[Andlabs]

Yeah — there are two situations:
1) that 아힝흥행, Black Squirrel(?), and myself have seen some Korean releases by supposedly unlicensed developers released with licenses or with original copyrights left in, and I'm not sure what to make of that. There might be a history we're missing here. As a recent example, there's that Hi-Com Virtua Fighter II that appears to have been officially licensed (1, 2, 3) while their Insector X is licensed by HOT-B but doesn't appear to be licensed by either Sega or Samsung, and one of those Korean games over on SMS Power that had the Taito copyright left in (but I'm guessing that one was being sloppy?). I'll have to devote a day to doing this one day
2) that list means more unlicensed Mega Drive games to track down, and all of those are also undumped :/ When I was browsing through Taiwanese auction sites I kept finding more things we haven't heard of so... I do have a list, but I've long abandoned it and again I'll need to get back to doing it one day (but I'll have to allot a whole day to it)

This post has been edited by Andlabs: 12 March 2012 - 10:45 AM

[아힝흥행]

Andlabs, on 12 March 2012 - 10:40 AM, said:

Yeah — there are two situations:
1) that 아힝흥행, Black Squirrel(?), and myself have seen some Korean releases by supposedly unlicensed developers released with licenses or with original copyrights left in, and I'm not sure what to make of that. There might be a history we're missing here. As a recent example, there's that Hi-Com Virtua Fighter II that appears to have been officially licensed (1, 2, 3) while their Insector X is licensed by HOT-B but doesn't appear to be licensed by either Sega or Samsung, and one of those Korean games over on SMS Power that had the Taito copyright left in (but I'm guessing that one was being sloppy?). I'll have to devote a day to doing this one day
2) that list means more unlicensed Mega Drive games to track down, and all of those are also undumped :/ When I was browsing through Taiwanese auction sites I kept finding more things we haven't heard of so... I do have a list, but I've long abandoned it and again I'll need to get back to doing it one day (but I'll have to allot a whole day to it)

Well as I showed the photos of, there was a licensed copy of Samsung version of Virtua Fighter 2 (here)
On the Hi-Com version, it has the seal of official licensing of SEGA, and also the title of Mega Drive 2 written in korean.
I'm assuming there was a area in Korea where Samsung couldn't reach? And thats where Sega got to reach in through Hi-Com? That's my guess. Also, the url on the box for hi-com is dead. It may be that Hi-Com's "Seal of Quality" Where since they knew Sega couldn't reach over, they decided to give out "Licensings" That's just another theory though.

[Black Squirrel]

The serial number for that copy of Insector X - GM 4001 HG

Samsung serial numbers (or at least the ones I've seen) have all been "GM xxxx JG" (for Sega published games?) or "GM xxxx JT" (for third parties?))

quite a coincidence that so many letters match

This post has been edited by Black Squirrel: 13 March 2012 - 08:46 AM

[Black Squirrel]

Actually after analysing this more deeply

x = number
y = letter

MASTER SYSTEM

y-xx

http://segaretro.org...MS_KR_cover.jpg
http://segaretro.org...ro_KR_cover.jpg
http://segaretro.org...py_KR_cover.jpg

Probably the oldest set of games released around the same time as the original Gam*Boy, whenever that was. Samsung branding only. We don't have many examples, but all of the above were released on Sega Card at some point, which might be a clue. Maybe mid-80s?


GB-xxxx

http://segaretro.org..._SMS_KR_Box.jpg
http://segaretro.org...MS_KR_cover.jpg

Gam*Boy II-branded games. The "GB" probably stands for Gam*Boy. Sega AND Samsung branding. Late 80s?


GB xxxx JG

http://segaretro.org..._SMS_KR_Box.jpg
http://segaretro.org..._SMS_SK_Box.jpg
http://segaretro.org..._SMS_SK_Box.jpg

I'm guessing these are early 90s covers, redesigned to match the Aladdin Boy (Mega Drive) boxes.

GB xxxx KS

http://segaretro.org...MS_KR_cover.jpg

Not sure what KS stands for. Might be battery save. More likely games translated into Korean.



MEGA DRIVE

GM xxxx JG

(Super Gam*Boy (first release of the console))
http://segaretro.org...k_MD_KR_Box.jpg
http://segaretro.org...n_MD_KR_Box.jpg

(Super Aladdin Boy (second release of the console))
http://segaretro.org...M_MD_KR_Box.jpg
http://segaretro.org...C_MD_KR_Box.jpg

Mega Drive games, originally Sega-published. The Japanese equivalent is G-xxxx. Oh and other interesting point, Japanese Mega Drive games started at G-4000. These appear to start at GM 4000 JG, though they ramp up significantly - Light Crusader is GM 95004 JG

GM xxxx JT

http://segaretro.org...2_MD_KR_Box.jpg
http://segaretro.org...t_MD_KR_Box.jpg

Originally third-party published games. Japanese equivalent is T-xxxx. Thing is, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense in this context because Samsung published all the JGs and JTs, so it's an odd situation. From our small pool of scans, there are no JTs with Super Gam*Boy branding - only Super Aladdin Boy.

My assumption that JG and JT stand for Japan "G" and Japan "T", wheras K is for Korea.

For rough dates - Samsung adopted their current logo in 1993. Sonic tends to appear on post-1991 covers.

GM xxxx KS

http://segaretro.org...C_MD_KR_Box.jpg
http://segaretro.org...on_KR_cover.jpg

Still not sure what KS stands for.

GM xxxx HG

http://segaretro.org...X_MD_KR_Box.jpg

Insector X by Hi-Com.




now

I went through Guardiana's inaccurate database and generally things seem to conform to those rules. But there are a few exceptions

http://www.guardiana...s%20Lost/#v6611
http://www.guardiana...d%20Zone/#v3453

Time Warner Interactive seem to have gone through "HIC Infocomm". TWI have never really played by the rules though - their Australian releases are North American Genesis games with slap-dash rebranding. Not to mention their roots are Tengen, the same company who published unlicensed stuff for the NES. So not much cause for concern.

According to them there is also a Hi-Com version of Wonder Boy in Monster World (aka Monster World III). That might be a path worth exploring.


EDIT: And a visit to SMS Power

http://www.smspower....giKkachi-SMS-KR
HiCom release with GB xxxx code

This post has been edited by Black Squirrel: 13 March 2012 - 11:31 AM

[Black Squirrel]

Something to note, not necessarily to document on Sega Retro.. but who knows

Super Columns (or "Super Columns Tetris") for the MSX. I imagine SMSPower will unearth a Master System version at some point, since it looks like the sort of thing that would make the jump

according to Hardcore Gaming 101 Screen Software were one of many South Korean companies to spend their days plastering their name on products they didn't own. But still, an odd choice of words - "licensed by"? Can you "license" a stolen idea?

[Andlabs]

Was Galaxy Force on Master System released in Korea? It's one of the two make or break things (the other being whether or not the FM module was ever released in Brazil) that would determine whether or not its FM soundtrack is truly unused. Thanks.