Software:TOCA 2 Touring Cars

From HandWiki
TOCA 2: Touring Cars
Developer(s)Codemasters
Publisher(s)Codemasters
SeriesTOCA
Platform(s)PlayStation, Microsoft Windows
Release
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

TOCA 2: Touring Cars (TOCA 2: Touring Car Challenge in North America) is a British racing video game developed and published by Codemasters for PlayStation and Microsoft Windows. It is the second game in the TOCA series, based on the 1998 season of the British Touring Car Championship. Mainly an annual franchise update of cars and tracks, the game added more detailed graphics, physics, multiplayer modes and other minor features. Realistic tracks were added, and support races such as Ford Fiestas, Formula Ford and others also arrived. The level of car damage possible during a race was also enhanced, which was a significant selling point compared with the likes of Gran Turismo which had no damage model at the time.

Gameplay

The game modes include the support races such as Formula Ford and the Ford Fiesta Championships, a test track mode where the player tests any car on certain variations of the test track, a Championship mode which is dependent on the length with the difficulty selected, a feature new to the game is the support cars are able to be chosen with the color the player prefers. The multiplayer mode (known as Linkup Game) allows for two or more players to race on any circuit and also in the Championship mode. A challenge mode is included to see how fast the player can get to the checkpoints in a limited amount of time. The single race mode allows the player to select the track to race on, as well as the weather conditions, laps raced and allowance for computer cars for one or more players.

The standard cars featured are the Audi A4, Ford Mondeo, Honda Accord, Nissan Primera, Peugeot 406, Renault Laguna, Vauxhall Vectra and Volvo S40. The support cars are the AC Superblower, Ford Fiesta, Formula Ford, Grinnall Scorpion, Jaguar XJ220, Lister Storm and TVR Speed 12.

Other info

Similar to the first game, once the players select a car, they replace a driver and partner the other driver, but unlike the first TOCA game, this time they replace the second team driver, not the first.

TOCA 2 is notable for being one of only four PlayStation games (the others being Wipeout 3: Special Edition, Ridge Racer Type 4 and Andretti Racing) to feature a four-player mode using the PlayStation's link cable and split-screen at the same time - i.e., four players compete against each other simultaneously using two PlayStation consoles, with two players per console and connected to two televisions.

All the tracks used in the various championships, including the main BTCC championship, are real racing tracks in Great Britain. These are as follows: Thruxton; Silverstone; Donington Park; Brands Hatch; Oulton Park; Croft; Snetterton; and Knockhill.

There are bonus tracks and cars which can be accessed through the championship mode.

TOCA 2 for Windows also has the ability to import skins for each car. They can be edited using any paint/drawing program.

The main menu background music features "Retro", and the opening video "Soundclash" by E-Z Rollers. Other versions feature "Sole Sentiment" by Ratman in the opening intro.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PCPS
AllGameStarStarHalf star[6]StarStarStar[7]
EdgeN/A9/10[3]
Game InformerN/A6.5/10[9]
GameFan91%[10]N/A
GameProStarStarStarHalf star[11]N/A
GameSpot8.2/10[12]5.4/10[13]
IGN5.5/10[14]8/10[15]
Next GenerationN/AStarStarStarStar[16]
OPM (UK)N/A9/10[2]
OPM (US)N/AStarStarStarStarHalf star[17]
PC Gamer (US)83%[19]N/A
The Cincinnati EnquirerStarHalf star[20]StarHalf star[20]
Aggregate score
GameRankings78%[4]79%[5]

The game received "favorable" reviews on both platforms according to video game review aggregator GameRankings.[4][5] Official UK PlayStation Magazine said the PlayStation version was an improvement on the original game, with many tracks, but that "the new cars felt tacked on".[2] Rick Sanchez of NextGen said of the same console version, "Hands down, TOCA 2 [is] one of the best touring-car sims available, and one of the best new driving games for PlayStation."[16]

The PC version was nominated for PC PowerPlay's "Best Driving/Racing" award, which went to Grand Theft Auto 2.[21]

References

  1. ↑ GameSpot staff (11 November 1999). "Touring Car Races to Stores [date mislabeled as "April 27, 2000""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/touring-car-races-to-stores/1100-2446838/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Pettengale, Paul (Christmas 1998). "TOCA 2 Touring Cars". Official UK PlayStation Magazine (Future Publishing) (40): 102–4. https://archive.org/details/opm040/page/n101/mode/2up. Retrieved 1 June 2021. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Edge staff (Christmas 1998). "TOCA 2: Touring Cars (PS)". Edge (Future Publishing) (66): 90–91. https://retrocdn.net/images/c/c5/Edge_UK_066.pdf. Retrieved 1 June 2021. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "TOCA 2: Touring Car Challenge for PC". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/577423-toca-2-touring-car-challenge/index.html. Retrieved 1 June 2021. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "TOCA 2 Touring Car Challenge for PlayStation". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/199028-toca-2-touring-car-challenge/index.html. Retrieved 1 June 2021. 
  6. ↑ Nguyen, Cal. "Touring Car Challenge: TOCA 2 (PC) - Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on 16 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141116030413/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=20741&tab=review. Retrieved 21 August 2015. 
  7. ↑ Kanarick, Mark. "Touring Car Challenge: TOCA 2 (PS) - Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on 16 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141116030349/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=20740&tab=review. Retrieved 21 August 2015. 
  8. ↑ Goble, Gordon (6 January 2000). "[TOCA 2: Touring Car Challenge (PC)"]. CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-3592,00.html. 
  9. ↑ Helgeson, Matt (January 2000). "TOCA 2: Touring Car Challenge (PS)". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (81). Archived from the original on 11 July 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20000711073709/http://gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=4812. Retrieved 21 August 2015. 
  10. ↑ Howarth, Robert (10 January 2000). "REVIEW for [TOCA 2: Touring Car Challenge (PC)"]. GameFan (Shinno Media). Archived from the original on 16 May 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20000516085408/http://www.gamefan.com/repre.asp?g=1639&t=r. Retrieved 22 August 2015. 
  11. ↑ Lam, Danny W. (2000). "TOCA 2 [Touring Car Challenge Review for PC on GamePro.com"]. GamePro (IDG Entertainment). Archived from the original on 9 February 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050209084852/http://gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/2417.shtml. Retrieved 22 August 2015. 
  12. ↑ Poole, Stephen (22 December 1999). "Touring Car Challenge Review (PC)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/touring-car-challenge-review/1900-2533959/. Retrieved 21 August 2015. 
  13. ↑ Stahl, Ben (10 November 1999). "TOCA 2 Touring Car Challenge Review (PS)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/toca-2-touring-car-challenge-review/1900-2546088/. Retrieved 21 August 2015. 
  14. ↑ Rouse, Rich (17 December 1999). "TOCA 2: Touring Car Challenge (PC)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/12/18/toca-2-touring-car-challenge. Retrieved 21 August 2015. 
  15. ↑ Bishop, Sam (16 February 2000). "TOCA 2 [Touring Car Challenge (PS)"]. Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/02/17/toca-2. Retrieved 21 August 2015. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Sanchez, Rick (December 1999). "TOCA 2: Touring Car Challenge (PS)". NextGen (Imagine Media) (60): 113. https://archive.org/details/NextGen60Dec1999/page/n113/mode/2up. Retrieved 1 June 2021. 
  17. ↑ Maruyama, Wataru (December 1999). "TOCA 2 [Touring Car Challenge"]. Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) 3 (3): 164. https://archive.org/details/Official_US_PlayStation_Magazine_Volume_3_Issue_3_1999-12_Ziff_Davis_US/page/n159/mode/2up. Retrieved 1 June 2021. 
  18. ↑ Smith, Rob (December 1999). "TOCA 2: Touring Car Challenge". PC Accelerator (Imagine Media) (16): 90. https://archive.org/details/PCXL16Dec1999/page/n93/mode/2up. Retrieved 2 June 2021. 
  19. ↑ Mahood, Andy (2000). "TOCA 2 [Touring Car Challenge"]. PC Gamer (Imagine Media). Archived from the original on 15 March 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060315135310/http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/06/toca_2.html. Retrieved 22 August 2015. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Berman, A.S. (28 January 2000). "Racing game needs less touring, more challenge". The Cincinnati Enquirer (USA Today) (Gannett Company). Archived from the original on 16 August 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20000816071523/http://cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/toca2.html. Retrieved 21 August 2015. 
  21. ↑ "Game of the Year 1999 (Part 3)". PC PowerPlay (Next Media Pty Ltd) (47): 30. April 2000. https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay-047-2000-04/page/n29/mode/2up. Retrieved 18 June 2021. 
  • 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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