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Sega

Dragonflight: Chronicles of Pern is an action adventure based on the Dragonriders of Pern book series by Anne McCaffrey, that was in development in 1998 / 1999 by Grolier Interactive for PC and Playstation. Initially the game was going to have a style similar to Diablo, but after a couple of years of development, Dragonflight became an action game with a 3rd person view camera. In june 2000, Grolier Interactive stopped releasing videogames when they were bought by Scholastic.

Grolier Interactive’s game could have been doomed, but it seems that Ubisoft bought their assets, cancelled the Playstation version and moved the Dragonflight to Dreamcast and PC. In 2001, they finally released this project as Dragon Riders: Chronicles of Pern.

An old interview with Grolier Interactive can still be read at RPG Vault:

Can you provide some details on development progress that has been made over this time?
Oliver Sykes: What people may remember from the previous incarnation of the game is a very isometric viewpoint, a bit like Diablo. One of the major changes in the game is the camera system. We can now script the camera to act very cinematically. It can track with the player, spin round him, drop from above to below. Any number of camera shots can linked to describe a location and the characters in it as well as adding a great deal of fluidity.
Could you explain the level of depth and interaction we can expect from NPCs? What kind of a conversation system is there?
Oliver Sykes: The conversation system is fairly linear in most places. This choice was employed as we have such a vast number of characters to converse with, the conversation choices would have gave our scripters headaches. However, at key moments during the game you can make choices and these choices will effect the outcome of events. One choice could give you bonuses and unlock new locations and characters, whereas another may lead you down an entirely different path with different consequences.

Thanks to Celine for the scans!

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Videos from the final version:

Mega Drive / Genesis, Nintendo, Sega, SNES + Super Famicom

Boo! [SNES/MD – Cancelled]

monokoma

28-10-2011

3 Comments

Boo! is a cancelled platform game that was in development by Micropose for the Super Nintendo, Genesis / Mega Drive and Amiga in 1994. As we can read on the website of Boo!’s producer Stuart Whyte:

Designed by Richard Lemarchand, Boo! was a side on platformer inspired by Sonic and Mario, we wanted to create a universe with the central character being a cool ghost called Boo who’s default method of attack was to shout “Boo!” at an enemy to scare him away. Working with Keith Scoble (from Cosgrove Hall and creator of Jamie and the Magic Torch and Dangermouse) we built a great game… but unfortunately, due to rocky financial times at Microprose, we never had the money to release – so the game has been lost in time

You can find more info and screens in this article by SNES Central!

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32X / Mega CD, Sega

European Racers [Mega Drive / Genesis Sega Mega CD – Cancelled]

U64 Staff & Contributors

01-10-2011

No Comments

Revell-Monogram had announced the release of European Racers, the first title in its revolutionary new Power Modeler software line for June 1994. The Sega CD version of European Racers was planned for released later in the year and was to be published by Dreamers Guild.

The driving simulation game can be played with any of the four super-hot European racers (Porsche 911 Slant Nose, the turbo- charged Bugatti EB110, the Italdesign Nazca M121, and the Lamborghini Countach) and begins with a challenging, exciting and realistic race through the back roads of Europe, dodging obstacles and sometimes outrunning the police to arrive at one of four tracks: the Zurich Switchback, the Sicilian Jackknife, the Barcelona Corkscrew or the Stuttgart Screamer. If gamers make it to the track on time, before running out of gas or incurring too much damage to their car, they then face-off against five on-screen competitors, in an action-packed, five- lap race.

Randomly selected video segments appear throughout the game, featuring a policeman, a knowledgeable pit crew member, a sportscaster, a smart-alecky custodian, a gas-station attendant and an admiring beauty queen, to add excitement and unparalleled realism.

Gamers can modify their car, before and during the race, to change its performance in response to randomly generated weather and road conditions. Modifications include switching between automatic and manual transmission, and selecting from five wing or spoiler settings and three tire options. Gamers must also determine how much fuel to start the race with and whether or not to refuel to avoid running out and ending the game.

To make the game as realistic as possible, technical specifications for each car have been built into the game to simulate the actual performance of each of the European sports cars.

Article by myfishbone

32X / Mega CD, Sega

Pop’n Land [Sega Mega CD – Cancelled]

Celine

12-09-2011

3 Comments

Pop’n Land is a cancelled side scrolling action game for the Sega Mega CD probably developed by Takeru ( as you can read on GDRI ) and to be published by Takeru’s publishing label Sur De Wave. The game added a RPG flavour to its gameplay by letting players to costumize their hero. In fact you could have assigned 16 different choices for the head, body and weapon allowing 4,096 different combinations, some useful others totally worthless. Pop’n Land had 15 cute and colorful stages, each with a unique Boss. The game was never released for unknown reasons.

Not everything was lost, because a Pop’n Land music track (“Pleasant Companions”) composed by Yoshitsugu Yokoyama and arranged by Issei Asaoka is included in Super Mega Drive Fan – Mega-CD Super Music Collection Vol.1.

Scan from EGM issue 51 and Joypad issue 27.

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Mega Drive / Genesis, Sega

Joe & Mac [MegaDrive Genesis – Beta / Cancelled?]

monokoma

22-08-2011

7 Comments

Joe & Mac is a platform game originally released in 1991 for the arcades by Data East. It was later ported for various consoles, as the SNES and Mega Drive / Genesis. Rod_Wod sent us some screens from a version of Joe & Mac for the Mega Drive / Genesis that seems to be different from the released one (a simple port of the Arcade version).

For example the background of this boss from the magazine scan:

Looks different from the one in the final game:

Could those screens in the magazine be from a beta version, or a different / cancelled Joe & Mac? We have not finished the final game, so we are not sure. If you have finished Joe & Mac and recognize those images, please let us know!

Thanks to Rod_Wod for the contribution!

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