Mario Andretti Racing
| Mario Andretti Racing | |
|---|---|
 Cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Stormfront Studios |
| Publisher(s) | EA Sports |
| Composer(s) | Michael Bartlow |
| Platform(s) | Genesis |
| Release date(s) |
Genesis |
| Genre(s) | Racing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Mario Andretti Racing is a video game that was released in 1994 on the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive. It was an early title in the newly created EA Sports line, and was developed by Stormfront Studios. The game was produced by famed sports game developer Scott Orr as part of his collaboration with Richard Hilleman in the creation of EA Sports. Race driver Mario Andretti personally guided the development of the AI used by the non-player drivers in stock cars, Indy style open wheel racing, and dirt track racing.
The game's greatest innovation was the presence of different physics and AI for three kinds of racing in one cartridge.
The success of Mario Andretti Racing led Orr and Hilleman to work with Stormfront to launch the highly successful NASCAR Racing series, which continues as one of the best-selling franchises in the EA Sports lineup today.
Another game starring Andretti, called Andretti Racing, was released for the Sega Saturn, PlayStation in 1996, and for PC in 1997.
The (fictional) Drivers
SPRINT: Jim Skinner, Theresa Dixon, Billy Katts, Ricky Bell Jr., Johnny Byler, Jeff Armas, Joe Caruso, Jack Kimble, Harvey Rhodes
STOCK: Bart Finley, Sean Stockwell, JR McKenna, Nancy Connors, Sherman Long, PJ Hardaway, Will Williams, Skip Wilson, Stu Hicks
INDY: Ino Okimoto, Ricky Bell Sr., Paulo Guzman, Orlando Biggs, Holly Robinson, Sam Frazetti, Tony O'Keefe, Kyle Zapata, Henri Mueller
The Tracks
The paved tracks used in the game are caricatures of real tracks. The dirt tracks are too general in appearance to determine their origins.
Sprint
(All Dirt Tracks)
Fallen Rock Motorway - 1/4 Miles
Doboque City Speedway - 3/8 mile
Manton Hills Speedway -1/2 miles
Industrial Raceway - 3/4 mile
Grady Gulch Raceway - 1-mile (1.6 km)
Stock
Limesville Motor Speedway - 1.36 miles (Modeled after Darlington Speedway)
Smokey Valley Raceway - 2.3 miles (Modeled after Watkins Glen International)
Oceanport Racing Park - 2.5 miles (Modeled after Daytona International Speedway)
Silver Springs Speedway - 2.52 miles (Modeled after Infineon Raceway)
Redfern Farms Raceway - 5/8 mile (Modeled after North Wilkesboro Speedway)
Indy
Bayshore International Raceway - 1.67 miles (Modeled after Long Beach)
Ashton Motorsports Park Raceway - 2.21 miles (Modeled after Laguna Seca)
Playland International Raceway - 2.4 miles (Modeled after Mid-Ohio)
USA Raceway - 4.1 miles (6.6 km), 6 laps (Modeled after Road America)
Twin Peaks International Raceway - 2.65 miles (Modeled after Vancouver)
Andretti Racing
In 1996 EA Sports released a game called Andretti Racing. The game was released to good review including PSExtreme Magazine calling Andretti Racing is the most realistic and exciting racing game on the PlayStation. The game was released on the PlayStation, Sega Saturn and PC.