https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2020/10/virtua-hamster/ * + + + + + Games That Weren't Documenting unreleased, cancelled and prototype video games. Skip to content * Home * About + Team + Donations * GTW64 (C64) + Browse GTW64 + Still in production + Wanted + About GTW64 * Vic 20 * Unreleased games * Prototypes * Features + Bonus book content * Contact us * Links Virtua Hamster Last updated: March 29, 2021 by fgasking * Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) * More * * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) * * Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) * Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) * * Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window) * 1995 Peakstar Software / SEGA Platforms: SEGA 32X and Saturn As part of the launch and release of The Games That Weren't book, we are adding assets and content that didn't make it to print as bonus DLC content to share with you. Images are (c) David A. Palmer and used with permission. With thanks to Eric Quakenbush for the additional scans provided. Within the book is an in-depth and detailed 16 page story about the unreleased Virtua Hamster by Peakstar/SEGA for the 32X and Saturn platforms. We overall speak to designer Eric Quakenbush, producer David A Palmer, lead developer Nick Kimberley, associate producer/ artist Ben Palmer, artist Roddy McMillan and musician Paul Tankard - getting their recollections about the project. Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994005Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994005 The 32X edition was a mostly cut down version of Eric Quakenbush's original game design, with a Saturn edition to be started afterwards which would more closely align with Eric's original vision. The Saturn version was never to be started due to events with the 32X edition. A few months from completion, SEGA decided to pull the plug due to financial issues at SEGA of America. David A Palmer was given complete ownership of the entire game design and code as part of a settlement. Both Eric and David were very kind to provide assets from the game to include in the book, which we did. However, only a small sample could be shown and therefore we have been given permission to add the rest online as bonus content. David in particular loaned GTW an entire portfolio of concept designs, maps, game design documents and even bits of code print outs. Well over 100 scans were made as a result, and can be found below. There is also a download of the early prototype that sneaked out, though it is hoped that the last build of the game will be allowed for release some day soon. We will let you know as soon as this can happen. Other resources * Ken Horowitz's 2009 piece on the game * Eric Quakenbush's page/s on Virtua Hamster * Pre-production video of Virtua Hamster Download * Virtua Hamster 32X prototype Gallery Images are (c) David A. Palmer and used with permission. With thanks to Eric Quakenbush for the additional scans provided. EXTRAproto sega logoEXTRAproto sega logo Start of several screenshots from the leaked prototype. peakstar software logopeakstar software logo Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994000Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994000 Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994001Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994001 Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994008Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994008 Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994006Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994006 Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994007Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994007 Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994009Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994009 Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994010Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994010 Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994011Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994011 Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994012Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994012 Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994014Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994014 Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994002Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994002 Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994003Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994003 Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994004Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994004 Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994015Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994015 Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994017Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994017 Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994016Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994016 Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994005Virtua Hamster 32X Prototype 1994005 LaterPrototype 3LaterPrototype 3 Start of 3 screenshots from Eric, showing the later (possibly last) build. LaterPrototype 2LaterPrototype 2 LaterPrototype 1LaterPrototype 1 Showing the split screen. vid concept 1vid concept 1 Start of 6 screens from a concept video that was made for the game. vid concept 2vid concept 2 vid concept 3vid concept 3 vid concept 4vid concept 4 vid concept 5vid concept 5 vid concept 6vid concept 6 1 11 1 Advert from a SEGA catalogue showing the game. 22 Zoom of the artwork. CoverartPrototypeCoverartPrototype Rotated and tidied up IMG 20190108 050853IMG 20190108 050853 Another capture from Eric of the artwork. IMG 20190108 050523IMG 20190108 050523 The original artwork from Eric cover artcover art IMG 20190108 050632IMG 20190108 050632 A number of colour concepts from Eric (including several characters to follow). IMG 20190108 050747IMG 20190108 050747 IMG 20190108 050331IMG 20190108 050331 IMG 20190108 050353IMG 20190108 050353 IMG 20190108 050409IMG 20190108 050409 IMG 20190108 050736IMG 20190108 050736 IMG 20190108 050607IMG 20190108 050607 IMG 20190108 050651IMG 20190108 050651 habitral bwhabitral bw The Habitrail habitrail colourhabitrail colour Colour version IMG 20190108 050551IMG 20190108 050551 snakesnake The mechanical snake design. EXTRA Eric Tubes w hamsterEXTRA Eric Tubes w hamster Tunnel mockup from Eric. packratBWpackratBW Series of b/w character sketches oldsterBWoldsterBW EXTRA oldsterBWEXTRA oldsterBW EXTRA packratBWEXTRA packratBW EXTRA Hamster7EXTRA Hamster7 Followed by some colour ones. MoleMole EXTRA Hamster9EXTRA Hamster9 EXTRA Hamster4EXTRA Hamster4 KangarooKangaroo 112112 Various dotmatrix printed screens and assets from the game. 7979 8484 8282 8383 115115 8686 8585 Cut scene showing the mad professor. MadProfessorMadProfessor Coloured version 8787 A number of character concepts and designs 116116 6 16 1 4 24 2 3 23 2 5 15 1 7 17 1 Tunnel concept explained over this and the next few slides. 117117 123123 127127 118118 119119 120120 8 18 1 Starting here, what follows are a number of artist sketch book concepts and characters in raw form. Showing the evolution of Chip the Hamster and other concepts. 9 19 1 10 210 2 11 111 1 12 212 2 13 213 2 14 114 1 15 215 2 16 216 2 17 117 1 1818 1919 2020 2121 2222 2323 2424 2525 2626 2727 2828 2929 3030 3131 3232 3333 3434 3535 3636 3737 108108 A final pitch document from David A Palmer that was produced post-cancellation to try and encourage someone else to sign up the concept. 109109 Second page of doc 110110 Last page of doc. 3838 Notes on the game 3939 Game design document used during development of the 32X version. This has 40 pages to follow! 4040 4141 4242 4343 4444 4545 4646 4747 4848 4949 5050 5151 5252 5353 5454 5555 5656 5757 5858 5959 6060 6161 6262 6363 6464 6565 6666 6767 6868 6969 7070 7171 7272 7373 7474 7575 7676 7777 7878 8888 Various code and polygon notes from here and to follow. 8989 9090 9191 9292 9393 9494 9595 9696 9797 9898 9999 100100 101101 102102 103103 104104 105105 106106 107107 111111 121121 Various explanations and details about the game - probably used as part of an initial design document. 122122 124124 125125 126126 128 1128 1 129 1129 1 130130 131131 132132 Various calculations and development notes for the tunnel/movement routines. About 26 pages to follow. 133133 134134 135135 136136 137137 138138 139139 140140 141141 142142 143143 144144 145145 146146 147147 148148 149149 150150 151151 152152 153153 154154 155155 156156 157157 158158 159159 More design document details and notes. Possibly an earlier design doc version. 160160 161161 162162 163163 164164 165165 166166 167167 168168 169169 170170 171171 172172 173173 174174 175175 176176 177177 code1code1 From here and what follows are a number of code listing pages. code2code2 code3code3 code4code4 code5code5 code6code6 code7code7 code8code8 code9code9 code10code10 code11code11 code12code12 code13code13 code14code14 code15code15 code16code16 code17code17 code18code18 code19code19 m1m1 From here and what follows are print outs of the level maps that would have been in the game, with workings out to integrate later. m2m2 m3m3 m4m4 m5m5 m6m6 m7m7 m8m8 m9m9 m10m10 m11m11 m12m12 m13m13 m14m14 m15m15 m16m16 m17m17 m18m18 m19m19 m20m20 m20 bm20 b m21m21 m22bm22b m22m22 m23bm23b m23m23 m24bm24b m24m24 m25bm25b m25m25 m26bm26b m26m26 m27bm27b m27m27 m28bm28b m28m28 m29bm29b m29m29 m30m30 m31m31 m32m32 m33m33 m34m34 m35m35 m36m36 m37m37 m38m38 m39m39 m40m40 m41m41 m42m42 m43m43 m44m44 113113 114114 Sega Visions Issue 24 0071Sega Visions Issue 24 0071 To conclude, a Sega Visions magazine clipping talking about the game. This entry was posted in 32X, Bonus, Saturn. Bookmark the permalink. - Spitfire Fury SEGA 1995 product catalogue - Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Comment[ ] [ ] Name * [ ] Email * [ ] Website [ ] [ ] Notify me of follow-up comments by email. [ ] Notify me of new posts by email. [Post Comment] The Games That Weren't Book - Order now from www.gtwbook.co.ukThe Games That Weren't Book - Order now from www.gtwbook.co.uk Side navigation * Search GTW Search for: [ ] [Search] * Platform sites + Amiga + Commodore 64 + Vic 20 * Recent updates + Tiger Road 2 + Attack of the Mutant Camels '89 + Universal Monsters + Superhero + Son of Zeus + Black Legend games + Mutant Zone + Silly Putty early screens (Amiga) + Silly Putty 2 - Amiga (Early screens) + Alien Resurrection + A.E + Worron * Recent comments + fgasking It's certainly a possibility. Richard is checking this page, so... 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