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Post by mikescrase on Jun 20, 2013 16:20:25 GMT
I have a feeling a few people already know what I'm going to say. I was actually surprised to find that I couldn't see a thread already about this when I searched for it...
The Sonic 3D level select screen... it appears when you slightly nudge the cartridge while it's in the console.
This is not a rumor I've heard. This is not something a friend of a friend told me. This is something I discovered when the game was new, and it has worked consistently ever since.
Oh sure, you will occasionally have to try nudging it in a few different directions before the screen appears... but a few tries is generally all it takes. That screen will always reliably appear just by pressing down on the cart a bit. I've even heard tell that it will also work if you slightly press the Mega Drive's reset button...
Can someone let me know if this has happened to them too, just so I know I'm not crazy? Or better yet, can anyone explain WHY this happens? It seems completely unreal. Like something a kid with a poor understanding of electronics/computer technology would make up. But I've pulled it off successfully MANY times.
This was a copy of the PAL version for the Sega Mega Drive to be clear. I have no idea if this would work with other regions of the game.
PS: I've just noticed this would probably be better off in "Sonic's World", wouldn't it? Sorry, my mistake.
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Post by Moo on Jun 20, 2013 16:26:26 GMT
Hm, I'll have to try this myself. I do remember it just appearing once when I was arseing around with buttons, so that'd explain that.
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Post by mikescrase on Jun 20, 2013 16:32:53 GMT
Well, that would make more sense because usually cheat codes are activated by pressing buttons, implying that said cheat codes were put there deliberately by the programmers.
But this isn't that. You literally touch none of the Mega Drive's intended button inputs and just kinda press down on the cartridge slightly. That's the best description I can give. It's weird. I don't know if it's some kind of glitch or it was deliberately designed that way... though granted I don't know HOW they would design the game that way without changing the physical hardware of the cartridge. But at the same time it still seems weird even if it IS a glitch.
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Post by Alex on Jun 20, 2013 17:16:41 GMT
Possibly a debug option that worked only when the game was in memory, but didn't have the game inserted. It would make sense as you wouldn't have a physical game for the development process - and you can't play the game without it being inserted.
Just a theory though, I'm not familiar with the architecture of the Mega Drive itself.
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Post by modochi on Jun 20, 2013 22:03:12 GMT
I accessed it on the mega drive with a button combination sequence, never by pressing down on the cartridge itself.
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Post by mikescrase on Jun 20, 2013 23:05:14 GMT
Yeah, I assumed there was probably a cheat code too, just never learned it because why bother?!  I always figured that whatever was happening when I pressed down on the cart, it was triggering what would normally happen when you entered the cheat code. I know how strange this all sounds, but honestly, if anyone doubts me, I'll film me doing it and put it online. |
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Post by L. T. Dangerous on Jun 21, 2013 9:53:53 GMT
Would love to see footage of this in action, it sounds really intriguing!
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Post by Moo on Jun 21, 2013 16:40:41 GMT
Well, that would make more sense because usually cheat codes are activated by pressing buttons, implying that said cheat codes were put there deliberately by the programmers. But this isn't that. You literally touch none of the Mega Drive's intended button inputs and just kinda press down on the cartridge slightly. That's the best description I can give. It's weird. I don't know if it's some kind of glitch or it was deliberately designed that way... though granted I don't know HOW they would design the game that way without changing the physical hardware of the cartridge. But at the same time it still seems weird even if it IS a glitch. Well obviously there is the cheat code, but I doubt I put in the cheat code when I was messing around, and probably nudged the console or similar while I was playing. I seem to remember something those lines happening when I was on the special stage too, but thats just a vague memory. Maybe the game is just wired and/or programed screwy. :/ |
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Post by mikescrase on Jun 21, 2013 17:56:38 GMT
Proof! PROOF I TELLS YE!
(I've deliberately refrained from swearing in this video because of the forum rules, but just to let you guys know, that isn't necessarily true of the other videos on my channel):
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Post by Mambo's Here! Look Busy! on Jun 21, 2013 19:10:47 GMT
I have to say I watched that video chewing what remains of my nails, thinking you were going to break your Mega Drive! Then the end made me laugh and cringe in equal measure. Interesting, though... I don't remember using a level select for Sonic 3D. |
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Post by mikescrase on Jun 21, 2013 20:01:31 GMT
Only a light tap is required. No chance of permanent damage to the Mega Drive, as far as I'm aware (it's not an Xbox 360, the thing's built to last ) I found out about this thing through pure chance. I wasn't looking for it, it just sort of happened one faithful day in the 90s. |
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Post by The Shad on Jun 21, 2013 20:38:21 GMT
Your hair is magnificent.
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Post by Beeth on Jun 21, 2013 20:54:10 GMT
I've heard of strange, glitchy, sometimes even spectacular stuff happening because of cartridge tilting, but this is quite something! An amusing and rather brilliant discovery sir, I might have to try that myself one day if I can ever be bothered to drag my old MD back out. |
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Post by Matt on Jun 21, 2013 21:02:19 GMT
I remember activating this once, I was sitting on a old chair, and got up to get a drink, I slip over the controller wire and yanked the controller out, reset the mega drive....
a few seconds later. Level select.
Had never knew how I done it, until I looked it up online years later.
it is a real weird level select
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Post by mikescrase on Jun 21, 2013 21:47:38 GMT
Your hair is magnificent. Why thankyou! I was actually a little self conscious about my appearance once I'd put up the video because I've had a busy few days and not had much time for grooming, so it's nice to know that I don't look like a total wreck. I remember activating this once, I was sitting on a old chair, and got up to get a drink, I slip over the controller wire and yanked the controller out, reset the mega drive.... a few seconds later. Level select. Had never knew how I done it, until I looked it up online years later. it is a real weird level select Yeah, I've heard that it can be done with a reset too. Not sure on the exact way to do it with that method, this is just the way I've always known. Seems like level select can be activated by pure accident in several different ways. Weird. I really wish I could ask someone involved with the production of the game, at like a Q and A or something, if they might know what could be going on here. Summer of Sonic perhaps? Probably a long shot. But I have to know! It's been boggling my mind for years! |
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