Software:OutRun 2

From HandWiki
Short description: 2003 video game
OutRun 2
Arcade flyer featuring the Ferrari F50 Spider
Developer(s)Sega AM2[lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s)Sega[lower-alpha 2]
Director(s)Makoto Osaki
Daichi Katagiri
Producer(s)Yu Suzuki
Designer(s)Shin Ishikawa
Programmer(s)Takuji Masuda[2]
Artist(s)Yasuo Kawagoshi
Composer(s)Keisuke Tsukahara
Fumio Ito[2]
SeriesOutRun
Platform(s)Arcade, Xbox
ReleaseArcade
  • JP: December 1, 2003
  • EU: December 13, 2003
  • NA: December 18, 2003
Xbox
  • EU: October 1, 2004
  • AU: October 15, 2004[3]
  • NA: October 25, 2004
  • JP: January 25, 2005
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemSega Chihiro, Sega Lindbergh (SP DX)

OutRun 2 (アウトラン2) is a 2003 racing game developed by Sega AM2 for arcades. It was the first OutRun game since OutRunners (1993), and the fourth arcade game. As with previous games, the player uses a Ferrari sports car in various races and challenges.

OutRun 2 was released for the Sega Chihiro arcade hardware, and was ported to the Xbox home console in 2004. It received generally favorable reviews. Updated versions, subtitled SP and SP/DX, were released. It was followed by Software:OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast, which retained most of its predecessor's content alongside new features.

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot of a Ferrari Enzo in a race

OutRun 2 maintains the race format from the 1986 original, in which the player is behind the steering wheel of a Ferrari sports car with a friend in the passenger seat through 5 of 15 stages. As before, the player can choose their course and the soundtrack. OutRun 2 has 3D graphics and a local networked multiplayer system.

Sega licensed seven Ferrari vehicles for OutRun 2, including the Testarossa from the original game.

The soundtrack is a rearranged and re-recorded version of the musical themes from the 1986 game, and includes seven pieces ranging in style from instrumental rock to upbeat ballads. The original 1986 music is also unlockable.

OutRun 2 contains three single-player game modes::

  • OutRun Race – the player drives through 5 of 15 stages, selecting the next course via forks in the road. A timer continually ticks down and is extended when the player passes through occasional checkpoints. If the time limit reaches zero, meaning the player has raced too slowly between checkpoints, the game is over.
  • Heart Attack Mode – the player drives with the same course and time structure as in OutRun Race, but the passenger will frequently request certain stunts and actions. These requests, carried out through marked sections of the course, can include passing traffic cars, drifting around bends, driving through marked lanes, knocking over cones, and simply not crashing into anything for as long as possible. If the player succeeds, they will receive heart points and, at the end of the request section, will receive a grade based on their performance. At the end of the stage, the player will receive an average grade based on performance during previous stunts. Crashing into the scenery or driving off-road at any time will result in the player losing hearts. If the player reaches a course goal with a satisfying grade and within the time limit, they will receive a more romantic ending.
  • Time Attack Mode – the player races a competing 'ghost' car through a specific course to the time limit. Time checks are presented to the player at various points on each stage.

All unlockable bonus secret tracks are from Scud Race and Daytona USA 2 on the Xbox version.

Development

Release history, ports, and updates

Outrun 2 was released in a number of ports and updates with added (or in some cases removed) features

OutRun 2 SP

This sub-section refers to the arcade release, not to be confused with the later home port titled 'Outrun 2 SP' which was equivalent Outrun 2006: Coast to Coast (see below).

In 2004, Sega released an arcade upgrade to the OutRun 2, OutRun 2 SP. It includes 15 new courses which are mostly based around a New World theme including several Americanesque landscapes and regions.

OutRun 2 SP DX/SDX

An updated version, OutRun 2 SP SDX, was shown at a privately held Sega show on July 7, 2006. It does not run on the Sega Chihiro, but rather the Sega Lindbergh. This iteration is displayed at a resolution of 800*480 rather than the previous versions' 640*480 and features cooperative play involving both players sitting next to each other in replica Ferraris, taking turns driving the same car with their own set of controls. The 2-player cabinet is designated as DX (Deluxe), and the 4-Player cabinet is designated as SDX (Super Deluxe), with raceview cameras on the players, and a live leaderboard over the center units.[4]

Xbox version

In 2004, OutRun 2 was released on the Xbox. Development was shared by Sega AM2 and the UK developers Sumo Digital. The game was released in Europe on October 1, followed by the U.S. release on October 25. Sega published the game in Europe and Japan, while Microsoft Game Studios published it in North America.[1]

The Xbox version preserves the look and feel of the arcade original, but with the additions of 480p anamorphic widescreen support and tweaks to make it more suitable for home play. The game includes a straight port of the arcade, "Outrun Arcade", plus two other modes: OutRun Challenge, which includes 101 missions distributed over the 15 stages, and OutRun Xbox Live, featuring online play. Tracks from Scud Race and Daytona USA 2 can be unlocked as a bonus. Online modes were available via Xbox Live until 15 April 2010. Outrun 2 is playable online via the fan-made replacement Xbox Live server Insignia.[5][6]

Some content from the arcade game is locked away alongside new, unique content, such as extra cars, extra music tracks, and even the original Out Run game itself. This content is unlocked as the player completes the OutRun Challenge missions. Some slight changes were made to the Arcade mode, such as the 3D model for the newer Testarossa Spider being replaced with a customised Testarossa from 1984. The Japanese version of the game was slightly altered further, fixing some glitches and modifying the bonus stages.

Outrun 2006: Coast to Coast

Outrun 2006: Coast to Coast is a home console port that includes all the stages of Outrun 2 and Outrun 2 SP in a single product, with some additional features.[7] OutRun 2 SP's new courses, songs and game elements appear alongside the originals and new content. This version was titled Outrun 2 SP in Japan, not to be confused with the earlier arcade game Outrun 2 SP (arcade).

Outrun Online Arcade

Outrun Online Arcade is a home port for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 based on the Outrun 2 SP arcade version.[8] It contains only the new tracks (American/New World themed) from that version. It lacks the special unlockables, missions, and challenges from Outrun 2006: Coast to Cost, and lacks the Old World-themed stages from the original Outrun 2, and has slight adjustments to the car inventory.[8]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic79/100[9]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Edge8/10[10]
EGM6.83/10[11]
Eurogamer8/10[12]
Game Informer6.5/10[13]
GameRevolutionB[14]
GameSpot8.3/10[15]
GameSpy5/5[16]
GameZone8.5/10[17]
IGN8.2/10[18]
OXM (US)8.7/10[19]
The Sydney Morning Herald4/5[20]
The Times4/5[21]

The Xbox version received "favorable" reviews, according to the review aggregator website Metacritic.[9] The Guardian gave the Xbox port four out of five and described it as "an utterly beguiling game worthy of its legendary name".[22]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/07/13/microsoft-brings-outrun-2-stateside
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Sega AM2 (2003). Out Run 2. Arcade. Sega. 
  3. ↑ van Leuveren, Luke (October 10, 2004). "Updated Australian Release List - 03/10/04". PAL Gaming Network. http://www.palgn.com.au/article.php?id=1617. 
  4. ↑ The ride of your life SEGA
  5. ↑ "Insignia - OutRun 2" (in en). https://insignia.live/games/53450036. 
  6. ↑ Xbox, Pure (2023-11-16). "Xbox Live 1.0 Replacement 'Insignia' Now Supports 150 Games" (in en-GB). https://www.purexbox.com/news/2023/11/xbox-live-1-0-replacement-insignia-now-supports-150-games. 
  7. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (March 28, 2006). "OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_outrun2006_ps2xpsp. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Welsh, Oli (April 15, 2009). "OutRun Online Arcade". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/outrun-online-arcade-review. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "OutRun2 for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/outrun2/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox. 
  10. ↑ Edge staff (November 2004). "OutRun2". Edge (142): 98. http://gamesradar.msn.co.uk/reviews/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=32089&subsectionid=1606. Retrieved August 26, 2015. 
  11. ↑ EGM staff (December 25, 2004). "OutRun2". Electronic Gaming Monthly (186): 134. 
  12. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (September 29, 2004). "OutRun2". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_outrun2_x. 
  13. ↑ Kato, Matthew (December 2004). "OutRun 2". Game Informer (140): 183. http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/9DD3EBCF-2D54-4B19-827D-826743A643DA.htm?CS_pid=210627. Retrieved August 26, 2015. 
  14. ↑ Sanders, Shawn (December 8, 2004). "OutRun 2 Review". Game Revolution. http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/outrun-2. 
  15. ↑ Colayco, Bob (October 27, 2004). "OutRun2 Review". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/outrun2-review/1900-6111602/. 
  16. ↑ Turner, Benjamin (October 22, 2004). "GameSpy: OutRun2". GameSpy. http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/outrun-2/559288p1.html. 
  17. ↑ Hopper, Steven (October 21, 2004). "Outrun 2 – XB – Review". GameZone. http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/outrun_2_xb_review. 
  18. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (October 22, 2004). "OutRun2". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/10/22/outrun2. 
  19. ↑ "OutRun2". Official Xbox Magazine: 80. December 25, 2004. 
  20. ↑ Hill, Jason (October 14, 2004). "Rich world to explore". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/10/13/1097607284807.html. 
  21. ↑ "OutRun2". The Times. October 16, 2004. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/technology/article1861988.ece. 
  22. ↑ Boxer, Steve (2004-09-30). "Games watch" (in en-GB). The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2004/sep/30/games.shopping. 
  1. ↑ Ported to Xbox by Sumo Digital.
  2. ↑ Microsoft Game Studios published the Xbox version in North America.[1]
  • 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 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]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

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. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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