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Superbike Racing Games

Superbike (SBK) racing is an international motor sport that features grand prix style motorcycle racing on special bikes built for high speeds. Video game developers have sought to corner this niche racing market for years, with racing simulations in a variety of console and PC iterations.

SBK
- The "SBK" game series is one of the most prominent superbike simulators, with versions across game platforms such as the PS3, PS2, PSP, PC and XBox 360. Released in 2009, "SBK Superbike World Championship" received criticism for its bland gameplay and touchy controls. The 2010 version of the series, "SBK X" sought to address some of these slights with an arcade mode that allows players to get right into a race with the skills of a veteran racer.
EA Sports
- Designed by the Italian game developers Milestone Studios, EA Sports' "Superbike" series launched in 1999 with the introduction of "Superbike World Championship." In the years that followed, EA released "Superbike 2000" and "Superbike 2001." The 2000 version honed the realistic physics necessary to deliver a convincing racing simulation, forcing players to adjust not only the movement of the bike, but the riders' position. "2001" continued this tread of realism, although the gameplay runs into some issues with collision detection during tight races.
MotoGP
- Capcom's MotoGP series of games for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC offer superbike racing thrills, albeit with a more accessible twist for casual gamers. Released in 2010, "Moto GP 09/10" features simple controls, with buttons for acceleration and front and rear breaks. These adjustments take the series further away from its more simulation-minded siblings, but the gameplay is still criticized as unforgiving. However, with big, eventful races -- including the option of 20-person online multiplayer -- the thrill of sport is kept intact.
Early Games
- In the late '90s, a number of superbike racing games were introduced to PC gamers. "AMA Superbike" featured a first-person 3D perspective with realistic head movement to simulate what it actually looks like to ride a bike moving at such high speeds. However, the game also presented some physics problems as well: when going off-road at top speeds, the grass barely slows down players' bikes. This time period also saw the release of the licensed simulator "Castrol Honda Superbike World Champions."

Classic Console Games