World Driver Championship
Encyclopedia
World Driver Championship is an automobile racing
video game. It was developed by Boss Game Studios
and published for the Nintendo 64
by Midway Games
.
One of the last racing simulations to be released for Nintendo 64, this graphically intensive title used custom microcode
optimization and high polygon count modelling. The development team was able to optimize the usage of the various processors within the N64 to allow far draw distance (reducing the need for fog or pop-up), high detail texturing and models, Doppler effect
audio, and advanced lighting and fog effects for realistic weather conditions. Impressively the game has a high resolution 640x480 mode that does not require the add-on N64 RAM Expansion Pak. Additionally, unlike many other games of its type on the platform, the game runs high resolution at a sufficiently playable pace, undoubtedly due to the use of a reduced screen area letterbox
mode that lessens the number of pixels needing to be displayed.
The game received mixed reviews due to intense competition at the time. While WDC was an improvement in nearly every way compared to Boss's similar earlier effort, Top Gear Rally
, it was up against the impressive new Gran Turismo
series and other new racers. Complaints included a somewhat unconvincing driving physics model, non-licensed cars, and poor sound effects and music quality. The dislike for the physics model often stems from the beginning cars being difficult to drive and offering a "sloppy" feeling of control. As the game progresses and the player receives faster and better performing cars, the game becomes easier and more enjoyable.
The soundtrack, composed of original rock & heavy metal tunes, was composed by musician Zack Ohren.
Here's the list:
GT1 Class
. There have been several fan bases over the internet dedicated to World Driver Championship.
Racing game
A racing video game is a genre of video games, either in the first-person or third-person perspective, in which the player partakes in a racing competition with any type of land, air, or sea vehicles. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to entirely fantastical settings...
video game. It was developed by Boss Game Studios
Boss Game Studios
Boss Game Studio is a defunct video game developer specializing in Nintendo 64 games. The company was formed as an independent offshoot of Boss Film Studios...
and published for the Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
by Midway Games
Midway Games
Midway Games, Inc. is an American company that was formerly a major video game publisher. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2009, it is no longer active and is in the process of liquidating all of its assets. Midway's titles included Mortal Kombat, Ms.Pac-Man, Spy Hunter, Tron, Rampage, the...
.
One of the last racing simulations to be released for Nintendo 64, this graphically intensive title used custom microcode
Microcode
Microcode is a layer of hardware-level instructions and/or data structures involved in the implementation of higher level machine code instructions in many computers and other processors; it resides in special high-speed memory and translates machine instructions into sequences of detailed...
optimization and high polygon count modelling. The development team was able to optimize the usage of the various processors within the N64 to allow far draw distance (reducing the need for fog or pop-up), high detail texturing and models, Doppler effect
Doppler effect
The Doppler effect , named after Austrian physicist Christian Doppler who proposed it in 1842 in Prague, is the change in frequency of a wave for an observer moving relative to the source of the wave. It is commonly heard when a vehicle sounding a siren or horn approaches, passes, and recedes from...
audio, and advanced lighting and fog effects for realistic weather conditions. Impressively the game has a high resolution 640x480 mode that does not require the add-on N64 RAM Expansion Pak. Additionally, unlike many other games of its type on the platform, the game runs high resolution at a sufficiently playable pace, undoubtedly due to the use of a reduced screen area letterbox
Letterbox
Letterboxing is the practice of transferring film shot in a widescreen aspect ratio to standard-width video formats while preserving the film's original aspect ratio. The resulting videographic image has mattes above and below it; these mattes are part of the image...
mode that lessens the number of pixels needing to be displayed.
Reviews
| Publication | Score | |
|---|---|---|
GameSpot GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which... |
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IGN IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment... |
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EGM EGM can stand for:* Electronic Gaming Monthly, an American video game magazine* Extraordinary General Meeting, a meeting of members of an organisation, shareholders, or employees, which occurs at an irregular time... |
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Nintendo Power Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was... |
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| Compilations of multiple reviews | ||
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The game received mixed reviews due to intense competition at the time. While WDC was an improvement in nearly every way compared to Boss's similar earlier effort, Top Gear Rally
Top Gear Rally
Top Gear Rally is a rally game for the Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance. The Game Boy Color version was released under the name Top Gear Pocket, although the European release uses the original name. It features five tracks. It has a feature that allows the user to give their virtual...
, it was up against the impressive new Gran Turismo
Gran Turismo (series)
is a popular and critically acclaimed series of racing simulation video games developed by Polyphony Digital.Developed exclusively for PlayStation systems, Gran Turismo games are intended to simulate the appearance and performance of a large selection of vehicles, nearly all of which are licensed...
series and other new racers. Complaints included a somewhat unconvincing driving physics model, non-licensed cars, and poor sound effects and music quality. The dislike for the physics model often stems from the beginning cars being difficult to drive and offering a "sloppy" feeling of control. As the game progresses and the player receives faster and better performing cars, the game becomes easier and more enjoyable.
The soundtrack, composed of original rock & heavy metal tunes, was composed by musician Zack Ohren.
Tracks
There are ten locations in the entire game, each with six tracks (marked "A", "B", and "C"), three of which are in reverse (marked "R" next to "A", "B", and "C"), except for the last track (Black Forest), which has only four, two of them being in reverse.Here's the list:
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in AucklandAucklandThe Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world... - LisbonLisbonLisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, PortugalPortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the... - RomeRomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
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of GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Cars and Teams
GT2 Class| Team | Car | Based |
|---|---|---|
| Speedcraft, USA | Ellipse Stallion | Saleen Ford Mustang S281 |
| Kohr Racing, MEX | Rage 512 Evo | Porsche 911 (993) GT2 |
| Viewpoint, ITA | Elan Swift TT | Lotus Esprit GT1 |
| Reeds, AUS | Reeds R12 Manta | Callaway Corvette LM GT2 |
| Eurospec, FRA | Ram Venom GTR | Dodge Viper GTS-R |
| Totalsport, BRA | Furio LS | Marcos LM600 |
| Elite, ENG | EXR Challenger | TVR Cerbera GT2 |
GT1 Class
| Team | Car | Based |
|---|---|---|
| Team Nebo, JPN | Hayai N70 | Nissan R390 GT1 |
| Victorysmith, IRL | Lance Scorcher | Lister Storm GT1 |
| Sage Autosport, ITA | Elan Scorpion | Lotus Elise GT1 |
| Lassiter, ENG | McCloud F-Type | Mclaren F1 GTR (long tail) |
| SSD Competition, CAN | Panzer Batraye GT | Panoz GTR-1 Esperante |
| Boss Racing, USA | Rage 996 GTR | Porsche 911 (996) GT1 |
| Meiden-Krauss, GER | M-K Phantom R | Mercedes-Benz CLK-LM |
| Excalibur LTD, UNK | EXR Mystic | TVR Speed 12 |
Fans
Ever since World Driver Championship came out in mid 1999, fans have recognized it as one of the greatest racing game titles for the Nintendo 64Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
. There have been several fan bases over the internet dedicated to World Driver Championship.
World Driver Championship Sweepstakes
The sweepstakes was to start on June 15th, 1999 and end on August 15th, 1999. If lucky, contestants would win T- Shirts, Midway games or the grand prize of $2,500 dollars. It is unknown who won the $2,500 or if any sweepstakes ever existed in the first place as there is no record of anyone winning the given jackpot.Emulation
World Driver Championship is currently not supported by any Nintendo 64 emulator under stock settings. The game uses advanced techniques that HLE emulators don't understand as of right now. This game is reported to be playable with Ziggy's LLE graphics plugin, and a hacked RSP.dll. However, the system requirements are quite demanding. More can be found at this topic at the Emutalk forums: http://www.emutalk.net/showthread.php?t=40640.External links
- World Driver Championship at IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
- World Driver Championship at GameSpotGameSpotGameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...