In this section, I'll be posting 100 notes related to Bio1 and answering whichever questions you have. Hopefully, it will be inrigrated into the site at some point in some form or another. With the help of my good friend Newsbot, I managed to get a hold of several of the original development staff so it's fairly extensive.
1.
Below is an early character select screen. Both ID cards show Chris Redfield who is the only playable character in this version (about 25% complete).

If you look carefully, you'll notice that Raccoon is spelled "Rccoon". Based on concept art, however, it seems to be an error arising from the planning stage of development.

2.
According yo Hideki Kamiya, there were no plans to include female zombie nor Lisa Trevor as an enemy of Bio1, presumably for the same reason Mikami didn't include children - it was morally irresponsible.
3.
Bio Hazard first appeared at the August '95 V-Jump festival in Japan (around the 8th). Shinji Mikami and the late Mashiko Kurokawa (1963-2008) introduced themselves at the event after the announcer explained (from paper) the characters, enemies, plot and basic game system.
* Note: We should make the translation of this video a priority.
Title logo
Stage screen showing concept art.
Early concept art of characters and enemies.









The end of the demo before staff introductions.
Shinji Mikami, Director
Mashiko Kurokawa, Supervisor
















Absolutely fascinating Welsh....... so do we know if the inclusion of Lisa Trevor was only discussed during the development stages of REmake ?
Jessica... Lisa... Forgive me. May god justify my death in exchange for your safety. With my last breathe, I will pray that you both are safe. Farewell.….George Trevor
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Gamertag ~ ARKLAY FOREST
That's correct.
4.
Mikami joined Capcom in 1990 and designed his first gameboy game, Capcom Quiz: Hatena's Big Adventure, in the same year. He worked on six games before Bio Hazard.
カプコンクイズ ハテナ?の大冒険
Title: Capcom Quiz: Hatena's Big Adventure
Release Date: JP 1990-12-21 (Not available in the US.)
Hardware: Gameboy ®
Genre: Quiz
Note: Planner/Shinji Mikami
ロジャー・ラビット
Title: Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Release Date: 1991-11 (Not available in Japan.)
Hardware: Gameboy ®
Genre: Action
Note: Game Designer/Shinji Mikami
スーパ・ラップ
Title: Super Lap
Release Date: (Cancelled in 1992)
Hardware: Super Famicom ®
Genre: Action Race
スーパーパン
Title: Super Pang
Release Date: JP 1992-08-07
Hardware: Super Famicom ®
Genre: Action
Note: Special thanks under consumer staff. Alias of "Ucky·Mikami".
グーフィーとマックス 海賊島の大冒険
Title: Goofy and Max: Pirate's Island Adventure
Release Date: JP 1994-07
Hardware: Super Famicom ®
Genre: Action
Note: Game Design/Shinji Mikami, Satoshi Murata, Main Program/Masatsugu Shinohara, Object Design/Toru Nakayama, Tsuyoshi Wakuta, Special Thanks/Takuya Shiraiwa.
Note: Masatsugu Shinohara left a programming note on April 21, 1993. It received an earlier overseas release.
Nakayama became the enemy concept designer for Bio Hazard, Wakuta left the development early, and Shiraiwa received special thanks, presumably for his role in technical support.
アラジン
Title: Aladdin
Release Date: JP 1993-11-16
Hardware: Super Famicom ®
Genre: Action
Note: Planner/Shinji Mikami (Salary Man), Scroll Design/Masako Honma (Manashi), Object Design/Yuji Ishihara (U-Zie), Satomi Tsubota (Tsubo.P), Tsuyoshi Wakuta (Waqta), Advisor/Tokuro Fujiwara (Professor F).
The Aladdin development team used alais'. Honma worked on publicity of Biohazard, Ishihara was the main character texture designer and worked on the first-person perspective version, Tsubota was the effects designer, again Wakuta left early, and Fujiwara was the Producer of Sweet Home. He made the decision to cancel the first-person perspective. More on him later.
Fun Fact:
According to Kamiya, the name "Joseph" comes from the lyrics of the Beatles song, Get Back.
A great start to what is sure to be an incredible thread. Thanks for sharing this project, Welsh.
I just read the updated version of this thread's first post ~ Thank you so much for sharing this. The information re, August '95 V-Jump festival and a possible translation will prove to be phenomenally informative, and I can only lament the decision not to put your exclusive research into a book.
Jessica... Lisa... Forgive me. May god justify my death in exchange for your safety. With my last breathe, I will pray that you both are safe. Farewell.….George Trevor
Facebook ~ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Crimson-Headcom/210554645660668
Twitter ~ https://twitter.com/CRIMSON_HEAD
Gamertag ~ ARKLAY FOREST
5.
Several years ago, I transcribed most of the descriptions found in Resident Evil.
Project Omega began transcribing the remake for our old website.
6.
I found the base for a few of the paintings around the mansion.
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/474/1themadonnaofthechair.jpg
http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/6459/empresselisabethofaustr.jpg
http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/3406/ghirlandaiostjeromeinhi.jpg
http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/1994/tumblrlmlbx2mzgy1qeu6il.jpg
Supplemental:
Note Bio1-related, but IGN exclusive interview with Shinji Mikami:
7.
REMOVED ITEMS
Pickaxe (ピッケル)
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/5998/bitems.jpg
According to Kamiya, the pickaxe was used to "dig something out". In Sweet Home, the pickaxe was used to move the rock in the underground.
Oil (オイル)/Wood (まき)
http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/4808/bitems.png
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/6742/oilms.png
Oil and wood were used in the fireplaces with the lighter around the mansion. In an early version, the dining room, shotgun room and room next to the second Yawn battle had the fireplace effect. Most likely, the fireplace in the dining room and shotgun room was already burning like in the remake, and you needed these items for the map like in the final release. According to Kamiya, this "wood fuel" (oil) was found in front of boiler in the back passage, hence the odd camera angle in the final release.
Two Keys (tentative)
Two keys used in the laboratory stage were removed from the final release. Originally, there was a scene with Chris and Rebecca in the 508 Double Lock room. Some of the dialogue is still on the CD.
REBECCA
V00F_00: Let me try using both at the same time. Please give me a key.
V00F_01: Let's try. Ready. Start.
V00F_02: It's open!
DumDum Rounds
More powerful ammo for the colt python.
http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/9807/dumdum.png
Flamethrower Fuel (火炎放射器の燃料)
In an early version, you found this on Kenneth.
Maybe Ridely could post some screenshots of the rest of the items?
8.
Here are all the scans I have of the 60% complete version. Study these closely as they contain the locations of Trevor's Letters, among other things like Wesker in the guardhouse. I used to have the second part that showed the laboratory. I'll see if I can find it.
http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/4619/026br.jpg
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/4036/027sb.jpg
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/1571/028jev.jpg
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/289/029vp.jpg
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/8289/gameplayersissue064apri.jpg
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/8289/gameplayersissue064apri.jpg
http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/8289/gameplayersissue064apri.jpg
http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/8289/gameplayersissue064apri.jpg
http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/8289/gameplayersissue064apri.jpg
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/8289/gameplayersissue064apri.jpg
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/8289/gameplayersissue064apri.jpg
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/8289/gameplayersissue064apri.jpg
http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/8289/gameplayersissue064apri.jpg
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/8289/gameplayersissue064apri.jpg
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/8913/gameplayersissue064aprin.jpg
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/8289/gameplayersissue064apri.jpg
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/8289/gameplayersissue064apri.jpg
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/4752/hobbyconsolas057jun1996.jpg
http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/4752/hobbyconsolas057jun1996.jpg
http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/2360/hobbyconsolas055apr1996.png
http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/9371/maximumissue3127.png
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/8222/maximumissue3127a.png
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/2112/maximumissue3128.png
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/4079/maximumissue3129.png
Here's another that I scanned which clearly shows one of Trevor's notes next to Kenneth in a late build. A few years ago, I thought it was Kenneth's diary.
http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/7876/kennethdiary.jpg
9.
Kamiya confirmed that STARS was once military special forces like in the ads. One of many ideas. All characters were designed as a military unit with the logo of a red scorpion in the attack position (check V-Jump artwork and artwork below, shield-shaped emblem on each STARS members arm) and reworked with the STARS logo later on. Mikami was dissatisfied with Jill's costume, which underwent the most heavy revision. Dewey and Gelzer were removed in the planning stages. I made the BioHQ video from IceDDzs VHS rip of that version years ago so even though it's jpg format the quality is good.
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/4241/0093w.jpg
http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/8201/014zq.jpg
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/8615/015nm.jpg
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/3266/016jt.jpg
http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/8568/017qyp.jpg
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/1753/018ffl.jpg
http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/1388/019xsq.jpg
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7673/020jc.jpg
http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/5089/char00001001.png
http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/1599/char01001001.png
Enrico Marino of Bioflames remapped Jill using her original texture.
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/9177/coopjill.png
http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/9393/electronicgamingmonthly.jpg
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/5254/sfd02.jpg
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/130/videobetathia011.png
Breathtaking work ! Where did that 'Art of Resident Evil' come from ?
The magazine scans that show evidence of George Trevor's notes are a little piece of history I never thought would be illustrated in such format ~ that these builds were featured in such detail is wonderful, and those scans were of immense interest to read.
As always Welsh, thanks for sharing work exclusive to you, that must have required great effort to acquire.
Jessica... Lisa... Forgive me. May god justify my death in exchange for your safety. With my last breathe, I will pray that you both are safe. Farewell.….George Trevor
Facebook ~ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Crimson-Headcom/210554645660668
Twitter ~ https://twitter.com/CRIMSON_HEAD
Gamertag ~ ARKLAY FOREST
Twin Keys (ripped and textured by MarkGrass):
DumDum Rounds:
Flamethrower Fuel (火炎放射器の燃料):
I'll make some more annotations when I have more time at hand. But the Game Players #064 April 1996 magazine does not depict images from the so called 60% version, but from a rather late version similar to the one with menu debug we have -if not the same, I don't remember-.
@ George, the Art of Resident Evil artwork pages comes from a quite rare book. The GameFan Book of Resident Evil Director's Cut.
Thanks Ridley.
10.
I will disprove some of the rumours about the voice actors of Biohazard.
Lynn M. Harris voiced Rebecca. The Lynn above is the picture floating around the internet on sites like BioHaze. There's a picture of Scott people are posting for Chris, but it's of this guy so it's wrong. Barry Gjarde did voice Barry since it says on his personal website:
And I suspect Lisle Wilkerson voiced Jill.
11.
Shinji Mikami is 5'6", brown-eyed, and likes to drink. He was born in the Yamaguchi perfecture (Chūgoku region) on Honshū island, the largest island of Japan.
After graduating from high school, he enrolled at Doshina University in Kyoto, but failed to meet it's entrance exam requirments for two consecutive years. He enrolled in an undegraduate program in the Department of Commercial Science and participated in the kendo and katate club. After four years, he recived a Bachelor of Commerical Science with a major in the study of merchandise.
Note: I contacted his University for the exact details.
12.
Hiroki Katoh/加藤弘喜, Born: 1970-04-22 (Hailing from Saiki-shi, Oita, Japan)
He graduated from the Department of International Economics at Yokohama National University in March 1993 and joined Capcom in April 1994. Joined Bio team after Hideki Kamiya.
If you don't know, he's also the director of Code: Veronica and apears in the Director's Hazard movie.
13.
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/7936/select001001a.png
I asked Kamiya about this keypad. He's said it wasn't used so I guess it means even in the Aug '95 verson it wasn't implemented. In addition, he said the bucket and bottle from that version were just rough ideas so the actual use remains unclear.
14.
Capcom posted this image of the uncensored intro at their official website. Interesting, if anything, which build they used to post those screenshots.
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/1641/bio1ss10l.jpg
15.
That German castle from Biohazard was also used in Super Pang, the port Mikami worked on, and Mystery of Hell Village: Incredible Toons, Kamiya's first game. In addition, it appears in one of the SF games, though I don't remember which one. Seems to be popular within Capcom.
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/6627/incredibletoons.png
http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/6677/mikamir.png
16.
Someone told me the cover for Biohazard was designed by a Marvel comic artist and used for U.S. box art. That doesn't seem to be the case since an early prototype of that box appeared in a game ad.
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/6103/img0282j.jpg
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/4825/re1slus00170lbadretf7.jpg
17.
In the revised notes of George Trevor, which came with the Sega Saturn version of Biohazard, Trevor talks about, "a painting of Da Vinci". That's because in the gallery (crow room), the painting at the back of the room that falls to reveal a crest in the final release is actually a painting of Da Vinci called, "Death of Leonardo Da Vinci", 1880.
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/6799/053ku.jpg
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4888/room11700007.png
http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/7552/deathofleonardodavinci1.jpg
Supplemental: Trevor's grave stone.
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/6864/epsxe2004032116553360.jpg
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/8331/sgrave.jpg
I created that years ago. It actually says, "Fullmetal Prison". Maybe be a reference to the Capcom game, Cyberbots. "Fullmetal" is also written on the DumDum rounds.
18.
Bio1 debug menu room names. If anyone has this version, could you fill the rest of them in?
[quote
100 Save Room
101 1F Left Stairs
102 Vacant Room
103 F Passage
104 Tea Room
105 Dining Room
106 Hall
107 Gallery
108 L Passage
109 Trap Passage
10A Back Passage
10B 1F Right Stairs
10C Green House
10D Tiger Statue Room
10E Employee Room
10F Bar
]202 Dining Room 2F
203 Hall 2F
204 C Passage
205 Armor Room
206 Doll Room
207 2F Right Stairs
208 Deer Room
209 Bed Room
20A Study Room
20B Front Lesson Room
20C
20D Pillar Passage
20E Front Of Attic
20F Dining
210 Attic
211 Terrace Passage
212 Terrace
300 First House Out
301 Water Gate
302 Falls
303 Heliport
307 Ladder Passage
308 Branch Passage
309 Darkness Passage
30A Enrico Room
30B Rock Passage
30C Spider Boss Room
30D Straight Passage
30E Save Room
30F Crank Passage
310 Court To Labo
400 Enter Passage
401 001
402 001 Bas Room
403 Save Room
404 Bar
405 Center Passage
406 002
407 002 Bas Room
408 Honeycomb Passage
409 Drug Storehouse
40A 003
40B 003 Bas Room
40C Plant Boss Room
40D Under Passage
40E Water Tank
40F Security Room
410 Arms Storehouse
411 Control Room
500 Under Fountain
501 Heli Port Pass
502 Ladder Room
503
504
505 0 Passage
506 Small Laboratory
507 Mortuary
508 Double Lock
509 Private Room A
50A Private Room B
50B Front Of Cell
50C Front Of Elevator
50D Escape Elevator
50E Save Room
50F Maze A
510 Maze B
511 Motive Room
512 Cell
513 Tyrant Room
514 Front Of Tyrant
515 B3 > B4 Elevator
700 1F > B1 Elevator
708 Deer Room
Interesting stuff like the doll room, room with the monster plant is a greenhouse, etc.