Wipeout

From Sega Retro

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Wipeout title.png

Wipeout
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Psygnosis (EU), Sega (US), Soft Bank (JP)
Developer:
Sound driver: SCSP/CD-DA (10 tracks)
Peripherals supported: Arcade Racer Joystick
Genre: Racing

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Saturn
JP
¥5,8005,800 T-18603G
Sega Saturn
US
$54.9954.99 81211
Sega Saturn
EU
T-11301H-50
Sega Saturn
PT
STJSE0165
Sega Saturn
PL
179zł179
Sega Saturn
AU

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Wipeout (ワイプアウト), often stylised wipE'out'', is a futuristic 3D racing game developed by Psygnosis. It was the first in the series, and was followed by Wipeout 2097.

Gameplay

Wipeout is a futuristic racing game set in the year 2050, where players compete in F3600 anti-gravity vehicles. Up to 8 racers can compete on a number of tracks, and it is possible to pick up weapons to attack (and potentially eliminate) your opponents while you race.

Four manufacturers exist in the game, with two drivers each (leading to a total of eight different vehicles, though the statistics do not vary between teammates).

Manufacturers

AG Systems International
Auricom Research Industries
FEISAR
Qirex International

Pilots

John Dekka (AG Systems)
Daniel Chang (AG Systems)
Arial Tetsuo (Auricom)
Anastasia Cherovoski (Auricom)
Kel Solarr (Qirex)
Arian Tetsuo (Qirex)
Sophia de la Renté (FEISAR)
Paul Jackson (FEISAR)

Weapons

Shield
Turbo Boost
Mines
Shock Waves
Rockets
Missiles

Versions

Wipeout arrived late on the Saturn, having originally been released as a PlayStation launch title in the West in late 1995. Despite having been rushed for its PlayStation release and therefore lacking many planned features, the Saturn conversion is a straight port of the PlayStation game, albeit one that runs at a slower frame rate (20FPS vs. 30FPS) and without the licensed music.

Some textures were replaced in the conversion, with Psygnosis banners being replaced with adverts for Tantalus, and PlayStation logos with adverts for Krazy Ivan (which incidentally would not reach the Saturn until mid-1997). Some semi-transparent sprites are omitted, not because the team couldn't get them to work on the Saturn, but because their process took nine times longer than non-transparent alternatives[3].

The PlayStation version of Wipeout supports the console's Link Cable, allowing two machines to be directly connected together for multiplayer modes. While Taisen Cable support was considered[4], the technology was not widely understood and was scrapped due to Psygnosis' demands for a release prior to March 1996 (reportedly so it could be counted as part of the 1995/1996 financial year)[4]. Taisen Cable support would not be seen in games until the Japanese release of Hyper 3D Taisen Battle Gebockers in Februrary 1996.

Performance would be largely rectified in the sequel, Wipeout 2097.

Production credits

  • Executive Producer: Mark Cochrane
  • Producer: Leon Walters
  • Quality Assurance: Mark Inman, Paul Tweedle, Nevin Gaston
  • Publishing Staff: Glen O'Connell, Sue Campbell
  • Thanks to: Andrew Parsons, Dominic Mallinson, Dave Rose, Craig Duddle, Jenni Rees
Original Wipeout Team
  • Producer: Dominic Mallinson
  • Designer: Nick Burcombe
  • Programmers: Dave Rose, Rob Smith, Jason Denton, Stuart Sockett
  • Artists: Nicky Carus Westcott, Laura Grieve, Louise Smith, Darren Douglas, Pol Sigerson
  • Other Artwork: Lee Carus Westcott, Jim Bowers
  • Additional Graphic Design: The Designers Republic
  • Music and Sound Effects: Tim Wright
  • Manual and Packaging Design: Keith Hopwood, Damon Fairclough, The Designers Republic
Saturn version by Tantalus
  • Game Programmer: Shane Stevens
  • Saturn Engine: Shane Stevens
  • Technical Director: Andrew Bailey
  • Executive Producer: Arthur Kakouris
  • Additional Artwork: Alun Bjorksten
A Perfect Entertainment Production
  • Project Manager: Colin Fuidge
  • Quality Assurance: Matt Stamps
  • Additional Music for Perfect Entertainment: Rob Lord, Mark Bandola, Planet 9, Brickbat, Poison
  • Special Thanks to: Angela Sutherland, Trevor Nuridia
Source:
In-game credits


Magazine articles

Main article: Wipeout/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

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Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1996-09: "1996-09 (1996-06-14)" (1996-05-24)
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Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1996-10: "1996-10 (1996-06-28)" (1996-06-14)
also published in:
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Print advert in Playmag (FR) #4: "Juin 1996" (1996-0x-xx)
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Print advert in Playmag (FR) #5: "Juillet/Août 1996" (1996-0x-xx)
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Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
95 [6]
60 [7]
78 №396, p31
80
91 №0907, p71
91 №42, p34-36
80 [8]
91 [9]
75
89 [10]
87 №79
92 [11]
67 [12]
83 [13]
99 №80, p11
Sega Saturn
84
Based on
15 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
576 KByte (HU)
91
[14]
Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)
85
[15]
Consoles + (FR)
95
[16]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
50
[2]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
71
[17]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
78
[18]
Fun Generation (DE) PAL
80
[19]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
95
[20]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
91
[21]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
70
[22]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
86
[23]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
90
[24]
Intelligent Gamer (US) NTSC-U
75
[25]
Joypad (FR)
89
[26]
Maximum (UK)
75
[8]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
90
[27]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
85
[28]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
91
[29]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
75
[30]
neXt Level (DE)
75
[31]
Player One (FR)
89
[32]
Playmag (FR) PAL
91
[33]
Random Access (UK)
80
[34]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
65
[35]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
69
[36]
Sega Magazin (DE)
76
[37]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
87
[38]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
92
[39]
Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL
92
[40]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
67
[41]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
83
[42]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
99
[43]
Total Saturn (UK) PAL
85
[44]
Ultimate Future Games (UK) PAL
84
[45]
Ultra Player (FR)
67
[46]
Video Games (DE) PAL
76
[47]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
60
[48]
Sega Saturn
81
Based on
37 reviews

Wipeout

Saturn, US
Wipeout Saturn US Box Back.jpgWipeout Saturn US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Wipeout Saturn US Disc.jpg
Disc
Wipeout sat us manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, EU
Wipeout saturn eu cover.jpg
Cover
Wipeout saturn eu cd.jpg
Disc
Saturn, JP
Wipeout Saturn JP Box Back.jpgWipeout Saturn JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
Wipeout Saturn JP Disc.jpg
Disc

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Saturn
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
670,860,960 CD-ROM (EU) T-11301H-50 V3.700
Sega Saturn
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
618,030,336 1996-03-13 CD-ROM (JP) T-18603G V3.900
Sega Saturn
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
618,030,336 CD-ROM (US) 81211 V1.002

References

  1. Computer & Video Games, "May 1996" (UK; 1996-04-12), page 64
  2. 2.0 2.1 Computer & Video Games, "May 1996" (UK; 1996-04-12), page 82
  3. Mean Machines Sega, "July 1996" (UK; 1996-06-03), page 84
  4. 4.0 4.1 Maximum, "February 1996" (UK; 1996-xx-xx), page 135
  5. Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-11 (1996-07-12)" (JP; 1996-06-28), page 29
  6. Consoles +, "Avril 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 126/127 (126)
  7. Computer & Video Games, "May 1996" (UK; 1996-04-12), page 82/83 (82)
  8. 8.0 8.1 Maximum, "March 1996" (UK; 1996-03-29), page 148
  9. Mean Machines Sega, "May 1996" (UK; 1996-04-04), page 68-71 (68)
  10. Player One, "Avril 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 96/97 (96)
  11. Sega Saturn Magazine, "April 1996" (UK; 1996-03-23), page 70/71 (70)
  12. Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-10 (1996-06-28)" (JP; 1996-06-14), page 230 (232)
  13. Sega Saturn Magazine (readers), "Final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 10 (12)
  14. 576 KByte, "Június 1996" (HU; 1996-xx-xx), page 20
  15. Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1996-xx-xx), page 23
  16. Consoles +, "Avril 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 126
  17. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "July 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 24
  18. Famitsu, "1996-07-19" (JP; 1996-07-05), page 1
  19. Fun Generation, "05/96" (DE; 1996-04-10), page 59
  20. GameFan, "Volume 4, Issue 6: June 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 18
  21. Game Players, "Vol. 9 No. 7 July 1996" (US; 1996-06-11), page 54
  22. GamePro, "July 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 70
  23. Game Informer, "June 1996" (US; 1996-0x-xx), page 43
  24. Hobby Consolas, "Mayo 1996" (ES; 1996-xx-xx), page 68
  25. Intelligent Gamer, "June 1996" (US; 1996-05-27), page 88
  26. Joypad, "Avril 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 66
  27. Mega Force, "Avril 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 82
  28. Mega Fun, "05/96" (DE; 1996-04-xx), page 60
  29. Mean Machines Sega, "May 1996" (UK; 1996-04-04), page 68
  30. Next Generation, "July 1996" (US; 1996-06-18), page 80
  31. neXt Level, "Mai 1996" (DE; 1996-0x-xx), page 50
  32. Player One, "Avril 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 96
  33. Playmag, "Avril 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 93
  34. Random Access (UK) (+0:00)
  35. Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 14" (JP; 1996-06-21), page 128
  36. Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 18" (JP; 1996-08-23), page 72
  37. Sega Magazin, "Mai 1996" (DE; 1996-04-10), page 73
  38. Sega Power, "June 1996" (UK; 1996-04-11), page 36
  39. Sega Pro, "July 1996" (UK; 1996-05-xx), page 24
  40. Sega Saturn Magazine, "April 1996" (UK; 1996-03-23), page 70
  41. Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-10 (1996-06-28)" (JP; 1996-06-14), page 232
  42. Sega Saturn Magazine, "Readers rating final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 12
  43. Sonic the Comic, "21 June 1996" (UK; 1996-06-12), page 11
  44. Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Four" (UK; 1996-12-29), page 67
  45. Ultimate Future Games, "May 1996" (UK; 1996-03-29), page 64
  46. Ultra Player, "Juillet/Août 1996" (FR; 1996-07-02), page 108
  47. Video Games, "5/96" (DE; 1996-04-24), page 92
  48. VideoGames, "July 1996" (US; 1996-06-18), page 63