Motor Toon Grand Prix

{{Expand section|date=December 2024}}

File:Festival automobile international 2015 - Kazunori Yamauchi - 006.jpg was the game's director.]]

Motor Toon Grand Prix was developed by Polys Entertainment, a group of developers within Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE). Although they had assisted Media.Vision on the PlayStation title Crime Crackers, Motor Toon Grand Prix would serve as SCE's first major in-house project.{{cite web | author=Yamauchi Kazunori | date=December 23, 2022 | title=「グランツーリスモ」シリーズは25周年！ ポリフォニー・デジタル代表取締役 プレジデントの山内一典氏からのメッセージ | trans-title=The Gran Turismo series is celebrating its 25th anniversary! Message from Kazunori Yamauchi, President and Representative Director of Polyphony Digital | url=https://blog.ja.playstation.com/2022/12/23/2022123-granturismo/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528154828/https://blog.ja.playstation.com/2022/12/23/2022123-granturismo/ | archive-date=May 28, 2023 | publisher=Sony Interactive Entertainment | language=ja | accessdate=November 28, 2023}} They received additional support from third-party developer Bandit,{{cite magazine|title=Motor Toon Grand Prix |journal=Next Generation|issue=3|publisher=Imagine Media|author=Next Generation staff | date=March 1995|pages=84–6 | issn=1078-9693 | url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-003/page/n87/mode/2up}} a company which specialized in localizing games for overseas markets.{{cite web | author=PS Blog staff | date=September 14, 2023 | title=映画「グランツーリスモ」9月15日 日本公開記念──山内一典インタビュー | trans-title=Commemorating the release of the movie Gran Turismo in Japan on September 15th ── Interview with Kazunori Yamauchi | url=https://blog.ja.playstation.com/2023/09/14/20230914-gt/?_ga=2.215713111.152331109.1701005468-112345351.1699832303 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128123502/https://blog.ja.playstation.com/2023/09/14/20230914-gt/?_ga=2.215713111.152331109.1701005468-112345351.1699832303 | archive-date=November 28, 2023 | publisher=Sony Interactive Entertainment | language=ja | accessdate=November 28, 2023}} Development was led by Kazunori Yamauchi, who had joined Sony in the hopes of utilizing the 3D graphical capabilities of its next generation console to craft an exceptionally accurate racing simulation. However, as Yamauchi was new to the industry, his proposal was seen as too ambitious by SCE and was initially rejected.{{cite web | author=Hodges, Tim | date=October 13, 2023 | title=Origin Story: Kazunori Yamauchi & Shuhei Yoshida Look Back at Gran Turismo's Inception | url=https://blog.playstation.com/2017/10/13/origin-story-kazunori-yamauchi-shuhei-yoshida-look-back-at-gran-turismos-inception/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513161106/https://blog.playstation.com/2017/10/13/origin-story-kazunori-yamauchi-shuhei-yoshida-look-back-at-gran-turismos-inception/ | archive-date=May 13, 2023 | publisher=Sony Interactive Entertainment | accessdate=November 28, 2023}} With the success of simpler kart racing games (most notably Super Mario Kart) proving highly successful, he instead opted for a less sophisticated work with a potentially broad appeal.{{cite web | author=Reilly, Luke | date=May 3, 2022 | title=How Gran Turismo Changed Racing Games Forever | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/how-gran-turismo-changed-racing-games-forever | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606013211/https://www.ign.com/articles/how-gran-turismo-changed-racing-games-forever | archive-date=June 6, 2023 | publisher=IGN | accessdate=December 2, 2023}}{{cite web | author=Giles, Richard | date=October 13, 2013 | title=Gran Turismo’s Kazunori Yamauchi: We've never stopped having fun | url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/oct/13/interview-kazunori-yamauchi | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507215839/https://amp.theguardian.com/technology/2013/oct/13/interview-kazunori-yamauchi | archive-date=May 7, 2023 | website=The Guardian | accessdate=November 26, 2023}} The project began under the working title "Poly Poly Circus Grand Prix".{{cite magazine|title=次世代ゲーム機ダービー PS ポリポリサーカスグランプリ|trans-title=Next Generation Game Console Derby PS: Poly Poly Circus Grand Prix|magazine=Famitsu|issue=297|page=117|publisher=ASCII Corporation|author=Famitsu staff|date=August 19–26, 1994|lang=ja|url=https://retoge-mag.websa.jp/old/cdn-ak.f.st-hatena.com/images/fotolife/M/MULTi88/20210709/20210709214029.jpg|access-date=December 2, 2023|archive-date=June 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605051934/https://retoge-mag.websa.jp/old/cdn-ak.f.st-hatena.com/images/fotolife/M/MULTi88/20210709/20210709214029.jpg|url-status=bot: unknown}}{{cite magazine |magazine=Next Generation | publisher=Imagine Media | author=Next Generation staff | date=January 1995 | issue=1 | title=ng alphas: Motor Toon Grand Prix | pages=64–5 | issn=1078-9693 | url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-001/page/n69/mode/2up}}{{cite magazine|author=Edge staff|date=October 1994|title=PlayStation: Sony reveal gameplan |url=https://archive.org/details/edge-013-october-1994/page/6/mode/2up|publisher=Future plc|issue=13|pages=6–7|issn=1350-1593|magazine=Edge}} Illustrator Susumu Matsushita was brought in to provide his signature art style for the game's exaggerated character and vehicle designs.{{cite magazine | author=Play staff | date=January 2004 | title=Interview: Susumu Matsushita | url=https://archive.org/details/UneditedPLAY_marktrade/PLAY_25u/page/n29/mode/1up | magazine=Play | publisher=Fusion Publishing | issue=25 | page=28 | issn=1537-7539}}

Production on Motor Toon Grand Prix lasted a year and a half.{{cite web | author=Wong, Jonathan | date=November 3, 2010 | title=SEMA: Pursuit of perfection keeps Gran Turismo 5 in the pits | url=http://www.autoweek.com/article/20101103/SEMA/101109948 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106001154/http://www.autoweek.com/article/20101103/SEMA/101109948 | archive-date=November 6, 2010 | publisher=Crain Communications | website=Autoweek | accessdate=November 19, 2023}} The team strove to replicate a realistic gameplay experience in spite of its largely cartoon aesthetic. This meant attempting a sophisticated driving simulation without distracting from the game's enjoyment. "Basically we're not trying to fake reality – I'd rather create the sensation of handling a remote control car but with the kind of dynamics that you'd expect from a real car," Yamauchi stated. "The cars' suspensions actually work – we've attempted to simulate the dynamic forces as they go around corners." Akihiko Tan was hired as the game's car simulation engineer. Enthralled by the capability of a home console running 3D computer graphics he only thought was possible on expensive workstations, Tan eagerly joined the staff half way through production and wrote the physics models for all the cars.{{cite web | author=Polyphony Digital staff | date=2018 | title=Who Works Here: Staff Interview - Akihiko Tan | url=https://www.polyphony.co.jp/people/1001/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902014725/https://www.polyphony.co.jp/people/1001/ | archive-date=September 2, 2018 | publisher=Polyphony Digital | accessdate=November 21, 2023}} As development progressed, the Gouraud shaded polygons of the characters and vehicles were given texture mapped anthropomorphic features while its environment graphics were simplified to maintain a smooth frame rate. It was originally announced that the game would have PlayStation Link Cable support for its multiplayer option, but a split screen mode was implemented instead.

File:Motor Toon GP screenshot.png

Staff rushed to finish the game during the final three months of development in order to meet a target completion date coinciding with the PlayStation's launch. Blaming exhaustion and lack of sleep, Yamauchi recalled that he was ultimately convinced by studio higher-ups that their work up to that point was "good enough" and that they should skip resolving certain technical issues in favor of just releasing it. Yamauchi regretted this decision as he claimed consumers shared concern of these issues when critiquing it.

Motor Toon Grand Prix was released exclusively in Japan on December 16, 1994, less than two weeks after the PlayStation debuted in the region.{{cite web| author=Sony staff | script-title=ja:モータートゥーン・グランプリ |trans-title=Motor Toon Grand Prix | url=http://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/scps10001.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119160226/http://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/scps10001.html | archive-date=November 19, 2020 | publisher=Sony Computer Entertainment | language=ja | accessdate=April 4, 2012}} The game's main character, Captain Rock, was used by Sony for the console's release promos.{{Citation |last=Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. |title=[VHS] Top Secret Video PlayStation |date=1994 |url=https://archive.org/details/top-secret-video-play-station |access-date=2024-08-27}} Months later, Sony executive director Phil Harrison called Motor Toon Grand Prix a launch underperformer and "not indicative of the products that are coming down the line" when previewing the PlayStation's retail availability in North America and Europe.{{cite magazine|author=Edge staff|date=May 1995|title=disciples: Sony's PlayStation gameplan |url=https://archive.org/details/edge-020-may-1995/page/53/mode/1up|publisher=Future plc|issue=20|page=53|issn=1350-1593|magazine=Edge}} Despite this claim, a direct sequel, Motor Toon Grand Prix 2, was released internationally in 1996. As the first installment had not been localized, the sequel dropped the number "2" in its title in North America.{{cite web | author=Sterbakov, Hugh | date=December 12, 1996 | title=Motor Toon Grand Prix | url=http://www.gamespot.com/motor-toon-grand-prix/reviews/motor-toon-grand-prix-review-2548471/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204062456/http://www.gamespot.com/motor-toon-grand-prix/reviews/motor-toon-grand-prix-review-2548471/ | archive-date=February 4, 2012 | publisher=CBS Interactive | work=GameSpot | accessdate=April 4, 2012}}{{cite magazine | author=OPM staff | date=April 1998 | title=10 Criminally Overlooked PlayStation Picks | url=https://archive.org/details/official_u.s._playstation_magazine/Official%20U.S.%20PlayStation%20Magazine%20Volume%201%20Issue%2007%20%28April%201998%29/page/n90/mode/1up | publisher=Ziff Davis | magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine | volume=1 | issue=7 | page=89 | issn=1094-6683}} Shortly thereafter, Polys Entertainment was spun off into Polyphony Digital. SCE allowed them to complete work on the first entry in the long-running, realistic racing franchise Gran Turismo, basing its gameplay engine on the one originally crafted for Motor Toon Grand Prix and refined in its sequel.{{cite web | author=Rodriguez, Tyrone | date=March 16, 2004 | title=GT Histriology | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/03/17/gt-histriology | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623141042/https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/03/17/gt-histriology | archive-date=June 23, 2018 | publisher=IGN | accessdate=April 4, 2012}}{{cite magazine |magazine=Next Generation | publisher=Imagine Media | author=Next Generation staff | date=December 1997 | issue=36 | title=ng alphas: Gran Turismo | page=110 | issn=1078-9693 | url=https://archive.org/details/NextGeneration36Dec1997/page/n111/mode/1up}}

{{Video game reviews

|CVG=59%{{cite magazine | author=Patterson, Mark | date=February 1995 | title=Review: Motor Toon Grand Prix | journal=Computer and Video Games | publisher=Future plc | issue=159 | page=33 | issn=0261-3697 | url=https://retrocdn.net/images/thumb/7/79/CVG_UK_159.pdf/page33-446px-CVG_UK_159.pdf.jpg | access-date=December 3, 2023 | archive-date=December 1, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201141232/https://retrocdn.net/images/thumb/7/79/CVG_UK_159.pdf/page33-446px-CVG_UK_159.pdf.jpg | url-status=bot: unknown }}

| Edge = 6/10{{cite magazine |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/0/0b/Edge_UK_018.pdf|title=Testscreen: Motor Toon Grand Prix|magazine=Edge|issue=18|pages=76–79|date=March 1995}}

|Fam=27/40

|JP=94%{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/joypad-magazine-039/page/n51/mode/2up|author=Nini, Nourdine|date=February 1995|title=Import PlayStation: Motor Toon Grand Prix|publisher=Yellow Media|magazine=Joypad|lang=fr|issue=39|pages=52–3|issn=1163-586X}}

|MG=70%{{cite magazine | author=Bannert, Robert|title=Import: Motor Toon Grandprix|magazine=MAN!AC|issue=17|publisher=Cybermedia|date=March 1995|page=33|issn=2191-012X|url=https://archive.org/details/MANIAC.N017.1995.03/page/n33/mode/1up}}

|MF=85%{{cite magazine | author=Schmiedehausen, Götz | date=September 1995 | title=Test PlayStation: Motor Toon Grand Prix | url=https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=6266 | publisher=Computec Media GmbH | magazine=Mega Fun | issue=34 | page=86 | issn=0946-6282 | access-date=December 3, 2023 | archive-date=December 2, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202172737/https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=6266 | url-status=bot: unknown }}

|NGen={{rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine |magazine=Next Generation | publisher=Imagine Media | author=Next Generation staff | date=April 1995 | issue=4 | title=finals: Motor Toon Grand Prix | page=87 | issn=1078-9693 | url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-004/page/n88/mode/1up}}

|SGP = 3.8/5{{Cite magazine|author=Kamikaze, Marcelo|date=April 1995|title=P.Station: Motor Toon Grand Prix|magazine=Super GamePower|language=pt | location=Brazil |publisher=Nova Cultural| issue=13| pages=48–9 |issn=0104-611X|url=https://archive.org/details/SuperGamePower_Ano_02_No._013_1995-04_Nova_Cultural_BR_pt/page/n47/mode/2up}}

|rev1=PlayStation Plus

|rev1Score=51%{{cite magazine | author=Broughton, Matt | date=October 1995 | title=Import Round-Up: Motor Toon GP | url=https://archive.org/details/playstation-plus-vol-1-issue-1/page/101/mode/1up | volume=1 | issue=1 | page=101 | publisher=EMAP | magazine=PlayStation Plus}}

|rev2=Power Unlimited

|rev2Score=86%{{cite magazine | author=Glas, Thomas | date=September 1995 | title=Preview: Motor Toon Grand Prix | issue=25 | page=41 | url=https://archive.org/details/020_20231030_20231030/024/page/n40/mode/1up | publisher=VNU Media | magazine=Power Unlimited | language=nl | issn=0929-760X}}

|rev3=Última Generación

|rev3Score=86%{{cite magazine | author=Fernández, Javier S. | date=March 1995 | title=versión final: Motor toon grand prix | url=https://archive.org/details/ultima-generacion/Ultima_Generacion_01/page/n93/mode/2up | publisher=MV Editores | magazine=Última Generación | issue=1 | pages=94–6 | language=es | issn=}}

}}

In Japan, Famitsu scored it 27 points out of 40 (9, 6, 6, 6). The reviewers liked the "colorful and surreal" environment, but were critical of the lack of a "sense of speed".{{Cite web |title=プレイステーションレースゲーム一覧 |url=https://retoro.g-player.com/playstation/action/race.html |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=retoro.g-player.com}} The game was also imported and reviewed by magazines. Next Generation gave it two out of five stars. They highly praised the Time Attack mode, but said that the two-player modes are disappointing due to the split screen cutting away too much of the player's forward view and players not being allowed to choose the same car. They further criticized that "the odd foibles of MTGP and the unnatural way in which the cars handle means it falls well short of Ridge Racer in challenge and excitement." Computer and Video Games, while praising graphics and sound, noted that the game was a "rush job" and that issues in the game made some gameplay elements "frustrating".

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{Portal|1990s|Japan|Video games}}

• [https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps/924884-motor-toon-grand-prix-japan Motor Toon Grand Prix] at GameFAQs
• [https://www.mobygames.com/game/9392/motor-toon-grand-prix/ Motor Toon Grand Prix] at MobyGames

Category:1994 video games

Category:Japan-exclusive video games

Category:Japan Studio games

Category:Kart racing video games

Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games

Category:PlayStation (console) games

Category:PlayStation (console)-only games

Category:Racing video games

Category:Sony Interactive Entertainment games

Category:Sony Interactive Entertainment franchises

Category:Video games developed in Japan