Wipeout (series)
| Wipeout | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Genres | Racing game |
| Developers | Psygnosis/SCE Studio Liverpool |
| Publishers | Sony Computer Entertainment Europe |
| Platforms | PlayStation |
| First release | Wipeout 29 September 1995 |
| Latest release | Wipeout 2048 19 January 2012 |
Wipeout (trademarked as WipEout)[1] is a series of futuristic anti-gravity racing games developed by SCE Studio Liverpool. The series is well known for its fast-paced gameplay and high-quality 3D visual design running on the full resolution of the console the game belongs to; its association with electronic dance music (mainly Goa trance, Uplifting Trance and Big beat), as well as its continuous collaboration with certain artists (The Chemical Brothers, Optical, FSOL, Cold Storage, Kraftwerk, Orbital, Aphex Twin and others). The series identified itself with a strong graphical design, provided by The Designers Republic.
Gameplay[edit]
Wipeout is a racing series that features vehicles that hover over futuristic racetracks. Power-ups (or "pick-ups") are available and come in offensive ("weapon") and defensive ("item") varieties.
Games[edit]
| Year | Title | Platform | Notes | Set |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Wipeout | PlayStation, Sega Saturn, DOS CD-ROM | — | 2052 (F3600 AG) |
| 1996 | Wipeout 2097 | PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Microsoft Windows CD-ROM, Mac OS, Amiga | — | 2097 (F5000 AG) |
| 1998 | Wipeout 64 | Nintendo 64 | — | 2098 (F5000 AG) |
| 1999 | Wipeout 3 | PlayStation | Wipeout 3: Special Edition was released only in Europe, in 2000. | 2116 (F7200 AG) |
| 2002 | Wipeout Fusion | PlayStation 2 | — | 2160 (F9000 AG) |
| 2005 | Wipeout Pure | PlayStation Portable | — | 2197 (FX300 AG) |
| 2007 | Wipeout Pulse | PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2 | — | 2207 (FX400 AG) |
| 2008 | Wipeout HD | PlayStation 3 | An expansion pack, Wipeout HD Fury, was released in 2009. | 2206 (FX350 AG) |
| 2012 | Wipeout 2048 | PlayStation Vita | Features Cross-Platform play with Wipeout HD and Fury add-on and is a prequel to the other games in the timeline. | 2048-2050 (A.G.R.C.) |
History[edit]
The Wipeout franchise began with the release of the original Wipeout in 1995. Three more Wipeout games were released by the end of the decade, all developed by Liverpool-based developer Psygnosis. In 1999, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe acquired Psygnosis and its intellectual property, including Wipeout. As part of the acquisition, the name "Psygnosis" was changed to "SCE Studio Liverpool". After the acquisition, the titles to follow experienced drastic changes in physics and gameplay - many core fans of the series believe the series hit near perfection with Wipeout XL / 2097. Five more Wipeout games were developed, two on the PlayStation 2, two for the PlayStation Portable, a downloadable title on the PlayStation 3 - Wipeout HD (which is also available on Blu-ray disc packaged with the Fury expansion), and a launch title for the PlayStation Vita - Wipeout 2048. Sony Liverpool had been working on a Wipeout game for the upcoming PlayStation 4 console when the studio was closed on 22 August 2012.[2]
A Wipeout "arcade" game was also featured in the 1995 movie "Hackers". The actual game footage was pre-rendered CGI and the actors merely pretended they were playing the game.
Influence[edit]
With its use of music by contemporary electronica artists and strong, unique design elements, the series was at the forefront of the drive to make video games appealing to adults, specifically the 20-30 age group. The first game was considered instrumental in the tremendous success of the PlayStation.
References[edit]
- ^ "Official site". Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
- ^ "Sony Liverpool was working on WipEout PS4 and a Splinter Cell style game for PS4". Eurogamer. 22 August 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
External links[edit]
- Official website at the Wayback Machine (archived April 25, 2011)
- Wipeout Zone
- Wipeout series at MobyGames
- Cold Storage - Tim Wright, the creator of Wipeout music & sound effects
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