FlatOut
Encyclopedia
FlatOut is a racing
video game developed by Finnish Bugbear Entertainment
and published by Empire Interactive
and Vivendi Universal Games
in 2004 and 2005. Gameplay in Flatout places emphasis on demolition derby
-style races, and features a sophisticated physics engine. 16 different cars are included, each with 5 different skins for them.
Modes in FlatOut include standard lap races, in either open environments or stadium laps, and demolition derby deathmatches, in which the driver of the sole-surviving vehicle declared the winner; both modes pit players against 7 computer-controlled opponents. The game also includes special events which require the player to toss the driver off of his/her vehicle and meet certain requirements. In career mode, pick up your future top racer from the junkyard. Winnings come in the form of cash, which allows players to purchase vehicle upgrades and new vehicles.
FlatOut is noted for its extensive use of physics in vehicle damage and collisions; dents on vehicles may vary based on the type of accident, object and angle of impact (falling objects, for example, will damage mostly the upper areas of a car), while many roadside items react better to collisions from other vehicles.
Ragdoll physics
is also present in the game, with drivers capable of being tossed out of their car after high-impact crashes. This feature is extensively used in several special events, when the player is required to "toss" a driver to a specific distance, height, or target.
During an update in 2007 FlatOut was made forwards compatible with the Xbox 360.
was released first, in Europe, on June 30, 2006. A larger variety of vehicles (including contemporary cars and pickup truck
s) are included. The North American version was launched on August 1.
Bugbear released FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage
for Xbox 360
, in 2007. The Microsoft Windows
version was released on August 1, 2008.
On May 4, 2010, it was announced that Team6
would be making a new version of FlatOut for the Wii
. The game will feature four game modes: Racing, Trash, Arena and Stuntman. It is unknown whether it is a sequel or spin-off of the series.
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 developed by Finnish Bugbear Entertainment
Bugbear Entertainment
Bugbear Entertainment Ltd. is a Finnish video game company. It was established in March, 2000 and employed 40 employees as in 2007. The company solely focuses on various kinds of racing games.- Released games :- Upcoming games :...
and published by Empire Interactive
Empire Interactive
Empire Interactive was a UK based video game developer and publisher founded in 1987. It was closed under administration on 4 May 2009.-About Empire Interactive:...
and Vivendi Universal Games
Vivendi Games
Vivendi Games, formerly known as Vivendi Universal Games, was the holdings company for Sierra Entertainment and Blizzard Entertainment. Vivendi Games was founded as Vivendi Universal Games after Vivendi bought Universal Studios in the early 2000s...
in 2004 and 2005. Gameplay in Flatout places emphasis on demolition derby
Demolition derby
Demolition derby is a motorsport usually presented at county fairs and festivals. While rules vary from event to event, the typical demolition derby event consists of five or more drivers competing by deliberately ramming their vehicles into one another...
-style races, and features a sophisticated physics engine. 16 different cars are included, each with 5 different skins for them.
Modes in FlatOut include standard lap races, in either open environments or stadium laps, and demolition derby deathmatches, in which the driver of the sole-surviving vehicle declared the winner; both modes pit players against 7 computer-controlled opponents. The game also includes special events which require the player to toss the driver off of his/her vehicle and meet certain requirements. In career mode, pick up your future top racer from the junkyard. Winnings come in the form of cash, which allows players to purchase vehicle upgrades and new vehicles.
FlatOut is noted for its extensive use of physics in vehicle damage and collisions; dents on vehicles may vary based on the type of accident, object and angle of impact (falling objects, for example, will damage mostly the upper areas of a car), while many roadside items react better to collisions from other vehicles.
Ragdoll physics
Ragdoll physics
In computer physics engines, ragdoll physics is a type of procedural animation that is often used as a replacement for traditional static death animations.-Introduction:Early video games used manually-created animations for characters' death sequences...
is also present in the game, with drivers capable of being tossed out of their car after high-impact crashes. This feature is extensively used in several special events, when the player is required to "toss" a driver to a specific distance, height, or target.
During an update in 2007 FlatOut was made forwards compatible with the Xbox 360.
Sequels
A sequel, FlatOut 2FlatOut 2
FlatOut 2 is a racing video game developed by Bugbear Entertainment and published by Empire Interactive and Vivendi Universal Games. It is the sequel to the 2004-2005 releaseFlatOut....
was released first, in Europe, on June 30, 2006. A larger variety of vehicles (including contemporary cars and pickup truck
Pickup truck
A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...
s) are included. The North American version was launched on August 1.
Bugbear released FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage
FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage
Hypers Maurice Branscombe commended the game for "looking and playing better than ever before". However, he criticized the game for its soundtracks and stated that "its load times are too long"....
for Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, in 2007. The Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
version was released on August 1, 2008.
On May 4, 2010, it was announced that Team6
Team6 Game Studios
Team6 Game Studios is a privately owned game studio located in Assen, the Netherlands. The actual game studio was founded in 2001 and developed a dozen of games under a different name, but the name was changed to "Team6 game studios" in 2003: and has developed many games since...
would be making a new version of FlatOut for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
. The game will feature four game modes: Racing, Trash, Arena and Stuntman. It is unknown whether it is a sequel or spin-off of the series.
External links
- Bugbear Entertainment homepage
- Flatout Online - Flatout Online Community
- FlatOut PC review by IGN