OutRun 2 Shines, But Xbox Version In Doubt

Thanks to Kikizo for their in-depth look at Sega's OutRun 2 arcade machine, as the all-time classic racing game gets a now-playable Xbox hardware-based arcade sequel. Thanks to Yu Suzuki's obsession with a particular car manufacturer, you get to drive "one of at least eight different Ferraris, ranging from the Dino 246 GTS to the F50, including the 360 Spider and the awesome Enzo", and the game even shows track-side advertising from Ferrari sponsors like AMD, particularly piquant since the game is running on the Chihiro/Xbox's Intel chipset. However, Polygon reports that an Xbox conversion of the game is still in doubt, with an AM2 producer citing "disadvantages in terms of translation potential" and mentioning "problems with players renting most racing games as opposed to purchasing them."

Comments

Uncompomulateamatron?

[Flingles]

As mentioned earlier, the gameplay system is extremely unconvoluted

Say what!?

convoluted
adj.
Having numerous overlapping coils or folds: a convoluted seashell.
Intricate; complicated: convoluted legal language; convoluted reasoning.

Re:Uncompomulateamatron?

[NanoGator]

New to english? He means that you can pick it up and play it instead of reading a lengthy manual.

Re:Uncompomulateamatron?

[Anonymous Coward]

It's a perfectly cromulent word.

Damn, I am really looking forward to this one

[Anonymous Coward]

Ever since NFS Porsche Unlimited came out, I had hoped there would be something similar for Ferrari and I guess this is as close as its going to get. Hopefully it will make it's way to the X-Box but I guess I won't mind clunking down a few bucks to drive a virtual 246GT in the arcades (if I can still find an arcade).

Well...

[Sir Haxalot]

problems with players renting most racing games as opposed to purchasing them.
If most racing games didn't suck, maybe more people would buy them. Coders should spend more time coding, instead of trying to rush out the game for Christmas/Easter/Yom Kippur/Whatever.

Re:Well...

[NanoGator]

"Coders should spend more time coding, instead of trying to rush out the game for Christmas/Easter/Yom Kippur/Whatever."

The coders aren't the problem, it's the glut of racing games available for any given system.

Nostalgia

[lastninja]

I dont usually play many arcade games, but everytime I see a Outrun machine I walk away without pocket change. Outrun was also the first game I played with forcefeedback needless to say I am really looking forward to this sequel. I hope they keep the original tunes. I have some of them as mp3 but I had to stop listening to them while in my car as it would "cloud" my judgement.

Re:Nostalgia

[butane_bob2003]

'Splash Wave' was my favourite track. We named a track on my first 12" record after it.

Re:Nostalgia

[Mark Dentari]

Yep me to. One of the best Sega break through classics. That time period produced some of the best arcade music ever and most of it was from Sega. Remember Quartet. Sega produced art no doubt about it.

Re:the game even shows track-side advertising

[NanoGator]

"the game even shows track-side advertising

Try as we might to filter it out of the web and tv what are you going to do, not go outside!

" YOU WILL CONSUME "

Lighten up, dude. It means revenue is being generated for the game. The nice side effect of that is if you like the game company, they have a bonus chance of sticking around. (Yeah, I know, it's Sega. I'm thinking in general here.)

Besides, whoopee shit if there's advertising in the game. Gee, imagine driving by a billboard with a corporate logo on it as opposed to driving by a billboard with some made up logo, thus reminding you that you're playing a game. It's kind of like watching a movie where the main character is drinking COLA as opposed to Coke. It's startling, thus diverting from your entertainment.

Lighten up.

Anonymous Fanboy

[Anonymous Coward]

And the fact that it is Yu Suzuki working on the game. The man did an absolute gem with the Virtua Fighter series...

Why is'nt there

[Anonymous Coward]

Any decent driving games based on Japanes super cars. I'd love a game involving the 300Zx twin turbo, the 240sx, the honda NSX, and the Nissan Skyline. I've driven all these cars in real life but I'd love to race them in a game!

Re:Why is'nt there

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh they have em... just not much in the states... I did see one Japanese racer at a local arcade, even though it said "Not for export ouside of Japan or South Korea" or something to that effect.

YOU WILL CONSUME

[DrSkwid]

See, they've got you already.

work, breed, die

Re:YOU WILL CONSUME

[NanoGator]

Who's really affected here: The guy who says "Lighten up!" or the gu who says "Advertising hoarding is soul destroying"?

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to hear you call Coast to Coast and tell Art Bell about your revelation here.

Re:YOU WILL CONSUME

[DrSkwid]

Ridicule is the first recourse of the weak minded.
Street advertising steals your attention and imprints itself on your brain.
The one who says he is 'unaffected' is the one who is the lost sheep.
If it didn't affect the weak it wouldn't work.

The passive observer is a collaborator.

Re:YOU WILL CONSUME

[NanoGator]

"Ridicule is the first recourse of the weak minded."

Said the guy who got burned.

"Street advertising steals your attention and imprints itself on your brain."

You mean like stop signs?

"The one who says he is 'unaffected' is the one who is the lost sheep."

Didn't say I was unaffected, I said lighten up. It isn't a bad thing when an advertisement attracts your awareness of something you were already interested in. To assume that it is dangerous is ridiculous.

"If it didn't affect the weak it wouldn't work."

Give it a rest, hyporcrite. We all know you have responded to an advertisement recently. Either you're weak minded, you are simply wrong.

"The passive observer is a collaborator."

Truely weak minded people see danger where there is none. Done trying to sound like Yoda?

Re:YOU WILL CONSUME

[Anonvmous Coward]

"one man's poison [milksucks.com]" -- Look who's trying to herd 'weak minded people' to a website. I got a dollar that says you found it in somebody else's sig. Did you walk there with your arms out like a zombie?

Re:YOU WILL CONSUME

[Anonymous Coward]

>The passive observer is a collaborator.

Extremists are never enlightened.

Re:YOU WILL CONSUME

[DrSkwid]

Milk drinkers are weak minded.

Advertising works, of that, there is no doubt.

No I didn't get it out of anyone's sig thanks.

Re:YOU WILL CONSUME

[DrSkwid]

>> "Ridicule is the first recourse of the weak minded."
> Said the guy who got burned.

I'm sorry, you'll have to use proper english if you want me to understand.

You mean like stop signs?

Yes, exactly like stop signs. Road safety is adversely affected by streetside advertising because it distracts the attention away from the road ahead.

But don't take my word for it :
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/cru/resfinds/drf168- 00. asp
----
However, roughly speaking, the general conclusion is that between 10% and 30% of all accidents have driver distraction as a contributory factor, and that, of these, roughly a third are specifically caused by external-to-vehicle driver distraction. Young (aged 17-21) drivers are particularly prone to external-to-vehicle driver distraction.
----

So the estimate is that 3% of all RTA's are caused by external-to-vehicle driver distraction.

There are 50,000 deaths and 3.5 million injuries anually from RTA's in the EU. (http://www.ukcycling.net/news/index.php?story=499 )

So 3% represents 1,500 deaths and 450,000 injuries anually.

>I said lighten up.
I thank you not to issue instruction to me, it is a serious subject.

> It isn't a bad thing when an advertisement attracts your awareness of something you were already interested in. To assume that it is dangerous is ridiculous.

Street advertising is like junk mail, 99% of it holds no interest at all. In fact I can't find a single product in my house that is advertised on billboards or TV except a few food products. Consumerism *is* dangerous. Street advertising is a form of pollution. Why is it wrong to question it's validity?

I don't need to assume that it is dangerous, it is a field for scientific study.

1,500 deaths, 450,000 injuries

> Give it a rest, hyporcrite. We all know you have responded to an advertisement recently. Either you're weak minded, you are simply wrong.

We are all weak minded. What you know about me is approximately nothing.
As I said, most advertised products hold *no* interest for me whatsoever. Why should I 'give it a rest'? What is my incentive to keep quiet on a subject that is having a negative impact on my life and the people around me. Does the passive observer feel threatened?

> Truely weak minded people see danger where there is none.

That's as maybe. Calling someone paranoid is not a valid rebuttal.

Those who do not understand a subject and who cannot enter into discourse with reasoning and insight use insult and ridicule.

> Done trying to sound like Yoda?
Sound like Yoda is something I do not.

You really do sound threatened. Why is that?

Re:YOU WILL CONSUME

[NanoGator]

"I'm sorry, you'll have to use proper english if you want me to understand."

What's the matter? Not strong minded enough to interpret a simple sentence?

"Yes, exactly like stop signs. Road safety is adversely affected by streetside advertising because it distracts the attention away from the road ahead."

I like how you try to imply that stop signs cause accidents. You pretty much shot yourself in the foot with that argument.

Your link there is mildly interesting, though I have to ask: is your concern about advertising in a racing game that people will kill themselves? Heh.

Though billboards may have been blamed for accidents, it doesn't necessarily mean they should be removed. Toned down a little? Sure. Whatever. The problem is that drivers have distractions all the time not related to advertising. Taking these down will not result in a decrease in vehicular fatality. "Uh... I was distracted by that waving tree over there, I'm not really a stupid driver!"

"What you know about me is approximately nothing."

Yes, that is true, but I stand by my hypocrite statement. Afterall, you know zip about me, but you still say this: "As I said, most advertised products hold *no* interest for me whatsoever." What makes you think I'm the opposite of you? What makes you think anybody is?

"Why should I 'give it a rest'?"

Simply put, you are overreacting. I'm not convinced you've looked at both sides of an issue. I think you read a story about advertisements and generated purpose in your life to work against them.

"What is my incentive to keep quiet on a subject that is having a negative impact on my life and the people around me. Does the passive observer feel threatened?"

Oh no, I don't feel threatened. I feel that you're an idiot. Sorry I didn't use a more tactful term there, but I felt you needed for me to be frank. There's a whole layer of common sense that you assume nobody has. As long as you assume everybody is just plain stupid, then you are not working from a useful point of view. Threatened? I think not.

"That's as maybe. Calling someone paranoid is not a valid rebuttal."

Ordinarily I'd agree with you, but in this case I'd grant an exception simply for your dim view of human nature. If advertising worked like you imagine, we would be living in a zombiesque world not unlike what was depicted in Apple's 1984 commercial.

"Sound like Yoda is something I do not." -- I rest my case.

"You really do sound threatened. Why is that?"

I think you need to take another reading on what I sound like.

Re:YOU WILL CONSUME

[Anonymous Coward]

Jesus god you're a faggot.

Re:YOU WILL CONSUME

[DrSkwid]

"Sound like Yoda is something I do not." -- I rest my case.

and you called *me* an idiot

Re:YOU WILL CONSUME

[NanoGator]

I thought ridicule was the recourse of the weak minded.

So what's with the one-line response. Don't have a rebuttal? Trying to quit while you're ahead? Good day to you then.

Re:YOU WILL CONSUME

[Anonvmous Coward]

Hey numbnuts, you do sound like you're trying to sound like Yoda. Talk backwards he does.

Re:YOU WILL CONSUME

[DrSkwid]

No, reverse polish notation yoda talks in.

Re:YOU WILL CONSUME

[Anonymous Coward]

So your saying that I enjoy milk because of some dumb billboards?
Sorry you are a fool.
I enjoyed milk long before the american dairy council(sor whatever it's called) even thought of the got milk thing.
Maybe you have only even been exposed to that advertising, seeing as how /. is mostly kiddies posting.

Xbox only is a bad idea

[richman555]

Sega would really be shooting themselves in the foot releasing this game on the Xbox exclusively. Imagine all the money they will miss out on. I would certainly buy it if it where on the PS2 or Gamecube. If its only on Xbox forget it... I'll only ever play it the arcades.

Re: Xbox only is a bad idea

[Anonymous Coward]

If they know that few people are going to buy it, it would actually make more financial sense to only release it on the Xbox.

Because it runs on the Chihiro hardware, there is really very little that needs to be done as far as coding for an Xbox port. They could port it, using relatively little money, and then would have a better chance of actually making a little from the sales after it's released.

If they wanted to port it to the PS2 and/or GCN, they would have to go through the trouble of porting them, and getting them to run well. Yu Suzuki has hinted before at a strong dislike for the PlayStation2's hard-to-develop-for hardware (don't ask why he put both VF4's on it, then). A GCN port would probably be easier, if only because the two systems have proven themselves to be slightly closer in terms of power than the PS2 and Xbox. But either way, Sega would have to allocate more money to a porting project which would almost certainly be a financial failure.

But, in the end, if it's released only for the Xbox, I'll get it. If it's released for all the consoles, I'd still rather get the Xbox one. If it's arcade-only, I'll try to play the arcade one, and wish it was on the Xbox.

Re: Xbox only is a bad idea

[Babbster]

You, seemingly like everyone else, are missing what is probably the real reason that Sega is in doubt about releasing Outrun 2 on consoles - namely, the fact that if they don't build the game into something bigger than the arcade game it simply will not sell. It's nothing new for Sega in recent years. Their 18-Wheeler was a very fun game in the arcade, partially due to the presentation but also because it was a fun arcade ride. Their port to Dreamcast, and subsequently other consoles, was a faithful reproduction of the arcade version but sold next to nothing because it was TOO faithful and didn't add anything big enough to get the home user.

The racing games that sell huge for the home console are those that have a lot to do - buying new cars, buying parts for cars, racing on 20 or more tracks, license drills, etc. These racing games become a near-RPG in the sense that you have to build up your game save over time to progress. Sega already has Sega GT for the Xbox which meets console racing standards and is releasing Sega GT Online next month (essentially an online expansion pack of the previous game), but apart from pack-ins with the Xbox the game didn't sell all that well despite it quality.

I'm with Sega on this. Unfortunately, home console users just aren't as excited about arcade ports anymore. On the Xbox, they would have to compete against Project Gotham Racing 2 and their own Sega GT Online; on the PS2, they would have to compete against Gran Turismo 4; and on the Gamecbue, well...the Gamecube just doesn't look that appealing to developers of racing games, and it wouldn't seem to fit in with Sega's other offerings on that console (Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg, Super Monkey Ball, etc.).

MAYBE, after they've gotten their fill in the arcade, they could do a quickie $20 port for the Xbox (because of the Xbox-compatible origin) but trying anything more ambitious would require extra development (read: money).

Re: Xbox only is a bad idea

[DZign]

They would be shooting themselves in the foot if they release it on any console too soon.

Arcade machines are big $$$. They cost a lot to purchase, and most of them generate some revenue during their lifecycle with the sale of spare parts. (some arcade controllers are designed that bad you can only think they were especially made to break after a while)(I have a Lethal Enforcers cabinet, had to repair 2 lightguns..)

Anyway, why would people play the game at the arcades if they can have a perfect copy at home ?
OK a deluxe sitdown cabinet gives you something extra, but the regular standup version would loose its appeal.

And why would arcade owners spend big $$$ to see their income drop when Sega releases a console version 3 months later ?

On the other hand, they did release Crazy Taxi and House of the dead.. so probably they will release a console version too someday.. at least 6 months to a year after the arcade.

Re: Xbox only is a bad idea

[ivan256]

don't ask why he put both VF4's on it, then

Because, like you and like many game developers, he's a total fanboy. He does still have to make money though so he ports his games to successful platforms.

Death of a Salesman

[Mulletproof]

"However, Polygon reports that an Xbox conversion of the game is still in doubt..."

Personnally, I don't think this bodes well for the XBox. Sega has now had ample opportunity to see what will stick in terms of sales on the XBox, and now they're shying away from putting more hits that would undoubtably sell on the console. While there is no question they will sell, Sega evidentally doesn't think it'll sell enough to make it worth their time or trouble anymore. Wonder who else is seeing things in the same light...

Seems like MS is destined to take the hard road until they realize the NEED the Japanese market, at least for the forseeable foture.

Re:Death of a Salesman

[JFMulder]

One of the games is a light gun game. Given that there few light gun games and that to play a light gun game you have to buy the game (50$) plus the light gun (if controllers are sold 20$, I suppose light guns sell over 30$), many people (like me) won't be interrested to shell out 80$ for only one game. In that sense, I can understand the decision not to release the game. After all, there are not that many light gun games at all on any consoles these days if I'm not mistaken. (even 10 games in a library of 1000+ games doesn't *count*)

XBOX hating needs to stop

[Anonymous Coward]

you guys are really trying too hard. you are becoming what you hate, while what you hate becomes you. one day soon you will end up on the wrong side, and wonder to yourself what happened?

"Since the amount of work involved in converting OutRun 2 to run on Xbox would stretch to no more than about a week, and a few bucks to write some compression routines, we see no reason why Oguchi-san and his decision makers shouldn't bring this masterpiece into the living room as soon as possible."

If you really like OutRun...

[Stormwatch]

If you really like OutRun, be sure to check 'YU SUZUKI GAMEWORKS VOL.1' for the Dreamcast; this rare (and expensive) japanese game+book pack has Yu's first arcades: Space Harrier, Hang On, After Burner 2, Out Run, and Power Drift.

(of course, try to get a pirated version - it's not like you can find an original copy around too easily, anyway)

Re:If you really like OutRun...

[Anonymous Coward]

Outrun and (if I remember correctly) After Burner 2 were available as mini-games in the Dreamcast version of Shenmue 2. Okay, that game never got an North American release, but it is out on the XBOX, right?

SMS

[jonathan_the_ninja]

Give me the SMS version any day. I prefer Bi-linear parallax scrolling to polygons for this game.

First Rez Vibrator Post

[Anonymous Coward]

FRVP bitchs!. Llololololooool OMG its a vibrator loooolloooll ROFLOLFOLOFOFLFOFLFLFOLF!!!!1111!!!111!

Re:First Rez Vibrator Post

[Anonymous Coward]

And before you morons mark it off topic it isn't because the article mentions Sega, and the only reason people mention Sega is because of the Rez vibrator!!!!!

Re:XBOX SUCKS!

[0wn3d_yea]

how do you like this microsoft sucks linux is better