Tyrannosaurus Tex (found build of cancelled first-person shooter for the Game Boy Color; 1999-2001): Difference between revisions
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'''Tyrannosaurus Tex''' was a cancelled unreleased first person shooter that was planned to be released for the Game Boy Color, developed by Slitherine Software and was to be published by Eidos Interactive. It was later released officially by Piko Interactive. | '''Tyrannosaurus Tex''' was a cancelled unreleased first-person shooter that was planned to be released for the Game Boy Color, developed by Slitherine Software and was to be published by Eidos Interactive. It was later released officially by Piko Interactive. | ||
==Plot== | ==Plot== | ||
An alien spaceship full of robots crashes down on earth near a Texan town | An alien spaceship full of robots crashes down on earth near a Texan town and becomes stuck underground. The aliens try to fix the spaceship, but also build a replica of their world. They find dinosaur remains and use them to grow living dinosaurs. Then, all of a sudden, humans start digging down into the underground world for oil, causing the dinosaurs to attack. The main character, Tex, receives a bounty to get rid of the dinosaur problem.<ref name=":0">[https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/05/tyrannosaurus-tex-gbc-cancelled/ ''Unseen64'' article about the game] Retrieved 31 Jul '21</ref> | ||
==Gameplay== | ==Gameplay== | ||
The gameplay would have been very ambitious for the Game Boy Color. It was a first person shooter with 6 different weapons that would have done different types of damage to the 10 variations of enemies. It had features like a two player deathmatch, 18 levels, stereo sound, a 3D engine, multiple cutscenes, and more.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> | The gameplay would have been very ambitious for the Game Boy Color. It was a first-person shooter with 6 different weapons that would have done different types of damage to the 10 variations of enemies. It had features like a two-player deathmatch, 18 levels, stereo sound, a 3D engine, multiple cutscenes, and more.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> | ||
==Development== | ==Development== | ||
Slitherine Software, at the time made up of Ben John, his father Mike, and his friend, Dan Crawley, made a tech demo of the game and displayed it at the 1999 European Computer Trade Show, attracting multiple publishers, which ended up with Eidos Interactive becoming the publisher for the game, adding a new member (Ian McNeil) to the team. The game started production in September 1999 | Slitherine Software, at the time made up of Ben John, his father Mike, and his friend, Dan Crawley, made a tech demo of the game and displayed it at the 1999 European Computer Trade Show, attracting multiple publishers, which ended up with Eidos Interactive becoming the publisher for the game, adding a new member (Ian McNeil) to the team. The game started production in September 1999 and had a planned release date of April 2000.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
However. the game got delayed due to how ambitious it was and how complicated the bugs were, causing Ben John, the main programmer, to run away to Australia with the game code, leaving Slitherine confused as they didn't understand the copy of the code they did have without a programmer.<ref>[https://www.si-games.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6180 Interview with the producer for ''Tyrannosaurus Tex''] Retrieved 2 Aug '21</ref> During this, Eidos left the Game Boy Market, making the development harder, although Ian McNeil did stay with the team, bringing along his father as a financial manager.<ref name=":0" /> | However. the game got delayed due to how ambitious it was and how complicated the bugs were, causing Ben John, the main programmer, to run away to Australia with the game code, leaving Slitherine confused as they didn't understand the copy of the code they did have without a programmer.<ref>[https://www.si-games.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6180 Interview with the producer for ''Tyrannosaurus Tex''] Retrieved 2 Aug '21</ref> During this, Eidos left the Game Boy Market, making the development harder, although Ian McNeil did stay with the team, bringing along his father as a financial manager.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
In August 2000, Slitherine Software offered IGN a demo of Tyrannosaurus Tex to squash the | In August 2000, Slitherine Software offered IGN a demo of Tyrannosaurus Tex to squash the rumours of the demos they presented at the 1999 European Computer Trade Show to be faked.<ref>[https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/17/exclusive-hands-on-tyrannosaurus-tex ''IGN'' article about the exclusive demo they received.] Retrieved 2 Aug '21</ref> IGN had positive things to say about the demo, and provided 45 seconds of gameplay footage, although it isn't viewable anymore. | ||
IGN also later announced that Slitherine had found a new publisher, and were finally planning to release the game in January 2001.<ref>[https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/02/tyrannosaurus-tex ''IGN'' article reporting on the game's new publisher and release date] Retrieved 10 Aug '21</ref> However, even after completing the game, they couldn't secure a publishing deal, and among with other complications, Slitherine decided to cancel the release of the title | IGN also later announced that Slitherine had found a new publisher, and were finally planning to release the game in January 2001.<ref>[https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/02/tyrannosaurus-tex ''IGN'' article reporting on the game's new publisher and release date] Retrieved 10 Aug '21</ref> However, even after completing the game, they couldn't secure a publishing deal, and among with other complications, Slitherine decided to cancel the release of the title and fully left the Game Boy market.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
==Availability== | ==Availability== | ||
The build for the game was lost for years, until 2012, when a cartridge containing a prototype of the game appeared as an auction on eBay. The copy was a cartridge from March 21, 2000, previously owned by Jason Wilson. The website | The build for the game was lost for years, until 2012, when a cartridge containing a prototype of the game appeared as an auction on eBay. The copy was a cartridge from March 21, 2000, previously owned by Jason Wilson. The website Nintendo Player managed to buy the copy and showcase multiple images of both their copy, sending a download link to a ROM of the build on their website so it can be playable to people with the use of an emulator..<ref name=":1">[http://www.nintendoplayer.com/unreleased/tyrannosaurus-tex/ Nintendo Player reporting on the resurfacing of the game] Retrieved 13 Aug '21</ref> | ||
In March 2016, Piko Interactive fully gained rights for the game<ref>[https://pikointeractive.com/its-official-tyrannosaur-tex-gbc-is-ours/ ''Piko Interactive'' reporting their fully gained rights to the title] Retrieved 13 Aug '21</ref>, and finally released the finished title for purchase on their website.<ref>[https://pikointeractive.com/#!/Tyrannosaurus-Tex-GBC/p/93651787/category=9430347 Official store to buy the full game] Retrieved 13 Aug '21 </ref> | In March 2016, Piko Interactive fully gained rights for the game<ref>[https://pikointeractive.com/its-official-tyrannosaur-tex-gbc-is-ours/ ''Piko Interactive'' reporting their fully gained rights to the title] Retrieved 13 Aug '21</ref>, and finally released the finished title for purchase on their website.<ref>[https://pikointeractive.com/#!/Tyrannosaurus-Tex-GBC/p/93651787/category=9430347 Official store to buy the full game] Retrieved 13 Aug '21 </ref> | ||
Revision as of 19:03, 14 August 2021
Box art for the game
Status: Found
Date found: Jan '13
Found by: Nintendo Player
Tyrannosaurus Tex was a cancelled unreleased first-person shooter that was planned to be released for the Game Boy Color, developed by Slitherine Software and was to be published by Eidos Interactive. It was later released officially by Piko Interactive.
Plot
An alien spaceship full of robots crashes down on earth near a Texan town and becomes stuck underground. The aliens try to fix the spaceship, but also build a replica of their world. They find dinosaur remains and use them to grow living dinosaurs. Then, all of a sudden, humans start digging down into the underground world for oil, causing the dinosaurs to attack. The main character, Tex, receives a bounty to get rid of the dinosaur problem.[1]
Gameplay
The gameplay would have been very ambitious for the Game Boy Color. It was a first-person shooter with 6 different weapons that would have done different types of damage to the 10 variations of enemies. It had features like a two-player deathmatch, 18 levels, stereo sound, a 3D engine, multiple cutscenes, and more.[1][2]
Development
Slitherine Software, at the time made up of Ben John, his father Mike, and his friend, Dan Crawley, made a tech demo of the game and displayed it at the 1999 European Computer Trade Show, attracting multiple publishers, which ended up with Eidos Interactive becoming the publisher for the game, adding a new member (Ian McNeil) to the team. The game started production in September 1999 and had a planned release date of April 2000.[1]
However. the game got delayed due to how ambitious it was and how complicated the bugs were, causing Ben John, the main programmer, to run away to Australia with the game code, leaving Slitherine confused as they didn't understand the copy of the code they did have without a programmer.[3] During this, Eidos left the Game Boy Market, making the development harder, although Ian McNeil did stay with the team, bringing along his father as a financial manager.[1]
In August 2000, Slitherine Software offered IGN a demo of Tyrannosaurus Tex to squash the rumours of the demos they presented at the 1999 European Computer Trade Show to be faked.[4] IGN had positive things to say about the demo, and provided 45 seconds of gameplay footage, although it isn't viewable anymore.
IGN also later announced that Slitherine had found a new publisher, and were finally planning to release the game in January 2001.[5] However, even after completing the game, they couldn't secure a publishing deal, and among with other complications, Slitherine decided to cancel the release of the title and fully left the Game Boy market.[1]
Availability
The build for the game was lost for years, until 2012, when a cartridge containing a prototype of the game appeared as an auction on eBay. The copy was a cartridge from March 21, 2000, previously owned by Jason Wilson. The website Nintendo Player managed to buy the copy and showcase multiple images of both their copy, sending a download link to a ROM of the build on their website so it can be playable to people with the use of an emulator..[2]
In March 2016, Piko Interactive fully gained rights for the game[6], and finally released the finished title for purchase on their website.[7]
Gallery
Original auction won by Nintendo Player
Screenshot of the build provided by Unseen64
Screenshot of the build provided by Unseen64
Title Screen of the game provided by Nintendo Player
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Unseen64 article about the game Retrieved 31 Jul '21
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Nintendo Player reporting on the resurfacing of the game Retrieved 13 Aug '21
- ↑ Interview with the producer for Tyrannosaurus Tex Retrieved 2 Aug '21
- ↑ IGN article about the exclusive demo they received. Retrieved 2 Aug '21
- ↑ IGN article reporting on the game's new publisher and release date Retrieved 10 Aug '21
- ↑ Piko Interactive reporting their fully gained rights to the title Retrieved 13 Aug '21
- ↑ Official store to buy the full game Retrieved 13 Aug '21