Midtown Madness
Encyclopedia
Midtown Madness is a racing game
developed
for Windows
by Angel Studios
and published
by Microsoft
. A demo version
was released via download on February 1, 1999, and the entire game was released on February 27, 1999. A sequel
, Midtown Madness 2
, was released in April 2000, and the final addition to the series, Midtown Madness 3
was released in June 2002 for the Xbox
. Set in Chicago, the goal of Midtown Madness is to win street races
and obtain new cars.
Unlike many racing games, which restrict the player to a race track, Midtown Madness offers an open world
recreation of Chicago. This setting was developed by Microsoft and described as offering "an unprecedented degree of freedom to drive around in a virtual city". Players can explore the city via one of several modes, and can determine the weather and traffic conditions for each race. The game supports multiplayer races over a local area network
or the Internet. Overall, the game received positive reviews from gaming websites; reviewers generally praised the gameplay, though some criticized the graphics.
The city is modeled after Chicago, including many of its landmarks, such as The 'L'
, Willis Tower, Wrigley Field
, and Soldier Field
. Its streets feature many objects that the player can crash into, such as trash bins, parking meters, mailboxes, and street lights. In Checkpoint, traffic is regulated by traffic lights, but the player is under no obligation to obey them.
Midtown Madness supports multiplayer games via local area network, Internet, or serial cable
connection. Multiplayer mode was originally supported by Microsoft's MSN Gaming Zone, though this service was retired on June 19, 2006. It is now supported by similar services such as GameSpy Arcade
and XFire
, via DirectPlay
. Multiplayer includes a Cops and Robbers mode, inspired by the television program World's Deadliest Police Chases. This is a capture the flag
-style game in which players form two teams; each team must steal the opposing team's cache of gold and return it to their own hideout.
, part of Rockstar Games
) developed for the PC. Microsoft was following up on their previous Madness computer games, Motocross Madness
and Monster Truck Madness
. According to project director Clint Keith, the idea behind the game came to two Microsoft employees while they were "trying to cross a busy Paris street". They proposed their idea to Angel Studios, who were attempting to sell Microsoft a 3D vehicle simulator
. Angel Studios were initially hesitant to accept Microsoft's offer, as it "seemed too large a challenge to pull off". After agreeing, Angel Studios chose Chicago for the setting because it is the site of several famous car chases, such as those in the film The Blues Brothers
. To ensure that the city was recreated faithfully, Angel Studios had Chicago residents playtest the game. PC Gamer
reported a consensus that the recreation was mostly accurate, though Angel Studios had relocated landmarks to enhance the gameplay.
Angel Studios and Microsoft included ordinary cars in addition to the "overpowered Italian sports cars" often seen in racing games. The developers had to obtain permission from manufacturers to use the likenesses of the vehicles; Microsoft thus received permission from Volkswagen
for the New Beetle
and from Ford for the Mustang
and F-350. The decision to make only half the cars available at the outset was to promote a "spirit of competitiveness". Microsoft also told Angel Studios not to allow players to hit pedestrians. After deciding against rendering pedestrians in two dimensions, Angel Studios developed 3D pedestrian models that could run and jump out of the way. Angel Studios included an option to remove pedestrians, as they do not alter gameplay but may significantly affect system performance when in a group; consequently, the game does not require a 3D graphics card.
A demo version was released for download on May 1, 1999. It featured three vehicles (a Mustang, Panoz Roadster
, and bus), and all four driving modes. The demo also included features that would be scrapped in the full version, such as the ability to send billboards flying. In December 1999, Angel Studios reported that they were considering a map designer for players, but such customization never materialized. The finished game was released on May 27, 1999.
The game is distinctly different from other racing games—IGN
noted the difference from the Need for Speed
series—because of what Microsoft called "an unprecedented degree of freedom to drive around in a virtual city." Clint Keith said the idea behind an "open space" game was to make the gameplay more diverse, and to add an "element of discovery", such as the shortcuts players can take to reach the finish line first. Gary Whitta
described the game as open racing: "you still have checkpoints to hit [but] you don't have to follow the A-B-C-D standard to do it".
s" and unconvincing visual effects
. PC Zone praised Angel Studios for avoiding gimmicks, instead presenting "accurately modelled cars and a meticulously recreated city" to the player. Allgame said Midtown Madness "possesses superb, immersive graphics", using the different times of day and weather as an example. However, it complained that cars not controlled by the player were lacking in details. Computer and Video Games said that as well as being "structurally and visually consistent", the Chicago setting in Midtown Madness was "brought to life"—for instance, a "city bus legitimately pulling out at a four-way junction" can end the race for a player by destroying their car. However, Total Video Games called the game's presentation "far from optimal" even at the recommended system requirements
. Reviewer Noel Brady pointed out "a serious lack of detail" and blockiness, especially without a graphics card.
IGN described the in-game narration as "a nice touch", but noted some glitch
es among the otherwise "distinctive engine and horn sounds". GameSpot called the game's sounds exceptional, approving of its variety of car noises such as the "warning beeps when the bus goes in reverse". PC Zone praised the in-game radio system, and the support for external media players. Allgame said players "get a dose of reality" with other drivers and pedestrians "hurling insults and exclamations your way". Total Video Games was critical of the AI
, declaring that cars often drive "without noticing [the player] at all". In his book AI Game Engine Programming, Brian Schwab described Midtown Madness gameplay as "arcade style" and "fast and loose", and said the in-game traffic was great.
Reviews of Midtown Madness attributed the most praise to its gameplay for "fun" elements. IGN wrote that the game "doesn't rely heavily on driving authenticity; this game's all about fun." The review also praised the simplicity whereby players can "pick a real-world car and go". GameSpot wrote that "it's fun to be able to drive like a maniac [...] because you know you can't in real life." Computer and Video Games remarked on the game's humor, provided by other drivers, police, contenders (described as maniacs), and the "carnage that unfolds before your windscreen". PC Zone recommended the game, calling it highly refreshing; Total Video Games said the game seemed a good choice, but suggested that it would be outdone by GT Interactive's Driver
, released soon after. Allgame called it a "must-buy for the driving game enthusiast", and argued that it would appeal to those not otherwise fans of the genre. Next Generation Magazine concluded its review by stating that Midtown Madness was not groundbreaking, but that "it'll stay on your hard drive for a while and keep you playing".
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...
developed
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
for 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...
by Angel Studios
Rockstar San Diego
Rockstar San Diego is one of the development studios under the Rockstar Games umbrella. The studio pioneered open world racing games with the Midtown Madness and the award-winning Midnight Club series. It is also responsible for the "Red Dead" series of western games...
and published
Video game publisher
A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a video game developer....
by Microsoft
Microsoft Home
Microsoft Home is a defunct line of software applications and personal hardware products published by Microsoft. Microsoft Home software titles first appeared in the middle of 1993. These applications were designed to bring multimedia to Microsoft Windows and Macintosh personal computers...
. A demo version
Game demo
A game demo is a freely distributed demonstration or preview of an upcoming or recently released video game. Demos are typically released by the game's publisher to help consumers get a feel of the game before deciding whether to buy the full version....
was released via download on February 1, 1999, and the entire game was released on February 27, 1999. A sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
, Midtown Madness 2
Midtown Madness 2
Midtown Madness 2 is a free roam racing/arcade sequel to Midtown Madness, part of the Midtown Madness series, developed by Angel Studios and published by Microsoft Game Studios, which features a range of vehicles which can be driven around London and San Francisco.-Gameplay:The game features...
, was released in April 2000, and the final addition to the series, Midtown Madness 3
Midtown Madness 3
Midtown Madness 3 is an open world racing/arcade sequel, part of the Midtown Madness series. For the first time in the series, the game was released only on the Xbox, with a Windows version rumoured for later release, but ultimately scrapped....
was released in June 2002 for the Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
. Set in Chicago, the goal of Midtown Madness is to win street races
Street racing
Street racing is a form of unsanctioned and illegal motor racing which takes place on public roads. Street racing can either be spontaneous or well-planned and coordinated. Well coordinated races are planned in advance and often have people communicating via 2-way radio/citizens' band radio and...
and obtain new cars.
Unlike many racing games, which restrict the player to a race track, Midtown Madness offers an open world
Open world
An open world is a type of video game level design where a player can roam freely through a virtual world and is given considerable freedom in choosing how to approach objectives...
recreation of Chicago. This setting was developed by Microsoft and described as offering "an unprecedented degree of freedom to drive around in a virtual city". Players can explore the city via one of several modes, and can determine the weather and traffic conditions for each race. The game supports multiplayer races over a local area network
Local area network
A local area network is a computer network that interconnects computers in a limited area such as a home, school, computer laboratory, or office building...
or the Internet. Overall, the game received positive reviews from gaming websites; reviewers generally praised the gameplay, though some criticized the graphics.
Gameplay
Midtown Madness features four single-player modes: Blitz, Circuit, Checkpoint, and Cruise. In Blitz, the player must reach a destination within a time limit; in Circuit, the player races other vehicles; in Checkpoint, the game adds the complication of other traffic, such as police cars and pedestrians; and in Cruise, the player simply explores the city. Players have a choice of up to ten vehicles, although only five are available at the start. To unlock the other cars, players must achieve goals such as winning a certain number of races. Before a race, if the player has previously won the race, they can change the race duration or the weather, which can affect vehicle performance. Checkpoint mode allows players to set the frequency of traffic, police cars, and pedestrians.The city is modeled after Chicago, including many of its landmarks, such as The 'L'
Chicago 'L'
The L is the rapid transit system serving the city of Chicago and some of its surrounding suburbs. It is operated by the Chicago Transit Authority...
, Willis Tower, Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
, and Soldier Field
Soldier Field
Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
. Its streets feature many objects that the player can crash into, such as trash bins, parking meters, mailboxes, and street lights. In Checkpoint, traffic is regulated by traffic lights, but the player is under no obligation to obey them.
Midtown Madness supports multiplayer games via local area network, Internet, or serial cable
Serial cable
A serial cable is a cable that can be used to transfer information between two devices using serial communication. The form of connectors depends on the particular PHY used...
connection. Multiplayer mode was originally supported by Microsoft's MSN Gaming Zone, though this service was retired on June 19, 2006. It is now supported by similar services such as GameSpy Arcade
GameSpy Arcade
GameSpy Arcade is a shareware multiplayer game server browsing utility. GameSpy Arcade allows players to view and connect to available multiplayer games, and chat with other users of the service. It was initially released by GameSpy Industries, a division of IGN Entertainment, in early 2000, to...
and XFire
Xfire
Xfire is a proprietary freeware instant messaging service for gamers, that also serves as a game server browser and has various other features. It is currently available for Microsoft Windows. Xfire was originally developed by Ultimate Arena based in Menlo Park, California...
, via DirectPlay
DirectPlay
DirectPlay is part of Microsoft's DirectX API. DirectPlay is a network communication library intended for computer game development, although its general nature certainly allows it to be used for other purposes....
. Multiplayer includes a Cops and Robbers mode, inspired by the television program World's Deadliest Police Chases. This is a capture the flag
Capture the flag
Capture the Flag is a traditional outdoor sport generally played by children, where two teams each have a flag and the objective is to capture the other team's flag, located at the team's "base," and bring it safely back to their own base...
-style game in which players form two teams; each team must steal the opposing team's cache of gold and return it to their own hideout.
Development
Midtown Madness was one of the first games that Angel Studios (now Rockstar San DiegoRockstar San Diego
Rockstar San Diego is one of the development studios under the Rockstar Games umbrella. The studio pioneered open world racing games with the Midtown Madness and the award-winning Midnight Club series. It is also responsible for the "Red Dead" series of western games...
, part of Rockstar Games
Rockstar Games
Rockstar Games is a major video game developer and publisher based in New York City, owned by Take-Two Interactive following its purchase of UK video game publisher BMG Interactive. The brand is mostly known for Grand Theft Auto, Max Payne, L.A...
) developed for the PC. Microsoft was following up on their previous Madness computer games, Motocross Madness
Motocross Madness
Motocross Madness is a motocross racing computer game that was developed by Rainbow Studios and published by Microsoft Games. It was released on August 14, 1998. A sequel, Motocross Madness 2, was released in 2000...
and Monster Truck Madness
Monster Truck Madness
Monster Truck Madness is a monster truck racing PC game developed by Terminal Reality and published by Microsoft, in 1996. During development it was referred to as Heavy Metal Truck or by the internal codename Metal Crush.-Development:...
. According to project director Clint Keith, the idea behind the game came to two Microsoft employees while they were "trying to cross a busy Paris street". They proposed their idea to Angel Studios, who were attempting to sell Microsoft a 3D vehicle simulator
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
. Angel Studios were initially hesitant to accept Microsoft's offer, as it "seemed too large a challenge to pull off". After agreeing, Angel Studios chose Chicago for the setting because it is the site of several famous car chases, such as those in the film The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers are an American blues and soul revivalist band founded in 1978 by comedy actors Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as part of a musical sketch on Saturday Night Live...
. To ensure that the city was recreated faithfully, Angel Studios had Chicago residents playtest the game. PC Gamer
PC Gamer
PC Gamer is a magazine founded in Britain in 1993 devoted to PC gaming and published monthly by Future Publishing. The magazine has several regional editions, with the UK and US editions becoming the best selling PC games magazines in their respective countries...
reported a consensus that the recreation was mostly accurate, though Angel Studios had relocated landmarks to enhance the gameplay.
Angel Studios and Microsoft included ordinary cars in addition to the "overpowered Italian sports cars" often seen in racing games. The developers had to obtain permission from manufacturers to use the likenesses of the vehicles; Microsoft thus received permission from Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
for the New Beetle
Volkswagen New Beetle
-Specifications:*Dimension:**Length: **Width: **Height: **Wheelbase: **Curb weight: *Max speed: 177–210 km/h *Acceleration : 6.5-13.2 sec-Body styles:-Engine choices:-Safety:...
and from Ford for the Mustang
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, as a "1964½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A...
and F-350. The decision to make only half the cars available at the outset was to promote a "spirit of competitiveness". Microsoft also told Angel Studios not to allow players to hit pedestrians. After deciding against rendering pedestrians in two dimensions, Angel Studios developed 3D pedestrian models that could run and jump out of the way. Angel Studios included an option to remove pedestrians, as they do not alter gameplay but may significantly affect system performance when in a group; consequently, the game does not require a 3D graphics card.
A demo version was released for download on May 1, 1999. It featured three vehicles (a Mustang, Panoz Roadster
Panoz Roadster
The Panoz Roadster is a sports car launched in 1992 by the American manufacturer Panoz Auto Development Company of Georgia. The Roadster was succeeded by the AIV Roadster in 1997. They were built using aluminum, similar to that of the Plymouth Prowler first sold several years later in 1997...
, and bus), and all four driving modes. The demo also included features that would be scrapped in the full version, such as the ability to send billboards flying. In December 1999, Angel Studios reported that they were considering a map designer for players, but such customization never materialized. The finished game was released on May 27, 1999.
The game is distinctly different from other racing games—IGN
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...
noted the difference from the Need for Speed
Need for Speed
Need for Speed is a series of racing video games published by Electronic Arts and developed by several studios including Canadian-based company EA Black Box and British-based Criterion Games...
series—because of what Microsoft called "an unprecedented degree of freedom to drive around in a virtual city." Clint Keith said the idea behind an "open space" game was to make the gameplay more diverse, and to add an "element of discovery", such as the shortcuts players can take to reach the finish line first. Gary Whitta
Gary Whitta
Gary Whitta is an English screenwriter, author, game designer, and video games journalist. He is known as the former editor-in-chief of both the UK and US editions of PC Gamer magazine and contributor to gaming magazine, ACE....
described the game as open racing: "you still have checkpoints to hit [but] you don't have to follow the A-B-C-D standard to do it".
Reception
Reviews of the game were generally positive. IGN rated the game's appearance highly, noting that overall "the downtown portion of Chicago is portrayed very accurately", though generic-looking portions of the city were criticized. Next Generation Magazine said the graphics were impressive, it praised the "thoroughly detailed" random occurrences of "cars hurtling in front of you" and "cringing pedestrians when you lurch onto the sidewalks". GameSpot approved of the variety in third-person, first-person dashboard, and widescreen driving views. However, it complained of the game suffering from "choppy frame rateFrame rate
Frame rate is the frequency at which an imaging device produces unique consecutive images called frames. The term applies equally well to computer graphics, video cameras, film cameras, and motion capture systems...
s" and unconvincing visual effects
Visual effects
Visual effects are the various processes by which imagery is created and/or manipulated outside the context of a live action shoot. Visual effects involve the integration of live-action footage and generated imagery to create environments which look realistic, but would be dangerous, costly, or...
. PC Zone praised Angel Studios for avoiding gimmicks, instead presenting "accurately modelled cars and a meticulously recreated city" to the player. Allgame said Midtown Madness "possesses superb, immersive graphics", using the different times of day and weather as an example. However, it complained that cars not controlled by the player were lacking in details. Computer and Video Games said that as well as being "structurally and visually consistent", the Chicago setting in Midtown Madness was "brought to life"—for instance, a "city bus legitimately pulling out at a four-way junction" can end the race for a player by destroying their car. However, Total Video Games called the game's presentation "far from optimal" even at the recommended system requirements
System requirements
To be used efficiently, all computer software needs certain hardware components or other software resources to be present on a computer. These pre-requisites are known as system requirements and are often used as a guideline as opposed to an absolute rule. Most software defines two sets of system...
. Reviewer Noel Brady pointed out "a serious lack of detail" and blockiness, especially without a graphics card.
Glitch
A glitch is a short-lived fault in a system. It is often used to describe a transient fault that corrects itself, and is therefore difficult to troubleshoot...
es among the otherwise "distinctive engine and horn sounds". GameSpot called the game's sounds exceptional, approving of its variety of car noises such as the "warning beeps when the bus goes in reverse". PC Zone praised the in-game radio system, and the support for external media players. Allgame said players "get a dose of reality" with other drivers and pedestrians "hurling insults and exclamations your way". Total Video Games was critical of the AI
Ai
AI, A.I., Ai, or ai may refer to:- Computers :* Artificial intelligence, a branch of computer science* Ad impression, in online advertising* .ai, the ISO Internet 2-letter country code for Anguilla...
, declaring that cars often drive "without noticing [the player] at all". In his book AI Game Engine Programming, Brian Schwab described Midtown Madness gameplay as "arcade style" and "fast and loose", and said the in-game traffic was great.
Reviews of Midtown Madness attributed the most praise to its gameplay for "fun" elements. IGN wrote that the game "doesn't rely heavily on driving authenticity; this game's all about fun." The review also praised the simplicity whereby players can "pick a real-world car and go". GameSpot wrote that "it's fun to be able to drive like a maniac [...] because you know you can't in real life." Computer and Video Games remarked on the game's humor, provided by other drivers, police, contenders (described as maniacs), and the "carnage that unfolds before your windscreen". PC Zone recommended the game, calling it highly refreshing; Total Video Games said the game seemed a good choice, but suggested that it would be outdone by GT Interactive's Driver
Driver (video game)
Driver is a series of mission-based driving video games developed by Reflections Interactive , and originally published by GT Interactive and later by Atari. The gameplay consists of a mixture of action, driving, and third-person shooting in open world environments...
, released soon after. Allgame called it a "must-buy for the driving game enthusiast", and argued that it would appeal to those not otherwise fans of the genre. Next Generation Magazine concluded its review by stating that Midtown Madness was not groundbreaking, but that "it'll stay on your hard drive for a while and keep you playing".