Software:Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA

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Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA
North American Nintendo 64 cover art
Developer(s)Atari Games
Publisher(s)Midway Games
GT Interactive (Europe)
Designer(s)Ed Logg
Programmer(s)Ed Logg
Mike Kelly
Mike Alexander
Artist(s)Jose Erazo
Composer(s)Barry Leitch
SeriesRush
Platform(s)Nintendo 64
Release
  • NA: November 11, 1998[1]
  • PAL: February 4, 1999
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA is a racing video game developed by Atari Games and published by Midway Games exclusively for the Nintendo 64 video game console. It was released on November 11, 1998, in North America, and February 4, 1999, in Europe. Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA is a sequel to San Francisco Rush, and the second game in the Rush series.

Development

Cancelled ports

In an advertisement for sweepstakes for San Francisco Rush, it was announced that the second prize winners would receive the N64 or PlayStation version of Rush 2. In a certain commercial, a Windows 95 port was touted, but the game was only released on N64.[citation needed]

Gameplay

The game is notable for the high level of detail in the recreations of the various cities and states used, and for its fast arcade-style physics. The game also features a two-player mode and rumble pack support. Hidden shortcuts and jumps add to the replay value of the game.

Mountain Dew soda cans appear in the game and can be collected to unlock content.[2][3]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings78%[4]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Consoles +83%[6]
EGM6.875/10[7][lower-alpha 1]
Game Informer8.75/10[9]
GameRevolutionC−[10]
GameSpot5.1/10[11]
Hyper85%[12]
IGN8.9/10[3]
N64 Magazine75%[13]
Next GenerationStarStarStarStar[14]
Nintendo Power7.3/10[15]

The game received favorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[4] IGN called the game "a bit on the cheesy side" despite criticism with the presentation and stated that it had "generic menus and the same overall front-end" as San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing.[3] Next Generation called it "a worthy successor to the original."[14] GamePro said that the game "packs in enough quality racing to satisfy even the most jaded gamer. All the changes and updates seem minor when taken individually, but they add up to a satisfying new whole. Rush 2 is well worth its price."[16][lower-alpha 2]

Notes

  1. ↑ Four critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 8/10, 4.5/10, 6.5/10, and 8.5/10.
  2. ↑ GamePro gave the game three 4.5/5 scores for graphics, control, and fun factor, and 4/5 for sound.

References

  1. ↑ IGN staff (December 3, 1998). "Five to Five". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/12/04/five-to-five. 
  2. ↑ IGN staff (September 24, 1998). "Rush 2 Does the Dew". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/09/25/rush-2-does-the-dew. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Casamassina, Matt (November 11, 1998). "Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/11/12/rush-2-extreme-racing-usa. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA for Nintendo 64". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/n64/198527-rush-2-extreme-racing-usa/index.html. 
  5. ↑ Broderick, Glen (December 29, 1998). "Rush 2: Extreme Racing [USA"]. CNET. http://gamecenter.com/Consoles/Nintendo/Rush2/. 
  6. ↑ Gia (January 1999). "Rush 2 [Extreme Racing USA"] (in fr). Consoles + (84): 122. https://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-233-122.jpg. Retrieved August 27, 2023. 
  7. ↑ Hager, Dean; Smith, Shawn; Davison, John; Hsu, Dan (December 1998). "Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (113): 253. https://retrocdn.net/images/3/3e/EGM_US_113.pdf. Retrieved August 27, 2023. 
  8. ↑ Lucas, Victor (December 3, 1998). "Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA". Greedy Productions Ltd.. http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=134&full=1#mr_toppy. 
  9. ↑ McNamara, Andy; Storm, Jon; Reiner, Andrew (December 1998). "Rush 2 [Extreme Racing USA"]. Game Informer (FuncoLand) (68). http://www.gameinformer.com/cgi-bin/review.cgi?sys=n64&path=dec98&doc=rush. Retrieved October 3, 2020. 
  10. ↑ Hsu, Tim (November 1998). "Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA Review". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32624-rush-2-extreme-racing-usa-review. 
  11. ↑ GameSpot staff (November 20, 1998). "Rush 2 Extreme Racing USA Review [date mislabeled as "May 5, 2000""]. Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/rush-2-extreme-racing-usa-review/1900-2543708/. 
  12. ↑ Shea, Cam (March 1999). "Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA". Hyper (Next Media Pty Ltd) (65): 54–55. 
  13. ↑ "Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA". N64 Magazine (Future Publishing) (24). January 1999. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (49): 109. January 1999. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_49/page/n109/mode/2up. Retrieved October 3, 2020. 
  15. ↑ "Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) 115: 127. December 1998. https://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-357-127.jpg. Retrieved August 27, 2023. 
  16. ↑ Dan Elektro (December 1998). "Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA". GamePro (IDG Entertainment) (123): 140–41. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_113_December_1998/page/n143/mode/2up. Retrieved October 3, 2020. 
  • 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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