Software:Mad Dash Racing

From HandWiki
Short description: 2001 video game
Mad Dash Racing
North American cover art
Developer(s)Crystal Dynamics[lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s)Eidos Interactive
Designer(s)Noah Hughes
Christopher Tremmel
James Stiefelmaier
Platform(s)Xbox
Release
  • NA: November 6, 2001[2]
  • EU: March 14, 2002
  • JP: May 30, 2002
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Mad Dash Racing is a racing video game for the Xbox developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Eidos Interactive. It was released 10 days before the Xbox even launched in November 2001.[3] The video game features the voices of Billy West and Charles Martinet.[4]

Plot

On a little island known as Trem Land, a crazed wizard named Hex plans to take over the world using red meteor chunks to power his device. He can't do this on his own so he forms a contest and invites a group of miscellaneous characters so that they can race each other across the island in search of the seven red meteor chunks. In return, Hex initially offers the winner a brand-new pig, until Sid (one of the playable contestants) states that according to the contract they signed, the winner would receive Hex's Magical Scepter. Hex reluctantly agrees and the contest begins. The player can play as several different characters, which fall into 3 separate categories of Bashers, Gliders, and Dashers - all of which have unique abilities that can allow access to short cuts throughout the map. As the player progresses, more of the characters can join the team and become playable.

After completing several races and collecting all seven red meteor chunks, Hex's real plan of world domination becomes clear and the player must race Hex to his machine and destroy it. Upon doing so, Hex's machine is hit with a blast from the aforementioned magical scepter and the device explodes as Hex's plans are foiled. Initially no one is harmed in the explosion, but as Hex begins to remark about getting out unscathed, his magical scepter falls nearby and transforms him into a pig. Immediately following this, Hex's minions place a 1st prize blue ribbon on the now pig-Hex and carry him and his scepter to the player's character as their prize. Upset, Hex vows that he will be back just before the game's end credits roll.

Gameplay

The Characters are split into four different groups: Bashers, Dashers, Gliders, and Bosses. Bashers are able to break through certain objects, Dashers are able to gain quick boosts and run up steep slops, Gliders are able to jump farther or glide, and Bosses are able to have all the powers. It is very similar to Sonic R and Running Wild.[5] Players can collect 10 green meteor chunks and become a Tribrid. As a Tribrid players can have Bashers, Dashers and Gliders with just using one character. There are 9 tracks all together in the game. Different tracks have different settings. Numerous licensed music tracks were featured in the game.[6]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic65/100[7]
Review scores
PublicationScore
EGM5/10[8][lower-alpha 2]
Famitsu28/40[10]
Game Informer6/10[11]
GameSpot7/10[5]
GameSpy78%[12]
GameZone8/10[13]
IGN7.7/10[6]
Next GenerationStarStarStar[14]
OXM (US)7.3/10[15]

The game received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[7] NextGen said that the game is a hardcore cart racer despite its misleading cute and fuzzy look.[14] In Japan, where the game was ported for release on May 30, 2002, Famitsu gave it a score of 28 out of 40.[10] Dan Elektro of GamePro said, "for all its shiny visuals and four-player races, Mad Dash Racing elicits nothing more than a noncommittal shrug. The stars are animals without an anima, and as a result, it's just a rental."[16][lower-alpha 3]

Notes

  1. ↑ Additional work by Nixxes Software.[1]
  2. ↑ Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 5/10.
  3. ↑ GamePro gave the game two 4/5 scores for graphics and control, 3/5 for sound, and 2.5/5 for fun factor.

References

  1. ↑ "Mad Dash Racing". Archived from the original on September 4, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190904212311/http://www.nixxes.com/projects/19-uk/projects/139-mad-dash-racing. Retrieved June 5, 2022. 
  2. ↑ "Mad Dash Races into Stores" (in en). October 30, 2001. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/10/30/mad-dash-races-into-stores. 
  3. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (2001-10-30). "Mad Dash Races into Stores" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/10/30/mad-dash-races-into-stores. 
  4. ↑ "Mad Dash Racing (2001)". Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240129204222/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/Mad-Dash-Racing/. Retrieved January 31, 2024. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Gerstmann, Jeff (November 29, 2001). "Mad Dash Racing Review". Fandom. Archived from the original on February 3, 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20020203120516/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/reviews/0,10867,2828759,00.html. Retrieved January 31, 2024. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lopez, Vincent (November 20, 2001). "Mad Dash [Racing"]. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190707030510/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/11/21/mad-dash. Retrieved January 31, 2024. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Mad Dash Racing". Fandom. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240131164744/https://www.metacritic.com/game/mad-dash-racing/. Retrieved January 31, 2024. 
  8. ↑ Kujawa, Kraig; Kim, Jeanne; Dudlak, Jonathan (January 2002). "Mad Dash Racing". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (150): 229. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231120154651/https://retrocdn.net/images/3/31/EGM_US_150.pdf. Retrieved January 31, 2024. 
  9. ↑ Bonnie (May 10, 2002). "Mad Dash Racing". Greedy Productions Ltd.. Archived from the original on August 17, 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20020817015701/http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=8939&full=1. Retrieved January 31, 2024. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "マッドダッシュレーシング [Xbox"] (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain). Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191216042018/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=9792&redirect=no. Retrieved January 31, 2024. 
  11. ↑ "Mad Dash Racing". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (105): 87. January 2002. 
  12. ↑ Cassady, David; McBride, Debra (November 12, 2001). "Mad Dash Racing". IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 17, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050217081318/http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/november01/maddash/. Retrieved July 7, 2019. 
  13. ↑ The Badger (December 17, 2001). "Mad Dash Racing". Archived from the original on October 19, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061019215519/http://xbox.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r18579.htm. Retrieved July 7, 2019. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Mad Dash Racing". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (85): 42. January 2002. https://archive.org/details/NextGen85Jan2002/page/n43/mode/2up. 
  15. ↑ "Mad Dash Racing". Official Xbox Magazine (Imagine Media): 68. February 2002. 
  16. ↑ Dan Elektro (November 29, 2001). "Mad Dash Racing Review for Xbox on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG). Archived from the original on February 8, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050208051628/http://www.gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox/games/reviews/18624.shtml. Retrieved July 7, 2019. 

See also

  • Gex, the main character of which is unlockable in Mad Dash Raxing
  • Whiplash, a spin-off of Mad Dash Racing featuring Spanx the Weasel.
  • 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. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.

Template:Atari



Template:Crystal Dynamics



Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Software:Mad_Dash_Racing&oldid=3955430"