Bonkinator and other Treasures

[MotherGunner]

Yeah Aaron seems to have approved some guys and not the guy we're waiting on?

[ParanoiaDragon]

He's still awaiting approval to the site, but got another email today - he also has another non-working EPROM called "Spring Ninja".  Is this a working title for Ninja Spirit, or another fantastical story like the TV Sports Baseball?  I sent him the great vids that ParanoiaDragon posted!  Awesome stuffs!

Spring Ninja was the working name for Somer Assault/Mesapotamia.  So, nothing real exciting, other then probably a different title screen.

[esteban]

HOLY DEAR LORD ALMIGHTY!

I can't believe what I've missed in my absence. I'm still trying to work my way through 50 pages of unread messages.

BONKINATOR, indeed.

I love finding out about stuff like this.

VERDICT: "Bonkinator" is most certainly not as good as (Air) Zonk. As someone mentioned already, "Zonk" has a continuity with "Bonk".

"Bonkinator" suffers from extra chromosomes. Sorry.

He's still awaiting approval to the site, but got another email today - he also has another non-working EPROM called "Spring Ninja".  Is this a working title for Ninja Spirit, or another fantastical story like the TV Sports Baseball?  I sent him the great vids that ParanoiaDragon posted!  Awesome stuffs!

Spring Ninja was the working name for Somer Assault/Mesapotamia.  So, nothing real exciting, other then probably a different title screen.

In that case, I'll glady take the Spring Ninja EPROM and the non-working TV SPORTS Baseball EPROM

Possibly interesting:

Review: TV SPORTS Baseball (TurboPlay #11, Feb/March 1992)
 
TV SPORTS Baseball slated for September 1992 release (TurboPlay #13, June/July 1992)

Bonk to the Future. Bonk's Thunder Shooting slated for November 1992 release (TurboPlay #12, June/July 1992)

[malicedoom]

Hello to all!  This is Frank from Chicago, and this is my first post.

Thanks to Henry for letting me know about the site and forums here.  Interesting to know what this 'Bonkinator' game I have is all about - I myself never had the chance to play Air Zonk (it came out after NEC had sold everything to Hudson Soft and moved from Wood Dale, IL to CA), so I wasn't quite sure WHAT it was when I first booted it up.

As for TV Sports Baseball, that is a 4-chip EPROM that I can't seem to get to load - not sure it ever did.  Makes me wonder if it ever was a 'working' prototype or just what the story is, etc.

Nice to meet you all!

 

--Frank

[Necromancer]

Welcome aboard, Frank.  I look forward to hearing what'll hopefully be many inside stories of NEC's US operations.

[chany60126]

Welcome the forums, Frank. I too am from Illinois and live about 8 miles south from the former NEC headquarters. I have had the pleasure of meeting former NEC employees that have sold me games in the past. I look forward to hear some of your stories. 

[DesmondThe3rd]

I would have been so embarassed being the world record holder of 'Bonkinator'

[malicedoom]

Thanks for the welcome.  Yeah, I was there basically from when they started hiring until they moved to CA (1989-1991, 92? - trying to remember).

The support hub had a lot of really great people working for it throughout the years, but we always knew the products were far better than the marketing department supporting it, which was quite aggravating at the time.  Ah well, it was still a great, GREAT job, no doubt about that.

[Mathius]

Welcomes!

[henrycsc]

Welcome aboard Frank!  Glad you finally made it and we hope that our craziness doesn't drive you away too soon.

You mentioned that the EPROMS were given to you.  What do you remember about their history?

[MotherGunner]

Welcome aboard Frank.  Since no one has said it I will.   "Believe or not, I'm walking on air..."

[esteban]

Thanks for the welcome.  Yeah, I was there basically from when they started hiring until they moved to CA (1989-1991, 92? - trying to remember).

The support hub had a lot of really great people working for it throughout the years, but we always knew the products were far better than the marketing department supporting it, which was quite aggravating at the time.  Ah well, it was still a great, GREAT job, no doubt about that.

WELCOME FRANK!

Without being too much of a pest, I'll just throw this out there: I'd love any additional information/photos you could share with us (pictures of EPROM, including close-up details, clean screenshots, personal anecdotes and stories, etc.)

Here is a quick page I threw together:
Before Air Zonk, there was Bonkinator: Punk Cyborg (aka Bonk's Thunder Shooting).

Thanks in advance.

I would greatly appreciate everyone's suggestions/assistance compiling this page.

[SignOfZeta]

Even if the EPROM doesn't boot, it might still be dump-able.

[malicedoom]

Thanks again for the welcomes, everyone.  Great to be here.

Regarding the EPROMS, as testers, we'd get them in all the time - it's pretty much all we'd play on as we evaluated the games and gave our opinions on whether or not we thought the game should be released (sometimes we were listened to, sometimes not).

I recall seeing the burners they used to burn the games onto the chips - obviously they'd re-use chips and boards all the time.  I'm trying to recall if I ever worked with anyone in development in the actual burning of chips - I want to say I did, because I remember being so impressed at how efficient those things worked - NEC had such great hardware, even in development - too bad that wasn't the same case when it came to marketing.


Also:

Welcome aboard Frank.  Since no one has said it I will.   "Believe or not, I'm walking on air..."

 

Thanks!!!  Long live, GAH!

[RR1980]

Regarding the EPROMS, as testers, we'd get them in all the time - it's pretty much all we'd play on as we evaluated the games and gave our opinions on whether or not we thought the game should be released (sometimes we were listened to, sometimes not).

so this might be a little OT but what were  the games that you guys the testers felt were no good and therefore were not released?