BC Racers
Encyclopedia
BC Racers is a racing video game released by Core Design
in 1994
in Mega-CD, in 1995
in Sega 32X
and 3DO
, and also released by the company in PC as freeware
in 1995. It was the third game released in the Chuck Rock series
(even though the Chuck Rock connection isn't as prominent in this game). The game was designed by Toby Gard
, who later created Lara Croft
.
's iconic characters, Chuck Rock
. The millionaire playboy caveman Millstone Rockafella has organized a BC bike race, the winner of which will receive the Ultimate Boulderdash Bike. Six groups of riders -one driving, one deploying weapons from the sidecar
- from all around the prehistoric world will use their rock-powered sidecars to compete for this prize.
s, except for a "turbo" that the bikes can trigger every few seconds.
Another unusual feature of the game is the function of the bikes' riders: both of them can use physical attacks to injure other drivers. If the bike gets beaten enough, it crashes out, giving the player extra points. Of course, the same thing can happen to the player's bike.
Some ports
of the game include a split-screen two player mode. However, other ports didn't include this modality, namely the Mega-CD version, having instead a two player cooperative mode (one of the players controls the driver, while the other controls the fighting, steering and turbo).
games, such as Chuck Rock and Chuck Rock Junior. Others are obvious references to several real world characters, such as Brick Jagger and Jimi Handtrix (referencing Mick Jagger
and Jimi Hendrix
).
Core Design
Core Design was a British video game studio best known today for creating the popular Tomb Raider series.-History:Based in the city of Derby, England, Core Design was set up in 1988 by Chris Shrigley, Andy Green, Rob Toone, Terry Lloyd, Simon Phipps, Dave Pridmore, Jeremy Heath-Smith and Greg Holmes...
in 1994
1994 in video gaming
-Events:*Nintendo calls this year "1994: The Year of the Cartridge".*Nintendo Australia Pty. Ltd, the Australian subsidiary of Nintendo Co., Ltd is established and opened by Hiroshi Yamauchi and effectively ends Mattel Australia's distribution of Nintendo's products throughout Australia.*"Project...
in Mega-CD, in 1995
1995 in video gaming
-Events:*May 11 – Introduction of trade magazine GameWeek *May 11-16 — The 1st annual Electronic Entertainment Expo is held in Los Angeles, California...
in Sega 32X
Sega 32X
The Sega 32X, codenamed Project Mars, is an add-on for the Mega Drive/Genesis video game console by Sega. Its aim was to increase the lifespan of the aging Mega Drive/Genesis system, which was facing stiff competition from the SNES...
and 3DO
3DO Interactive Multiplayer
The 3DO Interactive Multiplayer is a video game console originally produced by Panasonic in 1993. Further renditions of the hardware were released in 1994 by Sanyo and Goldstar. The consoles were manufactured according to specifications created by The 3DO Company, and were originally designed by...
, and also released by the company in PC as freeware
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
in 1995. It was the third game released in the Chuck Rock series
Chuck Rock
Chuck Rock is a slapstick side-scrolling platform video game of the early to mid 1990s, which was initially created by Core Design in 1991 and was subsequently ported to a large number of home consoles of the time over the next few years....
(even though the Chuck Rock connection isn't as prominent in this game). The game was designed by Toby Gard
Toby Gard
Toby Gard is an English computer game character designer and consultant, notably creating female British archaeologist Lara Croft...
, who later created Lara Croft
Lara Croft
Lara Croft is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Square Enix video game series Tomb Raider. She is presented as a beautiful, intelligent, and athletic British archaeologist-adventurer who ventures into ancient, hazardous tombs and ruins around the world...
.
Storyline
BC Racers tries to create a racing simulation by mixing the usual elements of games of this genre with the "prehistoric" theme. Particularly, the game takes place in the world of one of CoreCore Design
Core Design was a British video game studio best known today for creating the popular Tomb Raider series.-History:Based in the city of Derby, England, Core Design was set up in 1988 by Chris Shrigley, Andy Green, Rob Toone, Terry Lloyd, Simon Phipps, Dave Pridmore, Jeremy Heath-Smith and Greg Holmes...
's iconic characters, Chuck Rock
Chuck Rock
Chuck Rock is a slapstick side-scrolling platform video game of the early to mid 1990s, which was initially created by Core Design in 1991 and was subsequently ported to a large number of home consoles of the time over the next few years....
. The millionaire playboy caveman Millstone Rockafella has organized a BC bike race, the winner of which will receive the Ultimate Boulderdash Bike. Six groups of riders -one driving, one deploying weapons from the sidecar
Sidecar
A sidecar is a one-wheeled device attached to the side of a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle, producing a three-wheeled vehicle.-History:A sidecar appeared in a cartoon by George Moore in the January 7, 1903, issue of the British newspaper Motor Cycling. Three weeks later, a provisional patent was...
- from all around the prehistoric world will use their rock-powered sidecars to compete for this prize.
Description and gameplay
BC Racers has four difficulty settings: Easy, Medium, Hard and Rockhard. Each of the settings has eight different circuits, making a total of 32 circuits in the game. There are also eight themes, from desert wastes to active volcanoes and massive jungles. The tracks need four laps to complete, and feature many special elements specific to the circuit's setting. Unusually for a game of this type, there are no power-upPower-up
In computer and video games, power-ups are objects that instantly benefit or add extra abilities to the game character as a game mechanic. This is in contrast to an item, which may or may not have a benefit and can be used at a time chosen by the player...
s, except for a "turbo" that the bikes can trigger every few seconds.
Another unusual feature of the game is the function of the bikes' riders: both of them can use physical attacks to injure other drivers. If the bike gets beaten enough, it crashes out, giving the player extra points. Of course, the same thing can happen to the player's bike.
Some ports
Porting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
of the game include a split-screen two player mode. However, other ports didn't include this modality, namely the Mega-CD version, having instead a two player cooperative mode (one of the players controls the driver, while the other controls the fighting, steering and turbo).
Playable characters
Some of the riders in BC Racers come from other famous Core DesignCore Design
Core Design was a British video game studio best known today for creating the popular Tomb Raider series.-History:Based in the city of Derby, England, Core Design was set up in 1988 by Chris Shrigley, Andy Green, Rob Toone, Terry Lloyd, Simon Phipps, Dave Pridmore, Jeremy Heath-Smith and Greg Holmes...
games, such as Chuck Rock and Chuck Rock Junior. Others are obvious references to several real world characters, such as Brick Jagger and Jimi Handtrix (referencing Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
and Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
).