Tomb Raider beta?

Decapicitated man excellent work! that beta list is awesome and really useful! I have the August 96 Tomb Raider beta for the Sega Saturn, actually the compilation date is August 2, 1996. Does your August beta have a file called "MON2AUG.TXT" ? The version I have also has 4 playable levels, well, I can say it is probably the exact same version as the Gh0stBlade youtube videos, but I don't know, we can check it out.

I also have a Tomb Raider 3 "beta" dated October 25, 1998 for the PlayStation, but (as far as I remember, I compared both this and final a long time ago) seems to me it is practically final, except for a map called TEST.PSX that I can´t load (tried to load it through some files "hacks" but seems the map is either corrupted or not a version compatible with the game) and it is not in the released version of the game. I know that the released game (at least the PC version) has a map called Vict.TR2 that is also unusable, so I don't know if this TEST.PSX file and Vict.TR2 are related.

This TR3 disc also lacks some files from the final build (not a lot if i recall correctly), movies I think are called different or they are different (for this I need somebody to post a photo of the file tree structure of the final PlayStation TR3 to compare), and finally the TOMBPSX.DAT says:

"Tomb Raider III Script. E3 Release (c) Core Design Ltd 1998.sign Ltd 1998"

For comparison, the final .DAT says "Final Release" and the .DAT for PC is the same as this beta except for this: "Core Design Ltd 1997". About gameplay and graphics and content, I think is the same as final, I haven't finished it, but I haven't seen anything special so far.

 

Related to Tomb Raider that is all I have. Also probably you already saw this, but for the people who don't, the oldest info I know about the TR1 July beta was thanks to SegaFreak_NL (a user here in ASSEMbler). He has a more detailed description about the beta in this link: http://www.segadatabase.net/segafreak/tombraider.htm

and a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPCNJLA8ws4
didn't see these links posted (unless Im blind) hope it is helpful :nod:

 

Decapicitated, did you purchase these betas from gh0stblade or did you ask him for them? Is he willing to share with the public? Thanks!

 

You forgot to list these demos

Tomb Raider 2 PSX Demo half a level Venice available on some versions of Tomb Raider releases
Tomb Raider 3 PSX Demo 1 Level Area 51 completely different from the final available some releases of Tomb Raider 1 and 2

and I believe there is also a demo for Last Revelation that also exists, here's a list of those demos http://www.game-rave.com/psx/playstation_perfect_guide/features/eidos_var/index.html

 

I have one from then too. Might be the same as Segafreak's version, might not be. It's been a long time since I ran it and I can't remember!

 

nice pic wheelaa! seems to be your cd is the same as mine, probably they are from the same source (even the calligraphy almost looks the same). Here is a picture:



Sorry about the quality, my camera is a piece of crap. I can assume that these were effectively burned at Eidos (I hope so) but I have had my doubts in the past.

 

Very nice!

I know what you mean about the doubts, I think people will always have them when it comes to burnt media.

All I can say is that my TR beta came from a very well known and reliable source / proto collector, and that the disc itself is a brand that was available in the 90's.THat doesn't mean it wasn't burnt in 2007 when I think I acquired it, but you have to have trust in these things.

 

@wheelaa
@Kanaka

Thanks upload, That very new to me, i have not seen thoses CD disc before.


@Decapicitated

Impressive he still remember me and yes i finnish, Is he on now? Hopefully we lead somewhere to discuss about Tomb Raider betas for further info,

I found one of old Youtube channel that belong to Mcstyle24, but it seem he abandon that channel long time ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CfCHvfpquQ&feature=related
it other game beta that never released (Fighting Force on sega saturn) but it has Tomb Raider codeline on it (on the TV screen) That in interesting

Anynews for TR betas ?

 

No worries. (Tbh I don't really like TR at all so I imagine it will be in the sales forum shortly.)

Great that there's such a passion for TR with others though, this thread has been a very interesting read.

 

yes. Betas give a new Tomb raiding experience

 

Ahhh finally i got accepted on site. Long live Tomb raider beta fans!!!!:clap::clap::clap:
It nearly 20 years after first beta.

Thank you Decapicitated, for get us back after first met in 11 years ago.

S.Sippy

Boy, how you been doing buddy? you Finnish bastard:lol: i have not heard you since then, of course i still remember you, i remember we talked about how i going to send you those two Tomb Raider Test version and we spoke on the phone for freaking two hours because we were lack of English in early days. Yeah it nice to hear from you again, It shame you have already sold those two Tomb Raider test version.

How you survive this day 'n' age ? Yes you right, alot of things has change in 1996 to 2011.

Well im sure you will get my new contact, my old contact is in Italy.

As you describing the Tomb Raider silver disc, you absolutely right. It's is Tomb Raider review version and im sure that by 99%. There are few missing part but nothing drastically changed. For example Finding secret and should hear sound pop up, well Tomb Raider review version doesn't have that so that how we know by that.
Again it would be nice if Chip can make a video for us, just incase it is really Tomb raider review version or not.

Chip Thank for upload the picture :thumbsup:

Correct, if it true, then it must be playstation version what Chip has, Normally Tomb Raider Final version on sega saturn in main menu, you will see GYM and Torch and picture Lara croft in background that her shoulder is missing. If my description is correct, then it has to be Tomb Raider review version for PlayStation version because Tomb Raider Final Version on PlayStation is change to Home, CD sound option and Lara shoulder is shown in background.

Again When Tomb Raider sega saturn was released to shop, it was around same time that Tomb Raider review version was released to Playstation magazines to review it. Until three month later when it released on PlayStation version.

*Sign* Now i do regret that sold all my Tomb Raider 1,2,3 and 4 betas:crying:

Please forgive me, It really sucks that site went under. It probably best looking website that i known and i do really miss it though. Do you remember how many people were fighting over for Tomb Raider betas at the time and they trying to beg to buy it, of course back in 1999, there no such thing as ISO download and crappy speed dial internet, So transferring Tomb Raider betas over internet was impossible. So we have to do royal mail service instead and that the only way to play and if want to discuss Tomb Raider beta information, you have do it over telephone , Crikey, uploading Tomb Raider pictures was like two hours. Again like you said, alot of things has changed since 1996, We were old timers private collectors.

I know gh0stbalde too, He a good man too, I trust him for collecting too. He probably has the most Tomb Raider betas series from 1 to 5 in this modern day.

However i did not steel it, but i was accused by Eidos, It was one of Core design dev's gave ( i won't name him because it not fair on him) it to me in core studio for Visit in staff because my older brother personally knows him as a good friend while Eidos does not agreed for what i were doing. However it got worst but i prefer not discuss it.


Here one of my Tomb Raider disc that directly from Core design studio in late 1996, this is the only picture i have now.


This information for this disc, which i wrote on my notebook many years ago

Manufacture ID: SEGA TP T999

Product number: T-99901G

Released Date: 19950309 That's 9th March 1995, while in my picture says
26th July 1996, more likely one of Core design dev's
made a mistake by writing on Beta disc or mabey
that date is where Core Design released to reviews but i
don't know.

Version: V1.210

Game Name : Game Sample, Tester only

CD Lable: Tomb

Size of Disc: 326 MB

Device information: CD 1/2

Peripheral Code: J

this was found in note file in Tomb Raider beta disc

Hi wheelaa, Thanks for upload your Tomb Raider beta disc:thumbsup:
I more happy to buy it from you, if you going to sell it, I have not seen this disc before (Kodak label) That very new to me aswell, Sega Freak got his own version of his Tomb raider beta disc (Philip label) which i ready know that was officials from Core design because i seen it before.

Can you tell us more information about your Tomb Raider beta Disc,

Like Did you get it directly from Core design studio? or from other private collecter ?

Also can you make a list note for information disc (like i did at the top ^^^)
You can find that information in file text on your beta disc. To me, your Tomb Raider beta is only have two level playable (Home level and City of Vilcabamba level)

i appreciate if Kanaka does the same thing too by checking his Tomb Raider beta disc information and where he get it from.

Thanks for your time.

 

Decapicitated

Impressive, So i was right about Tomb Raider review version. Thank for upload it.

 

Based on everything that's posted so far, mine is probably a review version.

I'll try and get a video going sometime this week.

 

x

 

x

 

Really? I never find online!
Some link?

 

I got the discs from a member here in the forum like 3+ years ago, he used to sell betas from time to time. I asked him at the time about the TR and other betas and he told me that he bought them on large lots or boxes from old defunct companies. He never told me where exactly the TR betas came from.

 

Hmm I wonder if he had more lol.

Anyone with PS2 betas?

 

As suspected, seems mine is nothing new.

6MB file, two levels, all the files dated 22 July 1996.

Not sure how / what else to get so let me know if you'd like something (and how to get it!).

I suspect mine even came from the same person as Kaneka! I believe the person picked up a bulk load of betas / previews from an old games magazine chappy. I was able to buy 50 or so Saturn betas / previews, some really early, some same as retail.

 

Anyone got the exact dates for the two released PSX betas? TR1 1996 and TR2 1997?

The first I believe is 07/22/1996, any ideas on the second?