- Gearhead Garage
Infobox VG
title=Gearhead Garage
developer=Mekada
publisher=Activision
distributer=
designer=
engine=
version=
released= flagicon|US1999
genre=Non-game
platforms=Windows
ratings=ESRB: Everyone
media=CD-ROM
requirements =
input ="Snap-On Gearhead Garage: The Virtual Mechanic" is a PC game where players repair and customize late model cars and trucks. It was created by
Mekada , endorsed by Snap-on Tools, and published in 1999 by Head Games (subsequently acquired byActivision ). There is no feature for driving the cars. Instead, Gearhead Garage introduced an entirely new "bolt-em up" paradigm. The appeal is reminiscent of taking things apart in real life -- players can completely disassemble the engine, repair the individual parts, reassemble them, and then exhibit the completed result in their 3D "car lot". The game also features a series of "jobs", wherein the player fixes vehicles cars owned by ficitional characters. This allows them to earn money to buy custom items from the catalog, auction, or junkyard.creenshots
The screenshots below illustrate the unique gameplay style of Gearhead Garage:
Popularity
Gearhead Garage sold surprisingly well given its unusual design. It received generally excellent reviews, for example an average score of 4.5 out of 5 stars at [http://www.amazon.com/Snap-On-Gearhead-Garage/dp/B00003IRCF/ Amazon.com] and 9.5 out of 10 points at [http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews-all-1434.html ReviewCentre.com] . The [http://www.gearheadgarage.com GearheadGarage.com] web site attracted a community of enthusiastic fans who eventually reverse-engineered the game file formats and began creating entirely new vehicles using tools such as
3D Studio Max . In all, the community contributed over 30 complete car models that can be downloaded from various 3rd party web sites dedicated to the game.Gearhead Garage's constructive, non-violent gameplay made it popular with parents and educators as well. In 2002, it received an "All Star Award" from [http://www.childrenssoftware.com Children's Software Review] magazine in the "Logic" category.
External links
* [http://www.gearheadgarage.com/ Gearhead Garage] official web site
* [http://www.mekada.com/ Mekada] web site
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