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California Speed
Arcade flyer
Developer(s)Atari Games
Midway Games
Publisher(s)Atari Games (arcade)
Midway Home Entertainment (N64)
Producer(s)Mark Stephen Pierce
Steve Ritchie
Programmer(s)Carl Ferreira
Composer(s)Kevin Quinn, Dave Zabriske, Chris Granner, John Paul, Joe Lyford, Gunnar Madsen, Rich Carle, Todd Modjesky (Arcade)
Barry Leitch, Pablo Buitrago (N64)
Platform(s)Arcade, Nintendo 64
ReleaseArcade
March 1998
Nintendo 64
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer
Arcade systemAtari/Midway Seattle

California Speed is a racing video game developed and published by Atari Games and Midway Home Entertainment. The game was first released in arcades for Atari/Midway Seattle Arcade System hardware in 1998 and was ported to the Nintendo 64 in 1999 by Midway Games. The Nintendo 64 version of the game contains support for the Controller Pak and the Rumble Pak also the full support for multiplayer mode.

Gameplay

California Speed is set on many cities on the outskirts and streets across the state of California. Players compete against different racers on the tracks. Traffic can appear on races which players must avoid. Stunts such as jumps appear. Players can race with several different cars, including a golf cart,[2] with automatic or manual transmissions, and can alter the colors.

The arcade version allows up to four arcade cabinets to be linked together for four-player racing.[2]

Mojave Desert Billboard

In April 2012, a post was made to the r/creepygaming subreddit about two mysterious billboards discovered in the "Mojave Desert" level of the Nintendo 64 version of the game. The reason for the billboard message's inclusion was not known until February 2016, when the website PopOptiq published an article in which Morgan Godat, a textural artist for the game, explained that the game had been created under a serious time crunch.[3]

Reception

The Nintendo 64 version received unfavorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[4] Next Generation, however, said that the arcade version "is aimed directly at the middle of the gaming audience, and it plays that way too."[15] GamePro, in a favorable review of the Nintendo 64 version, said, "Fans of California Speed's arcade counterpart will bask in its sharp N64 port, but serious racing fans may be disappointed by the game's lack of replay depth. Consider this a rental title—lease with an option to buy."[17][b]

Notes

  1. ^ In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the Nintendo 64 version, two critics gave it each a score of 4.5/10, and the other two gave it 4/10.
  2. ^ GamePro gave the Nintendo 64 version three 4/5 scores for graphics, control, and fun factor, and 4.5/5 for sound.

References

  1. ^ IGN staff (March 18, 1999). "Cal Speed in Stores". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Johnny Ballgame (April 1998). "Hot at the Arcades: California Speed". GamePro. No. 115. IDG. p. 65.
  3. ^ Rigdon Jr., Randall (February 20, 2016). "Mystery of Creepy 18-Year-Old N64 'California Speed' Easter Egg Finally Revealed". PopOptiq. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "California Speed for Nintendo 64 Reviews". GameRankings. CBS Interavtive. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  5. ^ Cook, Brad. "California Speed (Arcade) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  6. ^ Marriott, Scott Alan. "California Speed (N64) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  7. ^ "Nintendo 64 Reviews: C". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  8. ^ Panda; Cheub (June 1999). "California Speed [US Import]". Consoles + (in French). No. 89. pp. 130–31.
  9. ^ Ricciardi, John; Hager, Dean; Boyer, Crispin; Williams, Ken "Sushi-X" (April 1999). "California Speed (N64)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 117. Ziff Davis. p. 121. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  10. ^ McNamara, Andy; Anderson, Paul; Reiner, Andrew (April 1999). "California Speed (N64)". Game Informer. No. 72. FuncoLand. Archived from the original on May 21, 2000. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  11. ^ Taruc, Nelson (April 21, 1999). "California Speed Review (N64)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on December 30, 2004. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  12. ^ Norton-Smith, Hugh (June 1999). "California Speed (N64)". Hyper. No. 68. Next Media Pty Ltd. p. 81. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  13. ^ Casamassina, Matt (March 19, 1999). "California Speed (N64)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  14. ^ Weaver, Tim (May 1999). "California Speed". N64 Magazine. No. 28. Future Publishing. p. 72. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  15. ^ a b "California Speed (Arcade)". Next Generation. No. 43. Imagine Media. July 1998. p. 120. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  16. ^ "California Speed". Nintendo Power. Vol. 118. Nintendo of America. March 1999. p. 116. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  17. ^ Boba Fatt (April 1999). "California Speed (N64)" (PDF). GamePro. No. 127. IDG. p. 80. Retrieved September 8, 2023.

External links


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