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DETAILED DESCRIPTION:
Block Paradise was an enhancement and redesign of the abandoned Sun Shine game. The
original puzzle game concept was too simplistic and graphically unimpressive. After the
July 1990 location test, Alpha Denshi worked on improving the game for another 4 months.
By November 1990 it had progressed well and showed lots of promise.
The game size was increased to 22 megs. An improved intro animation sequence was added.
Additional background screens were implemented and the scenes would change every 5 levels
to enhance the games visuals. Difficulty was also increased by adding in an evil Demon or
Gremlin character block, which served to hinder the players progress. The game would no
longer end if more then 3 blocks are dropped, however, blocks that are not caught by the
Sundish now splash into the abyss below causing the sundish to raise up from the bottom
of the playfield which decreases the size of the play area and limits the player's reaction
time.
While the controls remained relatively unchanged, (with the A button used to fire shots
at the falling blocks and the B button used for the "special items"), the item itself
was renamed from a SQUALL to a SUNSHINE and the animation was changed from a single large
yellow lightning bolt strike to multiple small grey thunderbolt strikes. The scoring system
was also updated and the animation for an X pattern match of 5 blocks was greatly improved
with the Sun Shine graphic now having a circular animation of 24 rays of light surrounding it.
By March of 1991, Block Paradise was becoming a very busy game because the shooting game
element that rearranges the blocks and the paddling element that receives them, were completely
inherited from Sun Shine. Visually, Sun Shine and Block Paradise were not really so different
from one another. And the games most utilized asset, the blocks, were not very detailed. Nor
did they differ much from those seen in Tetris. It also didn't help that SNK's Joy Joy Kid
progressed faster, looked nicer, and beat them to market as the first neogeo puzzle game. So
once again, Alpha found themselves in the same position. And so at a meeting on Thursday,
March 7, 1991, Block Paradise was also canceled and changed to Fun Fun Brothers.
INFORMATION TIMELINE:
-- November 1990 -- Sun Shine is scrapped and the changeover to Block Paradise begins.
-- February 1991 -- Gamest Magazine #54 publishes an article with screenshots.
-- March 1991 -- Block Paradise is canceled and the changeover to Fun Fun Brothers begins.
-- April 1991 -- Gamest Magazine #56 publishes an article with screenshots.
(unaware that the game has been canceled because of long lead times with magazine publications)
-- January 2005 -- emulated screen shots are provided and shown which proves that the games
rom data has been dumped and is functional on an emulator.
-- April 2021 -- a video surfaces showing Block Paradise in attract/demo mode.
-- November 2021 -- the proto cartridge from which the owner is making videos is shown.
-- December 2021 -- a second video surfaces showing Block Paradise in how to play mode.
-- January 2022 -- a third video surfaces showing Block Paradise in gameplay mode.
-- February 2022 -- software product number NGM-012 confirmed.
CURRENT STATUS: SAFEGUARDED
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