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Virtua Racing

aka: SEGA AGES: Virtua Racing, Virtua Formula

Description

Virtua Racing is Sega's first ever 3D, polygon-based racing game. The game consists of racing Formula-1-looking cars around a beginner, intermediate, or expert track, competing against a second player or computer drivers. Despite having Formula-1 cars, the game controls are very "arcadey" and players can see the leap they made from here to Daytona.

The Megadrive/Genesis version of Virtua Racing is of note as it is the only game for the system which features the SVP chip (Sega Virtua Processor). The chip is a 3D processor built into each cartridge (the console itself had limited 3D capability) and is very similar to the SNES's SuperFX chips, used in games such as Starfox and Stunt Race FX.

Spellings

  • バーチャ レーシング - Japanese spelling

Groups +

Screenshots

Promos

Credits (Arcade version)

27 People · View all

Reviews

Trivia

1001 Video Games

The Arcade version of Virtua Racing appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.

Compatibility

This game won't work on a model 3 Genesis.

SVP chip

This game caused a quite interesting problem for owners of phones. The SVP chip had a frequency that was so high it was picked up by the phones and they rang like crazy. It was enough to sure cause headaches!

Awards

  • Gamefan Magazine
    • 1994 (Vol 3, Iss. 1) - named the Best Genesis Driving/Racing Game of the Year ("Megawards" )

Information also contributed by Big John WV and DANIEL HAWKS !

Swing boat

In the arcade, Sega 32X, Sega Saturn, and PlayStation 2 versions of Virtua Racing, the swing boat in the Big Forrest stage moves back and forth. The Genesis version is the one exception where the swing boat is steady.

Related Games

Virtua Racing Deluxe
Released 1994 on SEGA 32X
Virtua Tennis
Released 1999 on Arcade, 2000 on Dreamcast, 2002 on Windows
Virtua Athlete 2000
Released 2000 on Dreamcast, 2002 on Arcade
Virtua Fighter Remix
Released 1995 on Arcade, 1995 on SEGA Saturn, 1996 on Windows
Virtua Cop
Released 1994 on Arcade, 1995 on SEGA Saturn, 1997 on Windows
Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown
Released 2021 on PlayStation 4, Arcade
Virtua Striker 2002
Released 2002 on Arcade, GameCube
Virtua Fighter Animation
Released 1996 on Game Gear, 1997 on SEGA Master System
Virtua Cop 2
Released 1996 on SEGA Saturn, Windows, Dreamcast

Related Sites +

  • Sega's SVP Chip: The Road not Taken?
    A feature article on the fansite Sega-16, which discusses the history of the SVP chip and its use in <em>Virtua Racing</em>, as well as the unused potential that the chip offered to Sega. The article also provides a comparison between the SVP, the 32x peripheral, the Sega Saturn, and Nintendo's SuperFX chip (Marc. 17th, 2006).

Identifiers +

  • MobyGames ID: 8131

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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Tibes80.

Nintendo Switch added by Rik Hideto. Arcade added by FatherJack.

Additional contributors: Alaka, Alexander Michel, Tim Janssen, j.raido 【雷堂嬢太朗】, Zeppin, Rik Hideto, FatherJack, Bozzly.

Game added January 8th, 2003. Last modified February 22nd, 2023.