Micro Machines (video game)

Micro Machines is a top-down racing game: players observe races from above. Players race in environments such as breakfast and pool tables, work desks, and treehouses, driving toy vehicles such as powerboats, helicopters, formula one cars, and tanks that can shoot other racers. Courses have a predefined path that racers must follow: if a player leaves the defined route for too long they are sent back to the track. Many have obstacles such as cereal boxes on breakfast tables, and pencil sharpeners on desks. The Game Gear version supports two players via link-up, or by players holding one end of the console each with one player using the buttons and the other the D-pad. == Development ==

In 1990, the founders of Codemasters, David and Richard Darling, were at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and were impressed with the popularity of the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US. They wanted to develop games for the system, but did not have a licence from Nintendo. In October 1989, programmer Andrew Graham developed a prototype, California Buggy Boys, a racing game with a top-down view on a scrolling dune-based race track. Its two player mode, based on the 1983 Adventure International game Rally Speedway, does not employ split screen, a technique that is hard to achieve on NES hardware. Instead, two players race on a single screen, hugging the screen edges as the distance between them grows. Once the distance is large enough, the winning player gains a point – a difference from Rally Speedway, in which the losing player gains a time penalty instead. The prototype was showcased with multiple consoles networked. It featured buggies similar to those in Power Drift, targeting the United States market. Codemasters then obtained a licensing deal with Galoob, wanting a game based on its Micro Machines toys. California Buggy Boys was used as a base, and Galoob sent a good selection of toys to Codemasters. The development team did not have access to official Nintendo documents, and their knowledge of the NES's hardware came from reverse engineering. They chose recognisable household environments such as tables, although the NES's limited graphics capabilities necessitates repetition. Artist Paul Perrot converted the California Buggy Boys graphics using Deluxe Paint and a cross compiler. According to Graham, the team tried to keep the tracks short, as they were considered more enjoyable. Graham stated that the artificial intelligence (AI) is basic by modern standards, and that it was difficult to replicate the multiplayer experience in single-player mode. The AI consisted of invisible arrows, which directed computer-controlled vehicles. Graham stated that split screen was not viable on the NES, and that the single-screen system was something that he was eager to try. He further stated that he was "very happy" with the multiplayer mode, saying it is the best part of the game and made the single player mode "boring" in comparison. He was very pleased when Richard Darling stated that Micro Machines is the best game they had ever made. Another multiplayer mode was shown at the Consumer Electronics Show, but was discontinued due to requiring a network. Micro Machines was completed in September 1990. It was not submitted to quality assurance, so a major bug that caused the game to crash was discovered near completion. The bug occurred when the player tried to reverse on the first race, but none of the testers thought to do so as they thought it was so easy. It was determined that just one binary bit was wrong, but many buggy ROM chips had already been manufactured, so a device akin to a miniature Game Genie was installed in the cartridges to correct it. ==Release==

Micro Machines was released for the NES by Camerica in 1991. Nintendo wanted development halted because Codemasters did not have a licence from them, and sued Galoob over the sales of the Game Genie. Courts ruled in Galoob's favour, Nintendo appealed, and the ruling was upheld. the Master System, CD-i, SNES, and MS-DOS versions in 1994, and the Game Boy version in 1995. A GameCube version was released in January 2003, although this version and the Xbox version were cancelled in the US. The series received an updated game (also titled Micro Machines) for iOS and Android in 2016. Micro Machines was bundled with its sequel and released on the Game Boy Color in 2000. ==Reception==

Micro Machines received critical acclaim. The multiplayer mode in particular was well received, and some reviewers complimented the graphics and addictiveness. Reviewing the Mega Drive version, Computer and Video Gamess Steve Keen lauded the vehicle movement and sound effects, and Paul Rand praised the multiplayer mode. Both described Micro Machines as one of the better racing games on the Mega Drive. The reviewer from Mega magazine eulogised the playability, but criticised the lack of a save function. Nevertheless, he thought the game was "destined to become a classic". Computer and Video Gamess Deniz Ahmet had a similar opinion to GamePros reviewer by describing the graphics as "well designed", and also had an opinion similar to that of Mean Machines Sega, with regards to the two-players sharing function. The conversion was described as "extremely accurate". Mean Machiness reviewer liked the presentation and playability, but described the sprites as "inconsistent". Coming Soon Magazines reviewer criticised the PC version's "simple" graphics, but thought highly of its addictiveness and "well-produced" animation. In 1996, Next Generation ranked Micro Machines as number 18 on their "Top 100 Games of All Time", citing the "heart-pounding, adrenaline-pumping action", split-second accurate controls, and perfect balance. Micro Machines was listed by The Guardian in June 2014 as one of the 30 best British video games. The NES version is 31 in IGNs Top 100 NES Games, the highest ranked unlicensed game. ==References==