Sonic the Hedgehog (lost Tokyo Toy Show prototype build of Sega Genesis/Mega Drive platformer; 1990): Difference between revisions

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{{InfoboxLost
{{InfoboxLost
|title=<center>Sonic the Hedgehog Tokyo Toy Show prototype
|title=<center>Sonic the Hedgehog Tokyo Toy Show prototype
|image=148px-GHZ-DarkBG.jpg
|image=Sega_Sonic_Title_Screen.jpg
|imagecaption=One of five known screenshots of the demo.
|imagecaption=The original title screen.
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
}}
}}
The first showing of a ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' video game was at the Tokyo Toy Show in June 1990, which also happened to be the first time the game could be played by the public. In an interview with Yuji Naka, it was revealed that the original Sonic Team put together '''a small, playable technical demo''' for the show featuring Sonic in an early version of the Green Hill Zone. Though development had just begun, this build was actually more technically advanced than the final version of the game, possessing seven layers of parallax scrolling, with trees and rocks in the foreground being independent from the clouds and other objects in the background, all separate from the scrolling of Sonic the Hedgehog as he ran through the hilled terrain.
==Introduction==
The first showing of the 1991 Sega Mega Drive game ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' was at the Tokyo Toy Show in June 1990, which also happened to be the first time the game could be played by the public. In an interview with Yuji Naka, it was revealed that the original Sonic Team put together '''a small, playable technical demo''' for the show featuring Sonic in an early version of the Green Hill Zone. Though development had just begun, this build was actually more technically advanced than the final version of the game, possessing seven layers of parallax scrolling, with trees and rocks in the foreground being independent from the clouds and other objects in the background, all separate from the scrolling of Sonic the Hedgehog as he ran through the hilled terrain.


Being the earliest representation of the Green Hill Zone, it is also reflective of what was found in early materials used both internally and in promotional articles. One of the most noticeable differences between this version and the final are the strange blue structures in the background, though it is unknown if they are meant to represent a city or are simply a natural yet surreal rock formation. With both trees and giant rocks in the foreground (which presumably had layers of scrolling independent of each other), the entire style was indicative of what was to come. Though foreground items were not found in the final, the rocks would be modified and used in the released layouts of the game, transformed into downsized, colored purple obstacles in the final release. The clouds of this early pre-release are also bigger, seemingly appearing with less frequency than in the mainstream product.
==Differences from the final game==
Being the earliest representation of the Green Hill Zone, it is also reflective of what was found in early materials used both internally and in promotional articles. One of the most noticeable differences between this version and the final are the strange blue structures in the background, though it is unknown if they are meant to represent a city or are simply a natural yet surreal rock formation. With both trees and giant rocks in the foreground (which presumably had layers of scrolling independent of each other), the entire style was indicative of what was to come. Though foreground items were not found in the final, the rocks would be modified and used in the released layouts of the game, transformed into downsized, colored purple obstacles in the final release. The clouds of this early pre-release are also bigger, seemingly appearing with less frequency than in the final product.


The demo has not been released or leaked in any way. Allegedly, it was planned to be included in ''Sonic Mega Collection'', but was never put in due to Sega losing the ROM.
The demo has not been released or leaked in any way. In the same Game Radar interview with Yuji Naka, Naka reveals thart the prototype was planned to be included in ''Sonic Mega Collection'' (A compilation of all Sonic the Hedgehog games for the Sega Mega Drive, released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2002), but was never put in due to Sega losing the ROM, making it highly unlikely the demo will ever be released.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
[[File:Sonic-Tokyo-Toy-Show-6-1990 zpshfcvw5eq.jpg|thumb|300px|center|Japanese magazine scan containing a handful of screenshots.]]
[[File:Sonic-Tokyo-Toy-Show-6-1990 zpshfcvw5eq.jpg|thumb|300px|center|August 1990 issue of MegaDrive Fan, which featured some new high quality screenshots of the prototype.]] [[File:Sonic with large-jawed enemy.jpg|thumb|center|A unused enemy can be seen here. It appears to be the purple enemy with a large jaw seen in early concept art for the game.]]
[[File:Sonic's odd jump.jpg|300px|thumb|center|  Sonic in midair with his running sprite. It is unclear whether Sonic is jumping or was hit by the enemy, since in the final game, Sonic always goes into a ball when jumping and has a unique sprite for when he takes damage.]]
[[File:Debut Approaching.jpg|thumb|center|Japanese message in the background. Translates to "debut approaching". Presumably shown after the demo was over.]]
[[File:Sonic Run.jpg|thumb|center|A close-up of the early Sonic running sprite. Differs from the final game.]]
[[File:You are welcome Sega Sonic.png|thumb|center|A peculiar "Welcome" sign is spotted (presumably at the beginning of the level), though the poor quality photograph renders it unreadable. It is thought to say "You Are Welcome Sega Sonic," and has a picture of a palm tree in the top right hand corner.]]
[[File:Start.jpg|thumb|center|  An area which is presumably the start of the stage. Sonic's standing pose is also different to that seen in the final game.]]
[[File:Sega Sonic Title Screen 2.png|thumb|center|Another shot from the title screen. Similar to the final, it lacks a background, making it appear more like the 8-bit version of the game.]]
[[File:Blue Guy Jump.jpg|thumb|center|A higher quality screen of the concept enemy.]]
==Sources==
* https://sonicretro.org/2015/05/09/early-sonic-1-prototype-screenshots-found/
* https://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(16-bit)/Development#Tokyo_Toy_Show_1990
* https://info.sonicretro.org/Yuji_Naka_interview_by_Games_Radar_(June_27,_2011)
 


[[Category:Lost video games]]
[[Category:Lost video games]]

Revision as of 19:19, 2 October 2019

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This article has been tagged as Needing work due to its lack of references.



Sega Sonic Title Screen.jpg

The original title screen.

Status: Lost

Introduction

The first showing of the 1991 Sega Mega Drive game Sonic the Hedgehog was at the Tokyo Toy Show in June 1990, which also happened to be the first time the game could be played by the public. In an interview with Yuji Naka, it was revealed that the original Sonic Team put together a small, playable technical demo for the show featuring Sonic in an early version of the Green Hill Zone. Though development had just begun, this build was actually more technically advanced than the final version of the game, possessing seven layers of parallax scrolling, with trees and rocks in the foreground being independent from the clouds and other objects in the background, all separate from the scrolling of Sonic the Hedgehog as he ran through the hilled terrain.

Differences from the final game

Being the earliest representation of the Green Hill Zone, it is also reflective of what was found in early materials used both internally and in promotional articles. One of the most noticeable differences between this version and the final are the strange blue structures in the background, though it is unknown if they are meant to represent a city or are simply a natural yet surreal rock formation. With both trees and giant rocks in the foreground (which presumably had layers of scrolling independent of each other), the entire style was indicative of what was to come. Though foreground items were not found in the final, the rocks would be modified and used in the released layouts of the game, transformed into downsized, colored purple obstacles in the final release. The clouds of this early pre-release are also bigger, seemingly appearing with less frequency than in the final product.

The demo has not been released or leaked in any way. In the same Game Radar interview with Yuji Naka, Naka reveals thart the prototype was planned to be included in Sonic Mega Collection (A compilation of all Sonic the Hedgehog games for the Sega Mega Drive, released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2002), but was never put in due to Sega losing the ROM, making it highly unlikely the demo will ever be released.

Gallery

August 1990 issue of MegaDrive Fan, which featured some new high quality screenshots of the prototype.
A unused enemy can be seen here. It appears to be the purple enemy with a large jaw seen in early concept art for the game.
Sonic in midair with his running sprite. It is unclear whether Sonic is jumping or was hit by the enemy, since in the final game, Sonic always goes into a ball when jumping and has a unique sprite for when he takes damage.
Japanese message in the background. Translates to "debut approaching". Presumably shown after the demo was over.
A close-up of the early Sonic running sprite. Differs from the final game.
A peculiar "Welcome" sign is spotted (presumably at the beginning of the level), though the poor quality photograph renders it unreadable. It is thought to say "You Are Welcome Sega Sonic," and has a picture of a palm tree in the top right hand corner.
An area which is presumably the start of the stage. Sonic's standing pose is also different to that seen in the final game.
Another shot from the title screen. Similar to the final, it lacks a background, making it appear more like the 8-bit version of the game.
A higher quality screen of the concept enemy.

Sources