Difference between revisions of "BC Racers"

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===Development===
 
===Development===
 
In-game graphics were created by Toby Gard (who would go on to design Lara Croft in Tomb Raider). Characters were created as wireframes, all sharing the same bike sprites to ease the development process{{fileref|MeanMachinesSega18UK.pdf|page=22}}.
 
In-game graphics were created by Toby Gard (who would go on to design Lara Croft in Tomb Raider). Characters were created as wireframes, all sharing the same bike sprites to ease the development process{{fileref|MeanMachinesSega18UK.pdf|page=22}}.
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+
 
 +
==Versions==
 +
While the the Mega-CD and 32X versions of ''BC Racers'' are broadly the same, the 32X conversion is able to maintain a much higher frame rate, which in turn leads to a faster paced game. The Mega-CD version is able to capitalise on full motion video and higher quality audio, but is hindered by longer loading times not present in the 32X game. In addition, the 32X runs at a higher screen resolution and uses a longer draw distance, and alongside the expected increase in colour counts, leads to more detailed visuals than its Mega-CD counterpart.
 +
 
 +
The 32X version also compares favourably to the IBM PC version (which also lacks music) and the 3DO version in terms of frame rate, however no versions are completely stable, with all four performing noticeably worse than the likes of the Super NES games ''Super Mario Kart'' and ''F-Zero'' which likely served as an inspiration for the game.
 +
 
 
==Production credits==
 
==Production credits==
 
===Mega-CD version===
 
===Mega-CD version===

Revision as of 11:36, 9 August 2017

n/a

BCRacers Title.png

BC Racers
System(s): Sega Mega-CD, Sega 32X
Publisher:
Sega Mega-CD
Core Design/Sega (EU),
Sega 32X
Front Street Publishing
Developer:
Distributor: Time Warner Interactive (US)
Genre: Racing

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega-CD
US 		T-115075
Sega Mega-CD
EU 		T-115075-50
Sega 32X
US 		T-7901B

BC Racers is a racing game developed and published by Core Design as a spin-off of the then-popular Chuck Rock series. It was originally released for the Sega Mega-CD in 1994, before subsequently seeing ports to the Sega 32X, PC and 3DO the following year. The Mega-CD version was distributed in North America by Time Warner Interactive.

Despite its British roots, the 32X version was released exclusively in North America, where it was published by U.S. Gold's short-lived publishing label Front Street Publishing.

During development the game was known as Chuck Racer and then Chuck Rally: Rocky Racers.

Story

BC Racers takes place in the Chuck Rock universe, where a millionaire playboy caveman, Millstone Rockafella, has organized a bike race. The winner will receive the Boulderdash Bike.

Gameplay

BC Racers is a one or two player bike racing game, similar in nature to F-Zero and Super Mario Kart (and similar "mode 7" titles) on the Super Nintendo. Tracks are flat, with scenery and racers being represented by 2D sprites. There are four difficulty settings; easy, medium, hard, and rockhard, each with their own set of eight tracks (making for a total of thirty-two tracks in the game). Each track needing four laps to complete, and there are eight track themes including desert wastes, volcanic areas, and massive jungles.

Each bike in BC Racers comprises of two characters, one who controls the bike, and another who rides in a side car whose purpose is to attack other players. There are no power-ups in BC Racers, however the sidecar rider can hit opponents similar to the mechanics in Road Rash. Bikes take damage, and if an opponent is forced to crash or break down, extra points are rewarded. Damage to the bike can be reversed by collecting power-ups near the starting line.

In the Mega-CD version of the game, a two player cooperative mode is offered, where player one controls the acceleration and player two controls the sidecar, steering and turbo features. This was replaced in the 32X version by more traditional split-screen play (in which much of the scenery is removed to maintain a high frame rate).

Controls

Basic controls

Down: Break
Down-left/Down-right: Handbrake turn
 START : Pause/Zoom options

Mega-CD version

A: Punch left
B: Accelerate
C: Punch right
Up+A: Nitro
X: Zoom out
Y: Nitro
Z: Zoom in

32X version

A: Acceleration
B: Punch right
C: Nitro

Heats

BCRacers 32X Heat1.png Heat 1 - Rock City Race
BCRacers 32X Heat2.png Heat 2 - Night Rally
BCRacers 32X Heat3.png Heat 3 - Desert Drive
BCRacers 32X Heat4.png Heat 4 - Jungle Rumble
BCRacers 32X Heat5.png Heat 5 - Swamp Stomp
BCRacers 32X Heat6.png Heat 6 - Blizzard Blitz
BCRacers 32X Heat7.png Heat 7 - Cave Rave
BCRacers 32X Heat8.png Heat 8 - Volcano Dash

History

Development

In-game graphics were created by Toby Gard (who would go on to design Lara Croft in Tomb Raider). Characters were created as wireframes, all sharing the same bike sprites to ease the development process[4].

Versions

While the the Mega-CD and 32X versions of BC Racers are broadly the same, the 32X conversion is able to maintain a much higher frame rate, which in turn leads to a faster paced game. The Mega-CD version is able to capitalise on full motion video and higher quality audio, but is hindered by longer loading times not present in the 32X game. In addition, the 32X runs at a higher screen resolution and uses a longer draw distance, and alongside the expected increase in colour counts, leads to more detailed visuals than its Mega-CD counterpart.

The 32X version also compares favourably to the IBM PC version (which also lacks music) and the 3DO version in terms of frame rate, however no versions are completely stable, with all four performing noticeably worse than the likes of the Super NES games Super Mario Kart and F-Zero which likely served as an inspiration for the game.

Production credits

Mega-CD version

  • Programmed by: Dan Scott
  • Graphic Artist: Toby Gard
  • Music and SFX: Martin Iveson
  • Game Design: Toby Gard, Dan Scott, Guy Miller
  • Intro Sequence: Billy Allison
  • Intro Support: Stuart Atkinson, Bob Churchill
  • Original Concept: Jason Gee, Jon Hilliard
  • Creative Manager: Guy Miller
  • Produced by: Jeremy Smith
Source:
In-game credits (hard mode)


  • Additional Design Support: Simon Phipps
  • Storyboard: Guy Miller
  • Graphics Support: Stu Atkinson
  • Product Support: Troy Horton, Jamie Morton, Darren Price, Adrian Smith, David Ward
Source:
US manual credits[5]

32X version

  • Programmed by: Martin Gibbins, Gilbert The Goat, John Kirkland and Stef Walker
  • Graphics by: Toby Gard
  • Graphic Support from: Stuart Atkinson, Richard Morton and Joby Wood
  • Music and Chip SFX by: Nathan McCree
  • Sample SFX by: Martin Iveson
  • Game Design by: Toby Gard, Martin Gibbins and Dan Scott
  • Produced by: Jeremy Smith
  • Special Thanks to: SN Systems
Source:
In-game credits (hard mode)


For Core Design, LTD.
  • Carving Out the Code: Sean Dunlevy
  • Thanks to: Alyson, Helen, Craig, Richard M., Del, Dan, Captain Black, Jason Goz, Chris, James, Davids' M and L, Troy, Darren, Jamie, Mark, Mac, Roberto, Jeremy, Alison, Guy, Susie, Sharon, Babs, Adrian, Gary, Simon, Mansoor, Jon H., Jason G., Paul, Heather, Andrew and Richard B.
For U.S. Gold, Inc.
  • Special thanks to: Mike Schmitt, Brian Schorr, Mac Senour, Tom Marx, Frank Hom, Dan Wong, Caroline Trujillo, Jill De Maria, Kelly Lindlar, Frank Alizaga Jr., Alison Nichols, Lee Wilkinson, Mr. Free Time
Source:
US manual credits[6]

Magazine articles

Main article: BC Racers/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

  • Mega-CD FR print advert

Logo-pdf.svg
Mega-CD in Ultimate Future Games (UK) #3: "February 1995" (1995-01-01)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Mega-CD version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
82 №39, p144[7]
78 №158, p76-77[8]
86 №8, p22
68 №2/95, p54[9]
78 №28, p48/49
86 №1/95, p90[10]
82 №28, p72/73[2]
92 №51, p100/101[11]
86 №63, p82
80 №41, p42/43
79 №47, p10
72 №4/95, p91[12]
Sega Mega-CD
 81
Based on
12 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Consoles + (FR)
82
[7]
Computer & Video Games (UK) PAL
78
[8]
FLUX (US) NTSC-U
67
[13]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
89
[14]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
68
[15]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
86
[16]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
33
[17]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
87
[18]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
68
[9]
Mega (UK) PAL
78
[19]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
83
[20]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
86
[10]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
82
[2]
Player One (FR)
92
[21]
Play Time (DE) PAL
86
[22]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
80
[23]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
86
[24]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
80
[25]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
79
[26]
Todo Sega (ES)
83
[27]
Video Games (DE) PAL
72
[28]
VideoGames (US)
70
[29]
Sega Mega-CD
 78
Based on
22 reviews

BC Racers

Mega-CD, US
BCRacers MCD US Box Back.jpgBCRacers MCD US Box Front.jpg
Cover
BCRacers MCD US Disc.jpg
Disc
Bcracers mcd us manual.pdf
Manual
Mega-CD, EU
BCRacers MCD EU Box Back.jpgBCRacers MCD EU Box Front.jpg
Cover

32X version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
80 №44, p117
83 №162
70 №72, p48[3]
83 №30, p50/51
68 №7/95, p65[30]
65 №6/95, p91[31]
85 №31, p64/65[32]
89 №54, p94/95[33]
82 №68, p38/39
88 №45, p82/83
60 №5, p90/91[34]
72 №7/95, p103[35]
Sega 32X
 77
Based on
12 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Consoles + (FR)
80
[36]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
70
[3]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
68
[30]
Mega (UK) PAL
85
[37]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
65
[31]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
85
[32]
Player One (FR)
89
[33]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
82
[38]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
88
[39]
Top Consoles (FR)
60
[34]
Ultimate Future Games (UK)
69
[40]
Video Games (DE) PAL
72
[41]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
60
[42]
Sega 32X
 75
Based on
13 reviews

BC Racers

32X, US
BCRacers 32X US Box Back.jpgBCRacers 32X US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Bcracers 32x us cart.jpg
Cart
Bcracers 32x us manual.pdf
Manual

References

  1. ↑ File:EGM US 065.pdf, page 258
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 File:MeanMachinesSega28UK.pdf, page 72 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega28UK.pdf_p72" defined multiple times with different content
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 File:GamePro US 072.pdf, page 50 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePro US 072.pdf_p50" defined multiple times with different content
  4. ↑ File:MeanMachinesSega18UK.pdf, page 22
  5. ↑ File:Bcracers mcd us manual.pdf, page 12
  6. ↑ File:Bcracers 32x us manual.pdf, page 14
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 File:ConsolesPlus FR 039.pdf, page 144 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ConsolesPlus FR 039.pdf_p144" defined multiple times with different content
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 File:CVG UK 158.pdf, page 76 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 158.pdf_p76" defined multiple times with different content
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 File:MAN!AC DE 1995-02.pdf, page 54 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MAN!AC DE 1995-02.pdf_p54" defined multiple times with different content
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 File:MegaFun DE 1995-01.pdf, page 90 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MegaFun DE 1995-01.pdf_p90" defined multiple times with different content
  11. ↑ File:PlayerOne FR 051.pdf, page 96
  12. ↑ File:VideoGames DE 1995-04.pdf, page 87
  13. ↑ FLUX, "Issue #4" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 43
  14. ↑ GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 3: March 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 18
  15. ↑ GamePro, "April 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 54
  16. ↑ Games World: The Magazine, "February 1995" (UK; 1994-12-xx), page 22
  17. ↑ Game Informer, "March 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 42
  18. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Marzo 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 92
  19. ↑ Mega, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-12-30), page 48
  20. ↑ Mega Force, "Janvier 1995" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 66
  21. ↑ Player One, "Mars 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 100
  22. ↑ Play Time, "2/95" (DE; 1995-01-04), page 110
  23. ↑ Sega Magazine, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-12-15), page 110
  24. ↑ Sega Power, "February 1995" (UK; 1994-12-15), page 82
  25. ↑ Sega Pro, "February 1995" (UK; 1994-12-29), page 42
  26. ↑ Sonic the Comic, "17th March 1995" (UK; 1995-03-04), page 10
  27. ↑ Todo Sega, "Marzo 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 36
  28. ↑ Video Games, "4/95" (DE; 1995-03-22), page 91
  29. ↑ VideoGames, "April 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 76
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 File:MAN!AC DE 1995-07.pdf, page 65 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MAN!AC DE 1995-07.pdf_p65" defined multiple times with different content
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 File:MegaFun DE 1995-06.pdf, page 91 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MegaFun DE 1995-06.pdf_p91" defined multiple times with different content
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 File:MeanMachinesSega31UK.pdf, page 64 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega31UK.pdf_p64" defined multiple times with different content
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 File:PlayerOne FR 054.pdf, page 92 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayerOne FR 054.pdf_p92" defined multiple times with different content
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 File:TopConsoles FR 05.pdf, page 90 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TopConsoles FR 05.pdf_p90" defined multiple times with different content
  35. ↑ File:VideoGames DE 1995-07.pdf, page 99
  36. ↑ Consoles +, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 117
  37. ↑ Mega, "June 1995" (UK; 1995-05-31), page 12
  38. ↑ Sega Power, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-05-18), page 38
  39. ↑ Sega Pro, "May 1995" (UK; 1995-04-13), page 82
  40. ↑ Ultimate Future Games, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-06-01), page 75
  41. ↑ Video Games, "7/95" (DE; 1995-06-28), page 103
  42. ↑ VideoGames, "July 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 70



Chuck Rock games for Sega systems
Chuck Rock (1991) | Chuck Rock II: Son of Chuck (1993) | BC Racers (1995)
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