While racing video games have helped some series, others have gone years or even decades without them. Here are five series that deserve to have one for their fans.
The world of racing is no longer contained to racing on Sunday and back to work on Monday like it was many years ago. With race weekends often stretching now from Thursday to Sunday, and the occasional weeknight races too, the appetite for fans to have more motorsports in their lives continues to grow.
Of course, for those with that unquenchable thirst for burning rubber, there are many ways to satisfy that. YouTube is filled with racing videos, and advances in technology have allowed for racing simulators and racing video games to be developed and easily accessed by the passionate followers. However, while series like NASCAR and Formula One have their own standalone games, others have not found that footing yet.
Over the years, many game developers and series have tried and failed at finding a niche for various racing video games, but have instead seen many fold into larger games such as Forza Motorsport. Yet fans of these series want their own video games, ones that will take into account their individual cars’ type of crash physics, driving style, and damage. Here are just five of the worthy candidates of their individual racing video games.
Next: It's Electric!
Formula E
One of the youngest motorsports series in the world, Formula E also holds the unique distinction of being one of the fastest growing series globally. Entering their third season this fall, the series will welcome big name manufacturer Jaguar to the series as a factory team, while also adding high-profile races in New York City.
Formula E has built an interesting cross-section of fans early in its existence, with hard-core racing fans crossing with younger fans interested in technology and environmental concerns. That crossover has helped fuel the rise of the all-electric series, and has become part of the Forza Motorsports universe in video games. But is it time for Formula E to branch out and have their own racing video game?
The series already makes use of simulators regularly on their race weekends, allowing fans, drivers, and teams to compete against each other before getting out on track. However, it remains to be seen whether the growing audience for electric racing has grown strong enough to support a standalone video game. Perhaps a partnership with Formula One could allow for their inclusion in a future F1 video game as a secondary series choice, much like NASCAR used to do with the Xfinity Series, Camping World Truck Series, and Whelen Modified Tour.
Next: The Greatest Show on Dirt
World of Outlaws
Perhaps one of the most exciting series to race around the United States is the one you will rarely see on television. The World of Outlaws is filled with fantastic side-by-side dirt shows, crazy crashes, and fast-paced action. All three are great ingredients for some racing video games.
The greatest show on dirt has been put into video game form before, thanks to little-known Big Ant Studios. The Australian video game unit known for games for rugby and lacrosse (and the Spyro series) created four games for the series, with the last coming out in 2010. The final edition included twelve tracks and twenty real drivers, including favorites like Donny Schatz and Steve Kinser.
Of course, since 2010, there have been no games for the outlaws but lots of development in the world of gaming consoles. With new consoles like the Xbox One and PS4, and enhanced television and video quality for gamers, perhaps it’s time for a new edition. Who knows, the World of Outlaws could be included in a new game Big Ant Studios will be releasing soon, entitled Dirt Track Racing.
If and when a new game does come out for the World of Outlaws, we all hope Bryan Clauson will be included, as a tribute to a great driver gone too soon.
Next: Going Out on Two Wheels
Supercross
With some of the most exciting racing to see in the winter months, Monster Energy Supercross is entering back into the motorsports video gaming world with the MX vs. ATV Supercross series, now available on Steam, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. However, before then, it had been since 2013 with EA Sports that the series had a high-profile gaming platform.
The most recent edition of the game was released in early 2016, but has an extended history prior to that. Five iterations of the game were released by THQ between 2005 and 2011, before Rainbow Studios separated from THQ (before its subsequent bankruptcy). Since then, Nordic Games has helped re-launch the series in 2014 and will hopefully continue to develop into the future.
AMA Supercross and Motocross are both included in the game, along with ATV racing, allowing gamers to race on indoor and outdoor courses. They can compete against 40 different riders, and race in multiple classes (250cc or 450cc on bikes). While the ratings have not been strong on graphics or creative gameplay, the game does its job in providing an outlet for the two-wheeled fans.
In order to continue the growth of Supercross and Motocross around the United States, this platform could prove key in reaching younger audiences that will want to tune in and go to the arenas to see their favorite riders live.
Next: Baptism By Nitro
NHRA
A series that is arguably battling back toward the status of second-biggest American motorsports series, NHRA drag racing is certainly on the upswing. With increasing television exposure and ratings on FOX Sports, and renewed interest at the track, the time could be right for the series to partner with a game developer for a new drag racing video game.
It has now been since the late 2000s since the NHRA has been featured in a video game, NHRA Drag Racing: Countdown to the Championship. The game at the time was made for the PlayStation 2 and PSP systems, which are now many generations outdated in the world of consoles. The game included all the major categories, plus jet dragsters exclusively for the PSP. It was also the first game to include the Pro Stock Motorcycle category and its leading lady Angelle Sampey.
Despite the progress the series made with that game, it’s time for a new edition. The series has a number of rising stars that can grace the cover of the game, from the Force sisters to Antron Brown to Leah Pritchett. The need for a new game is further emphasized by the inability for the NHRA to be included in more broad-based racing video games like Forza, because gamers can’t reasonably expect to drive John Force’s funny car around Monza.
For a series with a lot of upward momentum, the next logical step to keep moving forward is to look into the video gaming world.
Next: The Premier Open-Wheel Series in America
IndyCar
The series that has been long considered the second most popular racing series in the United States, and the most popular open-wheel division, has not had a major racing video game developed since 2004. Despite sixteen games being made based on IndyCar racing, whether CART, Champ Car or IRL, none have come in the modern era of gaming with the newest consoles.
Despite the lack of a standalone game, IndyCar has been incorporated into the Forza series, allowing users to drive select cars from the Verizon IndyCar Series. However, the game does omit a number of drivers from the series, including Helio Castroneves, Juan Pablo Montoya, Simon Pagenaud, and Tony Kanaan. The game also lacks the proper crash and car physics that should be expected from an IndyCar, where crashes do not involve any severe damage to the nose or wheel suspensions of the cars.
There are a number of clear advantages for IndyCar to have their own game, beyond the addition of all drivers and better crash physics. Further exposure for series sponsors is always possible in these games, and the inclusion of all their racetracks, instead of just two (Indianapolis and Road America), would prove popular among their fans. The series has finally found a steady course and is growing their audience again, and a video game can certainly help them the most on their path forward.
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Which series would you like to see the most with their own video game? Is there a series that didn’t make our list that you think should have one? Leave your comments below and be sure to check out all the great racing video games that are out on the market right now.