Gun.Smoke (Arcade)

Gun.Smoke
Developer: Capcom Publishers: Capcom (INT), Romstar (NA) Platform: Arcade (custom) Released internationally: November 1985 Released in US: 1986 (Romstar) This game has unused areas. This game has hidden development-related text. This game has unused enemies. This game has unused graphics. This game has unused items. This game has unused music. This game has debugging material. This game has a hidden level select. This game has regional differences. This game has revisional differences.

Capcom's Gun.Smoke is a scrolling shoot 'em up...sans spaceship? What's going on here?

Yes, this game is set in the Wild West, and that means shootin' everyone you come across. Based on the long-running TV show, but not really. Watch out for cow skulls!

Unused Graphics

	While there are around 50 special characters in the game's font, only 18 of them are used. The 32 other unique characters don't appear anywhere, even in the name entry screen. Notable symbols include a Hot Spring symbol and a small POW icon.
	Something particularly strange is in the text graphics ROM; an entirely unique, completely unused font! Note that this image was modified from how it's stored on the ROM; all tiles have been rotated 180°. It's unknown where this font would be used, and it doesn't match a font used in any of Capcom's games. The only clue as to what kind of game would use this font is the tank character in the 6th row.
	The name Takashi Aoki is stored in the object graphics ROM.
	A human skull with red eyes. Cow skulls appear in the game as a power-down item. This does not.
	An alternate design for the POW item. This appears in Savage Bees as a weapon power-up. It might have had a similar effect in this game.
	Despite being setting in the Wild West and all, there's a conspicuous absence of cacti. There are some in the object graphics ROM, but they never appear in-game. Odd, that.
	Graphics for an 11th boss! He wields two pistols, has a nifty hat, and looks very sleepy. Presumably he would appear in the cut 11th stage seen below.
	A boulder is found near the cut boss's graphics. Presumably the boss would hide behind it. There are two boss frames that are cut off at the torso; those could only be used if he was behind something.

(Translation: divingkataetheweirdo)

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Stage Select

A rudimentary stage select is in the game. Set the Slot A / Slot B credit settings to the appropriate value, then turn the Service Mode switch on when the copyright warning screen appears.

Slot B Coins/Credit	Slot A Coins/Credit	Stage
1 / 3 Credits	1 / 3 Credits	Stage 2
1 / 4 Credits	1 / 3 Credits	Stage 3
1 / 6 Credits	1 / 6 Credits	Stage 4
2 / 1 Credit	3 / 1 Credit	Stage 5
3 / 1 Credit	3 / 1 Credit	Stage 6
4 / 1 Credit	3 / 1 Credit	Stage 7
1 / 1 Credit	1 / 2 Credits	Stage 8
1 / 2 Credits	1 / 2 Credits	Stage 9
1 / 3 Credits	1 / 2 Credits	Stage 10
1 / 4 Credits	1 / 4 Credits	Ending

(Source: MAME "gunsmoke.c" driver file)

Unused Map

The map has been rotated to fit in the article.

An unused area is stored in the game's tile map starting at offset 5D40 and ending at 6938. This is probably where the cut boss would be fought.

Otherwise, this is a fairly unremarkable level using the river archetype. The only structures of note are the two parallel bridges near the end of the stage.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Unused Music

Two tracks are unused.

ID#	Track	Notes
38		An unused boss track. Could have been used for either Stage 4 or 7, the only stages to share boss themes.
3D		This is the same length as the other stage clear tracks, so it might have been used for that.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Serial String

A hidden string can be found at 7E50 in each version. These strings also give an early title for the game.

Japan	World	NA Set 1	NA Set 2
85113 Gunman J == GSJ_03 ==	85113 Gunman N == GSE_03 ==	85113 Gunman A == GSR_03 ==	85113 Gunman A == GSA_03 ==

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Firefly Secret

Insert 16 credits and start the game. A Firefly worth 10,000 points will fly by near the start of the stage.

Regional Differences

Japan	World	North America

In a standard mid-80s Capcom game change, the number of letters per name was reduced from 8 to 3. The Romstar releases further alter the first two names from the World version's high score table.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Revisional Differences

There are two revisions of the North American game. The following changes were made to Set 2:

• Copyright year changed from 1985 to 1986.
• The boss demonstration dipswitch was changed. It now controls the number of starting lives, and the demonstration never plays. If the dipswitch isn't flipped, the player will start with 5 lives instead of 3.
• The default high score was changed from 100000 to 110000.
• Stages 3 and 6 were swapped, making early progress in the game much more difficult.

(Source: MAME "gunsmoke.c" driver file)