the cutting room mirror

Rock'n Tread

This needs some investigation.
Discuss ideas and findings on the talk page.
Specifically:

  • Is "2 Instruments Mode" related to machine connectivity?
  • There's an alternate dump in MAME with program differences.

No, Jaleco, keyboards don't use strums.

Unused Graphics#

Each of the game's graphic banks hide many unused content, some of which being leftovers from in-development builds.

rockn1-earlyhowtoplay.png
Offset: 0x101700 (Bank 13)
A screen explaining some of the game's modes. Given the presence of Hard Mode, which is not present in the final game, this graphic must be from early in development.

rockn1-earlymodesel.png
rockn1-earlyfs.pngrockn1-early1p.pngrockn1-early2p.png
Offset: 0x77900 (Bank 13) / 0x1A8000 (Banks 8/9)
A very early version of the mode selection background. Notice the presence of possible Free Select and 2-Player Mode selections, none of which are present in the final game.

rockn1-earlynormal0.png
rockn1-earlynormal0a.pngrockn1-earlynormal0b.png
Offsets: 0x114700 (Bank 13) / 0xA0000, 0xA8000 (Banks 8/9)
An early version of the Part Selection screen, labeled as a Game Mode Select. Notice the lack of icons and of a Drum selection.

rockn1-earlynormal1.png
rockn1-earlynormal1a.pngrockn1-earlynormal1b.png
Offsets: 0xEC600 (Bank 13) / 68000, 0xC8000 (Banks 8/9)
A slightly later version of the Part Selection screen, still labeled as a Game Mode Select. The choice boxes were moved further to the left like the final game, but the Drum selection is still missing.

rockn1-earlynormal2.png
rockn1-earlynormal2a.pngrockn1-earlynormal2b.png
Offsets: 0xDAF00 (Bank 13) / 68000, 0xC8000 (Banks 8/9)
Another later version of the Part Selection screen, with a Drum selection finally made available (although it is forced in the final release.)

rockn1-earlynormal3a.pngrockn1-earlynormal3b.png
Offsets: B0000, 0xB8000 (Banks 8/9)
What was left of another later version of the Part Selection Screen, now with Japanese text like in the final release.

Graphic

Mockup

Offset: 0xCA500 (Bank 13)
A second frame for the "3-Stage Clear" Game Over screen, whereas in-game it's a still image. A mockup of what it could have looked like if both frames were used can be seen above.

rockn1-hard1.pngrockn1-hard2.png
rockn1-hard3.png
Offsets: 0x8000, 0x70000 (Banks 8/9), 0x9C80 (Bank 10)
Assets for the aforementioned non-existing Hard Mode.

rockn1-nameentryearly1.pngrockn1-nameentryearly2.png
Offset: 0x68000 (Banks 8/9)
Early assets for the results screen. Surprisingly, their palettes still load.

rockn1-gdkb.png
Offset: 0x1A80 (Bank 10)
Presumably an early graphic meant to be displayed in the Gameplay screen. Notice the misspelling of "Bass" as "Base".

And lastly, each of the game's songs have artist tag graphics stored in Banks 8 and 9; none of which are displayed. For the sake of convenience, the title of the songs will also be displayed (curiously, some songs do not have equivalent artist tags.)

Song

Graphic 1

Graphic 2

Pink Spider

rockn1-artisttag1b.png
0x100000

rockn1-artisttag1a.png
0xA8000

SPARK

rockn1-artisttag2b.png
0x120000

rockn1-artisttag2a.png
0xA8000

Born To Be Wild

rockn1-artisttag3b.png
0xE8000

rockn1-artisttag3a.png
0xB0000

Friends

rockn1-artisttag4b.png
0xF8000

rockn1-artisttag4a.png
0xB0000

LOVE PHANTOM

rockn1-artisttag5b.png
0x120000

rockn1-artisttag5a.png
0xB8000

Take On Me

rockn1-artisttag6b.png
0x128000

rockn1-artisttag6a.png
0xB8000

Smoke On The Water

rockn1-artisttag7.png
0xF0000

DEPARTURES

rockn1-artisttag8.png
0x100000

Sobakasu

rockn1-artisttag9.png
0x110000

Makenaide

rockn1-artisttag10.png
0x118000

Namonaki uta

rockn1-artisttag11.png
0x118000

FOREVER YOURS

rockn1-artisttag12.png
0x118000

Guts daze

rockn1-artisttag13.png
0x118000

HEAVEN'S DRIVE

rockn1-artisttag14.png
0x120000

Chindo monogatari

rockn1-artisttag15.png
0x120000

Runaway

rockn1-artisttag16.png
0x128000

(Source: tikal.)

References#


  1. Domestic and Overseas Arcade Game List 1971-2005↩︎