Forgive me if this was already discussed, but has anyone attempted to contact the author of the article who reviewed Dragon Hopper in Nintendo Power to ask what happened to his review copy?
I realize that with the magazine going defunct years ago makes tracking the guy down more difficult, but that’s where I would start. If he didn’t have the cart currently in his possession (wouldn’t that be nice?) he may know what happened to it after he was finished with it.
This is the news all of us are longing to hear. Any luck or leads yet???
Dr. Jeckidy said:
I asked them if they would ever consider remaking Dragon Hopper for 3DS, since the system is technically able to recreate what was envisioned for it in the VB game.
Any response from them?
How hard is it to make a 3DS game compatible with VB (that is, dump the ROM and modify the code)?
Would they have access to the original DH storyline? It’d be nice if their accomplishment (should they try) be as close to the original as possible. Same hidden stuff, easter eggs, etcetera…
I Don’t really need a dragon hopper on 3ds.. it’ll be a mainstream game again as development studios don’t take any risks anymore.. Let’s hope to ever find the VB version! 😀
Any luck on contacting the Intelligent systems guy? 😀
vb-fan wrote:
How hard is it to make a 3DS game compatible with VB (that is, dump the ROM and modify the code)?
Would they have access to the original DH storyline? It’d be nice if their accomplishment (should they try) be as close to the original as possible. Same hidden stuff, easter eggs, etcetera…
If a remake was made for 3DS, it would be 100% incompatible with the Virtual Boy as it would most likely be built from the ground up. Even if it was done as a 3D Classics release, it wouldn’t work on Virtual Boy. The only option would be a Virtual Console re-release, where yes the original ROM is being emulated.
This hope for a Dragon Hopper remake for 3DS is rather dumb I find, it will never happen under normal circumstances. The only hope is to find the Virtual Boy prototype.
Sure it’s 2014 and there’s still no sign of it, that doesn’t mean it won’t ever be found. Many prototypes for other systems have only been found recently. In fact, most prototypes surfaced through natural channels, such as auction sites or through public collectors who chose to release the ROM. Many happen beyond the control of common people like us.
Others still haven’t either, like nearly any first party proto for N64 and 64DD. Nobody has found Mother 3 disks yet, or any Zelda 64 protos. It doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Most likely, any proto that hasn’t been found yet is in the hands of a private collector who refuses to release the ROM.
We must all be patient, Dragon Hopper could still be found.
If a remake was made for 3DS, it would be 100% incompatible with the Virtual Boy as it would most likely be built from the ground up.
Different processors, but it generates two parallaxed images, which are combined for the “lattice display”. Suppose a game came out that embodied the same theme, layouts, treasures etcetera; one could write assembly from machine code, and then programming a VB cart from assembly should be possible.
Even if it was done as a 3D Classics release, it wouldn’t work on Virtual Boy. The only option would be a Virtual Console re-release, where yes the original ROM is being emulated.
Better, talk someone out of the source-code.
This hope for a Dragon Hopper remake for 3DS is rather dumb I find, it will never happen under normal circumstances.
Perhaps not. But I might be inclined to pick up a 3DS solely to play “Dragonhopper” if possible. 🙂
The only hope is to find the Virtual Boy prototype.
Sure it’s 2014 and there’s still no sign of it, that doesn’t mean it won’t ever be found. Many prototypes for other systems have only been found recently. In fact, most prototypes surfaced through natural channels, such as auction sites or through public collectors who chose to release the ROM. Many happen beyond the control of common people like us.
Others still haven’t either, like nearly any first party proto for N64 and 64DD. Nobody has found Mother 3 disks yet, or any Zelda 64 protos. It doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Most likely, any proto that hasn’t been found yet is in the hands of a private collector who refuses to release the ROM.
Surely the novelty of owning something no one else has, in the case of Virtual Boy games, has worn off. That nothing has surfaced implies that no cart has gotten out of N’s control.
We must all be patient, Dragon Hopper could still be found.
At the risk of sounding pessimistic, there is a time limit. I’m in America — we’re heading towards 20 trillion debt, which many spokespeople and offices have recognized as “unsurvivable”. I think everyone is only a couple years at most away from a big global collapse. No one will be interested in playing VB games then. It would be nice if I’m wrong, but it sure seems like stuff is building.
There are always rumors about games like DH, and Zero Racers, and Goldeneye existing as carts (or ROMS) in private hands; wish we could know if there really are. I knew for years that a real Faceball proto existed, I knew someone who knew the owner; and that very prototype gave us the games here on PVB.
Still, you’re right, all we can do is wait and hope.
vb-fan wrote:
Different processors, but it generates two parallaxed images, which are combined for the “lattice display”. Suppose a game came out that embodied the same theme, layouts, treasures etcetera; one could write assembly from machine code, and then programming a VB cart from assembly should be possible.
With no code to port, what you described is just as difficult as creating a game from scratch.
Better, talk someone out of the source-code.
That’s an even bigger “if” than finding a prototype cartridge. Very seldom has source code ever been found. The most notable source code discover I know of was for Star Fox 2 (SNES), which the playable prototype was compiled from. Almost never does that happen though.
Surely the novelty of owning something no one else has, in the case of Virtual Boy games, has worn off. That nothing has surfaced implies that no cart has gotten out of N’s control.
A lot of private collectors don’t think about such things, hence why you never find them online in communities. The only hope there is for the private collector to sell off or drop dead.
At the risk of sounding pessimistic, there is a time limit. I’m in America — we’re heading towards 20 trillion debt, which many spokespeople and offices have recognized as “unsurvivable”. I think everyone is only a couple years at most away from a big global collapse. No one will be interested in playing VB games then. It would be nice if I’m wrong, but it sure seems like stuff is building.
There are always rumors about games like DH, and Zero Racers, and Goldeneye existing as carts (or ROMS) in private hands; wish we could know if there really are. I knew for years that a real Faceball proto existed, I knew someone who knew the owner; and that very prototype gave us the games here on PVB.
Still, you’re right, all we can do is wait and hope.
As I said before, there are are plenty of examples to prove my point. Prototypes can always surface, no matter how late. Bio Force Ape on Famicom was one such game. There was never any evidence of the game’s existence on a cartridge, it was only known about in a couple issues of Nintendo Power. It had been hoaxed before on Digital Press, before eventually being found for sale on a Japanese auction site. There was no rhyme or reason behind the game surfacing, nobody specifically went out and bought it off someone. The exact same thing could happen to Dragon Hopper in the future as well. Someone may very well put a prototype cart of it on eBay or other such auction site. Someone might come to PVB saying they bought it at an estate sale. Anything is possible. Going by historic prototypes, there are better odds of the game surfacing on its own than through deliberate searching.
That’s an even bigger “if” than finding a prototype cartridge. Very seldom has source code ever been found. The most notable source code discover I know of was for Star Fox 2 (SNES), which the playable prototype was compiled from. Almost never does that happen though.
Well, we got the source code for “Bound High”, and I have a playable cart of a very excellent prototype (arguably the best game ever made for the VB). 🙂
A lot of private collectors don’t think about such things, hence why you never find them online in communities. The only hope there is for the private collector to sell off or drop dead.
Hoping someone drops dead so we can get a game.
That sounds …somehow …unsettling…
😯
As I said before, there are are plenty of examples to prove my point. Prototypes can always surface, no matter how late. Bio Force Ape on Famicom was one such game. There was never any evidence of the game’s existence on a cartridge, it was only known about in a couple issues of Nintendo Power. It had been hoaxed before on Digital Press, before eventually being found for sale on a Japanese auction site. There was no rhyme or reason behind the game surfacing, nobody specifically went out and bought it off someone. The exact same thing could happen to Dragon Hopper in the future as well. Someone may very well put a prototype cart of it on eBay or other such auction site. Someone might come to PVB saying they bought it at an estate sale. Anything is possible. Going by historic prototypes, there are better odds of the game surfacing on its own than through deliberate searching.
On Ferry’s site once someone posted claiming to have two prototypes, one of DH. Even put up a jpeg of a blank cart with a “Brother” label, as you would expect for a prototype. The consensus with the rest of us was that he was full of bologna…
So we’ll keep our fingers crossed that more prototypes (plural!!!) show up (not that someone dies!!!)…
