. The video shows the matrix with opponents, but under joystick control. As I recall, the headset was producing pitch, roll and yaw information at around .25 hertz which was much to slow for an action game of this nature. That, I believe, is why Sega cancelled the program as the headset was not only far more expensive than the console, it was also far too slow in transmitting pitch, roll and yaw that was necessary for a game of this nature.

      Reply ↓
      1. monokoma Post author01-04-2015 at 20:31

         It’s sad that everything had to be destroyed :( a few years ago i was able to play one of the unreleased Sega VR games, a prototype of Iron Hammer, with a joypad and a normal Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, it was good enough in its unfinished state.

         Reply ↓
3. MicroChirp 31-03-2015 at 13:43

   Does https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd98RGxad0U help? I think I saw something resembling those screenshots around 2:10.

   Reply ↓
   1. Greg Zumwalt 31-03-2015 at 22:38

      That does indeed appear to be a snippet of what Sega distributed.

      Reply ↓
      1. monokoma Post author01-04-2015 at 20:32

         Thanks a lot for the link to the video MicroChirp! I never noticed the short part with Matrix Runner before, great eye! :)

         Reply ↓
4. Ross Sillifant 27-08-2018 at 01:33

   In the August/September 1993 issue of Sega Visions (SEGA’s promo mag)
   they had a 2 page “article” on the VR headset.  It provided no real no information as such..

   But dId attempt to to explain what
   stereophonic sound and steroscopic graphics are and how they worked
   and why they were incorporated into the headset.  

   They had a brief description of Nuclear Rush, along with 4 other titles are in development.
   Iron Hammer: A flight sim
   Matrix Runner: “Play an elite superhacker…you will collide with
   strange semi-humans and vulture-like beings”  Ooooo scary
   Outlaw Racing: Driving simulator, up to 20 other cars.

   Reply ↓