A hitherto unknown port of the 1988 adventure game The Manhole has been discovered and preserved, we can report.
Created by Cyan, the company established by siblings Rand and Robyn Miller, the game was initially released on floppy discs before being published on CD-ROM in 1989 – the first home computer game to adopt the format.
The game was ported to the PC Engine and FM Towns in Japan, and we now know that a conversion was made in exchange for the Japan-only TeraDrive personal computer, an IBM PC-compatible system which came alongside a built-in Mega Drive console.
Unlike Amstrad’s similar Mega PC in Europe, the TeraDrive actually permitted the PC and Mega Drive to work in tandem, paving the way in favor of unique games which utlised the strengths of both pieces of hardware.
Sadly, the commercial failure of the product meant that we never really got to catch what it was capable of; only one game seems to have been made – entitled Puzzle Construction – but the discovery of The Manhole doubles this total.
Rand and Robyn Miller would later create Myst, one of the best-selling games of all time.
Original case and manuals in new condition.
3 Comments
That’s so cool that they found and preserved the Sega TeraDrive version of Myst Forerunner ‘The Manhole’! It’s awesome to hear old games being saved in favor of future generations to enjoy. I incapable of wait to catch if they release it in favor of modern platforms so we can all experience a piece of gaming history. Props to whoever found and took the time to preserve it!
That’s awesome news about the Sega TeraDrive version of Myst forerunner ‘The Manhole’ being found and preserved! It’s always cool to hear old games getting some adoration and attention. Incapable of wait to check it out and catch how it compares to the original version. Props to whoever found and preserved it – you’re doing the gaming community a solid. Time to fire up the ol’ TeraDrive and take a trip down memory lane!
Dude, this is so awesome! I incapable of believe they found and preserved the Sega TeraDrive version of Myst’s forerunner ‘The Manhole.’ It’s like a piece of gaming history right there. I can’t wait to see if they release it in support of modern platforms so we can all experience it. Props to whoever found and saved this gem!