The lost Sonic cartridge

Jackhammer · Oct 31, 2010

It's an old thread, but I used to read the magazine, and it's entirely plausible for preview carts to go missing...

Okay, I'm about a year late with this one, I see, but I have to clear it up - I, Tom Guise, have the legendary Sonic the Hedgehog cartridge! And I always had it! Ed Lomas never took it.

When Jaz left Mean Machines, his desk just sat empty for a while, and after some evening Mario Kart or Street Fighter sessions (I played Chun Li in the most disgraceful flying-low-punch, low kick, somersault-knee cheese combo you've ever seen. And I beat Gus Swan in a fifty game challenge with it. It was something like 42 to 8, and that was only cos I changed to Blanka for the last 10. That's how shit he was), I think I was scavenging Jaz's old draws for some goodies (probably just a stapler and stationary, I don't know) and, underneath some Jaz Rignall stickers, I came across this Megadrive cartridge with just a glossy black label on it. And the cartridge was suspiciously heavy (like it had twice the chips inside it that a normal cart would have... which, indeed, it did, because pre-production Sega carts had flash ROMs in, which they could wipe and then re-copy new games onto. So this was just a temporary flash ROM cart.).

So I plugged it into a Megadrive and Sonic the Hedgehog came on. Big deal. It looked pretty much the same as the the normal Sonic, to start with, but at the end of level one of the Green Hill Zone Act 1 (which I could do in 26 seconds, by the way), instead of leaping Sonic about in his usual spinning form (to catch those hidden scores in the sky or jump through the big ring), he did an all new animation. He jumped up and punched the air - no shit! And then, the first level of the Marble Zone had flying saucers filling the sky. Anyone who had the CVG Complete Guide to Consoles, issue 1 (the purple one), would remember a review of Sonic that showed shots with those saucers in the sky, which, of course, were never in the final version (maybe the cartridge box had the shot on the back too). As the game progresses, the levels get more and more disorganised and messed up as the creators hadn't finished them. You can't actually complete the game. But it's fascinating to seem some of the ideas and lay-outs of the game at that stage. And it's clear those crazy rotating bonus stages were something that came later, when they realised they could do rotation.

Anyway, I vomited in excitement as I realised this cartridge was liquid fucking gold - which seemed even more valuable because it was "Julian Rignall's" - so I took it home. And years later, I showed it to Ed Lomas and Rad in my bedsit after some crazy all-night rave. And then we all high-fived (not really). When I left for Australia I almost - almost - gave it to Ed, but then I thought, "Fuck him, this thing is mint, I'm going to keep it." So I still have it. It's hidden somewhere safe.

I don't know how much it could be worth. A hell of a lot, I reckon. I mean, this is Sonic the Hedgehog 1, in a pre-production form, with elements and animation that never made it into the final version. I'm not sure I'd ever sell it though, because, goddamn it, that game got me into games and therefore into the job on Megatech (well, actually, Paul Glancey did that. Paul, I love you) and I love Sonic too (at least when he was young and cool). But now I'm worried maybe it will be lost forever... to bitrot. Especially as it's only a flash cart. Also, I'm guessing there may not be many (if any) versions of the game in this form, since it's just a single moment in its production, flashed onto a cart for a preview.

So, for safety's sake I think I should reveal its location to anyone who might be able to give it a good home. Just call this number... (stops suddenly, with a surprised look on his face, and then falls forward with a screwdriver in the back of his neck)
Click to expand...

http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=137

drx · Oct 31, 2010

This has been discussed in the past. In fact I'm the reason the post appeared there. The person owning the cart has refused to talk about it further.

willcrook · Oct 31, 2010

forgive me for saying, but it's pretty pathetic that he's hoarding it and refusing to back up the data.

Bramsworth · Oct 31, 2010

It's tough having something rare. You don't exactly have the money to buy the equipment to dump it all the time, and regardless of what others may think, it feels perfectly normal to me to not want to risk the thing in the mail so it can be sent off to someone who can dump it. Wouldn't want to lose a one of a kind item after all.

Besides, I can't remember if I was told this or not, but I think the guy was just playing around and doesn't really own anything.

MottZilla · Nov 5, 2010

If they don't want to share it, you may as well assume it doesn't exist and move on. Being stuck on it just feeds the trolls that claim to have something you want but they won't let you have. It doesn't even matter if they have it or not if they aren't going to share anything of it (pictures, video, binary, etc).

Greg2600 · Nov 6, 2010

Couldn't have said it better myself. I don't get excited anymore for prototypes discovered until I can play it myself.

The lost Sonic cartridge

Jackhammer Peppy Member

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The lost Sonic cartridge

Jackhammer Peppy Member

drx BLAST PROCESSING. SITE SUPPORTER 2015

willcrook Rapidly Rising Member

Bramsworth Well Known Member

MottZilla Champion of the Forum

Greg2600 Resolute Member

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