I can't believe you didn't include Motorcity Online in this list... I'm not certain it was the world's first racing MMO, but it sure was the best. It's too bad EA shut it down forever, instead of just releasing the server code. I seem to remember some fans making a game similar in scope/style, but the name escapes me atm.
@iamzombie: I thought this was the coolest idea ever and the only instance ever that I was willing to "pay to play" ala WoW. After all, it was only $5 a month.
It was a great game with awesome support and the 1000s of licensed parts and car combinations made every car very unique.
The auction feature was pretty cool as well. Most of the money I made in that game was just how I make some in real life. I'd buy half finished or undervalued cars, build them up and sell them off at higher prices. This was a game in and of itself.
The open forum drag racing was awesome too. You could sit at the track and taunt other racers into racing you for cash etc.
What, no Virtua Racing? Back in the early '90s my race buddies and I used to meet at the local video game place, called 'Quarters' naturally, for a 32-person VR shootout 4 drivers at time. See VR had a special "Grand Prix" mode where the races were 20 minutes long and the slow drivers got no extra help like in Daytona. This went on for almost 2 years and even attracted the attention of a local newspaper. When Daytona came out we tried to keep it going but the racing wasn't as good and the group kind of fell apart when my friend who got us involved left the USA to work for the Ferrari F1 team in Italy (true story!).
The Need for Speed franchise died for me after Porsche Unleashed. The target demographic went from carguy to fanboy. Thanks Fast and Furious, style wins this battle but substance is regrouping.
No, no, NO NO NO. Test Drive Unlimited is a sack of crap.
Worthy of a top 5 position is Need For Speed 1-5. Especially High Stakes, which had weather, day / night mode, and you could be chased by the cops, or BE THE COPS.
Well, I've not played most of those games (not born for some of them, no Xbox being the reasons) but those I do know and have played (Gran Turismo, NFS MW, TDU, GTA, Twisted Metal) are very fun and entertaining. However, I'd also like to add a few of my favourites:
Race Driver: GRID: Fast-paced, not that simulation-based, but very, very fun. Lots of car, and oh yeah, LeMans 24 hours (um, 12 minutes) in and Audi R10.
GTR2: Doesn't get much more real on the PC, but still barely approachable with a suitable gamepad. Lots of mods, lots of awesome cars, and with a dedicated community, it's here to stay.
Though I have Test Drive Unlimited waiting for me to bother to upgrade my graphics card, my favorite of the series by far is Test Drive: Eve of Destruction. Endless demolition derby challenges, battle mode with exploding chickens, and car soccer. Don't tell my sister that's what she's getting for her birthday.
/Props to all mentions of MM2 and Porsche Unleashed
It was damn difficult with the damage, the time limits, and the cops, had a compelling story line.
It was even hard to get into because you had to completed that damned reverse 180 (unless you modified some file.....not that I did). I think it also used sound effects and some of the visuals from the Walter Hill movie of the same title.
Also is scored 9.7 from IGN and was ranked #12 on IGN's list of the "Top 25 Games of All Time" for the first PlayStation console.
And it was stupid hard on the PC using a keyboard to invoke power slides because your parents have said "there is no way on God's green earth I'm buying you a flipping control pad so you can spend more time on that damn machine."
You can't mention Twisted metal without also mentioning Vigilante 8. Sure it was a rip off of twisted metal but it did everything better, minus sweet tooth.
I read through all the comments so I wouldn't duplicate.
The fact that no one said Atari Sprint 2, Arcade Cabinet bothers me...(and I'm talking the black & white overhead view one, not Super Sprint). It was pretty much was the only option back in the day (early to mid 80s). Nathan's out in Long Beach, NY had that with like 4 steering wheels. Awesome oversteer.
@engineerd: Do they have a GTech Pro program for the Storm? That's pretty fun to play with. Even if it did show me how badly my car needs work...
So are you liking your Storm? My buddy has one, and he declared it the worst phone ever. Also, the SatanPhone. It didn't seem that bad to me, but he hates his.
09/02/09
09/02/09
It was a great game with awesome support and the 1000s of licensed parts and car combinations made every car very unique.
The auction feature was pretty cool as well. Most of the money I made in that game was just how I make some in real life. I'd buy half finished or undervalued cars, build them up and sell them off at higher prices. This was a game in and of itself.
The open forum drag racing was awesome too. You could sit at the track and taunt other racers into racing you for cash etc.
I'm not a big gamer, but that one sucked me in.
09/02/09
What, no Virtua Racing? Back in the early '90s my race buddies and I used to meet at the local video game place, called 'Quarters' naturally, for a 32-person VR shootout 4 drivers at time. See VR had a special "Grand Prix" mode where the races were 20 minutes long and the slow drivers got no extra help like in Daytona. This went on for almost 2 years and even attracted the attention of a local newspaper. When Daytona came out we tried to keep it going but the racing wasn't as good and the group kind of fell apart when my friend who got us involved left the USA to work for the Ferrari F1 team in Italy (true story!).
09/02/09
09/01/09
Worthy of a top 5 position is Need For Speed 1-5. Especially High Stakes, which had weather, day / night mode, and you could be chased by the cops, or BE THE COPS.
Epic, epic games.
09/01/09
I spent countless hours with this gem for NES.
09/01/09
Race Driver: GRID: Fast-paced, not that simulation-based, but very, very fun. Lots of car, and oh yeah, LeMans 24 hours (um, 12 minutes) in and Audi R10.
GTR2: Doesn't get much more real on the PC, but still barely approachable with a suitable gamepad. Lots of mods, lots of awesome cars, and with a dedicated community, it's here to stay.
09/01/09
Also, you forgot Carmageddon! Noting says awesome like launching an enemy car into another using a giant spring
09/01/09
/Props to all mentions of MM2 and Porsche Unleashed
09/01/09
If you run across, say, TD6... run past.
09/01/09
Did everyone forget Driver????
[en.wikipedia.org])
It was damn difficult with the damage, the time limits, and the cops, had a compelling story line.
It was even hard to get into because you had to completed that damned reverse 180 (unless you modified some file.....not that I did). I think it also used sound effects and some of the visuals from the Walter Hill movie of the same title.
Also is scored 9.7 from IGN and was ranked #12 on IGN's list of the "Top 25 Games of All Time" for the first PlayStation console.
09/01/09
Oh, and I like how you 'splained why this should be on the list and not just one-lined it with snark. Good job.
09/01/09
Just trying to be helpful!
And it was stupid hard on the PC using a keyboard to invoke power slides because your parents have said "there is no way on God's green earth I'm buying you a flipping control pad so you can spend more time on that damn machine."
09/01/09
09/01/09
The fact that no one said Atari Sprint 2, Arcade Cabinet bothers me...(and I'm talking the black & white overhead view one, not Super Sprint). It was pretty much was the only option back in the day (early to mid 80s). Nathan's out in Long Beach, NY had that with like 4 steering wheels. Awesome oversteer.
09/01/09
Wait, I have a Blackberry Storm. Nevermind. Y'all are safe. I'll just play with my level program. And my calculator.
09/01/09
So are you liking your Storm? My buddy has one, and he declared it the worst phone ever. Also, the SatanPhone. It didn't seem that bad to me, but he hates his.
09/01/09
09/01/09
And what about Kazunori Yamauchi's first racing game franchise, Motor Toon Gran Prix?
09/01/09
Always one of my arcade favorites....