Sierra Announce Viper Racing

Sierra today announced a new title from Monster Games, a studio formed from ex-Papyrus employees.

Press release:

SIERRA SPORTS ANNOUNCES VIPER RACING NEWEST DRIVING SIMULATION OFFERS SOPHISTOCATED PHYSICS, CAREER MODE

Eugene OR (September 15, 1998) – Sierra Sports announces Viper Racing, a driving simulation featuring one of America’s fastest sports cars, the Dodge Viper. Slated to ship this October, Viper Racing offers every racing fan the chance to get behind the wheel and experience the thrill of driving a highly detailed model of the Dodge Viper GTS and GTS-R first-hand.

With Viper Racing, players earn money in a driving “career” to upgrade their sports cars, and can eventually land the monstrous, 700-horsepower Dodge Viper GTS-R. By competing in more than 20 different races, drivers work their way up through four different classes in the Viper Racing League (VRL),
and can gradually earn more than 40 different Viper upgrades, from poly brushings to carbon fiber brake pads.

“Viper Racing, with its outstanding physics model and multiple skill levels, takes PC sports car racing seriously for the first time for the PC market,” said Sean Gleason, Director of Marketing for Sierra Sports.
“Like every Sierra Sports simulation, we’ve gone to great lengths to create an in-depth simulation which allows our customers an incredibly accurate experience. With this product, we’ve also created the toughest computer opponents anywhere.”

Viper Racing Features

With three levels of driving realism, from a fast, fun arcade mode to the seriously simulated career mode, Viper Racing represents the next step in true sports car racing. Winning the VRL GT championship on the highest level of difficulty requires both defeating the challenging artificial intelligence and mastering eight unique tracks.

A first for any sports car simulation, the computer opponents in Viper Racing really drive; they control their cars with only the throttle, brake, and steering, just like the player. This new concept in artificial intelligence creates an unprecedented level of realistic single-player competition. Beating the AI requires each player to drive like a pro, and tune everything from suspension settings to gear ratios in the extensive garage.

Additional features include a damage model that allows players to dent, scrape, and crash their Vipers with the most advanced collision system yet available. There’s also a full-featured paint kit, complete multiplayer support, and a ghost car mode which allows the player to race against a “ghost” of their best lap – drivers may even trade ghosts over the Internet.

Using a graphics engine designed for next generation 3D hardware, the game features 16-bit artwork and effects like tire burnouts, spectacular crashes, and environment mapped cars.

Viper Racing, a CD-ROM for Windows 95, will carry a suggested retail price of $29.95 and will be available at computer stores everywhere in November, or by calling Sierra direct at (800) 757-7707. The Sierra Sports website (www.sierrasports.com) contains more information about Viper Racing and other Sierra Sports titles and events.

Unveiled at the 1998 Daytona 500, Sierra Sports is one of Sierra’s six best-selling brands, and publishes the most complete list of high quality sports simulations on the market. A common passion unites Sierra Sports developers such as Dynamix, Papyrus, Headgate and the Sierra Sports NW team — commitment to the true spirit of sport. Upcoming titles from Sierra Sports include Grand Prix Legends, NFL Football Pro 99, PGA Championship Golf – 1999 Edition, Basketball Pro 99, Fantasy Sports Pro, NASCAR Racing – 1999 Edition, Skiing 99, Trophy Buck, Trophy Bass 3D, and Trophy Marlin.

Cendant is the world’s premier provider of consumer and business services. Cendant operates in three principal segments: Alliance Marketing, Travel and Real Estate Services. Headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, the company has more than 40,000 employees, operates in over 100 countries and makes approximately 100 million customer contacts annually.

MGI, the developers of Viper Racing, are focused on creating the most realistic and playable racing simulations on the market. The Minnesota-based development group is hard at work putting the finishing touches on Viper Racing.

Dodge is a registered trademark of Chrysler Corporation, USA and is used under license.