Difference between revisions of "Rise of the Robots"

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{{stub}}'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is a fighting game originally developed by [[Mirage Technologies]] for the Amiga and DOS-based computers and published by [[Time Warner Interactive]] in 1994, which was later ported to the [[Sega Mega Drive]] and [[Sega Game Gear]], amongst other systems. The Mega Drive version was only released in Europe, where it was published [[Acclaim Entertainment]].
 
{{stub}}'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is a fighting game originally developed by [[Mirage Technologies]] for the Amiga and DOS-based computers and published by [[Time Warner Interactive]] in 1994, which was later ported to the [[Sega Mega Drive]] and [[Sega Game Gear]], amongst other systems. The Mega Drive version was only released in Europe, where it was published [[Acclaim Entertainment]].

Revision as of 12:08, 8 December 2019

n/a

RiseoftheRobots title.png

Rise of the Robots
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Acclaim,
Sega Game Gear
Time Warner Interactive
Developer:
Genre: Action

















Number of players:
Sega Mega Drive
1-2
Sega Game Gear
1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
EU 		T-81426-50
Sega Mega Drive
PT 		MD81426
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Game Gear
US 		T-48208
Sega Game Gear
EU 		T-48208-50
Non-Sega versions

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

Rise of the Robots is a fighting game originally developed by Mirage Technologies for the Amiga and DOS-based computers and published by Time Warner Interactive in 1994, which was later ported to the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Game Gear, amongst other systems. The Mega Drive version was only released in Europe, where it was published Acclaim Entertainment.

Gameplay

Rise of the Robots sees the player controlling a robot called "Cyborg" fighting a series of computer controlled opponents (which can be controlled by player two in versus mode, but never player one). It is a very simple fighting game, in which one button punches and another kicks (with the Mega Drive six-button layout, this defaults to A B and C punching, while X Y and Z kick).

According to Mirage, unlike many earlier games, the computer players in Rise of the Robots will keep track of the human player's actions, and will become more successful at countering or dodging moves that are performed more than once[3]. Gameplay is also adjusted depending on how often the player hits an opponent, blocks, or fails to make contact at all[3].

Robots

Cyborg
Loader
Builder
Crusher
Military
Sentry
Supervisor

History

Development

The vast majority of graphics in Rise of the Robots were produced in 3D Studio[4], with many of the robots opting for "unusual" fighting stances specifically to highlight the then-cutting edge visuals[5]. Each robot has around 100 frames of animation in total, though the computer imagery meant that many of these are interpolated between defined keyframes[4].

Rise of the Robots was initially built with Amiga computers in mind, with higher resolution assets being used for an IBM PC compatible version, released around the same time. All console ports stem from these two versions of the game. A side effect of its home computing roots is that Rise of the Robots targeted joysticks with only one button, leading to a drastically reduced moveset compared to contemporary fighting games of its day.

Though the game emphasised the inclusion of a soundtrack by former Queen guitarist Brian May, only one song of his made it to the final release: The Dark, used as the title theme, though some versions also include the song Resurrection for cutscenes. Both songs were released as part of May's 1992 solo album Back to the Light. The rest of the game's music was composed by Richard Joseph.

In Europe, Acclaim Entertainment purchased the publishing rights Rise of the Robots, originally planning to launch the game simltaneously across all platforms. This plan changed, however, with the Nintendo versions appearing for Christmas 1994, and Sega versions arriving in early 1995[6].

A Sega Mega-CD port was planned to be released by JVC in the US (once dated for January 1995[7]), but was cancelled for unknown reasons. A promotional video advertising the the version was distributed, featuring "work in progress" footage from the game (although said footage originated from the DOS version) and a VRC rating of GA. Interestingly the Mega Drive version's credits note that Antonio Argentieri programmed both the Mega Drive and Mega-CD ports.

Legacy

Despite spending significant sums of money in developing and marketing the game, Rise of the Robots was met with poor reviews. Time Warner Interactive had planned for a range of merchandise including action figures, but as word spread of the game's poor performance, all of these plans were shelved.

Nevertheless, Rise of the Robots was followed by Rise 2 Resurrection in 1996, however this too failed to meet expectations.


Production credits

Mega Drive version

  • Original game by: Instinct Design/Mirage
  • Conversion by: Data Design Interactive
Data Design Staff
  • Mega Drive and Mega-CD programming by: Antonio Argentieri
  • SNES programming by: Tony Stoddart
  • GameGear programming by: Clive Townsend
  • Graphics: John Dunn, Richard Priest, Jon Baker
  • Graphic utilities: Chris Guest, Dave Pemberton
  • Animation conversions by: Dale Johnstone
  • Graphic conversions by: Tony Hackett
  • Project assistance by: Stewart Green, Adam Priest
Mirage/Instinct Design Staff
  • Produced by: Peter Jones, Sean Griffiths, Andy Wood
  • Designed and directed by: Sean Griffiths
  • Musical co-ordination: Richard Joseph, Andy Wood
  • Game soundtrack: Richard Joseph
  • Game music: Jason Page, conversions by Graham King, produced by Richard Joseph
  • Original music: Brian May
  • Set design: Kwan Lee
  • Set construction: Interactive Images
  • Senior artists: Sean Naden, Interactive
  • Character design: Sean Naden, Interactive
  • Senior programmers: Andy Clark (Amiga), Gary Leach (PC and coin-op)
  • Conversions: Gina Jackson
  • Programmers: Pete Dabbs (CDi), Keith Wood (3DO)
  • Marketing and publicity: Julia Coombs, supported by Declan Brennan
  • Distribution: Roy Campbell, Dave Cotton, Andy Wood
  • Script writing: Jim Murdoch
  • Quality control: Paul Baddeley, David Capewell, Carl Carter, Matthew Hawkeswood, Lee Salt, Thomas Wardle


Magazine articles

Main article: Rise of the Robots/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Mega Force (FR) #34: "Décembre 1994" (1994-12-02)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in G.I. Joe (PL) #30: "Listopad 1995" (1995-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Velikiy Drakon (RU) #60 (2002-09-05)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
80 [10]
45
36 №14, p84/85
3 №64, p20
Sega Mega Drive
 41
Based on
4 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[11]
Consoles + (FR)
80
[12]
Cool Gamer (RU)
50
[13]
Gamer (GR)
67
[14]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
39
[15]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
75
[16]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
33
[17]
Magazina Igrushek (RU)
40
[18]
Play Time (DE) PAL
35
[19]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
36
[20]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
3
[21]
Świat Gier Komputerowych (PL)
90
[22]
Sega Megazone (AU)
48
[23]
Todo Sega (ES)
81
[24]
Top Secret (PL)
50
[25]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
61
[26]
Video Games (DE) PAL
38
[27]
Sega Mega Drive
 52
Based on
17 reviews

Rise of the Robots

Mega Drive, EU
RiseoftheRobots MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
RiseoftheRobots MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
20 [28]
Sega Game Gear
 20
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
42
[29]
Freak (IL)
60
[30]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
40
[31]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
48
[32]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
55
[33]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
23
[34]
Player One (FR)
20
[35]
Play Time (DE)
20
[36]
Todo Sega (ES)
58
[37]
Video Games (DE) PAL
23
[27]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
50
[38]
Sega Game Gear
 40
Based on
11 reviews

Rise of the Robots

Game Gear, US
RiseoftheRobots GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngRiseoftheRobots GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
RiseoftheRobots GG US Cart.jpg
Cart
Rise of the Robots GG US Manual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, EU
RiseoftheRobots GG EU Box Back.jpgNospine.pngRiseoftheRobots GG EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
RiseoftheRobots GG EU Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 100b77b2
MD5 ebcedb0b611788408d1b27171b77ad6b
SHA-1 9ba2f734eccf5b2ceefaa69cebdf7399bc9032d8
512kB Cartridge (US/EU)

References

  1. ↑ Sega Magazine, "November 1994" (UK; 1994-10-15), page 12
  2. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 10 October 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 12
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Edge, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-10-28), page 48
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Edge, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-10-28), page 45
  5. ↑ Edge, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-10-28), page 46
  6. ↑ GamesMaster, "November 1994" (UK; 1994-10-20), page 8
  7. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 2 February 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 11
  8. ↑ CD Consoles, "Janvier 1995" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 25
  9. ↑ CD Consoles, "Février 1995" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 164
  10. ↑ Consoles +, "Janvier 1995" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 88/89 (88)
  11. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 189
  12. ↑ Consoles +, "Janvier 1995" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 88
  13. ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 169
  14. ↑ Gamer, "Fevrouários 1995" (GR; 1995-xx-xx), page 1
  15. ↑ MAN!AC, "02/95" (DE; 1995-01-11), page 66
  16. ↑ Mega Force, "Janvier 1995" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 62
  17. ↑ Mega Fun, "01/95" (DE; 1994-12-21), page 36
  18. ↑ Magazina Igrushek, "4/1995" (RU; 1995-xx-xx), page 64
  19. ↑ Play Time, "2/95" (DE; 1995-01-04), page 110
  20. ↑ Sega Magazine, "February 1995" (UK; 1995-01-15), page 84
  21. ↑ Sega Power, "March 1995" (UK; 1995-01-19), page 20
  22. ↑ Świat Gier Komputerowych, "1/1995" (PL; 1995-xx-xx), page 1
  23. ↑ Sega Megazone, "February 1995" (AU; 1995-0x-xx), page 36
  24. ↑ Todo Sega, "Enero 1995" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 38
  25. ↑ Top Secret, "Sierpień 1995" (PL; 1995-xx-xx), page 59
  26. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 143
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Video Games, "3/95" (DE; 1995-02-23), page 115
  28. ↑ Player One, "Mars 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 107 (103)
  29. ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "April 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 94
  30. ↑ Freak, "7/95" (IL; 1995-xx-xx), page 1
  31. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 2 February 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 72
  32. ↑ GamePro, "February 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 130
  33. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Marzo 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 119
  34. ↑ Mega Fun, "03/95" (DE; 1995-02-22), page 80
  35. ↑ Player One, "Mars 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 107
  36. ↑ Play Time, "3/95" (DE; 1995-02-08), page 110
  37. ↑ Todo Sega, "Mayo 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 51
  38. ↑ VideoGames, "February 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 82
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