OutRun (Arcade)

OutRun
Developer: Sega AM2 Publisher: Sega Platform: Arcade (Sega OutRun hardware) Released internationally: September 20, 1986 This game has unused areas. This game has a hidden developer message. This game has hidden developer credits. This game has unused graphics. This game has unused sounds. This game has unused text. This game has revisional differences.

OutRun is more or less a 1980s arcade driving experience unlike any other. It has multiple endings, a catchy soundtrack, and some nice scaling hardware. Oh, and you drive a Ferrari too. What more could one ask for?

Unused Text

Present at 0x6FD when the ROMs epr-10380b.133+epr-10382b.118 are interleaved is this text that may have been used in debugging.

Error! Entry Mode=User
---Bus Error---
---Address Error---
---Illegal Instruction---
---Zero Divide---
---CHK Instruction---
---TRAPV Instruction---
---Privilege  Violation--- 
---Trace---
---1010 Exception---
---1111 Exception---
Run Aborted! Mode=User

Unused Lap Timers

There is unused code for displaying the time used to reach a checkpoint. It can be used in the MAME debugger with the command d0 = X; pc = 7fea; g;, where X is the lap to display.

(Source: Reassembler)

Unused Traffic Mode

There is unused code for having traffic flow toward the screen. It can be enabled in the MAME debugger with the command b@60b6b = 1, but the game lacks graphics for cars viewed from the front, so it looks like they're driving in reverse very quickly.

(Source: Reassembler)

Developer Message

By setting the program counter to 0x7644 (by typing pc=0x7644) in MAME's debugger and resuming the game, this message will appear:

Original	Translated
BIN CHAN E COLOR BANK GA TARINAI NOYO ! 1 STAGE 127 KO INAINI SHITENE.	TO BIN-CHAN THE COLOR BANK ISN'T BIG ENOUGH! MAKE IT WITHIN 127 OR LOWER FOR 1 STAGE.

It's likely just an error message. Bin(-chan) is Satoshi Mifune, one of the game's programmers and a frequent collaborator with Yu Suzuki (it is assumed Suzuki left this message). A similar message appears in Space Harrier.

There is an attempt to display this message when the object palette number is above 128, but it's been dummied out by adding an RTS to the start of the subroutine.

Unused Graphics

Alternate graphics for the Start and Goal signs. In the final game, these are more cloth-like banners.

A motorcycle rider, likely to diversify the traffic. While the game does have some basic structures for this rider, there isn't enough to properly initialize it in the game.

An extra sprite was created for this guy pointing out that he is holding a magic lamp.

It seems like the player would have fallen over after the girlfriend gave him a kiss.

(Source: Reassembler)

Unused Sound

A leftover sound from Space Harrier, which is supposed to be "VOICE 4" in the Sound Test but cannot be heard because it is in 4000 Hz.

Unused Map

Early	Final

An unused layout for Coconut Beach can be found within the game's code. This seems to be for testing purposes, as there are several different types of signs present. This level can be enabled through the MAME debugger with the command focus 0 bpset e4ea,1,{b@260010 = 3A; g} in Revision B.

(Source: Reassembler)

Easter Egg

There's an Easter egg which causes the message PROGRAM YU SUZUKI 1986 SEP to appear onscreen. However, the method of activating the message is different depending on the version:

• Revision A - Just before any checkpoint, hold Start just before the sky is due to cycle to the upcoming level color.
• Revision B - Achieve a high score and enter YU. (including the period), then hold Start while transitioning from Stage 2 to 3. It should be noted that the message can only be displayed once and is then deactivated, along with being deactivated if the player enters "YU." again on the high score table.

(Source: Reassembler)