| SPOGS Racing | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Pronto Games |
| Publisher(s) | D2CspoG |
| Platform(s) | Wii (WiiWare) |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Racing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, Multiplayer |
SPOGS Racing was a racing video game published by D2C Games and developed by American studio Pronto Games for the Wii. It was released as a WiiWare title in North America on July 7, 2008, [1] and in Europe on July 18, 2008. [2]
As the WiiWare service was discontinued in 2019, the game can no longer be purchased.
The game sees the player racing around twelve tracks in a vehicle called a SPOG (Sports Player Object Gyros), [3] which resembles a tire with a Pog-like disc inside representing the player's avatar. [4] Adding to the traditional racing game formula, SPOGS Racing gives the player an ability, called Crash 'N Grab, to steal spare parts such as engines, brakes, and tailpipes from their opponents to upgrade their own vehicle by crashing into them. The SPOGS themselves are equipped with six different weapons to allow the player to slow down the opponents and take their parts more easily, and are maneuverable enough to allow players to pull off tricks on ramps and loops and make the vehicle spin off, drift and flip over.
In addition to three different control schemes, SPOGS Racing also features several different available modes: quick races, a battle mode and a season mode (which sees the player racing on all the available tracks). [5] D2C Games CEO Scott Orr has also revealed plans for downloadable content for the game. [6] An example of such content will be downloadable "racer packs" that will include content such as new tracks, vehicles and other related material. [3]
SPOGS Racing was inspired by other racing games such as Andretti Racing , Hard Drivin' , Mario Kart and Crash Team Racing . [3]
SPOGS Racing garnered an overwhelmingly negative response from critics. It received an "abysmal" 1.9 out of a possible 10 from IGN, who called the game "WiiShovelWare", citing dull gameplay, infuriating AI and claiming it to be the "ugliest game available on the Wii". They also pointed out the absurdity of such a "broken, fugly" game standing among the likes of other WiiWare titles such as LostWinds and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King . However, they did believe the Crash 'N Grab mechanic was the sole good idea in the game, though it was poorly implemented. [4] Hardcore Gamer also gave the game a negative response, scoring it a 1 out of 5 and claiming it to be "one of the most horrible games ever made". They also called the graphics "insulting" and said the game's music will "make you leave the game feeling like you’ve just been punched in the head a few times". [7] Eurogamer's reviewer called it "the most inept game [they've] played on any format, in any genre, in recent memory", giving it a 1 out of 10. [8]
WiiWare World was only slightly more positive with a 3/10, calling the gameplay and opponent AI "terribly erratic" and the graphics "absolutely inexcusable". However they felt the game had some unique ideas, and that the two player mode was decent, but still "not that great". Their sole praise was for the sound effects, which they felt sounded "very authentic". [9]
With a Metascore of 18 from 7 reviews, [10] Metacritic proclaimed SPOGS Racing to be its Wii "Dud of the Year". [11] The title is the lowest-rated Wii game on the site.
Super Mario Kart is a kart racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). The first game in the Mario Kart series, it was released in Japan and North America in 1992, and in Europe the following year in 1993. Selling 8.76 million copies worldwide, the game went on to become the fourth best-selling SNES game of all time. Super Mario Kart was re-released on the Wii's Virtual Console in 2009, on the Wii U's Virtual Console in 2013, and on the New Nintendo 3DS's Virtual Console in 2016. Nintendo re-released Super Mario Kart in 2017 as part of the company's Super NES Classic Edition.
Excitebike is a motocross racing video game developed and published by Nintendo. In Japan, it was released for the Famicom in 1984 and then ported to arcades as Vs. Excitebike for the Nintendo Vs. System later that year. In North America, it was initially released for arcades in 1985 and then as a launch game for the Nintendo Entertainment System later that year, becoming one of the best-selling games on the console. It is the first game in the Excite series.
F-Zero is a series of futuristic racing video games originally created by Nintendo EAD with multiple games developed by third party companies. The first game was released for the Super Famicom in Japan in 1990, and along with North America’s Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991; its success prompted Nintendo to create multiple sequels on subsequent gaming consoles.
Excite Truck is a racing video game developed by Nintendo and Monster Games and published by Nintendo for the Wii. It features malleable environments and tilt-based controls. The game was one of the Wii launch titles in North America. It is the third main game in the Excite series and the first to feature vehicles other than motorbikes.
Pokémon Battle Revolution is a turn-based strategy video game in the Pokémon series developed by Genius Sonority and published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo. It was released for the Wii on December 14, 2006, in Japan; on June 25, 2007, in North America; on November 22, 2007, in Australia, and on December 7, 2007, in Europe. Along with being the first Wii incarnation of the Pokémon video game franchise, it is also the first Wii game to use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in North America and Japan and the second Wii game to wirelessly interact with the Nintendo DS handheld.
Uno is a video game based on the card game of the same name. It has been released for a number of platforms. The Xbox 360 version by Carbonated Games and Microsoft Game Studios was released on May 9, 2006, as a digital download via Xbox Live Arcade. A version for iPhone OS and iPod devices was released in 2008 by Gameloft. Gameloft released the PlayStation 3 version on October 1, 2009, and also released a version for WiiWare, Nintendo DSi via DSiWare, and PlayStation Portable. An updated version developed by Ubisoft Chengdu and published by Ubisoft was released for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in August 2016, Microsoft Windows in December 2016 and for the Nintendo Switch in November 2017.
Mario Kart Wii is a 2008 kart racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. It is the sixth installment in the Mario Kart series, and was released in April 2008. Like its previous installments, Mario Kart Wii incorporates playable characters from the Mario series, who participate in races on 32 different race tracks using specialized items to hinder opponents or gain advantages. The game features multiple single-player and multiplayer game modes including two to four person split screen. Online multiplayer was supported until the discontinuation of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in May 2014. Mario Kart Wii uses the Wii Remote's motion-controls to provide intuitive and conventional steering controls. Each copy of the game was bundled with the Wii Wheel accessory to augment this feature and mimic a steering wheel.
Dr. Mario Online Rx, stylized as Dr. Mario Online ℞ and released in PAL regions as Dr. Mario & Germ Buster, is a puzzle video game starring Dr. Mario. It was one of the WiiWare launch games in Japan, Europe, and Australia, and was released in 2008 on March 25 for Japan, on May 20 for Europe and Australia, and for North America on May 26.
Sega Superstars Tennis is a sports video game developed by Sumo Digital and published by Sega. It is the second title in the Sega All-Stars series, preceded by Sega Superstars (2005), and crosses over characters, locations, and soundtracks from several Sega franchises, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Space Channel 5, and Super Monkey Ball.
Pong Toss! Frat Party Games, known in Europe as Beer Pong! Frat Party Games, is a 2008 party video game developed by JV Games for the Wii's WiiWare digital distribution service. The premise is based on the party game beer pong, which requires players to toss ping pong balls into plastic cups filled with alcohol. The developers conducted a test to see how players play beer pong, and implemented motion controls in an attempt to make the game more fun. It was first released in North America in 2008, and then in Europe the following year.
Space Invaders Get Even is a video game by Taito for the Wii. Originally intended as a retail release, the game was released as a downloadable WiiWare game instead. It was released in Japan on August 26, 2008, in Europe on November 7, 2008, and in North America on December 1, 2008. Outside Japan the game is published by Square Enix.
Alien Crush Returns is a WiiWare pinball video game developed by Tamsoft and published by Hudson Soft. It is a sequel/remake to 1988's Alien Crush, and is the fourth installment in the Crush Pinball series. It was released in Japan on August 26, 2008, in North America on November 3 and in Europe on November 7.
Punch-Out!! is a 2009 boxing video game developed by Next Level Games for the Wii. It is the fifth and most recent mainline game in Nintendo's Punch-Out!! series, following the SNES version of Super Punch-Out!!, and is a reboot of the series.
Need for Speed: Nitro is a racing video game and the fourteenth title of the Need for Speed series. It was published by Electronic Arts for the Wii and Nintendo DS platforms. It is also one of only two games in the franchise to date to not be made for PC and the only game of the franchise to be released only for Nintendo consoles. It was announced in January as part of a three-game announcement that includes Need for Speed: Shift and Need for Speed: World. The game was developed by EA Montreal who have previous experience with Nintendo titles, although the DS version was developed separately by Firebrand Games' Florida studio. An improved version of the DS edition of the game, Need for Speed: Nitro-X, was released for DSiWare on November 26, 2010.
Puzzle Bobble Plus!, known in North America as Bust-A-Move Plus!, and in Japan as Puzzle Bobble Wii, is a video game developed by Taito for WiiWare. It was first released in Japan on April 7, 2009, and later in the PAL regions on June 26, 2009, and in North America on July 6, 2009.
Driift Mania is a WiiWare racing game developed by a French team and released by Konami. It was released in the PAL regions on July 31, 2009. and in North America on September 28, 2009.
3D Pixel Racing is an arcade-style racing game developed by Vidia and released in 2011. The game was released as a downloadable game on WiiWare and in the App Store for iOS devices. 3D Pixel Racing heavily capitalizes on its graphical uniqueness. Unlike most 3D games, every object in 3D Pixel Racing is made of multi-colored voxels that are reminiscent of old 8-bit games from the 1970s and 80's.
Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge is a 2012 action adventure hack and slash game developed by Team Ninja and published by Nintendo. It was released for the Wii U from November 2012 to May 2013, and subsequently released by Tecmo Koei for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in April 2013. It is an enhanced port of Ninja Gaiden 3 that includes all downloadable content from the original title, as well as additional enhancements made to improve the game. The game can be considered an equivalent to the Ninja Gaiden Sigma games, as it makes several changes to the original title.
Mario Kart 8 is a 2014 kart racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. It retains the gameplay of previous games in the Mario Kart series, with players controlling a Mario franchise character in races around tracks. Tracks are themed around locales from the Super Mario platform series and are populated with power-ups that help players gain advantages in races. Different difficulties are selectable prior to a race; harder difficulties make gameplay faster. In the new anti-gravity sequences, players drive on walls and ceilings. Mario Kart 8 contains a variety of single-player and local and online multiplayer games modes, including Grand Prix racing and arena-based battle modes.
Monochrome Racing is a 2011 racing video game developed and published by the Lithuanian video game developer Nordcurrent. Released in August 2011, Monochrome Racing received "generally unfavorable reviews" from critics.