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Vanishing Point (video game)

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Vanishing Point
North American Dreamcast cover art featuring an Alfa Romeo GTV (left) and a Lotus Elise (right)
Developer(s)Clockwork Games
Publisher(s)Acclaim Entertainment
Platform(s)Dreamcast, PlayStation
ReleaseDreamcast
PlayStation
  • NA: February 6, 2001[3]
  • EU: March 31, 2001
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Vanishing Point is a racing video game developed by Clockwork Games and published by Acclaim Entertainment for Dreamcast and PlayStation.

Gameplay

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The main mode which is Arcade Mode is where you race against opponents in circuit races, but the goal is to finish the race with the fastest lap time which is the Vanishing Point (hence the title). The game is provided with supposedly accurate car physics, which can be experienced through various game modes, tracks and cars. The majority of content is initially locked and is progressively unlocked as you play through the game, a fact the developers later described as a "mistake" and the result of rushed development.[4] Stunt Mode is unique in that the player must complete short courses that involve a variety of jumps, barrel rolls, chicanes and collectable balloons against a time limit.

Development

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Vanishing Point was first announced at the European Computer Trade Show, being self-funded by Clockwork Games until Acclaim licensed the game.[5] The game was developed in 18 months with a team of eight people.[5] Neil Casini, director of Clockwork Games, told Official Dreamcast Magazine that they had adopted the game's title as a reference to their efforts to "create a rendering engine that had no pop-up or 'fogging' as far as the eye could see, i.e. the vanishing point". Casini told the magazine that in developing the gameplay they had sought to "emulate and combine the driving model from Sega Rally with the exaggerated reality of Scud Race".[4] The developers had three key features in mind when making the game: realistic vehicle dynamics, dynamically adapting artificial intelligence, and solid technical performance (which meant draw distance with no pop-in and 30 frames per second (FPS) rendering on the PS1 and 60 FPS on the Dreamcast).[6]

Reception

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The Dreamcast version of Vanishing Point received "favorable" reviews, while the PlayStation version received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[7][8] Greg Orlando of NextGen called the former console version "an example of fine craftsmanship."[25] PlanetDreamcast gave the same console version a favorable review, over two months before the latter was released Stateside.[21]

Notes

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  1. ^ Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Dreamcast version each a score of 6/10, 5/10, and 7/10.

References

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  1. ^ Bramwell, Tom (January 19, 2001). "Console Releases". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on March 8, 2002. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. ^ "ACCLAIM'S VANISHING POINT FOR THE SEGA DREAMCAST ZOOMS INTO STORES JANUARY 3rd". Acclaim Entertainment. January 3, 2001. Archived from the original on August 26, 2004. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  3. ^ "Vanishing Point". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 6, 2003. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "In the hot seat with Clockwork Games" (PDF). Official Dreamcast Magazine (UK). No. 21. Dennis Publishing. July–August 2001. pp. 72–73. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Mielke, James (January 14, 2000). "Hands-on: Vanishing Point". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on October 11, 2000. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  6. ^ "A word from the Developer". Clockwork Games. Archived from the original on 3 March 2001. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Vanishing Point critic reviews (DC)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Vanishing Point critic reviews (PS)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  9. ^ Miller, Skyler. "Vanishing Point (DC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  10. ^ Grandstaff, Matt. "Vanishing Point (PS) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  11. ^ "Sega Dreamcast Reviews (T-Z)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on February 7, 2001. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  12. ^ Edge staff (March 2001). "Vanishing Point (DC)" (PDF). Edge. No. 95. Future Publishing. p. 82. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  13. ^ Hager, Dean; Sewart, Greg; Mielke, James "Milkman" (March 2001). "Vanishing Point (DC)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 140. Ziff Davis. p. 110. Archived from the original on March 9, 2001. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  14. ^ Hager, Dean (May 2001). "Vanishing Point (PS)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 142. Ziff Davis. p. 107. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  15. ^ Steinberg, Scott (April 30, 2001). "Vanishing Point (DC)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on September 30, 2004. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  16. ^ "Vanishing Point (DC)". Game Informer. No. 95. FuncoLand. March 2001.
  17. ^ A.A. White (February 2001). "Vanishing Point Review (PS)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  18. ^ Provo, Frank (January 4, 2001). "Vanishing Point Review (DC)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  19. ^ Provo, Frank (February 23, 2001). "Vanishing Point Review (PS)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  20. ^ Tsotsos, Alex (January 22, 2001). "Vanishing Point (DC)". SportPlanet. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 7, 2003. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  21. ^ a b zerothreat (October 30, 2000). "Vanishing Point". PlanetDreamcast. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 23, 2009. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  22. ^ Snackdawg (February 26, 2001). "Vanishing Point (PSX)". GameZone. Archived from the original on March 17, 2005. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  23. ^ Chau, Anthony (December 20, 2000). "Vanishing Point (DC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  24. ^ Perry, Douglass C. (March 5, 2001). "Vanishing Point (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  25. ^ a b Orlando, Greg (April 2001). "Vanishing Point (DC)". NextGen. No. 76. Imagine Media. p. 84. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  26. ^ Rybicki, Joe (May 2001). "Vanishing Point". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 44. Ziff Davis. p. 103. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
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