Putt-Putt Enters the Race

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Putt-Putt Enters the Race
Putt-Putt Enters the Race Cover.jpg
Cover art
Developer(s) Humongous Entertainment
Publisher(s) Humongous Entertainment [lower-alpha 1]
Designer(s)
  • Mark Peyser
  • Richard Moe
Writer(s) Laurie Bauman Arnold
Composer(s) Tom McGurk
Series Putt-Putt
Engine SCUMM
Platform(s) Mac OS, Windows, Android, iOS
Release
  • Mac OS, Windows
  • January 1, 1999
  • Android, iOS
  • June 27, 2014
Genre(s) Adventure
Mode(s) Single player

Putt-Putt Enters the Race is an educational adventure game developed and published by Humongous Entertainment on January 1, 1999. [1] The game is the fifth entry in the Putt-Putt series. This is the first of three games to feature Nancy Cartwright as the voice of Putt-Putt.

Contents

Production

The game was created by Humongous Games as part of the popular edutainment series Putt-Putt in January 1999. The game was re-released in 2014 for iOS, Android, and Steam.

Plot

While playing with Pep, Putt-Putt receives an invitation from Redline Rick to enter the Cartown 500 race. Excited, Putt-Putt goes to the Speedway to sign up. At the speedway, Redline Rick tells Putt-Putt that he needs a special kind of fuel, more durable tires, a safety helmet for Pep to wear, and a racing flag. Determined to enter the race, Putt-Putt decides to collect those items around Cartown.

After collecting all four items, Putt-Putt returns to the Speedway and prepares for the race. The game's ending depends on the outcome of the race: Putt-Putt receives a trophy from Redline Rick and is announced to the audience if he wins in the top 3 but is given a ribbon for his good sportsmanship if he finishes the race in a lower position. Regardless, Putt-Putt thanks everyone in Cartown for their part in getting the items he needed to participate and declares, "It's not if you win or lose. It's how you race around the track!"

Gameplay

The game uses most of the same mechanics as its predecessors, except the ignition key shown on Putt-Putt's dashboard, which had previously been used to quit the game, now opens up a menu, where the player can save or load a game, along with quitting it. The use of spending coins returns in this game, and they can be used to buy the set of Super Speedy Radial Racing Tires that Putt-Putt needs to enter the race (costing four coins), as well as pay for entrance to the Cartown Carwash or the Cartown Color (exactly like Putt-Putt Joins the Parade, even costing two and three coins respectively, like said game). Putt-Putt can earn two coins from Mr. Baldini by giving him produce from Torvil the Tractor's farm, while one coin can sometimes be found in a payphone. Multiple bottles can be found hanging around in certain areas, which can be recycled in Mr. Crankcase's junkyard, where Putt-Putt will earn a coin by recycling three bottles.

Promotion

The game was officially unveiled at the 1998 Electronic Entertainment Expo in Atlanta, May 28–30, at booth 5626. [2] [3] Humongous Entertainment executive vice president of marketing and licensing, Ralph Giuffre, said that this title was purposely designed for younger players. [2] On January 14, the Humongous Entertainment website (humongous.com) launched a week-long online celebration for the game, which included offering players free downloadable demos, online games, contests and other items at the Putt-Putt's Pit Stop. [4] In December 1999, Humongous partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation for a holiday promotion where customers could "donate the full $10 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation or donate $2 to the charity and receive $8 back" at participating national software retail outlets for Humongous's best-selling 16 software, which included this game. [5] [6]

Commercial performance

According to PC Data of Reston, the game was the 5th top-selling educational title across 13 software retail chains for the week ended January 16, [7] and the 9th top-selling home-education software for the week ended May 1. [8]

Critical reception

Sonic praised the game for being both fun and educational, while challenging kids in creative ways. [12] Superkids said the game was best-suited to children who have curiosity and patience. [13] Eugene Register-Guard described the game as "challenging and entertaining". [14] The Bryan Times praised the user interface. [15] Lakeland Ledger thought the game was "charming". [16] Ouders Online said the game was highly fun, and added that Putt-Putt was a good role model. [17] The Boston Herald praised the game's "smooth animation and appealing characters", while saying that its complexity would appeal to older players. [18] The 52 year old reviewer at The Colombian, enjoyed the interactive content, commenting that the game had a high "Giggle-to-Click Ratio". [19] Star Tribune said that, like other Humongous games, this title was "high-quality" and "entertaining", while complimenting its replay value. [20] The game was used in a study by The Mirror. [21] Daily Herald deemed the game "above average" [22] and "sweet". [23] PC Mag said a parent "can't go wrong" with buying the game for their 3-8-year-old child. [24]

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References

  1. ↑ "Humongous Entertainment Brings a New Perspective to Children's Software; Putt-Putt's Newest Junior Adventure™ Puts Kids in the Driver's Seat Putt-Putt Enters the Race™ Hits Retail Stores This Week; Humongous.com Kicks off Online Launch Party for Putt-Putt on January 14" (Press release). Humongous Entertainment. January 5, 1999. Archived from the original on October 2, 1999.
  2. 1 2 "Humongous Entertainment's Putt-Putt, the No. 1 Character in Children's Adventure CD-ROMs, Gets Ready to Speed Onto the Track of the Thrilling Cartown 500. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Humongous Entertainment Paints Atlanta "Blue" at Electronic Entertainment Expo -- E3. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Archived from the original on March 28, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Humongous Entertainment Brings a New Perspective to Children's Software; Putt-Putt's Newest Junior Adventure Puts Kids in the Driver's Seat. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved September 14, 2016.[ permanent dead link ]
  5. ↑ "Humongous Entertainment and the Make-A-Wish Foundation Are Partnering to Help Make Dreams Come True This Holiday Season. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved September 14, 2016.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. ↑ "Humongous Entertainment Makes Dreams Come True With $228,000 Donation to Make-A-Wish Foundation. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  7. ↑ "BESTSELLERS". February 1, 1999. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ↑ "Bestsellers". May 17, 1999. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ↑ "Pajama Sam 3 - Review Corner". May 2000. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved June 11, 2015. Kids will love this engaging adventure that gets them thinking and solving problems, learning about the importance of a balanced diet, and having fun!
  10. ↑ "Pajama Sam series on Unikgamer". Unikgamer. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 "Infogrames Awards - Putt-Putt Enters the Race". Archived from the original on June 24, 2003. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Putt-Putt Enters the Race". www.sonic.net. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  13. ↑ "SuperKids Software Review of Putt-Putt Enters the Race". www.superkids.com. Archived from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Eugene Register-Guard - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  15. ↑ "The Bryan Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Lakeland Ledger - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Ouders Online Leeszaal - Recensie kindersoftware". archief.ouders.nl. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Putt-Putt motors right along; Putt-Putt Enters the Race. Humongous Entertainment, $30. For ages 3 to 8. CD-ROM for Windows 95/98/3.1 and Macintosh 3 1/2 stars". January 3, 1999. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  19. ↑ "GAME SPURS KIDS TO THINK, EXPLORE AND, WELL ... PUTT AROUND". February 2, 1999. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  20. ↑ "Putt-Putt gears up for new adventure.(VARIETY)". March 20, 1999. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  21. ↑ "kelly's i: Name of the game.(Features)". March 21, 2002. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  22. ↑ "Software.(Business)". February 1, 1999. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  23. ↑ "WHAT TO FEED YOUR GAME MACHINES; KEEP ON PLAYING WITH NEW SOFTWARE.(L.A. LIFE) (video recording review)". February 20, 1999. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  24. ↑ Inc, Ziff Davis (March 23, 1999). PC Mag. Ziff Davis, Inc.{{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  1. ↑ The IOS/Android release was published by Tommo. The Steam release was co-published by Tommo and Night Dive Studios.
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