Mega Zone

Mega Zone
Developer: Konami Publishers: Konami, Kosuka (Alt) Platform: Arcade (custom) Released in JP: March 1984 Released in US: October 1983 Released in EU: 1983 This game has hidden developer credits. This game has unused graphics. This game has unused items. This game has revisional differences.

Mega Zone is a shoot 'em up with a branching path system. Well, they're more like detours than actual branches, but it's still something.

Developer Credits

There are two sets of names of developers hidden in the game. The first set of credits is only found in Konami revision 1, starting at E6B2 in memory:

K.HIROSHITA
R.SAKAMOTO
S.FUKUTAKE

The second set also includes a build date. In all sets but the first Konami revision, the first three names were shortened.

This starts at EAA2 in revision 1 and EAA5 in revision 2:

Older	Newer
KONAMI 1983 SEP 20. K HIROSHITA Y SAKAMOTO T FUJIWARA N INOUE S FUKUTAKE	KONAMI 1983 OCT 11. K HIRO Y SAKA T FUJI N INOUE S FUKUTAKE

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Unused Graphics

	There are no point bonuses lower than 500 or higher than 5,000. The 10,000 point graphic uses different colors than the other bonuses.
	A different, object-based version of the Game Over graphic. It uses a cycling palette effect that no other object uses.
	Teardrop bombs serve two purposes: To clear all enemies from the screen, and to show the player how far they've traveled. These bombs go up to 12, but there are no eyeball enemies in the 11,000 or 12,000 range, so these bombs aren't used.
	A red version of the teardrop bomb with no number on it. This might be an earlier version, or a template for the other bombs.
	This bug enemy appears in the game, but these animations aren't used. The bug moves by strafing, always facing front.

(Source: Original TCRF research)