Days of Thunder: Mindscape (NES)

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Days of Thunder
Days of Thunder Mindscape - NES.jpg
Platform: NES
Year: Unreleased
Developer: Mindscape

This is for the unreleased version of this game. For the released version, see Days of Thunder (NES).

In 2020, the family of late programmer Chris Oberth found several 5 1/4 floppy disks, each containing fragments of code for an NES game he programmed. Unable to get the data off the disks, the family sent the disks to the Video Game History Preservation, who, with much time and effort, were able to not only extract all of the data from the disks, but also compile it into a fully working version of Days of Thunder which was completely different from the one that was released. Unlike the released version which was only published by Mindscape, and developed by Beam Software, this version of the game was developed internally. It was made by only four people; Chris Oberth and Lou Haehn did the programming, design, and audio while Mark Sprenger and Keith Cooper did the game's graphics.

The Mindscape version plays much differently from the one that was released; for starters, only the qualifying mode uses 3D graphics and is in a first-person view. The main race is shown from a bird's-eye view where the player must steer the car using the up and down buttons on the crosskey.

The game went on sale in June 2020 and sold for $75, the profits going to Chris Oberth's family.

Screenshots

Days Of Thunder Mindscape - NES - Title Screen.png

The game's title screen.

Days Of Thunder Mindscape - NES - Gameplay 1.png

Viewing the race schedule.

Days Of Thunder Mindscape - NES - Gameplay 2.png

Viewing the track screen.

Days Of Thunder Mindscape - NES - Gameplay 3.png

Selecting a car.

Days Of Thunder Mindscape - NES - Gameplay 4.png

Qualifying for the race.

Days Of Thunder Mindscape - NES - Gameplay 5.png

The main race.

Days Of Thunder Mindscape - NES - Gameplay 6.png

Cole Trickle wins the race!

Music

The game only has 5 songs, which leaves much to be desired. The game's two programmers worked on all of the audio, possibly because they could not afford or find an experienced musician. As a result, the music is a little subpar compared to the released version's soundtrack. Though the compositions themselves are quite decent, many people complain about the game's percussion mostly using the periodic noise channel, which makes it sound a bit ear-grating.

Though the game only has 5 songs, the game's source code shows there were supposed to be four other songs added that didn't make it into the final build of the ROM.

The game's source code shows the internal names for the songs.

The programmers had to write the music in 6502 assembly macros.

Recording

# TitleInternal Name ComposerArrangerProgrammer Length Listen Download
01 Title ScreenBTR2 Chris Oberth, Lou HaehnChris Oberth, Lou HaehnNick Eastridge 1:25
Download
02 Race Schedule/StandingsSTAND Chris Oberth, Lou HaehnChris Oberth, Lou HaehnNick Eastridge 0:44
Download
03 Track ScreenRAP Chris Oberth, Lou HaehnChris Oberth, Lou HaehnNick Eastridge 0:42
Download
04 Qualify ResultsBEAT Chris Oberth, Lou HaehnChris Oberth, Lou HaehnNick Eastridge 0:19
Download
05 VictoryWIN SCREEN Chris Oberth, Lou HaehnChris Oberth, Lou HaehnNick Eastridge 1:01
Download

Credits

(Source)

The credits can be seen either after beating the game or getting a game over.

Though the game has credits, they're a little messy. Lou Haehn has only had one other known audio credit, and that was the sound effects to the Atari Lynx version of Rygar, so he probably only worked on sound effects. However, many of these sounds were used in other Mindscape games, all of which lack credits, so it's unknown if Lou provided these sounds. Also, this game appears to be Chris Oberth's only credit for audio.

The game uses Nick Eastridge's sound driver, but he is not credited, possibly at his request, or the fact there wasn't enough room on the credits screen to fit his name. The driver uses the same variant used in Dirty Harry (NES).

Game Rip

Format

Download

NSF.png

N/A


Ripping NES music is an arduous process that is beyond the scope of this site. The music was recorded in NSFPlay Synthesia Mod.

Audio Devices

The game uses the RP2A03 of the NES, and uses Nick Eastridge's sound driver. The game uses all channels for audio, though the DPCM channel is only used for sound effects.

Releases

  USA.svg   USA
Days of Thunder Mindscape - NES.jpg
Title: Days of Thunder
Platform: NES
Released: Unreleased
Publisher: Mindscape, Inc.