1992 Core Design
Platform: Atari ST
I loved Chuck Rock on the Amiga, and even the C64 edition that was pretty impressive at the time. It comes when a sequel was created and released on a number of platforms including Amiga, Mega Drive and even Master System to name but a few. But did you know an Atari ST version was also on the cards? Well … spoiler alert, there wasn’t – as we’ll find out shortly…
ST Review magazine got an apparent exclusive on the development for the platform back in August 1992, where the story and concept was revealed, as well as details of how the graphics were being constructed. According to the article, they were being put together by artist Lee Pullen on the ST within OCP’s Art Studio package. Chris “Egon” Long would be handling the SNASM-based coding work.
It is suggested that the development had been underway for nearly 9 months at the time, but had been twice halted due to work required on other projects. It was now back on track and due for release in September 1992. Sadly, it was never to be seen again after that on the ST, and it subsequently instead saw release on the Amiga and other platforms.
It sounded like things had got quite far with an ST edition, and the question was why the game was cancelled. Looking at other releases, it seems that no other Core games apart from The Adventurers were released from 1992 onwards – so had they just simply decided to pull out of the market?
Ross then made a quick update via the comments:
“Given how cutback both Chuck Rock and Wolfchild were on the ST, I fear how Chuck Rock II would of turned out. It looks like ST Review might of gotten a little ahead of themselves. From Retrogamer Magazine, issue 173 The Chuck Rock feature. Staff writer Nick Thorpe asked Bob Churchill about the ST version of Chuck Rock II previewed by ST Review magazine.
Bob stated it was probably NEVER in production in the 1st place, resources being better spent on the Sega versions and Core were in the process of dropping support for the ST.”
Phill Boag-Butcher then put the question directly to Dan Scott (Amiga programmer) and Chris Long (Mega Drive programmer) about the development. Chris confirmed that it was never started on the ST, and was started instead on the Mega Drive. However, it hadn’t got far when the Wonderdog project came in and the sequel was shelved until Wonderdog was completed.
Chris reveals that Lee did a lot of his artwork on the ST Art Studio package, and it seems when ST Review interviewed him, they fabricated a story about an ST development to create some “news” for the platform. Dan confirms that the sprites used are actually Wonderdog sprite sheets, and nothing to do with Chuck 2. Dan thinks that Wolfchild was the last ST game that Core did.
So, apologies Atari ST fans – it looks like there is no long lost conversion out there to be found (unless by some miracle there was one under way without others’ knowledge – which is unlikely). A case closed on this one!
With thanks to Ross Sillifant for highlighting, AtariMania.com for the scans, Phill Boag-Butcher, Chris Long and Dan Scott for confirming that there was no ST edition.
Gallery
Given how cutback both Chuck Rock and Wolfchild were on the ST, i fear how Chuck Rock II would of turned out.
It looks like ST Review might of gotten a little ahead of themselves.
From Retrogamer Magazine,issue 173 The …Chuck Rock feature.
Staff writer Nick Thorpe asked Bob Churchill about the ST version of Chuck Rock II previewed by ST Review magazine.
Bob stated it was probably NEVER in production in the 1st place, resources being better spent on the Sega versions..and Core were in the process of dropping support for the ST.