ColecoVision Games Cancelled Since the Graphics Exceeded 32K Limit?

[ColecoFan1981]

Were there any ColecoVision titles that were never released, for reasons other than the general effects of the 1983-84 video game crash?

 

One of these non-crash-related reasons could be: the title was not released because the graphics couldn't be made sufficient to fit in a 32K ROM cartridge, which was the maximum size for all ColecoVision cartridge-based media.

 

I wonder if the such planned for late 1983-early 1984 releases like AtariSoft's Pole Position, as well as Parker Brothers' Circus Charlie license, were cancelled for this particular reason (the graphics couldn't be made sufficient for a 32K ROM)? The only media for the ColecoVision larger than cartridges were the ADAM digital data packs, which was why there were improved ports of Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong, Jr. available.

 

~Ben

[hardhat]

Certanly the prototype cartridge of Tunnels and Trolls which mostly fills a cartridge ROM with a title screen would support this theory. But then you look at arcade titles that were ported to the 2600 with much smaller ROMs and it seems more like any project will expand to fill the available space.

 

So there are probably a few factors: good quality game play, visually authentic, covers all aspects of the arcade version, totally agreed royalty splits and prioritizing the titles that will make the most money for Coleco.

[opcode]

You can fit any of those old arcade games in a 32KB cartridge. It is just a matter of compromising.

[NIAD]

A very ambitious game like Tunnels & Trolls (graphically as well as gameplay) would be a pime example as HardHat mentioned. Another good example of an overly ambitious attempt at an adventure/role playing game would be Bruce Tomlin's CV RPG. What he accomplished was really amazing and it's too bad that the game couldn't be revisited using the MegaCart PCB.

 

A game such as Tac/Scan, on the other hand, shouldn't have provided a problem and seeing that the first two stages were all but completed by Nuvatec, it's still a mystery why Coleco pulled the plug even after it appeared in the CV Experience magazine. I guess this could have been right around the time that Sega decided to develop games for the North American market and they reserved the right to revoke Coleco's license of this title.

[opcode]

Jim, just curious, how do you know Tac Scan was indeed completed? Did you guys get any info from ex-Nuvatec employees?

 

BTW, did you guys get the chance to interview Eric Bromley?

[NIAD]

Not completed entirely, just the first two stages. As far as where this information comes from, it is listed in the ColecoVision Faq, but I think the original lowdown on Tac/Scan comes from an old NIAD member who unearthed numerous protos during the late 80's.

 

Here is some info I have on it as well as what the faq states:

 

Developed by Nuvatec Inc. Designed by Jim Wolf, Joe Clark.

 

The ColecoVision FAQ says, "the first two stages of Tac-Scan were completed at Nuvatec, Inc. before Coleco instructed that all work on it be stopped".

[opcode]

Ah, ok, thanks for the info. So sounds like the proto is out there somewhere...

 

And how about Eric, did you and J-F have the chance to interview him (for the book)?

[retroillucid]

And how about Eric, did you and J-F have the chance to interview him (for the book)?

 

Not on my side ...sadly

I've so many things to ask him .... and would love to personally thanks him