The Simpsons Game (Nintendo DS)

This page details one or more prototype versions of The Simpsons Game (Nintendo DS).

This article is a work in progress. ...Well, all the articles here are, in a way. But this one moreso, and the article may contain incomplete information and editor's notes.

This prototype is documented on Hidden Palace.

To do: The build seems to have debug symbols in it. I'm currently working on an asset viewer for the game -PolyMars Sprites differences

An early debug build of The Simpsons Game for DS. There's currently no knowledge on the build date but judging by this build's content, this is slightly earlier than the build shown off at E3 2007.

Sub-Pages#

General Overview#

This build of the game is a debug build, so by pressing L + R + Start in a level, you'll boot into a debug menu. In this menu are 5 options:

• Go to Map...: Allows you to select any of the maps in the build.
• Test SFX: Allows you to play all of the 102 sound effects that are in this build.
• Debug Fly: Let's you freely fly around the map with no collision. You won't be able to interact with anything like collectibles, and you're still able to die by hitting the death plane.
• Helium Homer: Enables and Disables Homerball (which is mistakenly called Helium Homer), but only when you have food in your calorie meter.
• Challenge Modes: Takes you to the results screen for Frogger Lives, which gives you the failed ranking.

• The title screen is different

Early	Final

Early Text#

Cut Text#

Just like with the New-Gen version, there were going to being descriptions for the trophies similar to the cliches. Placeholder trophy descriptions still exist in this build.

An unused cliche.

Cut Sprites#

Pet Homer#

There was originally a mood meter for Pet Homer that got cut. Placeholder and finalized sprites are left in the game files.

ID	Sprite
1992
1992
1992
1992
1992
1992
195A
195A
195A
195A
195A

Unused Videos#

This build of the game contains only two early cutscenes that still remain in the final game, although they go unused there. The first, “08_igc01,” is an early 3D draft cutscene for the introduction of Around the World in 80 Bites. This same cutscene is also present in the Wii prototype version of the game. The second, “loc_igc01_v06fe_4DS,” is an animatic cutscene for the introduction of The Land of Chocolate. In this build, the cutscene can be viewed from the title screen by pressing “Y.” Notably, unlike the version found in the final game, (which has no audio) this build still contains the cutscene’s original sound.

Test Maps#

By going into the debug menu, there are a bunch of test levels available:

Test_LOC#

A simple map where you can only walk around, seemingly a mockup for Land of Chocolate.

Test_America#

A test map based on the Americaland section from “Around the World in 80 Bites.” There is very little to interact with in the level, and the player can only move left and right through the environment.

Test_Conveyer1-5#

A test map presumably created to test conveyor mechanics in an isometric 3D environment. Notably, there are five different versions of the map. In each version, the player spawns in the same location with three conveyors placed in the level. In Test_Conveyer1 and Test_Conveyer2, the player becomes stuck on the first conveyor and cannot reach the other two. However, in Test_Conveyer3–5, the player is able to leave the first conveyor and move onto the remaining ones. In these later versions, the player will automatically move along the conveyor after spawning unless they actively move themselves.

Test_MobPathing / Overworld INVALID#

A test map meant for the marge's mob member pathfinding. In the map, there are six NPCs that can be recruited: Comic Book Guy, Willie, Otto, Cletus, Barney, and Bumblebee Man. Around the map are several Mr. Plow trucks that the player is supposed to command the mob members to destroy. However, the trucks do not function properly, making it impossible to reach the end. “Overworld INVALID” is nearly identical, except the mob member requirements needed to destroy the trucks are lower.

Test_AndroidsDungeon#

A simple test map based on The Android’s Dungeon. The map lacks collision, causing the player to immediately fall through the level and repeatedly hit the death plane unless debug fly mode is enabled. Even with debug fly turned on, there is very little to do besides explore the map.

Test_Skateboard#

A long, flat test map based on the Land of Chocolate. This seems to be a test map related to the scrapped skateboarding mechanic for Bart, which still has sprites leftover but doesn't get used for whatever reason. The player controls Bart, and much of the map’s terrain is invisible. Chocolate bunnies appear throughout the map and can be defeated to collect boomerang ammo. There are also several grapple points placed around the map, though the player is unable to interact with them.

Moe's Tavern#

A test map based on Moe’s Tavern, which can actually be seen in the final game’s credits. However, in this version the player can walk around the map freely because there is no collision. The only NPC present is Chief Wiggum, who attacks the player when they're near him. The map is also very unstable and will always crash if the player goes too far to the left, resulting in a “Scroll Dynamic” error.

Test_Humbleton#

A test map based on the fictional town of Humbleton from the Season 16 episode “Home Away From Homer.” Like several other test maps, it has no collision, allowing the player to freely walk around the environment. The map also contains a Mr. Plow truck that the player is supposed to destroy, but since there are no mob members available to recruit, it cannot actually be destroyed.

Test_Gym#

Another simple and mostly empty test map with very little to do besides walk around. Near the top of the level are images of a likely Amaze Entertainment developer, along with a door that the player cannot actually enter.

Test_Frogger#

A simple test map meant for the Logger mini-game. Everything in the level is very basic, nothing can harm the player and none of the objects move, allowing the player to freely explore the map. Reaching the far left side of the map causes the level to reset.