Difference between revisions of "Blue Almanac"

Latest revision as of 20:51, 5 January 2024

For the aftermarket re-release of the game, see Star Odyssey (Super Fighter Team).

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Blue Almanac

System(s): Sega Mega Drive

Publisher: Kodansha Research Institute

Developer: HOT-B, Cube (audio)

Genre: RPG^[1]^[2]

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1991-06-22^[2]	¥8,700 (8,961)8,700e^[3]	T-46013

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Blue Almanac (ブルーアルマナック) is a 1991 RPG for the Sega Mega Drive by HOT-B and the first Mega Drive game published by Kodansha Research Institute. While it was only released in Japan, a western release of the game, now retitled as Star Odyssey, was planned by Sage's Creation for release in July 1991^[4], but the translation was cancelled for unknown reasons.

Versions of Star Odyssey were reviewed by GamePro and VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, complete with a MSRP of $69.99^[5] (or $69.95^[6]), suggesting the game was close to a US release.

History

Two prototypes were independently discovered by drx^[7] and by Brandon Cobb, head of Super Fighter Team, who subsequently acquired a license to complete the translation from HOT-B successor company Starfish (who like to revisit old properties), with intentions on releasing it on the twentieth anniversary of the original release. Despite his PR claiming that he received an "unofficial license" from Sega to distribute the game, Sega really asked him to remove their copyrights and trademarks, consequently making the translation fully unlicensed (while Blue Almanac is fully licensed).

Production credits

Main Program: A B Y
Sub Program: Kimihiro Endo
Scenario: H.Okinaka
Music: Cube Corp., Masaru Suzuki
Graphic Design: Yukihito Morikawa, Yasuyuki Osada, Mike Yorozuya, Nc30-1004193, Tanuma Yosaku
Special Thanks: Minoru Fujita, Hisao Yosida, Mitsuru Fujimori, Takako Iizuka, Ryo Kinoshita, Sabu Gikuni
Director: Miyabi
Producer: Y.Tonomura, Masahiro Tanaka
Produced by: HOT.B Co.,Ltd., Kodansha Sohken
Presented by: Kodansha Sohken

Source:

In-game credits^[8]

Magazine articles

Main article: Blue Almanac/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #7: "Winter 1991/1992" (1991-xx-xx)

Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #32: "March 1992" (1992-xx-xx)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-01: "January 1991" (1990-12-08)
also published in:

Mega Drive Fan (JP) #12: "January 1991" (1990-12-08)^[9]

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-02: "February 1991" (1991-01-08)
also published in:

Mega Drive Fan (JP) #13: "February 1991" (1991-01-08)^[10]

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-04: "April 1991" (1991-03-08)
also published in:

Mega Drive Fan (JP) #15: "April 1991" (1991-03-08)^[11]

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-05: "May 1991" (1991-04-08)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-06: "June 1991" (1991-05-08)

Print advert in Mega Drive Fan (JP) #18: "July 1991" (1991-06-08)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

40

^[12]

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

58

^[13]

Famitsu (JP)

NTSC-J

58

^[14]

GamePro (US)

NTSC-U

73

^[5]

Hippon Super (JP)

NTSC-J

30

^[15]

Mega Drive Fan (JP)

NTSC-J

59

^[16]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

62

^[17]

VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US)

NTSC-U

70

^[6]

	56
Based on 8 reviews

Blue Almanac

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Technical information

Main article: Blue Almanac/Technical information.

References

↑ File:BlueAlmanac MD JP Box.jpg
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)
↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "May 1991" (JP; 1991-04-08), page 18
↑ GamePro, "June 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 38
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 GamePro, "July 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 48
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "July 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 35
↑ Hidden Palace: Star Odyssey (Jan 16, 1992 prototype)
↑ File:Blue Almanac MD credits.pdf
↑ Mega Drive Fan, "January 1991" (JP; 1990-12-08), page 92
↑ Mega Drive Fan, "February 1991" (JP; 1991-01-08), page 91
↑ Mega Drive Fan, "April 1991" (JP; 1991-03-08), page 90
↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 57
↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "June 1991" (JP; 1991-05-08), page 28
↑ Famitsu, "" (JP; 1991-0x-xx), page 1
↑ Hippon Super, "May 1991" (JP; 1991-04-04), page 42
↑ Mega Drive Fan, "September 1991" (JP; 1991-08-xx), page 115
↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87

Blue Almanac
	Main page \| Comparisons \| Maps \| Hidden content \| Magazine articles \| Reception \| Region coding \| Technical information \| Bootlegs Prototypes: 1992-01-16

[:File:BlueAlmanac_MD_JP_Box.jpg_p-1] File:BlueAlmanac MD JP Box.jpg

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20200702232146.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Fhistory.2Fhard.2Fmegadrive.2Fsoftware_l.html-2] 2.0 ^2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1991-05.pdf_p18-3] Beep! MegaDrive, "May 1991" (JP; 1991-04-08), page 18

[:File:GamePro_US_023.pdf_p38-4] GamePro, "June 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 38

[:File:GamePro_US_036.pdf_p48-5] 5.0 ^5.1 GamePro, "July 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 48

[:File:VG.26amp.3BCE_US_42.pdf_p35-6] 6.0 ^6.1 VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "July 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 35

[http:.2F.2Fhiddenpalace.org.2FStar_Odyssey_.28Jan_16.2C_1992_prototype.29-7] Hidden Palace: Star Odyssey (Jan 16, 1992 prototype)

[:File:Blue_Almanac_MD_credits.pdf_p-8] File:Blue Almanac MD credits.pdf

[:File:Megadrive_Fan_1991-01.pdf_p92-9] Mega Drive Fan, "January 1991" (JP; 1990-12-08), page 92

[:File:Megadrive_Fan_1991-02.pdf_p91-10] Mega Drive Fan, "February 1991" (JP; 1991-01-08), page 91

[:File:Megadrive_Fan_1991-04.pdf_p90-11] Mega Drive Fan, "April 1991" (JP; 1991-03-08), page 90

[12] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 57

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1991-06.pdf_p28-13] Beep! MegaDrive, "June 1991" (JP; 1991-05-08), page 28

[14] Famitsu, "" (JP; 1991-0x-xx), page 1

[15] Hippon Super, "May 1991" (JP; 1991-04-04), page 42

[:File:Mdfan_JP_1991-09.pdf_p115-16] Mega Drive Fan, "September 1991" (JP; 1991-08-xx), page 115

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p87-17] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{sub-stub}}
+{{otherPage|desc=the aftermarket re-release of the game|page=Star Odyssey (Super Fighter Team)}}
 {{Bob
 | bobscreen=BlueAlmanac_MDTitleScreen.png
-| publisher=[[Kodansha Research Institute]] (Translation [[Super Fighter Team]])
+| publisher={{company|[[Kodansha Research Institute]]}}
-| developer=[[HOT-B]] (Translation [[Super Fighter Team]])
+| developer={{company|[[HOT-B]]}}, {{company|[[Cube]]|role=audio}}
 | system=[[Sega Mega Drive]]
-| romsize=1MB (''Blue Almanac''), 2MB (''Star Odyssey'')
+| sounddriver=
-| releases={{releases
+| peripherals=
-| md_date_jp=1991-06-22
+| players=1
-| md_rrp_jp=8,700
+| genre=RPG{{fileref|BlueAlmanac MD JP Box.jpg}}{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20200702232146/https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html}}
+| releases={{releasesMD
+| md_date_jp=1991-06-22{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20200702232146/https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html}}
 | md_code_jp=T-46013
-| md_date_world=2011-06-22
+| md_rrp_jp=8,700e{{magref|bemega|1991-05|18}}
 }}
-| genre=RPG
+| savetype={{SaveType
+|MD|battery
 }}
-'''''Blue Almanac''''' (ブルーアルマナック) is a 1991 RPG for the [[Sega Mega Drive]] by [[HOT-B]] published by [[Kodansha Research Institute]] for some reason. While it was only released in Japan, Kodansha was planning on translating the game as '''''Star Odyssey''''', but the translation was cancelled for unknown reasons.
+}}
+{{stub}}'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' (ブルーアルマナック) is a 1991 RPG for the [[Sega Mega Drive]] by [[HOT-B]] and the first Mega Drive game published by [[Kodansha Research Institute]]. While it was only released in Japan, a western release of the game, now retitled as '''''Star Odyssey''''', was planned by [[Sage's Creation]] for release in July 1991{{magref|gamepro|23|38}}, but the translation was cancelled for unknown reasons.
+Versions of ''Star Odyssey'' were reviewed by ''[[GamePro (US)|GamePro]]'' and ''[[VideoGames & Computer Entertainment]]'', complete with a MSRP of $69.99{{magref|gamepro|36|48}} (or $69.95{{magref|vgce|42|35}}), suggesting the game was close to a US release.
+==History==
+Two prototypes were independently discovered by drx{{ref|http://hiddenpalace.org/Star_Odyssey_(Jan_16,_1992_prototype)}} and by Brandon Cobb, head of [[Super Fighter Team]], who subsequently acquired a license to complete the translation from HOT-B successor company [[Starfish]] (who like to revisit old properties), with intentions on releasing it on the twentieth anniversary of the original release. Despite his PR claiming that he received an "unofficial license" from [[Sega]] to distribute the game, Sega really asked him to remove their copyrights and trademarks, consequently making the translation fully unlicensed (while ''Blue Almanac'' is fully licensed).
-Two prototypes were independently discovered by drx and by Brandon Cobb, head of [[Super Fighter Team]], who subsequently acquired a license to complete the translation from HOT-B successor company [[Starfish]] (who like to revisit old properties), with intentions on releasing it on the twentieth anniversary of the original release. Despite his PR claiming that he received an "unofficial license" from [[Sega]] to distribute the game, Sega really asked him to remove their copyrights and trademarks, consequently making the translation fully unlicensed (while ''Blue Almanac'' is fully licensed).
+==Production credits==
+{{creditstable|
+*'''Main Program:''' A B Y
+*'''Sub Program:''' Kimihiro Endo
+*'''Scenario:''' H.Okinaka
+*'''Music:''' [[Cube|Cube Corp.]], Masaru Suzuki
+*'''Graphic Design:''' Yukihito Morikawa, Yasuyuki Osada, Mike Yorozuya, Nc30-1004193, Tanuma Yosaku
+*'''Special Thanks:''' Minoru Fujita, Hisao Yosida, Mitsuru Fujimori, Takako Iizuka, Ryo Kinoshita, Sabu Gikuni
+*'''Director:''' Miyabi
+*'''Producer:''' Y.Tonomura, Masahiro Tanaka
+*'''Produced by:''' [[HOT-B|HOT.B Co.,Ltd.]], Kodansha Sohken
+*'''Presented by:''' Kodansha Sohken
+| source=In-game credits
+| pdf=Blue Almanac MD credits.pdf
+| console=MD
+}}
-==Promotional Material==
+==Magazine articles==
-<gallery>
+{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Magazine articles}}
-File:StarOdyssey MD US PrintAdvert.jpg|US print advert
-File:StarOdyssey MD US PrintAdvert 2.jpg|US print advert 2
-</gallery>
-==Physical Scans==
+==Promotional material==
+{{gallery
+|{{galleryPrintAd
+|sv|7|57
+}}
+|{{galleryPrintAd
+|egm|32|136-137
+}}
+|{{galleryPrintAd
+|bemega|1991-01|28-29
+|mdfan|12|92-93
+}}
+|{{galleryPrintAd
+|bemega|1991-02|21
+|mdfan|13|91
+}}
+|{{galleryPrintAd
+|bemega|1991-04|9
+|mdfan|15|90
+}}
+|{{galleryPrintAd|bemega|1991-05|18}}
+|{{galleryPrintAd|bemega|1991-06|12}}
+|{{galleryPrintAd|mdfan|18|93}}
+}}
+==Physical scans==
+{{ratings|MD}}
 {{Scanbox
 | console=Mega Drive
@@ Line 32: / Line 79: @@
 | carttop=BlueAlmanac_MD_JP_CartTop.jpg
 | manual=Bluealmanac md jp manual.pdf
-}}{{Scanbox
-| console=Mega Drive
-| region=World (''Star Odyssey'')
-| front=StarOdyssey MD Box.jpg
-| back=StarOdyssey MD Box Back.jpg
-| spinemissing=yes
 }}
+==Technical information==
+{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Technical information}}
+==References==
+<references/>
+{{BlueAlmanacOmni}}

Difference between revisions of "Blue Almanac"

From Sega Retro

Latest revision as of 20:51, 5 January 2024

Contents

History

Production credits

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Technical information

References