Prerelease:Super Monkey Ball (GameCube)

This page details pre-release information and/or media for Super Monkey Ball (GameCube).

To do: Some of these images may exist without watermarks at native resolution. If anyone has these, replacing the current ones would be greatly appreciated. There is a "super monkey ball dreamcast" gameplay video released by IGN that seems hard to find, it appears to show gameplay of the Expert level. There's also a Japanese Amusement Vision catalog that discusses Super Monkey Ball, and shows screenshots of the game, resembling the arcade version, alongside a prototype GameCube controller.

The majority of pre-release screenshots or pictures that we currently have of Super Monkey Ball originate from screenshots sourced from various gaming media and E3.

Pre-E3

In April 2001, IGN published an article announcing that Amusement Vision, the developer behind the first three games in the Monkey Ball series, was currently developing Monkey Ball for the Dreamcast.

E3 Limited Version

An early version of the game was shown at E3 in 2001. This version of the game is visually distinct from the arcade version, but several differences are apparent between it and the final version of the game. Most notably, it appears that split-screen multiplayer was present for the main game, rather than simply being delegated to an alternate game mode with only 5 rounds.

The title screen. The most obvious difference is the referral to the game as "Monkey Ball" - lacking the "Super" prefix. The "Licensed by Nintendo" text does not appear in this version. The E3 version also sports the text "E3 LIMITED VERSION". Due to increased screen size, the monkey in the center of the screen is slightly bigger. The text "Push Start Button" is in a different font and in all-caps like the arcade Monkey Ball version, compared to the final version.

E3 Limited Version	Final

A screenshot of the attract sequence. In the final game, after being left idle at the title screen, the game will display a tutorial, then will play replays whilst displaying the ranking screens. The E3 version lacks the time bomb and banana counter, as well as the GameCube control stick. The placement of the copyright text and logos in the attract sequence differ as well. These differences could possibly be a result of specific choices by the developers, to show off the graphics and gameplay at E3. The ball is using the old ball design. A notable difference is the level that is being played - Floor 22 of the Advanced Difficulty. In the final version of the game, this level is set in the Underwater world. Here, it is set in the Sky world.

E3 Limited Version	Final

In the screenshot of the character select menu, there is only one game option instead of 2 (only Normal mode appears instead of Main Game to Normal Mode), implying that neither Party or Mini Games were done or made at the time, as some screenshots show the existence of Competition mode at that point. Note that Normal mode is called "Normal game" in the pre-release, the character select text descriptions are different, the 1P label is red, and GonGon is absent.

E3 Limited Version	Final

A few differences are noticeable in this pre-release image. The time bomb here is from the arcade version, while the final version uses a new design. The grass texture for the stage is darker. The vine in the background as well as the textures of the plateaus in the background are different, as well. The design of the ball is also slightly different. This old ball design can be enabled in the final game by changing a specific DIP switch in the debug menu.

E3 Limited Version	Final

In this screenshot, Beginner floor 8 is shown with a different floor number and background. The floor is specifically textured for the underwater world, as well. The AV logo on the Dole submarine has a black background - in the final game, the background is yellow.

E3 Limited Version	Final

A screenshot of split-screen multiplayer gameplay. There are several differences between this screenshot and the final game. A score counter is present, and the current floor number is also displayed. The text '2ND TRIAL' also appears. Both players have the same coloring on their ball, and use the old ball model. There is also no color in the player number indicator, and some of the UI elements are arranged differently. It is not known whether or not this is an early version of Competition Mode, or if the game was planned to have split-screen multiplayer in the main game. The bonus stage present is Advanced floor 10, but it is labelled as 'Floor 4' in this screenshot, and the floor textures are slightly different.

E3 Limited Version	Final

Beginner extra floor 3. In this screenshot, it appears to be Beginner floor 10. There are no reflections on the stage, and the space background appears to be different.

E3 Limited Version	Final

Beginner floor 3. It is set in the underwater world, and the floor textures are themed accordingly. Also another screenshot of split-screen multiplayer gameplay.

E3 Limited Version	Final

The intro scene of the game. The E3 version lacks shading, the positions of the monkeys are different, and the background is slightly different. The font used, and the wording for 'PUSH START BUTTON' is different and similar to the arcade version.

E3 Limited Version	Final

The beginning of the tutorial. The plateaus in the background differ slightly. The dialogue font and wording of the text is different. The GameCube analog stick appears much larger in this screenshot.

E3 Limited Version	Final

Advanced floor 11. It appears to be Beginner floor 6 in this screenshot. The distribution of bananas throughout the level appears to be different.

E3 Limited Version	Final

Another screenshot of split-screen multiplayer gameplay. The floor number reported is 8, which wouldn't be a possibility in the final competition mode, as the maximum number of rounds is 5. The level shown is Advanced floor 23, set in the sky world.

E3 Limited Version	Final

(Source: ign.com)

Gameplay Videos

There are several videos of gameplay of the E3 limited version, found from various gaming media outlets. The announcer voice found in these videos matches the one in the arcade version. One of the videos shows a version of the game which appears to be an earlier version than the others. It shows Expert floor 2, having the same skybox and textures as the arcade version. The font and monkey voice appear to be the same ones from the arcade version, as well.

Pre-Release Differences

This screenshot, taken from Amusement Vision's website, seems to have been taken close to the game's release, and shows some minor differences. The font for the time bomb is slightly different, and the fuse is shorter, and has no spark.

Pre-release	Final

(Source: amusementvision.com)

This screenshot, also taken from Amusement Vision's website, shows an early version of Monkey Target. The items are different, the UI appears unfinished, the water lacks reflection, and the targets appear to have plain or placeholder textures.

Pre-release	Final

(Source: amusementvision.com)

Trailer Differences

One of the trailers for the game shows Expert floor 7 in the place of Master floor 3, along with more bananas.

Pre-release	Final