Stock Car (video game)
{{Short description|1984 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Stock Car
| image = Stock Car cassette front cover (Acorn Electron).png
| caption = Acorn Electron cassette cover
| developer = A. W. Halse
| publisher = Micro Power
| engine =
| released = 1984
| genre = Racing
| modes = Single-player, two-player
| platforms = Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, Commodore 64
}}
Stock Car is an overhead-view racing video game written by A. W. Halse and published in the UK by Micro Power.{{cite web|url=http://www.cimweb.co.uk/stock-car.htm|title=Stock Car - cimweb.co.uk (The complete text from inside the tape cover)|accessdate=2010-10-08|publisher=Micro Power|year=1984|quote=Stock Car is a car racing game for one or two players with a choice of 6 different circuits to race around.}}{{cite web|url=http://www.8bs.com/elecgame/stock_car.htm|title=8-BIT SOFTWARE: STOCK CAR|accessdate=2010-10-08|publisher=www.8bs.com|quote=Standalone release(s): 1984: STOCK CAR, Micro Power, £6.95}} It was released in 1984 for the BBC Micro, Acorn Electron, and Commodore 64 computers.{{cite web|url=http://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=2483|title=Stock Car Micro Power|first=Kim|last=Lemon|accessdate=2010-10-08|publisher=www.lemon64.com|quote=Genre: Racing, Overhead Players: 1 or 2, Simultaneous}}
Although the cassette inlay gives the release date as 1984, some sources state the release date as 1983, and the game is also known as Stock Car Racer.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/bbc/949710-stock-car-racer|title=Stock Car Racer for BBC Micro|accessdate=2010-10-08|publisher=www.gamefaqs.com|quote=Stock Car Racer is a racing game, developed and published by Micro Power, which was released in Europe in 1983.}}{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/bbc/driving/stockcarracer/tech_info.html?tag=tabs%3Bsummary|title=Stock Car Racer for BBC Micro|publisher=GameSpot|accessdate=2010-10-09|quote=Stock Car Racer Tech Info}}
Stock Car is similar to Atari, Inc.'s Sprint 2 arcade game (1976) and Indy 500 for the Atari VCS (1977).
Gameplay
File:Stock Car in-game screenshot (Acorn Electron).png
The game provides a top-down view of one of six user-selectable racing tracks. One or two human players in red cars compete against yellow computer-controlled cars. Oil slicks can be added which cause the cars to veer off-course, making the game more challenging. The amount of skidding can also be selected by the player. A race consists of anything between 1 and 40 laps.
Players can steer their car left and right, but unlike most racing games, there are no keys for directly braking or accelerating. Instead, the player drives by selecting one of four gears (or neutral) and the car will accelerate according to the currently selected gear.{{cite web|url=http://onlineracedriver.com/2010/08/17/the-stuff-racing-dreams-are-made-of/|title=The stuff racing dreams are made of|first=Tom|last=Bowker|date=2010-08-17|accessdate=2010-10-08|publisher=onlineracedriver.com|quote=To drive the car you didn't have an 'accelerate' and 'brake' but instead a choice of four gears which gradually increased and decreased your speed.}}
Reception
Tom Bowker describes the game as "primitive", but he "loved it deeply".
The game was reviewed in the August 1984 edition of Acorn User{{cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/cgi-bin/sitewise.pl?act=det&p=3981|title=Acorn User - August 1984|accessdate=2010-10-08|publisher=The Centre for Computing History|quote=Games Stock Car from Micropower Airline from CES}}{{cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/cgi-bin/sitewise.pl?act=det&p=3981|title=Acorn User Archives: Issue 25: August 1984|accessdate=2010-10-08|publisher=Acorn User|quote=Stock Car from Micropower, Airline from CES}} and later briefly mentioned in issue of Electron User as part of the ten-game Micro Power Magic{{cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/5416/Micro-Power-Magic/|title=Micro Power Magic|accessdate=2010-10-08|publisher=The Centre for Computing History|quote=This exhibit has a reference ID of CH5416.}} compilation, where it was described as "very realistic".{{cite web|url=http://www.acornelectron.co.uk/mags/eu/revs/micropower/r-mpm.html|title=Best Compilation Bargain|first=James|last=Riddell|accessdate=2010-10-08|publisher=Electron User (issue 4.03)|quote=Power your car round a choice of six circuits, dodge the computer controlled cars and oil slicks.}}
Legacy
Another game, Grand Prix by S. Merrigan on the Triple Deckers volume 1 compilation was described by Dave Reeder as "a very poor copy of Stock Car".{{cite web|url=http://www.acornelectron.co.uk/mags/aab/revs/alternative/r-tds.html|title=Triple Deckers|accessdate=2010-10-08|publisher=A&B Computing Volume 5 No. 03|quote=Volume 1 contains a very poor copy of STOCK CAR by S. Merrigan called GRAND PRIZ.|first=Dave|last=Reeder}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{gb64 game|id=7434}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sm7U3_Ma_0 Video] of the game on the Acorn Electron
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_96D9Bs9KQI Video] of the game on the BBC Micro
{{Micro Power}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stock Car (Video Game)}}
Category:BBC Micro and Acorn Electron games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games