Universal Monsters - complete story?

MethodGit · 23 January 2005, 22:19

I am puzzled as to the existence of or the history behind this game.

A demo appeared on The One around February '93, but having played it again just earlier ago there's a heck of a lot of rooms to navigate round for a demo, and no sure sign of an official ending to it. I certainly haven't been able to complete it anyway. Anyone here who did beat it?

And then we come to the supposed "full version". All of the copies of U.M. in the TOSEC collection are the same, and worryingly this version appears to be worse than the demo. A miniscule logo startup, a total lack of music and sfx (things the demo happily contained!), a much slower fps output (must be like 10-15 fps compared to the demo's 30-odd fps), not even a glimpse of the good ol' Ocean logo. Even the HOL page on it is miniscule to say the least.

Come to think of it, did this even get officially released? Is the TOSEC copy a beta/unfinished edition? Did anybody see the game in the shops back then? A true mystery if ever there was one.

BippyM · 23 January 2005, 23:17

Do a quick search on EAB methodgit... this has been discussed already, hopefully you'll find the threads

Peanutuk · 24 January 2005, 00:11

It would be more helpful if you could point them out!

Here the game is discussed in a larger 'games that weren't discussion, it mentions the cover disk and a 'beta version'. Most of the other threads that appear in a search mention it only in passing.

BippyM · 24 January 2005, 00:26

Thats why I said he was to do a quick search.. I'd just got in from the gym and needed a shower

Peanutuk · 24 January 2005, 00:56

I thought I could smell something!

I'll keep this thread open as although the game has been discussed in passing before there isn't a dedicated thread for what is a popular 'game that never was'.

Shatterhand · 24 January 2005, 07:16

Yeah
Myself never heard about that.

The demo wasn't half bad... the game was distributed here in Brazil, but I never got it... good thing, as it would probably be that beta thing.

Tim Janssen · 24 January 2005, 08:10

The game must be 99% complete. Adverts of this game appeared in many UK-mags end '92. Also CU Amiga magazine had a preview and interview with Chris Butler (main programmer) about this game in which he stated it was finished.
Maybe for the sake of the game-history I can upload the interview/preview.

7-Zark-7 · 27 January 2005, 15:17

I thought I heard correctly once that Chris Butler was behind this one-must've been amongst his few Amiga games,though sadly not a patch on his C64 marvels of coding.
Any mention about Chris Butler's C64 coding background prior to doing this game on the Amiga,Tim?

Tim Janssen · 27 January 2005, 16:51

I think there was not much referred to Chris Butler's 8-bit past in the UM preview. Only that he is in the business for more than a decade (if he still is active today, that must be almost three decades!).

Mr Butler is a coding genius: He has programmed tons of C64 games. He was once interviewed in Zzap magazine, October 1989, regarding a WIP for PowerDrift. He programmed at least the following games (out of the top of my head): Space Harrier 1, Thunder Blade and Ninja Spirit: all technical marvels.

Codetapper · 27 January 2005, 21:18

He more famously wrote Commando and Ghosts 'n' Goblins on the C64 aswell...

7-Zark-7 · 29 January 2005, 15:40

Yep, & amongst his last efforts was Turbocharge for System 3,(update of the driving subgame from Vendetta). Probably the fastest sprite based C64 driving games around.

7-Zark-7 · 18 September 2005, 17:24

*Bumps*
Seems like Chris Butler may not have been the programmer after all, thanks to some rather handy info found this interesting site of ex-ocean staff!
http://oceanexp.proboards44.com/index.cgi
Insofar as Universal Monsters is concerned....
http://oceanexp.proboards44.com/inde...ead=1107350258

23 January 2005, 22:19	#1
MethodGit Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The Streets Age: 39 Posts: 2,731	Universal Monsters - complete story? I am puzzled as to the existence of or the history behind this game. A demo appeared on The One around February '93, but having played it again just earlier ago there's a heck of a lot of rooms to navigate round for a demo, and no sure sign of an official ending to it. I certainly haven't been able to complete it anyway. Anyone here who did beat it? And then we come to the supposed "full version". All of the copies of U.M. in the TOSEC collection are the same, and worryingly this version appears to be worse than the demo. A miniscule logo startup, a total lack of music and sfx (things the demo happily contained!), a much slower fps output (must be like 10-15 fps compared to the demo's 30-odd fps), not even a glimpse of the good ol' Ocean logo. Even the HOL page on it is miniscule to say the least. Come to think of it, did this even get officially released? Is the TOSEC copy a beta/unfinished edition? Did anybody see the game in the shops back then? A true mystery if ever there was one.

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23 January 2005, 23:17	#2
BippyM Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Derby, UK Age: 48 Posts: 9,355	Do a quick search on EAB methodgit... this has been discussed already, hopefully you'll find the threads

24 January 2005, 00:11	#3
Peanutuk Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: The North, UK Age: 44 Posts: 1,082	It would be more helpful if you could point them out! Here the game is discussed in a larger 'games that weren't discussion, it mentions the cover disk and a 'beta version'. Most of the other threads that appear in a search mention it only in passing.

24 January 2005, 00:26	#4
BippyM Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Derby, UK Age: 48 Posts: 9,355	Thats why I said he was to do a quick search.. I'd just got in from the gym and needed a shower

24 January 2005, 00:56	#5
Peanutuk Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: The North, UK Age: 44 Posts: 1,082	I thought I could smell something! I'll keep this thread open as although the game has been discussed in passing before there isn't a dedicated thread for what is a popular 'game that never was'.

24 January 2005, 07:16	#6
Shatterhand Warhasneverbeensomuchfun Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Rio de Janeiro / Brazil Age: 41 Posts: 3,450	Yeah Myself never heard about that. The demo wasn't half bad... the game was distributed here in Brazil, but I never got it... good thing, as it would probably be that beta thing.

24 January 2005, 08:10	#7
Tim Janssen Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Den Bosch / The Netherlands Age: 47 Posts: 1,271	The game must be 99% complete. Adverts of this game appeared in many UK-mags end '92. Also CU Amiga magazine had a preview and interview with Chris Butler (main programmer) about this game in which he stated it was finished. Maybe for the sake of the game-history I can upload the interview/preview.

27 January 2005, 15:17	#8
7-Zark-7 Zone Friend Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Brisbane/Australia Posts: 1,270	I thought I heard correctly once that Chris Butler was behind this one-must've been amongst his few Amiga games,though sadly not a patch on his C64 marvels of coding. Any mention about Chris Butler's C64 coding background prior to doing this game on the Amiga,Tim?

27 January 2005, 16:51	#9
Tim Janssen Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Den Bosch / The Netherlands Age: 47 Posts: 1,271	I think there was not much referred to Chris Butler's 8-bit past in the UM preview. Only that he is in the business for more than a decade (if he still is active today, that must be almost three decades!). Mr Butler is a coding genius: He has programmed tons of C64 games. He was once interviewed in Zzap magazine, October 1989, regarding a WIP for PowerDrift. He programmed at least the following games (out of the top of my head): Space Harrier 1, Thunder Blade and Ninja Spirit: all technical marvels.

27 January 2005, 21:18	#10
Codetapper 2 contact me: email only! Join Date: May 2001 Location: Auckland / New Zealand Posts: 3,182	He more famously wrote Commando and Ghosts 'n' Goblins on the C64 aswell...

29 January 2005, 15:40	#11
7-Zark-7 Zone Friend Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Brisbane/Australia Posts: 1,270	Yep, & amongst his last efforts was Turbocharge for System 3,(update of the driving subgame from Vendetta). Probably the fastest sprite based C64 driving games around.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

18 September 2005, 17:24	#12
7-Zark-7 Zone Friend Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Brisbane/Australia Posts: 1,270	Bumps Seems like Chris Butler may not have been the programmer after all, thanks to some rather handy info found this interesting site of ex-ocean staff! http://oceanexp.proboards44.com/index.cgi Insofar as Universal Monsters is concerned.... http://oceanexp.proboards44.com/inde...ead=1107350258