Software:Beetle Adventure Racing

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Short description: 1999 video game
Beetle Adventure Racing!
North American cover art
Developer(s)Paradigm Entertainment
EA Canada
Publisher(s)Electronic Arts
Producer(s)Jim Galis
Scott Blackwood
Designer(s)Scott Blackwood
Scott Jackson
Artist(s)Shawn Wright
Scott Jackson
Composer(s)Phil Western
Scott Blackwood
Brenden Tennant
Platform(s)Nintendo 64
Release
  • NA: March 23, 1999[1]
  • EU: September 4, 1999
  • AU: 1999
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Beetle Adventure Racing! is a racing game released for the Nintendo 64 in 1999. It was developed by Paradigm Entertainment and EA Canada, and published by Electronic Arts. Each vehicle in the game is a Volkswagen New Beetle, which was released the previous year. The gameplay involves racing other players on unlocked tracks, finding and destroying crates, and collecting colored ladybugs while battling other players. The single-player championship offers three circuits and a secret bonus circuit with new vehicles and tracks available upon completion.

In addition to its original release, the game was released in Australia as HSV Adventure Racing. This version replaced the Beetles with HSV VT models.[2]

Beetle Adventure Racing received critical acclaim for its graphics, level design, car models, multiplayer mode, and scenery, though with criticisms being made on the limited selection of tracks and cars.

Gameplay

The gameplay is similar to Electronic Arts' own Need for Speed series.

Beetle Adventure Racing supports up to four players. Two-player races can be held in any of the tracks, provided they have been unlocked in the single-player championship. Two to four players can also take part in the "Beetle Battle" mode, a vehicular combat mode in which players compete to collect six differently colored ladybugs (HSV pendants in HSV Adventure Racing), attempt to destroy the other competitors, and race for the exit once all the ladybugs are collected.

Single-player has two modes, Single Race and Championship. Single Race is single-player racing against computer-controlled vehicles on any stage that has been unlocked in the Championship mode. The championship is considered the main game, where players are given three circuits starting with Novice, Advanced, and Professional, with a fourth secret circuit, the Bonus Circuit, which is unlocked after completing all previous circuits.

Upon completing each circuit, new vehicles and tracks will be unlocked. Two special vehicles are unlocked by completing both Professional and Bonus circuits, the Alien Beetle and the Police Beetle respectively. The Alien Beetle's horn consists of the words, "We come in peace", spoken in an alien voice. The Police Beetle uses a siren, which causes all other computer racers to stop and pull over upon hearing it.

Four different types of crates are scattered along each track in Championship mode. Three of them are Point Crates, which give the player either 2, 5, or 10 bonus points when broken, and which are mostly found off track in shortcuts. The bonus points are used to earn "Continues" during each race, with between 50 and 70 points required to earn the Continue (dependent on difficulty). Finding all point crates, which add up to 100 in total, gives players a new Arena In Beetle Battle Mode.

Upon smashing through Nitro crates, the player is given a temporary boost of speed. These crates are usually found on hidden paths and beside the main roads.

The fourth type crate is a Cheat Crate, three of which are hidden on each stage. Smashing one, the player hears the word "Groovy!". Smashing a Cheat crate the first time unlocks the Cheat Menu, which allows the player to toggle unlocked cheat codes in both Two-Player Racing and Beetle Battle. The Cheat Menu has an Easter egg in which the faces of the game's developers are scattered on the background of the menu.

Development

In the late 1990s, EA Canada partnered with Paradigm to work on an entry in the Need for Speed series for the Nintendo 64. Need for Speed 64 would have exclusive tracks and vehicles, Rumble Pak support and the series' trademark gameplay mechanics.[3] The game was cancelled after Electronic Arts signed a deal with Volkswagen to make a game around the New Beetle, in addition to the designers looking for something else to distinguish it from other racers, thus altering the project into Beetle Adventure Racing!.[4][5] In Australia, the game was renamed HSV Adventure Racing, replacing all the Beetles with local HSV models to carry over the successful strategy of Need for Speed including Australian car brands. A PlayStation port was planned, but cancelled due to technical issues.[6]

The soundtrack features breakbeat consisting of drums, organs, and guitars. The music was composed by Phil Western, Scott Blackwood, and Brenden Tennant.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic90/100[7]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarStarStarHalf star[8]
CVGStarStarStar[9]
EGM9.125/10[10]
Famitsu28/40[11]
Game Informer8/10[12]
GameFan(S.T.) 96%[13]
86%[14]
GameProStarStarStarStarStar[15]
GameSpot8.5/10[16]
Hyper92%[17]
IGN9.1/10[18]
Next GenerationStarStarStarStar[19]
Nintendo LifeStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStar[20]
Nintendo Power8.5/10[21]

Beetle Adventure Racing received "universal acclaim" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[7] In Japan, where the game was ported and published by Electronic Arts Square on November 26, 1999, Famitsu gave it a score of 28 out of 40.[11]

An unnamed reviewer of Next Generation commended the gameplay, graphics, cars and tracks, and considered the title to be a competitive rival to other racing franchises like Top Gear and EA's Need for Speed.[19]

Victor Lucas of The Electric Playground called the scenery around the tracks "stunning", saying that the environments in the game feel "alive". Lucas noted some graphical errors and felt that the game should have utilized the system's Expansion Pak for higher resolution, but considered only a minor nuisance. He also said that the music and sound effects are "perfectly" suited to the gameplay. Lucas concluded that Beetle Adventure Racing is the first "truly addictive" Nintendo 64 game of 1999.[22]

Peer Schneider of IGN heavily praised the game's graphics, sound effects, detailed racing tracks, vehicle handling, and multiplayer mode, but wrote that the game has a relatively limited number of tracks and cars, and that, unlike EA's Need For Speed, the game has a license which is limited only to Volkswagen models. He was also critical to the game's music that is limited to "generic" 'drum and bass' tracks. Schneider ultimately called the Beetle Adventure Racing as one of the best racing games for Nintendo 64.[18]

Shawn Sackenheim of AllGame praised the game's lengthy racetracks, its multiplayer mode, its "superb" use of various shortcuts, car models, the graphics and its overall presentation.[8] GameSpot claimed the game is a "great deal of fun".[16]

Sales

Beetle Adventure Racing sold over 320,000 units in the United States.[23] According to senior producer Hanno Lemke, its sales numbers were small relative to other EA products, which he blamed on its "terrible box art and a virtually non-existent marketing presence”, as well as high competition from other racing games on the Nintendo 64.[6]

Cancelled sequel

A sequel was in development in 2000,[24] but has never been released.[6] Lemke said it dropped the Beetle license and was titled Adventure Racing 2, featuring a variety non-licensed vehicles and more customization, but was cancelled due to the first game's low sales.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ I. G. N. Staff (1999-03-23). "Beetle Races Home" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/03/24/beetle-races-home. 
  2. ↑ IGN staff (November 17, 1999). "There are No Beetles in Australia". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/11/18/there-are-no-beetles-in-australia. 
  3. ↑ "Need for Speed 64". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (46): 96. October 1998. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_46/page/n99/mode/2up. Retrieved January 19, 2021. 
  4. ↑ "Beetle Adventure Racing". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (53): 91. May 1999. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_53/page/n91/mode/2up. Retrieved January 19, 2021. 
  5. ↑ IGN Staff (Mar 1999). "Beetle Adventure Racing". https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/03/04/beetle-adventure-racing-2. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Schneider, Peer (23 October 2023). "Raising the BAR". https://nordic.ign.com/beetle-adventure-racing/74452/opinion/raising-the-bar. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Beetle Adventure Racing for Nintendo 64 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/beetle-adventure-racing/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-64. Retrieved March 27, 2019. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Sackenheim, Shawn. "Beetle Adventure Racing - Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141114232337/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=16167&tab=review. 
  9. ↑ Lomas, Ed (May 1999). "Beetle Adventure Racing". Computer Games Magazine (Future Publishing) (210): 51. http://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-1490-51.jpg. Retrieved March 27, 2019. 
  10. ↑ EGM staff (April 1999). "Beetle Adventure Racing". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (117): 121. http://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-647-121.jpg. Retrieved March 27, 2019. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "ビートル アドベンチャーレーシング [NINTENDO64"] (in Japanese). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=14584&redirect=no. Retrieved March 27, 2019. 
  12. ↑ McNamara, Andy; Anderson, Paul; Reiner, Andrew (April 1999). "Beetle Adventure Racing - Nintendo 64". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (72). https://www.gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=3110. Retrieved March 27, 2019. 
  13. ↑ Super Teeter (April 1999). "Beetle Adventure Racing". Shinno Media. pp. 18–19. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_7_Issue_04/page/n19/mode/2up. 
  14. ↑ Weitzner, Jason; Ngo, George "Eggo"; Mylonas, Eric "ECM" (April 1999). "Beetle Adventure Racing". GameFan (Shinno Media) 7 (4): 15. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_7_Issue_04/page/n15/mode/2up. Retrieved November 19, 2020. 
  15. ↑ Air Hendrix (May 1999). "Beetle Adventure Racing". GamePro (IDG Entertainment) (128): 86. Archived from the original on February 14, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050214053852/http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/n64/games/reviews/58.shtml. Retrieved March 27, 2019. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Fielder, Joe (March 23, 1999). "Beetle Adventure Racing Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/beetle-adventure-racing-review/1900-2557842/. 
  17. ↑ Norton-Smith, Hugh (June 1999). "Beetle Adventure Racing [Import]". Hyper (Next Media Pty Ltd) (68): 44–45. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Schneider, Peer (March 24, 1999). "Beetle Adventure Racing". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/03/25/beetle-adventure-racing. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Beetle Adventure Racing". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (53): 91. May 1999. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_53/page/n91/mode/2up. Retrieved November 19, 2020. 
  20. ↑ Letcavage, Dave (January 17, 2013). "Beetle Adventure Racing! Review". Gamer Network. https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/n64/beetle_adventure_racing. 
  21. ↑ "Beetle Adventure Racing". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) 119: 116. April 2000. http://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-361-116.jpg. Retrieved March 27, 2019. 
  22. ↑ Lucas, Victor (April 11, 1999). "Beetle Adventure Racing Review". Greed Productions. Archived from the original on March 18, 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20020318071731/http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=37&full=1. 
  23. ↑ "N64 Sales from 1995-2003". http://www.gamepilgrimage.com/N64ussales.htm. 
  24. ↑ Jaffe, Alex (August 5, 2014). "The 22 Best-Reviewed Games That Don't Have Sequels (Yet)". http://kotaku.com/the-22-best-reviewed-games-that-never-got-sequels-1616402471. 
  • 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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