Wipeout (video game)

Wipeout (stylised as wipE'out") is a futuristic racing video game developed and published by Psygnosis. It is the first game in the Wipeout series. It was originally released in 1995 for PlayStation and MS-DOS, and later in 1996 for Sega Saturn, being a launch title for the PlayStation (in Europe only). It was re-released as a downloadable game for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable via the PlayStation Network in 2007.

This article is about the video game. For the series, see Wipeout (series).

Wipeout
European PlayStation cover art
Developer(s)Psygnosis
Publisher(s)Psygnosis
Director(s)John White[1]
Producer(s)Dominic Mallinson[1][2]
Designer(s)Nick Burcome[1]
Composer(s)Tim Wright[1]
SeriesWipeout
Platform(s)PlayStation, MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, Sega Saturn
Release
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer[3][4]

Set in 2052, players compete in the F3600 anti-gravity racing league, piloting one of a selection of craft in races on several tracks around the world. Unique at the time, Wipeout was noted for its futuristic setting, weapons designed to both stall and destroy enemy opponents and its marketing campaign designed by Keith Hopwood and The Designers Republic. The game features original music from CoLD SToRAGE, with tracks by Leftfield, The Chemical Brothers and Orbital appearing on some versions. The game was critically acclaimed on release; critics praised the game for its originality and its vast "unique techno soundtrack". However, it received minor criticism for the steep learning curve resulting from the realistic physics. Wipeout spawned several sequels to critical acclaim.

Gameplay
From left to right clockwise, the interface displays the number of laps, current weapon, race position, speedometer, and lap time.

Wipeout is a racing game that is set in 2052, where players compete in the F3600 anti-gravity racing league.[5] The game allows the player to pilot one of a selection of craft in races on several different tracks.[6] There are four racing teams to choose from, and two ships for each team. Each ship has its distinct characteristics of acceleration, top speed, mass, and turning radius.[7] By piloting their craft over power-up pads found on the tracks, the player can pick up various weapons and power-ups such as shields, turbo boosts, mines, shock waves, rockets, or missiles. The power-ups allow the player to either protect their craft or disrupt the competitors' craft.[8]

There are seven race tracks in the game, six of them located in futuristic versions of countries such as Canada, the United States and Japan. After all tracks have been completed on the Rapier Championship, a hidden track (Firestar), set on Mars is unlocked.[9] Wipeout features a multiplayer mode using the PlayStation Link Cable, allowing two player to race against each other and the six remaining AI competitors.[3] The game also supports the NeGcon, a third-party controller designed by Namco.[10]

Development and release
The controversial WipEout poster featuring television presenter and DJ Sara Cox, leftmost in the poster.

Wipeout was developed and published by Liverpudlian developer Psygnosis (later known as SCE Studio Liverpool), with production starting in the second half of 1994.[2][11] According to Lee Carus, one of the artists, Wipeout took 14 months to develop, and the concept began as a conversation between Nick Burcombe and Jim Bowers at a pub in Oxton, Merseyside. Bowers then started on a concept film which was shown around Psygnosis' offices. It proved popular, and Wipeout was approved and production began.[12] The marketing and artwork were designed by Keith Hopwood and The Designers Republic in Sheffield.[11] Aimed at a fashionable, club-going, music-buying audience, Keith Hopwood and The Designers Republic created art for the packaging, in-game branding, and other promotional materials.[11] An early beta version appeared in the teen cult film Hackers (1995), in which both protagonists were playing the game in a nightclub.[13]

The team was under pressure, as it consisted of around ten people, and they were on a tight schedule. Carus stated that the code had to be rewritten three quarters of the way through development, and that the team was confident that they could complete the game on time.[12] The vehicle designs were based on Matrix Marauders, a 3D grid-based strategy game whose concept was developed by Bowers and released for the Amiga in 1994.[14][15] Burcombe, the game's future designer, was inspired to create a racing game using the same types of 'anti-gravity' vehicles from SoftImage's animation of two ships racing. The name "Wipeout" was given to the game during a pub conversation, and was inspired by the instrumental song Wipe Out by The Surfaris. Designing the tracks proved to be difficult due to the lack of draw distance possible on the system. Players received completely random weapons, resembling Super Mario Kart in their capability to stall rather than destroy opponents.[16] Burcombe said that Wipeout was influenced by Super Mario Kart more than any other game.[12]

Wipeout gained a significant amount of controversy on its initial release.[17] A marketing campaign created and launched by Keith Hopwood and The Designers Republic included an infamous promotional poster, featuring a bloodstained television and radio presenter Sara Cox, which was accused by some of depicting a drug overdose.[13] Next Generation printed the ad with the blood erased; the magazine staff explained that not only had they been under pressure from newsstand retailers about violent imagery in games magazines, but they themselves felt the blood added nothing to the ad other than shock value.[18] The poster branded Wipeout "a dangerous game", with Wipeout's lead artist Neil Thompson suggesting—and designer Nick Burcome denying—that the "E" in Wipeout stood for ecstasy.[13]

Wipeout was first released alongside the PlayStation in Europe in September 1995. It was the PlayStation's best-selling launch title in Europe.[19] In November 1995, it was released in the United States. The game went to number one in all the format charts, with over 1.5 million units of the franchise having been sold to date throughout Europe and North America.[20] Wipeout was ported to the Sega Saturn in 1996. Because the company behind the PlayStation, Sony, owned the applicable rights to the last three tracks of the PlayStation version's soundtrack, new music was added for the Saturn version by Rob Lord and Mark Bandola.[21][22] The Sega Saturn version was released by SoftBank in North America. It was one of four titles they planned to release on the Sega Saturn in the US, along with Destruction Derby, Krazy Ivan, and Assault Rigs, however only Wipeout was released.[23][24][25][26]

Music

The game's electronica soundtrack was mostly composed by Welsh video game music composer Tim Wright under the alias CoLD SToRAGE. However, additional music tracks were licensed from more established electronica acts to create the soundtracks for the PAL and Saturn versions of the game, as well as the promotional album, Wipeout: The Music. Additional music featured in the PAL version of the PlayStation game include tracks from Leftfield, The Chemical Brothers, and Orbital (also appearing on Wipeout: The Music), while the Saturn version includes three additional tracks by Rob Lord and Mark Bandola. Orbital's "Wipeout (P.E.T.R.O.L.)" was at least partially written before Burcombe met the musicians,[13] and Leftfield's "Afro Ride" and The Chemical brothers' "Chemical Beats" are remixes of songs the artists had already recorded.[27] The 1995 North American release, as well as the 1997 "Greatest Hits" reissue, only feature tracks by CoLD SToRAGE.

The promotional album Wipeout: The Music was released on CD and vinyl in 1996, and features the aforementioned three tracks by Leftfield, The Chemical Brothers and Orbital, as well as additional tracks by New Order and The Prodigy. Burcombe explained that the choice of genres was based on an experience he had while playing Super Mario Kart: he had just finished in first place but had "Age of Love" playing instead of the game's soundtrack, and thought it fitted the moment.[13] Persuading record companies to get involved with the promotional album proved difficult as they did not understand what the development team wanted.[12] Notable, however, is the omission of tracks by CoLD SToRAGE. This surprised some, as Wright's contributions were popular with players, and the omission of his songs in favor of more established acts seemed to affront video game music as a burgeoning art form.[28]

Track listing for European PlayStation version
No.TitlePerformerLength
1."Data Track"No Artist 
2."Cairodrome"CoLD SToRAGE5:15
3."Cardinal Dancer"CoLD SToRAGE5:22
4."Cold Comfort"CoLD SToRAGE5:05
5."DOH-T"CoLD SToRAGE5:15
6."Messij"CoLD SToRAGE5:16
7."Operatique"CoLD SToRAGE5:18
8."Tentative"CoLD SToRAGE5:26
9."Transvaal"CoLD SToRAGE5:07
10."Afro Ride"Leftfield6:26
11."Chemical Beats"The Chemical Brothers4:52
12."Wipeout (P.E.T.R.O.L)"Orbital6:15
Track listing for North American PlayStation version
No.TitlePerformerLength
1."Data Track"No Artist 
2."Cairodrome"CoLD SToRAGE5:15
3."Cardinal Dancer"CoLD SToRAGE5:22
4."Cold Comfort"CoLD SToRAGE5:05
5."DOH-T"CoLD SToRAGE5:15
6."Messij"CoLD SToRAGE5:16
7."Operatique"CoLD SToRAGE5:18
8."Tentative"CoLD SToRAGE5:26
9."Transvaal"CoLD SToRAGE5:07
Track listing for European Saturn version
No.TitlePerformerLength
1."Data Track"No Artist 
2."Cairodrome"CoLD SToRAGE5:15
3."Cardinal Dancer"CoLD SToRAGE5:22
4."Cold Comfort"CoLD SToRAGE5:05
5."DOH-T"CoLD SToRAGE5:15
6."Messij"CoLD SToRAGE5:16
7."Operatique"CoLD SToRAGE5:18
8."Tentative"CoLD SToRAGE5:26
9."Transvaal"CoLD SToRAGE5:07
10."Brickbat"Rob Lord & Mark Bandola5:59
11."Planet 9"Rob Lord & Mark Bandola4:43
12."Poison"Rob Lord & Mark Bandola5:18
Track listing for Wipeout: The Music LP
No.TitleWriter(s)PerformerLength
1."Afro Ride" (Afro-Left, 1995)Neil Barnes, Paul Daley, Neil ColeLeftfield4:24
2."Chemical Beats" (from Exit Planet Dust, 1995)Tom Rowlands, Ed SimonsChemical Brothers4:50
3."Blue Monday (Hardfloor Mix)" (from Blue Monday-95, 1995)Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Gillian GilbertNew Order8:34
4."The Age of Love (Jam & Spoon Mix)"Bruno Sanchioni, Giuseppe CherchiaAge of Love6:45
5."Wipeout (P.E.T.R.O.L)" (from In Sides, 1996)P & P HartnollOrbital6:15
6."One Love (Edit)" (from Music for the Jilted Generation, 1994)Liam HowlettThe Prodigy3:53
7."La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh) (Dust Brothers Mix)" (from Gold Against the Soul, 1993)Nicky Wire, Richey JamesManic Street Preachers6:13
8."When (K-Klass Pharmacy Mix)"Lucia Holm, Paul CarnellSunscreem8:39
9."Good Enough (Geminis Psychosis Mix)"L. Cittadini, M. BraghieriB.B. feat Angie Brown8:54
10."Circus Bells (Hardfloor Remix)"R. ArmaniRobert Armani8:58
11."Captain Dread" (from Second Light, 1995)G. Roberts, Irvine, McGlynnDreadzone5:24
12."Transamazonia (Deep Dish Rockit Express Dub Mix)"Colin Angus, Richard WestThe Shamen4:21

Reception
Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Edge (PS1)[29]
EGM7.125/10 (SAT)[30]
IGN8/10 (PS1)[31]
Next Generation (PS1)[32]
(SAT)[33]
Maximum (PS1)[34]
(SAT)[35]

Upon release, the game was critically acclaimed. IGN staff praised the game for its originality and unique techno soundtrack, but criticised the difficulty with manoeuvring the vehicles and also the difficulty of the game itself, stating that "there aren't nearly enough competitors" and that the player would have "[pulled] ahead of the other racers with no problem".[31] Edge cited that it was hard to criticise "such a beautifully realised and well-produced game which [exploited] the PlayStation's power so well", but did show similar concerns over the game's longevity regarding its "reliance on track-based power-ups" that would "limit Wipeout's lifespan" in comparison to Super Mario Kart.[29] GamePro gave the PlayStation version a rave review, predicting that "Wipeout's taut action and grueling courses will lure many diehard racing fans to this new system." They particularly praised the challenging gameplay and precise controls. They said the fact that multiplayer is only through the PlayStation Link Cable is the game's one major flaw, since the PlayStation still had a low installed base at this point and thus this would not be an option for most players.[36] A reviewer for Next Generation applauded the stylish and detailed visuals, the "heart-pounding soundtrack", and particularly the exhilarating feel of the racing. He commented that the controls have a potentially frustrating learning curve but are worth mastering, and deemed the game "A new high-water mark".[32] Maximum opined that of all the games in the PlayStation's European launch lineup, "not one title can match up to the awesome nature of Psygnosis' WipeOut. It's an amazing spectacle to behold, it sounds absolutely fantastic and it's the best playing racing game yet beheld on a next generation super console." Making particular note of the lack of pop-up, the coherent style and concept, the soundtrack, the unlockable Rapier mode, and the PAL optimization,[34] they gave it their "Maximum Game of the Month" award.[37]

The later Saturn version also received generally positive reviews, though most critics agreed that it was not as good as the PlayStation version. In Sega Saturn Magazine, Rad Automatic praised the large number of tracks and the distinctive flavour of each one, and remarked that the gameplay is very easy to get into but provides more than enough challenge. He criticised it as not being as good as the PlayStation version, though he noted that none of the shortcomings impact the gameplay.[38] The four reviewers from Electronic Gaming Monthly similarly praised the number and variety of tracks along with the strong challenge the game presented, and were much more approving of the graphics than Sega Saturn Magazine, describing them as "vibrant" and "gorgeous".[30] A Next Generation critic said that while the graphics are slightly less sharp and the controls feel different, the Saturn version is essentially the same game as the PlayStation version.[33] Both Air Hendrix of GamePro and a reviewer for Maximum argued that the Saturn version is noticeably not as polished as the PlayStation version but still excellent in absolute terms, making it a pointless purchase for PlayStation owners but recommended for Saturn-only players.[39][35]

Legacy

The game's initial success led to Psygnosis developing several sequels which would later become part of the Wipeout franchise. A direct sequel, Wipeout 2097, was released for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn in 1996, which was met with positive reviews, especially aimed towards the vastly improved game engine and new physics the game offered.[16] A Nintendo 64 spin-off, Wipeout 64, was released in 1998 and was met with considerable praise from critics, but was noted to be too similar to the original Wipeout.[40] After the release of Wipeout in 1995, the awareness of the underground techno community in England was significantly boosted, with critics praising the vast "unique techno soundtrack" the game offered.[13]

Wipeout has been described as being synonymous with Sony's debut gaming hardware and as an early showcase for 3D graphics in console gaming.[2] It has since been re-released as a downloadable game for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable via the PlayStation Network in 2007.[41][42]

The game's soundtrack, especially its use of tracks by popular contemporary artists, has been credited with prompting gaming developers to allot greater importance to the music in their games.[43]

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References
  1. Fairclough, Damien; Burcombe, Nick (1995). "Credits". WipEout Manual (instruction manual). Psygnosis. p. 21. SCES-00010.
  2. Leadbetter, Richard (4 December 2014). "20 years of PlayStation: the making of WipEout". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  3. Fairclough, Damien; Burcombe, Nick (1995). "WipEout with Two Players". WipEout Manual (instruction manual). Psygnosis. p. 18. SCES-00010.
  4. Turunen, J. "Ruikkuralli". Pelit (in Finnish). Sanoma (1/1996): 30.
  5. Fairclough, Damien; Burcombe, Nick (1995). "Are You Ready?". WipEout Manual (instruction manual). Psygnosis. p. 1. SCES-00010.
  6. Fairclough, Damien; Burcombe, Nick (1995). "Championship/Single Race/Time Trial Selection". WipEout Manual (instruction manual). Psygnosis. p. 8. SCES-00010.
  7. Fairclough, Damien; Burcombe, Nick (1995). "Team Selection". WipEout Manual (instruction manual). Psygnosis. pp. 9–11. SCES-00010.
  8. Fairclough, Damien; Burcombe, Nick (1995). "Weapons and Power-Ups". WipEout Manual (instruction manual). Psygnosis. pp. 19–20. SCES-00010.
  9. "Retro Corner: 'WipEout'". Digital Spy. Digital Spy. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  10. Fairclough, Damien; Burcombe, Nick (1995). "Options". WipEout Manual (instruction manual). Psygnosis. pp. 6–7. SCES-00010. wipEout is fully compatible with Namco's NeGcon which will be automatically detected when you insert the NeGcon into controller port number 1.
  11. "The Designers Republic (Company)". Giant Bomb. Giant Bomb. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  12. "The Making Of: Wipeout". Retro Gamer. No. 35. Bournemouth: Imagine Publishing. pp. 78–81. ISSN 1742-3155.
  13. Yin-Pool, Wesley (2013). "WipEout: The rise and fall of Sony Studio Liverpool". Eurogamer. Eurogamer. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  14. "A History Of Psygnosis in 12 Games". IGN. IGN UK. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  15. Langshaw, Mark. "Retro Corner: 'WipEout'". Digital Spy. Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  16. Edge staff writers (24 February 2013). "The Making Of: Wipeout". Edge. Future plc. Archived from the original on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  17. Clifford-Marsh, Elizabeth. "Sony pulls controversial in-game ads after player protests". marketingmagazine. Band Republic Group. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  18. "Letters". Next Generation. No. 17. Imagine Media. May 1996. p. 123.
  19. Hickman, Sam (March 1996). "The Thrill of the Chase!". Sega Saturn Magazine (5). Emap International Limited. p. 36. And if there was one game that sold Playstation on launch, it was WipEout
  20. "PlayStation Sales Showdown – Wipeout". IGN UK. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  21. Hickman, Sam (March 1996). "The Thrill of the Chase!". Sega Saturn Magazine (5). Emap International Limited. p. 43. Although acts such as the Chemical Brothers and Leftfield appear on the Playstation version, Psygnosis have their own in-house music team to create the music for WipEout, but these aren't your usual plinkety music guys.
  22. Genthe, Kris (10 August 2009). "Review: WipEout (Saturn)". Psygnosis tweaked things a bit, and added music tracks from Rob Lord & Mark Bandola.
  23. "Cover art for the Sega Saturn release".
  24. "Prototype cover art for the cancelled Sega Saturn release of Destruction Derby".
  25. "Prototype cover art for the cancelled Sega Saturn release of Krazy Ivan".
  26. "Ultra Gameplayers Volume 100" (PDF).
  27. "Wipeout". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine. Emap International Limited (1): 6–19. October 1995.
  28. "Composer Interview: CoLD SToRAGE (Tim Wright) – OCRWiki – OverClocked ReMix". OverClocked ReMix, LLC. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  29. "Wipeout Review – Edge Online". Edge Online. Edge UK. 24 August 1995. Archived from the original on 21 June 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  30. "Review Crew: Wipeout". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Ziff Davis (84): 35. July 1996.
  31. "Wipeout review". IGN. 26 November 1996. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  32. "Classic". Next Generation. Imagine Media (11): 169. November 1995.
  33. "A Close Call". Next Generation. No. 19. Imagine Media. July 1996. p. 78.
  34. "Maximum Reviews: Wipeout". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine. Emap International Limited (1): 148–9. October 1995.
  35. "Maximum Reviews: Wipeout". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine. Emap International Limited (5): 148. April 1996.
  36. "ProReview: Wipeout". GamePro. IDG (86): 52. November 1995.
  37. "The Essential Buyers Guide". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine. Emap International Limited (1): 141. October 1995.
  38. Automatic, Rad (April 1996). "Review: Wipeout". Sega Saturn Magazine. Emap International Limited (6): 70–71.
  39. "ProReview: Wipeout". GamePro. IDG (94): 68. July 1996.
  40. "Wipeout 64 overview and ranking". Nintendojo. Nintendojo. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  41. Black, Jared (10 March 2007). "News – WipEout Races to PSP via PS3". VGGen. Archived from the original on 28 October 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  42. "PS Store Release Dates Confirmation". Three Speech: Semi-Official PlayStation Blog. 15 June 2007. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  43. "The Future Sound of Game Music". Next Generation. No. 24. Imagine Media. December 1996. p. 85. Videogames and contemporary music have now officially met, shaken hands, and declared their respect for each other. This is good news for gamers as, post-Wipeout, developers have finally realized that the right music can be used to enrich the gaming experience.
Video game
Soundtrack
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