Difference between revisions of "Virtua Racing"

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Revision as of 15:50, 9 August 2019

n/a

Virtua Racing Title.png

Virtua Racing
System(s): Sega Model 1, Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Sound driver:
Sega Mega Drive
SMPS Z80 (banked)
Peripherals supported:
Sega Mega Drive
Six Button Control Pad
Genre: Racing

















Number of players: 1-2,
Arcade
1-8
Release Date RRP Code
Arcade (Model 1)
JP		 ¥? ?
Arcade (Model 1)
US		 $? ?
Arcade (Model 1)
UK		 £? ?
























Sega Mega Drive
JP 		¥9,8009,800 G-7001
Sega Mega Drive
US 		$99.9599.95[3] 1229
Sega Mega Drive
EU 		1229
Sega Mega Drive
UK 		£69.9969.99[5]
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
BR 		047040
Sega Mega Drive
KR 		GM94002JG
Sega Mega Drive
AS 		1229

Virtua Racing (バーチャレーシング) is an arcade racing game developed by Sega AM2 and published by Sega in 1992. Virtua Racing was the first game released for the Sega Model 1 arcade platform, and also the first to use the name "Virtua" in its title (something which would be followed by numerous Sega arcade games, including Virtua Fighter, Virtua Cop and Virtua Tennis. It was a milestone in 3D graphics and the racing genre, and acts as a foundation for most modern racing games. It was ported to the Mega Drive (with the Sega Virtua Processor chip on the cartridge), 32X, and Saturn.

Gameplay

Virtua Racing is a 3D racing game, where players drive formula one-esque cars around one of three tracks against 15 other vehicles (either computer or player controlled). Like earlier Sega games, it is time-limited, with checkpoints dotted around the track to extend play.

The game was Sega's first foray into 3D graphics, following over a decade's worth of pseudo-3D offerings (starting with Turbo) with 2D sprites scaling in real time. Almost everything in Virtua Racing is rendered with flat-shaded quadrilateral polygons, which means track designs are more complex than in prior Sega racers. The physics model, however, is not dissimilar to earlier games such as Power Drift - it is impossible to destroy your car, and the only penalty for driving off-road is a significant speed decrease.

Crashing into an obstacle or opponent at a high speed causes one of two animations to play out, both of which simply slow progress for a short period of time (that is to say, the angles and forces of impact have very little bearing on the result of a crash). Crashing will also force the vehicle to face forward, so while it is fully possible to turn 180 degrees and drive in the opposite direction (unlike many previous Sega outings), the game makes every attempt to stop you from doing so. The simplified collision also means it is impossible to run over your pit crew (although you can still drive through them).

In multiplayer modes, Virtua Racing implements a crude "rubber banding" system, in which cars behind the leader have better performance.[9] Every player drives an identical car, save for differences in colour scheme.

Virtua Racing features multiple camera angles which can be selected on the cabinet itself. It also has a seven speed manual mode, the "manual" car being faster than its "automatic" counterpart if driven correctly.

Unlike Sega arcade games both before and since, Virtua Racing is very light on music, with only one of a dozen jingles playing each time the player crosses a checkpoint. Unusually for the era, cabinets also support 16:9 widescreen displays - originally intended for the "deluxe" model, this gives the player a more expanded look of the playfield (although the internal resolution of the game remains the same).

Tracks

The original release of Virtua Racing has the player race around three different tracks divided into difficulty:

VirtuaRacing BigForest.png

Big Forest
"Beginner" track.

VirtuaRacing BayBridge.png

Bay Bridge
"Medium" track.

VirtuaRacing Acropolis.png

Acropolis
"Expert" track

History

Development

Contrary to popular belief, the game was not initially created as proof of concept program for the system but rather intended[10] to be the first full game for the Model 1, and as the hardware was still in development when the game design began, Sega AM2 had to simulate the software using a PC.

Virtua Racing was given the all-clear to become a fully fledged arcade title during the Model 1's development, thereby becoming one of the first fast-paced 3D racing games to appear in arcades. Prior to this, most 3D racing games had been simulations, and often running very slow. Though Namco and Atari Games had put forward 3D arcade racers some years prior with Winning Run (1988) and Hard Drivin' (1989) respectively, Virtua Racing was among the first to render its worlds in sixty-frames-per-second and offer support for multiple human players, and the first to include multiple camera angles adjustable during play.

It was also the first game to feature human characters rendered with 3D polygons, both as mechanics and spectators, in fully polygonal 3D environments. The polygonal 3D human models used in Virtua Racing later formed the basis for the character models seen in Virtua Fighter.[11]

Release

The game was a commercial success in the arcades. In North America, RePlay's coin-op charts in April 1993 listed Virtua Racing as the highest-earning deluxe video game arcade cabinet.[12] It remained the highest-earning deluxe cabinet in the May 1993 charts.[13]

The hardware was revolutionary at the time of release, but Virtua Racing was later outclassed by its successor, the Sega Model 2 board, which debuted towards the end of 1993. There are no textured polygons in Virtua Racing, as Model 1 did not support them in hardware. There is one vehicle, and when linked together it is offered in several colours, but the stats never vary. Crashing slows the car down, but there is no damage model. There are differing surface types, with anything not on-road slowing the car down, but it does not affect handling, which would be pioneered by Sega Rally Championship several years later.

There are a few music tracks: during races, and jingles of several seconds play as the user crosses checkpoints and the goal line for laps; this is likely stylistic.

Virtua Racing was succeeded by its logical successor, Daytona USA, which brought the genre further forward. It would also take home systems several years to "catch up" to Virtua Racing in terms of 3D resolution and polygon counts.

Versions

Virtua Racing was available to arcade operators as single or twin cabinets. Four of the twin units can be linked up to create an eight-player experience.

Virtua Formula

Main article: Virtua Formula.

Special "medium sized" attractions, usually only seen at SegaWorlds or other Sega-themed amusement parks, adapt the eight-player setup of Virtua Racing and upgrade the cabinets, creating Virtua Formula.

Mega Drive version

See Sega Virtua Processor for details on cartridge chip

Virtua Racing was an arcade success, and though expected to avoid home consoles for quite some time due to the complexity of the Model 1 arcade board, saw an initially surprising port to the Sega Mega Drive in 1994. The Mega Drive version utilizes a custom made Sega Virtua Processor (SVP) chip, allowing the game to render significantly more polygons than the Super FX chip within Star Fox for the Super NES, as the SVP is a great deal more powerful than the Super FX. The Mega Drive port is surprisingly accurate.

Though the Mega Drive Virtua Racing is one of the more technically advanced Mega Drive games in the library, the unusual specifications of the cart mean that it is often one of the first games to not be supported by cost-reduced hardware (for example, it won't work with the Genesis 3). The Mega Drive version also takes a hit in terms of graphics and sound, displaying fewer polygons at a smaller resolution with a restricted palette and lower frame rate (around 15FPS, as opposed to the arcade's 60FPS (but double that of the Super FX-powered StarFox and Stunt Race FX on the Super NES)). However, it and all of the other home ports include two-player modes, time trials and options usually only available to arcade operators.

The Mega Drive version and the SVP chip were announced at CES in Summer 1993,[14] before releasing in 1994.[4] Sega had originally planned to release a steering wheel peripheral for the Mega Drive specifically for this game, but the idea was shelved.[15] While initially aimed for an early 1994 release, Sega had difficulty sourcing the parts for the SVP chip, meaning although the game was complete, its release was delayed until June[16].

32X version

Main article: Virtua Racing Deluxe.

Mere months later, Virtua Racing was released as a launch title for the Sega 32X, in the form of Virtua Racing Deluxe. Deluxe adds two extra tracks and due to the increased power of the 32X, has a greater resemblance to the Model 1 release.

Saturn version

Main article: Time Warner Interactive's VR Virtua Racing.

A Sega Saturn version of the game, officially titled Time Warner Interactive's VR Virtua Racing was brought to the console by Time Warner Interactive in 1995, sporting seven extra courses (on top of the three arcade tracks), four new cars and a grand prix mode among other additions.

Virtua Racing -FlatOut-

Main article: Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol.8: Virtua Racing -FlatOut-.

More recently, the game has been released as Virtua Racing -FlatOut-, part of the Sega Ages 2500 series on the PlayStation 2. This version includes an extra three new courses and four new cars to the Model 1 version.

Sega VR version

A version of the game was also planned for the Sega VR, a virtual reality headset accessory for the Mega Drive/Genesis that was planned to release in fall 1993. (Electronic Gaming Monthly, Video Game Preview Guide, 1993) However, the game, along with the accessory, was later cancelled.

Production credits

Arcade version


Mega Drive version


Magazine articles

Main article: Virtua Racing/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Virtua Racing/Promotional material.

Photo gallery

  • Upright cabinet

  • Twin cabinet

  • Deluxe cabinet

Physical scans

Model 1 version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
90 [17]
90 [18]
Arcade
 90
Based on
2 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Arcade
 N/A
Based on
0 reviews

Virtua Racing

Model 1, US (upright)
Model 1, US (twin)
Model 1, US (deluxe)
Model 1, JP (upright)
Model 1, JP (twin)
Model 1, JP (deluxe)
Model 1, UK (twin)
VirtuaRacing Model1 UK Manual Twin.pdf
Manual

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
88 [19]
86 [20]
94 [21]
79 [22]
84 [23]
80 [24]
100 №57, p84
78 [25]
83 №275, [1]
90 №0207, p24/41-43
90 [26]
89 №17, p32-34
90 №1994-04, p61
96 [27]
96 [28]
92 [29]
88 [30]
92 №22
92 [31]
88 [32]
92 №10, p42
93 №29, p32-37
90 [33]
99 [34]
91
91 №54, p34-36
89 №32, p44-45
92 [35]
96 [36]
Sega Mega Drive
 90
Based on
29 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[37]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
88
[38]
Console Mania (IT) PAL
96
[39]
Consoles + (FR)
94
[21]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
79
[4]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
84
[40]
Edge (UK)
80
[41]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
100
[42]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
78
[25]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
83
[43]
FLUX (US)
79
[44]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
90
[45]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
85
[46]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
90
[47]
Gamers (DE)
87
[48]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
84
[49]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
90
[50]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
92
[51]
Hyper (AU)
92
[52]
Joker (SI)
83
[53]
Joypad (FR) NTSC-J
96
[54]
Joypad (FR) PAL
96
[55]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
88
[30]
Mega (UK) PAL
92
[56]
Mega Force (FR) NTSC-J
95
[57]
Mega Force (FR)
95
[58]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
88
[59]
Mega Power (UK) PAL
92
[60]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
93
[61]
Magazina Igrushek (RU)
4
[62]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
90
[63]
Player One (FR)
99
[64]
Play Time (DE)
93
[65]
Power Up! (UK)
90
[66]
Power Unlimited (NL)
91
[67]
Score (CZ)
90
[68]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
100
[69]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
91
[70]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
89
[71]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
88
[72]
Sega Force (SE)
92
[73]
SuperGamePower (BR)
96
[74]
The Official Sonic the Hedgehog Yearbook (1994) (UK) PAL
90
[75]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
86
[76]
Supergames (AR)
100
[77]
Todo Sega (ES)
94
[78]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
85
[79]
Video Games (DE) PAL
80
[80]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
80
[81]
Sega Mega Drive
 87
Based on
49 reviews

Virtua Racing

Mega Drive, US
Virtrac md us cover.jpg
Cover
Virtrac md us cart.jpg
Cart
Virtuaracing md us manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
Virtrac md eu cover.jpg
Cover
Virtua Racing MD EU Cart Back.jpgVirtua Racing MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, GR
<div style="margin:auto; max-width:Expression error: Unexpected < operator.px"> 320x120px
Cover
Virtua Racing MD EU Cart Back.jpgVirtua Racing MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
Virtrac md jp cover.jpg
Cover
VirtuaRacing MD JP CartTop.jpg
Virtua Racing MD JP Cart Back.jpgVirtua Racing MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
VirtuaRacing MD jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, BR
VirtuaRacing MD BR Box.jpg
Cover
VirtuaRacing MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Virtuaracing md br manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, KR
VirtuaRacing MD KR cover.jpg
Cover
VirtuaRacing MD KR cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, Asia
Virtua Racing MD Asia Cover.jpg
Cover
VirtuaRacing MD AS cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, SG/MY/BN
Virtrac md SG MY BN cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, SE (rental)
VirtuaRacing MD SE Box Rental.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, SE (Rental; alt)

References

  1. ↑ https://sega-interactive.co.jp/special/history/title/virtuaracing.html
  2. ↑ GamePro, "April 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 76
  3. ↑ GamePro, "April 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 160
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Computer & Video Games, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-04-15), page 50
  5. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-11-15), page 134
  6. ↑ SuperGamePower, "Maio 1994" (BR; 1994-0x-xx), page 11
  7. ↑ http://www.mamedb.com/game/vr
  8. ↑ http://mamedb.com/game/vformula
  9. ↑ File:GameOn US 06.pdf, page 10
  10. ↑ https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/05/feature_the_history_of_virtua_racing_one_of_the_most_influential_coin-ops_of_all_time
  11. ↑ Yu Suzuki's Gameworks: A Career Retrospective (Game Developers Conference)
  12. ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "June 1993" (US; 1993-05-11), page 14
  13. ↑ File:ElectronicGames2 US 10.pdf, page 14
  14. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-15), page 16
  15. ↑ GamePro, "September 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 14
  16. ↑ Sega Magazine, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-15), page 15
  17. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-15), page 86
  18. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 54
  19. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "April 1994" (JP; 1994-03-08), page 17 (19)
  20. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 83 (85)
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Consoles +, "Juin 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 159
  22. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-04-15), page 50-52 (50)
  23. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-06-15), page 107-108/111 (107)
  24. ↑ Edge, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-03-31), page 82-84 (82)
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 33
  26. ↑ GamePro, "June 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 36-38 (38)
  27. ↑ Joypad, "Avril 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 126-127 (126)
  28. ↑ Joypad, "Mai 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 60-65 (60)
  29. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Junio 1994" (ES; 1994-xx-xx), page 60-63 (60)
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 MAN!AC, "05/94" (DE; 1994-04-13), page 36
  31. ↑ Mega, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-17), page 22-25 (22)
  32. ↑ Mega Fun, "04/94" (DE; 1994-03-23), page 44-45 (44)
  33. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-03-xx), page 48-52 (49)
  34. ↑ Player One, "Mai 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 52-55 (52)
  35. ↑ Sega Force, "3/94" (SE; 1994-03-29), page 18-19 (18)
  36. ↑ SuperGamePower, "Maio 1994" (BR; 1994-0x-xx), page 34-35 (34)
  37. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 259
  38. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "April 1994" (JP; 1994-03-08), page 19
  39. ↑ Console Mania, "Aprile 1994" (IT; 1994-0x-xx), page 102
  40. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-06-15), page 107
  41. ↑ Edge, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-03-31), page 82
  42. ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "August 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 84
  43. ↑ Famitsu, "1994-03-25" (JP; 1994-03-11), page 1
  44. ↑ FLUX, "Issue #1" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 78
  45. ↑ GameFan, "Volume 2, Issue 7: June 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 26
  46. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 4 April 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 36
  47. ↑ GamePro, "June 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 38
  48. ↑ Gamers, "März/April 1994" (DE; 1994-03-04), page 36
  49. ↑ Games World: The Magazine, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-05-26), page 17
  50. ↑ Hippon Super, "April 1994" (JP; 1994-03-03), page 61
  51. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Junio 1994" (ES; 1994-xx-xx), page 60
  52. ↑ Hyper, "March 1994" (AU; 1994-xx-xx), page 22
  53. ↑ Joker, "September 1994" (SI; 1994-xx-xx), page 29
  54. ↑ Joypad, "Avril 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 126
  55. ↑ Joypad, "Mai 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 60
  56. ↑ Mega, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-17), page 22
  57. ↑ Mega Force, "Avril 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 8
  58. ↑ Mega Force, "Mai 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 96
  59. ↑ Mega Fun, "04/94" (DE; 1994-03-23), page 44
  60. ↑ Mega Power, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-04-21), page 42
  61. ↑ MegaTech, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-04-21), page 4
  62. ↑ Magazina Igrushek, "5/1995" (RU; 1995-xx-xx), page 78
  63. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-03-xx), page 49
  64. ↑ Player One, "Mai 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 51
  65. ↑ Play Time, "5/94" (DE; 1994-04-06), page 142
  66. ↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, May 21, 1994" (UK; 1994-05-21), page 1
  67. ↑ Power Unlimited, "Jaargang 2, Nummer 5, Mei 1994" (NL; 1994-04-27), page 28
  68. ↑ Score, "Říjen 1994" (CZ; 1994-10-01), page 53
  69. ↑ Sega Magazine, "August 1994" (UK; 1994-07-15), page 97
  70. ↑ Sega Power, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-03-31), page 28
  71. ↑ Sega Pro, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-04-21), page 44
  72. ↑ Sega Zone, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-04-xx), page 54
  73. ↑ Sega Force, "3/94" (SE; 1994-03-29), page 18
  74. ↑ SuperGamePower, "Maio 1994" (BR; 1994-0x-xx), page 34
  75. ↑ The Official Sonic the Hedgehog Yearbook (1994), "" (UK; 1994-xx-xx), page 35
  76. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  77. ↑ Supergames, "Ano I, Numero I" (AR; 1994-xx-xx), page 6
  78. ↑ Todo Sega, "Junio 1994" (ES; 1994-0x-xx), page 32
  79. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 219
  80. ↑ Video Games, "5/94" (DE; 1994-04-27), page 91
  81. ↑ VideoGames, "August 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 86


Virtua Racing

Virtua Racing Title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Credits | Hidden content | Development | Magazine articles | Video coverage | Reception | Promotional material | Region coding | Technical information


Books: Virtua Racing Hisshou Kouryaku Hou (1994) | Virtua Racing: Official Racing Guide (1994)
Music: Virtua Racing & OutRunners (1993) | Yu Suzuki Produce G-LOC/R360/Virtua Racing (1998)
Videos: Virtua Racing: Virtua Video (199x)

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Virtua Racing series of games
Arcade
 Virtua Racing (1992) | Virtua Formula (1993)
Sega Mega Drive
 Virtua Racing (1994)
Sega 32X
 Virtua Racing Deluxe (1994)
Sega Saturn
 Time Warner Interactive's VR Virtua Racing (1995)
Sony PlayStation 2
 Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 8: Virtua Racing FlatOut (2004)
Nintendo Switch
 Sega Ages Virtua Racing (2019)
Virtua Racing related media
Music
 Virtua Racing & OutRunners (1993) | Yu Suzuki Produce G-LOC/R360/Virtua Racing (1998)
Book
 Virtua Racing Hisshou Kouryaku Hou (1994) | Virtua Racing: Official Racing Guide (1994)
Film
 Virtua Racing: Virtua Video (?)
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