the cutting room mirror

Alien Gate

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Alien Gate is a remarkably average vertical shoot-'em-up.

Version Differences#

To do:
Create a gameplay section and figure out the changes that v1.07 made to it.

Five versions are known to exist, identifiable by the version numbers and file dates in abstract:

  • Version 1.06, the original European release. Dated January 21, 1993.
  • Version 1.07, also released in Europe. Dated February 18, 1993.
  • Version 2.08, found on a US demo disc, though it's not certain whether it's a localization prototype or a copy of an undumped US retail release. Dated July 14, 1993.
  • Version 2.09, given to two nearly-identical revisions made for the US and Europe. Both are dated August 5, 1993.

v1.06/1.07

v2.08/2.09

A password system (and the "YOU MADE IT!" message that displays every five levels) was added in v2.08. Two menu options had to be changed to accommodate it: Start Game was shifted to the left, and Hall of Fame was renamed to Highscores.

v1.06/1.07

v2.08/2.09

The "NVRAM is full" message was rewritten and had its font changed to the one used on the main menu.

Text#

  • The disc title of v1.06 and 1.07 is "THE ALIEN GATE". v2.08 and 2.09 change this to "Alien Gate".
  • v1.06 and 1.07 also have empty bibliographic/copyright files, while the abstract file only has the program version line. v2.08 and 2.09 have these files properly filled out.

v1.06/1.07

v2.08/2.09

ALL RIGHTS OF THE PRODUCER AND OF THE 
OWNER OF THE WORK ARE RESERVED 

UNAUTHORISED COPYING HIRING, RENTING
PUBLIC PERFORMANCE, TRANSMISSION
AND-OR BROADCASTING ARE PROHIBITED

IT IS ILLEGAL TO MAKE UNAUTHORIZED
COPIES OF THIS SOFTWARE.

DUPLICATION OF THIS SOFTWARE FOR ANY
REASON INLUDING SALE, LOAN, RENTAL OR
GIFT IS A CRIME. PENALTIES INCLUDE
FINES OF UP TO $50,000.00 AND JAIL
TERMS UP TO 5 YEARS.

ALL RIGHTS OF THE PRODUCER AND OF THE 
OWNER OF THE WORK ARE RESERVED. 

UNAUTHORISED COPYING, HIRING, RENTING, 
PUBLIC PERFORMANCE, TRANSMISSION 
AND-OR BROADCASTING ARE PROHIBITED.

IT IS ILLEGAL TO MAKE UNAUTHORIZED 
COPIES OF THIS SOFTWARE. 

DUPLICATION OF THIS SOFTWARE FOR ANY 
REASON INCLUDING SALE, LOAN, RENTAL OR 
GIFT IS A CRIME. PENALTIES INCLUDE 
FINES OF UP TO $50,000.00 AND JAIL 
TERMS UP TO 5 YEARS.

JUST REMEMBER THAT RIPOFFS DAMAGE YOUR KARMA.
  • Both of the "no copying" messages were replaced with new ones in v2.08. In addition, a typo in the scrolling text was corrected ("indispensible" to "indispensable").
  • v2.08's bibliographic file misspells Philips Interactive Media as "Philips Interacive Media". This was fixed in v2.09.
  • A small section of the scrolling text (right before the second "no copying" message) was removed in v2.09:

PUT ON YOUR PERIL-SENSITIVE SUNGLASSES AND ENJOY ... 

Misc.#

  • The European versions have three tracks on the disc: the game's data, the intro music, and the Hall of Fame/Highscores music. The US versions merge the data/intro music tracks into one.
  • Two files were renamed in v2.08 - path_tbl to path_tbm, and spc_demo to cdi_gate.

References#

  1. ALIEN GATE - Software Gids, Number 20, July/August 1993↩︎
  2. 日本版家庭用CD-i ソフトウェア一覧 のページ↩︎