Project Gotham Racing Explained

Project Gotham Racing
Developer:Bizarre Creations
Glu Mobile
Pixelbite
Publisher:Microsoft Game Studios
Sega
Glu Mobile
Platforms:Xbox, Xbox 360, Dreamcast, mobile phone, Zune HD
First Release Version:Metropolis Street Racer
First Release Date:November 3, 2000
Latest Release Version:Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition
Latest Release Date:November 11, 2009
Genre:Racing

Project Gotham Racing (PGR) is a series of racing video games developed by Bizarre Creations and published by Microsoft Studios (Xbox and Xbox 360) and Sega (Dreamcast). The series appeared on the Dreamcast, Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles, and consists of Metropolis Street Racer (Dreamcast), Project Gotham Racing (Xbox), Project Gotham Racing 2 (Xbox), Project Gotham Racing 3 (Xbox 360), and Project Gotham Racing 4 (Xbox 360).

Gameplay

The PGR series have a system called Kudos points. These are given for performing stunts with the vehicle (such as power sliding, overtaking another driver, two wheels, etc.). The longer the stunt is maintained, the more points the player receives. Colliding with the guard rails and other surroundings will cause the Kudos points from that stunt to be lost.

MSR did not support direct network play via SegaNet/Dreamarena, however it did provide some online features. Players could download ghost data and download Hot Lap and Time Trial challenges set by the developers. It also featured rudimentary downloadable content in the form of challenges which featured new racetrack configurations. PGR2, PGR3 and PGR4 supported direct network gameplay via Xbox Live, while the first installment in the series did not.

The cover of each game in the Project Gotham Racing franchise has featured a Ferrari car on it, going from the F50 (PGR) to the Enzo (PGR2), the F430 (PGR3), and the 599 GTB Fiorano (PGR4). The car manufacturer was even the main focus of a free mobile entry in the series, PGR: Ferrari Edition for the Zune HD, similar to that of Porsche in .

The PGR series is the successor to Bizarre Creation's Dreamcast game Metropolis Street Racer, as evidenced by the similarities and the recycled content between the first Project Gotham Racing and Metropolis Street Racer.

Discontinuation

In September 2007, after being bought by Activision, Bizarre Creations announced that PGR4 would be the last game produced for Microsoft. Bizarre developed PGR4s spiritual successor, Blur, which was released on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Windows.[1] As no new PGR games were released in the 2010s, and Bizarre Creations was shuttered by Activision in 2011, the franchise is presumed to be discontinued.

In 2013, Microsoft renewed its trademark for Project Gotham Racing.[2]

Titles

TitleReleasePlatform
Metropolis Street RacerNovember 3, 2000Dreamcast
Project Gotham RacingNovember 15, 2001Xbox
Project Gotham Racing 2November 17, 2003Xbox
Project Gotham Racing 3November 22, 2005Xbox 360
Project Gotham Racing MobileDecember 2006J2ME mobile phone[3] [4]
Project Gotham Racing 4October 2, 2007Xbox 360
Project Gotham Racing2007Symbian, Windows Mobile[5]
Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari EditionNovember 11, 2009Zune HD[6]

Reception

All five games in the series received positive reviews from critics.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Activision buys Bizarre Creations. DevelopMag.com. dead. 2007-09-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20120722103511/http://www.develop-online.net/news/28531/Activision-acquires-Bizarre-Creations. 2012-07-22.
  2. Web site: Hillier . Brenna . Project Gotham Racing trademark renewed . . . 2 April 2023 . 25 February 2013.
  3. Web site: 2006-12-22 . Project Gotham Racing (3D) . 2023-05-20 . www.pocketgamer.com . en.
  4. Web site: Buchanan . Levi . 1 May 2006 . Pre-E3 2006: Project Gotham Racing Mobile . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20061018090940/http://wireless.ign.com/articles/704/704006p1.html . 18 October 2006 . 21 July 2015 . . Ziff Davis.
  5. Web site: Dredge . Stuart . 2007-02-15 . 3GSM 2007: Project Gotham Racing Mobile gets a smartphone revamp . 2023-05-20 . www.pocketgamer.com . en.
  6. Web site: Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition. IGN. Ziff Davis. 21 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150513201128/http://www.ign.com/games/project-gotham-racing-ferrari-edition/zunehd-32263. 13 May 2015. live.