One of those lovely Ridge Racer ladies
According to Namco’s most recent earnings report, Ridge Racer will be returning in early 2005. A Ridge Racer game has been pencilled in for the PSP, but no information on what platform this proposed sequel will appear on has been released, so this could be a home console version as well as or instead of the handheld version.
When the first Ridge Racer game was launched on the PlayStation in 1994, it went down an absolute storm. However, the arcade influenced drift-style of driving games has come a long way in that time. The likes of Burnout 3, Outrun 2, NFS Underground, Juiced et al now dominate the starting grid, and Namco would have to pull all the stops out to get its Ridge Racer franchise back on top.
If the scheduled release is for the PSP version after all, that would give Ridge Racer a place in the PSP’s launch line-up, which as Namco experienced with the original PlayStation launch, could be a very lucrative strategy indeed. Ker-ching!
When the first Ridge Racer game was launched on the PlayStation in 1994, it went down an absolute storm. However, the arcade influenced drift-style of driving games has come a long way in that time. The likes of Burnout 3, Outrun 2, NFS Underground, Juiced et al now dominate the starting grid, and Namco would have to pull all the stops out to get its Ridge Racer franchise back on top.
If the scheduled release is for the PSP version after all, that would give Ridge Racer a place in the PSP’s launch line-up, which as Namco experienced with the original PlayStation launch, could be a very lucrative strategy indeed. Ker-ching!
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Comments
Joji 8 Jun 2004 11:23
1/6
I'd buy it, but I'd have to have a test drive first, especially after RR Evolution. We've yet to have a RR game live up to RRT4 on PSone if you ask me. I'm surprised this hasn't happened yet, whereas Tekken has gotten better with age.
Stop concerntrating on the CG chicks, and sort the game out Namco.
Stop concerntrating on the CG chicks, and sort the game out Namco.
Stryfe01 8 Jun 2004 12:22
2/6
Did you guys forget about RR Revolution ? So how can you say revive ? They killed it only a few months ago. Japan has become complacent and in that time the USA and Europe has superceded them in development talent.
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Funky 8 Jun 2004 12:43
3/6
More high-res renders of Reiko Nagase please...
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>_>
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>_>
Joji 8 Jun 2004 13:29
4/6
That's most likely the one I meant (all the bloody names are confusing, what's wrong with a number) that was rubbish and slow. And I was so up for buying it too.
I agree that RR series is being put in the hand of folk who don't have a clue at Namco. And now GT4 is on the way it only makes Namco look worse. Even Project Gotham is making em look bad.
I have no problems with some of their ideas, such as Reiko Nagase, or the player character career story mode but they need to pick up their ideas and get em sorted, or be left at the starting grid, eating dust by competitors
I agree that RR series is being put in the hand of folk who don't have a clue at Namco. And now GT4 is on the way it only makes Namco look worse. Even Project Gotham is making em look bad.
I have no problems with some of their ideas, such as Reiko Nagase, or the player character career story mode but they need to pick up their ideas and get em sorted, or be left at the starting grid, eating dust by competitors
NiktheGreek 8 Jun 2004 22:33
5/6
The recent Ridge Racer titles have been somewhat disappointing to say the least. Ridge Racer 5 and RR Evolution weren't the best driving titles around, to say the least. I'd say arcade-style driving is dead but the mention of Outrun 2, Burnout 3 and the others has made me reconsider.
Perhaps it is not the game's genre that is out of date, but Namco's approach to it? If I were Namco, I'd follow Nintendo's lead and approach Sega to sort things out - if anyone knows how to make an arcade racer, it's them, and they've shown they're not adverse to being contracted for these jobs. Then perhaps with a new base structure, Ridge Racer can once again rise to prominence.
Perhaps it is not the game's genre that is out of date, but Namco's approach to it? If I were Namco, I'd follow Nintendo's lead and approach Sega to sort things out - if anyone knows how to make an arcade racer, it's them, and they've shown they're not adverse to being contracted for these jobs. Then perhaps with a new base structure, Ridge Racer can once again rise to prominence.
cyberwrat 9 Jun 2004 05:26
6/6
The new ridge racers were ok at best but when they are up against the Progect gothams and GT3 they have alot to live up to.
I personnaly loved the third RR series, Rage racer. I thought that was agreat escape from what was out at the time and wish the could redo that part of the franchise.
I personnaly loved the third RR series, Rage racer. I thought that was agreat escape from what was out at the time and wish the could redo that part of the franchise.