Dougmanct Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 I recently purchased some Vic-20 carts from an auction in PA - which was for the estate of an individual who I am told was a game programmer and had worked for numerous companies including Coleco. Wondering if anyone has any ideas/insight on this. I have yet to get my hands on a Vic-20 to test this cart. I also do intend to read/dump the EPROM. 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
cx2k Posted October 4, 2023 Share Posted October 4, 2023 Sure looks like it could be one. Please dump it as soon as possible. John Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5328469 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted October 4, 2023 Share Posted October 4, 2023 Ice Palace was a planned Xonox title for the C64, Colecovision, and Vic-20. A non interactive demo for the Colecovision version surfaced some years back from Anthony Henderson, but I don't think that was ever dumped (there's a video of it though). Please dump this! And if you can, take a screenshot of it running (or describe it). I wonder if the Vic-20 version got further than the Colecovision version. Were there any other prototypes in the lot? 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5328471 Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintagegamecrazy Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 Please dump and share. I think you've really found something! Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5328844 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRV Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 Do you mind if I ask what other games you bought? Perhaps those are also games this person worked on. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5329037 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supergun Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 What’s also interesting is how the original sticker on the double ender cart itself is actually the same game twice? Very strange indeed. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5329110 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 10 hours ago, Supergun said: What’s also interesting is how the original sticker on the double ender cart itself is actually the same game twice? Very strange indeed. I didn't even notice that. If you look really closely though I think you can see the remnants of another label there. So it's just two different labels. Actually it's the same label twice, just put on in two different orientations then half the top label was ripped off. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5329111 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supergun Posted October 8, 2023 Share Posted October 8, 2023 It’s unusual to say the least. One label appears to have been torn off, but the other one has clearly been even sliced or cut off. For reference purposes, Xonox released 8 games for the Vic-20, and all 8 were made available on 4 Double Enders. And Motocross Racer was the game paired with Tomarc the Barbarian. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5330225 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+swlovinist Posted October 10, 2023 Share Posted October 10, 2023 Congrats on your find. Please dump. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5330746 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougmanct Posted October 23, 2023 Author Share Posted October 23, 2023 Apologies for the gap between replying here. This is going to be dumped and I do intend to make a video of the testing! Please, understand it is going to be a few weeks because, I am at the moment in the process of moving. We bumped up our plans to move shortly after my original post due to being made a crazy offer for our home contingent on a fast close. But yes, one of the first things I am going to get to once I arrive and begin to unpack is to document, dump and share this rom. Someone asked about other items I got from this estate - Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5337024 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted October 23, 2023 Share Posted October 23, 2023 Those Boone carts are VERY rare, especially given that they're pre-release copies (I think they were actually released in very small quantities). More than likely they're the same as the final, but it's always good to check. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5337026 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supergun Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 The original owner must have been a huge Xonox fan! They must have really liked their games to have bought so many. Or maybe perhaps they (or someone they knew) worked for the company. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5338867 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRV Posted November 1, 2023 Share Posted November 1, 2023 (edited) There was a Xonox contractor called Product Guild Ltd. that seems to have been based in Pennsylvania. They subcontracted at least two Xonox games (Chuck Norris Superkicks and Robin Hood for VIC-20) out to Boone, which was out in California. Edited November 1, 2023 by CRV Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5341261 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted November 1, 2023 Share Posted November 1, 2023 10 hours ago, CRV said: There was a Xonox contractor called Product Guild Ltd. that seems to have been based in Pennsylvania. They subcontracted at least two Xonox games (Chuck Norris Superkicks and Robin Hood for VIC-20) out to Boone, which was out in California. Hmm... That might explain the two Boone pre-production carts. Perhaps this was another PG or Boone developed game? Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5341468 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRV Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 (edited) 14 hours ago, Tempest said: Hmm... That might explain the two Boone pre-production carts. Perhaps this was another PG or Boone developed game? Or Interplay, which was started by former Boone employees. We know they developed the C64 version (also unreleased) for Product Guild. The president of Product Guild may have passed away earlier this year. Edited November 2, 2023 by CRV Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5341907 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRV Posted November 3, 2023 Share Posted November 3, 2023 The C64 version of Ice Palace WAS released, but I assume it's very hard to find. The one shot of the front cover on the Internet: https://www.grouvee.com/games/95381-ice-palace/ To summarize: We don't know anything about the VIC-20 version of Ice Palace, but the C64 version was developed by Interplay for Product Guild. The ColecoVision version was being programmed by Anthony Henderson. He programmed three 2600 Xonox games for Product Guild. I believe he was based in Texas. VIC-20 Chuck Norris Superkicks and Robin Hood were programmed by Rebecca Heineman at Boone for Product Guild. 2600 Motocross Racer and Sir Lancelot were programmed by Anthony Henderson for Product Guild. VIC-20 Sir Lancelot was also a Product Guild game. The only through-line of all these (except maybe the Boone pre-production carts) is Product Guild. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5342483 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted November 8, 2023 Share Posted November 8, 2023 On 10/26/2023 at 11:33 PM, Supergun said: The original owner must have been a huge Xonox fan! They must have really liked their games to have bought so many. Or maybe perhaps they (or someone they knew) worked for the company. Says so right in the first post Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5345008 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayhem Posted November 9, 2023 Share Posted November 9, 2023 Somehow I missed seeing this post until now. The Boone carts used to be considered super rare, but a bunch of NOS got found a great many years ago and sold off, so they are more quite rare nowadays instead. Never seen pre-production copies however, and should be dumped just to compare if they are any different (unlikely as Tempest notes) to the release versions. Never heard of Ice Palace being lined up by Xonox, so VERY intrigued to see that dumped. Entry at GB64 for the C64 version of the game: https://gb64.com/game.php?id=3689 @Dougmanct if you're interested in letting the Vic20 Lancelot and Robin Hood CIB carts go, I'd be interested. I've got all four double enders and five of the eight single enders CIB, so these two would tick off only then needing one. Also if you need any advice or a hand dumping Ice Palace, ping me a message, had plenty experience over the years getting ultra rare Vic20 (and C64) titles out into the wider circle for people to play. If you've got an actual Vic20, cartridge port switcher and Commodore disk drive, you don't have to remove the chip from the board either. 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5345679 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougmanct Posted November 30, 2023 Author Share Posted November 30, 2023 Hi folks! Apologies for it taking so long. I have finally gotten settled in to my new home and procured a working Vic. I have plugged in this cart for the first time and powered on the Vic. This is the opening scene. I am going to make a full video telling the story of how I got this and trying to experience as much gameplay as possible. Just wanted to get something out to those waiting for an update. I am also, to be clear, going to sort out dumping the eprom in this and will make it public to all. 4 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5358187 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted December 2, 2023 Share Posted December 2, 2023 Looks like it could be complete if it has an opening demo and title screen. Looking forward to seeing the rest! Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5359347 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougmanct Posted December 2, 2023 Author Share Posted December 2, 2023 1 hour ago, Tempest said: Looks like it could be complete if it has an opening demo and title screen. Looking forward to seeing the rest! So there is definitely a first level. And I, having spent some time on it, was unable to complete it. It's extremely hard due to IMHO the unfinished game mechanics, specifically the poor little penguin so easily getting trapped in spots he can't jump out of. But nonetheless - I can also report that using the amazing Retro Chip Tester device, I was easily able to dump the one 2764 socketed EPROM on this cartridge and here it is. I've never done this before but my intention here is that this is abandonware and should be free for anyone to use and enjoy. It would be against my personal code of ethics to try to sell or otherwise directly monetize this find. It belongs to history. Please respect that. Also please consider checking out my video on this find when it's ready (probably in the next week or so). But I will not receive any money for that as my YouTube channel is not monetized. I would LOVE to see videos of folks trying to complete the first level of this to see what happens!!!!! IcePalaceVic20.bin Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5359419 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted December 2, 2023 Share Posted December 2, 2023 There are videos of people beating the first level on the C64. Maybe that can help you? Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5359428 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRV Posted December 3, 2023 Share Posted December 3, 2023 (edited) I played through one loop. Seems like a finished game to me. Here's my video: Edited December 3, 2023 by CRV 3 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5359628 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayhem Posted December 7, 2023 Share Posted December 7, 2023 Okay let's give this a whirl, cheers! Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5362391 Share on other sites More sharing options...
amidarman Posted February 18 Share Posted February 18 If you catch all the bonus items on the first screen, the letters AP appear. I suppose these are the designer's. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/355363-possible-commodore-vic-20-game-prototype-found-ice-palace/#findComment-5412727 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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