This page details one or more prototype versions of Colin McRae Rally (PlayStation).

This page or section has one or more broken YouTube links. Please find an archived version of the video(s) or a suitable replacement.

Demos

European Demos#

Demos for Colin McRae Rally were released on multiple demo discs, but the majority of them are the same.

Euro Demo 34#

• This demo disc was compiled on April 29, 1998, with a directory that was last modified on April 20, 1998.

• The demo's executable, OPM.EXE, was compiled not later than at 6:31:18 of April 14, 1998, so it predated the final build by about a month and a half (executables in final game were compiled on May 27 for R_SCHOOL.EXE and June 3 for the other executables).
• The demo has only three tracks: the 5th stages of Australia and Monte Carlo and the 3rd stage of NZ. Only one car is available: the Subaru Impreza WRC, which is named Subaru Impreza WRC98.

Frontend#

• The copyright text has less legal info than the that of the final version.
• The videos for the Codemasters logo and intro are missing.

Euro Demo 34	Final

• The loading screen has the text Demo Loading instead of Now Loading.
• The main menu is not accessible, so it loads directly into the pre-stage menu and displays the controls after loading.

Euro Demo 34	Final

• Tyre changing requires only two minutes, instead of three in the final game.
• The Time (Mins) text loses the (Mins) in the final version.
• The stage description text is missing, showing only the stage information under Description. The text spacing is also slightly condensed.

Euro Demo 34	Final

• The loading screen for the stage shows Time of Day instead of Time.

Euro Demo 34	Final

• This demo has loop - after quitting it shows advertisement screens and then returns to Codemasters logo video.

Gameplay#

• The demo's pause menu lacks the selections for controller options and restarting the stage.
• The graphics options in the pause menu only displays the Co-Driver Visuals option.

Euro Demo 34	Final

• Cockpit view not available in demo.
• The stage progress bar on the right of the HUD has its sections colored in blue at the start, instead of being transparent.
• An empty table with players positions is displayed on the left. In final game this table doesn't show in stage mode. When a checkpoint crossed, this table doesn't contain the players' initials, as final game do in championship or rally mode.

Euro Demo 34	Final

• In demo camera changing angle after finishing stage, while final game doesn't. This feature was returned in Colin McRae Rally 2.0

Euro Demo 34	Final

• Highlighted text coloured with different colours in demo instead of only yellow-orange combination in final.
• Demo shows stage results instead of time trial results. Final game does this only in championship or rally mode.

Euro Demo 34	Final

• Password for stage time created from letters, when in final game it uses digits.

Euro Demo 34	Final

• Restart stage and quit options not available on replay screen.

Euro Demo 34	Final

Cars#

• Files with graphics for Subaru Impreza WRC differs from their final ciunterpart, but there aren't any noticeable visual changes.

Stages#

• Australia Stage 5 named as Bruce Rock. Information mentions Dusty Gravel type of surface, when actually track used same road surface as it's final counterpart (Dusty Mud).
• Monte Carlo Stage 3 information mentions just Tarmac. Again, demo counterpart of level uses same type of road surface as final version (Wet Tarmac).

Euro Demo 34	Final

• Demo counterpart of Monte Carlo Stage 3 lacks trees.

Euro Demo 34	Final

• All 3 stages also have some minor changes.
• Demo game has strings in GAME.TXT (smaller counterpart of ENGLISH.TXT, located in CMRALLY/GAME) "circuit" and "wet circuit" instead of "stage" and "wet stage". These string refers to super-special stages.
• Demo executable has string BORDEAUX instead of PRADELLE. Probably it was early name of Monte Carlo Stage 2 or another stage mentioned in same offset.

Sounds#

• No music is played during gameplay.
• The menu sounds in the pre-stage screen are different.

Driver name#

• Demo executable has string K. ROSENBERGER instead of K. ROSENBERG.

Play Fun 10/99 and Play Power 4 Demo differences#

• Executable renamed to CMRALLY.EXE from OPM.EXE.
• One of advertisment screens was changed - analog instead of analogue. This changed screen was created later at April 20, while counterpart from Euro Demo at April 8.

Euro Demo 34	Play Fun 10/99

Codemasters Demo Disc#

• This demo disc (SLED-01380), and its executable SLED_013.80, were compiled on June 16, 1998, at 18:51:54, after the release of the final game.

• Demo has only four tracks: the 7th Australia stage, the 3rd Greece stage, the 4th Monte Carlo Stage, the 5th New Zealand stage. Last two tracks not driveable, player could only watch replays of completing these stages.
• Demo has five cars: Ford Escort WRC, Renault Megane Maxi, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV, Skoda Felicia Kit Car, Subaru Impreza WRC. Only Subaru car is driveable and Skoda Felicia Kit Car doesn't used anywhere.

Frontend#

• This demo shows at start same videos and copyrigh screen as final game.
• Loading screen combines text strings from previous demo and final version.

Codemasters Demo	Final

• Demo loads in unique select screen instead of ordinary menu.

Codemasters Demo	Final

• Now Loading - Countryname text is divided in two lines in demo.

Codemasters Demo	Final

• This demo has loop - after quitting it shows trailer and then returns to Codemasters logo video.

Watch on YouTube

Gameplay#

• Pause menu lack only Restart Stage option.

Codemasters Demo	Final

• Cockpit view not available in demo.
• HUD looks simillar to final, except it still shows table with players positions, despite only time trial mode can be played.

Codemasters Demo	Final

• Restart stage and quit options not available on replay screen.

Codemasters Demo	Final

Demo Codemasters disc differences#

• Executable renamed to CMR.EXE from OPM.EXE and replaced in CMRALLY directory.

CTI file#

• Colin McRae Rally Demo Disc (SLED-01380) contains OPM.CTI.

Japanese Demo#

• This demo disc (SLPM-80380), and its executables SLED_013.80 (with its duplicate DEMO_INT.EXE), LOOP.EXE and DEMO.EXE were compiled on November 26, 1998.
• Demo contains same tracks and car, as Euro Demo 34 counterpart and behaviour very similar to it, while their files mostly identical to final Japanese release. Despite this, only Australia Stage 5 could be played.

Frontend#

• Demo shows warning about this disc presenting game in development.

• Demo uses image with Spike logo, not video.

Japanese Demo	Final

• Demo lacks Sammy logo video.
• Loading screens with Demo Loading text and controls scheme identical to counterparts from Euro Demo 34.
• This demo has loop - after quitting it shows advertisement screens and then returns to Codemasters logo video.

Gameplay#

• Same differences as in Colin McRae Rally Codemasters Demo disc counterpart.

Configs#

• CMRALLY/DEMODISK directory contains additional .cnf configs: SYSTEM.CNF and older SYSTEM0.CNF.
• Used SYSTEM.CNF dated December 3, 1998, 11:36, while unused counterparts from aforomentioned directory dated November 25, 1998 (SYSTEM0.CNF) and December 3, 1998, 10:47 (SYSTEM.CNF).
• SYSTEM0.CNF hasn't proper disc id: SLPS_XXX.XX.
• Earlier version of SYSTEM.CNF used SLPS instead of SLPM.

Executables#

• DEMO.EXE has incorrect disc id in itself.

Prototype

Colin McRae Rally (Sep 15, 1999 prototype)#

• This [https://hiddenpalace.org/Colin_McRae_Rally_(Sep_15,_1999_prototype) prototype] was compiled at Sep 15, 1999 16:01:14 and it predates final build for ~2 months.

Frontend#

• Sony Computer Entertainment America Presents doesn't appear at the start.
• Some strings in controller setup menu are different:

Prototype	Final

GAME.TXT arleady had all changes which US file counterpart got, except one string.

• FRONTEND.EXE still used TYRE instead of TIRE.