It has been a protracted whereas since we had information on a never-released arcade recreation and its prototype, however through the years we now have coated a number of. These embody: Dropzone Arcade; Atari’s Arrk Arrh; and Kung Fu Grasp 2, amongst many others. We also have a part devoted to unreleased/prototype video games as you may need seen. I’ve all the time discovered prototypes to be fascinating, though it sucks when what a superb recreation obtained shelved for one motive or one other.

Immediately’s prototype information covers one more recreation from one of many largest sources of unreleased video games, Atari Video games. Let’s take a look at JAMMIN’…

What Was JAMMIN’?

Again within the mid-80s it was a tumultuous time for Atari, as the corporate had been cut up in 1984. Nonetheless, most of the individuals who had been part of the corporate earlier than the schism as part of the coin-op division remained. With out the burden of the house divisions to put on them down, and seeing some new investments (and half possession) are available from Namco, that meant that they had been capable of proceed innovating. They launched their System I & II {hardware} platforms beginning with Marble Insanity on System I in December 1984, and so they had been additionally busy engaged on another neat concepts, together with a full 3D polygon racing recreation known as Air Race, which by no means noticed the sunshine of day.

Someplace round that point, the corporate was trying into methods to create what would have been among the many very first rhythm video games. Maybe the primary idea to come back alongside on this regard would have used movement sensors and laserdiscs within the Atari Dance Machine. Whether or not the individuals who made that had been concerned with JAMMIN’ is unknown right now, however JAMMIN’ was in growth in 1985, and concerned one Robert Weatherby. It additionally apparently made it so far as testing, though presumably it failed the take a look at and that’s why it was by no means launched.

From some early and poor high quality prototype footage that the now defunct Atarigames.com had shared, we knew that the sport had existed, and that it was headed within the route of one thing like Simon Says. The band within the recreation can be doing a recording session, and after the drums would play sure sequences, the objective was so that you can repeat the identical sequence with out a mistake. There have been a complete of 9 buttons you’ll use as consultant of the devices within the recreation:

The one drawback like with many prototypes is that there have been no ROMs of the prototype round that could possibly be used to glean extra information – we simply had this blurry footage to go off of… till now.

JAMMIN’ Found

Per these social posts by David Haywood, ““Jammin” was recovered from outdated VAX backup tapes by Dutchman2000 and SynaMax (a number of bytes did should be mounted manually) I’ve emulated it. Really runs on one thing derived from Donkey Kong“. Dutchman2000 posted the work on this Arcade-Museum boards thread, and it’s been getting a little bit of consideration from there.

Apparently, there are a number of different prototypes they’re engaged on within the combine too, together with one I’d by no means heard of earlier than known as EVOLUTION – which could have been just like the PC recreation Spore, a long time earlier than the latter was launched. Atari certain was forward of their time in some ways. There was additionally one known as OFF-ROAD, however it seems that with all of these video games, it’s extraordinarily tough to salvage the code and get it right into a format that works with trendy {hardware}. We’ll keep tuned – if both of these or the Garfield, Gremlins, or E.T. Arcade Recreation ever come to gentle, these can be simply as fascinating to search out out extra about.

David labored to get this up and working in MAME and has supplied some footage up for our enjoyment, which offers one of the best ever take a look at this recreation which was to not be. It additionally clears up precisely how the sport would play.

Using Donkey Kong {hardware} is a little bit of a shock – I all the time thought it was a System I/II recreation, particularly given the look. It probably would have ended up on a kind of platforms although. Typically throughout growth in these days, you’re employed on a unique board, then transfer it over to the goal manufacturing {hardware} sooner or later. I additionally do surprise if it had notes needing to be hit like a BEMANI/trendy rhythm recreation does, which may have labored higher.

It seems that the working ROMs haven’t been made public but, however I’m certain that they are going to be made out there right here quickly. What do you suppose, ought to Atari have given JAMMIN’ an opportunity, perhaps some further refinement (or a drum set for controllers as a substitute of buttons)?

In regards to the creator: Arcadian View all posts by Arcadian

I am a lifelong fan of video video games and I’ve been working my very own arcade, Arcade Galactic in West Valley Metropolis, Utah since 2008. Gentle spots in my coronary heart for Atari, Sega, and Nintendo.




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