Software:Race Driver: Grid

From HandWiki
Short description: 2008 racing video game
Race Driver: Grid
PAL cover art featuring a Dodge Viper SRT-10
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Composer(s)Ian Livingstone, Aaron Sapp, Thomas J. Bergersen, Allister Brimble (DS), Anthony N. Putson (DS)
SeriesGrid
EngineEGO 1.0
Octane (DS)[3][4]
Platform(s)
ReleaseJava ME
  • WW: 15 April 2008
Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 & Xbox 360
  • EU: 30 May 2008
  • NA: 3 June 2008
  • AU: 12 June 2008
Nintendo DS
  • NA: 5 August 2008
  • EU: 8 August 2008
  • AU: 15 August 2008
Arcade
  • EU: 10 November 2010
OS X
  • EU: 14 April 2013
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemSega Europa-R

Race Driver: Grid, known outside of Europe and Japan as Grid, is a 2008 racing video game developed and published by Codemasters for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, arcade, Java ME and OS X. It is the first game in the Grid series.[5][6]

Gameplay

Grid features several different types of motorsports spanning three major regions.

Grid was developed and published by Codemasters, the creators of the TOCA series. It is a game in which the player runs their own race team, acting as the primary driver. As players progress they gain sponsors and can hire a teammate to drive alongside them in certain events.

The game begins with the player accepting jobs to drive for other teams to earn money, and once the player gains enough capital they can purchase their own vehicles and drive independently, as well as continuing to drive for other teams should they choose to. Grid features a gameplay mechanic known as Flashback which allows the player to rewind gameplay by up to ten seconds and resume from their chosen point, similar to the "rewind" ability in Software:Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. This is a limited-use feature, determined by the difficulty setting.

Grid features several modes of competition using various cars. Three main regions are found in the game, United States, Europe, and Japan, each with their own championship. Each of the game's 43 cars are tied to one of these three regions. Grid also features several types of events to compete in, including GT championships, drifting, touge, open wheel racing and demolition derby, as well as variants on several of these motorsports. Players can also participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the end of each racing season.

Courses in the game are a mixture of real world and fictional circuits and point-to-point tracks. Real road courses such as Le Mans and Spa-Francorchamps are included, while some defunct street circuits such as the Detroit street circuit in Michigan and the Washington D.C. street circuit are also included. There are also several fictional tracks inspired by real-world locations and circuits, such as street courses in San Francisco, California and Milan, Italy as well as Mount Haruna.

The Nintendo DS version is a racing simulator consisting of twenty available circuits across Europe, Japan and the US, along with 25 cars to choose from. The game also includes an updated version of the track designer from Software:Race Driver: Create & Race, which allows players to create their own custom circuits and roadside billboards.[7] The game also features vehicle customization and online multiplayer.[8]

Development and marketing

Grid uses Codemasters' own Ego engine, an updated version of the Neon engine already being used in the critically acclaimed Colin McRae: Dirt. The damage code has been completely rewritten to allow for environments with the potential for persistent damage.[9] Ambisonics was used in the audio engine of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions.[10] Firebrand Games, developer of Race Driver: Create & Race, made a Nintendo DS version of the game that ran on Create's Octane engine, incorporating its 3D racing graphics, user interface and track editor.[3][4]

A mobile version published by Glu Mobile was released in April 2008.[11][12] A demo was released on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Marketplace and for Microsoft Windows in May 2008.[13] The demo allowed players to try two game modes: racing and drifting. The demo also featured a competition challenge, with a BMW 3 series, as a prize, for European-based gamers,[14] and a Ford Mustang for U.S.-based players.[15] The American competition ended at midnight on 25 May, whereas the European competition ended on 31 May, also at midnight. The demo also had two competition tracks available online, and allowed up to 12 players to compete online. The demo has been downloaded by over one million people over three platforms.[16][17]

In 2010, an arcade version of the game was published by Sega. Grid has had its official servers for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 3 shut down as of 19 June 2011.[18] The servers for the Xbox 360 version are still running as of July 2014.

Downloadable content

Codemasters released two downloadable content (DLC) packs; the first of the two was released on 4 December 2008, the 8-Ball Pack on the Xbox Live Marketplace and the PlayStation Network. The pack contained eight new cars and these include the McLaren F1 GTR, TVR Cerbera Speed 12, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, Honda S2000, Nissan GT-R (S-G2008), Volkswagen Nardo, Pontiac Firebird and the Volvo C30. The 8-Ball Pack also came complete with two new multiplayer events set on existing circuits from across Grid's three continents.[19] The second DLC pack dubbed the Prestige Pack was released in March 4, 2010 in PAL regions[20] and March 11, 2010 in North America,[21] for the PlayStation 3 only. The pack added Mount Panorama Circuit and ten cars, including the Ferrari F430 GTC, Bugatti Veyron and Ferrari F575 GTC.[22][23]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
DSPCPS3Xbox 360
1Up.comC−[24]N/AN/AN/A
EdgeN/AN/A9/10[25]N/A
Eurogamer8/10[26]N/AN/A9/10[27]
Game InformerN/AN/A9/10[28]9/10[28]
GameProN/AN/AN/AStarStarStarStar[29]
GameRevolutionN/AN/AN/AB[30]
GameSpot8.5/10[31]N/A8/10[32]8/10[32]
GameSpyN/AN/AStarStarStarStar[33]StarStarStarStar[34]
GameTrailersN/AN/A9/10[35]9/10[35]
GameZone7.8/10[36]N/A9/10[37]N/A
IGN8.3/10[3]8.7/10[38]8.7/10[39](US) 8.7/10[39]
(AU) 7.9/10[40]
Nintendo Power8.5/10[8]N/AN/AN/A
ONM89%[41]N/AN/AN/A
OXM (US)N/AN/AN/A9/10[42]
PC Gamer (US)N/A86%[43]N/AN/A
PSMN/AN/AStarStarStarStarStar[44]N/A
VideoGamer.com8/10[45]N/AN/AN/A
411ManiaN/A9.5/10[46]N/AN/A
Digital SpyN/AN/AN/AStarStarStarStar[47]
Aggregate score
Metacritic79/100[48]87/100[49]87/100[50]87/100[51]

Grid received "generally favorable" reviews on all platforms according to video game review aggregator website Metacritic.[48][49][50][51]

Edge ranked the game #41 on its list of "The 100 Best Games To Play Today", stating that: "it blows cobwebs from the genre, with handling a great balance of sim twitchiness and arcade abandon, breathtaking speed, and a sense of being there like no other racer".[52]

North American publication Nintendo Power gave the game a score of 8.5 out of ten. The review heaped praise on the game's robust car and course customization features, superb graphics, and multiplayer modes.[8] N-Europe gave the game an eight out of ten.[53] IGN awarded Grid with its DS: Best Racing Game 2008 award.[54]

Awards

Grid received a BAFTA award in the Sports category at the British Academy Video Games Awards.[55] During the 12th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Grid for "Racing Game of the Year".[56]

Sequels

Codemasters released a sequel to Grid, named Grid 2, using the improved EGO engine and was released in May 2013.[57] It is followed by a second sequel Grid Autosport, released in June 2014.[58][59] A fourth installment, simply known as Grid, was released in September 2019 for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Stadia.[60] A fifth and latest installment, Grid Legends, was released in February 2022 with Electronic Arts served as a new publisher.[61]

References

  1. ↑ "GRID Trailer". YouTube. 19 June 2008. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDGgIjGg8KE&hd=1. 
  2. ↑ "Feral Interactive: GRID minisite". http://www.feralinteractive.com/en/mac-games/grid/. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Harris, Craig (7 August 2008). "GRID Review (NDS)". http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/08/07/grid-review. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Caoli, Eric (1 October 2008). "Interview: Firebrand Games Hits the Gas On DS Racing". https://www.gamedeveloper.com/disciplines/interview-firebrand-games-hits-the-gas-on-ds-racing. 
  5. ↑ "Motorsport gaming evolves as Codemasters announces Race Driver One™.". http://www.codemasters.com/press/?showarticle=9624. 
  6. ↑ "Race Driver One on the GRID". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/race-driver-one-on-the-grid/1100-6183483/. 
  7. ↑ "Firebrand Games. Specialist Driving Games Development". Firebrand Games. http://firebrandgames.com/current1.htm. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "GRID". Nintendo Power 230: 88. July 2008. 
  9. ↑ Geddes, Ryan (3 March 2008). "Grid Preview". http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/03/grid-preview. 
  10. ↑ Deleflie, Etienne (24 June 2008). "Codemasters ups Ambisonics again on Race Driver GRID". Ambisonia. http://etiennedeleflie.net/2008/06/24/codemasters-ups-their-useage-of-ambisonics-on-race-driver-grid/. 
  11. ↑ Dredge, Stuart (10 April 2008). "Race Driver GRID goes mobile" (in en). https://www.pocketgamer.com/race-driver-grid-mobile/race-driver-grid-goes-mobile/. 
  12. ↑ (in en) Race Driver - GRID 3D (J2ME), 15 April 2008, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MYck5fna_o, retrieved 2023-01-09 
  13. ↑ Goldstein, Maarten (9 May 2008). "Race Driver: GRID PC Demo Released". Shacknews. http://www.shacknews.com/article/52617/race-driver-grid-pc-demo. 
  14. ↑ [1]
  15. ↑ "Results of Mustang competition in US". http://community.grid-game.com/win-ebay-mustang/scoreboard.php. 
  16. ↑ [2]
  17. ↑ Dobson, Jason (26 May 2008). "Race Driver: GRID demo races to a million downloads". Engadget (Joystiq). https://www.engadget.com/2008/05/26/race-driver-grid-demo-races-to-a-million-downloads/. 
  18. ↑ McElroy, Griffin (19 June 2011). "Codemasters takes down GRID PS3 and PC servers". Engadget (Joystiq). https://www.engadget.com/2011/06/19/codemasters-takes-down-grid-ps3-and-pc-servers/. 
  19. ↑ "8-BALL PACK RELEASED!". 2008-12-04. http://www.codemasters.com/news/?showarticle=11991. 
  20. ↑ "'Heads-Up' PlayStation Store Update (4th March 2010)". 4 March 2010. https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2010/03/04/heads-up-playstation-store-update-4th-march-2010/. 
  21. ↑ "PlayStation Store Update". 11 March 2010. https://blog.playstation.com/2010/03/11/playstation-store-update-127/. 
  22. ↑ "Race Driver: GRID". Gamer Network. 2010-03-04. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/race-driver-grid-platinum-ps3-edition-launches-next-week-with-a-tenner-s-worth-of-free-dlc-included. 
  23. ↑ "Now Codies joins the DLC code movement". MCV/Develop. 2010-03-01. https://mcvuk.com/business-news/publishing/now-codies-joins-the-dlc-code-movement/. Retrieved 2025-01-06. 
  24. ↑ Nelson, Mike (20 August 2008). "GRID Review (NintendoDS)". http://www.1up.com/reviews/grid. 
  25. ↑ Edge staff (July 2008). "Race Driver: GRID (PS3)". Edge (190): 90. 
  26. ↑ Whitehead, Dan (22 September 2008). "DS Roundup". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/ds-roundup_9. 
  27. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (23 May 2008). "Race Driver: GRID (Xbox 360)". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/race-driver-grid-review. 
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Kato, Matthew (July 2008). "GRID (PS3, X360)". Game Informer (183). http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/744EAA79-C001-4372-86C3-759DA5DE2039.htm. Retrieved 28 August 2015. 
  29. ↑ Erickson, Tracy (3 June 2008). "Review: Grid (X360)". GamePro. http://www.gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox360/games/reviews/189068.shtml. Retrieved 28 August 2015. 
  30. ↑ Costantino, Jesse (16 June 2008). "Race Driver: GRID and DiRT Review (X360)". Game Revolution. http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/grid. 
  31. ↑ Light, Austin (15 August 2008). "Grid Review (DS)". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/grid-review/1900-6196052/. 
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Cocker, Guy (4 June 2008). "GRID Review (PS3, X360)". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/grid-review/1900-6192104/. 
  33. ↑ Steinberg, Steve (10 June 2008). "GameSpy: GRID (PS3)". GameSpy. http://ps3.gamespy.com/playstation-3/race-driver-one/880732p1.html. 
  34. ↑ Steinberg, Steve (10 June 2008). "GameSpy: GRID (X360)". GameSpy. http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/race-driver-one/880737p1.html. 
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "GRID Review (PS3, X360)". GameTrailers. 5 June 2008. http://www.gametrailers.com/gamereview.php?id=6195. 
  36. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (3 September 2008). "GRID - NDS - Review". GameZone. http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/grid_nds_review. 
  37. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (2 July 2008). "GRID - PS3 - Review". GameZone. http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/grid_ps3_review. 
  38. ↑ Geddes, Ryan (5 June 2008). "Grid Review (PC)". http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/06/05/grid-review-2. 
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Geddes, Ryan (22 May 2008). "Grid Review (PS3, X360)". http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/05/22/grid-review-3. 
  40. ↑ IGN staff (10 June 2008). "Race Driver: GRID AU Review (X360)". http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/06/11/race-driver-grid-au-review. 
  41. ↑ Scullion, Chris (July 2008). "Race Driver: Grid Review". Official Nintendo Magazine: 97. http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/5537/reviews/race-driver-grid-review/. Retrieved 28 August 2015. 
  42. ↑ Curthoys, Paul (July 2008). "Grid". Official Xbox Magazine. http://oxmonline.com/article/reviews/editors-choice-gallery/grid. Retrieved 28 August 2015. 
  43. ↑ "GRID". PC Gamer: 66. September 2008. 
  44. ↑ "GRID". PlayStation: The Official Magazine: 64. August 2008. 
  45. ↑ Orry, Tom (8 August 2008). "Race Driver: GRID Review for DS". VideoGamer.com. http://www.videogamer.com/ds/race_driver_grid/review.html. 
  46. ↑ Evans, Chris (10 June 2008). "Race Driver (PC) GRID [sic] Review". 411Mania. http://411mania.com/games/race-driver-pc-grid-review/. 
  47. ↑ Gibbon, David (30 May 2008). "Xbox 360: 'Race Driver: GRID'". http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/a97252/xbox-360-race-driver-grid.html. 
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 "GRID for DS Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/grid-2008/critic-reviews/?platform=ds. 
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 "GRID for PC Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/grid-2008/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 "GRID for PlayStation 3 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/grid-2008/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3. 
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 "GRID for Xbox 360 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/grid-2008/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360. 
  52. ↑ Edge Staff (9 March 2009). "The 100 Best Games To Play Today". Edge. http://www.edge-online.com/features/100-best-games-play-today/6/. 
  53. ↑ Lee, Mark (16 August 2008). "DS Review: Race Driver: GRID". N-Europe. http://n-europe.com/review.php?rid=398. 
  54. ↑ "DS: Best Racing/Driving Game". http://bestof.ign.com/2008/ds/6.html. 
  55. ↑ "Three Baftas for Call of Duty 4". BBC. 11 March 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7936204.stm. 
  56. ↑ "2009 Awards Category Details Racing Game of the Year". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2009&idGameAwardType=120. 
  57. ↑ Walker, Richard (26 July 2010). "Codemasters Working on Race Driver: GRID and Op Flash: Dragon Rising Sequels". Xbox Achievements. http://www.xboxachievements.com/news/news-5848-Codemasters-Working-on-Race-Driver--GRID-and-Op-Flash--Dragon-Rising-Sequels.html. 
  58. ↑ Grid 2 Teaser - The Race Returns on YouTube
  59. ↑ "The Race Returns in 2013". Codemasters. 8 August 2012. http://www.codemasters.com/uk/article/the-race-returns-in-2013/. 
  60. ↑ Robinson, Martin (21 May 2019). "Codemasters reveals an all-new Grid". https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2019-05-21-codemasters-reveals-an-all-new-grid. 
  61. ↑ S. Good, Owen (3 December 2021). "Grid Legends launches in February with story mode and sleeker multiplayer". Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/22815775/grid-legends-release-date-car-list-2022-story-mode-multiplayer. Retrieved 4 November 2022. 
  • 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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