Dark Empires (prototype): Difference between revisions
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'''''Dark Empires''''' was one of [https://segaretro.org/Sega_Technical_Institute Sega Technical Institute]'s earliest original projects, beginning development in 1990 alongside ''[https://segaretro.org/Kid_Chameleon Kid Chameleon]''. A fantasy strategy [[:Category:Sega Mega Drive prototypes|Mega Drive]] game inspired by the likes of ''[https://segaretro.org/Herzog_Zwei Herzog Zwei]'', it was an experiment in bringing RTS gameplay to the early 16-bit market. Development progressed to December 1991, when management permanently shelved the project, reportedly due to the game's already-niche market appeal clashing with [https://segaretro.org/Mark_Cerny Mark Cerny]'s desire to see STI focus on more character-driven blockbuster titles. | |||
The project's dumped build, a first-playable prototype, contains a ROM header dated <tt>1991 SEP</tt>, three months before the game's official cancellation. | |||
==Screenshots== | ==Screenshots== | ||
<gallery heights=160> | <gallery heights=160> | ||
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==Acknowledgments== | ==Acknowledgments== | ||
Special thanks go to Craig Stitt, for both sharing the ROM and for graciously agreeing to a nearly four-hour interview, MDTravis for his extensive technical assistance and for his detailed ROM analysis, and | Special thanks go to [https://segaretro.org/Craig_Stitt Craig Stitt], for both sharing the ROM and for graciously agreeing to a nearly four-hour interview, [[User:MDTravis|MDTravis]] for his extensive technical assistance and for his detailed ROM analysis, and [[User:Armadylo|Armadylo]] for editing and proofreading [[News/Happy Halloween 2025! Dark Empires Prototype & Craig Stitt Interview|the game's announcement article]]. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*[[News/ | *''[[News/Happy Halloween 2025! Dark Empires Prototype & Craig Stitt Interview|Happy Halloween 2025! Dark Empires Prototype & Craig Stitt Interview]]'' announcement article | ||
*''[https://segaretro.org/Dark_Empires Dark Empires]'' at [https://segaretro.org Sega Retro] | |||
*[[Craig Stitt (2025 interview)]] | *[[Craig Stitt (2025 interview)]] | ||
{{Prototype Footer|{{Navbox prototype|Dark Empires}}}} | {{Prototype Footer|{{Navbox prototype|Dark Empires}}}} | ||
Revision as of 16:40, November 1, 2025
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| Download Dark Empires (prototype) (info) |
Dark Empires was one of Sega Technical Institute's earliest original projects, beginning development in 1990 alongside Kid Chameleon. A fantasy strategy Mega Drive game inspired by the likes of Herzog Zwei, it was an experiment in bringing RTS gameplay to the early 16-bit market. Development progressed to December 1991, when management permanently shelved the project, reportedly due to the game's already-niche market appeal clashing with Mark Cerny's desire to see STI focus on more character-driven blockbuster titles.
The project's dumped build, a first-playable prototype, contains a ROM header dated 1991 SEP, three months before the game's official cancellation.
Screenshots
Videos
Acknowledgments
Special thanks go to Craig Stitt, for both sharing the ROM and for graciously agreeing to a nearly four-hour interview, MDTravis for his extensive technical assistance and for his detailed ROM analysis, and Armadylo for editing and proofreading the game's announcement article.