Time Warner Interactive's VR Virtua Racing

From Sega Retro

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VRVirtuaRacing Sat title.png

Time Warner Interactive's VR Virtua Racing
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Time Warner Interactive
Developer:
Licensor: Sega
Original system(s): Sega Model 1
Developer(s) of original games: Sega
Sound driver: SCSP/CD-DA (40 tracks)
Peripherals supported: Arcade Racer, Saturn Backup Memory
Genre: Racing[1][2]

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Saturn
JP
¥5,800 (5,974)5,800e[3] T-4803G
Sega Rating: All Ages
Sega Saturn
US
$49.9549.95[4] T-4801H
ESRB: Kids to Adults
Sega Saturn
EU
T-4801H-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Saturn
DE
T-4801H-50
USK: 0
Sega Saturn
UK
£44.9944.99[6][7] T-4801H-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Saturn
PL
179zł179
Sega Saturn
AU
OFLC: G

Time Warner Interactive's VR Virtua Racing is a port of Virtua Racing, released in 1995 for the Sega Saturn. The port was produced by Time Warner Interactive rather than Sega. The VR is considered part of the game's name, as evidenced in the in-game copyright screen. In Japan, the port is called Virtua Racing Sega Saturn (バーチャレーシング セガサターン).

The game is an enhanced port of the original game, expanding the number of tracks and vehicle types and introducing a Grand Prix mode. It does not contain any of the additional content from the Sega 32X game, Virtua Racing Deluxe (although both contain prototype cars).

Gameplay

The game is a racing game that plays similarly to the arcade original but with more vehicles, tracks, and modes.

The car steers with Left and Right. It accelerates with C and brakes with B. If the player chooses the manual transmission option, L downshifts and R upshifts. The game supports the Arcade Racer.

Modes

The Arcade mode has the player race five laps against fifteen computer-controlled opponents. Each track is broken into multiple timed segments, and the player is given more time for passing a checkpoint marker. The player is retired from the race if time runs out. Only the F-1 car and the three tracks from the original arcade game (Big Forest, Bay Bridge, and Acropolis) are available to play.

The Practice mode lets the player can race on any of the tracks with or without opponents. The player can pick any car and any team colors. In this mode, there is no time limit. The player can choose to race 4, 5, or 10 laps or can choose "Free Run," where the race lasts until the player decides to stop. This is the only mode that can be played with a second player in split-screen.

The Grand Prix mode puts the player through a season tour consisting of all ten tracks and all five vehicles. The player starts with the Go Kart and graduates to the next vehicle after earning enough points. Points are awarded depending on the player's placement at the end of each race:

Placement Points awarded
1st 10
2nd 6
3rd 4
4th 3
5th 2
6th 1
7th or worse 0
Car class Points required
Go Kart 0
Coupe 20
F-160 30
Proto 40
F-1 50

Cars

Virtua Racing Saturn, Cars, F-1.png

F-1
A Formula One-style race car, the same car available in the arcade original and all other versions of the game.

Virtua Racing Saturn, Cars, Go-Kart.png

Go Kart
A small, low-powered go-kart.

Virtua Racing Saturn, Cars, Coupe.png

Coupe
A fastback sports car, resembling a Porsche 911.

Virtua Racing Saturn, Cars, F-160.png

F-160
A tube-shaped race car resembling those used in early Grand Prix motor racing.

Virtua Racing Saturn, Cars, Proto.png

Proto
A sports prototype race car, similar to those used in 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Virtua Racing Saturn, Cars, F-200.png

F-200
A higher-powered version of the F-1 car with a 14-cylinder engine. This car is hidden and unlocked by placing first in the Grand Prix mode with every vehicle or by inputting a cheat code.

Views

The player can switch between four different perspectives at any point during the race.

Virtua Racing Saturn, View 1.png

Cockpit View (X)
Virtua Racing Saturn, View 1.png

Virtua Racing Saturn, View 2.png

Follow View (Y)
Virtua Racing Saturn, View 2.png

Virtua Racing Saturn, View 3.png

Float View (Z)
Virtua Racing Saturn, View 3.png

Virtua Racing Saturn, View 4.png

Fly View (A)
Virtua Racing Saturn, View 4.png

Tracks

The game includes the three original arcade tracks along with seven additional tracks not available in any other version of the game. The tracks are arranged in order of increasing difficulty.

Virtua Racing Saturn, Tracks, Amazon Falls.png

Amazon Falls

Virtua Racing Saturn, Tracks, Surfers Speedway Oval.png

Surfers Speedway Oval

Virtua Racing Saturn, Tracks, Big Forest.png

Big Forest
From the arcade game.

Virtua Racing Saturn, Tracks, Alpine.png

Alpine

Virtua Racing Saturn, Tracks, Bay Bridge.png

Bay Bridge
From the arcade game.

Virtua Racing Saturn, Tracks, Surfers Speedway Road.png

Surfers Speedway Road

Virtua Racing Saturn, Tracks, Diablo Canyon.png

Diablo Canyon

Virtua Racing Saturn, Tracks, Acropolis.png

Acropolis
From the arcade game.

Virtua Racing Saturn, Tracks, Metropolis.png

Metropolis

Virtua Racing Saturn, Tracks, Pacific Coast.png

Pacific Coast

Versions

While graphically closer to the arcade version than the Sega Mega Drive version of Virtua Racing and Virtua Racing Deluxe, the game continues to run with a lower screen resolution and with simplified level and vehicle geometry.

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English Time Warner Interactive's VR Virtua Racing Time Warner Interactive's VR Virtua Racing
English (US) Time Warner Interactive's VR Virtua Racing Time Warner Interactive's VR Virtua Racing
Japanese バーチャレーシング セガサターン Virtua Racing Sega Saturn

Production credits

  • Programming: Michael Alexander, Tim Crossman, Charles Tolman
  • Graphics Lead: Manuel Laguatan
  • Graphics: Jose Erazo, Ace Miles, Lindsay Dawson
  • Audio: Doug Brandon (Sweet Willy), M. Stevens, Earl Vickers
  • Tools: Chris Ebert
  • Tuning: Robert Boone
  • Test Manager: Curtis Soldano
  • Testing: Robert Boone, John Arvay, Brian Corey
  • Manual: Bill Hindorff, Curtis Clarkson
  • Producer: Bill Hindorff
Source:
US manual
Virtuaracing sat us manual.pdf
[8]


Magazine articles

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

Promotional material

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

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Consoles + (FR)
65
[9]
Electronic Entertainment (US) NTSC-U
63
[10]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
70
[11]
Fun Generation (DE)
60
[12]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
85
[13]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
80
[14]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
83
[15]
GamePro (UK)
91
[7]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
59
[16]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
61
[17]
Maximum (UK)
25
[18]
Mega Force (FR) NTSC-J
14
[19]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
57
[20]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
86
[6]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
50
[21]
Player One (FR)
40
[22]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
62
[23]
Saturn+ (UK) PAL
85
[24]
Sega Magazin (DE)
49
[25]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
91
[26]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
80
[27]
Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL
77
[28]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
60
[29]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
64
[30]
Ultimate Future Games (UK) PAL
42
[31]
Ultimate Gamer (US) NTSC-U
80
[32]
Última Generación (ES)
52
[33]
Sega Saturn
64
Based on
27 reviews

Time Warner Interactive's VR Virtua Racing

Saturn, JP
VirtuaRacing Saturn JP Box Back.jpgVirtuaRacing Saturn JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
TWIVirtuaRacing Saturn JP Spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
TWIVirtuaRacing Saturn JP Disc.jpg
Disc
Saturn, US
Virtuaracing sat us backcover.jpgVirtuaRacing Saturn US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Virtuaracing sat us disc.jpg
Disc
Virtuaracing sat us manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, EU
VirtuaRacing Saturn EU cover.jpg
Cover
VirtuaRacing saturn eu cd.jpg
Disc
Saturn, DE
VirtuaRacing Saturn EU Box.jpg
Cover
VirtuaRacing saturn eu cd.jpg
Disc
Saturn, AU

VirtuaRacing saturn eu cd.jpg
Disc

Technical information

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

References

  1. File:VirtuaRacing Saturn JP Box Back.jpg
  2. 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/soft_licensee1.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-03-20 23:04)
  3. Sega Saturn Magazine, "December 1995" (JP; 1995-11-08), page 195
  4. 4.0 4.1 Press release: 1995-11-06: TIME WARNER INTERACTIVE'S(TM) 'V.R. VIRTUA RACING(TM)' NOW AVAILABLE ON THE SEGA SATURN(TM)
  5. Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1995-12-18), page 21
  6. 6.0 6.1 Mean Machines Sega, "January 1996" (UK; 1995-11-xx), page 83
  7. 7.0 7.1 GamePro, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-09-xx), page 43
  8. File:Virtuaracing sat us manual.pdf, page 21
  9. Consoles +, "Janvier 1996" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 122
  10. Electronic Entertainment, "December 1995" (US; 1995-1x-xx), page 174
  11. Famitsu, "1995-12-29" (JP; 1995-12-15), page 37
  12. Fun Generation, "01/96" (DE; 1995-12-20), page 62
  13. GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 9: September 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 15
  14. Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 12 December 1995" (US; 1995-1x-xx), page 67
  15. GamePro, "October 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 52
  16. Hobby Consolas, "Febrero 1996" (ES; 1996-xx-xx), page 107
  17. MAN!AC, "02/96" (DE; 1996-01-10), page 84
  18. Maximum, "January 1996" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 145
  19. Mega Force, "Janvier 1996" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 79
  20. Mega Fun, "01/96" (DE; 1995-12-20), page 70
  21. Next Generation, "December 1995" (US; 1995-11-21), page 183
  22. Player One, "Janvier 1996" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 117
  23. Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 5" (JP; 1996-02-16), page 68
  24. Saturn+, "Christmas 1995" (UK; 1995-12-14), page 29
  25. Sega Magazin, "Februar 1996" (DE; 1996-01-10), page 76
  26. Sega Power, "December 1995" (UK; 1995-10-19), page 38
  27. Sega Pro, "February 1996" (UK; 1995-12-28), page 56
  28. Sega Saturn Magazine, "January 1996" (UK; 1995-12-15), page 88
  29. Sega Saturn Magazine, "1995-14 (1995-12-22)" (JP; 1995-12-08), page 204
  30. Sega Saturn Magazine, "Readers rating final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 15
  31. Ultimate Future Games, "February 1996" (UK; 1996-01-03), page 81
  32. Ultimate Gamer, "December 1995" (US; 1995-1x-xx), page 72
  33. Última Generación, "Enero 1996" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 90


Time Warner Interactive's VR Virtua Racing

VRVirtuaRacing Sat title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Reception | Promotional material | Technical information


Sega Saturn
Prototypes: 1995-10-30



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 (?)