Various Scenes.

Copyright Jerod Underwood Park 1997
All rights reserved

VEHICLE PURCHASE SCENE: This is the place where you will buy your "New Car!!!". Well, not really. But, it is a great place to pick up your new street dragster. That big hunk of metal and sand that will house your mighty triumph over engine limitations.
Backdrop should look like a used-car dealership with a wide assortment of vehicles that vary in year and make. Only the Muscle Cars should bother to have a large price sign clearly stating cost.
A box should surround the car being looked at. The box can be manipulated by moving the steering wheel to the left and right. Depressing the gas pedal will serve as the "buy-the-car" button. Prices should be listed on the windshield of each car choosable. When the box remains on a car for more than two seconds without the gas pedal being pressed, then the car scene should go into a darkened state (maybe 20% lighting), giving way to a semi-transparent screen displaying standard information on the vehicle. For example, Make, Model, Year, Gearing, Engine size and performance chart, Etc.
If more than 45 seconds pass before a car is chosen, then the machine should automatically select the car that the box is residing on.
THE "PLACE OF PURCHASE" SCENE: This scene should show a selection box that is guidable by the steering wheel and {engagable} via the gas pedal. There will be four selectable titles, arranged in a circular fashion, listing "Auto Parts Store", "Auto Wrecking Yard", "Meeting Place Trading", and "Pass". This screen should have a 30 second delay before Pass is automatically chosen. Backdrop should appear to have a theme look to the drag racing scene.
THE TRADE SCENE: The usual location of purchasing parts at discount rates (usually for second hand parts that have seen their fair share of use) occurs during at the meeting points before race time. Tradables can range from money to other spare parts that the racer wishes in exchange for their wares.
Backdrop will be the back of a vehicle, either trunk, hatchback, or pick-up. Items obtainable can range from engine blocks to shocks or tires to almost anything.
To select part for purchase, a box will surround one of several items for sale and box can be manipulated by moving the steering wheel. Depressing the gas pedal will serve as the "buy-the-part" button. A brief sentence will appear at the bottom of the choice box listing what the racer wants in trade for the part shown.
In the top-center of the screen should be a highly visible counter displaying the time limit of 30 seconds to indicate the amount of time available to purchase item. Only one item per visit is allowed to be purchased. If time runs out before an item is purchased, the scene will fade with no purchase made.
THE AUTO PARTS: Unlike the act of trading for parts, you can obtain first rate mechanics for your street dragger at retail price here. Although more expensive, you are paying for fresh-from-the-factory parts that should last for years and usually come with some kind of warranty (depending on the item purchased). However, some higher end parts mandatory for later races may not be obtainable here.
Backdrop will be of a well lit shop with auto parts neatly packaged and located as decoration all over the screen. A clerk standing next to a cash register and giving a brief description of the item enclosed in the selection box should also be included in the shot.
To select part for purchase, a box will surround one of the many items for sale in both the display case and on the back wall and the box can be manipulated by moving the steering wheel to the left and right. Depressing the gas pedal will serve as the "buy-the-part" button. Prices will be listed under each part.
In the top-center of the screen should be a highly visible counter displaying the time limit of 30 seconds to indicate the amount of time available to purchase item. Only one item per visit is allowed to be purchased. If time runs out before an item is purchased, the scene will fade with no purchase made.
THE WRECKING YARD: In this place, parts of all sorts can be scavenged, usually at a low price, always in less than new condition.
Backdrop will be of a line-up of automobiles in an otherwise unusable condition. Bright day light makes up the illumination.
To select part for purchase, a box will surround one of the items {scavengable}. Box will appear on one of the many vehicles in the backdrop with part (properly located) appearing inside box. When the steering wheel is moved, the box will relocate, the part that was visible will disappear, and another part will appear within the newly located box. Depressing the gas pedal will serve as the "buy-the-part" button. Prices will be a sort of un-disclosed deal, where when the part is chosen, if player has enough money for the unseen price, then part will be purchased. If not, then a buzzer like sound will be heard to indicate that part is too expensive.
In the top-center of the screen should not only be a highly visible counter displaying the time limit of 30 seconds, but also an analog clock displaying one hour. As always the 30 second clock is there to indicate the amount of time available for purchase of items before the game moves on. But, the one hour clock is there to indicate time on whole before the parting of old cars must cease. Because each part, depending on size and location, requires a set amount of time to remove. For example, an engine block will take the entire hour. But a tire rem may only eat up 5 minutes. If time runs out on the 30 second clock before an item is purchased, the scene will fade and the act of selecting of parts will end for that turn.
THE LEGAL DRAG STRIP: At various locations around the country, there are legal drag strips that operate with fees for drivers and spectators. Though these places are great for gaining experience, there is no money to be made off of bets and it actually costs to race here. In comparison of losing a $500 bet in a night drag may make this training seem like a bargain in the long run.
Backdrop will be of a long stretch of drag strip with a christmas tree (traffic signal like device that indicates start of race and false starts) and an opponent in the other lane. Unusable condition. Bright day light makes up the illumination.
Start of all racing will start at high noon.
Before start of race, there will be a description of the other racer's vehicle specs up on the screen. During this time, player will have the option to lane selection. Choice of lane (as always) will be selected via wheel and gas pedal. In the top-center of the screen will be a highly visible counter displaying the time limit of 30 seconds. If the time runs out, then the lane the box is highlighting will be selected. Also, an analog clock will be visible displaying the simulated time. There will also be a visible faded white mark (kind of like a pie chart) showing how long the track will remain open. While each race may only last a few seconds, the delay between races will always take some time due to the wait for all other racers who are participating in that days races. Closing times on each track will vary, but player should expect 4-6 races for the day's entry fee. After each race, the screen should fade away from the drag strip and go to the results screen. And then after a few seconds, return to the "choose lane" screen with the next opponent's car data.
If a false start of player's car occurs twice, then that particular race will be declared forfeit and player will continue on to the results screen in preparation for next race. Computerized opponent will never make a false start.
Name, location, track condition, entry fee, and closing time of track will depend on which section of the country the player is currently at.
These practice screens are optional to the player and usually choosable after every third or fourth night of racing.
THE MEETING PLACE: This is where all the drag racers hang out to talk about their vehicles and their skills and personal life. Just the general hang out joint. This is also the place where details are ironed out. Like who races who and how. What is up for stakes. And where the race should occur. If it should be at the usual strip of street where the cops are beginning to catch on, or that dark, out-of-the-way stretch out on route 9.
This is also the perfect place for the player to select their computerized opponent to bet and race against. As the player uses the point and click method already mentioned before to select their opponent, the opponent's mug will be visible with a brief sentence saying choice of lane, amount of money they'll wager on the race, what they want the player to think their machine can do (most likely understated ratings), and maybe some useless chit-chat will appear within the highlight box.
Backdrop will vary on location of country player is in. Ranging from an outdoor parking lot or a freeway diner to a stretch of dark country road. There will always be from three to six selectable opponents at all times.
AT THE ROAD DRAG STRIP: Backdrops will vary depending on location of country that the player is residing in. Scenery could be an inner-city street outlined with tall buildings and lit street lamps or like a country type environment where only small two-laned roads exist with poor lighting conditions coming from only a racer's headlights or the occasional moon. As the race begins, both the player and computerized opponent (or second player, if conditions are met) face off in a contest to cross a line (usually a 1/4 mile away) first and win the race. Depending on place, road condition will vary from great to poor. Other situations may arise at any time. Even the police may show up during the middle of a race, forcing the player to change strategies from finishing the race to outrunning the cop. Of course, fines may be less if the player surrenders to the police raid than getting caught while making a run for it. But, beware. In later stages, surrender is a bad idea (for the player, that is). Due to the stiff fine of the "Game Over" screen, due to police seizure of the player's vehicle and over budget fine.
At times, especially in later stages, if player beats their opponent, than that opponent may request a rematch offering higher stakes at two to three times the original bet. About 3/4 of the time, this will be a scam. When player is confronted with making this choice, they'll have to choose between Yes or No using wheel and gas pedal. If player chooses Yes, than the computerized opponent will usually let loose with the real potential that lies under the hood. If the player isn't pre-pared, they may see only tail lights before the race is done. And "slick" gets away with another buck for the night.

Click here to return to the last page.

Copyright Jerod Underwood Park 1997
All rights reserved