The point of a racing game is to get from point A to point B in the fastest time possible. To complicate matters, most game designers place obstacles in the players way such as curves, traffic, and competing racers.
Types of Racing Games
There are two kinds of racing games. Arcade racing games and simulation racing games.
Arcade Racing Games
An arcade racing game is a racing game that places emphasis on gameplay and fun rather than accurate vehicle physics or control. The focus is on speed and driving skill the game physics are often fudged to give a more fun experience.
The arcade racing game is further divided into a few sub-categories.
Kart racing game are arcade racing games where the emphasis is placed on fun more than it is even on tight controls.
Futuristic racing game are arcade racing games where the game is placed into the future, allowing for vehicles not available currently.
Examples of Pure Arcade Racing Games
Simulation Racing Games
Simulation racing games focus on the "realism" element of racing, usually appealing to racing fans and gearheads. Physics in these games are usually as close to reality as possible.
Features of Racing Games
Vehicles / Cars
(Full article: racing game vehicles)
Even though emphasis of racing games may change depending on the specific genre, the vehicles in racing games are almost always ranked by the following similar stats.
Race Events
(Full article: race event)
A race event is a type of race. The actual type of track is irrelevant because all these types of events can use the same track.
Theme
A theme for a racing game is the general setting that does not effect the gameplay.
Street Racing
The street racing theme revolves around the underground of illegal street racing. The best known racing games of this type are Need for Speed: Underground and its sequel.
Sci-fi Racing Theme
A sci-fi racing theme revolves around futuristic racing, but does not include the features and qualities of a futuristic racing game.
Others Features
- A checkpoint is a place on a track where the player is given additional time.
List of Notable Racing Games
- Excitebike - 2D motocross game.
- F-Zero - popularized the futuristic racing game.
- Need for Speed: Underground - popularized the underground racing game theme.
- S.T.U.N. Runner - first tube racer.
- Pole Position - One of the first ever racing games, used a black screen with white lines.
Games That are Not Racing Games
- Car combat games - Vigilante 8 and those in the Twisted Metal are NOT a racing games as some people believe. There is no point in traveling from point A to point B unless it is to shove a missile up your opponent's tailpipe. These are Vehicle combat games. The Spy Hunter series does not classify either. It is an action game.
- Horse racing games - Games where the gameplay revolves around raising horses for computer run race are Simulation games. Those where gameplay revolves around betting on horses are gambling games.
- Driving games - Games where the main character performs missions using a vehicle, such as Grand Theft Auto, are not racing games. They are driving games.
Related Pages
| Categories: Action Games : Game Design : Racing Games : Video Game Genres |