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Demo Cartridge 1

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This prototype is documented on Hidden Palace.

Sega_Channel_Demo_Cart_1-Title.png

This is the earliest known prototype of the Sega Channel. It's so early in development that it completely lacks sound. The logo used for the Sega Channel here doesn't even remotely match the one used in some of the later prototypes.

General Differences#

  • This build doesn't include "Developed by Pacific SoftScape Inc." in the header, though some source code accidentally included in this build does have that string.
  • Selecting a download sends the player back to the intro.
  • Several of the menus are empty and only contain placeholder text. Some of these menus go to dummy menus.
  • The info screen shows parts of readme file for random DOS or Windows programs, such as PC Kwik Disk Accelerator or PC Tools Deluxe.

Unused Text#

At 2122, there are two very early error messages. Interestingly, following these directions would not get you Sega Channel help, as they were the numbers for the AT&T National Directory Assistance (now discontinued as of summer 2020), and were likely just placeholders.

ATTENTION!

1-800-555-1212

THE SEGA CHANNEL
IS NOT BEING
CLEARLY RECIEVED.
PLEASE CALL THIS
TOLL FREE NUMBER
FOR ASSISTANCE.


ATTENTION!

1-800-555-1212

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR
TV CABLE IS PROPERLY.
CONNECTED TO YOUR SEGA
CHANNEL ADAPTER.
IF THE CABLE IS
CONNECTED AND THIS
MESSAGE REMAINS,
PLEASE CALL THE TOLL
FREE NUMBER BELOW

After that, there are loads of bits of developer text scattered all throughout the ROM. There are also bits of directories from a FAT16 hard drive, including file names for the code. For instance, we have random bits of developer text and code starting at 58B6:

Backdrop_%d 
Converting new backdrop:%s (%s)
 TOKENS Backdrop_%d 
Converting new backdrop:%s (%s)
 TOKENS _BGND _BGND _PAL _PAL _BGND Map width, Map Height TOKENS _CELLS TokenTable, Cellset to use _CELLS .PCX .LBM .ANM .FLI # of cells 
CELL #%d 

Cannot have MENUITEM without a SUBMENU command! 
ERROR! Line #%d - %s
%s Missing end quote on string!
Unexpected end of line!
Unexpected end of line! String too large for fixed space! Loading palette from %s
 Could not open palette file!

%s rt
Unreconized command .text SCMENU.S  
    DC.B    0   ; Pad byte
 wt Cannot open %s!
%s ;
; -- Created %A, %c
;

    section %s

 
;  ;    ;  ;  
 

    XDEF %s 

 
%s:
 
    DC.B    $%02X ,$%02X 
 
    DC.B    $%02X ,$%02X 
 
    DC.W    $%04X ,$%04X 
 
    DC.W    $%04X ,$%04X 
 
    DC.W    $%04X ,$%04X 
 $00000000 
    DC.L    %s $00000000 
    DC.W    %s-* 
%s               %.*s EQU   $%04X  

Game Definition for %s:
  1PLAYER   2PLAYER   4PLAYER   6BUTTON   MENACER   POWER     ACTIVATOR MOUSE
Unreconized parameter to OPTIONS command %s
FATAL ERROR

ticker. |%s| Ticker Screen Actuator |%s| %s

(%d,%d)

T|%s|T (%d,%d)
BackDropArray MenuData SCM_MainMenuData
SCM_TickerData SCM_MainMenuData SCM_TickerData
SCM_ENDTICKER rt Cannot open ticker file! %s
Unreconized Ticker Command! Line:%d %s
Ticker Command %02X
SCM_ENDTICKER
Map size requested is too large!
Error

Processing %s
DONE!
LIST

(%s)(%d,%d)

CompressMap-%s
 Processing %s, (%lu entries)
 PrevTokens %ld%% (%ld entries)
 BlankOpt %ld%% (%ld entries)
 THRES  LEN #TOK    RATIO
 %d %d  %d  %ld%% (%ld entries)
 Dumping TokenTable: %s
 
Token #%d, Length %d, CurAddr %u, Addr %u Token Table complete -- Saved %d entries on subs
 Proces
TVAPLN_1_Pal:
    dc.b    64,0
    DC.W    $0EEE,$0000,$0222,$0444,$0666,$0888,$0AA8,$0046
    DC.W    $0006,$0002,$000E,$0666,$0AAA,$800E

There are a few files of code scattered throughout the ROM, including a piece of code from Generations Lost. They have been included in this nice .RAR file:

Download Sega Channel Demo Cart 1 Code Fragments

File: Sega Channel Demo Cart 1 Code Fragments.rar (40.7 KB (uncompressed)) (info)