Difference between revisions of "Powerslave"

Revision as of 14:53, 18 October 2020

n/a

Powerslave

System(s): Sega Saturn

Publisher: BMG Interactive (Japan, Europe), Playmates Interactive Entertainment (US)

Developer: Lobotomy Software

Original system(s): PC

Sound driver: SCSP/CD-DA (13 tracks)

Peripherals supported: Saturn 6 Player Adaptor (for Death Tank)

Genre: Action^[1]^[2]

Number of players: 1 (2-6 for Death Tank)

Official in-game languages:

English

Deutsch

Français

Español

日本語

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1996-11-29^[2]	¥5,800 (5,974)5,800e^[3]	T-18001G
US	1996-10-31	$59.9559.95^[4]	T-13205H
EU	1996-09-26		81084-50
PT	199x		STJSE0328
UK	1996-09-19^[5]	£44.9944.99^[6]	81084-50
PL	1996-11	219zł219
AU	199x		FEXH00SSC

Non-Sega versions
PlayStation

Powerslave, known as Exhumed in Europe and Seireki 1999: Pharaoh no Fukkatsu (西暦１９９９ファラオの復活) in Japan, is a first person shooter game developed by Lobotomy Software and released for the Sega Saturn in 1996.

During development the game was known simply as Ruins.

1 Gameplay
- 1.1 Death Tank
2 History
- 2.1 Slave Driver game engine
3 Versions
- 3.1 Localised names
- 3.2 Screenshot
4 Production credits
- 4.1 Powerslave and Seireki 1999: Pharaoh no Fukkatsu
- 4.2 Exhumed
5 Magazine articles
6 Promotional material
7 Artwork
8 Physical scans
9 Technical information
- 9.1 ROM dump status
- 9.2 Save data
10 References

Gameplay

Death Tank

The North American and Japanese versions of Powerslave contain a mini game called Death Tank that can be accessed if you collect all 23 dolls hidden in the game. The mini-game supports up to 6 players, which was increased up to 7 players in it's sequel, Death Tank Zwei, which can be found in Duke Nukem 3D.

History

Slave Driver game engine

The original version appeared on the PC as a Build engine game and featured many mechanics, levels and content that varied differently. This includes linear level design, in-game speech from the main character, and stock lives that once they've run out, the game ends for the player. When the game was brought to the Sega Saturn and PlayStation, the game was rebuilt from the ground up using a proprietary engine called Slave Driver which was able to render more complex levels, including rooms above other rooms, which was not possible on the Build engine. It also went through a major gameplay re-design thanks to the stronger hardware. The PlayStation and Sega Saturn versions put more focus on exploration and allow the player to replay stages. In order to progress, certain permanent power ups (e.g. magic sandals that allow higher jumps) need to be collected. The Slave Driver engine would become a framework for PC to console ports by Lobotomy Software including Duke Nukem 3D and Quake.

Versions

Powerslave was released on the Sega Saturn several months before its PlayStation counterpart, and for its time was a technical showpiece for the system. With better 3D performance, the PlayStation is able to add more visual effects, true transparency (negating the need for the checkerboard "mesh" pattern used for water), and performance improvements in some areas.

While the Saturn version is capped at 30FPS, the PlayStation can reach highs of 60FPS. As was common for 3D games at the time, however, both versions struggle to hold their desired numbers - the Saturn dropping to 20FPS in more hectic scenes, and the PlayStation also dropping to 30 or 20FPS on occasion. The Saturn version, while slower in this regard, is therefore able to output a more consistent frame rate, with its PlayStation counterpart being noticeably more variable as more frames are dropped.

The PlayStation version is also able to offer better lighting effects, however much of its level geometry has been paired back, with smaller, less complicated rooms being used throughout the experience (and some larger rooms being split up). While a new introduction area is added, several areas lose the sense of scale, to the point where some outdoor areas on the Saturn are indoors on the PlayStation.

The auto-aiming feature of the Saturn version of Powerslave is less effective on the PlayStation, making it harder to hit smaller targets. Also missing is any form of analogue control - while Saturn Powerslave supports the 3D Control Pad, neither Dual Analog or DualShock controllers are supported on Sony's machine.

Reportedly the red spiders were changed to blue scorpions to satisfy Sony's desire for PlayStation games to have unique content when ported from other platforms.

On the PC, Powerslave is an entirely different game, and while many assets are shared between the three versions, the PC has unique levels designed for the Build engine (which on the PC is most notable for powering Duke Nukem 3D, as well as Shadow Warrior and Blood). Powerslave uses an earlier version of the engine than Duke 3D, however, so there are no slopes in the game, and is much more linear in design than is console counterparts.

Death Tank is exclusive to the Saturn version of Powerslave.

Localised names

Also known as
Language	Localised Name	English Translation
English	Exhumed	Exhumed
English (US)	Powerslave	Powerslave
Japanese	西暦１９９９ファラオの復活	Seireki 1999: Pharaoh no Fukkatsu

Screenshot

Main article: Powerslave/Comparisons.

Production credits

Powerslave and Seireki 1999: Pharaoh no Fukkatsu

TODO: there's a paragraph after the credits row of the Japanese version, translate/check if it's relevant

Executive Producers: Brian McNeely, Paul Lange
Game Design and Art Direction: Brian McNeely
Game Programming: Ezra Dreisbach
BREW World Editing Tool: David Lawson
Music and Sound Effects: Scott Branston
Design Team: Brian McNeely, Dominick Meissner, Ezra Dreisbach, Paul Knutzen, Paul Lange, Mark Coates, Jason Wiggin
Texture and Ambient Object Art: Troy Jacobson, Joe Kresoja
Creatures and Weaponry: John Van Deusen
3D Modeling: Kevin Chung, William Vallieres
Cinema Scene and Map Art: Richard Nichols, John Van Duesen
Art Team: Brian McNeely, Troy Jacobson, John Van Duesen, kevin Chung, Paul Knutzen, Richard Nichols, Erik Klokstad, William Vallieres, Joe Kresoja, Jason Wiggin
Stage Design: Brian McNeely, Dominick Meissner, Paul Knutzen
Object and Ambient Light Editing Tool: Jeff Blazier
Peepshow Animation Tool: Paul Schreiber
Additional Technical Support: Kurt Pfeifer, John Yuill, Paul Hagerud, John Schwab, Pat Schreiber
Instruction Manual: Tom Kristensen
Lobotomy Would Like to Thank: Jacqui Lyons, Marjacq Micro, PIE, Tommy Tellarico, Cheryl Hart, SEGA

Playmates Interactive Entertainment

Executive Producer: David Luehmann
Producer: Chris Archer
Associate Producer: Carlos Rodriguez
QA Manager: Rich Frey
Lead Tester: Andrew, A. Brown
Testers: David Ontiveros, Lee Jones, David Arranaga, James Martinez, Anthony Vasquez, Jose Zatarain, Leland Mah
Sales Marketing: David Localio, Kelly Frey
Technical Support: Jose Zatarain, Lee Jones
PR: Ron Antonette, Nicole Rosenberg, Karen Trachtenberg
Special Thanks: Richard Sallis, Thomas Chan, Sue Lucchino, Dabvid L. Hoffman, Scott Herrington, Playmate Toys

Source:

In-game credits

Exhumed

Executive Producers: Brian McNeely, Paul Lange
Game Design: Brian McNeely
Additional Game Design: Dominick Meissner, Mark Coates, Jason Wiggin, Ezra Dreisbach
Game Programming: Ezra Dreisbach
BREW World Editing Tool: David Lawson
Art and Environment: Troy Jacobson, Brian McNeely, John Van Deusen, Kevin Chung, Paul Knutzen, Richard Nichols, Eric Klokstad, Joe Kresoja, Jason Wiggin, Willian Vallieres
Creatures and Weaponry: John Van Deusen
Music and Sound Effects: Scott Branston
Stage Design: Brian McNeely, Dominick Meissner, Paul Knutzen, Jason Wiggin, Mark Coates
Additional Technical Support: Jeff Blazier, John Schwab, John Yuill, Paul Hagerud, Paul Schreiber, Pat Schreiber, Kurt Pfeifer
Instruction Manual: Tom Kristensen
Special THANKS! to: Jacqui Lyons, Marjacq Micro, Ian Mathias, Mike Brown, Ronya, Lonnie, Nasie, and of Course Sega

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Powerslave/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Exhumed UK newspaper print advert

Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #86: "September 1996" (1996-xx-xx)
also published in:

Next Generation (US) #22: "October 1996" (1996-09-17)^[7]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #87: "October 1996" (1996-xx-xx)^[8]
EGM² (US) #29: "November 1996" (1996-xx-xx)^[9]

Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #89: "December 1996" (1996-xx-xx)

Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #91: "February 1997" (199x-xx-xx)

Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1996-21: "1996-21 (1996-12-13)" (1996-11-22)

Print advert in Hobby Consolas (ES) #61: "Octubre 1996" (1996-xx-xx)

Artwork

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

576 KByte (HU)

91

^[22]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

75

^[6]

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US)

NTSC-U

73

^[23]

Famitsu (JP)

NTSC-J

60

^[24]

Freak (IL)

86

^[25]

Fun Generation (DE)

PAL

90

^[26]

Gambler (PL)

87

^[27]

GameFan (US)

NTSC-U

86

^[28]

GamePro (US)

NTSC-U

100

^[4]

GamesMaster (UK)

PAL

89

^[29]

Game Informer (US)

NTSC-U

89

^[30]

Gry Komputerowe (PL)

85

^[31]

Hobby Consolas (ES)

91

^[32]

Joypad (FR)

PAL

92

^[33]

LeveL (CZ)

86

^[34]

MAN!AC (DE)

PAL

85

^[35]

Mega Force (FR)

PAL

93

^[36]

Mega Fun (DE)

PAL

88

^[37]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

PAL

94

^[38]

Player One (FR)

89

^[39]

Saturn Fan (JP)

NTSC-J

62

^[40]

Saturn Fan (JP)

NTSC-J

64

^[41]

Saturn+ (UK)

PAL

91

^[42]

Score (CZ)

80

^[43]

Secret Service (PL)

80

^[44]

Sega News (CZ)

95

^[45]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

91

^[46]

Świat Gier Komputerowych (PL)

85

^[47]

Sega Saturn Magazine (UK)

PAL

92

^[48]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

83

^[49]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

89

^[50]

Total Saturn (UK)

PAL

85

^[51]

Total Saturn (UK)

PAL

87

^[52]

Video Games (DE)

PAL

86

^[53]

	85
Based on 34 reviews

Powerslave

Saturn, JP
Cover
Spinecard Disc Manual

Saturn, US
Cover
Disc Manual

Saturn, EU
Cover
Disc

Saturn, PT
Cover
Disc

Saturn, AU
Cover
Disc

Technical information

ROM dump status

System

Hash

Size

Build Date

Source

Comments

✔

CRC32
MD5
SHA-1

570,672,816

CD-ROM (EU)

81084-50 V1.000

✔

CRC32
MD5
SHA-1

524,049,120

1996-10-02

CD-ROM (JP)

T-18001G V1.003

Save data

To load and save data from the Ram Cart, the save file must be created on the internal battery back-up first, then moved over via the Memory Manager.

Saturn (NTSC-J) Save Data
Name	Comment	Blocks	Description
`BMG_1999___`	`save games`	11	Save data for progress.

Saturn (Powerslave) Save Data
Name	Comment	Blocks	Description
`POWERSLAVE#`	`save games`	11	Save data for progress.

References

Powerslave
	Main page \| Comparisons \| Hidden content \| Magazine articles \| Reception Prototypes: 1996-05-15 \| 09-27

[:File:PowerSlave_Saturn_JP_Box_Back.jpg_p-1] File:PowerSlave Saturn JP Box Back.jpg

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20200320230509.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Ffb.2Fsegahard.2Fss.2Fsoft_licensee2.html-2] 2.0 ^2.1 https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/soft_licensee2.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-03-20 23:05)

[:File:SSM_JP_19961213_1996-21.pdf_p134-3] Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-21 (1996-12-13)" (JP; 1996-11-22), page 134

[:File:GamePro_US_098.pdf_p120-4] 4.0 ^4.1 GamePro, "November 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 120

[:File:DailyMirror_UK_1996-09-19_42.png_p-5] File:DailyMirror_UK_1996-09-19_42.png

[:File:CVG_UK_178.pdf_p72-6] 6.0 ^6.1 Computer & Video Games, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-11), page 72

[:File:NextGeneration_US_22.pdf_p195-7] Next Generation, "October 1996" (US; 1996-09-17), page 195

[:File:EGM_US_087.pdf_p43-8] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 43

[:File:EGM2_US_29.pdf_p67-9] EGM², "November 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 67

[:File:CVG_UK_178.pdf_p72_.2872-73.29-10] Computer & Video Games, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-11), page 72-73 (72)

[:File:GameFan_US_0411.pdf_p18_.2816.29-11] GameFan, "Volume 4, Issue 11: November 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 16 (18)

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_061.pdf_p70_.2868-70.29-12] Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1996" (ES; 1996-xx-xx), page 68-70 (70)

[:File:Joypad_FR_057.pdf_p98_.2898-99.29-13] Joypad, "Octobre 1996" (FR; 1996-xx-xx), page 98-99 (98)

[:File:MegaForce_FR_54.pdf_p36_.2836-39.29-14] Mega Force, "Novembre/Décembre 1996" (FR; 1996-1x-xx), page 36-39 (36)

[:File:MegaFun_DE_1996-10.pdf_p76_.2876-77.29-15] Mega Fun, "10/96" (DE; 1996-09-18), page 76-77 (76)

[:File:MeanMachinesSega47UK.pdf_p52_.2852-54.29-16] Mean Machines Sega, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-05), page 52-54 (52)

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_068.pdf_p92_.2892-93.29-17] Player One, "Octobre 1996" (FR; 1996-xx-xx), page 92-93 (92)

[:File:SSM_UK_11.pdf_p68_.2868-69.29-18] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-20), page 68-69 (68)

[:File:SSM_JP_19961213_1996-21.pdf_p269_.28267.29-19] Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-21 (1996-12-13)" (JP; 1996-11-22), page 267 (269)

[:File:SnGwSISDRZK_Book_JP.pdf_p11_.289.29-20] Sega Saturn Magazine (readers), "Final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 9 (11)

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1996-10.pdf_p83_.2886-87.29-21] Video Games, "10/96" (DE; 1996-09-25), page 86-87 (83)

[:File:576KB_HU_1996-10.pdf_p26-22] 576 KByte, "Október 1996" (HU; 1996-xx-xx), page 26

[:File:EGM_US_089.pdf_p85-23] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 85

[24] Famitsu, "1996-12-06" (JP; 1996-11-22), page 1

[25] Freak, "3/97" (IL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1

[:File:FunGeneration_DE_1996-11.pdf_p78-26] Fun Generation, "11/96" (DE; 1996-10-09), page 78

[27] Gambler, "4/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1

[:File:GameFan_US_0411.pdf_p18-28] GameFan, "Volume 4, Issue 11: November 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 18

[:File:GamesMaster_UK_046.pdf_p51-29] GamesMaster, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-01), page 51

[:File:GameInformer_US_044.pdf_p65-30] Game Informer, "December 1996" (US; 1996-1x-xx), page 65

[31] Gry Komputerowe, "1-2/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_061.pdf_p68-32] Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1996" (ES; 1996-xx-xx), page 68

[:File:Joypad_FR_057.pdf_p98-33] Joypad, "Octobre 1996" (FR; 1996-xx-xx), page 98

[34] LeveL, "Prosinec 1996" (CZ; 1996-12-01), page 82

[:File:MAN.21AC_DE_1996-11.pdf_p74-35] MAN!AC, "11/96" (DE; 1996-10-09), page 74

[:File:MegaForce_FR_54.pdf_p36-36] Mega Force, "Novembre/Décembre 1996" (FR; 1996-1x-xx), page 36

[:File:MegaFun_DE_1996-10.pdf_p60-37] Mega Fun, "10/96" (DE; 1996-09-18), page 60

[:File:MeanMachinesSega47UK.pdf_p52-38] Mean Machines Sega, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-05), page 52

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_068.pdf_p92-39] Player One, "Octobre 1996" (FR; 1996-xx-xx), page 92

[:File:SaturnFan_JP_1996-24_19961129.pdf_p188-40] Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 24" (JP; 1996-11-15), page 188

[:File:SaturnFan_JP_1997-02_19970131.pdf_p70-41] Saturn Fan, "1997 No. 2" (JP; 1997-01-17), page 70

[:File:SaturnPlus_UK_04.pdf_p28-42] Saturn+, "Issue 4" (UK; 1996-10-24), page 28

[:File:Score_CZ_36.pdf_p112-43] Score, "Prosinec 1996" (CZ; 1996-12-01), page 112

[:File:SecretService_PL_44.pdf_p67-44] Secret Service, "Marzec 1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 67

[:File:Sega_News_2_CZ.pdf_p10-45] Sega News, "Listopad 1996" (CZ; 1996-1x-xx), page 10

[:File:SegaPower_UK_83.pdf_p34-46] Sega Power, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-01), page 34

[47] Świat Gier Komputerowych, "2/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1

[:File:SSM_UK_11.pdf_p68-48] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-20), page 68

[:File:SSM_JP_19961213_1996-21.pdf_p269-49] Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-21 (1996-12-13)" (JP; 1996-11-22), page 269

[:File:SnGwSISDRZK_Book_JP.pdf_p11-50] Sega Saturn Magazine, "Readers rating final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 11

[:File:TotalSaturn_UK_02.pdf_p58-51] Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Two" (UK; 1996-09-30), page 58

[:File:TotalSaturn_UK_04.pdf_p25-52] Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Four" (UK; 1996-12-29), page 25

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1996-10.pdf_p86-53] Video Games, "10/96" (DE; 1996-09-25), page 86

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@@ Line 138: / Line 138: @@
 ==Promotional material==
 {{gallery
-{{gitem|DailyMirror_UK_1996-09-19_42.png|Exhumed UK newspaper print advert}}
+|{{gitem|DailyMirror_UK_1996-09-19_42.png|Exhumed UK newspaper print advert}}
 |{{galleryPrintAd
 |egm|86|147

Difference between revisions of "Powerslave"

From Sega Retro

Revision as of 14:53, 18 October 2020

Contents

Gameplay

Death Tank

History

Slave Driver game engine

Versions

Localised names

Screenshot

Production credits

Powerslave and Seireki 1999: Pharaoh no Fukkatsu

Exhumed

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Artwork

Physical scans

Technical information

ROM dump status

Save data

References