A bit of a lazy covering entry for a range of potential cartridges that were meant to have come out for the C64GS.
Back when the C64GS was launched, there was a strong list of support from the likes of Ocean, US Gold, System 3, Domark and more. Only really Ocean were true to their word, with many projected titles falling by the way side.
Already we have more complete entries for Spy Who Loved Me V2, due to extra content, but there are what are thought to be straight conversions to cartridge that never were. Could some of these ever be found in prototype form? Maybe there is extra music or content to be uncovered?
Here is the list of some titles so far, which will grow over time. This initial list is thanks to Ross Sillifant, who found a list in RAZE magazine and various other sources:
- Rampart (Domark)– Chris West confirms a cartridge version was developed.
- Moonwalker Arcade (US Gold)
- Turbocharge (System 3)
- Putty (System 3)
- Battlechess (Mindscape)
- Ultima VI (Mindscape)
- Crime Does Not Pay (Titus)
- Wild Streets (Titus)
- Greatest Hits (Thalamus)
- Space Rogue (Origin)
- Buggy Ranger (Dinamic)
- Plotting (Ocean)
- Addams Family (Ocean)
- Puzznic (Ocean)
- Hard Drivin’ (Domark)
- Venus Flytrap (Gremlin)
- Wrath of the Demon (Readysoft)
- Armalyte 2 (Thalamus)
- Hook (Ocean) – Confirmed the cartridge version was cancelled, but did exist!
- Barbarian 3 (Palace)
- Golden Axe (Virgin)
- Racing Game construction kit (US Gold) – Using Turbo Outrun engine
- Kick Off 2 (Anco)
- Gazza 2 (Active Minds) – Confirmed nothing started
- Turrican 2 (Rainbow Arts)
- X-Out (Rainbow Arts)
- Spy Who Loved Me (Domark)
- The Games – Winter/Summer edition (Epyx) – Confirmed nothing started
- California Games (Epyx)
- Subbuteo (Electronic Zoo)
- Orcus (Electronic Zoo)
- Prohibition (Infogrames)
- Bubble Ghost (Infogrames)
- Rick Dangerous 2 (Microprose)
- Starglider 2 (Microprose)
- Bloodwych (Mirrorsoft)
- Falcon (Mirrorsoft)
- IK Deluxe (System 3)
- Vendetta (System 3)
- Last Ninja 3 (System 3)
- Battlestorm (Titus)
- Crazy Bikes (Titus)
- Crazy Cars 2 (Titus)
- Dick Tracy (Titus) … thank god that didn’t make it…
- Fire and Forget 2 (Titus)
- Wild Streets (Titus)
- Armalyte + Sanxion double pack (Thalamus)
- Hawkeye + Quedex double pack (Thalamus)
- Delta + Hunters Moon double pack (Thalamus)
- Creatures + Summer Camp double pack (Thalamus)
- Snare, Retrograde and Heat Seaker triple pack (Thalamus)
- Pro Tennis Tour 2 (Ubi-Soft)
- B.A.T (Ubi-Soft)
It has been confirmed that Turbocharge (System 3) and Hook (Ocean) had cartridge instructions printed in the released manuals. Both seem to have been constructed in a view to be released on cartridge, but changed at the last minute to just disk and tape. Last Ninja 3 is known to have had prototype cartridges built, and Turbocharge probably did too – all are long lost now.
It was confirmed in June 2020 that Hook was intended for release on cartridge. Developer Andy Mucho confirmed it was developed for cartridge and worked fine on actual cartridges that had RAM pretending to be a cartridge. Apparently there was a problem when running out of an EPROM on an actual cartridge board. Andy feels it would have been mere days to find the cause, but there was little motivation to let him fix it. It was decided by Ocean to bin the cartridge version, probably partly due to the flop of the GS and poor cartridge sales. Andy feels it was a shape, as it was the best version by miles and is puzzled as to why time wasn’t allocated to fix it.
Many more to add soon. It is very unlikely that many were ever started or got to a prototype phase, but at the very least we will get them documented.
Watch this space!
Contributions: Ross Sillifant, Sean O'Neill, Aaron White
Supporting content
Gallery
Update history
- 21/06/20 – Extra scan added thanks to Aaron White
- 12/06/16 – Added Commodore 64 Guide scans thanks to Ross Sillifant.
- 02/06/16 – Added extra scans thanks to Sean O’Neill
- 27/02/16 – Another set of scans (CVG) thanks to Ross Sillifant!
- 04/02/15 – Scan added thanks to Bangdot over at Lemon64 … http://www.lemon64.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=55046
- 26/05/14 – Puzznic added to the list + scan
Inside my MYTH cartridge by System 3, there’s a “Forthcoming Attractions” Pull out… Titles listed on it include:
“Ninja Remix” – We know was released
“Myth” – Obviously released
“Vendetta” – Don’t think it got a cart release
“Last Ninja 3” – same
“Flimbo’s Quest” – Released in the C64GS bundle only I think?
“Turbo Charge” – Never released on cart
“International Karate (De-Luxe) – Not released
“Deadlock” – Not heard of this before
“Dawn of Steel (Myth 2) – Never released
Deadlock and Myth 2 are most interesting here I think – As I never knew they were even planned. Turbo Charge was a real let down – even 1 month before release the magazines (CF/Zzap) were reporting the cartridge release at £19.99
Hi there, yeah Vendetta and Last Ninja 3 never got released on cartridge in the end, even though a prototype was made for LN3 according to Dan Phillips. Same with Turbo Charge as well. Thankfully people have since made EasyFlash versions of both games on cartridge, so we sort of get roughly what was intended.
We’ve got entries though on Deadlock (which you can download and play): https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/deadlock/
As well as Myth 2 and International Karate Deluxe (or ++ as it was also known):
https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/ik-deluxe-ik/
https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/myth-2/
Never seen “Hook” as a real cartridge out in the wild, was it really released?
We don’t think it was – though the Hook C64 manual has Cartridge specific instructions inside. So it was planned, but likely only got to a prototype stage.
I’ve just asked the developer if he knows anything more.
Right, had a reply back from Andy Mucho and the game was developed for cartridge. I’ve added some details onto the page below the list :)
One question:
Where is the list of actual C64 GS cartridges that actually came out?
Not sure if there is one anywhere, though Mat Allen pretty much has every C64GS release on his site: http://www.mayhem64.co.uk/main.htm
There isn’t a specific C64GS category, but pretty much anything 1990-1992 and UK-based would most likely have been a GS intended release.
Last ninja 3 has cartridge instructions printed in the booklet.
Thanks Marco! I must try and scan the booklet sometime if I can find my copy! :)
Raze also claimed a C64GS version of Narco Police, Dinamic, was due for a 1992 release.
That’s one that saw release too Ross – though very limited numbers. Here’s a link to the Dinamic releases: http://www.mayhem64.co.uk/dinamic.htm
TurboCharge had loading instructions for the Cartridge version.
Cheers Sean – never realised that! :)
Likewise the manual for Hook has cartridge loading instructions in it too.
Cheers Mat – i’ll add notes actually that both Turbocharge and Hook had instructions. I think LN3 did too, will have to check.
Two reviews of Wrath of the Demon on Cartridge in Zzap! and Commodore Format.
https://archive.org/stream/zzap64-magazine-075/ZZap_64_Issue_075_1991_Jul#page/n73/mode/2up
https://archive.org/stream/commodore-format-magazine-09/Commodore_Format_Issue_09_1991_06#page/n59/mode/2up
Cheers Sean!
Your Commodore reviewed Vendetta on Cartridge in issue 76
https://archive.org/stream/76-your-commodore-magazine/Your_Commodore_Issue_76_1991_Feb#page/n21/mode/2up
Thanks Sean! YC also reviewed Last Ninja 3, and I believe said it was the Cartridge version – though I think they used to sometimes make things up. That said, I think CF also listed Last Ninja 3 as cartridge only?
CF did a review
https://archive.org/stream/commodore-format-magazine-06/Commodore_Format_Issue_06_1991_03#page/n31/mode/2up
Here is the YC review
https://archive.org/stream/75-your-commodore-magazine/Your_Commodore_Issue_75_1991_Jan#page/n63/mode/2up
Some perfect games for cartridge there.
Cheers Sean, added! I am wondering if maybe both actually were sent prototype copies. It was suggested that prototype versions of LN3 did exist, so review copies could have been made.
Did’nt Anco make the claim Kick Off 2 would ‘fully use the potential of the cartridge’ only to be put on hold, once C64GS’s disaster at retail became apparent?.
Apparently – it would have also combined up with the managerial package and I think I read about battery backup for saving games (or it may hav e been to tape/disk). Work was started, just never completed after the fall out – and Anco also moved fully onto 16-bit.
Few more updates, again from RAZE, so get those pinches of salt ready :-)
1)Apparently US Gold had told Raze it’d decided NOT to convert The various Games series to C64GS (Winter, Summer etc) so guess those can be removed?.
Raze also lists the following as ‘planned for C64GS’ in various news sections:
Narco Police (Dinamic), Toki (Ocean), both Strider 1+2, Un Squadron, Ghouls N Ghosts, Stunt Car Racer and Microprose Soccer.
Given how much miss-information i’m uncovering these days from claims in Raze, C+VG, The Games Machine, Computer Gamer etc…i have my doubts about these.
Thanks Ross!
Missed this one 1st time around, but then i’m not a footy fan :-)
Raze (issue 3) claime Active Minds/Empires ‘Gazza’s Eurosoccer Live’ was headed for the C64GS, just minus the management sections.
Don’t think it ever made it, did it?.
It sure didn’t! But then Active Minds didn’t have the best of reputations. See Total Recall for instance. I’ll prod Paul Clansey to see if he recalls it being worked on for the GS.
Turrican II? on CART? WAAAAAANNNNNTTTT!!! :D :D :D
But seriously, it would be a hell of a find if it’s out there…
I suspect it never got started, but then I am pretty sure that an EasyFlash edition of Turrican 1 and 2 has been created (done recently – but cannot find a link to it), which can be put onto cartridge… so it kinda got there in the end :)
:-) I keep finding more titles:C+VG (issue 109, P139) reviewof Ocean’s PUZZNIC (Amiga), mentions C64GS (and Amstrad GX4000) cartrodge versions(priced at £24.99) to follow…
Thanks Ross! Just added now :)
ZZap64 also talked of Double Dragon being put on C64 cart.
Would be great if some of those existed and could be found, even if only remnants.
I forgot all about that list! Great find :-)
Zzap also claimed the following were possible/being considered: Thalamus doing a ‘Greatest Hits’ cart, Space Rogue, Toki, Plotting, Hard Drivin, Badlands, Venus Flytrap, Wrath Of The Demon and Armalyte II.
Try P8 of Issue 67 and pages 6 and 57 of issue 68 off Zzap 64.
Talk of Barbarian III Palace as well, plus possibility of Golden Axe and a Racing Game construction Kit using the C64 Turbo Outrun Engine…..
Thanks Ross, all added along with scan snippets!