Rainbow Vision/Suntek (updated list on post 1!)

[mitsubachi]

Does this mean I have to put it down?

 

*sobs*

*gets the gun*

[Rom Hunter]

No.

I think you own an unique cartridge.

Keep it alive and try to reach a high score.

 

Edited October 17, 2005 by Rom Hunter

[mitsubachi]

Well FreakCart is still pretty playable. I just won't have a real score to post if it gets put up for HSC.

[Rom Hunter]

Back to my question.

I'm still looking for the true identity of these (Rainbow Vision) Suntek games:

 

Ski Run (SS-024)

Spectracube Invasion (SS-025)

Asteroid Belt (SS-029)

UFO Patrol (SS-031)

 

Anyone?

 

Edited October 17, 2005 by Rom Hunter

[Foxsolo2000]

Rom I added a pic of both Mountain Man by ITT Family Games and Ski Run by Home Vision on the pirates or original forum. Wasn't ski run one of them or is it the other rare skiing game where you ski down a mountain and have to jump over the brown patches without going off the course?

[Rom Hunter]

That's exactly what I want to find out.

 

Ski Run (SS-024) from Suntek (Rainbow Vision) could be:

Ski Hunt from Home Vision.

or:

Ski Run from Taiwan R.O.C. (Video Game Cartridge).

 

One thing is certain:

Ski Hunt from Home Vision is the same game as Mountain Man from ITT Family Games.

 

Edited October 20, 2005 by Rom Hunter

[Foxsolo2000]

After reading your reply Ski Run is not Ski Hunt, they are two different games. It is most likely the Ski Run you mentioned from Taiwan for in Ski Hunt you first have to travel down a mountain before going down a slope shooting all the animals that zig zag up the screen towards you.

In ski run you just travel down a mountain but have to stay within a set course, jumping over large brown areas to stay in the game for if you run over them you crash. If Home Vision already had Ski Hunt I seriously doubt they would have recycled the title for another game that although similiar is totally different at the same time.

[Rom Hunter]

Let's hope that somebody can show us a Suntek (Rainbow Vision) Ski Run with a screenshot.

 

[Rom Hunter]

News on the Rainbow Vision/Suntek front!

 

It's a long story, but this is what I did:

 

As you probably know, Quelle released a lot of Rainbow Vision/Suntek games under a different (German) name.

You can recognize them by their game title on screen (Mafia, Tuby Bird, Bi! Bi!, Mariana, etc.).

 

I decided to put the Quelle list (70 titles) in chronological order (lowest bestell nummer first, highest bestell nummer last).

 

After examining this re-arranged Quelle list, I noticed a pattern: almost every Rainbow Vision/Suntek AKA on this list is in the same order as the original Rainbow Vision/Suntek (SS-0XX) list.

 

By comparing these two lists, you can see which Quelle game fits into the missing gaps of the original Rainbow Vision/Suntek list.

 

This way I discovered that:

 

UFO Patrol from Rainbow Vision/Suntek is the same game as Raumpatrouille from Quelle (AKA X'Mission from Home Vision).

 

Farmyard Fun (Tom's Eierjagd) and Treasure Island (Kampf um die Schatzinsel) are released by Rainbow Vision/Suntek.

 

I also believe that (by comparing the Rainbow Vision and Home Vision lists) Farmyard Fun and Treasure Island are most probably originally Home Vision games.

 

Here's the re-arranged Quelle list:

 

1 Gefecht im All (Time Race - Rainbow Vision/Suntek Space Jockey - U.S. Games) 147.443 6

2 Galactic (Galactic - Rainbow Vision/Suntek The Challenge of.... Nexar - Spectravision/Spectravideo) ???.??? ?

3 Landungskommando (Strategy X - Gakken) 176.433 1

4 Der Vielfraß (Fast Food - Telesys) 176.543 7

5 Die Springteufel (Infiltrate - Apollo) 176.654 2

6 Marineflieger (Seahawk - Sancho) 176.764 9

7 Pac-Kong (Pac-Kong - Rainbow Vision/Suntek Spider Monster - Funvision) 219.292 0

8 Wüstenschlacht (Pyramid War - Rainbow Vision/Suntek Chopper Command - Activision) 262.794 1

9 Dschungel Boy (Tom Boy - Rainbow Vision/Suntek Pitfall! - Activision) 262.894 9

10 Marspatrouille (Gas Hog - Spectravision/Spectravideo) 292.542 8

11 Weltraumtunnel (Laser Gates - Imagic) 292.651 7

12 Im Reich der Spinne (Netmaker - Rainbow Vision/Suntek Amidar - Parker Brothers) 322.773 3

13 Bermuda (Bermuda - Rainbow Vision/Suntek River Raid - Activision) 322.913 5

14 Winterjagd (Ski Hunt - Home Vision) 343.073 3

15 Phantompanzer II (Thunderground - Sega) 343.273 9

16 Der flinke Architekt (Master Builder - Spectravision/Spectravideo) 343.373 7

17 Stopp die Gangster (Mafia - Rainbow Vision/Suntek Gangster Alley - Spectravision/Spectravideo) 377.943 6

18 Super-Ferrari (Super Ferrari - Rainbow Vision/Suntek Enduro - Activision) 402.272 9

19 Schnapp die Apfeldiebe (Catch Time - Rainbow Vision/Suntek Plaque Attack - Activision) 429.663 8

20 Kampf dem Steinfresser (Boom Bang - Rainbow Vision/Suntek Crackpots - Activision) 463.574 4

22 Die Unterwasser Bestien (Mariana - Rainbow Vision/Suntek Seaquest - Activision) 463.734 4

23 Strahlen der Teufelsvögel (Curtiss - Rainbow Vision/Suntek Atlantis - Imagic) 463.860 7

24 Vogel Flieh (Tuby Bird - Rainbow Vision/Suntek Dolphin - Activision) 465.302 8

25 Phantom-Panzer (Phantom Tank - Bit Corporation) 475.613 6

26 Bobby geht nach Hause (Bobby is Going Home - Bit Corporation) 476.774 5

27 Angriff der Luftflotten (M.A.D. - U.S. Games) 495.463 2

28 Invasion aus der Galaxis (World End - Home Vision) 495.563 9

29 Spiderman (Spider-Man - Parker Brothers) 495.663 7

30 Top Gun (Air Raiders - M-Network) 626.502 9

31 Billiard (Trick Shot - Imagic) 626.610 0

32 Mission 3000 (Mission 3,000 A.D. - Bit Corporation) 633.723 2

33 Robin Hood (Save Our Ship - Technovision) 684.733 9

34 Der kleine Bär (Frostbite - Activision) 685.640 5

35 Teller-Jonglieren! (Dancing Plate - Bit Corporation) 685.996 1

36 Mein Weg (Challenge - HES) 686.561 2

37 Die Ratte und die Karotten (Gopher - U.S. Games) 687.463 0

38 Die Ente und der Wolf (Pooyan - Gakken) 688.383 9

39 Hili Ball (Racquetball - Apollo) 689.302 8

40 Der moderne Ritter (Fast Eddie - 20th Century Fox Video Games) 700.223 1

41 Schießbude (Carnival - Coleco) 701.134 9

42 Wachroboter jagt Jupy (Hey! Stop! - Rainbow Vision/Suntek Keystone Kapers - Activision) 715.853 5

43 Ungeheuer der Tiefe (Bi! Bi! - Rainbow Vision/Suntek Skindiver Sancho) 719.013 5

44 Kampf um die Schatzinsel (Duck Shoot - Rainbow Vision/Suntek?) 719.163 8

45 Im Schutz der Drachen (Dragon Defender - Rainbow Vision/Suntek ? - Home Vision) 719.252 9

46 Kampf im Asteroiden-Gürtel (War 2000 - Home Vision Astrowar - Dimax/Sinmax) 719.302 2

48 Motocross (Motocross - Rainbow Vision/Suntek ? - Home Vision) 719.383.2

49 Gefährliche Mäusejagd (Mole Hunter - Rainbow Vision/Suntek Topy - Home Vision) 719.551 4

50 Aufruhr im Zoo (Zoo Fun - Home Vision) 719.694 2

51 Vom Himmel durch die Hölle (Skydiver - Rainbow Vision/Suntek Parachute - Home Vision) 719.941 7

52 Raumpatrouille (UFO Patrol - Rainbow Vision/Suntek X'Mission - Home Vision) 731.064 2

53 Schussel, der Polizistenschreck (Walker - Rainbow Vision/Suntek Clown Down Town - Home Vision) 731.273 9

54 Invasion der UFO'S (Sky Alien - Home Vision) 731.322 1

55 Tom´s Eierjagd (Farmyard Fun - Rainbow Vision/Suntek?) 731.503 9

56 Der hungrige Panda (Panda Chase - Home Vision) 731.662 3

57 Eddy Langfinger, der Museumsdieb (Criminal Persuit - Rainbow Vision/Suntek A Mysterious Thief - ZiMAG/Emag) 732.052 6

58 Raumbasen-Attacke (Base Attack - Home Vision) 732.074 0

59 Ufi und sein gefährlicher Einsatz (Go Go Home Monster - Home Vision?) 732.174 8

60 Alices Abenteur (Lilly Adventure - Home Vision) 732.273 8

61 Der Geheimkurier (Mr. Postman - Bit Corporation) 802.744 3

62 Labyrinth (Maze Craze - Atari) 805.784 6

63 Fuchs & Schweinchen Schlau (Oink! - Activision) 806.174 9

64 Feuerwehr im Einsatz (Fire Fighter - Imagic) 843.173 1

65 Eishockey-Fieber (Ice Hockey - Activision) 873.790 0

66 Super-Cowboy beim Rodeo (Stampede - Activision) 874.254 6

67 Die hungrigen Frösche (Frogs and Flies - M-Network) 874.382 5

68 Jagd auf Diamanten-Frisco (Frisco - Home Vision) 875.413 7

69 Katastrophen-Einsatz (M*A*S*H - 20th Century Fox Video Games) 876.013 4

70 Landung in der Normandie (Commando Raid - U.S. Games) 876.482 1

 

I numbered the titles for quick reference.

BTW: if anyone knows the bestell nummer of Galactic (game 2), please let me know (I'm almost certain it begins with 147, 176 or 219).

 

Have Fun.

 

Edited November 28, 2006 by Rom Hunter

[Foxsolo2000]

Rom, read the list again and I still agree with you on the theory. How sure are you that ET GO HOME is GO GO HOME MONSTER? It does make perfect sense for as I said to you earlier the logical progression would be Col N, the german name for ET Go Home to Rainbow Vision Go Go Home Monster. Do you think that Home Vision released Challenge under their own label as Challenge? Quelle released it as Mein Weig, which later had an English title My Way which later became Challenge by Zellers. Great work, keep it up

[Rom Hunter]

Rom, read the list again and I still agree with you on the theory.  How sure are you that ET GO HOME is GO GO HOME MONSTER?  It does make perfect sense for as I said to you earlier the logical progression would be Col N, the german name for ET Go Home to Rainbow Vision Go Go Home Monster.  Do you think that Home Vision released Challenge under their own label as Challenge?  Quelle released it as Mein Weig, which later had an English title My Way which later became Challenge by Zellers.  Great work, keep it up 

979942[/snapback]

Fox,

 

I don't think that Quelle came first.

Quelle just pirated the Rainbow Vision list.

 

[Foxsolo2000]

Ok I am with you. So My Way is most likely an original Home Vision title then? Et Go Home has to be the Quelle version of Go Go Home monster simply because of its similarity in name

[Rom Hunter]

Exactly.

 

[Rom Hunter]

BTW: I have removed my statement about Farmyard Fun. I'm not sure it fits into the SS-034 position of the Rainbow Vision list and I have never heard of an Australian Pumuckl (the main character of the game).

 

I think it's is a lost Home Vision title, changed into a Pumuckl game (like Panda Chase) for the ITT Family games Pumuckl-serie.

 

I'm not saying that Farmyard Fun isn't a Rainbow Vision/Suntek game (I'm sure it is), but maybe it's on another position in the list and without Pumuckl graphics and music.

 

Edited December 10, 2005 by Rom Hunter

[Foxsolo2000]

Panda Chase and Turmoil in the Zoo are far too close together to be anything coincidental and as the character from Farm Yard Fun looks the spitting image of the character in Turmoil in the Zoo I would have to say that all three are related. Whether they are all Home Vision titles is still unproved but I am with you in the belief that they probably are.

As for My Way do you think that it could be the original name for the Home Vision title? Marco claimed that Zellers got the rights for Challenge from Bit Corp so obvisously Zellers changed the name for their own reasons or did they? Do you still think that Spectracube Invasion could still be Planet Patrol?

[Rom Hunter]

As for My Way do you think that it could be the original name for the Home Vision title?

My way could very well be the original Home Vision title, but it could also be the Rainbow Vision/Suntek title.

Marco claimed that Zellers got the rights for Challenge from Bit Corp so obvisously Zellers changed the name for their own reasons or did they?

I'm not sure if Challenge is a Bit Corporation original (I have to see some proof for that statement), but I'm sure that 'Challenge' is not the original title (the title 'Challenge' just sounds too simple for the game).

Do you still think that Spectracube Invasion could still be Planet Patrol?

Yes, but World End and Robot Fight from Home Vision are also very well possible.

 

Edited December 11, 2005 by Rom Hunter

[Foxsolo2000]

So still a lot of what ifs and blanks to fill in but at least you have made a great deal of progress. Nice work Rom

[Foxsolo2000]

Rom i have been thinking about your list for Rainbow Vision. They were associated in some way with Home Vision right? The majority of Rainbow Vision games are little more than cheap clones of existing games and yet a couple stand out. Hole Hunter and Ski Hunt are these games for the background graphics look a little too professional to have been ripped of as the other titles. You always suspected that these games could have been Home Vision originals but how certain are you of that? I ask for what Home Vision Games have materialised have been pirated from other companies or vice versa and most of them were pretty poor in graphics and game play yet Hole Hunter and Ski Hunt look as if some care had been taken over their development in the background graphics at the very least.

I even put the question to Tempest that Hole Hunter could have been a lost Activision prototype due to the sunset/sunrise background being a lot like the ones found in their games. He disagreed with the theory but the thought has been nagging at me for some time now. These games do not feel like Home Vision originals for when compared to the mystery game on the Repro cart box and Sku's game they are of a just too high quality. What do you think? If they are not Home Vision titles then where did they come from?

[Rom Hunter]

Hole Hunter (Taiwan R.O.C.) = Mole Hunter (Suntek) = Topy (Home Vision).

 

I'm convinced that Topy (Home Vision) is the original (and if it's not, then Mole Hunter (Suntek) is the original).

 

Ski Hunt is a Home Vision original, programmed by R.J.P.G. (whoever that may be), just like Racing Car.

 

Both Suntek and Home Vision are originally from Taiwan, so it's difficult to tell which one is the original manufacturer.

 

Edited December 22, 2005 by Rom Hunter

[Foxsolo2000]

I guess what you say makes sense. I just find it hard to believe that Hole Hunter is a Taiwan product or A Sun Tek etc for the background looks too good. Thanks for the infor though

[Foxsolo2000]

Rom who in your opinion of Home Vision/Sun Tek/Rainbow Vision designed the best looking games. Were all Rainbow Vision games pirated? Looking at Pyramid War it could be a Home Vision original for the tanks and planes are pretty detailed in their appearance unlike the hideous Time Race which looks terrible compared to Space Jockey that it was pirated from.

The point that I am getting at (or at least trying to) is that most of the games that were pirated look pretty bad in their conversions yet Pyramid War looks as if some care had been taken over it which was unusual for a pirate. Hole Hunter and Ski Hunt and even Ski Run have to be original but then the question arises that if all the other games were pirated and changed in appearance then why weren't these four?

[Rom Hunter]

The point that I am getting at (or at least trying to) is that most of the games that were pirated look pretty bad in their conversions yet Pyramid War looks as if some care had been taken over it which was unusual for a pirate.

That's because it was programmed by Bob Whitehead (it's a hack of Chopper Command).

 

[Rom Hunter]

What about this one (one of my favorite ROMS):

 

 

A NTSC Galactic (the second Suntek title) ROM with the Suntek logo still on screen.

 

Fascinating, because the Galactic from Suntek we all know does not have the Suntek logo on screen (just the title 'Galatic').

 

BTW: it's a hack of The Challenge of.... Nexar.

 

Edited December 22, 2005 by Rom Hunter

[Foxsolo2000]

I know Bob Whitehead did Chopper Command but I was saying that Pyramid Wars conversion had the look of someone taking their time on the graphics. It marks it as an unusual pirate for all others are pretty tatty in comparison.

[R.Cade]

After reading your reply Ski Run is not Ski Hunt, they are two different games.  It is most likely the Ski Run you mentioned from Taiwan for in Ski Hunt you first have to travel down a mountain before going down a slope shooting all the animals that zig zag up the screen towards you.

  In ski run you just travel down a mountain but have to stay within a set course, jumping over large brown areas to stay in the game for if you run over them you crash.  If Home Vision already had Ski Hunt I seriously doubt they would have recycled the title for another game that although similiar is totally different at the same time.

951431[/snapback]

 

Ski Hunt and Ski Run share a lot of the same code. They were both by the same author because they are dissimilar enough that it isn't just a hack. Ski Hunt looks like the earlier game since it has no music.

 

Pete