Besides handling the timing differences between PAL and NTSC systems, this variable is also used at various points to determine whether the game is running on a Japanese system, and if so, remove the trademark symbols from all Sonic and SEGA logos, since those trademarks don't apply in Japan.
This variable also controls the name which Tails goes by. Sonic Team originally named the character Miles Prower, and he was only given the "Tails" moniker at the request of Sega of America's marketing department. Despite this, Sonic 2's programmers made it so the original name is still used when the game is played on a Japanese system, a trait that was later carried over into Sonic 3.
In S3A however, this feature seems to be unfinished. No trademark symbols are removed when playing the game on a Japanese console, and Tails' name is only changed in the level results screen, and not in his lives counter:
Looking at the S3A ROM reveals why: the graphics for the alternate counter seem to be missing entirely! As a result, to finish this feature for Sonic 3 & Knuckles, the developers had to include the Miles lives counter within the S&K ROM.
I heard Tails was named Miles Prower by Yasushi Yamaguchi (aka Judy Totoya) and Sega of Japan went with that, but Sega of America wanted to use Tails, so at first, they created a backstory to rename the character Tails. Yamaguchi opted to have SOJ's name be the legal name and SOA's name be the nickname, and here we are. It's kind of like Dr. Robotnik vs. Dr. Eggman, only that the crossover didn't happen until Sonic Adventure.
ReplyDeleteI actually don't know if CD 2011 or Mania ever use the name "Miles". I don't know of any files that use it in either.
Admittedly, I had to double check whether it was "Tails by Sega, Miles by the creator". I guess what I said doesn't completely contradict nor agree with what you said, so...
Delete"In S3A however, this feature seems to [be] unfinished."
ReplyDeleteoops