Side Pocket

From Sega Retro

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SidePocket MDTitleScreen.png

Side Pocket
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Data East
Developer:
Original system(s): Arcade boards
Developer(s) of original games: Data East
Peripherals supported:
Sega Game Gear
Gear-to-Gear Cable
Genre: Sports (JP box), Table (Sega of Japan master list)

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥7,8007,800 T-13083
Sega Mega Drive
US
$49.9549.95[2] T-13046
Sega Mega Drive
EU
1218
Sega Mega Drive
PT
MDJ1218
Sega Mega Drive
AS
Sega Game Gear
US
T-13018
Non-Sega versions

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Side Pocket (サイドポケット) is a 1986 arcade billiards game by Data East. It was "ported" to the Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear (US only), and SNES in 1992, 1994, and 1993, respectively.

A Sega Mega-CD version was announced for release in November 1994[5], but did not materialise.

Gameplay

There are three game modes: "Pocket" (the original arcade game, but without move count limits), "9-Ball," and "Trick." "Pocket" and "9-Ball" are typical billiards games. "Trick" has you performing a trick shot to get a ball around bumpers and into select holes in one shot.

Versions

Despite sharing a name (and as a billiards game, similar gameplay) to their 1986 arcade counterpart, home versions of Side Pocket differ considerably to their older sibling, with entirely different graphics and sound, and more modes of play.

The Mega Drive and Super NES versions of the game are for the most part identical, though as was common for the era, the Mega Drive offers a larger screen resolution in exchange for fewer on-screen colours. On the Game Gear, most of the features are retained, however the smaller screen of the handheld leads to a smaller table, which in turn can potentially simplify the physics.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

  • Director: Y.Koideya
  • Planner: Daore.Tsuzawa
  • Programmers: TALA., Fuji.
  • Sound: Koremasa., Emi.Shimizu
  • Graphics: Pochi., MAO., Megupi.
  • Presented By DATA EAST
Source:
In-game credits


Magazine articles

Main article: Side Pocket/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

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Mega Drive print advert in GamePro (US) #37: "August 1992" (1992-xx-xx)
also published in:
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Print advert in EGM² (US) #2: "August 1994" (1994-0x-xx)
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Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #22: "December/January 1994/1995" (1994-xx-xx)
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Print advert in Mega Sega (ES) #1: "xxxx 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
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Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
68 [8]
76 [9]
90 [10]
91 [4]
75 [11]
70 №1992-08, p37
81 №13
85 [12]
30 [13]
84 [14]
88 №1, p64
83 [15]
79 №31, p78/79
76 №37, p52/53
64 №13, p42/43
64 №18, p67
70 №2, p28
73 [16]
Sega Mega Drive
75
Based on
18 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[17]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
63
[18]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
68
[19]
Consoles + (FR)
90
[20]
Cool Gamer (RU)
50
[21]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
91
[4]
Digitiser (UK) PAL
60
[22]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US)
91
[23]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
78
[24]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
78
[25]
Game Power (IT) NTSC
75
[26]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
73
[2]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
70
[27]
Joypad (FR)
81
[28]
Joystick (FR) NTSC-U
85
[12]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)
30
[29]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) NTSC
30
[30]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
70
[31]
Mega (UK) NTSC-U
84
[32]
Mega Action (UK)
88
[33]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC
73
[34]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
60
[35]
MegaTech (UK) NTSC
83
[36]
Marukatsu Mega Drive (JP) NTSC-J
65
[37]
Player One (FR)
79
[38]
Play Time (DE)
75
[39]
Power Up! (UK)
71
[40]
Power Play (DE)
59
[41]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-U
76
[42]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-U
64
[43]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
64
[44]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
70
[45]
Sega Force (SE)
82
[46]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
73
[47]
Sega Mega Drive Review (RU)
82
[48]
Sega Opisaniy i sekretov (RU)
70
[49]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
76
[50]
Supergame (BR) NTSC-U
86
[51]
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U
70
[52]
Video Games (DE)
62
[53]
Sega Mega Drive
71
Based on
40 reviews

Side Pocket

Mega Drive, US
SidePocket MD US Box.jpg
Cover
SidePocket MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Side Pocket MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
SidePocket MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
SidePocket MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
SidePocket MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
SidePocket MD JP CartTop.jpg
SidePocket MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, Asia
SidePocket MD AS Box.jpg
Cover
SidePocket MD AS Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, SE (Rental)

Game Gear version

Game Gear, US
SidePocket GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngSidePocket GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
SidePocket GG US Cart.jpg
Cart
Side Pocket GG US Manual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 6a603eed
MD5 4f270030dd6bb1d72eba33f1ef054b20
SHA-1 794775a858ff04c9da1c897b51eede4677a35c21
256kB Cartridge (US)

References

  1. GamePro, "May 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 84
  2. 2.0 2.1 GamePro, "November 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 58
  3. GamesMaster, "March 1993" (UK; 1993-02-18), page 16
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Computer & Video Games, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-15), page 84
  5. Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 10 October 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 12
  6. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 91
  7. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 129
  8. Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1992" (JP; 1992-07-08), page 27 (29)
  9. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 83 (85)
  10. Consoles +, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 98/99 (98)
  11. GamePro, "November 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 56 (58)
  12. 12.0 12.1 Joystick, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 153
  13. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 30/31 (30)
  14. Mega, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-15), page 60/61 (60)
  15. MegaTech, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-20), page 40/41 (40)
  16. Sega Force, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-08), page 72/73 (72)
  17. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 208
  18. Aktueller Software Markt, "Dezember 1992" (DE; 1992-11-13), page 144
  19. Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1992" (JP; 1992-07-08), page 29
  20. Consoles +, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 98
  21. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 187
  22. Digitiser (UK) (1993-04-22)
  23. Electronic Games (1992-1995), "October 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 70
  24. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "July 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 24
  25. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 89
  26. Game Power, "Ottobre 1993" (IT; 1993-xx-xx), page 103
  27. Hippon Super, "August 1992" (JP; 1992-07-04), page 37
  28. Joypad, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-10-xx), page 74
  29. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 30
  30. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 94
  31. Mega Drive Fan, "February 1993" (JP; 1993-01-xx), page 59
  32. Mega, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-15), page 60
  33. Mega Action, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 64
  34. Mega Fun, "09/92" (DE; 1992-09-22), page 38
  35. Mega Play, "August 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 64
  36. MegaTech, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-20), page 40
  37. Marukatsu Mega Drive, "September 1992" (JP; 1992-08-xx), page 120
  38. Player One, "Mai/Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-05-10), page 78
  39. Play Time, "12/92" (DE; 1992-11-04), page 93
  40. Power Up!, "Saturday, April 10, 1993" (UK; 1993-04-10), page 1
  41. Power Play, "3/93" (DE; 1993-02-10), page 109
  42. Sega Power, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-05), page 52
  43. Sega Pro, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-08), page 40
  44. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 67
  45. Sega Zone, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-xx), page 28
  46. Sega Force, "2/93" (SE; 1993-03-18), page 11
  47. Sega Force, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-08), page 72
  48. Sega Mega Drive Review, "1" (RU; 1995-04-03), page 137
  49. Sega Opisaniy i sekretov, "14000 Opisaniy i sekretov" (RU; 2003-03-11), page 163
  50. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  51. Supergame, "Novembro 1992" (BR; 1992-11-xx), page 23
  52. VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "September 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 52
  53. Video Games, "3/93" (DE; 1993-02-24), page 89