Racing game - Definition and Overview

A racing game is any game that involves competing in races through a surrogate playing piece or vehicle, either getting it from one point to another or completing a number of circuits in the shortest time.

• Many board games can be said to be racing games, such as Chutes and Ladders or Formula Dé.
• There are also toys made for racing, like slot cars and radio controlled cars.

One of the more common uses of the term racing game is to describe a genre of computer and video games. Racing games are either in the first or third person perspective. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to entirely fantastical settings, and feature any type of land, air, or sea vehicles. In general, they can be distributed along a spectrum anywhere between hardcore simulations, and simpler arcade racing games.

Simulation style racing games strive to replicate the handling of a car as it feels in the real world. They often license real cars or racing leagues, but will use fantasy cars built to resemble real ones if unable to aquire them.

Arcade style racing games put fun and a fast-paced experience above all else. They often license real cars and leagues, but are equally open to more exotic settings and vehicles.

Simulation style

• NASCAR Racing series
• Grand Prix Legends
• Live for Speed
• Formula 1 Challenge
• Rally Trophy
• TOCA Race Driver (it really stands between Simulation and Arcade racing games)
• Motorsport (http://www.motorsport-sim.org) - Open Source

Arcade style

• Burnout series
• Carmageddon series
• Cruis'n Exotica
• Cruis'n USA
• Cruis'n World
• Final Lap
• F-Zero series
• Gran Turismo series
• High Octane
• Marble Madness
• Mario Kart series
• Midnight Club series
• Need for Speed series
• Out Run
• Pole Position series
• Project Gotham Racing
• Rad Racer
• Sega Rally series
• The Simpsons Road Rage
• Test Drive series
• wipEout series

Arcade racing games time line

• 1982 Pole Position - Namco
• 1983 Pole Position 2 - Namco
• 1984 TX-1 - Atari
• 1986 Out Run - Sega
• 1987 Final Lap - Namco
• 1988 Chase HQ - Taito
• 1988 Continental Circus - Taito
• 1988 Power Drift - Sega
• 1989 SCI - Taito (Chase HQ 2)
• 1989 Super Monaco Grand Prix - Sega
• 1991 Rad Mobile - Sega
• 1991 Final lap 2 - Namco
• 1992 F1 Exhaust Note - Sega
• 1992 Final Lap 3 - Namco
• 1992 Super Chase - Taito
• 1992 Virtua Racing - Sega
• 1993 Out runners - Sega
• 1993 Ridge Racer - Namco