HIGH-RESOLUTION GRAPHICS AND SOPHISTICATED SIMULATION ARE COMBINED TO BRING YOU A MOTOR SPORTS VIDEOGAME Sega and Yu Suzuki quickly seized the moment and a year after Hang On, they released a different game. They pro- duced one of the world’s most famous racing games ever. Out Run was “The first racer to unleashed in September 1986 on hard- dip and climb up ware only slightly better than Hang On, but it was the quality of programming and down hills which made a difference. In terms of convincingly” software, Out Run was first to the ar- cade floor with a digital Ferrari (unlicensed), civilian traffic, stereo sound (left & right) and working rear brake lights . The best ‘first’ and most innovative however was the use of gradient. This was the first racer with a course, which dipped and climbed up and down hills convincingly . It still had plenty of ! TRIVIA ! long, wide bits to The prancing horse weave in and out of on the back of the traffic, but to have the unlicensed car ac- sense of going over tually flipped from the brow of a digital left to right de- hill for the first time pending on which way you turn— was one more compo- look at the top two nent to an already pictures! great game. The game had all the essential ingredi- ents; addictive experience and good balanced gameplay which never left the player feeling cheated. The adrenalin- fuelled experience of Out Run had one last trick up it’s already full sleeve. The cabinet for Out Run was designed with hydraulics and a ‘sit in’ cabinet to suc- cessfully give the feeling of motion. Masses of home-conversions or pseudo- Audio was blasted very loud through to sequels followed, of particular note was ‘Outrunners’ the 1993 Arcade game, which rear speakers built into the chair head- had ‘That bridge’. rest. Sega must have realised at this stage that Yu Suzuki and good technol- ogy sold hardware. The Commodore 64 conversion was a good effort, but it sorely Out Run deserves your utmost respect. lacked a vivid red colour required for a Ferrari. .