Vanishing Point (video game)
{{Short description|2001 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Vanishing Point
| image = Vanishing Point US Dreamcast cover art.jpg
| caption = North American Dreamcast cover art featuring an Alfa Romeo GTV (left) and a Lotus Elise (right)
| developer = Clockwork Games
| publisher = Acclaim Entertainment
| director =
| producer =
| designer =
| programmer =
| artist =
| writer =
| composer =
| platforms = Dreamcast, PlayStation
| released = Dreamcast
{{vgrelease|NA|January 3, 2001{{cite web |url=http://www.acclaim.com/company/pressReleases/product/VanishingPointDCShips.html |title=ACCLAIM'S VANISHING POINT FOR THE SEGA DREAMCAST ZOOMS INTO STORES JANUARY 3rd |website=Acclaim Entertainment |date=January 3, 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040826001915/http://www.acclaim.com/company/pressReleases/product/VanishingPointDCShips.html |archive-date=August 26, 2004 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 26, 2020}}|EU|January 19, 2001{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/article-30000 |title=Console Releases |last=Bramwell |first=Tom |date=January 19, 2001 |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020308175636/http://eurogamer.net/news.php?id=5000 |archive-date=March 8, 2002 |url-status=live |access-date=February 29, 2024}}}}PlayStation
{{vgrelease|NA|February 6, 2001{{Cite web |title=Vanishing Point |url=http://psx.gamezone.com/gamesell/p16742.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031206181139/http://psx.gamezone.com/gamesell/p16742.htm |archive-date=December 6, 2003 |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=GameZone}}|EU|March 31, 2001}}
| genre = Racing
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
}}
Vanishing Point is a racing video game developed by Clockwork Games and published by Acclaim Entertainment for Dreamcast and PlayStation.
Gameplay
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.{{cite magazine |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/5/57/ODM_UK_21.pdf |title=In the hot seat with Clockwork Games |magazine=Official Dreamcast Magazine (UK) |publisher=Dennis Publishing |issue=21 |date=July–August 2001 |pages=72–73 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230427200232/https://retrocdn.net/images/5/57/ODM_UK_21.pdf |archive-date=April 27, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=February 29, 2024}} 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
Vanishing Point was first announced at the European Computer Trade Show, being self-funded by Clockwork Games until Acclaim licensed the game. The game was developed in 18 months with a team of eight people.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hands-on-vanishing-point/1100-2446172/ |title=Hands-on: Vanishing Point |last=Mielke |first=James |date=January 14, 2000 |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001011074829/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/00_01/14_vg_vanish/index.html |archive-date=October 11, 2000 |url-status=live |access-date=February 29, 2024}} 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". 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).{{cite web |title=A word from the Developer |url=http://www.clockwork-games.com/dev-note.html |website=Clockwork Games |access-date=2 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010303171950/http://www.clockwork-games.com/dev-note.html |archive-date=3 March 2001 |url-status=dead}}
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Reception
{{Video game reviews
| SDC = true
| PS = true
| na = true
| MC_SDC = 80/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/vanishing-point/critic-reviews/?platform=dreamcast |title=Vanishing Point critic reviews (DC) |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228230345/https://www.metacritic.com/game/dreamcast/vanishing-point |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=February 29, 2024}}
| Allgame_SDC = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=23607&tab=review |title=Vanishing Point (DC) - Review |last=Miller |first=Skyler |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116030434/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=23607&tab=review |archive-date=November 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 26, 2020}}
| CNG_SDC = 8/10{{cite web |url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Dreamcast/Reviews/List/t.html |title=Sega Dreamcast Reviews (T-Z) |website=Gamecenter |publisher=CNET |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010207182730/http://www.gamecenter.com/Dreamcast/Reviews/List/t.html |archive-date=February 7, 2001 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 1, 2024}}
| Edge_SDC = 3/10{{cite magazine |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/2/2d/Edge_UK_095.pdf |title=Vanishing Point (DC) |author=Edge staff |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future Publishing |issue=95 |date=March 2001 |page=82 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418133336/https://retrocdn.net/images/2/2d/Edge_UK_095.pdf |archive-date=April 18, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=February 29, 2024}}
| EGM_SDC = 6/10{{cite magazine |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/f/fe/EGM_US_140.pdf |title=Vanishing Point (DC) |last1=Hager |first1=Dean |last2=Sewart |first2=Greg |last3=Mielke |first3=James "Milkman" |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=140 |date=March 2001 |page=110 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010309180327/http://www.zdnet.com/egm/stories/main/0,11589,2675793,00.html |archive-date=March 9, 2001 |url-status=live |access-date=February 29, 2024}}{{efn|Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Dreamcast version each a score of 6/10, 5/10, and 7/10.}}
| EPD_SDC = 8.5/10{{cite web |url=http://www.elecplay.com/reviews_article.php?article=5696 |title=Vanishing Point (DC) |last=Steinberg |first=Scott |date=April 30, 2001 |website=The Electric Playground |publisher=Greedy Productions Ltd. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040930075922/http://www.elecplay.com/reviews_article.php?article=5696 |archive-date=September 30, 2004 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 1, 2024}}
| GI_SDC = 7.5/10{{cite magazine |title=Vanishing Point (DC) |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=95 |date=March 2001}}
| GameRev_PS = D+{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/34130-vanishing-point-review |title=Vanishing Point Review (PS) |author=A.A. White |date=February 2001 |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005115938/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/vanishing-point |archive-date=October 5, 2015 |url-status=live |access-date=September 26, 2020}}
| GSpy_SDC = 89%{{cite web |url=http://www.sportplanet.com/features/reviews/vanishingpoint/ |title=Vanishing Point (DC) |last=Tsotsos |first=Alex |date=January 22, 2001 |website=SportPlanet |publisher=IGN Entertainment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030207171328/http://www.sportplanet.com/features/reviews/vanishingpoint/ |archive-date=February 7, 2003 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 26, 2020}}
(PD) 8/10{{cite web |url=http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/vanishingpoint/ |title=Vanishing Point |author=zerothreat |date=October 30, 2000 |website=PlanetDreamcast |publisher=IGN Entertainment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123161517/http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/vanishingpoint/ |archive-date=January 23, 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 26, 2020}}
| NGen_SDC = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/NextGen76Apr2001/page/n85/mode/2up |title=Vanishing Point (DC) |last=Orlando |first=Greg |magazine=NextGen |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=76 |date=April 2001 |page=84 |access-date=September 26, 2020}}
| OPM_PS = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/official-us-playstation-magazine-issue-44-may-2001/page/102/mode/2up |title=Vanishing Point |last=Rybicki |first=Joe |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=44 |date=May 2001 |page=103 |access-date=March 1, 2024}}
}}
The Dreamcast version of Vanishing Point received "favorable" reviews, while the PlayStation version received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Greg Orlando of NextGen called the former console version "an example of fine craftsmanship." PlanetDreamcast gave the same console version a favorable review, over two months before the latter was released Stateside.
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Notes
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011216081654/http://www.clockwork-games.com/vpoint.html|date=December 16, 2001|title=Vanishing Point at Clockwork Games}}
- [http://gamesdbase.com/Media/SYSTEM/Sega_Dreamcast//Manual/formated/Vanishing_Point_-_2000_-_Acclaim_Entertainment.pdf Manual] at Games Database
- {{moby game|id=/6341/vanishing-point/}}
Category:Acclaim Entertainment games
Category:Clockwork Games games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games