Techno Drive

Last updated
Techno Drive
Techno Drive flyer.png
Arcade flyer
Developer(s) Namco
Publisher(s) Namco
Artist(s) Minoru Sashida
Composer(s) Koji Nakagawa
Release
  • JP: July 1, 1998
Genre(s) Driving simulator
Mode(s) Single-player
Arcade system Namco System 12

Techno Drive [lower-alpha 1] is a 1998 driving simulator arcade game developed and published by Namco in Japan. It is known for its unique graphical interface that uses fluorescent colors choices and flat shading. Players control a racecar throughout a variety of different minigames, each testing their skill and reaction time. Minigames include drifting along corners, avoiding collision with other vehicles, and driving with a bowl of liquid attached to the rear of the car. The game was designed for the Namco System 12, an arcade board based on raw PlayStation hardware.

Contents

Techno Drive is the second in Namco's Almighty Human Project series of simulation games, which also include Gynotai and Photo Battle. Its futuristic aesthetic was designed by Minoru Sashida, who is known for his work on titles such as the Mr. Driller series and Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere . [1] Critics praised Techno Drive for its unique gameplay structure and presentation, finding it a welcome change in pace from other arcade racers of the era.

Gameplay

The player in one of the Steering Technique minigames. Techno Drive screenshot.png
The player in one of the Steering Technique minigames.

Techno Drive is a driving simulator video game. Its plot revolves around Japan's escalating traffic problems causing the country's roads to become paralyzed and deteriorating the driving ability of its population. The player is sent back to the past via a futuristic race car to rehabilitate drivers and prevent the problems of the future. [2] The objective of the game is to control a car through a variety of racing-themed minigames under a limited amount of time. They are designed to test the player's skill and reaction time, judged by a letter grade from A− to E at the end. Minigames are split into three categories: Steering Technique, which only utilize the steering wheel; Footwork Technique, which use only the gas pedal and brake; and Practical Technique, which make use of all three. [3] Objectives in these minigames differ for each one, including drifting around sharp corners, avoiding collision with other vehicles, driving with a bowl of liquid attached and avoiding any spills, dribbling a ball to the goal, and driving only when a large eyeball is closed. Only three minigames from each category can be played in a single game. Upon completion, the arcade cabinet prints out the player's results and letter grade. [4] [5]

Development and release

Techno Drive is the second game in Namco's Almighty Human Project series, which also include the skeeball-esque Gynotai (1996) and action game Photo Battle (2003). It was designed by a small team of employees led by Minoru Sashida, a designer that was known for his work on redemption games and mechanical prize-winning machines; Sashida used the knowledge he gained from these while developing Techno Drive. Sashida worked primarily on the game's graphical interface, which features bold, fluorescent color choices and flat-shaded polygons. [2] Techno Drive was designed to be vastly different and distinct from Namco's previous racing game offerings, such as Ridge Racer (1993), and appealing towards a wide player demographic. The upbeat soundtrack, which has been described as techno and electronica, was composed by Koji Nakagawa, [6] who later went on to compose similar electronic music for Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere (1999).

Techno Drive was demonstrated at the 1998 Amusement Operator's Union (AOU) tradeshow at the Makuhari Messe convention center in Tokyo, alongside games such as Ehrgeiz , Time Crisis II , and Panic Park . Its original concept attracted attention from publications. [5] [7] The game was published on July 1, 1998 in Japan. [8]

Reception and legacy

Game Machine listed Techno Drive as being the third most popular arcade game of August 1998. [9] A reviewer for Edge described Techno Drive as being a "complete and drastic departure for Namco", and a game that distinguished itself from most other racing arcade games with its futuristic presentation and vastly-different gameplay structure. The reviewer said that it drastically departs from the real-world setting of Namco's previous racing games, such as the Ridge Racer series, and as such made it an intriguing title. [2] Staff from Next Generation believed that Techno Drive possessed the same amount of innovation as Soulcalibur , which was released in the same time frame. They admired the game's stylized graphics, which they took as "a concession to the real meat of the game: technical driving ability". Staff also expressed disappointment towards the lack of any kind of home release. [10] A writer for the Italian publication MegaConsole enjoyed Techno Drive for its immersive techno atmosphere and printer feature. [4] Console Plus writers found Techno Drive to be an aesthetically-pleasing arcade game, and its unique concept made it stand out from other titles. [11] VGM Online praised the soundtrack for its high production values and creativity, but criticized it for lacking variety. [6]

Max Krieger, the creator of the puzzle game CROSSNIQ+, credits Techno Drive for inspiring most of the look and presentation used in his game. [12] A song from the game appears as a playable track in the Nintendo Switch game Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum 'n' Fun! . [13] The music used for the Footwork Technique minigames was played live at Ridge Racer Night 2, a concert hosted to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Ridge Racer in 2014. [14] In July 2015, Bandai Namco Entertainment announced it would cease support for Techno Drive due to a shortage of necessary parts. [8]

Notes

  1. ↑ Techno Drive (Japanese: テクノドライブ, Hepburn: Tekuno Doraibu). Also written as Waza no Unten (技之運転, "Techno Drive").

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Namco</span> Japanese video game developer and publisher

Namco Limited was a Japanese multinational video game and entertainment company, headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo. It held several international branches, including Namco America in Santa Clara, California, Namco Europe in London, Namco Taiwan in Kaohsiung, and Shanghai Namco in mainland China.

Racing games are a video game genre in which the player participates in a racing competition. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to fantastical settings. They are distributed along a spectrum between more realistic racing simulations and more fantastical arcade-style racing games. Kart racing games emerged in the 1990s as a popular sub-genre of the latter. Racing games may also fall under the category of sports video games.

Ridge Racer is a racing video game series developed and published for arcade systems and home game consoles by Bandai Namco Entertainment, formerly Namco. The first game, Ridge Racer (1993), was originally released in arcades for the Namco System 22 hardware, later ported to the PlayStation one year later as a launch title. It was met with several sequels and spin-off games for multiple platforms, the latest being the mobile game Ridge Racer Draw & Drift (2016) with the latest mainline game being Ridge Racer 7 (2006). Gameplay involves the player racing against computer-controlled opponents to be the first to finish in a race. Drifting is a core aspect of the series, and is used to keep speed while turning corners.

<i>Air Combat</i> 1995 video game

Air Combat is a 1995 combat flight simulation video game developed and published by Namco for the PlayStation. Players control an aircraft and are tasked with completing a series of missions, with objectives ranging from destroying formations of enemies to protecting a specific target from enemy fire. Missions award money that is used to purchase new fighter aircraft, each with its own unique weapons and strengths.

<i>R4: Ridge Racer Type 4</i> 1998 video game

R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 is a racing video game developed and published by Namco for the PlayStation. It is the fourth title in the Ridge Racer series after Rage Racer and the last to be released for the PlayStation. It was released on December 3, 1998 in Japan and further released the following year in Europe and North America. It was later re-released on the PlayStation Network in 2011, again in 2023 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, and pre-loaded on the PlayStation Classic which was released on December 3, 2018. It is the first Ridge Racer series game on the PlayStation to use Gouraud shading on polygons and was followed by Ridge Racer V in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NeGcon</span> Video game controller manufactured by Namco

The NeGcon, stylized as neGcon, is a motion-based game controller manufactured in 1995 by Namco for the PlayStation. One of the first third-party peripherals for the system, the controller is connected by a swivel joint, allowing the player to twist the halves relative to each other. The controller also replaces the "symbol" buttons on the original PlayStation controller with two "A" and "B" buttons, as well as "I" and "II" buttons that allowed for analogue control. A black variant was released exclusively in Japan.

<i>Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere</i> 1999 video game

Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere is a combat flight simulation video game developed and published by Namco for the PlayStation. The third game in the Ace Combat franchise, it was released in Japan in 1999 and in Europe and North America in 2000. Players control an aircraft and must complete various mission objectives, such as destroying squadrons of enemies or protecting a base from enemy fire.

<i>Xevious 3D/G</i> 1997 video game

Xevious 3D/G is a 1996 vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game developed and published by Namco. The eighth entry in the Xevious series, it combines 2D-based gameplay with 3D gouraud-shaded polygon graphics. Players control the Solvalou starship in its mission to destroy a rogue supercomputer named GAMP and the Xevian Forces, using two basic weapon types - an air zapper to destroy air targets, and a blaster bomb to destroy ground targets. The game also features destructive power-ups, new bosses, and two player simultaneous play.

<i>Ridge Racer</i> (1993 video game) 1993 racing video game

Ridge Racer is a 1993 racing video game developed and published by Namco. It was released initially on the Namco System 22 arcade system board and ported to the PlayStation console in 1994. It is the first title in the Ridge Racer series released for arcades and home consoles.

<i>Ace Driver</i> 1994 arcade game

Ace Driver is a 1994 racing arcade game developed and published by Namco. The player controls a Formula One racer, with the objective being to complete three laps of a race course and to avoid a collision with opponents and other obstacles. Three difficulty levels are available, as is a mode to enable a gear shift. Similar to Namco's own Final Lap series, the arcade cabinet can be linked together with another unit to enable eight-person multiplayer. It ran on the Namco System 22 arcade hardware.

<i>Taiko no Tatsujin</i> Video game series

Taiko no Tatsujin is a video game series created by Namco. In the games, players simulate playing a taiko drum in time with music. The series has released games for the arcade and for console and mobile platforms including PlayStation 2, Advanced Pico Beena, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android and Japanese feature phones.

Nobuyoshi Sano, better known as sanodg, is a Japanese video game composer, musician and record producer. He is best known for scoring tracks for the Ridge Racer and Tekken series, as well as Drakengard.

The Idolmaster is a Japanese media franchise that began in 2005 with a raising simulation and rhythm video game series created by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The series primarily centers on the career of a producer who works with a group of prospective pop idols at the talent agency 765 Production. Originally released as an arcade game, the franchise has grown to numerous ports, sequels and spin-offs across multiple video game consoles, including several social network games. The series includes a variety of other media such as an anime with the same name, printed media, audio dramas, a Korean drama, and radio shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bandai Namco Studios</span> Japanese video game developer

Bandai Namco Studios Inc. is a Japanese video game developer headquartered in Kōtō, Tokyo. Its offices in Malaysia and Singapore, Bandai Namco Studio Malaysia and Bandai Namco Studios Singapore, are based out of Selangor, Malaysia and Infinite Studios, Singapore respectively. Bandai Namco Studios is a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Entertainment, which itself is a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings. The company works under its parent company as a keiretsu; Bandai Namco Studios creates video games for home consoles, handheld systems, mobile devices and arcade hardware, while Bandai Namco Entertainment handles the managing, marketing and publishing of these products.

<i>Shoot Away</i> 1977 video game

Shoot Away is a 1977 electro-mechanical (EM) light gun shooter arcade game developed and published by Namco. Players use the shotgun-shaped light guns to fire at clay pigeons, represented as flying white dots on a projector screen. There are two that must be shot down in each round, and players only get two bullets to hit them. Bonus points are awarded for shooting the pigeons as soon as they appear, or by destroying both of them with a single bullet. The game was a critical and commercial success, maintaining a presence in arcades into the 1980s.

<i>Air Combat</i> (arcade game) 1993 arcade video game

Air Combat is a 1993 combat flight simulator arcade video game developed by Namco. The arcade game was released in 1993 for the polygon-powered Namco System 21 arcade hardware, and received praise for its 3D graphics and technological capabilities. The game was a commercial success at Japanese and American arcades in the 1990s, and inspired several later Namco games, including the arcade sequel Air Combat 22, the PlayStation game Air Combat, and the Ace Combat series.

<i>Ghoul Panic</i> 1999 video game

Ghoul Panic is a 1999 light gun shooter arcade game developed by Raizing and published by Namco. A version for the PlayStation was released in 2000. Players used lightguns to complete a series of minigames, done by firing at on-screen targets. In these minigames there is an objective that must be fulfilled before the time runs out to progress such as shooting a certain amount of enemies or protecting small, yellow cats from projectiles. It ran on the Namco System 12 arcade hardware.

The Namco 50th Anniversary was a celebration of the Japanese video game developer and publisher Namco, commemorating its establishment in 1955. Beginning on June 1, 2004, the anniversary included video games, toys, clothing, and events relating to Namco and its games. Games published under the 50th Anniversary label include Pac-Pix, Mr. Driller Drill Spirits, NamCollection, and Namco Museum 50th Anniversary. The Namco 50th Anniversary ended on March 31, 2006, when Namco was dissolved and merged into Namco Bandai Games.

Kohta Takahashi is a Japanese composer. He is best known for his work on Namco games, including multiple Ridge Racer and Klonoa titles, as well as Ace Combat 2 and the console version of Tekken 5.

References

  1. ↑ Murakami, Munjo (4 March 2016). "「ナムコ遺伝子」を継ぐ者が大集結！ 30年前の受付ロボ復活劇". ITMedia (in Japanese). ITMedia. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Arcade View - Techno Drive". No. 61. Future Publishing. Edge. August 1998. p. 125. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  3. ↑ "若者の最先端のテクノムーブメントを取り入れた新感覚ゲーム ナムコ、業務用運転技術測定マシーン「テクノドライブ」を発売" (in Japanese). Namco. 18 June 1998. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Mega Speciale - Namco" (in Italian). No. 47. Gruppo Editoriale Futura. Mega Console. April 1998. pp. 50–51. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  5. 1 2 Webb, Marcus (May 1998). "Arcadia". No. 41. Future Publishing. Next Generation. p. 33. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  6. 1 2 Valentine, Dave (August 1, 2012). "Techno Drive Promotion Disc". VGM Online.
  7. ↑ "Cutting Edge - AOU '98 Showcase". No. 57. Future Publishing. Edge. April 1998. pp. 8–9. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  8. 1 2 "弊社商品の保守対応終了について" (PDF) (in Japanese). Bandai Namco Entertainment. July 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  9. ↑ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - 完成品夕イプのTVゲーム機 (Dedicated Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 571. Amusement Press, Inc. 1 September 1998. p. 21.
  10. ↑ "Namco Goes Techno". No. 45. Future Publishing. Next Generation. September 1998. p. 26. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  11. ↑ "Arcade Preview - Techno Drive" (in French). No. 79. EMAP. Consoles Plus. August 1998. p. 36.
  12. ↑ CROSSNIQ+ (29 May 2019). "TECHNO DRIVE (Namco) An arcade-only driver's ed simulator, this game truly showcased Namco's graphic design talent in the late 90's. Our inspirations? Too many to count! Just take a look for yourself - it's full of blobjects, icons, stylish meters, and cool y2k colors!". Twitter . Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  13. ↑ Carter, Chris (11 May 2018). "Review: Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum 'n' Fun (Switch)". Destructoid . Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  14. ↑ Yamamura, Satomi (19 June 2014). "クラブイベント「RIDGE RACER NIGHT 2」レポート". Game Watch (in Japanese). Impress Group. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.