Sega Touring Car Championship

Infobox VG| title = Sega Touring Car Championship


developer = Sega-AM3
publisher = Sega
designer = Tetsuya Mizuguchi
engine =
released = 1996, 1997, 1998
genre = Racing
modes = Single player, Multiplayer
ratings = ESRB: Everyone (E)
PEGI: 3+
platforms = Arcade (Model 2), Sega Saturn, PC
media = 1 CD-ROM / 2 CD-ROM (PC)
requirements =
input =

"Sega Touring Car Championship" (セガ ツーリングカーチャンピオンシップ) is an arcade racing game created by AM-branch office (former AM3) for the Model 2 mainboard in 1996.

German Grand Touring Car Championship

This "Touring Car Championship" is actually based upon the famous Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) '96 series (German Grand Touring Car Championship) where three European makers were competing at this time. Although the DTM cars are licensed, the three courses named "Country Circuit", "Grünwalt Circuit" & "Brickwall Town" (as well as the bonus stages) are all fictitious. Since the game is released one year after the original version, the Sega Saturn version includes both DTM'96 series and DTM'97 series. The Toyota Supra is not a DTM car but a JGTC one instead. Sega Touring Car Championship is truly the first racing game to ever feature an All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC) model, long before Gran Turismo definitely make them popular worldwide, only for that, this game has a high historical importance. Home versions were released on Sega Saturn system (1997) and PC (1998). This game was such popular in Japan that Colombia Music Entertainment released a music video/racing techniques 45' VHS in the domestic market to promote the Sega Saturn version.

Pre-Gran Turismo Era

This racing game is part of Sega's pre-Gran Turismo arcade golden age (1995-1998) with legendary Model 2/Model 3 titles such as Sega Rally Championship (1995), Sega Touring Car Championship (1996), Scud Race (1996) renamed Sega Super GT outside Japan and Europe, Scud Race Plus (1997), Le Mans 24 (1997), Daytona USA 2/Daytona USA 2 Power Edition (1998) and Sega Rally 2 (1998). Gran Turismo's arrival on PlayStation (Christmas 1997) definitely changed racing game genre, with hundreds of licensed cars, +20 real/fictitious circuits including both tarmac & rally tracks (like Genki's N64 "Multi Racing Championship" before) as well as GT, racing, rally, Le Mans, JGTC cars. Since then Sega had had to change its strategy and to produce all-in-one racing games too, namely the Sega GT series. As a consequence, the company never made home versions of fans once awaited Scud Race and Le Mans 24. However, in late 1998, a demo version of Super GT was exhibited to demonstrate the Dreamcast system's power, but the company never made a full release and surprised everyone by producing a secret project, Sega GT, 2 years later.

*Sega Touring Championship was probably the first console game to feature Internet Ranking mode as an optional modem was available for the Sega Saturn (except in Europe).
*Global Time Event Race
*avex trax soundtrack
*IA Car
*Qualifying Heat & Pit
*Crossover w/Sega Rally hidden cars

ega Touring Car Championship Special

Like it was done in 1996 with Sega Rally Special Stage (セガラリースペシャルステージ), a Sega Touring Car Championship Special (セガツーリングカーチャンピオンシップスペシャル) attraction version was specially designed for the "Tokyo Joypolis" (in Shinjuku district) theme park featuring real cars instead of the common single/dual-seat cabinet. On this ultimate version, the player physically select his car, seat in the Toyota Supra, AMG-Mercedes C-Class or Alfa Romeo 155 and watch a huge widescreen through the vehicle's windscreen. Changes were made since the original version as now up to three players can race in a multiplayer mode, the game is broadcasted live on three public screens, while the Opel Calibra and the external car view were removed from the so-called "Special" version. Later, this rare attraction was made available in the Kyoto and Okayama Joypolis game centers too.

Releases

**Arcade
**Home
**Campaign

=Car list=ARCADE EDITION
*Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti Team Martini Racing "1995" (DTM driven by Alessandro Nannini/Nicola Larini)
*AMG-Mercedes C-Class (C180) Team D2 Drivat AMG "1995" (DTM driven by Bernd Schneider/Dario Franchitti)
*Opel Calibra V6 4x4 Opel Team Joest "1995" ("'DTM driven by Manuel Reuter/Yannick Dalmas)
*Toyota Supra GT (JZA80) Team Castrol TOM'S "1995" (JGTC driven by Masanori Sekiya/Michael Krumm)HOME EDITION
*Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti Team Martini Racing "1995" (DTM driven by Alessandro Nannini/Nicola Larini)
*Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti Team Alfa Corse "1996" (DTM)
*AMG-Mercedes C-Class (C180) Team D2 Drivat AMG "1995" (DTM driven by Bernd Schneider/Dario Franchitti)
*AMG-Mercedes C-Class (C180) "1996" (DTM)
*Lancia Delta HF Integrale WRC Team Martini Racing "1992" ("'WRC Monte Carlo Rally #4 driven by Didier Auriol/Bernard Occelli)
*Opel Calibra V6 4x4 Opel Team Joest "1995" ("'DTM driven by Manuel Reuter/Yannick Dalmas)
*Opel Calibra V6 4x4 Cliff Opel Team Joest "1996" ("'DTM driven by Oliver Gavin/Alexander Wurz)
*Sega Proto Team Sega Racing CRI "1997" (Le Mans 24)
*Toyota Celica GT-Four WRC "1994" (ST205) Team Castrol (WRC #1 driven by Didier Auriol/Denis Giraudet)
*Toyota Supra GT (JZA80) Team Castrol TOM'S "1995" (JGTC driven by Masanori Sekiya/Michael Krumm)
**Alfa Romeo Spider "1996" (non playable Pace Car)¹

Trivia

When you become the "grand champion", you can race on the "Urban Circuit" track on Arcade, Saturn, and PC versions. There is also an extra "Boom Town Circuit" available only on Saturn and PC. Depending on the date you input at the Saturn's system setup screen, you can race on three holiday-themed tracks as well.

On the Saturn machine, before you can even get to the "Press Start" screen, you must check the Saturn's clock to make sure it's right, and also to select the latitude you live in and what your nationality is. It's very similar to how the setup is done in "Metropolis Street Racer".

Another feature carried into MSR is the fact that, at a versus race, you can adjust the time you or your opponent has to wait at the starting line upon the starting signal (up to 30 seconds max). (Note that when it's the opponent's turn to leave the starting line, "3", "2", "1", and "GO!" aren't seen, only the countdown and starting signal beeps are heard)

This is one of the few racing games from Sega to not include an announcer at all (you get other forms of SFX when you pass the starting line [there are no checkpoints, this is the only way to extend your time] or during the 3-2-1-Go countdown before the race, as examples). Like most racing games, the countdown clock beeps (and turns red when it reads "05") when you're running out of time.

Before starting a championship race, you have to complete a qualifying lap on the Country Circuit track in 45 seconds.

All selection screens have a starting time of 9 seconds (even at the name entry screen, though it takes about two seconds for the numbers to change).

All 1P mode tracks have a rolling start. The versus tracks do not have a rolling start.

ee also

*Daytona USA
*Sega Rally Championship
*Sega Super GT
*Le Mans 24
*Daytona USA 2
*Sega Rally 2
*Ferrari F355 Challenge
*Initial D Arcade Stage
*Sega Rally 2006