Cancelled Sega CD games

[ROJM]

Recently footage of a proposed/developed MC Hammer game surfaced
here is a video...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D43HBg9joZs[/youtube]

But it reminded me of other games that was meant to come out on this platform but never did. I remember from an old mag back in the olden days that Sega had planned CD versions of STAR TREK NEXT GENERATION,COOL WORLD and CHAKAN THE FOREVERMAN but they never got released. And when you read recent interviews of former Sega staff that they wanted to create a Sega CD game based on the XMen cartoon show and Hercules:The Legendary Journeys, done in the format of the Sega CD POWER RANGERS game you kinda wonder what could have been. I mean Street fighter 2, the original was long rumored to be headed towards the Mega CD before it got confirmed to be a super Famicom/Nintendo exclusive/release. If anyone else remebers any games that was designated on the Mega/Sega CD but never came out be free to post it here.

[Team Andromeda]

There were so many cancelled Mega CD games it was untrue and some killer ones like PS IV (shame on you SEGA) and World Rally

The ones that got to me , were the ones that were close to being finish or finished . Games like Flying Nightmares (which looked to push the Mega CD to it its limits) The Desert Strike Trilogy collection, John Madden, Indian Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, Battle tech   

[ROJM]

I remember something about a World Rally Mega CD game but i never thought much about it until your post. Shame. It was these games,(not Hammer obviously) that the mega CD needed to really show the customers the difference between it and the MD because unfortunatly many of the early games were just extended cart games with stero sound and as much as i love FMV it wasn't helping, Thunderhawk was a good way to go among others and it was beginning to show what it could do and be a worthy add on system in its own right  but by then it was on death's door and those games everyone missed or worse..didn't give a sh*t about.

[mylifewithsega]

I remember here in the states, many of the early games were QTE titles like Night Trap, Wire Head and Road Avenger, or point-and-click games like Willy Beamish and Rise of the Dragon, or - as ROJM pointed out - extended cart games like the Sega Classics 4-Pack. We did get some fantastic games that truly demonstrated what the Sega CD was capable of, like Lunar, Soul Star and Battlecorps. However, that damned marketing machine kept pushing the FMV titles and neglecting others. So not cool.

I like some of the extended cart games though. Demolition Man is awesome and The Terminator is a massive improvement over the Genesis version. I like the Genesis version, but Sega CD has way more action and the A/V is fucking goregeous.

[Team Andromeda]

I remember something about a World Rally Mega CD game but i never thought much about it until your post. Shame. It was these games,(not Hammer obviously) that the mega CD needed to really show the customers the difference between it and the MD because unfortunatly many of the early games were just extended cart games with stero sound and as much as i love FMV it wasn't helping, Thunderhawk was a good way to go among others and it was beginning to show what it could do and be a worthy add on system in its own right  but by then it was on death's door and those games everyone missed or worse..didn't give a sh*t about.

It looked like Thrash Rally (Neo Geo) and was meant to make full use of the rotation chip - I was quite pissed it was dropped .

SEGA Japan need to take a lot of blame with what happened with Mega CD - If they had ported Out Run, Power Drift, Super Hang-on, Space Harrier and Afterburner II to the Mega CD where they run just as good as the 3D sections in Batman Returns, Cliffhanger on the Mega CD . I think it would have been a very difference story for the Mega CD fortunes and image , but they made this awesome and powerful add-on and did very little with it

Its also a shame SOJ never ported improved versions of Strider and the like to the Mega CD after the fantasic job they did with Final Fight - Strider with all the speech, arcade perfect speech , CD Music would have been a classic

 

[ROJM]

Hmmph, were they supposed to even do that? That seem to be just a rumour rather than something that was going to definatly happen. Same with that Captain Commando port or rumoured port reported back in Megadrivefan. Half those games ended up on the Saturn anyhow. I tell you what was a waste other than that. The MegaCD at the time was really the closest system to do gameports of the system 32 titles like GOLDEN AXE THE REVENGE OF DEATH ADDER and even SPIDER MAN THE VIDEO GAME. Those titles and if they had the sense to, came to some type of agreement with konami and Flying Edge/Accailm and the indiviual licencees that had licensed certain stuff to acaliam at that time, they could have brought those Konamai four player games over to the Mega CD like Asterix, Simpsons, GI Joe and of course XMen especially when Sega had that four player game pad around. Of course a dream but that was the failure of the Mega CD, Sega forgotten one of the reasons why people brought their systems in the first place and that was for the arcade ports, there's and other peoples. There weren't enough of them and they would have really strengthed the MCD or definatly got the crowd buying beyond their intial launch year(s).

[ROJM]

I remember here in the states, many of the early games were QTE titles like Night Trap, Wire Head and Road Avenger, or point-and-click games like Willy Beamish and Rise of the Dragon, or - as ROJM pointed out - extended cart games like the Sega Classics 4-Pack. We did get some fantastic games that truly demonstrated what the Sega CD was capable of, like Lunar, Soul Star and Battlecorps. However, that damned marketing machine kept pushing the FMV titles and neglecting others. So not cool.

I like some of the extended cart games though. Demolition Man is awesome and The Terminator is a massive improvement over the Genesis version. I like the Genesis version, but Sega CD has way more action and the A/V is fucking goregeous.

Yeah when you actually look into the story of the FMV with Sega and that whole industry you realise that the Sega CD was the platform that these titles were really succesful on. Half of the FMV like NIGHT TRAP and Sewer Shark were games designed for another system that failed others like Time Gal  and Road Avenger were quickly forgotten Laserdisc games yet in the states they were really going out of their way to push this medium when it was clear that it failed before. Its a clear case of when the industry is  in love with a concept that the public are indifferent about yet the industry will shove it down the public's thoarts until it becomes a sucess, which is what happened with FMV. It also helped that the people pushing for this medium were also the people responsible for bringing it in to the first place. Depending on your point of view it was Sega's luck that it happened to be the top dog of SOA at the time.
As for the extended carts. I'm more refering to the Japanese side of things rather than the western side of things. Terminator gave you bigger levels, more levels and FMV from the movie itself(Something that BATMAN RETURNS was meant to do but due to legal issues(money) didn't) In japan games like Sol Feace was just the same as the bloody cartridge, in fact there were no difference in some cases. Its was only when titles like SILPHEED Kei Flying Squadron was when my shoot em ups tastes for the MCD actually satisfied.

[Team Andromeda]

Hmmph, were they supposed to even do that? That seem to be just a rumour rather than something that was going to definatly happen. Same with that Captain Commando port or rumoured port reported back in Megadrivefan. Half those games ended up on the Saturn anyhow

This was 1991 when Sprite Scaling was still pretty much the be and end all (with the Saturn it was Polygons)  - And if SEGA Japan had put its top team on the task of porting its sprite scalier with Arcade perfect music , near Arcade perfect sound effects (after all the Mega CD used the same sound chip as in Rad Mobile board) The Mega CD image would  have been a hell of a lot better and while it would never have made the Mega CD the best selling console, it really would have helped with its sales and rep
You know just to Have Out Run and Space Harrier with Arcade Perfect music and sound effects and half decent scaling on your home system would have been a SEGA fans wet dream back in 1991/2

Yeah when you actually look into the story of the FMV with Sega and that whole industry you realise that the Sega CD was the platform that these titles were really succesful on.

FMV wasn't bad and there's some great FMV games, but SEGA America went to far down the route and spend far too much money on FMV games - When that money would have been better spent on games that really used the Mega CD sound and scaling chips . Its such a shame as SEGA America produced the 1st game that really showed off the Mega CD extra hardware with Batman Returns driving levels - Those levels was doing stuff that not even the Neo Geo could handle and just blew away the Snes mode 7 It was quite incredible to see that level of scaling and rotation on a home system in 1992

Terminator gave you bigger levels, more levels and FMV from the movie itself(Something that BATMAN RETURNS was meant to do but due to legal issues(money) didn't) In japan games like Sol Feace was just the same as the bloody cartridge, in fact there were no difference in some cases.

Sol Feace was a cart game, that was moved up for Mega CD launch because SEGA had nothing ready and kept the project so secret  very few 3rd parties had anything to go . Games like Strider had issues on the MD due to Cart limits and the MD sound board - none of which the Mega CD had and it could have handle a near perfect port of Strider with all the speech, better animation ,Arcade Perfect music and sound effects and that would have been really nice for the Mega CD and its users

[ROJM]

Prehaps in 91 but by 92 we were seeing a lot of games on the Megadrive that was equal and in some cases supassing the graphic abilities of the MCD, especially when the 16 cart and 24 meg cart games started to roll in. Releasing old Sega arcade games just wouldn't have necessarly cut it unless it was a game that wasn't out on a system at that time or something that needed a better port. DYNAMITE DUX and POWERDRIFT and probably a couple of others may have worked within the launch year but after that they needed as much current arcade ports of that era than they needed older games. If it was up to me it had to be a mixture of older Sega arcade games that weren't ported or needed a better port,(and no OUT RUN or AFTERBURNER totally overdone even back then) third party arcade games that never got ported like Shadow Warriors and , with the arcade games of that time that could easily be mimiced on mega CD like the Konanmi 4 player arcade titles. But of course that never ever would happen on a sega system....

As for Sol feace, it wasn't just Sol feace it was quite a significant ammount of titles that were extended cart games which all in all made the MCD look bad in its first year. Thank goodness for Lunar and 3x3 EYES.

[Team Andromeda]

Prehaps in 91 but by 92 we were seeing a lot of games on the Megadrive that was equal and in some cases supassing the graphic abilities of the MCD, especially when the 16 cart and 24 meg cart games started to roll in.

To a point, but OutRun and Super Hang-On were miles off their Arcade counter parts . The Mega CD could have nailed the sound (it had a far better sound chip) and could have give us scaling which would have lifted it above even the Sharp or FM Town ports - In 1991/2 it would have been a big deal

As for Sol feace, it wasn't just Sol feace it was quite a significant ammount of titles that were extended cart games which all in all made the MCD look bad in its first yea

In Japan yes, but a lot of that was SEGA's own doing and thank for GameArts and Lunar . The 1st year in America and Europe was little bit different with some games like Jaguar XJ220 and Batman Returns really showing what the system could do

[ROJM]

 

To a point, but OutRun and Super Hang-On were miles off their Arcade counter parts . The Mega CD could have nailed the sound (it had a far better sound chip) and could have give us scaling which would have lifted it above even the Sharp or FM Town ports - In 1991/2 it would have been a big deal

Would it? Nobody was demanding to see another port of those games during the early/mid
nineties, they all wanted to see Final Fight, Streetfighter or one of the other latest arcade games ported to the MD.

In Japan yes, but a lot of that was SEGA's own doing and thank for GameArts and Lunar . The 1st year in America and Europe was little bit different with some games like Jaguar XJ220 and Batman Returns really showing what the system could do

Never said it wasn't sega's doing, but most of the other third parties obviously decided to follow the leader in that regard and ruined what should have been a stand out first year for the MCD in japan. Ayt least it improved with the US and European debuts but that initself had its own problems as well.

[Team Andromeda]

Would it? Nobody was demanding to see another port of those games during the early/mid

Yes they were , That's why many were happy to at last play perfect conversions on the Saturn. It wouldn't have sold the Mega CD to the masses, but having great ports of OutRun, Power Drift  on the system would have really helped with its image and made SEGA fans rather happy and that what SEGA should have done

but most of the other third parties obviously decided to follow the leader in that regard and ruined what should have been a stand out first year

The maker of the system need to produce a game for the system that at least shows off some of the system functions. SEGA Japan didn't even do that. Its a shame because the Mega CD unti was such a powerful piece of Hardware for its time and way better than the PC-Eng CD Rom2   

[ROJM]

Yes they were , That's why many were happy to at last play perfect conversions on the Saturn. It wouldn't have sold the Mega CD to the masses, but having great ports of OutRun, Power Drift  on the system would have really helped with its image and made SEGA fans rather happy and that what SEGA should have done

They weren't mate, During the MD era most people were happy with seeing the latest arcade ports or new games from Sega or other parties. We are talking about the era especially in the first few years of the genesis and the begining of the Nineties decade where from 88-94 we had back to back arcade hits that not only every fan was clamouring for but the console companies as well. I remember even now the reaction that OUTRUN had on the MD. Most of it was because it looked shoody, a lot of it was a reminder that Sega was losing out in getting the big games thanks to nintendo's exclusive party deal. It was just coming off as third best at that time. The lucky thing was that Sega own original MD games and that of their third parties were able to compete with what was on offer. But when they had quiet months/periods and titles like OR came along? No one was happy.The truth is those games were done to death on the master system, TO DEATH. The sequels like AFTERBURNER 2 and SPACE HARRIER 2 while great for the MD weren't big sellers and were quickly overshadowered by the likes of SUPER SHINOBI. Not saying ports were never in demand but people wanted the ports to the latest games and not what was at that period 3-4 year old titles. Which was why the games that was ported from Sega of that time like GOLDEN AXE and ALtered Beast were more popular among megadrive owners. Sega didn't release the saturn Sega Ages line due to demand either (morelike filling in) but it was during that time people could see a great port of an old game and moreor less push that side of vintage rereleases market. But that whole idea didn't exist back in the early nineties because not a lot of people were intrested in them.

The maker of the system need to produce a game for the system that at least shows off some of the system functions. SEGA Japan didn't even do that. Its a shame because the Mega CD unti was such a powerful piece of Hardware for its time and way better than the PC-Eng CD Rom2

True, i wouldn't say SPACE HARRIER would have been the best choice though, more likely games like POWERDRIFT would have been idea since that has everything to show off what the MCD can do. They did need a lot of ports of arcade games to kick start the MCD like they did with the MD.

[Team Andromeda]

We are talking about the era especially in the first few years of the genesis and the begining of the Nineties decade where from

People (ie SEGA Fans) still claimer  for Arcade ports to this day, Fan still want SEGA to do better ports of the likes of SEGA RAllY II , House Of the Dead and hope one day SEGA will port Scud Racer to the home and these are decades old Coin ups.  Even in the early 90's they were plenty of SEGA fans hoping for better ports of SEGA sprite scalier to systems like the Mega CD and Saturn .

I remember even now the reaction that OUTRUN had on the MD. Most of it was because it looked shoody

It looked great in the screen shoots when you saw it moving and heard it , it was a different matter  ( it didn't help that the PC Eng version looked better too). Mega CD had the Hardware to handle the Sound perfectly and the Hardware to give the best home version in terms of scaling

In 1991/2 it was have a been a big deal to the Sega users This wouldn't make the Mega CD or its games massive sellers, but it would have pleased SEGA core user - The ones who buy SEGA Hardware with the thinking that it SEGA would port Arcade games to their systems and helped greatly with Mega CD image .

Sega didn't release the saturn Sega Ages line due to demand either

It was brought to both the USA and UK. The latter line up wasn't brought but a lot of that is down to the lack of any Saturn market consumer in the West



 

[Centrale]

It looked great in the screen shoots when you saw it moving and heard it , it was a different matter  ( it didn't help that the PC Eng version looked better too). Mega CD had the Hardware to handle the Sound perfectly and the Hardware to give the best home version in terms of scaling

I think you're both off on this one.  Out Run on the Genesis is really a pleasant surprise.  It was an unexpected release being a port of a game several years old, and it plays nice and smooth considering the limitations of the hardware.  PC Engine Out Run has messed up graphics when there is a fork in the road, and the Ferrari looks tiny, like a compact car.  The Gen/MD version is definitely the best version until you get to the Saturn one.  If it had been on the CD, it would have been almost perfect, although I expect it would have had a lower framerate than the arcade.  As for how much demand there was for it, well, they never reissued it in the Sega Classics reprint series, so that tells you something.  Brawlers and fighting games were becoming the top sellers in that era.