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Unpublished MSX Konami games
For many MSX fans, Konami is without any doubt the
publisher who has best used all the resources of this standard (MSX1 et 2).
So many games have been released by these Japanese studios and some sagas
were born on our preferred machine (Vampire Killer aka Castlevania, Nemesis
aka Gradius, Metal Gear, etc..).
The list of Konami games is available on different websites on Internet, I mention here some of them:
- http://wszk.s8.xrea.com/msx/old/konlist.html
- http://bifi.msxnet.org/msxnet/konami/konami.txt
- http://www.passionmsx.org/msxgamesbox/Sections/topgames/games/konami.php
- http://www.passionmsx.org/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=24
By checking the list, we can see breaks in the code used to identify the cartridges. The concerned codes are RC708, RC709, RC719, RC722, RC726, RC738, RC756, RC763. After many researches on Internet, I can finally give you the result of my quest.
Large Size & Additional Pictures of this review:Visit this album in the Gallery!
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Action Boat RC708 (1984)
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This boat game was cancelled, although it has been advertised and was probably almost finished.
Advertisement precises it should be sold 4800 Yens, what was the middle price for Konami games.
Apparently, it was like an hyper-rallye on water (with a boat), including the usual elements :
stages, time, progress bar.
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Spelling Bee RC709 (1984)
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As for Action Boat, this game was advertised, but two details are disconcerting. First, the game should be sold 9800
Yens, or more twice than the price of a classical game. Secondly, the game is a mix of different games, as we have the hero from Athletic Land, the tree from Magical Tree,...
It was educational game, where a (digitalized ?????) voice gives a word and the gamer needs to spell it by choosing the letters and avoiding the obstacles at the same time. The item was displayed on the right of the screen (on the screen capture, the word is SUN).
An arcade version seems to have been released under the name « SPELLING TREE ».
(Source)
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Keyboard Master RC719 (1984)
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Another educational game, especially conceived for the users who want to improve
their typing. A voice spelled the characters to type and the gamer needed to
follow the rhythm (3 levels of difficulty). This cartridge should include a
soundchip, the VLM5030, to simulate the voice. A prototype version exists, it is
even emulated by blueMSX! - more info at Generation MSX
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Konami Pinball RC722 (1985)
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Presented in the 1985 Konami catalogue, this flipper game was finally not released.
Graphics look simple and Hal concurrence with Rollerball explains maybe why this project has been stopped.
More info at MSX Data 4
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Announced in many magazines (including the famous Micro News), this billiards
game for MSX2 (with SCC chip) was very promising. Unfortunally, it was cancelled,
but you can play the corresponding ARCADE game, I mean
RACK’EM UP (1987), also known as « THE HUSTLER » in Japan.
In this case, you need the MAME emulator and it's easy to find the roms
on Internet.
More info at BiFi's Breakshot Page
and on Arcade Flyers (search for Rack'em Up)
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This medieval wargame (at the time of the samurais) has without any doubt made
the expenses of interest's fall for MSX from Konami. It has been released on
PC98, a computer build around an Intel 8086 and manufactured by NEC. Even if
it's possible to play it on an emulator, the language barrier will be a real
obstacle for many gamers.
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This platform game (based on a war game) is actually the first game conceived
by Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear,Snatcher, SD-Snatcher). This game, with a soldier
as hero, does not have been developed because of the MSX technical limitations.
More info at
Junker HQ
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Two unknown games: RC726 (1985) and
RC738 (1986)
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Despite all my researches, I did not succeed in finding the name
of these games. Here are my hypothesis:
1st hypothesis:
- RC726 was initially for Green Beret, but when seeing the game, Konami
has decided to place it apart from the other productions.
- RC738 was reserved for Lost Warld, but Konami has stopped the project
when he has noticed it was too ambitious.
2d hypothesis: A double coincidence:
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| RC 725
Yie Ar Kung Fu |
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RC 737
Yie Ar Kung Fu 2 |
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| RC 726
??? |
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RC 738
??? |
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Both unknown games come after Yie Ar Kung Fu, these codes are maybe used
for special (korean for example) versions of these games?
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Jolly Hopper RC715 (1984): A different case
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As mentioned in this advertisement,
Hypersport1 had initially to be called Jolly Hopper. So, it's not another game.
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Conclusion : it's surprising to see that some games have been cancelled at different progress states (preliminary project, developpement, finalisation with publicity). Many reasons can be mentioned : economic, technical, others. As fans, we can hope that Konami will give some day the codes and beta versions to the public domain. This list is not definitive, each new additionnal info is welcome.
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