ShimaPong scans from a Japanese magazine.
Info from ShimaPong:
The game is based on a Japanese comic about golf. The arcade version is a rare release by lease.
あした天気になあれ [Ashita Tenkini Naare] (Capcom, 90)
ShimaPong scans from a Japanese magazine.
Info from ShimaPong:
The game is based on a Japanese comic about golf. The arcade version is a rare
release by lease.
Maxi Double Poker Jackpot (Blitz Systems Inc., 90)
Maxi Double Poker (Blitz Systems Inc., 92)
Poker 52 (Blitz Systems Inc., 93?)
Swiss Poker (Golden Games, 90)
Casino Strip XI (Status Games, 90)
Poker Roulette (Coinmaster, 90)
Time Machine v2.0 (Barcrest, 90)
Horror Story (Toaplan, 90)
In MAME under the name Demon's World/Horror Story.
Tatsujin Oh (Toaplan, 90)
In MAME under the name Truxton II/Tatsujin Oh.
Devil Shock (Naxat/Techno Soft [unreleased], 90)
ShimaPong scan from a Japanese magazine.
Info from ShimaPong:
This is an arcade version of the Mega Drive game Devil Crash (Crush in the US).
It was announced at the AM Show '91 but never released. The original Devil Crash
is for the PC-Engine (Naxat/Compile 1990) and was a sequel to Alien Crash
(Naxat/Compile 1988). The Mega Drive version was ported by Techno Soft in 1991.
BTW, the following are the unreleased Techno Soft arcade games I know of:
Thunder Force AC 2 (Techno Soft [unreleased], 92?)
Info from ShimaPong:
Arcade version of Thunder Force IV (1992)
Blast Wind (Techno Soft [unreleased], 93)
Info from ShimaPong:
Vertical scroll shooting. Saturn version exists but different music?
Inazuma Savor (Lightning Savor) (Techno Soft [unreleased], 94)
Info from ShimaPong:
Another version of Blast Wind?
Nekketsu Oyako (Techno Soft [unreleased], 94?)
Info from ShimaPong:
A Playstation/Saturn version exists but with different characters? An arcade
version has been confirmed in Sasebo, Nagasaki-based Techno Soft.
Turnover (Barcrest, 90)
Skill Trek (Barcrest, 92)
Monkey Chi Chi no Fuwafuwa Puzzle (Sunwise [prototype])
Pictures taken from
Emulation Status.
Pop Shot (prototype) (Dynamo, 91)
Mega Lines (Fun World, 91)
Super Card (Fun World, 92)
Fruit Star (Fun World, 92)
After the War (Dinamic, 91)
Atari ST version picture from GBman.
Info from GBman:
These games (this and Megaphoenix and Hammer Boy, in MAME) use the
following hardware: a Motorola M68000 processor,
a TMS 34010 for the graphics & a Z80 Zilog for the sound. They were
Spanish games programmed by Dinamic in 1991.
Popshot (KMD [prototype], 91)
Skeet Shot (KMD [prototype], 91)
Pictures taken from
Arcade Flyer Archive
These two games were exhibited but never released.
Mahjong Tenkaigen Part 2 (Dynax, 91)
Virtual Combat (Kyle Hodgetts/VR8 [limited release], 93)
Shadow Fighters (Deutech, 93)
These two VR headset type games run on the same hardware.
Mad Dancing (Human, 92)
ShimaPong scans from a Japanese magazine.
Another picture from GS.
Info from ShimaPong:
This Final Fight style game is unique in several ways. The three buttons are
Upper Attack, Lower Attack and Jump. You hold the attack button to block. The player
first crouches when you hold the jump button, then jumps when you release it. Pressing
both attack buttons triggers Super Attack, which decreases your energy. Pressing all
buttons when the gauge is full triggers the Special Attack. The Special Attack gauge
increases when you kill an enemy.
There are three planes to play on, like in Garou Densetsu/Fatal Fury. You switch with
the Up/Down key. The first stage has three rounds, and you proceed by killing all the
enemies. There's a boss every three rounds. You can recover in a bonus round between
stages, or by slow degrees when you hold still. Energy recovery items don't exist.
This game doesn't have lives, so an empty energy gague means game over. The characters
are Joe Sawamura (Muay Thai), Yuko Akiyama (Rhythmic Gymnastics), and Raiden-Riki (Sumo
Wrestler)
Front Row (Human, 92)
Pictures taken from
magazine scans.
ShimaPong scans from a Japanese magazine.
Info from ShimaPong:
Unreleased F1 race game. It's split-screen on one monitor, and has digital
inputs, a 2-way stick and three buttons. Human released a similar game on
the Mega Drive, "Fastest One". World Championship is the single player mode.
It has a total of six stages, America->Monaco->Canada->Italy->Spain->Japan,
and you can go to the next race when you defeat a rival car. Battle is the
versus mode. You choose a course and compete with 4 laps.
Battle Blaze (Sammy [ever finished/released?], 92)
Thunder & Lightning 2 (Visco, 92)
In MAME as Block Carnival/Thunder & Lightning 2.
Heated Barrel (Tad, 92)
Pictures taken from the MAME WIP page.
Pictures taken from
The Guru's page.
Legionnaire (Tad, 92)
Pictures taken from
Tim's Arcade Page.
Info from MameC:
Uses a custom programed FPGA, SEI300, to offload some math calculations and misc functions. The infamous "COPX-D1" (and/or COPX-D2) chips appears to be math tables used by the SEI300 and not the actual MCU. The functions of the SEI300 haven't been emulated / simulated well enough for the games to run. (Also applies to Godzilla, SD Gundam Sangokushi Rainbow Tairiku Senki,
Denjin Makai, and Seibu Cup Soccer)
Why it's not emulated (MAME WIP):
Legionnaire and Heated Barrel are not playable in the WIP driver because
the MCU is not correctly emulated.
Seibu Cup Soccer (Seibu Kaihatsu, 92)
Pictures from ShengLong!
From WHATSNEW.TXT:
Protection issues.
Description from ShengLong:
This is a soccer game (obvious) that has a special feature.
When a player of your team scores a goal that player keeps running
with the ball and a special bar appears. When this bar turns
completely red, the player can makes a "Dynamite Kick" which is very
difficult for the goalkeeper to stop.
About why it isn't emulated I don't know exactly but I heard that it
suffered the same encryption than Raiden 2 and Raiden Dx.
Godzilla (Banpresto, 93)
From WHATSNEW.TXT:
Protection issues.
SD Gundam Gaiden Burning Attack (Banpresto, 93)
Tokeijikake no Aquario (Westone, 93)
Picture taken from
Gamesetwatch.
Gamsetwatch translation of Japanese page:
Side-scrolling platformer with a mechanic allowing players to trigger temporary invincibility to plow through tough enemies. The invincibility mechanic was dropped in subsequent versions in favor of easier, simplified gameplay, and development was scrapped after multiple poor showings.
Zero Team (Seibu, 93)
Pictures taken from
Arcade Flyer Archive
Why it's not emulated (R. Belmont):
It's dumped and encrypted and has a suicide battery. Fun.
Turbo Poker 2 (Micro Manufacturing Inc, 93)
Magical Touch (Micro Manufacturing Inc, 95)
Bingo Mania (HP Automaten, 93)
デッドリースポード
[Deadly Spode] (Sammy [prototype], 93)
Pictures courtesy of Shimapong.
While "Deadly Sport" might make more sense as a title, the Japanese
katakana does appear to read "Deadly Spode". The original scan also
says "� Summy 1993" though, so until an actual screenshot of the title
screen is found I guess we won't know for sure!
More info from Shimapong:
SSV but unreleased. AKA : Street Browl. Street Browl is first title of
Deadly Spode.
Street Games (New Image Technologies, 93)
Survival Battle Dynamic Trial 7 (Toaplan [prototype], 93)
Picture taken from
Undumped Wiki.
幻界超戦ディストピア [Genkai Chousen Distopia] (Toaplan [prototype], 94)
Pictures taken from
Arcade History and
Postback who got them from "Japanese media".
One of the final games being developed as Toaplan went bankrupt.
Zool (Bellfruit [RasterSpeed hardware], 93)
Bank Robbery (Entertainment Technology Corp., 93)
Saikyou Battler Retsuden (Sunsoft/Ephch/Maruka, 93)
Chanta to Suu no Cross de Pon (Sunsoft [prototype], 93)
Punky Doodle (Sunsoft [prototype], 93)
Developed by Sunsoft America, only two were ever made. Flyer has no game pictures, but
describes it as a "colorful, comical maze game". The blue blob-like heroes leave a trail
behind them, and if they touch a pumpkin it follows the trail and destroys enemies in
its path.
Quiz Mezase Idol (Sunsoft [prototype], 94)
Sweet Hearts II (Aristocrat, 95)
Top Gear (Aristocrat, 96)
K.G. Bird (Aristocrat, 96)
Black Rhino (Aristocrat, 96)
Golden Canaries (Aristocrat, 96)
Dolphin Treasure (Aristocrat, 96)
Phantom Pays (Aristocrat, 98)
Coral Riches II (Aristocrat, 2000)
Magic Mask (Aristocrat, 2000)
White Tiger (Aristocrat, 2001)
Geisha (Aristocrat, 2001)
Cybertag (AWT [virtual reality], 94)
Images from
YouTube video from someone who worked on the game (Tom Roe I think).
A VR game based on the Wolfenstein 3-D engine. Game was designed by Robert Rice.
USO 800 / USO Hakkenki (Banpresto, 94)
This is a fortune teller machine.
Kidou Senshi Gundam Final Shooting (Banpresto/Visco [SSV hardware], 95)
In MAME as "Mobile Suit Gundam Final Shooting".
Popoitto Hebereke (Sunsoft, 94)
V Goal Soccer (Tecmo)
World Cup '94 (Tecmo)
Tecmo World Soccer '95 (Tecmo, 94)
The sequel, "Tecmo World Soccer '96" is in MAME.
Burning Street (Tecmo [unreleased], 95)
ShimaPong scan from a Japanese magazine.
Info from ShimaPong:
This is a team fighting game like the 3 vs 3 KOF series. The main difference
is that ALL characters fight at once. There are 8 teams to choose from, and you
can only directly control the leader character. The 2 sub characters are optional.
You only lose if the leader character's energy gauge is empty. 8-way joystick + 3
buttons (punch, kick and prescription for sub characters).
Western Shooting (Art & Magic, 94)
Pictures from YouTube vieo.
Spellsinger and the Lost Child (Art & Magic [prototype], 95)
Pictures from YouTube vieo.
Two player beat-em-up game. Video is a fairly long promotional one including credits.
Way of the Warrior (American Laser Games [prototype], 94)
Proto game on 3DO hardware, was also released on the 3DO home system.
Mazer (American Laser Games, 95)
Snapshot of 3DO version from YouTube vieo.
Game on 3DO hardware which was also released on the 3DO home system.
Orbatak (American Laser Games [prototype], 95)
Ran on 3DO hardware. On a personal note, I remember this game being in the
UC Berkeley "Underground" arcade around 1995. Flyer and
YouTube video also exist.
超獣機 Spriggan Powerd [Choujuuki Spriggan Powerd](Compile [unfinished?], 9?)
Pictures from
Hardcore Gaming 101 and Yahoo Japan auction.
Unpublished game that, according to some online descriptions, only has 2 stages.
Dual Games (Labtronix Technologies [prototype], 95)
Quarter Horse Classic (ArJay Exports/Prestige Games, 95)
Tournament Solitaire (Dynamo, 95)
Rock (Yun Sung, 95)
In MAME under the name Magix/Rock.
Pango Fun (Italy) (InfoCube, 95)
Taiwan Chess Legend (Uniwang, 95)
Why it's not emulated (WHATSNEW.TXT):
Only partially decrypted.
Print Club (Atlus, 95)
From WHATSNEW.TXT:
Mainly for reference, it might not be possible to emulate as it
needs a camera + printer.
着せかえ花札 [Kisekae Hanafuda] (I'Max, 95 [MACS])
着せかえまーじゃん [Kisekae Mahjong] (I'Max, 95 [MACS])
Seimei Kentei Meimei Ki Cult Name (I'Max, 96 [MACS])
From WHATSNEW.TXT:
Unknown cpu, seems to be z80 based (16-bit?) with extra opcodes.
Jigsaw Paradise (I'Max, 96 [MACS?])
ShimaPong scans from a Japanese magazine.
クイズ彼女がハテナに着がえたら。。。 [Quiz Kanojyo ga Hatenani Kigaetara...] (I'Max, 96 [MACS?])
ShimaPong scans from a Japanese magazine.
Info from ShimaPong:
This is a quiz game with undressing scene. You select a girl, costume and bust
size (B or E-cup). This game and Jigsaw Paradise are at least rare or perhaps
even unreleased for MACS.
BTW, the MACS board is very interesting. It has 2 cartridge slots, and if you
put game cartridges in both slots, a game selection screen appears after inserting
a coin. In this screenshot, you can select Kisekae Mahjong (A) or Kisekae
Hanafuda (B).
I think this will be not reproduced on MAME, because it doesn't support multi-cartridge
systems right now.
X Se Dae Quiz (Dream Island, 95)
Ultimate Domain [prototype] (Atlus, 96)
Ultimate Domain is an early name for Heaven's Gate. The game was mentioned in
Computer+Video Games, Dec 1996.
Golden Pyramids (Aristocrat, 97)
Queen of the Nile (Aristocrat, 97)
Diamond Touch (Aristocrat, 97)
Adonis (Aristocrat, 98)
Margarita Magic (Aristocrat, 2000)
Mahjong Tensinhai (Dynax, 95)
Mahjong Raijinhai DX (Dynax, 96)
Reno Reels (BwB, 96)
BwB Tetris (BwB, 9?)
Red Hot Poker (BwB, 9?)
Go! Go! Connie chan Jaka Jaka Janken (Eighting, 96)
NeoPrint V1 (SNK, 96)
NeopriSP Retro Collection (SNK, 96)
Neo Print - '98 NeoPri Best 44 (SNK, 98)
Dead or Alive prototype version (Tecmo [Model 2], 96)
ShimaPong scans from a Japanese magazine.
Info from ShimaPong:
In this prototype (AOU show?) version, the basic game system ("hold" system,
danger zone etc) is finished, but a main diference is that you can select Kelly.
Jann-lee, Rei-fang, Kasumi, Bayman and Kelly are selectable (the other three
characters are missing).
Sengoku Blade: Sengoku Ace Episode II (Psikyo, 96)
In MAME under the name Tangai/Sengoku Blade: Sengoku Ace Episode II.
Fruit Fresh (Chain Leisure, 96)
Hot Slot (ABM Electronics, 96)
Tecmo Stackers (Tecmo, 96)
This is the world version of "Deroon Dero Dero".
Dead or Alive (Tecmo/Sega [Sega Model 2B], 96)
Zero Gunner (Psikyo [Sega Model 2B], 97)
Pilot Kids (Psikyo [Sega Model 2B], 99)
Print Club 2 (Atlus, 97)
Print Club 2 '97 Winter Ver (Atlus, 97)
Print Club Pokemon B (Atlus, 99)
Hit Poker (Accept Ltd Bulgaria, 97)
Doom II (mockup, 97)
Info from Stiletto:
In February 2003, according to Randy Hoffman / Mr. Goodwraith, MAME.net forum member
"gamegearfan" confirmed with John Romero himself: the "Grosse Pointe Blank" Doom II
arcade cabinet was a mockup by the props department of the film, it was never produced.
Jackpot Pool (Electronic Projects [Italy bootleg], 97)
Croupier (Playmark, 97)
Driver pictures from MAWS
Deuces Wild 2 - American Heritage (unknown, 97)
POD (UbiSoft [prototype], 97)
This game "Planet of Death" was exhibited at the '97 E3 Expo and is also a Windows game.
Info from Undumped Wiki:
While the game's unique content ("Arcade" track) have since been leaked/released and playable through
various means, the original HDD/BIOS/firmware have not been dumped.
Gallop Racer 2 (Tecmo [TPS hardware], 97)
Info from Brian Troha:
Though there is some type of issue with Gallop Racer 2 which may or may
not affect Gallop Racer 3. It's not known whether it's a CPU core issue
or banking... It doesn't work correctly in ZiNc either.
Quizard Rainbow (TAB Austria, 98)
Road's Edge / Round Trip (SNK [NeoGeo64], 97)
Samurai Showdown: Warrior's Rage (SNK [NeoGeo64], 98)
Fatal Fury: Wild Ambition (SNK [NeoGeo64], 98)
Quake Arcade Tournament (Lazer-Tron/iD Software [prototype], 98?)
Magic Tennis (Art & Magic, 98)
Shout & Shoot (Art & Magic, 98)
Samurai Showdown 64 (SNK, 98)
Xtreme Rally / Off Beat Racer! (SNK, 98)
Beast Busters 2nd Nightmare (SNK, 98)
Magic Card Jackpot (Impera, 98)
Funny Fruit (Cadillac Jack, 98)
International Toote (Coinmaster, 98)
Stelle e Cubi (Italy) (Sure, 98)
The Untouchable (Play Pak, 98)
A fighting game inspired by Mortal Kombat. According to the flyer, hardware uses a CD-ROM.
Tul Lin Gu Lim Chat Ki '98 (Eolith, 98)
In MAME under the name Hidden Catch/Tul Lin Gu Lim Chat Ki '98.
Miss Tang Ja Ru Gi (Eolith, 99)
In MAME under the name Land Breaker/Miss Tang Ja Ru Gi.
Photo Play / Masters / World Championship (Tecmo, 99)
X Tom 3D (Jamie System Development, 99)
Odeon Twister 2 (CD Express, 99)
Savage Quest (Interactive Light, 99)
Mahjong Cafe Break (Nakanihon/Dynax, 99)
Gran Tesoro? / Play 2000 (Nova Desitec, 99)
Dengen Tenshi Taisen Janshi Shangri-la (Marvelous Ent., 99)
California Chase (The Game Room, 99)
Funny Land de Luxe (Stella, 99)
Mahjong Mania - Kairakukan he Youkoso (Sphinx/Just&Just, 99)
Reel Good Time (Global, 9?)
Treasure Hunt (Global, 9?)
Puck People (Microhard, 9?)
Funny Strip (Microhard/Magic Games, 9?)
Driver pictures from MAWS
From WHATSNEW.TXT:
Unemulated protection?
Paint & Puzzle (Century?, 9?)
From WHATSNEW.TXT:
Work on this is being continued by a different dev.
Ten Quid Grid (Barcrest, 9?)
Eyes Down (Barcrest, 9?)
Prize Space Invaders (BwB, 9?)
Joker Master (unknown, 9?)
Incomplete and encrypted.
Multipede (Infrogrames/Cosmodog, 9?)
Olympic Hot Stuff (Olympic Video Gaming, 9?)
Magic the Gathering: Armageddon (Acclaim, 19??)
Beach Head 2000 (Global VR, 2000)
Hyper V2 (Global VR, 2001)
Beach Head 2002 (Global VR, 2002)
Beach Head 2003 Desert War (Global VR, 2003)
Need For Speed: Underground (Global VR, 2005)
Fun Station Spielekoffer 9 Spiele (ADP, 2000)
Multi Game I (Amatic Trading GmbH, 2000)
Multi Game III (Amatic Trading GmbH, 2000)
Coinmaster Keno (Coinmaster-Gaming Ltd, 2000)
Colorama (Coinmaster-Gaming Ltd, 2001)
Project Justice (Capcom, 2000)
In MAME under the name Moero Justice Gakuen/Project Justice.
Boon-Ga Boon-Ga (Taff System, 2000)
In MAME as Boon-Ga Boon-Ga (Spank 'Em!), however there may be a non-English
version without the "spank 'em" wording.
Bash (Oriental Soft, 2000?)
ShimaPong scan from a Japanese magazine.
Info from ShimaPong:
From an AOU Show 2000 report about Asian games outside of Japan. X2222 is a
vertical shooter. There are three fighters, three level power-ups, two weapons
and bombers. It seems to be similar to Psikyo's Striker series rather than G-Stream.
Bash is a fighting game. There are ten characters, four buttons and several unique systems.
I hear that X2222 has been imported to Japan in 2001 but no info on Bash.
Capitan Uncino (Nazionale Elettronica, 2000)
Capitani Coraggiosi (Nazionale Elettronica, 2001)
Europa 2002 (Nazionale Elettronica, 2001)
La Perla Nera Gold (Nazionale Elettronica, 2001)
La Perla Nera Gold (Nazionale Elettronica, 2002)
Donggul Donggul Haerong (Danbi, 2001)
Korean Wonder Boy clone featuring the obscure (but favorite of mine) Japanese character
Hero Hero Kun.
Magic Lotto Export (Impera, 2001)
Super Cherry Master (Dyna, 2001)
Incomplete set.
Cherry Bonus 2001 (Dyna, 2001)
Driver pictures from MAWS
Sports Match / 명랑운동회 [Myeongnang Undonghoe] (Andamiro, 2001)
Pictures taken from
Hardcore Gaming 101.
Office Yeo ln Cheon Ha (Danbi, 2001)
Bingo Roll / Bell Star (unknown, 2002)
Star Trek: Voyager (Team Play/Game Refuge/Monaco Entertainment, 2002)
Special Forces Elite Training (ICE/Play Mechanix, 2002)
Cutey Fatty (Wecom, 2002?)
More snapshots from
YouTube video.
You are a girl who weighs 100kg but wants to lose weight, so you go
around town with your dog shooting junk food and eating vegetables.
It was made in Korea.
GameCristal (Cristaltec, 2002)
Chameleon 24 (Amusement Game, 2002)
A bootleg multicart of NES games made for an arcade cabinet.
Gamshara (Mitchell [Namco System 10 Hardware], 2003)
Pictures taken from
System16.com.
Video of game is also on YouTube.
Mobile Suit Z-Gundam: A.E.U.G. vs Titans (Capcom/Banpresto, 2003)
Mobile Suit Z-Gundam: A.E.U.G. vs Titans DX (Capcom/Banpresto, 2004)
Gundam Seed: Federation vs. Z.A.F.T. (Capcom/Banpresto, 2005)
The Rumble Fish 2 (Sammy/Dimps, 2004)
Mahjong Momotarou (Techno-Top, 2004)
Giga Wing Generations (Takumi, 2004)
Chase 1929 (Sammy [prototype], 2004)
Pictures from flyer.
Johnny Nero Action Hero (ICE/Play Mechanix, 2004)
Homura (SKonec Entertainment, 2005)
Raiden III (Seibu Kaihatsu/Moss, 2005)
Animal Basket (Sammy/Moss, 2005)
Super Dragon Ball Z (Banpresto/Spike, 2005)
Alien: The Arcade Medal Edition (Capcom, 2005)
Win Win Bingo (Astro Corp, 2005?)
Zoo (Astro Corp, 2005?)
Shikigami no Shiro III (Alfa System/SKonec Entertainment, 2006)
Arcana Heart Full (Exama, 2006)
The Battle of Yu Yu Hakusho: Shitou! Ankoku Bujutsukai! (Banpresto, 2006)
Raiden IV (Seibu Kaihatsu/Moss Ltd, 2007)
Shooting Love 2007 (Triangle Service, 2007)
Fate: Unlimited Codes (Capcom, 2008)
The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match (SNK, 2008)
Not working in MAME, however "King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match HERO", which runs
on IGS PolyGame master 2 hardware, is working.
Samurai Spirits Sen (SNK Playmore, 2008)
Trouble Witches AC (Adventure Playing Service/Sdutio SiestA, 2008)
Illvelo (Illmatic Envelope) (Milestone, 2008)
Melty Blood Actress Again (Type-Moon/Ecole, 2008)
Akatsuki Blitzkampf Ausf Achse (Subtle Style, 2008)
Gundam vs. Gundam (Capcom/Bandai, 2008)
Goketsuji Ichizoku: Matsuri Senzo Kuyou (Atlus, 2009)
Euro Jolly X5 (Solar Games, 200?)
X Five Jokers (Electronic Projects, 200?)
Magic Number (Unknown (Italian gambling game) 200?)
Pot O' Gold (US Games Inc, 200?)
Happy Hunter (Limenko, 20??)
Pictures from
Korean arcade listing.
Light gun prize redemption game.
Techno X (Limenko, 20??)
Dance Dance Revolution type game.
Strip Teaser (Unknown Italian)
Tourvision PC Engine bootlegs (Tourvision, 89-91)
Nintendo Super System (Nintendo, 91)
This system was like the Playchoice-10, allowing you to buy time to
play Super Nintendo games. Never saw the point of these systems, myself...
Anyway, the menu system isn't working at all in MAME so the games are
listed as non-working.
Super Famicom Box (Nintendo, 94)
SU2000 (Virtuality, 94)
The time-based multiplayer head mounted VR system that you could find at
the mall in the early 90's. Currently the driver is listed as "SU2000" in MAME.
1991 W Industries games (1000CS hardware [Amiga 3000 based])
In addition, the SP-4J version of the NeoGeo MVS BIOS, used on MV-1B, flat package mask ROM is a Most Wanted ROM.
Mistranslations from Japanese
From messages by Stiletto, Gridle, and Justin:
Rhinoceros Bar Command (Cyber Commando)
Rhinoceros Berth Lead-Lead (Cyber Sled)
Oh those are just rich. The explanation is obvious if you know any Japanese:
First of all, keep in mind that written Japanese doesn't have any spaces or
breaks between words. Figuring out where words begin and end is generally
obvious for a human reader but it's very hard to write a computer program
to do so accurately. The titles for these two games would be written in
Japanese as follows:
saibaakommando
saibaasureddo
The correct way to break them up into words is like so:
saibaa kommando
saibaa sureddo
Those are just the English phrases "cyber commando" and "cyber sled" written
out phonetically using the Japanese syllabary.
Now, whatever machine translator these were put through decided to break them
up like this, probably because it didn't recognize the word "cyber":
sai baa kommando
sai baasu reddo
As it happens, "sai" is the Japanese word for "rhinoceros". "baa" is how you'd
phonetically write the English word "bar" in the Japanese syllabary, "baasu" is
how you'd write "berth" (seriously!), and "reddo" is how you'd write "lead"
(or "led", or "red").
With regards to "command" vs. "commando", Japanese uses a syllable-based writing
system, and Japanese syllables can't end with consonants (except for n/m/ng), so
if you want to represent an English syllable ending with a consonant, you have
to stick an extra vowel on the end. The extra vowel is usually "u", but following
t and d it's "o" because the Japanese characters for "tu" and "du" have come to
be pronounced "tsu" and "zu". As a result, the words "command" and "commando" come
out identical when transcribed.
As to why the translator produced "lead-lead" instead of "lead", I have absolutely
no idea.
-Stiletto
Don Bear Near (Dunk Mania)
Seeing Stiletto mention the Rhinoceros Berth Lead-Lead story again made me notice this title in the list of System 11 games - it's the same machine-translation problem again, this time with Dunk Mania:
danku mania (Dunk Mania)
dan kuma nia (Don Bear Near)
(kuma is Japanese for "bear")
Over Kuhn (Oh! Bakyuun)
One more: "oo bakyuun" vs "ooba kyuun".
Underground King (Angler King [Namco System 23])
From System 16: Mistranslation of Angler King, "angler" in katakana is "angura", and "angura" is an abbreviation for "andaguraundo" which is "underground", thanks to Justin Kerk.