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Rapid Racer

Topic: Software

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 9 min

Short description: 1997 video game
Rapid Racer
Developer(s)Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
Producer(s)Pascal Jarry
Richard Skews
Daniel Boutros
Composer(s)Apollo 440
Platform(s)PlayStation
Release
  • EU: 1 October 1997
  • NA: 15 July 1998[1]
  • JP: 15 July 1998
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer

Rapid Racer, known as Turbo Prop Racing in North America, is a racing video game developed and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. In the game, the player takes control of a motorboat and races around six different tracks. Eventually, all six tracks can be raced in mirrored mode, as well as at night.

By winning championships and completing bonus rounds (unlocked by collecting five yellow icons during a race on the first two-day tracks), players can unlock rewards, which they can use either to upgrade their boat or to unlock a higher-powered one.

Gameplay

Rapid Racer was one of the first PlayStation games to take full advantage of the DualShock controller; the game allows steering with the analog sticks, and the gamepad vibrates during gameplay.[2] The intensity of the vibrations depends on the type of water the player is in; calm rapids produce low vibrations, while heavier rapids produce high vibrations.

After reaching a certain point in the game, players can unlock the Fractal Generator. This feature allows the player to select from a large number of tracks beyond the normal six. Players can either allow the generator to select a track at random or manually input their own.

Development

Work on Rapid Racer began in 1995 at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.[3] Six months were spent modelling the physics and behaviour of the water.[3] The European version of the game runs at 50 frames per second, while the North American version runs at 60 frames per second.[4]


Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings74%[5]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStar[6]
Edge6/10[4]
EGM5.125/10[8][lower-alpha 1]
Famitsu27/40[10]
Game Informer8.5/10[11]
GameFan84%[12]
GameRevolutionA−[13]
GameSpot4.5/10[2]
IGN8/10[14]
Next GenerationStarStarStarStar[15]
OPM (US)StarStarStarStar[16]
Dengeki PlayStation75/100, 75/100,
80/100, 75/100[17]

Rapid Racer received above-average reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[5] In Japan, where the game was released on 16 July 1998, Famitsu gave it a score of 27 out of 40.[10]

GameSpot criticised the courses for being very narrow and limited, but praised the game's "hip-hop/techno" music, comparing it favourably to that of Wipeout.[2] Edge highlighted the fluid graphics and frame rate, but criticised the unoriginal gameplay and unrealistic boat handling, which can frustrate players. The magazine concluded: "As a technological showcase, Rapid Racer is a truly impressive achievement. As a game in its own right, however, it falls disappointingly short of the expectations aroused by its glorious visuals."[4] GamePro said of the game, "The sounds never rise above average and the controls are way too sensitive (even with the analog controller), which makes racing in the already arduous turns a difficult task and adds to [the] game's general frustration level. With such severe visual and control maladies, Turbo Prop doesn't even come close to crossing the finish line."[18][lower-alpha 2] However, Next Generation said, "Anyone who thinks that PlayStation is finished should check this game out."[15]

Notes

  1. ↑ In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the game, one critic gave it 6.5/10, two others gave it each a score of 4.5/10, and the other gave it 5/10.
  2. ↑ GamePro gave the game 1/5 for graphics, 3/5 for sound, 1.5/5 for control, and 2/5 for fun factor.

References

  1. ↑ GameSpot staff (7 July 1998). "videogames.com Game Calendar". Ziff Davis. http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_07/07_calendar/index.html. Retrieved 3 January 2021. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ryan MacDonald (4 August 1998). "Turbo Prop Racing Review [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000""]. Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/turbo-prop-racing-review/1900-2550013/. Retrieved 3 January 2021. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "NG Alphas: Sony Computer Entertainment U.K.". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (23): 135–38. November 1996. https://archive.org/details/NextGeneration23Nov1996_2400/page/n135/mode/2up. Retrieved 3 January 2021. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Edge staff (November 1997). "Rapid Racer". Edge (Future Publishing) (51): 88–89. https://retrocdn.net/images/c/c5/Edge_UK_051.pdf. Retrieved 14 September 2023. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Turbo Prop Racing for PlayStation". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/199125-turbo-prop-racing/index.html. Retrieved 3 January 2021. 
  6. ↑ Skyler Miller. "Turbo Prop Racing - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=14264&tab=review. Retrieved 3 January 2021. 
  7. ↑ Tom Chick (14 August 1998). "Turbo Prop Racing". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Consoles/Sony/Turboprop/. 
  8. ↑ Dean Hager; Shawn Smith; Crispin Boyer; John Davison (September 1998). "Turbo Prop Racing". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (110): 149. https://retrocdn.net/images/6/65/EGM_US_110.pdf. Retrieved 14 September 2023. 
  9. ↑ Victor Lucas (25 August 1998). "Turbo Prop Racing". Greedy Productions Ltd.. http://www.elecplay.com/sony/turboprop.shtml. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "ラピッドレーサー [PS"] (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=8134&redirect=no. Retrieved 14 September 2023. 
  11. ↑ "Turbo Prop Racing". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (64). August 1998. 
  12. ↑ "REVIEW for Turbo Prop Racing". GameFan (Metropolis Media). 8 June 1998. 
  13. ↑ Mark Cooke (August 1998). "Turbo Prop Racing". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/34221-turbo-prop-racing-review. Retrieved 3 January 2021. 
  14. ↑ Randy Nelson (24 August 1998). "Turbo Prop Racing". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/08/25/turbo-prop-racing. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Turbo Prop Racing". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (45): 129. September 1998. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_45/page/n129/mode/2up. Retrieved 3 January 2021. 
  16. ↑ "Turbo Prop Racing". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) 1 (12). September 1998. 
  17. ↑ "DPSソフトレビュー The Deeper Part 1: Rapid Racer" (in ja). Dengeki PlayStation (MediaWorks) 79: 105. July 24, 1998. https://archive.org/details/play-station-vol.-79-1998-7-24/page/n108/mode/1up. 
  18. ↑ Four-Eyed Dragon (September 1998). "Turbo Prop Racing for PlayStation on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG Entertainment) (120). http://www.gamepro.com/sony/psx/games/reviews/370.shtml. Retrieved 3 January 2021. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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