Known Easter Eggs in Commercial Jaguar Games
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Easter Eggs-Software Surprises
Easter Eggs are secrets hidden in many pieces of software, from operating systems and
applications to games on PCs and consoles. This book provides an excellent insight
into why programmers add these unofficial features, and how to access them.
Click on the book to find out more, and order. |
Reasons for including Easter Eggs
There may be lots of reasons for including Easter Eggs (or Gang Screens) in
games. The very first Easter Egg apparently originated with Atari, when the
programmer of "Adventure" for the Atari 2600 got sick of his bosses refusing to
include any credits, and hid his name behind a "dot" in the game. It is nice then
that most Jaguar games included Easter Eggs of some sort.
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 The
Programmers "Gang Screen"
The programmers who wrote MYST for the Atari Jaguar CD unit included themselves in
the game, stood on a balcony at Atari HQ. This kind of easter-egg which relates
only to the programmers, either showing their pictures, their names, and other
secret credits was traditionally called a "gang screen". Normally such screens
include the names of the programmers, but these were not secret.
Eggs are usually well hidden, this so complicated it had to be leaked to find
it. To activate this egg you enter May 22, 1970 6:30am in the planetarium, and this
changes the view of the library to a view of the Atari building. Looking up shows
the Myst team on the balcony.
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 The
Development Team "Gang Screen"
The Atari programmers who wrote Hoverstrike for the Atari Jaguar included a team
photo of themselves in the game too, stood against a game landscape. This kind of
easter-egg which relates only to the programmers, either showing their pictures,
their names, and other secret credits was traditionally called a "gang screen".
Normally such screens include the names of the programmers, but Atari credited each
member of the team by name in the Jaguar game manuals.
To activate this egg...
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The Programmers Friends / Lovers
Defender 2000 by Jeff Minter
 Jeff
Minter had a special relationship with Atari after the success of Tempest 2000 and
was able to include this tribute to his pet sheep Flossie, the "most beautiful sheep
in the world" if I remember right. Spitting lasers, and powered with a jet (of methan
presumably) from her rear, this feature is unlocked by entering your name as OVINE on
the Defender Plus high score table, and starting the game with A instead of B. Fame
for Flossie, yes. |
As Tributes to Other Programmers
BattleSphere by 4Play
This much sought after recent release apparently holds a number of secret features
unlocked by secret codes found in the game, one being "Yak Mode" which offers a "VLM"
style display to accompany the game music. As a tribute to Jeff Minters Jaguar CD
VLM, it is a great example of this type of Easter Egg. It is activated by typing
842659686275 from the Game Options. (This screenshot captured by JC.) |
Mini-Games Similar to Real Games
BattleSphere Gold by Scatologic
This follow-up to BattleSphere includes a mini-game called Defektor, which is
simplistic, but similar to Protector, a Defender type game by Songbird. The game may
be considered a tribute to classic Defender or Protektor. Later levels include
falling meteors as does Protektor, as is ground and background. The game is activated
by typing 752933332867 from the Game Options. (This screenshot captured by
JC.) |
 Nostalgia and "Retro" Features
Pitfall, The Mayan Adventure
Possibly the most interesting Jaguar Easter Egg in some respects for the unlocked
potential it holds, by pressing C 26 times, then down, while over Info on the
main menu the game gives you a full and apparently perfect game of Atari 2600
Pitfall. If this uses an emulator, Pitfall holds the potential to play many
more 2600 titles on your Jaguar. Great implementation. |
 Nostalgia and "Retro" Updates
Defender 2000 by Jeff Minter
Defender 2000 was originally intended to have a number of hidden games, but I guess
due to shortage of cartridge space most were culled. Entering NOLAN as a high score
(for Nolan Bushnell, considered "creator" of Pong) permanently unlocks "Plazma Pong",
classic Pong with a very psychodelic background, and sound. A nice example of a
tribute and update. |
 Sub-Game to Unlock Features
Rayman
The already excellent game, Rayman, .includes an excellent secret game. Rayman can
play a special version of Breakout in order to unlimited continues when he wins. Not
just a Breakout clone either, it is beautifully implemented fun, and pressing 1,3,6,4
on the walking hands screen unlocks this sub-game anytime. |
 Secret Level from Programmers
Club Drive
Perhaps feeling guilty at the "prototype" nature of Club Drive,
an excellent game in concept, but rushed to publication long before it was ready, one
of the programmers included a secret level called "Todd's World", captured here.
Sadly it is not much of an easter egg as it is so small. Holding 4+2 on world select,
selects this. |
 Arcade Secrets as Game
Feature
NBA Jam TE
At the opposite end of the scale from Club Drive, NBA Jam TE
is a Jaguar port of the massive arcade hit of the same name, but in this case the
programmers wanted to add more to the Jag version..There are numerous secrets in
this game, many more even than the arcade version, includeing the option to play as
all the programmers, so this is definitely Easter Egg heaven.
As a special Jaguar feature, shown here is the 32X Doom egg in action. All the
players face front only, and move left and right still facing front. This is to
make fun of the Sega 32X port of Doom, which shows all enemies with minimal
animation frames, all face on, unlike the superb Jaguar version. An Easter Egg
which slams a so-called Jaguar competitor had to be fun.
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 Secret Level from Programmers
Val D'Isere by Virtual Studios
The last common reason for Easter Eggs in games, Jaguar included, was playtesting. It
is very difficult for playtesters to try every feature if they have to play from the
start every time they get a new version. Many games have a secret menu or options for
infinite lives for Playtesters. Val D'Isere includes a menu activated by pressing
4,0,8,5,7,4,1,4 on the main menu which offers an impressive set of options. |
More to follow if you are interested...
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