-
Credits
Title: SCP-512-JP - EXTRA QUEST
Author: 
Linraw
Year: 2015
SCP-512-JP connected to a Family Computer. The SCP-512-JP portion has been edited.
Item #: SCP-512-JP
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-512-JP is stored in a standard lockable containment locker at Storage Site-8123. Experiments involving connecting SCP-512-JP to a hardware device for play require the permission and supervision of two personnel with Clearance Level 3 or higher.
Objects materialized through the manifestation events associated with SCP-512-JP are preserved and stored in standard lockable containment lockers at Storage Site-8123. Access to these items requires permission of a staff member with Clearance Level 3 or higher.
Description: SCP-512-JP is a ROM cartridge compatible with the specifications of Nintendo's home console, the Family Computer (HVC-001). In appearance, SCP-512-JP is identical to the role-playing game [REDACTED] released by [REDACTED] Corporation. However, unlike the standard game [REDACTED], SCP-512-JP lacks a save function. Additionally, the sprite for the 'Protagonist' character has been altered to feature different clothing and hairstyle.
Each time SCP-512-JP is connected to hardware and launched, the game begins with various objects appearing within it altered from their state in the standard ROM cartridge of [REDACTED]. The ROM data recorded within SCP-512-JP is modified each time by unknown means; these modifications persist into subsequent launches. The absence of a save function and the alteration of the 'Protagonist' sprite to a unique, distinct appearance are consistent differences observed from the first launch attempt onwards.
Additionally, SCP-512-JP may cause physical objects resembling in-game elements to materialize around the player, some of which are of unknown composition. As far as the Foundation has confirmed, this phenomenon occurs when the player's party is completely defeated in the game and meets a 'Game Over' condition. These objects can be terminated through commonly understood methods inferred from their shape and behavior.
When the SCP-512-JP modification phenomenon reaches its terminal phase, a 'REBOOT' event occurs within several subsequent launches; the game title screen after launch features no title logo or text, displaying only the word 'REBOOT'. Following this, all modifications are reset, SCP-512-JP's ROM data is restored to its initial state, followed by the hardware power automatically shutting off several seconds later. Even after the 'REBOOT' event occurs, the lack of a save function and the altered 'Protagonist' sprite remain unchanged, and the objects materialized in reality do not cease to exist.
Anomalous effects related to SCP-512-JP exhibit slight variations each time it is launched. The following is a log of launch attempts and accompanying noteworthy observations.
| Launch Trial # |
Noteworthy Events |
| A |
A 'REBOOT' event occurred; the power automatically shut off approximately 5 seconds after launch. |
| B |
The game launched normally, with the title screen identical to [REDACTED]. Gameplay proceeded as expected, except for the absence of a save function and a different sprite for the 'Protagonist'. The game was completed in 19 hours. After the ending, the post-credits screen persisted until the power was manually turned off. |
| C |
Similar to Trial B, gameplay proceeded almost entirely normally. The game was completed in 19 hours. |
| D |
While several data irregularities similar to previous tests were observed, gameplay proceeded as expected for the most part. However, during events involving character dialogues, there were frequent delays of 1-2 seconds in loading the characters' lines. The game was completed in 21 hours. |
| E |
The party was defeated during a mid-scenario battle event, resulting in a ‘Game Over’. Immediately afterward, two seeds and three fruits of unknown plant species, a dagger forged from an unknown metal with elaborate decorations, and a robe made from cloth with a composition matching none of the known materials appeared within the test chamber. The materialized objects were examined and subsequently preserved. After the Game Over screen appeared and its brief jingle concluded, the hardware device's power automatically shut off. |
| F |
During the in-game event “Appointment of the Hero,” the 'King' character mentioned the 'previous hero.' The 'King' character's statement indicated that this 'previous hero' is entirely unrelated to the 'Protagonist' from previous playthroughs. After the 'Protagonist' was appointed as hero, the loading delay for the 'Protagonist's Mother' character's dialogue became significantly noticeable. The game was completed in approximately 26 hours. |
| G |
Enemy stats in battles increased by an average of 1 point above their intended values. The ‘King's’ remarks about the ‘previous hero’ in the in-game event “Appointment of the Hero” were further extended. The average delay in loading character dialogue exceeded 10 seconds; particularly for the ‘Protagonist's Mother’, delays of up to several tens of seconds occurred each time her dialogue loaded. The game was completed in slightly over 30 hours. |
| H |
The game scenario was altered to add one more boss character acting as one of top-ranking member of the 'Demonic Army,' and a new dungeon appeared in the north-northwest of the world map. The increase in enemy monster stats observed in Trial G occurred again; this pattern persisted in all subsequent attempts. The game was completed in 39 hours. |
| I |
The party was defeated in a battle within the ‘Demon King's Castle’ map, resulting in a ‘Game Over’. Immediately afterward, a longsword adorned with a cross-shaped ornament made from an unknown metal and silver, along with the corpse of an unknown humanoid creature measuring 2.23 meters in height, appeared. The long sword underwent compositional analysis, and the unknown creature underwent an autopsy, after which both were preserved. The jingle did not play during the Game Over screen display. |
| J |
The player-customizable nickname for the ‘Protagonist’ disappeared from the ‘Protagonist’s Mother’s’ dialogue, replaced by the term “MY SON.” Additionally, the ‘Protagonist’s Mother’ began consistently facing the direction of the ‘Protagonist’ within the ‘Protagonist’s House’ map. The game was completed in 45 hours. |
| K |
The game scenario underwent further alteration; the ‘Demonic Army’ invasion reached the ‘Kingdom’ twice, and a new in-game event titled “Fall” was added where the ‘King’ and ‘Princess’ are killed in the first half of the storyline. Background character dialogue became more unsettling. The game was completed in 49 hours. |
| L |
The game scenario underwent further alteration; during the in-game event “Appointment of the Hero,” the ‘Protagonist’s Mother’ appeared at the bottom of the screen, facing the direction of the ‘Protagonist’ at the top. A new in-game event titled “Parting” was added at the midpoint of the scenario, where the ‘Demonic Army’ launches a further offensive against the ‘Kingdom,’ burning down the village that serves as the ‘Protagonist’s’ starting point. The game was completed in 55 hours. |
| M |
The game scenario underwent further alteration; the situation in the in-game event “Fall” deteriorated, leaving the ‘Kingdom’ thoroughly ravaged and only the ‘Church’ building remaining intact within the town. The player could no longer enter the ‘Church’ map. The game was completed in 61 hours. The ending music was absent. |
| N |
All characters normally recruitable as party members disappeared from the scenario, forcing the player into solo play. When the ‘Protagonist’ traveled to the ‘Royal Castle’ at the beginning of the scenario, the ‘Protagonist’s Mother’ moved to follow behind him, then parted ways en route to enter the ‘Church’. The player could not control the 'Protagonist' to follow her. The game was completed in 102 hours. The ending was absent. |
| O |
The head of the 'Protagonist' sprite was blacked out. All dialogue for the 'Protagonist’s Mother' was removed, and she stopped facing toward the 'Protagonist'. Throughout the scenario, 'Demonic Army' behaved in a manner that suggests complete lack of control. In the final phase of the scenario, the 'Demon Lord' character was extremely confused, declaring to the 'Protagonist': "YOU ARE NOT THE HERO! THEN WHO ON EARTH AM I?!" Following this, the 'Demon Lord' moved off the map without engaging in battle with the player and disappeared upon reaching off-screen. In Trial O, game completion was deemed likely impossible. |
| P |
The 'Protagonist' sprite became transparent, rendering conversation and battle impossible. 72 seconds after the 'Protagonist’s mother' entered the 'Church,' the game automatically restarted and proceeded to Trial Q. |
| Q |
The game became unresponsive while loading the title screen and showed no further changes or behavior. This was the first time an unresponsive state was observed. |
| R |
The entire scenario was lost. The behavior of background characters and the state of the map suggested that the in-game world was peaceful. The 'Protagonist' sprite remained transparent, and the 'Protagonist's Mother' was absent from the 'Protagonist's House.' A 'Letter' graphic was placed overlapping the 'Desk' graphic inside the 'Protagonist's House', and the player could perform the action to read its contents. After performing the 'Examine' action on the 'Letter' and displaying the text, the game showed no further changes or behavior. |
Analysis of the ROM data at Trial Q revealed that most of the data spanning from the game program section to a small blank section had been erased, which is believed to have caused the unresponsive state in Trial Q. The contents of the 'Letter' in Trial R were split and recorded by completely overwriting the small blank section and several dozen bytes of unused data within the ROM.
The following is a transcription of the 'Letter' that appeared in Trial R.
MY BELOVED SON!
KEEP YOUR SMILE,
AND SOAR ONWARD TO
WHEREVER YOU MAY GO.
FROM THE DAY YOU WERE BORN,
I HAVE ALWAYS WATCHED OVER YOU.
I WILL NEVER FORGET THE DAY
YOU TOOK YOUR FIRST STEP,
I WILL NEVER FORGET.
GOD DID NOT PERMIT ME
TO WRITE A LONGER LETTER.
In the subsequent Trial S, a 'REBOOT' event occurred and all alterations were reset. As of writing, no further launch attempts beyond Trial S are scheduled.
On 199█/██/██ in ████████ Prefecture, a local resident [REDACTED] was discovered dead in his living room by a neighbor, his body impaled by a Western-style longsword. A Foundation agent, who intercepted the emergency call to police and responded to the scene under the guise of a police officer, recovered SCP-517-JP present at the scene after deducing it possessed anomalous properties. All involved parties were provided with the cover story 'late-night robbery-murder.'
When the agent arrived at the scene, SCP-512-JP was powered on and displaying the final scene after the ending sequence. Mr. [REDACTED] was found pinned to the floor with a longsword bearing a cross-shaped ornament — identical in design to the one materialized in Trial I — piercing his liver; the cause of death was determined to be exsanguination. Soil containing several unknown species of microorganisms was left in front of Mr. [REDACTED]'s television. While these are believed to be the result of an object manifestation phenomenon caused by SCP-512-JP, the reason the longsword materialized in a manner that inflicted fatal injury upon Mr. [REDACTED] remains unknown. Additionally, the living room window was found fully open despite the winter season. This cannot be explained by SCP-512-JP's known anomalous properties, and as no evidence has been found indicating Mr. [REDACTED] himself opened the window, further investigation into this matter is warranted.
Mr. [REDACTED] purchased SCP-512-JP at a retail store specializing in video rentals and secondhand video games. While the store had records of selling SCP-512-JP, there were no records regarding its acquisition. It remains unknown when and how SCP-512-JP came to be in the store's possession.
