Virtua Fighter 3tb
From Sega Retro
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| Virtua Fighter 3tb | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| System(s): Sega Model 3 Step 1.0, Sega Dreamcast | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Publisher: Sega | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Supporting companies: 81 Produce, Attractive Action Club | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peripherals supported: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Genre: Fighting Action/Kakutou Action (格闘アクション)[1], Fighting/Taisen Kakutou (対戦格闘)[2], Action[3] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of players: 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Virtua Fighter 3tb (バーチャファイター3ｔｂ) (Virtua Fighter 3 team battle) is a Sega Model 3 Step 1.0 arcade fighting game developed by Sega AM2 and manufactured by Sega. An update to the developer's earlier Virtua Fighter 3, it was first released to Japanese arcades in September 1997, and is notable for allowing a team of fighters to be selected, rather than just one.
In November 1998, Virtua Fighter 3tb was ported to the Sega Dreamcast, courtesy of developer Genki and publisher Sega.
Contents
Gameplay
Virtua Fighter 3tb is much the same game as Virtua Fighter 3, but as its name suggests, the arcade cabinet defaults to a "team battle" mode. Here, users are asked to select three characters instead of one (not dissimilar to SNK's The King of Fighters series), who will go up against other teams of three. The same character can be picked more than once (so it is possible to have three Akiras on a team), but the roster and ordering cannot be changed between battles.
Each character only gets one chance against the opposing team. If he/she is knocked out, this character cannot be used for the rest of the match. Winners recover a portion of their health for the next fight. Once eight stages are completed, the player will be challenged by a team of three Durals. Beating them ends the game.
While no new stages have been added to Virtua Fighter 3tb, each returning arena is set at a different time of day than Virtua Fighter 3. For example, Wolf's desert stage now takes place in daylight, rather than sunset.
Virtua Fighter 3tb arcade machines can be reverted to traditional Virtua Fighter 3 through a setting in the service menu, although this does not change the title screen.
The Dreamcast version has most of the features from the arcade game (including settings relegated to its service menu), plus a training mode and a "history" option, in which a video showcasing early footage of Virtua Fighter and Virtua Fighter 2 is shown, alongside the initial reveal video for Virtua Fighter 3.
History
Virtua Fighter 3 had originally been planned for the Sega Saturn, however due to the Saturn's vastly inferior graphics capabilities the port was scrapped. Virtua Fighter 3tb, on the other hand, was brought to the Sega Dreamcast as a launch title in both Japan and Europe. The original Japanese Dreamcast release of the game was distributed in a double CD case with a special preview disc of "Project Berkley", which would eventually become Shenmue. Later prints of the game lacked this extra.
Sega Logistics Service announced it would end service on Virtua Fighter 3tb arcade machines on March 31, 2017.[16][17]
Versions
Virtua Fighter 3 garnered a great deal of attention upon its original arcade release in 1996, and throughout the Dreamcast's development lifecycle was used as a rough guide as to how capable a new Sega system might be. However, the two year gap (three in the West) before a comparable home console outing led to it being compared unfavourably to newer titles
This is most evident in the Western launch, when Virtua Fighter 3tb debuted on the same day as the critically acclaimed SoulCalibur. Whereas SoulCalibur is considered to have improved during its transition from arcade to Dreamcast, Virtua Fighter 3tb makes noticeable cutbacks in areas, despite being the older and simpler game of the two. This may be attributed to the fact the Dreamcast port was handled by Genki and not in-house by Sega AM2, in contrast to the Saturn releases of Virtua Fighter (Remix) and Virtua Fighter 2.
While operating at a higher resolution, texture quailty is often worse for Virtua Fighter 3tb on the Dreamcast, and lighting and fog effects also differ between the two versions. Some stages have different coloured backgrounds for unknown reasons.
In the Dreamcast port, the character model of Aoi Umenokoji consists of about 7,500 polygons, with her head alone consisting of about 4,300 polygons. In the water stage, the polygon count reaches up to 1.9 million polygons per second, about 32,000 polygons per scene at 60 FPS.
Returning to the Dreamcast version of the game as a secret is the so-called "alphabet character", a fighter sharing movesets with the regular cast but constructed out of 3D letters from the name entry screen. The alphabet character debuted in the Saturn version of Virtua Fighter 2 (also as a secret), however here it is more fleshed out, with limbs being spread out across the ground when knocked over. The alphabet character is are made up of a single letter rendered at different sizes (save for its hands) - if hit, the letter changes, becoming the "END" graphic if the player loses a match.
A normal player model is loaded if the alphabet character attempts to fight Dural, and this model is also used for the credits sequence. A mode also exists where all opponent players are replaced with the alphabet character (using their moves).
Production credits
- Main article: Virtua Fighter 3tb/Production credits.
Magazine articles
- Main article: Virtua Fighter 3tb/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
also published in:
- Freak (IL) #78 (1999-xx-xx)
also published in:
- Gamers' Republic (US) #19: "December 1999" (1999-11-15)[18]
also published in:
- Play (PL) #14: "Październik 2001" (2001-xx-xx)[24]
- Neo Plus (PL) #36: "Październik 2001" (2001-xx-xx)[25]
- Play (PL) #15: "Listopad 2001" (2001-xx-xx)[26]
- Neo Plus (PL) #37: "Listopad 2001" (2001-xx-xx)[27]
- Play (PL) #15: "Listopad 2001" (2001-xx-xx)[28]
- Neo Plus (PL) #38: "Grudzień 2001" (2001-xx-xx)[29]
Artwork
Physical scans
Model 3 version
| Arcade, World | ||||
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Dreamcast version
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81 |
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| Based on 48 reviews | |
| Dreamcast, JP (double CD) |
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  Cover
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 Spinecard  Disc  Reg Card  Guidebook Flyer  Tech Manual Flyer |
| Dreamcast, JP (single CD) |
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 Cover
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| Dreamcast, US |
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  Cover
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 Disc  Manual  Inlay |
| Dreamcast, EU |
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  Cover
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 Disc  Manual |
| Dreamcast, UK/IT |
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  Cover
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Disc |
| Dreamcast, PT |
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|
 Manual |
| Dreamcast, AU |
|---|
  Cover
|
Disc |
Technical information
- Main article: Virtua Fighter 3tb/Technical information.
ROM dump status
| System | Hash | Size | Build Date | Source | Comments | |||||||||
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GD-ROM (JP) | ||||||||||||
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GD-ROM (JP) | ||||||||||||
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GD-ROM (US) | ||||||||||||
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GD-ROM (EU) |
External links
References
- ↑ File:VF3TB DC JP Box Back.jpg
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 http://sega.jp/dc/981004/ (Wayback Machine: 2007-05-27 17:20)
- ↑ https://sega.jp/history/hard/dreamcast/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-11-09 14:09)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Edge, "January 1999" (UK; 1998-12-23), page 130
- ↑ http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=24346 (Wayback Machine: 2016-05-30 15:13)
- ↑ http://www.sega.com:80/games/dreamcast/post_dreamcastgame.jhtml?PRODID=281 (Wayback Machine: 2003-11-25 15:07)
- ↑ Press release: 1999-10-21: Renowned Game Designer Yu Suzuki Expands On an Arcade Hit With Virtua Fighter 3tb for Sega Dreamcast
- ↑ http://www.chipsworld.co.uk/detProd.asp?ProductCode=1113 (Wayback Machine: 2003-11-26 05:44)
- ↑ Dreamcast Magazine, "No. 3" (UK; 1999-11-25), page 7
- ↑ Computer & Video Games, "October 1999" (UK; 1999-09-15), page 63
- ↑ Official Dreamcast Magazine, "November 1999" (UK; 1999-09-30), page 77
- ↑ http://www.centromail.es/top/ficha.asp?codmail=13394&codprov= (Wayback Machine: 2001-09-17 04:43)
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Revista Oficial Dreamcast, "Enero 2000" (ES; 1999-12-20), page 42
- ↑ http://www.futuregamez.net:80/outnow/dc.html (Wayback Machine: 2001-07-31 23:17)
- ↑ Hyper, "September 1999" (AU; 1999-xx-xx), page 32
- ↑ File:SegaProductsTerminationAnnouncement 2016-11 JP.pdf
- ↑ File:SegaProductsTerminationAnnouncement 2016-12.pdf
- ↑ Gamers' Republic, "December 1999" (US; 1999-11-15), page 13
- ↑ Neo Plus, "Kwiecień 2001" (PL; 2001-xx-xx), page 100
- ↑ Neo Plus, "Maj 2001" (PL; 2001-xx-xx), page 100
- ↑ Neo Plus, "Czerwiec 2001" (PL; 2001-xx-xx), page 100
- ↑ Neo Plus, "Lipiec-Sierpień 2001" (PL; 2001-xx-xx), page 84
- ↑ Neo Plus, "Wrzesień 2001" (PL; 2001-xx-xx), page 84
- ↑ Play, "Październik 2001" (PL; 2001-xx-xx), page 29
- ↑ Neo Plus, "Październik 2001" (PL; 2001-xx-xx), page 80
- ↑ Play, "Listopad 2001" (PL; 2001-xx-xx), page 41
- ↑ Neo Plus, "Listopad 2001" (PL; 2001-xx-xx), page 84
- ↑ Play, "Listopad 2001" (PL; 2001-xx-xx), page 7
- ↑ Neo Plus, "Grudzień 2001" (PL; 2001-xx-xx), page 84
- ↑ Ação Games, "Janeiro 1999" (BR; 199x-xx-xx), page 18
- ↑ Arcade, "February 1999" (UK; 1999-01-13), page 132
- ↑ Arcade, "November 1999" (UK; 1999-09-20), page 77
- ↑ Consoles +, "Janvier 1999" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 88
- ↑ Consoles +, "Octobre 1999" (FR; 1999-xx-xx), page 138
- ↑ Computer & Video Games, "October 1999" (UK; 1999-09-15), page 62
- ↑ Dreamcast Monthly, "September 1999" (UK; 1999-xx-xx), page 60
- ↑ DC-UK, "September 1999" (UK; 1999-09-02), page 20
- ↑ DC-UK, "October 1999" (UK; 1999-09-29), page 41
- ↑ Dreamcast: Le Magazine Officiel, "Octobre/Novembre 1999" (FR; 1999-xx-xx), page 66
- ↑ Dreamcast: Das Offizielle Magazin, "Oktober 1999" (DE; 1999-10-14), page 22
- ↑ Dreamcast Magazine, "1998-03 (1998-12-04)" (JP; 1998-11-20), page 25
- ↑ Dreamcast Magazine, "No. 1" (UK; 1999-09-09), page 66
- ↑ Dreamcast Magazine, "No. 2" (UK; 1999-10-21), page 78
- ↑ Dorimaga, "2002-18 (2002-10-11)" (JP; 2002-09-27), page 34
- ↑ Dreamzone, "Novembre 1999" (FR; 1999-10-16), page 86
- ↑ Edge, "January 1999" (UK; 1998-12-23), page 84
- ↑ Edge, "Autumn 1999" (UK; 1999-10-01), page 102
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1999" (US; 1999-10-05), page 236
- ↑ Entsiklopediya igr dlya Dreamcast, "Izdaniye chetvertoye, dopolnennoye" (RU; 2002-xx-xx), page 291
- ↑ Famitsu, "1998-12-04" (JP; 1998-11-20), page 35
- ↑ GameFan, "Volume 7, Issue 12: December 1999" (US; 1999-xx-xx), page 20
- ↑ GamePro, "December 1999" (US; 1999-1x-xx), page 194
- ↑ Gen 4 Consoles, "Novembre 99" (FR; 1999-xx-xx), page 138
- ↑ Game Informer, "November 1999" (US; 1999-1x-xx), page 68
- ↑ Gamers' Republic, "February 1999" (US; 1999-01-15), page 84
- ↑ Incite Video Gaming, "December 1999" (US; 1999-1x-xx), page 127
- ↑ MAN!AC, "02/99" (DE; 1999-01-07), page 36
- ↑ MAN!AC, "11/99" (DE; 1999-10-06), page 96
- ↑ Man!ak, "Wrzesień 1999" (PL; 1999-xx-xx), page 18
- ↑ Man!ak, "Grudzień 1999" (PL; 1999-xx-xx), page 74
- ↑ Mega Fun, "10/99" (DE; 1999-09-01), page 76
- ↑ Neo Plus, "Listopad 1999" (PL; 1999-xx-xx), page 31
- ↑ Next Generation, "December 1999" (US; 1999-11-23), page 104
- ↑ neXt Level, "Januar 1999" (DE; 1998-12-18), page 6
- ↑ neXt Level, "November 1999" (DE; 1999-10-08), page 38
- ↑ Next Level, "Marzo 1999" (AR; 1999-xx-xx), page 35
- ↑ Official Dreamcast Magazine, "November 1999" (UK; 1999-09-30), page 76
- ↑ Player One, "Septembre 1999" (FR; 1999-xx-xx), page 130
- ↑ Playmag, "Octobre 1999" (FR; 1999-xx-xx), page 129
- ↑ Play, "Lipiec 2001" (PL; 2001-xx-xx), page 18
- ↑ PSX Extreme, "03/2001" (PL; 2001-0x-xx), page 41
- ↑ Sega Magazin, "Februar 1999" (DE; 1998-12-28), page 10
- ↑ Strana Igr, "Yanvar 1999 2/2" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 8
- ↑ Strana Igr, "Sentyabr 2000 2/2" (RU; 2000-xx-xx), page 21
- ↑ Total Control, "January 1999" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 148
- ↑ Video Games, "10/99 It's Dreamcast Time supplement" (DE; 1999-09-22), page 6
| Virtua Fighter 3tb | |
|---|---|
|
Main page | Comparisons | Credits | Hidden content | Bugs | Development | Magazine articles | Reception | Technical information | Bootlegs
Videos: Virtua Fighter 3tb: The Competitive Edge (1998) | |
| Virtua Fighter series | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtua Fighter (Remix | PC) (1993-1995) | Virtua Fighter 2 (Mega Drive | Sega Ages 2500 Series) (1994-1996) | Virtua Fighter 3 (3tb | 3tb Online) (1996-1997) | Virtua Fighter 4 (Evolution | Final Tuned) (2001-2004) | Virtua Fighter 5 (R | Final Showdown | Ultimate Showdown | R.E.V.O.) (2006-202X) | |||
| Spin-offs | |||
| Virtua Fighter Kids (1996) | Virtua Fighter Animation (1997) | Virtua Fighter 10th Anniversary (2003) | Virtua Quest (2004) | |||
| Cross-overs | |||
| Fighters Megamix (Game.com) | Dead or Alive 5 (5+ | Ultimate | Last Round) (2012-2015) | |||
| Portrait series | |||
| Virtua Fighter CG Portrait Series: (1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | The Final) (1995-1996) | GG Portrait: Yuuki Akira (1996) | GG Portrait: Pai Chan (1996) | |||
| Others | |||
| Virtua Fighter (LCD) (1995) | Electronic Virtua Fighter (199x) | Virtua Fighter (R-Zone) (199x) | Virtua Fighter 3 Win-PC-Collection (1996) | Virtua Fighter (2007) | CR Virtua Fighter (2008) | Virtua Fighter Mobile (2008) | Pachinko CR Virtua Fighter Revolution (2012) | Virtua Fighter Cool Champ (2012) | Virtua Fighter Fever Combo (2014) | Virtua Fighter Pachislot (2014) | Virtua Fighter Battle Genesis (2019) | |||
| Unlicensed | |||
| Virtua Fighter 2 vs. Tekken 2 (199x) | |||
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