S2B
The legendary
S2B
The legendary
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S2B/Frequently Asked QuestionsHere are the frequently asked questions (including some never asked questions but I like to answer anyway :P) about Sonic 2 Beta. Prototype FAQWhat's the big deal about an unfinished prototype version? Why didn't someone ask Sega or SonicTeam about it? Does Sega know this prototype has been leaked? How do you get the thing to work? It isn't an .EXE file! What's the deal with gamma, delta, epsilon, <insert random Greek letter> versions? You mean, there are other prototype versions of Sonic 2? Does the filename MD8123.bin mean anything? How was the ROM first leaked to the public? Someone's selling a Sonic 2 cartridge that has "Not For Resale" printed on it. Is it rare stuff? How do we know this prototype we have is real, and not a hack from Sonic 2? Are there any other prototypes of Sonic games leaked? Site FAQCan I use some of your graphics on my site? I like your site design. Can I snatch the HTML code? Can I use your information here on my site? I have a theory, can I send it in? My brother's friend's cousin has a prototype cart! E-mail me back for more info. How come I need to pass a quiz to enter the forums? I failed the quiz a few times and it says I've been disqualified. How do I register now? So how are 10-year-olds supposed to casually talk about Sonic on your forums? Hey, there is a mistake on the site. How come you don't respond to my e-mails?
Prototype FAQWhat is Sonic 2 Beta?Sonic 2 Beta is an unfinished, prototype version of Sonic 2. Sega sent these out to magazine companies for preview before the final version was out.
What's the big deal about an unfinished prototype version?Some "lost" levels can be found in the beta version. Lost levels are zones that were originally planned to be included in the final release of Sonic 2, but were missing in the final version. The lost levels include a desert level, Wood Zone, Hidden Palace Zone and Genocide City Zone. Some existing zones have special features that are not available in the final version, such as the wooden balls in Oil Ocean Zone.
Why were some levels canned?Here are some possibilities:
Why didn't someone ask Sega or SonicTeam about it?There has been attempts to contact Sega and SonicTeam regarding this matter. The people responsible for replying e-mails are the front-line staff who know little about the inside development of a 10-year-old game, and were usually not of much help. On rare occasions where interviews were made with sprite artists or layout designers, most could not remember the details specific enough to answer our questions. This is quite understandable given that the game is nearly fifteen years old. Don't miss the interviews at ICEKnight's Sonic Database.
Does Sega know this prototype has been leaked?They probably do, and they don't seem to care about it (which is good, considering they could've gotten pissy and try to shut down sites providing the game).
How do you get the thing to work? It isn't an .EXE file!The file is a ROM image (keyword!) which requires a Genesis/MegaDrive emulator (keyword!) to work. There is an abundance of information on how to use an emulator on the Internet. Do some research and you'll figure it out.
What's the deal with gamma, delta, epsilon, <insert random Greek letter> versions?Since alpha and beta were used to describe the stages of an unfinished software, some people assume all other Greek letters have similar meaning when describing prototypes, and that epsilon comes after delta, etc. However, the practice of using letters other than alpha, beta, and gamma is not widely adopted in the programming field, and should be avoided when referring to prototypes here. There is a really famous (and really good, too) hack called Sonic 2 Delta, made by Esrael. When people say Sonic 2 Delta they're most likely talking about this hack, not another prototype. See the links section for Esrael's site.
You mean, there are other prototype versions of Sonic 2?It is known that somewhere between five and ten different prototypes were given to the press. We have two of these, leaving at least three more that are possibly lurking in someone's cartridge collection. We may or may not get ahold of these builds, depending on their existence, our researchers' tracking and badgering abilities, and sale prices.
Does the filename MD8123.bin mean anything?The format XXmmnnn was widely used in some Asia countries when ordering pirate video games in ROM files. XX -- Type of system. MD for MegaDrive, SF for Super Famicom, etc. Therefore, MD8123 stands for the 123rd eight-megabit game dumped for the MegaDrive. The .bin extension denotes it's a binary image, and is not automatically appended by ROM dumpers. Extensions, such as .1 or .2, are more commonly used when dealing with large games that span several floppy disks.
Who dumped the ROM?No one knows exactly who did, since it happened so long ago. Yuji Naka mentioned in an interview that a beta cartridge with a ROM image very similar to MD8123.bin was stolen from a toy show in New York, and it is strongly suspected that this is the "master" cartridge for the Wai beta. It may also have been dumped by a magazine employee who got a hold of the prototype cartridge, or it could have been an inside job, i.e. dumped by a Sega employee.
How was the ROM first leaked to the public?The ROM file was widely available for playing on ROM copiers in Hong Kong, and possibly more locations, in 1992 before Sonic 2 was released. The ROM was listed as plain vanilla Sonic 2 in an attempt to lure Sonic fans into buying it. Additionally, pirate cartridges of Sonic 2 Beta have also been made and sold in Brazil and Asia. However the ROM didn't leak out to the western public, until in late 1998.
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