Compile

[Graham Mitchell]

Somebody mentioned Compile on another forum recently and it got me thinking.

All their games were great; are they still around? Did they make any 16-or 32-bit titles that anyone knows of?

Also, here's a bit of trivia that I'm curious about. I remember finding the sound test on my Sega Master System copy of R-Type, and what should come up but the infamouse "Blue Lander" sound from the Guardian Legend (I think this little jingle also showed up in Golvellius for the SMS as well.) Did Compile do the SMS port of R-type, or maybe (and here's a stretch) did Compile (or somebody involved with Compile) originally design R-type for Irem? Gyruss and Time Pilot for Konami were designed by the same person who did Commando, Ghosts 'N Goblins, and 1942 for Capcom, so it could have happened.

I was just wondering if anybody knew about these things, or had an opinion about them.

Cheers!

[JaredCenter]

There's a web-site dedicated to Compile's shooting game history that's available:

http://kelesis.free.fr/hp/compile/index_eng.htm

Compile created mostly 8-bit and 16-bit games. Along the far-right column are all the publishers of Compile's titles.

Zanac x Zanac really caught my interest when I first saw this site. I never knew the game existed. On the date it says "2001 ?." Does anyone know if this game was ever released for Playstation?

[Raccoon Lad]

I has been recently confirmed by both someone who got a R-type proto directly from Compile, and by searching the R-type code for similarity's to other Compile games, that Compile did in fact program the SMS port of R-type.

[ArnoldRimmer83]

Any particular reason Sega never credited Compile for the sms R Type port?

[Raccoon Lad]

Probably because it was the style at the time not to credit programmers (and if they did, it would be by using pseudomyms like "drunkard Kagi", "Sexy Bomb" "Yu-2")

That, and Compile seems to be oddly tied to Sega somehow, seeing as they've co-published games with them for almost 2 decades.

[Ed Oscuro]

seeing as they've co-published games with them for almost 2 decades.
Make that over two decades...Borderline is right in that list. Which is a game I "own" along with the hardware but haven't had shipped over yet.

[geelw]

Zanac x Zanac really caught my interest when I first saw this site. I never knew the game existed. On the date it says "2001 ?." Does anyone know if this game was ever released for Playstation?

;) you better believe it was! SLPS 03354, if you want to google up the cover art. it's got four versions of xanac (famicom disk version, rom version, special version, score trial), xanac neo (arcade & score trial modes), nice visuals and super addictive gameplay. in fact, ps one shooters are the subject of my next column, so stick around for a bit... :D

[opcode]

Zanac was first released for the MSX... :)
Just later it was ported over the Famicom, then Compile released the Famicom version for the MSX2 (Zanac EX).

Eduardo

[ManekiNeko]

Any particular reason Sega never credited Compile for the sms R Type port?

They did, in the advertisements for the game. They showed a bunch of arcade ports in one Master System commercial, and there was copyright information for Compile listed on the bottom of the screen when a brief clip of R-Type was shown.

JR

[ubersaurus]

Compile made some of the best shooters I've ever played...MUSHA and Zanac are among my favorite games. I'd like a copy of Zanac X Zanac though...I downloaded it but i haven't yet gotten it to work on my modded ps1. I played Robotron's copy before though, and the game is wicked awesome.

They did R-Type on SMS? That's sweet.