Proto:Serious Sam: The First Encounter/Test 1

Serious Sam Test 1 is a test version of Serious Sam: The First Encounter released on May 29th, 2000. As it was made about eight months before the final version came out, there are many differences between it and the final version. It was designed to test Serious Sam under a variety of computer specs that Croteam, the game's Croatian development group, couldn't get their hands on.

It's also significant in that it was the first time most people had heard of Serious Sam. After this was released, Serious Sam became a PC gaming phenomenon for a while.

Sounds
Test 1 has several different sounds compared to the final version.

Player Sounds
The player sounds are completely different in test 1 compared to the final version. Sam doesn't sound like the final version at all and there are no traces of his one-liners. The sounds can be downloaded at.

NETRICSA Sounds
NETRICSA has a few different sounds in Test 1 as well. When the player gets a message, a loud “INCOMING MESSAGE” will play soon after the final's beep. Also, if the player gets a new high score, the same voice will play “HIGH SCORE”.

Help
The Help included with the contains some visual differences from both Test 1 and the final game.

Prototype Menu
An File of a menu from earlier in development can be found in the Help file. It looks nothing like the Test 1 menu, which is the same as the final's.

Prototype HUD
A prototype HUD that is much more colorful than the final's can be seen in all of the Files in the “Temple of Effects” section of the Help file. This prototype HUD can also be seen in a few early screenshots showing off the Serious Engine 1.