xjas Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Hey all! I have what looks to be a beta disc of the original Need for Speed. It's on an "official" EA CD-R and dated several months before the game's commercial release. Unfortunately I can't get it to boot on anything. My dev system (testing station) just sits there at a black screen when it's in unencrypted mode. If set to encrypted, it just spits the disc straight back out, same as a retail console. I imaged it on a PC and decrypted the filesystem (the disc is encrypted) - it reads fine, but I can't get it to work in an emulator either. It has lots of file-level differences with my retail NFS disc, so something's changed. It does look like most of the game is there. There are some images and sound effects that confirm it definitely is NFS. EA Canada (DSI)'s offices aren't far from where I live, so I have no reason to doubt the disc is real. Do any of you have experience hacking around with 3DO games? I'd love to get this thing to boot & see what's on it, but I don't even know where to start. (I.e. where is the boot code or executable I should look for?) If someone here is an expert on 3DO stuff or knows who I should hit up, I'd love to hear from you. I don't want to spread this out into the wild until I know exactly what it is. Any of you guys have a testing station? Because people on the internet are weird and like to make things up, I've attached a pic. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trapexit Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 The retail version boot executable is 'LaunchMe'. Have you tried the image on 4DO or Phoenix with different bioses? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjas Posted June 11, 2018 Author Share Posted June 11, 2018 Okay, I got it to boot in Phoenix using a hacked FZ-10 BIOS that disables the RSA check. First time I've seen this version in action! I don't know why it won't run on my Testing Station - all I can think of is it can't handle an encrypted disc that isn't code signed as a retail release?? Does that make sense? I got the disc WITH the testing station so I would've thought it would be able to play it. It seems like it's pretty much complete, I didn't notice any differences from retail in a casual playthrough. This disc is either dated March 1994 or November 1994, depending on which way they wrote the date, placing it either several months before or after(!) the retail release in August 1994. Here's a comparison of the two file systems, there are definitely some differences (for some reason '--ignore-file-name-case' didn't seem to do anything) : diff NFS_3DO_Beta NFS_3DO_retail --ignore-file-name-case -r -x ".*" Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/FrontEnd/Display: bg.tga Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/FrontEnd/Display: bgnd.tga Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/FrontEnd/Display: bold.tga Binary files NFS_3DO_Beta/FrontEnd/Display/nvram.3sh and NFS_3DO_retail/FrontEnd/Display/nvram.3sh differ Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/FrontEnd/Display: Pausegame.3sh.old Binary files NFS_3DO_Beta/frontovl and NFS_3DO_retail/frontovl differ Binary files NFS_3DO_Beta/LaunchMe and NFS_3DO_retail/LaunchMe differ Binary files NFS_3DO_Beta/rom_tags and NFS_3DO_retail/rom_tags differ Binary files NFS_3DO_Beta/signatures and NFS_3DO_retail/signatures differ Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Drivers: BLINK.ROM Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Drivers: blink.rom Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Drivers: CPORT1.ROM Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Drivers: cport1.rom Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Drivers: CPORT41.ROM Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Drivers: cport41.rom Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Drivers: CPORT49.ROM Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Drivers: cport49.rom Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Drivers: CPORT4D.ROM Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Drivers: cport4D.rom Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Folios: AUDIOFOLIO Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Folios: audiofolio Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Folios: GRAFMATH Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Folios: grafmath Binary files NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Kernel/boot_code and NFS_3DO_retail/System/Kernel/boot_code differ Binary files NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Kernel/misc_code and NFS_3DO_retail/System/Kernel/misc_code differ Binary files NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Kernel/os_code and NFS_3DO_retail/System/Kernel/os_code differ Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: ALLOCATE Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: allocate Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: BANGON Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: bangon Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: CDROM Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: cdrom Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: CERTIFY Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: certify Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: CHKNVRAM Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: chknvram Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: COPY Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: copy Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: CPDUMP Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: cpdump Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: DELETE Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: delete Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: DISMOUNT Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: dismount Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: DUMPFILE Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: dumpfile Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: EEPROM Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: eeprom Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: FOCUS Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: focus Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: FORMAT Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: format Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: GDBUG Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: gdbug Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: GENERIC Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: generic Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: HELLO Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: hello Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: INSTALLHWCONTROLDRIVER Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: InstallHWControlDriver Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: ITEMS Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: items Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: LAUNCH Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: launch Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: LMADM Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: lmadm Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: MOUNT Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: mount Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Programs: WALKER Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Programs: Walker Only in NFS_3DO_retail/System/Scripts: STARTOPERA Only in NFS_3DO_Beta/System/Scripts: startopera 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trapexit Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 Interesting. If it is March (makes the most sense... though it could be a v1.1 kind of thing which may never have been pressed) then it's not surprising its not obviously different. Have you tried looking at those few extra images? Might need to give it to some 3DO NFS fans to see if they can find any differences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjas Posted June 11, 2018 Author Share Posted June 11, 2018 The extra images are apparently menu screens for a memory manager - I can't figure out how to access this; maybe it only appears if the memory is full? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trapexit Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 Yeah, perhaps. I don't recall if there is a memory manager in the retail release. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjas Posted June 12, 2018 Author Share Posted June 12, 2018 ^^ looked through the manual for the retail and I didn't see any info on how to access it, other than "Note: the game may prompt you to free up NVRAM for high scores." I realize this thread is kind of useless without further info - I'll definitely upload the ISO somewhere eventually, just gonna sit on it a bit while I seek out some expertise. Actual beta releases tend to blow up & I don't want to spread BS or misinformation around. For now, here are some "screen" shots that show the "beta" running on Phoenix (note presence of those extra TGA files.) ...and even some gameplay video of it in action (sorry for the low quality!) Honestly, to my eyes it plays and looks exactly like the retail. The videos are there, all the options are there, all tracks & cars accounted for. I thought the voiceover at the end was different, but I double-checked and I might have been thinking of the PC version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trapexit Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 Even if it's not a true beta it's clear something is different. Probably need to take a disassembler to the main executable. I've been fooling with doing that with some of the 3DO libraries and OS in hopes to better understand it but haven't turned to games yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrealer Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Try contacting 3DOKid, he has a Facebook group and YouTube channel. If not, try "bitrate" if you can find him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schrodinger Posted December 29, 2018 Share Posted December 29, 2018 Would you consider submit this disc to redump? This is definitely a prototype. https://www.preservegames.org/p/how-to-join-project.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjas Posted December 30, 2018 Author Share Posted December 30, 2018 I certainly could! I had to take the ISO down due to lack of hosting space, and I don't have the bandwidth available to re-up it right now. Give me a few days and I'll see what I can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trapexit Posted December 30, 2018 Share Posted December 30, 2018 @xjas I've got the ISO still but the VGPC would be looking for a more thorough dump which would require a Plextor drive. Check the link Schrodinger provided. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schrodinger Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 DM'd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VEG Posted June 14, 2021 Share Posted June 14, 2021 I collect artifacts related to the classic games of the Need For Speed series. Could you please consider uploading an image of the CD on archive.org or hiddenpalace.org to preserve it? I think that many people that are interested in beta versions of games would be really happy to know that there is another beta of the classic NFS. Thanks ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjas Posted June 19, 2021 Author Share Posted June 19, 2021 Hey all, sorry it took me ages to get around to this. I've uploaded the disc image to the Internet Archive here: https://archive.org/details/nfs-3do-beta This will boot & play on Phoenix with a modded BIOS. Go nuts! If you guys find out any more info about the contents on this disc or what it is, please post up here or PM me! Feel free to spread this around to the usual places (except for "betaarchive" as I despise the way they treat dumps of data they don't own as some kind of currency & paywall off their ftp with it.) Optional but appreciated credit to 'xjas' or 'oldskooljay' as the original uploader if you rehost it somewhere. PS: I also did a stream of the 3DO NFS with a friend who was a dev at DSI / EA Canada back when the game was being created a while ago. You can check out the recorded broadcast here: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1000570114 I'll try to check back here more often. Have fun! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derSammler Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 (edited) Nice, thanks for sharing. Pretty certain however that it is from November, not March. In the US, you use M/D/Y normally. I'd assume it's an updated version that would include the NVRAM manager as an additional feature. Edited August 9, 2021 by derSammler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamer24 Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 On 8/9/2021 at 7:59 AM, derSammler said: Pretty certain however that it is from November, not March. In the US, you use M/D/Y normally. I'd assume it's an updated version that would include the NVRAM manager as an additional feature. Recently have been found the press release of the 3DO version of Need For Speed, and it was released on December 1994. So even if it is from November it's still a beta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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