Metropolis Street Racer

From Sega Retro

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MetropolisStreetRacer title.png

Metropolis Street Racer
System(s): Sega Dreamcast
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Licensor: Alfa Romeo, Audi, Fiat, Ford, Jensen, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MG, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Peugeot, Renault, Toyota, TVR
Peripherals supported: Jump Pack, Dreamcast Modem, Race Controller, Visual Memory Unit, Dreamcast VGA Box
Genre: Racing

















Number of players: 1-8
Official in-game languages:
  • English
  • Français
  • Deutsch
  • Español
  • Release Date RRP Code
    Sega Dreamcast
    US
    $44.9944.99[3][4] 51012
    ESRB: Everyone
    Sega Dreamcast
    EU
    MK-51022-50
    ELSPA: 3+ OK
    Sega Dreamcast
    EU
    (White Label)
    Sega Dreamcast
    DE
    DM 9999[10] MK-51022-50
    USK: 0
    Sega Dreamcast
    ES
    MK-51022-50
    ELSPA: 3+ OK
    Sega Dreamcast
    FR
    MK-51022-50
    SELL: Tous Publics
    Sega Dreamcast
    PT
    STJS22399
    Sega Dreamcast
    UK
    £39.9939.99[7][8] MK-51022-50
    ELSPA: 3+ OK
    Sega Dreamcast
    AU
    $89.9589.95[14]
    OFLC: G

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    Metropolis Street Racer, known as Metropolis during development and frequently listed simply as MSR, is a racing game developed by Bizarre Creations for the Sega Dreamcast. Highly praised at the time of release, MSR was often considered to be the Dreamcast's answer to the PlayStation's Gran Turismo racing series, as it has over 250 circuits (set in real-world locations) and numerous officially licensed cars.

    Gameplay

    Metropolis Street Racer sees the player driving cars in number of "challenges", in an attempt to score "kudos", the game's monetary system. Kudos is earned for driving fast, but also "stylishly", such as performing handbrake turns and not crashing into scenery.

    There are several types of challenges:

    • Hotlap (HL): Complete a lap within a specified time
    • Timed Run (TR): Complete all laps within a specified time
    • Challenge (CH): Miscellaneous "challenges" that need to be completed in a specified time, either
      • Overtake a set number of cars
      • Achieve a set speed
      • Lap an opponent
    • One on one (OO): Race against a single opponent vehicle
    • Street race (SR): Race against a field of up to five other racers
    • Championship (CS): A series of 2-5 street races, with points awarded on the place finished per race

    Challenges are grouped into "chapters". Once all 25 chapters are completed, the game ends.

    Vehicles

    MSR contains over 50 officially cars (and some cheat cars) from a variety of manufacturers, including Alfa Romeo, Audi, Fiat, Ford, Jensen, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MG, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Peugeot, Renault, Toyota and TVR. Paint colours, window tints and the style of the license plate can be changed by the user, and in the case of convertibles, whether the roof is retracted.

    Cars are unlocked in MSR by completing chapters or special events.

    Notavailable.svg Fiat Barchetta
    Notavailable.svg Mazda MX5
    Notavailable.svg MGF
    Notavailable.svg Opel Astra Coupe
    Notavailable.svg Renault Megane
    Notavailable.svg Opel OPC
    Notavailable.svg Alfa Romeo Spider
    Notavailable.svg Peugeot 206
    Notavailable.svg Peugeot 306 cabriolet
    Notavailable.svg Peugeot 406 Coupe
    Notavailable.svg Toyota MR2
    Notavailable.svg Toyota MR-S
    Notavailable.svg Peugeot 306
    Notavailable.svg Mercedes Benz SLK
    Notavailable.svg Mercedes Benz SL320
    Notavailable.svg Alfa Romeo 156
    Notavailable.svg Audi S3
    Notavailable.svg Audi TT Roadster
    Notavailable.svg Alfa Romeo Gtv
    Notavailable.svg Audi TT Coupe
    Notavailable.svg Renault Spider
    Notavailable.svg Toyota Celica 99
    Notavailable.svg Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo
    Notavailable.svg Toyota Celica
    Notavailable.svg Mitsubishi FTO
    Notavailable.svg Mitsubishi Eclipse
    Notavailable.svg Mitsubishi Eclipse 99
    Notavailable.svg Opel Speedster
    Notavailable.svg Mitsubishi 3000GT
    Notavailable.svg Ford Mustang
    Notavailable.svg Toyota Supra
    Notavailable.svg Nissan Fairlady Z
    Notavailable.svg MG RV8
    Notavailable.svg Nissan Silvia
    Notavailable.svg Renault Clio V6
    Notavailable.svg Toyota Celica GT-Four
    Notavailable.svg Mazda RX7
    Notavailable.svg TVR Chimaera
    Notavailable.svg Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VI
    Notavailable.svg Jensen S-V8
    Notavailable.svg Nissan Skyline GT-R
    Notavailable.svg London Taxi
    Notavailable.svg San Francisco Yellow Cab
    Notavailable.svg Tokyo Takushe
    Notavailable.svg Lawnmower
    Notavailable.svg Red London Bus
    Notavailable.svg San Francisco City Bus
    Notavailable.svg Tokyo Basu

    Locations

    As the name suggests, racing in Metropolis Street Racer takes place in the streets of three metropolises; San Francisco (United States), London (United Kingdom) and Tokyo (Japan), with layouts that mimick their real-world counterparts (with some creative liberties).

    However, rather than map vast areas of land, the cities are sub-divided into key locations, which are then used to map a variety of course configurations. This method means that although configurations will often share streets, there is enough variation to ensure no two challenges use the same layout (at least, driving in the same direction).

    In addition, MSR incorporates time of day changes and weather effects, which can affect visibility or handling. The time of day is determined by the Dreamcast's clock; players are asked for their time zone at the beginning of the game, and the position of the sun in the three cities is adjusted accordingly.

    San Francisco

    px Pacific Heights
    px Fisherman's Wharf
    px Financial District

    London

    px Trafalgar
    px St. James' Park
    px Westminster
    Big Ben will also show the correct time, and will bong on the hour.

    Tokyo

    px Shibuya
    px Asakusa
    px Shinjuku

    History

    Development

    Main article: Metropolis Street Racer/Development.

    Release

    Metropolis Street Racer originally launched in PAL regions with a number of bugs, so much so that the game was recalled and Sega felt the need to issue replacement discs. A third revision of the game (which the North American version is based on) fixes further bugs, although many still remain.

    Despite initially high expectations, MSR sold 101,757 units in the U.S. through January 2003 according to NPD Group. In the UK 13,297 were sold in the week ending November 4th, 2000 according to Chart-Track. In Germany it debuted at number one in Media Control's November 2000 Dreamcast chart. Martyn Chudley described releasing the game exclusively on the Dreamcast at this time was like "The Beatles exclusively selling The White Album on Mars". £1 million of Bizarre Creations' own money went into the project, and although the team was happy to port the game to the PlayStation 2, management at Sega declined the offer.

    Bizarre Creations would use what they learned through Metropolis Street Racer to create their line of Project Gotham Racing games for the Xbox and Xbox 360. The original Project Gotham Racing in particular, which would debut in November 2001, is extremely similar to Metropolis Street Racer, sharing many of the same cars and tracks, but updating assets and adding more content. It is also the more forgiving game (for example, while the concept of "kudos" remains, there is no means of "losing" it in PGR).

    2003's Project Gotham Racing 2, however, is a cleaner departure with a new set of locations, as would be the case for future sequels.

    Production credits

    Bizarre Creations Ltd.
    Management
    • Managing Director: Martyn Chudley
    • Business Director: Sarah Dixon
    • Technical Director: Walter Lynsdale
    Programming
    • Design, Structure and Frontend: Martyn Chudley
    • Technical Coding: Roger Perkins
    • Engine and Dynamics Coding: Walter Lynsdale
    • Tools and Effects Coding: Phil Snape
    • AI Coding: Dave Al-Daini
    • Sound Coding: Jonathan Amor
    Artwork
    • 3D modelling and Textures (Tokyo): Jon Dugdale, Paul Spencer
    • 3D modelling and Textures (San Francisco): Matt Sharatt, Glen Griffiths
    • 3D modelling and Textures (Tokyo): Julie McGurren, Derek Chapman
    • Car Modelling: Steve Heaney
    • Car and City Textures: Lee Carter
    • Frontend Artwork and City Textures: Gren Atherton
    Production
    • Senior Producer: Brian Woodhouse
    • Associate Producer: Peter Wallace
    • Production Support: Glynn Williams
    • Bizarre PR: Sarah Dixon
    • Office Management: Michelle Langton
    Quality Assurance
    • QA Manager: Ged Talbot
    • QA: Kevin Reilly
    Sega Europe, Ltd.
    Product Department
    Marketing Support
    Sega Of America Product Development
    • Localization Producer: Howard Gipson
    • Supervising Producer: Jason Kuo
    • Lead Tester: Benji Galvez
    • Assistant Lead Testers: Shawn Dobbins, Robert Reich
    • Localization Manager: Osamu Shibamiya
    • Testers: Gabrielle Brown, Jason Jensen, Steven Jee, Devin Tomcik, Jason Mercer, Todd Slepian, Rafael Meza, John Saito, Eric Ling, Joseph Amper, Derek Wong, Aaron Poser, Walter Kim, Daniel Airey, Shaheed Khan, JR Villatuya, Raymond Kwan, David Taleg, Chester Lee, Michael Jones, Joseph Mora
    Marketing
    Source:
    US manual
    Metropolis Street Racer DC US Manual.pdf
    [15]

    Uncredited


    Magazine articles

    Main article: Metropolis Street Racer/Magazine articles.

    Promotional material

    DrivingGames DC FR PrintAdvert.jpg
    FR print advert
    DrivingGames DC FR PrintAdvert.jpg
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Print advert in (YU) #7: "7/2000" (2000-09-25)
    also published in:
    • (YU) #8: "8/2000" (2000-10-25)[16]
    • (YU) #9: "9/2000" (2000-12-25)[17]
    • (YU) #10: "1/2001" (2001-02-25)[18]
    • (YU) #11: "2/2001" (2001-03-25)[19]
    • (YU) #12: "3/2001" (2001-04-25)[20]
    • (YU) #13: "4/2001" (2001-05-25)[21]
    • (YU) #14: "5/2001" (2001-06-25)[22]
    • (YU) #15: "6/2001" (2001-07-25)[23]
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Print advert in (US) #10: "Holiday 2000" (2000-11-28)
    also published in:
    • (US) #12: "March 2001" (2001-01-28)[24]
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Print advert in (UK) #12: "October 2000" (2000-09-07)
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Print advert in (DE) #2000-12: "12/2000" (2000-11-02)
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Print advert in (PL) #30: "Marzec 2001" (2001-xx-xx)
    also published in:
    • (PL) #31: "Kwiecień 2001" (2001-xx-xx)[25]
    • (PL) #32: "Maj 2001" (2001-xx-xx)[26]
    • (PL) #33: "Czerwiec 2001" (2001-xx-xx)[27]
    • (PL) #34: "Lipiec-Sierpień 2001" (2001-xx-xx)[28]
    • (PL) #35: "Wrzesień 2001" (2001-xx-xx)[29]
    Logo-pdf.svg

    Artwork

    Physical scans

    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Score Source
    {{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
    Based on
    0 review
    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Version Score
    (HU)
    98
    [30]
    (BR)
    65
    [31]
    (YU) PAL
    95
    [32]
    (PL)
    60
    [33]
    (FR) PAL
    94
    [34]
    (UK)
    100
    [7]
    (UK) PAL
    90
    [35]
    (UK) PAL
    96
    [8]
    (UK) PAL
    90
    [36]
    (US) NTSC-U
    70
    [37]
    (RU)
    91
    [38]
    (DE) PAL
    86
    [39]
    (US) NTSC-U
    88
    [4]
    (UK)
    100
    [40]
    (US) NTSC-U
    100
    [41]
    (AU)
    92
    [14]
    (DE) PAL
    91
    [42]
    (DE) PAL
    91
    [43]
    (PL)
    90
    [44]
    (US) NTSC-U
    100
    [45]
    (UK) PAL
    90
    [46]
    (US) NTSC-U
    90
    [47]
    (FR)
    86
    [48]
    Play (PL)
    94
    [49]
    (PL)
    93
    [50]
    (NL)
    98
    [51]
    (DE) PAL
    93
    [52]
    (RU)
    95
    [53]
    (UK)
    80
    [54]
    (DE) PAL
    82
    [55]
    Sega Dreamcast
    90
    Based on
    30 reviews

    Metropolis Street Racer

    Dreamcast, US
    MSR US backcover.jpgMSR DC US Box Front.jpg
    Cover
    Metropolis Street Racer DC US Manual.pdf
    Manual
    MSRDCUSInlay.jpg
    Inlay
    Dreamcast, EU
    MSR DC EU Box Back.jpgMSR DC EU Box Front.jpg
    Cover
    MSR DC EU Disc.jpg
    Disc
    Metropolis Street Racer DC EU Manual.jpg
    Manual
    Dreamcast, EU (White Label)

    MSR DC EU Disc White.jpg
    Disc
    Dreamcast, PT
    MSR DC PT back.jpgNospine-small.pngMSR DC EU Box Front.jpg
    Cover
    MSR DC EU Disc.jpg
    Disc
    MSR DC PT Manual.pdf
    Manual
    Dreamcast, AU
    MSR DC AU front.jpg
    Cover
    MSR DC EU Disc.jpg
    Disc

    Technical information

    Main article: Metropolis Street Racer/Technical information.

    ROM dump status

    System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
    Sega Dreamcast
     ?
    CRC32
    MD5
    SHA-1
    1,188,776,064 2000-11-30 GD-ROM (US) 51012 V1.010 (Rev A)
    Sega Dreamcast
    CRC32
    MD5
    SHA-1
    1,201,533,312 2000-10-10 GD-ROM (EU) 952-0042-50, MK-51022-50 V1.001
    Sega Dreamcast
     ?
    CRC32
    MD5
    SHA-1
    1,201,533,312 2000-10-20 GD-ROM (EU) MK-51022-50 V1.002 (Rev A)
    Sega Dreamcast
    CRC32
    MD5
    SHA-1
    1,201,533,312 2000-11-21 GD-ROM (EU) MK-51022-50 V1.009 (Rev B)
    Sega Dreamcast
     ?
    CRC32
    MD5
    SHA-1
    2000-10-10 GD-R Page
    Sega Dreamcast
     ?
    CRC32
    MD5
    SHA-1
    2000-05-09 GD-R Page
    Sega Dreamcast
     ?
    CRC32
    MD5
    SHA-1
    1999-11-10 GD-R Page

    External links

    References

    1. http://www.sega.com:80/games/dreamcast/post_dreamcastgame.jhtml?PRODID=392 (Wayback Machine: 2003-10-20 04:18)
    2. http://www.ebworld.com/ebx/categories/homepages/dreamcast.asp (Wayback Machine: 2001-02-01 16:44)
    3. Official Dreamcast Magazine, "Holiday 2000" (US; 2000-11-28), page 87
    4. 4.0 4.1 GamePro, "January 2001" (US; 200x-xx-xx), page 105
    5. http://www.chipsworld.co.uk/detProd.asp?ProductCode=1103 (Wayback Machine: 2002-02-25 08:44)
    6. http://amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/stores/feature/feature/-/videogames/50781 (Wayback Machine: 2001-02-11 06:17)
    7. 7.0 7.1 Computer & Video Games, "December 2000" (UK; 2000-11-15), page 82
    8. 8.0 8.1 Dreamcast Magazine, "No. 15" (UK; 2000-11-02), page 62
    9. http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004TNTB (Wayback Machine: 2006-03-04 00:33)
    10. Sega Magazin, "Dezember 2000" (DE; 2000-1x-xx), page 13
    11. http://www.micromania.fr/zooms/?ref=16928 (Wayback Machine: 2000-12-02 22:18)
    12. http://www.centromail.es/top/ficha.asp?codmail=15252&codprov= (Wayback Machine: 2001-07-11 06:58)
    13. http://www.gameswarehouse.com.au/DRCnew.asp (Wayback Machine: 2002-01-01 22:11)
    14. 14.0 14.1 Hyper, "February 2001" (AU; 2000-12-20), page 44
    15. File:Metropolis Street Racer DC US Manual.pdf, page 25
    16. Bonus, "8/2000" (YU; 2000-10-25), page 82
    17. Bonus, "9/2000" (YU; 2000-12-25), page 82
    18. Bonus, "1/2001" (YU; 2001-02-25), page 82
    19. Bonus, "2/2001" (YU; 2001-03-25), page 82
    20. Bonus, "3/2001" (YU; 2001-04-25), page 82
    21. Bonus, "4/2001" (YU; 2001-05-25), page 48
    22. Bonus, "5/2001" (YU; 2001-06-25), page 2
    23. Bonus, "6/2001" (YU; 2001-07-25), page 46
    24. Official Dreamcast Magazine, "March 2001" (US; 2001-01-28), page 24
    25. Neo Plus, "Kwiecień 2001" (PL; 2001-xx-xx), page 100
    26. Neo Plus, "Maj 2001" (PL; 2001-xx-xx), page 100
    27. Neo Plus, "Czerwiec 2001" (PL; 2001-xx-xx), page 100
    28. Neo Plus, "Lipiec-Sierpień 2001" (PL; 2001-xx-xx), page 84
    29. Neo Plus, "Wrzesień 2001" (PL; 2001-xx-xx), page 84
    30. 576 Konzol, "December 2000" (HU; 2000-xx-xx), page 40
    31. Ação Games, "Fevereiro 2001" (BR; 2001-xx-xx), page 47
    32. Bonus, "9/2000" (YU; 2000-12-25), page 50
    33. Click!, "3/2001" (PL; 2001-02-01), page 24
    34. Consoles +, "Décembre 2000" (FR; 2000-1x-xx), page 88
    35. Dreamcast Monthly, "Christmas 2000" (UK; 2000-11-23), page 84
    36. Edge, "December 2000" (UK; 2000-11-02), page 98
    37. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "January 2001" (US; 2000-12-05), page 193
    38. Entsiklopediya igr dlya Dreamcast, "Izdaniye chetvertoye, dopolnennoye" (RU; 2002-xx-xx), page 131
    39. Fun Generation, "11/2000" (DE; 2000-10-18), page 58
    40. (UK) (+0:00)
    41. Gamers' Republic, "December 2000" (US; 2000-xx-xx), page 69
    42. MAN!AC, "12/2000" (DE; 2000-11-02), page 52
    43. Mega Fun, "12/2000" (DE; 2000-11-02), page 38
    44. Neo Plus, "Grudzień 2000" (PL; 2000-xx-xx), page 54
    45. Next Generation, "January 2001" (US; 2000-12-21), page 96
    46. Official Dreamcast Magazine, "October 2000" (UK; 2000-09-07), page 8
    47. Official Dreamcast Magazine, "Holiday 2000" (US; 2000-11-28), page 86
    48. Playbox, "Décembre 2000" (FR; 2000-1x-xx), page 41
    49. Play, "Luty 2001" (PL; 2001-xx-xx), page 30
    50. PSX Extreme, "03/2001" (PL; 2001-0x-xx), page 38
    51. Power Unlimited, "Jaargang 9, Nummer 1, Januari 2001" (NL; 200x-xx-xx), page 42
    52. Sega Magazin, "Dezember 2000" (DE; 2000-1x-xx), page 12
    53. Strana Igr, "Dekabr 2000 1/2" (RU; 2000-xx-xx), page 48
    54. Video Gamer, "December 2000" (UK; 2000-11-01), page 46
    55. Video Games, "12/2000" (DE; 2000-11-02), page 102


    Metropolis Street Racer

    MetropolisStreetRacer title.png

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