Hobbies And Interests
Gran Turismo
Gran Turismo, developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, was released in North America on May 12, 1998. It was a massive success, selling more than 10 million units. The game features more than 170 cars and 11 tracks, giving players countless ways to play through two main modes--Arcade and Simulation. Arcade mode allows players to quickly pick a car and a track, while Simulation has the player earning licenses to unlock more cars.
Wipeout
Wipeout was released in North America in November 1995. Unlike other racing games of the time, Wipeout gave players control of several futuristic racing crafts as they tried to navigate courses with sharp turns and countless hazards. Players also contend with other pilots and their weaponry by picking up power-ups ranging from shields to protect you from attack to landmines to sabotage other drivers.
Ridge Racer
Namco released Ridge Racer in North America on Sept. 9, 1995. Originally an arcade machine, Namco ported the game to PlayStation as a launch title. One of Ridge Racer's many quirks gave the player the ability to listen to a custom soundtrack. After the initial load screen, players could swap out the game disc for a music disc. In doing this, the player couldn't switch tracks and the music started on a random track. But it was a precursor to storing music on hard drives, which can be done now on most consoles.
007 Racing
One of the last big-name titles released for the PlayStation, 007 Racing gave players the opportunity to get behind the wheel of some of James Bond's most famous vehicles, including the Lotus Esprit and the Aston Martin DB5. Players could collect power-ups like oil slicks and machine guns to knock other drivers out of the race. There are 10 classic Bond cars to choose from.
NASCAR 2001
A true racing simulator, NASCAR 2001 is memorable for many reasons. It was the first game to feature Daytona International Speedway, including both the Daytona 500 and the Pepsi 400 night race. The game also included 35 NASCAR drivers, including the last video-game appearance of Dale Earnhardt before his 2001 death. If you would rather not play as any of the featured drivers, you can use the game's option to create your own driver and design your own car.