Tomb Raider beta?

**Mr Sippy** · 09-27-2011

Originally Posted by Decapicitated

Yeah, I actually talk to him alot about betas on Tomb raider. He owned some really rare stuff years ago, shame he sold them and they are long gone now.

Anyway, found some new guy with new footage here

He has:

Tomb Raider 1 July beta
Tomb Raider 1 August beta
Tomb Raider 3 October beta

all on youtube!!! cool stuff

Are you S.Sippy?

Edit:

I look for Tomb raider betas alot, I do research ;), You bought Tomb Raider PAL and NTSC betas on silver discs.

You bought them from my friend, look here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l8ujMn4SuY 1:22

lol pretty old, he has pictures, videos of all the old betas he used to own. He sold them all, who did you sell them to?

Sorry if i'm being abit of a creep. Thought i knew your name from somewhere.

Ahh i see now i get it:clap: I could see my name S.Sippy on paper on that video, @Decapicitated im assume that where you mention my name on that. (so he your friend?) Once again.. Yes that the same person i bought it from way back Nov 2001. He only the guy that he has most TR beta back in the day that i know of. but back then he is very differcult to communicate with because of his lack of english. I believe he a italian.

Im searching for the gold disc 27:7:1996 beta ;) someone know where I can find other betas?

Almito la vita then Greatest TR and mcstyle24... jeezes how many name he has!!!
after i watch whole video and now i can understand what kind of Gold disc as you talking about, even there is about 3 or 5 TR beta disc including gold disc that CD has been sent to out to reviwers for game mags. The one in video as you saw, i believe that either Aug or Sept beta version but unfortunately he has 3 gold and 1 silver beta disc before as i could remember and in this video i only can see 2 gold beta disc and 1 silver, dont know what happen to other gold disc, mabey he sold it.

Fact!!! what i heard that he sold TR beta Gold disc (26/07/06) to someone in germany. I believed the guy in germany who also massive fan collecting Resident evil beta and im sure he's on this fourm aswell. I cant remember his name.

I hope this clears up abit. I havnt been into collecting Tomb raider betas for very long time, so i wouldnt know much.

**Decapicitated** · 09-27-2011

Originally Posted by Mr Sippy

Ahh i see now i get it:clap: I could see my name S.Sippy on paper on that video, @Decapicitated im assume that where you mention my name on that. (so he your friend?) Once again.. Yes that the same person i bought it from way back Nov 2001. He only the guy that he has most TR beta back in the day that i know of. but back then he is very differcult to communicate with because of his lack of english. I believe he a italian.

Im searching for the gold disc 27:7:1996 beta ;) someone know where I can find other betas?

Almito la vita then Greatest TR and mcstyle24... jeezes how many name he has!!!
after i watch whole video and now i can understand what kind of Gold disc as you talking about, even there is about 3 or 5 TR beta disc including gold disc that CD has been sent to out to reviwers for game mags. The one in video as you saw, i believe that either Aug or Sept beta version but unfortunately he has 3 gold and 1 silver beta disc before as i could remember and in this video i only can see 2 gold beta disc and 1 silver, dont know what happen to other gold disc, mabey he sold it.

Fact!!! what i heard that he sold TR beta Gold disc (26/07/06) to someone in germany. I believed the guy in germany who also massive fan collecting Resident evil beta and im sure he's on this fourm aswell. I cant remember his name.

I hope this clears up abit. I havnt been into collecting Tomb raider betas for very long time, so i wouldnt know much.

I know a few people with Tomb Raider betas, but they won't sell, or give me information on the betas. A real shame really, it's interesting to see that after all this time you still exist on here since most other collectors have vanished. He is sorta hard to understand, he's italian and has sold every single one of his betas, he is well known for having Tomb Raider betas on youtube, and was even sued by Eidos because they accused him of stealing thrm from internal places when he recieved one of them (i think the gold disc) from someone 'internal', can't say since it will cause problems.

So... Anyone secretly have Tomb Raider betas? show up please.

On another forum, some guy has 2 Tomb Raider betas. One claimed to be eariler, other further in development with a few differences to final.

On this forum, Tomb Raider September 1996 was sold for the sega saturn but it's unknown who has it.

On this forum, Tomb Raider 2 PSX beta (undated) was sold, it's unknown who it was sold to.

I am in contact with someone who has the DOS Tomb Raider 1 test build shown to Eidos, he hasn't been online for a while and refused to give me further details of how and where he got it.

On another forum, Tomb Raider 2 October 10th beta was sold to an unknown person.

DRX is selling Tomb Raider 1 Alpha E3 version PSX for $700

DRX is selling Tomb Raider 3 September 1998 beta for $700 (very interesting - my favorite)

**nu0** · 09-27-2011

Plugging the Tomb Raider Forums again, but this thread has links to the TR2 PSX & PC Betas;

http://www.tombraiderforums.com/showthread.php?t=148337

The PSX beta works fine under PSX 1.13, I had trouble with it in ePSXE 1.70, my anti-virus has trouble with the PC beta, keeps saying it's infected so I only opened it once.

I hope it's O.K. to post this stuff, if not feel free to edit my posts. Also, McStyle24 AKA Greatest TR posts there from time to time.

It would be great if these private collectors would be generous to release some TR1 builds, especially the Alpha build w/ the ponytail (if it still exists :shrug:)

**Decapicitated** · 09-27-2011

Originally Posted by nu0

Plugging the Tomb Raider Forums again, but this thread has links to the TR2 PSX & PC Betas;

http://www.tombraiderforums.com/showthread.php?t=148337

The PSX beta works fine under PSX 1.13, I had trouble with it in ePSXE 1.70, my anti-virus has trouble with the PC beta, keeps saying it's infected so I only opened it once.

I hope it's O.K. to post this stuff, if not feel free to edit my posts. Also, McStyle24 AKA Greatest TR posts there from time to time.

It would be great if these private collectors would be generous to release some TR1 builds, especially the Alpha build w/ the ponytail (if it still exists :shrug:)

Here is a list of known betas for Tomb Raider:

Tomb Raider 1, PC, 1995, Eidos tech demo, pony tail version (IMPORTANT)
Tomb Raider 1, PC, Before May 1996, Planetlara had this, website shut.
Tomb Raider 1, Sega Saturn, May 1996, E3 Version DRX selling for $700
Tomb Raider 1, PC, July 1996, Preview demo, can be found on internet.
Tomb Raider 1, Sega Saturn, July 1996, on youtube somewhere.
Tomb Raider 1, Sega Saturn, August 1996, I have this got from youtube guy.
Tomb Raider 1, Sega Saturn, 26 August 1996, Golden disc, already sold.
Tomb Raider 1, Sega Saturn, September 1996, Sold on this forum, disc picture too
Tomb Raider 1, PSX, October 1996, I have this, compiled week before final. Identical to final but file size differences. freezes alot.
Tomb Raider 1, UNK, UNK, described as short early demo.
Tomb Raider 1, UNK, UNK, described as being close to final with differences, all levels.

Tomb Raider 2, PC, 1997, E3 version. Can be found on internet
Tomb Raider 2, PSX, September 1997, can be found on internet.

Tomb Raider 3, PSX, September 1998, DRX selling for $700
Tomb Raider 3, PSX, October 1998, Youtube guy has it.

Tomb Raider 4, none known betas!

Tomb Raider Chronicles, PSX, October 2000, Another youtube guy has it.

Red: Unreleased/Sold/Lost
Green: Leaked onto internet

**nu0** · 09-27-2011

Thank you for the list Decapicitated, that helps to clear things up!

I know of two other versions of TR2 that maybe you could add to the list;

TR2 Alpha/Beta Lara w/ TR1 Bun (see attachment)

TR2 Alpha/Beta Lara w/ Bun/Ponytail combo (see video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjSh2zpNWd0

It looks like the TR1 engine and weapons are still being used in that build too.

**Decapicitated** · 09-27-2011

Originally Posted by nu0

Thank you for the list Decapicitated, that helps to clear things up!

I know of two other versions of TR2 that maybe you could add to the list;

TR2 Alpha/Beta Lara w/ TR1 Bun (see attachment)

TR2 Alpha/Beta Lara w/ Bun/Ponytail combo (see video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjSh2zpNWd0

It looks like the TR1 engine and weapons are still being used in that build too.

Yes, seen that version before. The list above is for the betas that actually exist on disc for sure. I don't know of this version does, it's an early alpha of Tomb Raider 2. There is also a version where lara has ponytail and bun at the same time lol...

Tomb Raider 3 alpha stuff click here

**Mr Sippy** · 09-28-2011

@Decapicitated

Yes i was around alot in mid 90's looking betas games on internet and at the time, beta/alpha is very new for us and leaking games betas on internet is a very serious thing but now ,not , because game betas can dealiverd out to public for a test, from 90's to 2011 has been change alot. what i mean by that as you said alot of them are private collecter is vanished, i guess they older now. im nealy 26 years old, i rarely come on this site just to look around and read about beta stuff just for fun really.

Im sure you been on site called ungerground beta org.com, it was short lived before it took down in 2002 and that where almito la vita post TR 1 and 2 betas/alpha stuff in early days. Correct! it is true that Eidos sued Mcstyle24/Greatest TR for leaking
info, I don't really know how much trouble he got into but i told theses beta disc that he was given by core design staff while STILL developing TR1 at the time, so leaking betas stuff while final version has not realease which it is not a good idea. To me that a stupid thing to do what he just did:fresh: or other wise ungerground beta org.com would have still exist today. In my personal opinion, after he got into trouble, this is reason why he sold all his betas that fast.

@Decapicitated How do you know all of this? Did he tell you that he got into trouble?

Im suprised for those who own TR betas that rather not gives out details is rather selfish to be honest. Right now this day and age it seem that (you) @Decapicitated and Mcstyle24 only very few people who still on going about it and releasing picture and videos of TR betas with info, so that nice really, after all thoses 16 years. Again im suprised there isn't much topic about this like compared in mid 90's.

This is interesting topic i seen for very long time, so i should stick around abit longer:nod:

EDIT

I Look through his channel on youtube, i found few more that i havn't seen,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBNY12Zg0UM
It a TR3 beta by Mcstyle24

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVldi8WeuCE
it the TR Augest beta by ghostblade.

**Decapicitated** · 09-28-2011

Originally Posted by Mr Sippy

@Decapicitated

Yes i was around alot in mid 90's looking betas games on internet and at the time, beta/alpha is very new for us and leaking games betas on internet is a very serious thing but now ,not , because game betas can dealiverd out to public for a test, from 90's to 2011 has been change alot. what i mean by that as you said alot of them are private collecter is vanished, i guess they older now. im nealy 26 years old, i rarely come on this site just to look around and read about beta stuff just for fun really.

Im sure you been on site called ungerground beta org.com, it was short lived before it took down in 2002 and that where almito la vita post TR 1 and 2 betas/alpha stuff in early days. Correct! it is true that Eidos sued Mcstyle24/Greatest TR for leaking
info, I don't really know how much trouble he got into but i told theses beta disc that he was given by core design staff while STILL developing TR1 at the time, so leaking betas stuff while final version has not realease which it is not a good idea. To me that a stupid thing to do what he just did:fresh: or other wise ungerground beta org.com would have still exist today. In my personal opinion, after he got into trouble, this is reason why he sold all his betas that fast.

@Decapicitated How do you know all of this? Did he tell you that he got into trouble?

Im suprised for those who own TR betas that rather not gives out details is rather selfish to be honest. Right now this day and age it seem that (you) @Decapicitated and Mcstyle24 only very few people who still on going about it and releasing picture and videos of TR betas with info, so that nice really, after all thoses 16 years. Again im suprised there isn't much topic about this like compared in mid 90's.

This is interesting topic i seen for very long time, so i should stick around abit longer:nod:

EDIT

I Look through his channel on youtube, i found few more that i havn't seen,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBNY12Zg0UM
It a TR3 beta by Mcstyle24

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVldi8WeuCE
it the TR Augest beta by ghostblade.

Tomb Raider July beta

http://www.youtube.com/user/Gh0stBla...96111D73DFABF5

Tomb Raider August beta

http://www.youtube.com/user/Gh0stBla...6DC6220AFA3DD0

Tomb Raider 3 October beta

http://www.youtube.com/user/Gh0stBla...3533822B0C914A

Yes, alot of collectors will have vanished, it's so hard to find Tomb raider betas now since they were sold long ago. I am trying to get through to some people and get more information on those known betas if they tell me. alot of them refuse to give me informaton etc.. pretty boring, selfish (lol)

His Tomb Raider 3 beta, isn't a beta. It's just a series of bugs in the retail version.

Yeah, he told me about how Eidos sued him for being accused of stealing from Core Design studio.

Tomb raider original intro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oudu2...eature=related

Tomb Raider planet lara beta

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZG9G...eature=related

Tomb Raider 1 ponytail beta

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUw1YrFQ0bI

Interesting stuff!!!

**Mr Sippy** · 09-28-2011

@Decapicitated

I think someone should contact ghostblade, He might have that gold disc1?!?!:-0 His video is intreasting aswell.

God blimely, i dint know nothing about him stealing from Core design studio, i remember one thing that Almito la vita AKA Mcstyle24 said in fourm many years ago, he said Core design were planning to destroyed those TR betas stuff after they completed TR1, so mabey he really did steal it from the studio:-0 I don't know that a good thing or bad thing.

Sorry i dint mention, forget those glithc or bug or whatever it it, i ment beta all hallow in 4:45 and also check the description aswell because it has all list of TR3 beta info.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBNY12Zg0UM

Originally Posted by Decapicitated

Tomb raider original intro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oudu2...eature=related

Tomb Raider planet lara beta

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZG9G...eature=related

Tomb Raider 1 ponytail beta

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUw1YrFQ0bI

Interesting stuff!!!

Second link, Mcstyle24 has that beta one time before, but he said he dint like that beta.

I agreed with you the last link is very intreresting, it must be very early days version. Long hair with sun glasses. I remember that beta was the most talked by everyone, it really got hooked by every single private collecters at the time. It still amaze me that havnt leaked out yet. I don't think that will never happen.

**Decapicitated** · 09-28-2011

Originally Posted by Mr Sippy

@Decapicitated

I think someone should contact ghostblade, He might have that gold disc1?!?!:-0 His video is intreasting aswell.

God blimely, i dint know nothing about him stealing from Core design studio, i remember one thing that Almito la vita AKA Mcstyle24 said in fourm many years ago, he said Core design were planning to destroyed those TR betas stuff after they completed TR1, so mabey he really did steal it from the studio:-0 I don't know that a good thing or bad thing.

Sorry i dint mention, forget those glithc or bug or whatever it it, i ment beta all hallow in 4:45 and also check the description aswell because it has all list of TR3 beta info.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBNY12Zg0UM

Information inaccurate & withdrawn.

**Decapicitated** · 09-28-2011

@Mr Sippy

From Mcstyle24

**** ! Mr Sippy is same as S.Sippy ? He came back all the sudden? Wow that was very long time ago when last time i spoke to him.

He a finnish guy, So i guest he still got those two Test version disc? i better sign up that website somepoint.

yes he knows you :nod:

**kanaka** · 09-28-2011

Decapicitated man excellent work! that beta list is awesome and really useful! I have the August 96 Tomb Raider beta for the Sega Saturn, actually the compilation date is August 2, 1996. Does your August beta have a file called "MON2AUG.TXT" ? The version I have also has 4 playable levels, well, I can say it is probably the exact same version as the Gh0stBlade youtube videos, but I don't know, we can check it out.

I also have a Tomb Raider 3 "beta" dated October 25, 1998 for the PlayStation, but (as far as I remember, I compared both this and final a long time ago) seems to me it is practically final, except for a map called TEST.PSX that I can´t load (tried to load it through some files "hacks" but seems the map is either corrupted or not a version compatible with the game) and it is not in the released version of the game. I know that the released game (at least the PC version) has a map called Vict.TR2 that is also unusable, so I don't know if this TEST.PSX file and Vict.TR2 are related.

This TR3 disc also lacks some files from the final build (not a lot if i recall correctly), movies I think are called different or they are different (for this I need somebody to post a photo of the file tree structure of the final PlayStation TR3 to compare), and finally the TOMBPSX.DAT says:

"Tomb Raider III Script. E3 Release (c) Core Design Ltd 1998.sign Ltd 1998"

For comparison, the final .DAT says "Final Release" and the .DAT for PC is the same as this beta except for this: "Core Design Ltd 1997". About gameplay and graphics and content, I think is the same as final, I haven't finished it, but I haven't seen anything special so far.

**Decapicitated** · 09-28-2011

Originally Posted by kanaka

Decapicitated man excellent work! that beta list is awesome and really useful! I have the August 96 Tomb Raider beta for the Sega Saturn, actually the compilation date is August 2, 1996. Does your August beta have a file called "MON2AUG.TXT" ? The version I have also has 4 playable levels, well, I can say it is probably the exact same version as the Gh0stBlade youtube videos, but I don't know, we can check it out.

I also have a Tomb Raider 3 "beta" dated October 25, 1998 for the PlayStation, but (as far as I remember, I compared both this and final a long time ago) seems to me it is practically final, except for a map called TEST.PSX that I can´t load (tried to load it through some files "hacks" but seems the map is either corrupted or not a version compatible with the game) and it is not in the released version of the game. I know that the released game (at least the PC version) has a map called Vict.TR2 that is also unusable, so I don't know if this TEST.PSX file and Vict.TR2 are related.

This TR3 disc also lacks some files from the final build (not a lot if i recall correctly), movies I think are called different or they are different (for this I need somebody to post a photo of the file tree structure of the final PlayStation TR3 to compare), and finally the TOMBPSX.DAT says:

"Tomb Raider III Script. E3 Release (c) Core Design Ltd 1998.sign Ltd 1998"

For comparison, the final .DAT says "Final Release" and the .DAT for PC is the same as this beta except for this: "Core Design Ltd 1997". About gameplay and graphics and content, I think is the same as final, I haven't finished it, but I haven't seen anything special so far.

Yes, I have August 2 1996 beta which I got from Gh0stblade. Gh0stblade has October Tomb raider 3 beta aswell which i got from him too.

TEST.PSX could be a test level, the file size is abit low though. Also, VICT.TR2 is an all hallows level, the textures i ripped from VICT.TR2 are similar to all hallows with medical pack with red cross. Possibly an early alpha deleted level.

It has all the same levels, fmvs, cutscenes on disc just that TEST.PSX is added. This version is so close to final, just some levels cannot be completed cause of severe bugs.

anything else interesting you have?

**kanaka** · 09-28-2011

Related to Tomb Raider that is all I have. Also probably you already saw this, but for the people who don't, the oldest info I know about the TR1 July beta was thanks to SegaFreak_NL (a user here in ASSEMbler). He has a more detailed description about the beta in this link: http://www.segadatabase.net/segafreak/tombraider.htm

and a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPCNJLA8ws4
didn't see these links posted (unless Im blind) hope it is helpful :nod:

**Decapicitated** · 09-28-2011

Originally Posted by kanaka

Related to Tomb Raider that is all I have. Also probably you already saw this, but for the people who don't, the oldest info I know about the TR1 July beta was thanks to SegaFreak_NL (a user here in ASSEMbler). He has a more detailed description about the beta in this link: http://www.segadatabase.net/segafreak/tombraider.htm

and a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPCNJLA8ws4
didn't see these links posted (unless Im blind) hope it is helpful :nod:

Interesting i seen this before on youtube looks nice and early :thumbsup: didnt realise it originated from here.now i just need to get my hands on ponytail version (;

**nu0** · 09-28-2011

Originally Posted by Decapicitated

Yes, I have August 2 1996 beta which I got from Gh0stblade. Gh0stblade has October Tomb raider 3 beta aswell which i got from him too.

TEST.PSX could be a test level, the file size is abit low though. Also, VICT.TR2 is an all hallows level, the textures i ripped from VICT.TR2 are similar to all hallows with medical pack with red cross. Possibly an early alpha deleted level.

It has all the same levels, fmvs, cutscenes on disc just that TEST.PSX is added. This version is so close to final, just some levels cannot be completed cause of severe bugs.

anything else interesting you have?

Decapicitated, did you purchase these betas from gh0stblade or did you ask him for them? Is he willing to share with the public? Thanks!

**Decapicitated** · 09-28-2011

Originally Posted by nu0

Decapicitated, did you purchase these betas from gh0stblade or did you ask him for them? Is he willing to share with the public? Thanks!

i buy it from him dunno if hes sharing to public thats the only option i had.

**123lkik** · 09-28-2011

Originally Posted by Decapicitated

Here is a list of known betas for Tomb Raider:

Tomb Raider 1, PC, 1995, Eidos tech demo, pony tail version (IMPORTANT)
Tomb Raider 1, PC, Before May 1996, Planetlara had this, website shut.
Tomb Raider 1, Sega Saturn, May 1996, E3 Version DRX selling for $700
Tomb Raider 1, PC, July 1996, Preview demo, can be found on internet.
Tomb Raider 1, Sega Saturn, July 1996, on youtube somewhere.
Tomb Raider 1, Sega Saturn, August 1996, I have this got from youtube guy.
Tomb Raider 1, Sega Saturn, 26 August 1996, Golden disc, already sold.
Tomb Raider 1, Sega Saturn, September 1996, Sold on this forum, disc picture too
Tomb Raider 1, PSX, October 1996, I have this, compiled week before final. Identical to final but file size differences. freezes alot.
Tomb Raider 1, UNK, UNK, described as short early demo.
Tomb Raider 1, UNK, UNK, described as being close to final with differences, all levels.

Tomb Raider 2, PC, 1997, E3 version. Can be found on internet
Tomb Raider 2, PSX, September 1997, can be found on internet.

Tomb Raider 3, PSX, September 1998, DRX selling for $700
Tomb Raider 3, PSX, October 1998, Youtube guy has it.

Tomb Raider 4, none known betas!

Tomb Raider Chronicles, PSX, October 2000, Another youtube guy has it.

Red: Unreleased/Sold/Lost
Green: Leaked onto internet

You forgot to list these demos

Tomb Raider 2 PSX Demo half a level Venice available on some versions of Tomb Raider releases
Tomb Raider 3 PSX Demo 1 Level Area 51 completely different from the final available some releases of Tomb Raider 1 and 2

and I believe there is also a demo for Last Revelation that also exists, here's a list of those demos http://www.game-rave.com/psx/playsta...var/index.html

**Decapicitated** · 09-28-2011

Originally Posted by 123lkik

You forgot to list these demos

Tomb Raider 2 PSX Demo half a level Venice available on some versions of Tomb Raider releases
Tomb Raider 3 PSX Demo 1 Level Area 51 completely different from the final available some releases of Tomb Raider 1 and 2

and I believe there is also a demo for Last Revelation that also exists, here's a list of those demos http://www.game-rave.com/psx/playsta...var/index.html

Those are just early demos lol, they differ alot to the ones in that list