Ports of Entry: Midway

Unknown lead platforms:

 

Mortal Kombat Trilogy

First released for PS1 on 10/10/1996, developed by Avalanche Software.

Released for N64 on 11/14/1996, developed by Midway Games.

Released for PC in 1997 by Midway Games, and Saturn by Point of View.

The PC and Saturn versions can probably be eliminated as possibilities, as they came a year late and Wikipedia states they are both based on the Playstation version.

The PS1 version did come out first, and a quote from Ed Boon on Wikipedia suggests that the PS1 port of UMK3 was the impetus to create MK Trilogy. Wikipedia describes the N64 version as a "port." The PS1 version generally looks and sounds better, and forms the basis of all subsequent versions. These facts suggest PS1 as a lead platform.

However, the N64 version was developed in-house, and plays at a speed more accurate to UMK3 in arcades. Leaked beta code for N64 also predates corresponding PS1 code by several months.

It may also be that both versions were developed independently, informed by existing code and assets for MK3 and UMK3, but not by each other in either direction.

Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero

First released for PS1 on 10/01/1997, developed in-house.

Released for N64 on 12/08/1997, developed by Avalanche Software.

 

Most signs weakly point to PS1 being the lead platform, but not conclusively. PS1 version came first, was developed in-house, and has higher quality music and FMVs.

Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance

Released for Gamecube and PS2 on 11/18/2002.

Released for Xbox on 11/19/2002.

An IGN comparison says that the Xbox version is the most complete version in terms of visuals and sounds. This could indicate Xbox as the lead platform with sacrifices made on PS2 and Gamecube to optimize performance. But it's also possible that PS2 (or less likely Gamecube) was the lead platform and Midway simply enhanced the Xbox port appropriately. In fact, according to their comparisons of Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy and Mortal Kombat: Deception, such was the case for those games, with the PS2 being the lead platform even though the Xbox ports had been improved in every way.

The Suffering

First released for PS2 and Xbox on 3/9/2004. Developed by Surreal Software.

Released for PC on 6/10/2004.

 

Area-51

First released for PS2 and Xbox on 4/25/2005. Developed by Austin studio, formerly Inevitable Entertainment.

Released for PC on 6/06/2005.

As with other sixth generation Midway games, IGN says the Xbox version appears to be the most complete, but this does not always mean that it was the lead platform.

 

Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks

First released for PS2 and Xbox on 9/19/2005. Developed by LA studio, formerly Paradox Development.

 

IGN does not indicate much advantage to the Xbox version this time, nor does it state a lead platform.

 

Mortal Kombat: Armageddon

First released for PS2 on 10/11/2006.

Released for Xbox on 10/18/2006.

Stranglehold

First released for Xbox 360 on 9/5/2007.

Released for PC on 9/18/2007.

Released for PS3 on 10/29/2007.

Blacksite: Area 51

First released for PC and Xbox 360 on 11/12/2007. Developed by Austin studio, formerly Inevitable Entertainment.

Released for PS3 on 12/10/2007.

 

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe

Released for PS3 & Xbox 360 on 11/16/2008.

 

Select chronology: 

 

Midway Mfg. Co.:

All games listed were designed for arcade machines.

Title	Date	Contemporary ports
Leader/Playtime/Winner	1973
Gun Fight	1975-11
Sea Wolf	1976
Wizard of Wor	1980
Omega Race	1981	1982 ports to VIC-20 and C64
Solar Fox	1981
Gorf	1981	1982 ports to Atari 2600, Atari 8-bit, and VIC-20

 

Bally Midway:

All games listed were designed for arcade machines.

 

Title	Date	Contemporary ports
TRON	1982
Tapper	1983	1984 ports to various computers & consoles
Spy Hunter	1983	1984 ports to various computers & consoles
Rampage	1986	1987 ports to various computers
Xenophobe	1987	1988 port to NES by Sun
Arch Rivals	1989-5	1990 port to NES by Rare
Trog	1990	1990 ports to NES and PC
Pigskin 621 AD	1990

 

Midway Games:

All games listed were designed for arcade machines.

 

Title	Date	Contemporary ports
Terminator 2: Judgment Day	1991	1992 port to Gameboy by Beam Software
Total Carnage	1991
Mortal Kombat	8/2/1992	1993 ports to various computers and consoles
NBA Jam	1993	1994 ports to various consoles and handhelds
Mortal Kombat II	1993-4	1994 ports to various computers and consoles
NBA Jam Tournament Edition	1994	1995 ports to various computers and consoles
Revolution X	1994	1995 ports to Genesis, Saturn, and SNES
Cruis'n USA	1994-11
WWF WrestleMania	1995	1995 ports to PC and consoles by Sculptured Software
Mortal Kombat 3	1995-3	1995 ports to PC and consoles
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3	10/6/1995	1996 ports to Genesis, Saturn, and SNES
War Gods	1995-12	1996 port to PC by Eurocom

 

Midway Games & Home, 5th gen:

 

Title	Lead platform	Date	Contemporary ports
NBA Hangtime	Arcade	4/16/1996	1996 ports to PC and consoles
Mortal Kombat Trilogy	???	1996	Same-quarter releases on PS1 and N64 1997 ports to PC and Saturn
Cruis'n World	Arcade	1996-11
Rampage World Tour	Arcade	1997-3	1997 ports to PC, PS1, and Saturn 1998 ports to Game Boy Color and N64
DOOM 64	Nintendo 64	4/4/1997
Mortal Kombat 4	Arcade	9/11/1997	1998 ports to PC, N64, and PS1 by Eurocom
Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero	???	1997	Same-quarter releases on N64 and PS1
Rampage 2: Universal Tour	PlayStation	1998	1998 ports to Game Boy Color and N64
Hydro Thunder	Arcade	1999	1999 port to Dreamcast 2000 ports to N64 and PS1
Ready 2 Rumble Boxing	Dreamcast	9/9/1999	1999 ports to N64 and PS1 by Point of View

 

Midway Home, 6th gen:

 

Title	Lead platform	Date	Contemporary ports
Spy Hunter	PS2	9/27/2001	2002 ports to Gamecube and Xbox by Point of View
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance	???	2002-11	Near-simultaneous releases on Gamecube, PS2, and Xbox
The Suffering	???	3/9/2004	Simultaneous releases on PS2 and Xbox 2004 port to PC
Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy	PS2	6/14/2004	Simultaneous release of port to Xbox 2005 port to PC by Gamestar China
Mortal Kombat: Deception	PS2	10/4/2004	Simultaneous release of port to Xbox 2005 port to Gamecube
Area-51	???	2005	Same-quarter releases for PC, PS2, and Xbox
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks	???	9/19/2005	Simultaneous releases for PS2 and Xbox
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon	???	2006-10	Near-simultaneous releases for PS2 and Xbox 2007 port to Wii by Just Games Interactive

 

Midway Home, 7th gen:

Title	Lead platform	Date	Contemporary ports
Stranglehold	???	2007	Same-quarter releases for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360
Blacksite: Area 51	???	2007	Same-quarter releases for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe	???	11/16/2008	Simultaneously released for PS3 and Xbox 360