NASCAR Racing (video game): Difference between revisions

| publisher = Papyrus[[Virgin PublishingInteractive]] (DOS)<br>[[Sierra On-Line]] (PS1)

| released = [[1994 in video gaming|1994]] (PCDOS)<br>[[1996 in video gaming|1996]] (PS1)

''NASCAR Racing'' was released inon theNovember fall of2nd, 1994 for [[DOS]] personal computers. It featured more than 25 of the 40 regular drivers in the 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup season. Notable absences included [[Dale Earnhardt]] (who would go on to win the Winston Cup that year), [[Bill Elliott]], [[Dale Jarrett]], [[Kyle Petty]] and [[Darrell Waltrip]], although the latter's brother, [[Michael Waltrip|Michael]], was included. The PlayStation version features 20 of the 39 regular drivers from the 1996 season.

| CGW = {{rating|5|5}} (PC)<ref name="CWG-Novastorm">{{cite journal |last= |first= |date=February 1995 |title=Computer Gaming World - Issue 127 |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_127.pdf |journal= |location= |author=Gordon Goble |publisher= |issue=127 |page=154 |quote="We Look To The Digital Circuits And NASCAR RACING Is All We Can See" |accessdate=August 7, 2015|journal=[[Computer Gaming World]]}}</ref>

| rev2Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name=macuser>{{cite web | archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010221150902/http://macuser.zdnet.com:80/mu_0697/departments/personal_mac/game.html | url=http://macuser.zdnet.com:80/mu_0697/departments/personal_mac/game.html | title=The Game Room | date=June 1997 | archivedatearchive-date=February 21, 2001 | author=Loyola, Roman | work=[[MacUser]] | deadurlurl-status=yesdead | access-date=April 11, 2020 }}</ref>

''NASCAR Racing'' was a major commercial success.<ref name=pcgamerussales /> Its sales reached 350,000 units by December 1995, following its OctoberNovember 1994 release,<ref name=nextgensales>{{cite web | archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970419221611/http://www.next-generation.com:80/news/120195e.html | url=http://www.next-generation.com:80/news/120195e.html | title=More Sports from Sierra | date=December 1, 1995 | author=Staff | archivedatearchive-date=April 19, 1997 | work=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] | deadurlurl-status=yesdead | access-date=April 11, 2020 }}</ref> and rose to 400,000 copies by February 1996.<ref name=pcgamerussales>{{cite journal | author=Buchanan, Lee| journal=[[PC Gamer US]] | title=Life in the Fast Lane |date=February 1996 | volume=2 | issue=12 | pages=88, 89, 91, 92, 94 }}</ref> In the United States, ''NASCAR Racing'' (bundled with its ''Track Pack'' add-on) was the 24th best-selling computer game of 1998, with another 225,737 units sold. Its revenue for that year was estimated at $2.28 million.<ref name=pcgsales2>{{cite journal| author=Staff| date=April 1999|volume=6|issue=4|title=The Numbers Game|journal=[[PC Gamer US]]|page=50}}</ref> ''NASCAR Racing'' and its sequel shipped above 2 million copies globally by March 1998,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Peeks/Nascar3/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2020-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990210102433/http://www.gamecenter.com:80/Peeks/Nascar3/ |archive-date=1999-02-10 |url-status=live }}</ref> and shipments of the first game alone surpassed 1 million units by 2004.<ref name=papyrushistory>{{cite web | archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040803113834/http://www.gamespot.com/features/6103365/ | url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/6103365/ | title=History of Papyrus Racing Games | date=July 24, 2004 | author=Goble, Gord | work=[[GameSpot]] | archivedatearchive-date=August 3, 2004 | deadurlurl-status=yesdead }}</ref>

''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' reviewed the PC version of the game, and stated that "it's the game's astounding ability to create a realistic feeling of speed that makes it an incredible hit. Flying around the tracks at 170 mph and up will make you respect those drivers who do this for a living. Definitely a winner."<ref name="NG">{{cite magazine|last=|first=|title=Finals|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=4|publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]]|date=April 1995|page=92}}</ref>

Declaring it "the best racing game ever created", the editors of ''[[PC Gamer US]]'' presented ''NASCAR Racing'' with their 1994 "Best Sports Game" award, and nominated it in their "Best Simulation" category.<ref name=pcgamerusawards2>{{cite journal |date=March 1995 | title=The First Annual ''PC Gamer'' Awards | pages=44, 45, 47, 48, 51 | journal=[[PC Gamer]] | author=Staff | volume=2 | issue=3 }}</ref> ''NASCAR'' also won ''[[Computer Gaming World]]''{{'}}s 1994 "Simulation Game of the Year" award, tying with ''[[Aces of the Deep]]'', and was a nominee for the magazine's overall "Game of the Year" prize. The editors opined that its "incredible graphics, sound and overall experience appeal to simulation enthusiasts and casual sports fans alike.".<ref name=cgwpremier1995>{{cite journalmagazine | author=Staff | journalmagazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | title=The ''Computer Gaming World'' 1995 Premier Awards |date=May 1995 | issue=130 | pages=35, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 }}</ref>

In 1996, ''Computer Gaming World'' declared ''NASCAR Racing'' the 31st-best computer game ever released.<ref name=cgw150>{{cite journalmagazine | author=Staff | title=150 Best (and 50 Worst) Games of All Time | journalmagazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | date=November 1996 | issue=148 | pages=63–65, 68, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 84, 88, 90, 94, 98 }}</ref>

| EGM = 6.9/10 (PS)<ref name="EGM88">{{cite magazine|title=Team EGM Box Scores: NASCAR |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=88 |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=November 1996 |page=277}}</ref>

| GSpot = 8.1/10 (PS)<ref name="GSrev">{{cite web|last=Kitts|first=Jeff|title=NASCAR Racing Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nascar-racing-review/1900-2548556/|website=[[GameSpot]] |accessdate=26 November 2017|date=December 1, 1996}}</ref>

| NGen = {{rating|2|5}} (PS)<ref name="NGen24">{{cite magazine|last= |first= |title=NASCAR Racing |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=24 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=December 1996|pages=256, 258}}</ref>

The PlayStation port divided reviewers. A ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' stated that "''NASCAR Racing'' is for the die-hard stock car racing fan who loves NASCAR so much they don't care what kind of package it comes in." HeThey cited dull visuals, the lack of a multiplayer mode, and inadequate attempts at realism.<ref name="NGen24"/> In contrast, Jeff Kitts of ''[[GameSpot]]'' hailed it as "stock car racing at its most realistic", praising the authentic recreation of real life tracks, abundant options, realistic controls, and the accuracy of the PlayStation conversion.<ref name="GSrev"/> The two sports reviewers of ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' held more of a middle ground position, with Dindo Perez saying that the PC version was a great title but had been surpassed in the years it took the game to reach the PlayStation, and Todd Mowatt remarking that "this game won't win the checkered flag this time around, but it won't run out of gas on you either." Both commented that the frame rate and general excitement of the game were lacking.<ref name="EGM88"/> ''[[GamePro]]''{{'}}s Dr. Zombie noted the realistic touches to the game and the merely adequate graphics, controls, and sounds, and concluded that "this game will appeal more to diehard racing aficionados than to the casual gamer cruising for speed and action."<ref>{{cite magazine|last= |first= |title=NASCAR Racing |magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=99 |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=December 1996|page=186}}</ref>

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