the cutting room mirror

Mega Zone

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Mega Zone is a shoot 'em up with a branching path system. Well, they're more like detours than actual branches, but it's still something.

Developer Credits#

There are two sets of names of developers hidden in the game. The first set of credits is only found in Konami revision 1, starting at E6B2 in memory:

K.HIROSHITA
R.SAKAMOTO
S.FUKUTAKE

The second set also includes a build date. In all sets but the first Konami revision, the first three names were shortened.

This starts at EAA2 in revision 1 and EAA5 in revision 2:

Older

Newer

 
KONAMI 1983 SEP 20.
K HIROSHITA
Y SAKAMOTO
T FUJIWARA
N INOUE
S FUKUTAKE
 
KONAMI 1983 OCT 11.
K HIRO
Y SAKA
T FUJI
N INOUE
S FUKUTAKE

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Unused Graphics#

There are no point bonuses lower than 500 or higher than 5,000. The 10,000 point graphic uses different colors than the other bonuses.

A different, object-based version of the Game Over graphic. It uses a cycling palette effect that no other object uses.
The Count's psychotic uncle.

Teardrop bombs serve two purposes: To clear all enemies from the screen, and to show the player how far they've traveled.
These bombs go up to 12, but there are no eyeball enemies in the 11,000 or 12,000 range, so these bombs aren't used.
I'm tired of this getting remixed.

A red version of the teardrop bomb with no number on it. This might be an earlier version, or a template for the other bombs.

Better left... ...or right?

This bug enemy appears in the game, but these animations aren't used. The bug moves by strafing, always facing front.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

References#

  1. Domestic and Overseas Arcade Game List 1971-2005↩︎
  2. NEWS: KONAMI BUYS INTERLOGIC - Play Meter, Volume 10, Number 23, December 15th, 1984↩︎
  3. Mega-Zone - Konami (Video Game, 1983) - USA | The Arcade Flyer Archive↩︎
  4. Gene's Judgements: Critiquing AMOA Show Conversions, Dedicated Games - Play Meter, Volume 10, Number 2, January 15, 1984↩︎