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View topic - Sega / Tonka Spring 1988 Store Catalog and Order Sheet (US)

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  • Joined: 07 Jun 2010
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Sega / Tonka Spring 1988 Store Catalog and Order Sheet (US)
Post Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:42 pm
There's a screenshot of the unreleased game "Cube Zone" (product number 5107 - same as mentioned in the past) and it appears available in the order sheet.
Also a strange title screen of "Blade Eagle 3-D" and other interesting info.

(photos are not mine)

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Post Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 3:10 pm
Can't tell if those are actual screenshots. Looks like placeholder title art.
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Post Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:44 pm
Thanks for posting, I love stuff like this. Coincidentally I've been looking into Cube Zone recently, the leading theory is that it's Galactic Protector;

https://www.smspower.org/forums/9485-UnreleasedRumouredSMSGames

Quote
Cube Zone (Sega)
'Cube Zone' is mentioned in a late 80's Sega retail sales folder, with a suspiciously Galactic Protector-like description: "Wild NEW action from the outer reaches of space! Defend your moon against the evil alien fleet. Colorful, explosive graphics!". According to a 1988 Mastertronic catalogue, it was assigned the part number 5107.


This must be the folder being referred to. A couple of problems with this theory, in Galactic Protector you defend Earth, Saturn, and Jupiter, but no moons. Secondly, there's no aliens. From what I can gather from OCRing the manual with Google Translate (so it's possible I've missed something), the story is that a giant Comet from another galaxy has come through the solar system and stirred up all the asteroids etc into collision courses with the planets, your job is to defend the planets from asteroid impacts, not aliens.

Of course it's possible that the game changed during development, but the description isn't a perfect match.

Looking through the SMS release schedules in Famitsu;

Famitsu 40/41 (published 87.12.25)

Out: Zaxxon 3D
Out: Zillion II
Out: Family Games
Out: Afterburner
Out: Opa Opa
88.12 (Late): Phantasy Star
88.01 (Mid): Maze Walker
88.01 (Mid): Super Wonder Boy in Monster World
88.02: Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars
88.02: Cube Zone (listed as 1M)
88.02: Blade Eagle

Famitsu 42 (published 88.01.22)

88.01. (Mid): Super Wonder Boy in Monster World
88.01 (Mid): Maze Walker
88.02: Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars
88.02: Cube Zone
88.02: Blade Eagle
88.04.22: Solomon's Key

Famitsu 43 (published 88.02.05)

88.02 (Early): Galactic Protector
88.02 (Mid): Blade Eagle
88.02 (Late): Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars
88.02 (Mid): Aleste
88.03: Space Harrier 3D
88.03: Tensai Bakabon
88.03: Shinobi
88.03: Argos no Juujiken

Well that looks like a smoking gun, Cube Zone due out in February disappears, with Galactic Protector and Aleste making a first appearance, both due out in February.

Except the next issue starts including SMS in the proper release schedule section, with both Galactic Protector and Cube Zone listed as due out;

Famitsu 44 (published 88.02.19)

88.02.25: Galactic Protector
88.02.29: Aleste
88.02.29: Space Harrier 3D
88.03.25: Argos no Juujiken
88.03 (Early): Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars
88.03 (Late): Cube Zone
88.03 (Late): Shinobi
88.03 (Late): Blade Eagle
88.04 (Late): Solomon's Key
88.04: Tensai Bakabon
88.04: Mio (Hoshi o Sagashite... ?)
88.04: Captain Silver
88.04: Kenseiden

This is the last issue Galactic Protector features in the release schedule, whilst Cube Zone is now listed as late March where it remains through issue 46 (published 88.03.18). It's not listed from issue 47.

Some thoughts;

Why would Galactic Protector have a working title of Cube Zone? The final game seems to have nothing to do with Cubes or Zones.

"Defend your moon against aliens" could simply be a generic shoot 'em up plot, just that your home world is a moon instead of the more usual planet.

It's possible that Famitsu made a mistake and included the same game twice not realising that the name changed, but this seems unlikely due to the date also changing.

Thanks to Gaming Alexandria for scanning the Famitsu issues.
Famitsu 40-41.jpg (1.23 MB)
Famitsu 40-41.jpg
Famitsu 42.jpg (1.08 MB)
Famitsu 42.jpg
Famitsu 43.jpg (1006.89 KB)
Famitsu 43.jpg
Famitsu 44.jpg (832.62 KB)
Famitsu 44.jpg

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Post Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 3:42 pm
@KingMike
Blade Eagle 3D really looks like placeholder title art, but Cube Zone seems more real to me.

@BKK
I also love this kind of documents. I have a lot that I need to scan someday.
My thought is that Galactic Protector is a different game and probably because of the similarity with Cube Zone and earlier release, the later one was cancelled.

Btw, if someone is willing to pay $200 and get the catalog, it's here:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/304774149700
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Post Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 4:28 pm
I have the main thick catalog but not the yellow leaflets with price.
If someone is interested in the main catalog we can split the price.
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