Network Biohazard (Outbreak Prototype)

NETWORK BIOHAZARD
(Outbreak series protoype)

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NETWORK BIOHAZARD
Japanese and American logos
jp name	ネットワークバイオハザード
Production information
Developer	Capcom Production Studio 1
Publisher	CAPCOM
Director	Eiichiro Sasaki
Writer	Haruo Murata
Executive Producer	Noritaka Funamizu
Game information
Genre	Survival Horror
Platforms	Playstation 2
Players	4 (online co-op)

NETWORK BIOHAZARD (ネットワークバイオハザード, nettowāku baiohazādo), known as "Resident Evil: Online" in the west, was the second attempt to create a Resident Evil game with online multiplayer features. Originally, the project was planned as a single game featuring over 41 scenarios and a cast of 8 characters in a 4-player cooperative mode. It was eventually split into Resident Evil Outbreak File #1 and File #2, with much of the originally planned content left out. Fans later referred to this unreleased content as 'Outbreak File #3.'

Story

• Original script
• English Translation

'98年、ラクーンシティを襲った未曾有のバイオハザード(生物災害)。通りは、瞬く間に蠢く死者で覆い尽くされた。やがて街は、戦略ミサイルの投下という、最悪の幕引きにより地上から消失する。

事件の渦中、S.T.A.R.S.隊員やレオン、クレアらは、巨大製薬企業アンブレラと対峙。その活躍の影で、運命の弄流に必死に抗う者たちの姿があった。

彼らは、いかに生き、また死んでいったのか? そのとき、ラクーンでは何が起こっていたのか?

「ネットワーク バイオハザード(仮題)」は、惨禍のラクーンシティを舞台に、極限状況を駆け抜けた一般市民たちの物語である。- Weekly Famitsu No.723 (25/10/02)

In 1998, an unprecedented biohazard struck Raccoon City.

In the blink of an eye, the streets were overrun by the restless dead.

Before long, the city vanished from the earth under the worst possible conclusion—the launch of a strategic missile. Amid the chaos, S.T.A.R.S. members, along with Leon and Claire, stood against the massive pharmaceutical company Umbrella.

But in the shadows of their fight were others—ordinary people desperately struggling against the cruel currents of fate. How did they live, and how did they die?

What truly happened in Raccoon City at that time? “Network Biohazard” (working title) tells the story of ordinary citizens who braved the extreme conditions of the devastated Raccoon City.

—Weekly Famitsu No. 723 (October 25, 2002)

Scenarios

See also: Resident Evil Outbreak Unknown Locations

Resident Evil Outbreak was originally designed with a significantly larger set of scenarios than those seen in the final two releases. In addition to the scenarios featured in File #1 and File #2, several others were planned but ultimately cut or never completed. Below is a list of confirmed and documented planned scenarios, including unreleased concepts from the early “Resident Evil Online / Network Biohazard” phase:

ID	Japanese Name	Localized Name	Image	Description	Status
R000	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Possible testing level or prequel scenario.	Unreleased
R001	Outbreak (発生, Hassei)	Outbreak		An unused version of the room "In front of Apple Inn" features a second open manhole, suggesting that more sewer areas were meant to be explored.	Released
R002	Hellfire (獄炎, gokuen)	Hellfire		Originally an alternative path of the "Outbreak" scenario.	Released
R004	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Sewer areas reused for "End of the Road"	Unreleased
R006	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Urban areas reused for "Outbreak" & "End of the Road"	Unreleased
R010	Underworld (異界, Ikai)	Underbelly			Released
R015	The Last Defense (死守, Shishu)	Desperate Times		Sewer areas scrapped due to unknown reasons.	Released
R016	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Laboratory areas reused for "End of the Road"	Unreleased
R019	Unknown	Unknown		Proto version of "The Hive"	Unreleased
R024	Motel (モーテル)	Unknown		Scrapped scenario that took place in the "A Day in Raccoon" motel, the story was centered around a murder mystery with Jim Chapman as its main character. The player aparently had to collect VHS tapes in order to progress.	Unreleased
R026	Memory, Recollection (記憶, Kioku)	Flashback			Released
R028	Den (巣窟, Sōkutsu)	The Hive		The released version was heavily edited, Areas and storylines got cut. Originally scenario R019.	Released
R035	Sub-zero (零下, Reika)	Below Freezing Point			Released
R039	Unknown	Unknown		Raccoon Docks was a planned scenario set at the Mendez River Boat Station, likely involving Umbrella’s effort to recover assets with U.B.C.S. members like Tommy Nielsen and characters such as Austin Taylor and Clint. The Neptune & burned Neptune likely featured in this scenario.	Unreleased
R040	Roar (咆哮, Hōkō)	Wild Things		Some areas scrapped due to unknown reasons.	Released
R041	Decision, Determination, Resolution (決意, Ketsui)	Decisions Decisions		Sewer areas used textures for R001.	Released
Unknown	Unknown	Unknown		A scrapped scenario was reportedly centered on the U.S.S. (Umbrella Security Service) and their mission to recover the G-Virus. Early press coverage show U.S.S. operatives such as Miguel and Rodriguez, among possibly others, appearing in this scenario. A mutated William Birkin was also intended to make an appearance. It remains unclear whether this scenario was an early prototype of "Below Freezing Point" or a separate concept altogether.	Unreleased
Unknown	Unknown	Unknown		This scenario involved a refugee checkpoint with a woman who's kid turns into a zombie.	Unreleased

Characters

Using cheat devices such as the Game Shark (or .Pnach/patches via PCSX2, or hacked saves) on Resident Evil Outbreak and File #2, people are able to hack/unlock some hidden character skins which are thought to be from the unreleased Resident Evil Outbreak File 3. The cast of unlocked characters includes HUNK; star of Resident Evil 2's "The 4th Survivor" mode; Ginger and Laura, both of whom are template characters for female zombies; Amelia, the woman yanked through the roof by the Mega Bite during "Underbelly"; Bone, a man who was intended to be a friend of David King; and several other members from the U.S.S. and the U.B.C.S. as well as other citizens. Below is a list of these characters:

U.S.S. Scenario

• Luke (USS1)
• HUNK + Hunk Unmasked Version
• Derek (USS2)
• Miguel
• Conrad
• Rodriguez; while featured in "End of the Road" scenario in File #2, he also would've also would've played a role in the U.S.S. scenario

U.B.C.S. Scenario / Raccoon Docks

• Billy
• Clint
• Mac
• Matt

Other Citizens

• Bone
• Prof. Frank
• Mickey
• Keith
• Gary
• Jake
• Kate
• Matthew
• Mary
• Rodney
• Unknown woman (Outbreak)
• Unknown Child Zombie (Outbreak)
• Unknown Dead/Zombie Man (1F)

Zombie Templates

Zombie templates are people/NPCs that appeared as zombies or may have appeared alive once like Amelia eventually to become zombies that would later appear in File 1, File 2 and Umbrella Chronicles but were to be unlockable as skins like other NPCs. Most generic (unimportant) NPCs such as Chuck, Amelia and Roger have generic names in File 1, like "MAN1", "WOMAN1", etc.. and are likely Zombie Templates. Below is a list of these people:

• Amelia
• Chuck
• Don
• Dr. Ethan (DOCTOR1)
• Dr. Howard (DOCTOR2)
• Dr. Isaac (DOCTOR3)
• Ginger
• Laura
• Nicolas
• Philip
• Robert
• Roger
• Robert
• Richard

Enemies

A lot of enemies that didn't make the cut and didn't (officially) appear in either File 1 or File 2 are left over in the game's files and can be found by hacking the date. Below is a list of some of these enemies that are known.

• "G-Dog" (E02_00)
• Baby Spider (E08)
• Grave Digger-like enemy (E21)
• G-Birkin (E28_00) - the model was used in one of the trailers
• "E31_00"
• Unknown Tyrant (E42_00)
• RE2 Style Licker (HE00_01)
• Carnivorous Plant
• Grub
• Giant and burned version of Neptune
• Multiple unused versions of Thanatos

Development

| 1998 Predecessor

A Prototype for a Resident Evil Multiplayer was developed by Noritaka Funamizu shortly before Resident Evil 2 was released. The concept was similar to horde mode with 4 or so Players trying to survive, However, the playtests indicated that, instead of them cooperating to survive, they were playing on their own and letting other players die.

" Hamamura, Koichi (25 October 2002). (in Japanese)Weekly Famitsu (Enterbrain, Inc.) (#725). Translated by BiohazardFrance --: What was the idea that gave birth of Resident Evil Network? Funamizu: In those days, people and the media said that a network game is the thing, game creator should make. A lot of people requested Mr. Mikami to make Resident Evil Network..... Then after one year, Mr. Mikami told me "Mr. Funahashi, why don't you make it?" --: Suddenly? Funamizu: Yeah, and I thought "Why me?" *laugh* then I started to think about "what is the network game of Resident Evil?" --: Was it a long time ago? Before Playstation 2 was released? Funamizu: Yes, but in those days, I only had a basic idea and after a while, Mr. Okamoto General Manager asked me "When you going to start?" So, I realized I have to start make it. *laugh* First, I considered how we can make the network game without stepping out from the world of Resident Evil. I talked to a lot of people at Capcom and everybody said "Resident Evil is scary because you have to fight alone." --: That is true. Funamizu: I made a mini-game in the tool and let people play, and if one of the player died then everybody started to run away. Because nobody want to be the last person. Also, people tried not to use ammo and others said "Soot it". It made me realized that Resident Evil really shows the users personality. "

Due to the unviability of the project at the time, it was scrapped, and Funamizu's next work was Resident Evil 3: Nemesis.

| Revival

Possibly in mid-late 2000, The Idea was resurrected, this time with a more heavy-focus on Player Cooperation and Survival.

During these Early Stages 41 Scenarios were Planned, of which only 7-8 ever got released, with the first being split into two scenarios, making the released scenarios around 10 in total. Even though 21-22 Scenarios were in a somewhat advanced state of development as of late 2003.

| 2002

The game was announced on February 13, 2002 during the Playstation Meeting Event. (Press Only) The event was focused on Playstation 2's online capabilities. Several teaser trailers for various games were shown (Network Biohazard included), Howeve due to the event's restriction most of its content is lost, except for a few images.

| 2003

WIP

Gameplay

WIP

Gallery

• Screenshots
• Trailers
• Unused Content

Mark, Kevin, Cindy and Alyssa on "A Day in Raccoon"

A Day in Raccoon hall, and Boiler Room.

Unknown Parking lot, Possibly related to "A Day in Raccoon"

Unknown CG concept art. Cindy's face on the right side.

Close shot of a Nicolas-Type zombie. Below Freezing Point's West Corridor as the Background area.

Unused zombie. A Below Freezing Point corridor as the background area.

Underbelly's Control room (subway)

The game’s original title logo (western)

Another example of the developers’ chase cam during production, this time highlighting the Underbelly platform.

A pre-release image features Lucy Mallet handing Mark an item, an action she doesn't perform in the final version and is typically reserved for playable characters. Lucy uses her earlier character model. It’s unclear if she was intended as a playable or support NPC.

Alyssa and Kevin talking with Hersh in Below Freezing Point. This suggests Hersh may have been planned as either an NPC or a playable version. The image also appears on the back of the US game case.

Early versions of Jim, Yoko, and Kevin in Flashback

A boiler room unused in gameplay, though it appears on the violence warning screen of the first Outbreak.

Early version of The Hive scenario, where the player could exit the hospital. Data for this and another hospital door still exists as open, but the final game blocks access with a message. The room data itself was removed, causing a crash if forced open.

A pre-release picture showing characters from the unreleased U.S.S. scenario, or prototype "Below Freezing Point" featuring Rodriguez, Miguel, David King and Mac Dowell at the Marshaling Yard. Rodriguez is seen aiming his Shotgun.

From the trailer, showing Cindy Lennox throwing a stick. The different camera angle suggests this is the developers’ chase cam used for promotional footage.

Jim and Cindy confronting a zombie inside the A Day in Raccoon Motel.

Identical to the previous image.

Still image from an unknown FMV sequence.

Mickey reading a newspaper in his Motel’s lobby. This scene may help establish the scenario’s timeline.

David King firing a handgun outside Al Lester’s cabin.

Another screenshot of the Marshaling Yard.

The Employee passage in Underbelly, with characters firing in multiple directions.

Yoko Suzuki aiming a handgun, likely inside the Marshaling Yard.

More of the A Day in Raccoon Motel. One zombie seen here appears repeatedly across various prerelease screenshots.

Mickey speaking to David before entering a room. The on-screen text roughly translates to “Stay here.”

Exterior portion of the A Day in Raccoon Motel.

A hallway from Below Freezing Point, with noticeably different lighting compared to the final version.

Another room from the Motel setting.

Likely a diorama-style promotional image, showing all playable characters gathered outside the Motel entrance.

One of the clearest prerelease Motel shots, showing the level set during a thunderstorm. The E3 trailer confirms this with visible lightning flashes.

Mickey opening a door.

David being bitten by a zombie inside one of the Motel’s rooms.

From the trailer: Yoko on the Motel’s long wooden porch. The red car seen here also appears in earlier images, helping identify her location.

George standing in front of the Motel.

Resident Evil Outbreak Online Trailer

Resident Evil Online Trailer

E3 2002 - Presentation RESIDENT EVIL ONLINE ("Outbreak")

Unused Zombie (E0102)

Hunk A

Hunk B

Derek (USS2)

Miguel

Unused William Birkin model