Lotus Challenge

Last updated
Lotus Challenge
Lotus Challenge cover.jpg
Developer(s) Kuju Entertainment
Publisher(s) Virgin Interactive (PS2)
Xicat Interactive (Xbox)
Sold-Out Software (Win)
Ignition Entertainment (GC)
Platform(s) PlayStation 2, GameCube, Windows, Xbox
ReleasePlayStation 2
  • EU: 2 November 2001
Windows
  • EU: 23 February 2003
Xbox
  • EU: 28 March 2003
  • NA: 30 April 2003
GameCube
  • NA: 4 August 2004
Mobile
20 September 2004
Genre(s) Racing
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Lotus Challenge is a racing game developed by Kuju Entertainment and published in 2001 for PlayStation 2 by Virgin Interactive. Versions followed for Windows, GameCube, and Xbox from different publishers.

Contents

Gameplay

Lotus Extreme Challenge is a racing game featuring a variety of Lotus cars from different eras. The game includes multiple gameplay modes:

The game promises realistic driving physics, authentic Lotus car models, and multiplayer split-screen racing. [1]

Development

Virgin Interactive first announced the game for the PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Windows in August 2000 for an early-2001 release. [2] The game was renamed Lotus Extreme Challenge in November 2000 [1] with a North American release planned to be published by Interplay Entertainment, [1] although this never came to circulation. The game would eventually see its release under its former name. The PlayStation 2 version was later ported to Japan and published by MTO on 26 December 2002. [3]

In March 2002, Virgin Interactive announced they would release the game on the Xbox under the name of Lotus Arcade [4] before reverting to its former name, with the announcement that the Xbox version would feature major improvements over the PS2 version. The game was due for a release in Europe by Virgin in September [5] but this never happened. In November 2002, Xicat Interactive announced they would release the game in North America instead as an Xbox exclusive, [6] with a GameCube port also announced. [7] In December 2002, Xicat secured a licensing deal with Motor Trend to rename the title as Motor Trend Presents Lotus Challenge, [8] with the Xbox version originally scheduled for release in late January 2003, [9] before it was somewhat delayed to the end of April. The GameCube version was due for a release in August [10] but was pulled for unknown reasons.

In May 2004, Ignition Entertainment's website listed a title named Lotus Extreme for the GameCube. [11] However, the game was renamed again back to its original title a few weeks later when it was officially announced by Ignition, [12] and was released shortly after. [13]

Reception

The Xbox version received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. [14] GameSpy , GameZone, and Extended Play gave it above-average to mixed reviews while it was still in development. [19] [20] [26]

The game sold more than 130,000 units for the PlayStation 2. [27]

Notes

  1. ↑ Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Xbox version each a score of 4/10, 3.5/10, and 4.5/10.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Perry, Douglass C. (5 November 2001). "Lotus Extreme Challenge". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  2. ↑ Ahmed, Shahed (5 July 2000). "Lotus Racing from Virgin". GameSpot . Fandom. Archived from the original on 27 August 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  3. ↑ IGN staff (20 December 2002). "Gaming Life in Japan". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  4. ↑ IGN staff (8 March 2002). "Lotus Arcade Spins Its Wheels on Xbox". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  5. ↑ Strohm, Axel (13 June 2002). "First look: Lotus Challenge Xbox". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 27 June 2002. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  6. ↑ IGN staff (26 November 2002). "Xicat's Lotus Challenge". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  7. ↑ IGN staff (26 November 2002). "Lotus Challenge GCN Bound". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  8. ↑ Rainier (3 December 2002). "Xicat Teams Up With Motor Trend Magazine In 'Lotus Challenge'". Worthplaying. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  9. ↑ Varanini, Giancarlo (7 January 2003). "Lotus Challenge Preview". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 7 June 2004. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  10. ↑ Schwartz, Matthew (25 July 2003). "Motor Trend Presents Lotus Challenge (GCN Preview)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  11. ↑ IGN staff (26 May 2004). "Kuju on GameCube Again". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  12. ↑ IGN staff (10 July 2004). "A Lotus By Any Other Name..." IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  13. ↑ IGN staff (4 August 2004). "Lotus Challenge Shipped". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  14. 1 2 "Lotus Challenge (Xbox)". Metacritic . Fandom. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  15. ↑ Bischoff, Jens (26 November 2001). "Test: Lotus Challenge (PS2)". 4Players (in German). 4Players GmbH. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  16. ↑ Bischoff, Jens (5 May 2003). "Test: Lotus Challenge (Xbox)". 4Players (in German). 4Players GmbH. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  17. ↑ Linn, Demian; Chou, Che; Sewart, Greg (June 2003). "Motor Trend Presents: Lotus Challenge [sic]" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 167. Ziff Davis. p. 124. Archived from the original on 17 May 2004. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  18. ↑ Daguinot, Benjamin (29 October 2001). "Test : Lotuc Challenge, ne rayez pas la peinture (PS2)". Gamekult (in French). TF1 Group. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  19. 1 2 Murphy, Kevin (21 January 2003). "GameSpy: Motor Trend Presents Lotus Challenge (Xbox)". GameSpy . IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 18 October 2006. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  20. 1 2 Lafferty, Michael (20 February 2003). "Motor Trend Presents Lotus Challenge Review - Xbox". GameZone. Archived from the original on 24 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  21. ↑ Romendil (29 October 2001). "Test: Lotus Challenge (PS2)". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  22. ↑ Romendil (21 October 2003). "Test: Lotus Challenge (Xbox)". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  23. ↑ "Lotus Challenge". Nintendo Power . Vol. 183. Nintendo of America. September 2004.
  24. ↑ "Motor Trend Presents Lotus Challenge". Official Xbox Magazine . Future US. May 2003. p. 79.
  25. ↑ Soboleski, Brent (10 May 2003). "[Motor Trend Presents] Lotus Challenge Review (Xbox)". TeamXbox . IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 12 January 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  26. 1 2 Satterfield, Shane (24 February 2003). "'Motor Trend Presents Lotus Challenge' (Xbox) Review". Extended Play . TechTV. Archived from the original on 22 February 2003. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  27. ↑ "First six months of the fiscal year 2001/2002". Titus Interactive . 14 February 2002. Archived from the original on 4 April 2002. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
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