Xtreme Racing
Encyclopedia
XTreme Racing is a kart-style racing computer game released in 1995 for the Amiga
home computer system. The gameplay is heavily based on Super Mario Kart
, released 3 years prior for the Super Nintendo
with immense success. The player(s) select from one of 8 possible characters, each driving unique vehicles.
, a fairly high-profile release also with input from the programming team at Silltunna Software, only sold 5,000 when it was released in 1997. Subsequently XTR appeared as an almost full version on a magazine coverdisk, missing only some of the map graphics which were then made available for download on the Aminet
.
connection.
The first is a Cup Mode, wherein the player can compete in one of 4 cups (2 more were added in the upgrade pack, bringing the total to 6). The cups usually contain 5 tracks of varying difficulty. The better position you attain each race, the more points you acquire.
The second is a Tournament Mode, in which players must not only strive to make it into at least first, second or third position each race, but in which you can also obtain money with which you can buy upgrades for your chosen car.
The third mode is a standard Time Trial Mode, the aim of which being to attain as fast a time as possible on your selected tracks without the distraction of other vehicles (the other two modes also log Lap Records). Perhaps the most annoying fascet of this mode, Lap Records are not automatically saved but rather must be saved by selecting the "Save Records" option on the Frontend Menu.
game, Street Racer
.
chipset (such as the Amiga 1200
, Amiga 4000
, or an ECS
/OCS Amiga with a Graphics Accelerator Card supporting AGA emulation. As the game also renders a lot of flat plane 3D, a Graphics Accelerator Card significantly boosts performance. As with most PC titles today, the better the memory and graphical capabilities of the computer itself, the smoother the game would run. It is possible to adjust the graphics quality from within the game - users can choose to render the pixels as 4x4, 4x2, 2x2, 2x1, or standard 1x1, as well as toggling various elements such as dust and mountains. Unlike Super Mario Kart, XTR allows you to move the camera position. A vanilla Amiga 1200 (emulated or otherwise) can only run the game in low-resolution modes.
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
home computer system. The gameplay is heavily based on Super Mario Kart
Super Mario Kart
is a go-kart racing video game developed by Nintendo EAD for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System . The first game of the Mario Kart series, it was launched in Japan on August 27, 1992, in North America on September 1, 1992, and in Europe on January 21, 1993. Selling eight million copies...
, released 3 years prior for the Super Nintendo
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
with immense success. The player(s) select from one of 8 possible characters, each driving unique vehicles.
Reception
With critical acclaim in Amiga gaming magazines, the game itself sold well on AGA machines, however not enough to justify a full sequel. This was due to the state of the Amiga market at the time (by comparison, Worms: The Directors CutWorms (computer game)
Worms is a series of turn-based computer games developed by British company Team17 Software. Players control a small platoon of earthworms across a deformable landscape, battling other computer- or player-controlled teams...
, a fairly high-profile release also with input from the programming team at Silltunna Software, only sold 5,000 when it was released in 1997. Subsequently XTR appeared as an almost full version on a magazine coverdisk, missing only some of the map graphics which were then made available for download on the Aminet
Aminet
Aminet is the world's largest archive of Amiga-related software and files. Aminet was originally hosted by several universities' FTP sites, and is now available on CD-ROM and on the web.-History:...
.
Upgrade pack
In 1996 an upgrade pack, including additional tracks, bug fixes, new features and additional Cups to participate in, was made available to people who registered their copy of the game with the publisher. The upgrade pack also included a Map Editor, which a few people have used to produce brand new maps over the years. The upgrade pack, as well as many user-made maps, are now available on Aminet.Gameplay
XTreme Racing can be played by up to four players on one computer, or with up to 8 players via a null modemNull modem
Null modem is a communication method to connect two DTEs directly using an RS-232 serial cable. The name stems from the historical use of the RS-232 cable to connect two teleprinter devices to modems in order to communicate with one another; null modem communication was possible by instead using...
connection.
Single player
There are three Single Player modes available at the start of the game.The first is a Cup Mode, wherein the player can compete in one of 4 cups (2 more were added in the upgrade pack, bringing the total to 6). The cups usually contain 5 tracks of varying difficulty. The better position you attain each race, the more points you acquire.
The second is a Tournament Mode, in which players must not only strive to make it into at least first, second or third position each race, but in which you can also obtain money with which you can buy upgrades for your chosen car.
The third mode is a standard Time Trial Mode, the aim of which being to attain as fast a time as possible on your selected tracks without the distraction of other vehicles (the other two modes also log Lap Records). Perhaps the most annoying fascet of this mode, Lap Records are not automatically saved but rather must be saved by selecting the "Save Records" option on the Frontend Menu.
Multiplayer
As well as the Cup and Tournament Modes listed above, Multiplayer also includes a Versus Mode, wherein the players (and as many computer-controlled players as you wish, if any) race head-to-head on the tracks of your choosing. The game also includes a Battle Mode similar to that in Super Mario Kart although actually more inspired by another Super NintendoSuper Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
game, Street Racer
Street Racer
Street Racer is a racing video game published by Ubisoft for various systems. It was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1994, Mega Drive/Genesis in 1995, PlayStation and GameBoy in 1996 and PC and Amiga in 1997. Inspired by Mario Kart, the go-kart themed game combined racing...
.
Technical aspects
Xtreme Racing requires an Amiga with an AGAAdvanced Graphics Architecture
Advanced Graphics Architecture is the third generation Amiga graphic chip set, first used in the Amiga 4000 in 1992. AGA was codenamed the Pandora chipset by Commodore International internally....
chipset (such as the Amiga 1200
Amiga 1200
The Amiga 1200, or A1200 , was Commodore International's third-generation Amiga computer, aimed at the home market...
, Amiga 4000
Amiga 4000
The Commodore Amiga 4000, or A4000, is the successor of the A2000 and A3000 computers. There are two models, the A4000/040 released in October 1992 with a Motorola 68040 CPU, and the A4000/030 released in April 1993 with a Motorola 68EC030....
, or an ECS
ECS
-In technology:*Amazon E-Commerce Service, former name of the Amazon Associates Web Service, now known as Amazon Product Advertising API*eComStation, a computer operating system...
/OCS Amiga with a Graphics Accelerator Card supporting AGA emulation. As the game also renders a lot of flat plane 3D, a Graphics Accelerator Card significantly boosts performance. As with most PC titles today, the better the memory and graphical capabilities of the computer itself, the smoother the game would run. It is possible to adjust the graphics quality from within the game - users can choose to render the pixels as 4x4, 4x2, 2x2, 2x1, or standard 1x1, as well as toggling various elements such as dust and mountains. Unlike Super Mario Kart, XTR allows you to move the camera position. A vanilla Amiga 1200 (emulated or otherwise) can only run the game in low-resolution modes.