Virtual F1 / XtrmRace (2003) - Every PC F1 Game
0Virtual F1 aka XtrmRace by Galiléa/Boonty/4X Technologies, 2003.
This game started out life in 2001 as a free online game called XtrmRace by 4X Technologies, to showcase their Phoenix 3D engine (which, interesting, went on eventually to become the basis of the 3D engine Kylotonn use). XtrmRace was an online game that ran from 2001-2003. In 2003, an adapted version of the game (lacking online scoreboards, etc) was sold by Boonty under the name Virtual F1, which is shown in this video. It's now no longer available to purchase. The game, being based on an old 3D engine, has numerous clipping/z-index issues, with missing/flickering polygons everywhere. It also runs no higher than 1024x768 (although this can be improved by creating your own shortcuts to launch the game, instead of using the launcher - ask if you ever need to know how!).
1. Race Start (Monza): 0:00 There's no real-life tracks in this game, just 3 fictional tracks. The computer controlled cars like to do crazy things, like drive into walls, which leaves them spinning through the air as if they were made of paper, due to the lightweight arcade handling and crash dynamics!
2. Spray Effects (Silverstone): 0:38 There's no wet weather in this game, so here's the car on one of the fictional tracks in the dry instead. The TV camera view really shows the polygon flickering issues with this 3D engine on modern hardware!
3. Tunnel & View (Monaco): 0:55 Despite the tracks being fictional, one has a long tunnel in it, so I used that as a replacement for Monaco!
4. Wet Track (Spa-Francorchamps): 1:09 Spa-Francorchamps isn't in the game, so I picked some corners from one of the fictional tracks to drive around (all 3 tracks are largely flat). There's no wet weather. The z-index graphics glitching/warping is rather visible here.
5. Pitstop (Interlagos): 1:24 Again, it's a fictional track, instead of Interlagos. As this is an arcade racer, with no damage, pitstops serve no purpose at all!
6. Huge Crash (Montreal): 1:36 There's only 3 fictional tracks, so I just picked one of the 3 to crash at! Computer controlled cars in this arcade racer are crazy, and often drive in completely the wrong direction! Crashes make your car tumble like paper! You can clearly see the many graphical glitches here. The yellow icons indicate when a car is alongside you (not sure why they need to appear in the TV camera view).
This is part of the Every PC F1 Game playlist, which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYDobL0b26uiiYP8KdN3AwQmsu7ilzpxL