Difference between revisions of "Outworld 2375 AD"

From Sega Retro

(I now know who the developers of this game. It's made by the same company who made Outback Joey.)
m (little pre-work cleanup)
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==Gameplay==
 
==Gameplay==
−
''{{PAGENAME}}'' is described in a February 1994 ''[[wikipedia:The Chicago Tribune|Chicago Tribune]]'' article as allowing players to "choose from five drastic environmental conditions on a planet wracked by natural disasters".{{ref|https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-02-24-9402240306-story.html}} The faster the user exercises, the faster the player ship travels. Exercise too fast and the ship will overheat and explode, and exercise too slowly and it will lose momentum and crash.{{magref|mega|18|12}}
+
Set on a planet wracked by natural disasters, players begin the game by choosing from one of five different courses.{{ref|https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-02-24-9402240306-story.html}} The faster players exercise, the faster their hovercraft will travel. Exercise too fast and the ship will overheat and explode, but exercise too slowly and it will lose momentum and crash.{{magref|mega|18|12}}
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
 +
===Development===
 +
During initial development of the [[Catalyst]], [[HeartBeat Corporation]] contracted the [[wikipedia:Los Angeles|Los Angeles]]-based [[Western Technologies]] to develop two original titles for the system. The games would be exclusive to the hardware, and unlike the remainder of the Catalyst's library (which consisted of modified ports of existing games) would be designed from the ground up around the system's unique fitness-sensing capabilities. The first of these titles, ''[[Outback Joey]]'', was included as a pack-in title with the Catalyst in November 1993. The second, ''{{PAGENAME}}'', would remain in development for another year. Known under the working tile of simply '''''Outworld'''''{{ref|https://trademarks.justia.com/743/41/outworld-74341709.html}}{{ref|http://videogamekraken.com/heartbeat-personal-trainer-catalyst}}, the game would ultimately become the final HeartBeat title developed by Western Technologies.
 +
 +
===Prerelease===
 
[[File:Outworld2375AD MD advertisementdetail.png|thumb|right|360px|One of the game's only known appearances, published in ''[[Sega Visions]]'', issue 15.{{magref|sv|15|110}}]]
 
[[File:Outworld2375AD MD advertisementdetail.png|thumb|right|360px|One of the game's only known appearances, published in ''[[Sega Visions]]'', issue 15.{{magref|sv|15|110}}]]
−
''{{PAGENAME}}'' was advertised alongside ''[[NHLPA Hockey]]'' as "the second wave of HeartBeat games".{{magref|sv|15|110}} Preview copies of the game were sent to a number of video game magazines for review, with most articles commenting on it's unique fitness capabilities; namely, the relation of the player's heart rate to the speed of actual gameplay.{{magref|mega|18|12}}
+
''{{PAGENAME}}'' was advertised alongside ''[[NHLPA Hockey]]'' as "the second wave of [[HeartBeat Catalyst|HeartBeat]] games".{{magref|sv|15|110}} Early copies of the game were sent to video game magazines for review purposes, with most articles highlighting its unique fitness capabilities; namely, the relation of the player's heart rate to the speed of actual gameplay was easily ''Outworld'''s most well-received feature.{{magref|mega|18|12}}
 +
 
 +
===Release===
 +
Released sometime in late 1994 in a limited run numbering in the few hundred, ''{{PAGENAME}}'' appears to have been available for purchase from either three select [[wikipedia:Target Corporation|Target]] stores in the state of [[wikipedia:Michigan|Michigan]], or by mail-ordering the game directly from [[HeartBeat Corporation]]. Additionally, fitness retailers like [[NordicTrack]] who had previously stocked HeartBeat products were also likely to have access to the company's limited-run games, if they so chose.{{ref|https://gamesniped.com/2008/10/05/sega-genesis-outworld-2375-ad/}}{{ref|https://www.reddit.com/r/lostmedia/comments/i7sm8p/outworld_sega_genesis_game_barcode_and_more_info/}}
  
−
===Availability===
+
===Legacy===
−
As one of the least-known [[Sega Mega Drive]] games, ''{{PAGENAME}}'' 's release status remained unclear for decades; however, modern research (particularly the efforts of [https://www.reddit.com/ Reddit] user [https://www.reddit.com/user/BadUsername25/ BadUsername25]{{ref|https://www.reddit.com/r/lostmedia/comments/i3j51c/sega_genesis_outworld_2375_ad_possibly_the_rarest/}}{{ref|https://www.reddit.com/r/lostmedia/comments/i43hwz/outworld_2375_ad_sega_genesis_newspaper_ad_update/}}{{ref|https://www.reddit.com/r/lostmedia/comments/i7sm8p/outworld_sega_genesis_game_barcode_and_more_info/}}) has uncovered new evidence indicating a very likely official release. It is now assumed to have received an extremely-small production run sometime in late 1994. Sold in three [[wikipedia:Target Corporation|Target]] stores in the state of [[wikipedia:Michigan|Michigan]], it was also available for mail-order directly from [[HeartBeat Corporation]] themselves. Additionally, fitness retailers like [[NordicTrack]] who had previously stocked HeartBeat products were also likely to have access to the company's limited-run games, if they so chose.{{ref|https://gamesniped.com/2008/10/05/sega-genesis-outworld-2375-ad/}}{{ref|https://www.reddit.com/r/lostmedia/comments/i7sm8p/outworld_sega_genesis_game_barcode_and_more_info/}}
+
As one of the least-known [[Sega Mega Drive]] games, ''{{PAGENAME}}'' 's release status remained unclear for decades; however, modern research (particularly the efforts of [https://www.reddit.com/ Reddit] user [https://www.reddit.com/user/BadUsername25/ BadUsername25]{{ref|https://www.reddit.com/r/lostmedia/comments/i3j51c/sega_genesis_outworld_2375_ad_possibly_the_rarest/}}{{ref|https://www.reddit.com/r/lostmedia/comments/i43hwz/outworld_2375_ad_sega_genesis_newspaper_ad_update/}}{{ref|https://www.reddit.com/r/lostmedia/comments/i7sm8p/outworld_sega_genesis_game_barcode_and_more_info/}}) eventually uncovered evidence of the game's official release.
  
−
===Preservation===
 
 
Owing to a previous misunderstanding that ''{{PAGENAME}}'' had been left unreleased, extremely little of the title has been preserved. The ROM is undumped, the actual developer is unknown, and while the game was sold in a box and with a manual{{ref|https://gamesniped.com/2008/10/05/sega-genesis-outworld-2375-ad/}}{{ref|https://www.reddit.com/r/lostmedia/comments/i7sm8p/outworld_sega_genesis_game_barcode_and_more_info/}}, no images of either the artwork, manual, or cartridge are believed to publicly exist.
 
Owing to a previous misunderstanding that ''{{PAGENAME}}'' had been left unreleased, extremely little of the title has been preserved. The ROM is undumped, the actual developer is unknown, and while the game was sold in a box and with a manual{{ref|https://gamesniped.com/2008/10/05/sega-genesis-outworld-2375-ad/}}{{ref|https://www.reddit.com/r/lostmedia/comments/i7sm8p/outworld_sega_genesis_game_barcode_and_more_info/}}, no images of either the artwork, manual, or cartridge are believed to publicly exist.
  
 
Multiple collectors in [[wikipedia:Lansing, Michigan|Lansing, Michigan]] (where [[HeartBeat Catalyst]] games were locally distributed post-1994) own copies of the game, with one collector confirming ''{{PAGENAME}}'' received a standard boxed release with a manual and cartridge; another collector from the same city claims to own a prototype copy of the game.{{ref|https://gamesniped.com/2008/10/05/sega-genesis-outworld-2375-ad/}}
 
Multiple collectors in [[wikipedia:Lansing, Michigan|Lansing, Michigan]] (where [[HeartBeat Catalyst]] games were locally distributed post-1994) own copies of the game, with one collector confirming ''{{PAGENAME}}'' received a standard boxed release with a manual and cartridge; another collector from the same city claims to own a prototype copy of the game.{{ref|https://gamesniped.com/2008/10/05/sega-genesis-outworld-2375-ad/}}
  
−
===Legacy===
+
==Magazine articles==
 +
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Magazine articles}}
  
−
==Development==
+
==Promotional material==
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During development, ''{{PAGENAME}}'' was known under the working tile '''''Outworld'''''.{{ref|https://trademarks.justia.com/743/41/outworld-74341709.html}}{{ref|http://videogamekraken.com/heartbeat-personal-trainer-catalyst}}
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{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Promotional material}}
  
 
==Images==
 
==Images==
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Outworld2375AD MD promotionalfilms.png|Promotional films distributed to game magazines for capturing screenshots.
 
Outworld2375AD MD promotionalfilms.png|Promotional films distributed to game magazines for capturing screenshots.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
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−
==Magazine articles==
 
−
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Magazine articles}}
 
−
 
−
==Promotional material==
 
−
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Promotional material}}
 
  
 
==Technical information==
 
==Technical information==

Revision as of 03:45, 11 March 2023

n/a

Notavailable.svg
Outworld 2375 AD
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: HeartBeat Corporation[1][2]
Developer:
Peripherals supported: HeartBeat Catalyst[1][2]
Genre: Driving

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.

Outworld 2375 AD is a Sega Mega Drive fitness science fiction driving game published by HeartBeat Corporation. Specifically designed to utilize the fitness sensor-integrated Mega Drive peripheral HeartBeat Catalyst[2], it was released exclusively in the United States in late 1994 in an extremely-limited run, and is one of the single-rarest commercially-released Sega Genesis games in existence.

Blurb

“ Kidnapped by intergalactic criminals, you have been pitted in the race for the ultimate prize - your freedom. Race through a planet which began as an experiment in artificial development. Using your heavily armed space hovercraft, you must outmaneuver environmental mutations as well as the deadly inhabitants in a fight for your survival. Go too slow and your aircraft will crash...too fast and it will burn up. Close the hatch, buckle up and hit the turbos. „

— Promotional blurb from the Heartbeat Personal Trainer's brochure.[3]


Gameplay

Set on a planet wracked by natural disasters, players begin the game by choosing from one of five different courses.[4] The faster players exercise, the faster their hovercraft will travel. Exercise too fast and the ship will overheat and explode, but exercise too slowly and it will lose momentum and crash.[5]

History

Development

During initial development of the Catalyst, HeartBeat Corporation contracted the Los Angeles-based Western Technologies to develop two original titles for the system. The games would be exclusive to the hardware, and unlike the remainder of the Catalyst's library (which consisted of modified ports of existing games) would be designed from the ground up around the system's unique fitness-sensing capabilities. The first of these titles, Outback Joey, was included as a pack-in title with the Catalyst in November 1993. The second, Outworld 2375 AD, would remain in development for another year. Known under the working tile of simply Outworld[6][7], the game would ultimately become the final HeartBeat title developed by Western Technologies.

Prerelease

One of the game's only known appearances, published in Sega Visions, issue 15.[2]

Outworld 2375 AD was advertised alongside NHLPA Hockey as "the second wave of HeartBeat games".[2] Early copies of the game were sent to video game magazines for review purposes, with most articles highlighting its unique fitness capabilities; namely, the relation of the player's heart rate to the speed of actual gameplay was easily Outworld's most well-received feature.[5]

Release

Released sometime in late 1994 in a limited run numbering in the few hundred, Outworld 2375 AD appears to have been available for purchase from either three select Target stores in the state of Michigan, or by mail-ordering the game directly from HeartBeat Corporation. Additionally, fitness retailers like NordicTrack who had previously stocked HeartBeat products were also likely to have access to the company's limited-run games, if they so chose.[8][9]

Legacy

As one of the least-known Sega Mega Drive games, Outworld 2375 AD 's release status remained unclear for decades; however, modern research (particularly the efforts of Reddit user BadUsername25[10][11][9]) eventually uncovered evidence of the game's official release.

Owing to a previous misunderstanding that Outworld 2375 AD had been left unreleased, extremely little of the title has been preserved. The ROM is undumped, the actual developer is unknown, and while the game was sold in a box and with a manual[8][9], no images of either the artwork, manual, or cartridge are believed to publicly exist.

Multiple collectors in Lansing, Michigan (where HeartBeat Catalyst games were locally distributed post-1994) own copies of the game, with one collector confirming Outworld 2375 AD received a standard boxed release with a manual and cartridge; another collector from the same city claims to own a prototype copy of the game.[8]

Magazine articles

Main article: Outworld 2375 AD/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Outworld 2375 AD/Promotional material.

Images

  • One of the game's only known appearances, published in Sega Visions, issue 15.[2]

  • Promotional films distributed to game magazines for capturing screenshots.

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
Cartridge (US)

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://videogamekraken.com/heartbeat-personal-trainer-catalyst (Wayback Machine: 2021-04-14 05:43)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Sega Visions, "October/November 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 110
  3. ↑ File:HeartBeatPersonalTrainer US brochure.pdf, page 4
  4. ↑ https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-02-24-9402240306-story.html
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Mega, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-17), page 12
  6. ↑ https://trademarks.justia.com/743/41/outworld-74341709.html
  7. ↑ http://videogamekraken.com/heartbeat-personal-trainer-catalyst
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 https://gamesniped.com/2008/10/05/sega-genesis-outworld-2375-ad/
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 https://www.reddit.com/r/lostmedia/comments/i7sm8p/outworld_sega_genesis_game_barcode_and_more_info/
  10. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/lostmedia/comments/i3j51c/sega_genesis_outworld_2375_ad_possibly_the_rarest/
  11. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/lostmedia/comments/i43hwz/outworld_2375_ad_sega_genesis_newspaper_ad_update/


Outworld 2375 AD

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Games NHLPA Hockey | Outback Joey | Outworld 2375 AD | PGA Tour Golf II
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