Micro Machines (video games)

Micro Machines is a series of computer and video games featuring toy cars, developed by Codemasters and published on several platforms (including Nintendo Entertainment System, Amiga, Mega Drive/Genesis, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, PS2 and Sega Game Gear between 1991 and 2006. The series is based on the Micro Machines toy line of miniature vehicles.

Micro Machines games feature tracks based on household settings: for example, kitchen tables and desktops. The tracks also contain obstacles in the form of household items; often the possibility of falling off the track is a hazard in itself.

Micro Machines

Micro Machines
Developer(s)	NES, GG, Mega Drive, SMS, CDI Codemasters PC Big Red Software SNES Merit Studios Game Boy Mindscape
Publisher(s)	NES Camerica GG, Mega Drive, SMS, PC, CDI Codemasters SNES, Game Boy Ocean Software
Platform(s)	Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Game Gear, Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, PC, Compact Disc Interactive, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy
Release date(s)	NES NA 1991 EU 1991 GG, Mega Drive, SMS EU 1993 PC, CDI, SNES NA 1994 Game Boy NA 1995

Micro Machines on the Nintendo Game Boy

Released in 1991 on the NES and 1993 on other formats, the first game in the series laid the foundation of the gameplay: a top-down racing game with miniature vehicles. The race tracks are unconventionally themed. For example, some races take place on a billiard table while others occur in a garden. The cartridge itself was gold (black in Europe) with a switch at the bottom in order to be compatible with the American and European hardware.^[1] It was also released as an add-on to the Aladdin Deck Enhancer created by Codemasters.^[2]

Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament

Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament
Developer(s)	Supersonic Software Ltd
Publisher(s)	Mega Drive, Game Gear Codemasters SNES Ocean Software PC Codemasters
Platform(s)	Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, PC, Gameboy
Release date(s)	Mega Drive EU 1994 Game Gear EU 1995 SNES EU February 22, 1996 PC NA May 31, 1996

Micro Machines 2 as a J-Cart

Micro Machines 2 featured cars that require different handling techniques for each course and also hovercraft and helicopters. There are different playing modes including "head-to-head", in which each player earns points by driving a full screen ahead of the opponent. The PC version featured a track editor.

A selling point for the Sega Mega Drive versions was the J-Cart, a cartridge including two control ports, thus eliminating the need for a 4-player adaptor. It also included a 'pad-sharing' feature which allowed 2 players to share a single joypad; thus it enabled 8 players to compete simultaneously, on certain tracks.

TV presenter Violet Berlin features as a playable driver.

Micro Machines Turbo Tournament '96

Micro Machines Turbo Tournament '96
Developer(s)	Supersonic Software
Publisher(s)	Codemasters
Platform(s)	Sega Mega Drive
Release date(s)	EU May 1995

Only released in Europe, Australia and New Zealand for the Sega Mega Drive, this was an updated version of Micro Machines 2 that featured new tracks combined with some updated tracks from Micro Machines 2. It also featured a track construction kit previously included with the PC version of Micro Machines 2. The game was developed by Supersonic Software Ltd (DOS, Mega Drive version).

Micro Machines Military

Micro Machines Military
Developer(s)	Supersonic Software
Publisher(s)	Codemasters
Platform(s)	Sega Mega Drive
Release date(s)	EU 1996

Only released in Europe, Australia and New Zealand for the Mega Drive, Micro Machines Military features all new tracks and military vehicles. These vehicles feature weapons enabling the player to attack opponents. The game is intended to run on a PAL console and although playable, will run faster than intended if played on an NTSC system. The game was developed by Supersonic Software Ltd.

Micro Machines V3

Micro Machines V3
North American Cover Art
Developer(s)	Codemasters
Publisher(s)	PlayStation Midway PC Codemasters Game Boy Color THQ
Platform(s)	PlayStation, PC, Game Boy Color
Release date(s)	PlayStation JP January 1, 1998 NA November 30, 1997 EU March 1997 PC EU March 1997 Game Boy Color NA November 13, 2000 EU November 24, 2000
Rating(s)	PlayStation ESRB: Kids-Adult Game Boy Color ESRB: Everyone

Micro Machines V3 featured 3D-graphics and 8-player multiplayer matches. It was released in March 1997 for the Playstation and later in 1998 for PC. It featured circuits in different areas of the household and had multiple weapons; it also included the controller share multiplayer option. The Playstation version would eventually go on to become a platinum title in the PAL Region.

Micro Machines 64 Turbo

Micro Machines 64 Turbo
North America Cover Art
Developer(s)	Codemasters
Publisher(s)	Midway
Platform(s)	Nintendo 64
Release date(s)	NA March 24, 1999 EU April 30, 1999
Rating(s)	ELSPA: 3+ ESRB: E USK: 0

Micro Machines 64 Turbo is a port of Micro Machines V3 for the Nintendo 64, with added extras.

Up to 8 people can play simultaneously using what is called Pad Share, where one person uses one side of the controller, steering with the Directional pad, while the other player uses the four C-buttons. The vehicles accelerate automatically in these modes.

Micro Maniacs

Main article: Micro Maniacs

Micro Maniacs
Developer(s)	Codemasters
Publisher(s)	THQ
Platform(s)	PlayStation, Game Boy Color
Release date(s)	PlayStation EU 2001 GBC EU November 2, 2001

Micro Maniacs is a racing game that takes an unconventional step considering it a near spin-off as part of the series by replacing the vehicles by running characters, though they occasionally use vehicles for certain tracks, such as jet-skis, skate-boards or even bees. It also features 3d graphics and up to 8-player multiplayer games. The 12 available characters each have different special attacks.

Micro Machines (2002)

Micro Machines
Developer(s)	Atari
Publisher(s)	Atari
Platform(s)	Xbox, PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance
Release date(s)	Xbox EU November 8, 2002 PlayStation 2 NA March 19, 2003 EU November 8, 2002 AUS 2005 Game Boy Advance EU February 21, 2003
Rating(s)	ESRB: Everyone

This version featured advanced graphics as well as characters having unique vehicles. Though it adhered as closely as possible to the original formula, something was said to have been 'lost in the translation'.^[3] This may be because it is the only Micro Machines game not published by CodeMasters, but instead by Atari.

Micro Machines V4

Micro Machines V4
Developer(s)	Supersonic Software
Publisher(s)	Codemasters
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, PC, Nintendo DS
Release date(s)	PS2, PSP, PC NA June 27, 2006 EU June 27, 2006 Nintendo DS NA February 20, 2007 EU January 5, 2007 AUS February 9, 2007
Rating(s)	ESRB: Everyone

The true sequel to V3^[4] features over 25 tracks, 750 vehicles and a track editor, although the track editor is not present in the PSP or DS versions. Tracks also feature new settings such as a supermarket or swimming pool. The game was developed by Supersonic Software Ltd.

References

1. ^ "the home of classic gaming on the net". ClassicGaming. http://www.classicgaming.com/museum/faqs/nesfaq.shtml. Retrieved 2009-09-14. 
2. ^ "Micro Machines for NES — MobyGames". MobyGames<!. http://www.mobygames.com/game/nes/micro-machines. Retrieved 2009-09-14. 
3. ^ Navarro, Alex (2002-11-08). "Micro Machines Review for PlayStation 2 - GameSpot". Uk.gamespot.com. http://uk.gamespot.com/ps2/driving/micromachines/review.html. Retrieved 2009-09-14. 
4. ^ "De Codemasters officiële website | release datum, trailers en nieuws over racen, sporten, RPG, FPS en actie video games". Codemasters.com. 2009-09-10. http://www.codemasters.com/games/index.php?gameid=1952. Retrieved 2009-09-14.