Difference between revisions of "Virtua Racing"

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| md_date_uk=1994-05{{fileref|CVG UK 150.pdf|page=50}}
 
| md_date_uk=1994-05{{fileref|CVG UK 150.pdf|page=50}}

Revision as of 05:55, 21 October 2016

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Virtua Racing Title.png

Virtua Racing
System(s): Sega Model 1, Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: Racing

















Release Date RRP Code

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.

Gameplay

In multiplayer modes, Virtua Racing implements a crude "rubber banding" system, in which cars behind the leader have better performance[3].

Tracks

The original release of Virtua Racing has the player race Formula 1 cars 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

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

Special "medium sized" attractions, usually only seen at SegaWorlds or other Sega-themed amusement parks, adapt the eight-player setup and upgrade the cabinets, creating Virtua Formula. Virtua Formula first debuted in 1993, and is almost identical (bar name) to Virtua Racing, though considerably harder to find. It also features fancier attract modes, covering all eight screens (there are variants of Daytona USA which do this too). Many Virtua Formula cabinets were later converted into eight-player Indy 500 ones.

The multiplayer Virtua Formula version also featured an on-air camera, showing players' facial expressions on a monitor above the cabinet. The 4-player Virtua Formula deluxe cabinet cost £250,000 for arcade operators (equivalent to £433,854 or $686,492 in 2014), and £3 per play for players (equivalent to £5.21 or $8.24 in 2014).[4]

Mega Drive version

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 utilises a custom made Sega Virtua Processor chip, allowing the game to render polygons similar to the Super FX chip within Star Fox for the SNES, but 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. However, it and all of the other home ports include two-player modes, time trials and options usually only available to arcade operators.

Sega had originally planned to release a steering wheel peripheral for the Mega Drive specifically for this game, but the idea was shelved[5].

32X Port

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 Port

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.

History

Development

Initially created as proof of concept program for the system, 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.[6]

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.[7] It remained the highest-earning deluxe cabinet in the May 1993 charts.[8]

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.

Production credits

Arcade version

Mega Drive version

Gallery

  • Upright cabinet

  • Twin cabinet

  • Deluxe cabinet

Magazine articles

Main article: Virtua Racing/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

  • Arcade US flyer

  • Arcade JP flyer

  • Arcade AU print advert

  • Arcade AU print advert (different contact details)

  • Mega Drive JP TV advert

  • Mega Drive UK TV advert

  • Mega Drive BR print advert

  • 1994 06 - Virtua Racing.jpg

    Mega Drive ES print advert 1

  • 1994 07 - Virtua Racing.jpg

    Mega Drive ES print advert 1 (variation)

  • 1994 10 - Virtua Racing.jpg

    Mega Drive ES print advert 2

  • 1994 12 - Mega Drive.jpg

    Mega Drive ES print advert 3

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #59: "June 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Mega Drive print advert in Sega Magazin (DE) #7: "Juni 1994" (1994-05-11)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Mega Drive print advert in SuperGamePower (BR) #7: "Outubro 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Mega Drive print advert in Sega Force (SE) #1994-04: "4/94" (1994-06-01)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Model 1 version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
90 №149, p86[4]
90 №40, p54[13]
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
94 №33, p159[14]
79 №150, p50-52[15]
84 №152, p107/108/111[16]
80 №8, p82-84[17]
100 №57, p84
78 №59, p33
83 №275, [1]
80 №299, p38
90 Vol 2, №7, p24
90 №59, p36-38[18]
89 №17, p32-34
96 №30, p126/127[19]
96 №31, p60-65[20]
92
88
92 №22
92 №19, p22-25
92 №10, p42
93 №29, p32-37
90 №19, p48-52[21]
99 №42, p52-55[22]
91
91 №54, p34-36
89 №32, p44/45
Sega Mega Drive
 90
Based on
24 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[23]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
88
[24]
Console Mania (IT) PAL
96
[25]
Consoles + (FR)
94
[14]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
79
[15]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
84
[16]
Edge (UK)
80
[17]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
100
[26]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
78
[27]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
83
[28]
FLUX (US)
79
[29]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
90
[30]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
85
[31]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
90
[18]
Gamers (DE)
87
[32]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
84
[33]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
90
[34]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
92
[35]
Hyper (AU)
92
[36]
Joker (SI)
83
[37]
Joypad (FR) NTSC-J
96
[19]
Joypad (FR) PAL
96
[20]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
88
[38]
Mega (UK) PAL
92
[39]
Mega Force (FR) NTSC-J
95
[40]
Mega Force (FR)
95
[41]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
88
[42]
Mega Power (UK) PAL
92
[43]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
93
[44]
Magazina Igrushek (RU)
4
[45]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
90
[21]
Player One (FR)
99
[46]
Play Time (DE)
93
[47]
Power Up! (UK)
90
[48]
Power Unlimited (NL)
91
[49]
Score (CZ)
90
[50]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
100
[51]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
91
[52]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
89
[53]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
88
[54]
Sega Force (SE)
92
[55]
SuperGamePower (BR)
96
[56]
The Official Sonic the Hedgehog Yearbook (1994) (UK) PAL
90
[57]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
86
[58]
Supergames (AR)
100
[59]
Todo Sega (ES)
94
[60]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
85
[61]
Video Games (DE) PAL
80
[62]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
80
[63]
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, 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, SE (Rental)

Mega Drive, SE (Rental; alt)

References

  1. ↑ http://www.mamedb.com/game/vr
  2. ↑ http://mamedb.com/game/vformula
  3. ↑ File:GameOn US 06.pdf, page 10
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 File:CVG UK 149.pdf, page 86
  5. ↑ File:GamePro US 074.pdf, page 14
  6. ↑ Yu Suzuki's Gameworks: A Career Retrospective (Game Developers Conference)
  7. ↑ File:ElectronicGames2 US 09.pdf, page 14
  8. ↑ File:ElectronicGames2 US 10.pdf, page 14
  9. ↑ GamePro, "July 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 26
  10. ↑ Video Games, "6/94" (DE; 1994-05-25), page 2
  11. ↑ Sega Force, "5/94" (SE; 1994-08-10), page 45
  12. ↑ Sega Force, "6/94" (SE; 1994-09-14), page 48
  13. ↑ File:EGM US 040.pdf, page 54
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 File:ConsolesPlus FR 033.pdf, page 159 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ConsolesPlus FR 033.pdf_p159" defined multiple times with different content
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 File:CVG UK 150.pdf, page 50 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 150.pdf_p50" defined multiple times with different content
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 File:CVG UK 152.pdf, page 107 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 152.pdf_p107" defined multiple times with different content
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 File:Edge UK 008.pdf, page 82 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Edge UK 008.pdf_p82" defined multiple times with different content
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 File:GamePro US 059.pdf, page 38 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePro US 059.pdf_p38" defined multiple times with different content
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 File:Joypad FR 030.pdf, page 126 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joypad FR 030.pdf_p126" defined multiple times with different content
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 File:Joypad FR 031.pdf, page 60 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joypad FR 031.pdf_p60" defined multiple times with different content
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 File:MeanMachinesSega19UK.pdf, page 49 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega19UK.pdf_p49" defined multiple times with different content
  22. ↑ File:PlayerOne FR 042.pdf, page 52
  23. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 259
  24. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "April 1994" (JP; 1994-03-08), page 19
  25. ↑ Console Mania, "Aprile 1994" (IT; 1994-0x-xx), page 102
  26. ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "August 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 84
  27. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 33
  28. ↑ Famitsu, "1994-03-25" (JP; 1994-03-11), page 1
  29. ↑ FLUX, "Issue #1" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 78
  30. ↑ GameFan, "Volume 2, Issue 7: June 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 26
  31. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 4 April 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 36
  32. ↑ Gamers, "März/April 1994" (DE; 1994-03-04), page 36
  33. ↑ Games World: The Magazine, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-05-26), page 17
  34. ↑ Hippon Super, "April 1994" (JP; 1994-03-03), page 61
  35. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Junio 1994" (ES; 1994-xx-xx), page 60
  36. ↑ Hyper, "March 1994" (AU; 1994-xx-xx), page 22
  37. ↑ Joker, "September 1994" (SI; 1994-xx-xx), page 29
  38. ↑ MAN!AC, "05/94" (DE; 1994-04-13), page 36
  39. ↑ Mega, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-17), page 22
  40. ↑ Mega Force, "Avril 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 8
  41. ↑ Mega Force, "Mai 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 96
  42. ↑ Mega Fun, "04/94" (DE; 1994-03-23), page 44
  43. ↑ Mega Power, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-04-21), page 42
  44. ↑ MegaTech, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-04-21), page 4
  45. ↑ Magazina Igrushek, "5/1995" (RU; 1995-xx-xx), page 78
  46. ↑ Player One, "Mai 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 51
  47. ↑ Play Time, "5/94" (DE; 1994-04-06), page 142
  48. ↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, May 21, 1994" (UK; 1994-05-21), page 1
  49. ↑ Power Unlimited, "Jaargang 2, Nummer 5, Mei 1994" (NL; 1994-04-27), page 28
  50. ↑ Score, "Říjen 1994" (CZ; 1994-10-01), page 53
  51. ↑ Sega Magazine, "August 1994" (UK; 1994-07-15), page 97
  52. ↑ Sega Power, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-03-31), page 28
  53. ↑ Sega Pro, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-04-21), page 44
  54. ↑ Sega Zone, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-04-xx), page 54
  55. ↑ Sega Force, "3/94" (SE; 1994-03-29), page 18
  56. ↑ SuperGamePower, "Maio 1994" (BR; 1994-0x-xx), page 34
  57. ↑ The Official Sonic the Hedgehog Yearbook (1994), "" (UK; 1994-xx-xx), page 35
  58. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  59. ↑ Supergames, "Ano I, Numero I" (AR; 1994-xx-xx), page 6
  60. ↑ Todo Sega, "Junio 1994" (ES; 1994-0x-xx), page 32
  61. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 219
  62. ↑ Video Games, "5/94" (DE; 1994-04-27), page 91
  63. ↑ VideoGames, "August 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 86



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 (?)
Retrieved from "https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=Virtua_Racing&oldid=356175"