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Woody Woodpecker Racing

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Woody Woodpecker Racing
European PlayStation cover art
Developer(s)Syrox Developments
Publisher(s)Konami
Director(s)LX Rudis
Producer(s)
  • Derek Poon
  • Eveline Cureteau
Programmer(s)
  • Mark Gordon
  • Dan Leslie
  • Rob Brooks
Artist(s)
  • Steve Green
  • Jon Green
  • David Bland
Composer(s)Matt Furniss
Platform(s)PlayStation, Windows
ReleasePlayStation
  • NA: November 15, 2000
  • EU: December 22, 2000
Windows
  • NA: November 26, 2000
  • EU: December 22, 2000
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Woody Woodpecker Racing is a 2000 kart racing video game developed by Syrox Developments and published by Konami for the PlayStation and Microsoft Windows. The game showcases characters from the Woody Woodpecker franchise within the context of a kart racing game.

Gameplay

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Woody Woodpecker Racing is a kart racing game in which the player controls characters from the Woody Woodpecker franchise, who drive in a variety of vehicles. While racing, the player can accelerate, steer, brake, hop or use weapons and power-ups with the game controller's analog stick and buttons.[1] The game includes four single-player modes: "Quest Mode", "World Championship", "Time Trial", and "Single Race". In Quest Mode, the player chooses from a selection of six playable characters and competes in a succession of races, unlocking new tracks and characters as they progress. In World Championship, the player races in a league and earns points based on their ranking in each race; the racer with the highest points at the end of the league is the winner. In Time Trial, the player must achieve the best lap time in any given track, and in Single Race, the player can partake in a five-lap race on any track. The game includes a multiplayer mode in which two players compete head-to-head.[2] Woody Woodpecker Racing initially includes six playable characters, with three additional characters being unlocked in Quest Mode.[3]

Development and release

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On December 16, 1999, Universal Studios and Konami announced a global strategic alliance that would allow Konami to distribute and market video games produced and developed by Universal Interactive Studios based on Universal Studios franchises, including Woody Woodpecker.[4] The PlayStation version was developed by Syrox Developments under the direction of Konami of America's LX Rudis, with Syrox's Derek Poon and Universal Interactive Studios' Eveline Cureteau acting as producers. The game was programmed by Mark Gordon, Dan Leslie and Rob Brooks, with additional programming by Alex Darby and Mal Lansell. Steve and Jon Green and David Bland served as the game's artists, with Roger Barnett being the game's animator and illustrator. The audio was created by Matt Furniss.[5]

The PlayStation version of Woody Woodpecker Racing was showcased at E3 2000.[6] Initially projected for an October release,[7] the game was released in North America for the PlayStation on November 15, 2000,[8] and for Microsoft Windows on November 26.[9] A Dreamcast version was originally scheduled to release on April 3, 2001, but was not released.[10] In 2023, the Dreamcast source files were compiled into a playable format.[11]

Reception

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The PlayStation and PC versions of Woody Woodpecker Racing received "generally unfavorable" reviews according to aggregator Metacritic.[12][13] Giancarlo Varanini of GameSpot gave the PC version a 3.6 of 10.[18] Matt Helgeson of Game Informer, in a short blurb, dismissed the game as a cheap and unoriginal Crash Team Racing clone.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Instruction Booklet 2000, p. 3.
  2. ^ Instruction Booklet 2000, pp. 6–7.
  3. ^ Instruction Booklet 2000, p. 10.
  4. ^ "Universal Studios and Konami Unite". IGN. Snowball.com. December 16, 1999. Archived from the original on May 29, 2000. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  5. ^ Syrox Developments (November 15, 2000). Woody Woodpecker Racing (PlayStation). Konami of America. Level/area: Credits.
  6. ^ Granett, Dan (May 12, 2000). "E3: Woody Pecks on PlayStation". IGN. Snowball.com. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  7. ^ Nix, Marc (August 10, 2000). "Woody Woodpecker Racing". IGN. Snowball.com. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c Helgeson, Matt (January 2001). "PlayStation Quickies: Woody Woodpecker Racing". Game Informer. No. 93. Sunrise Publications. p. 103.
  9. ^ "Woody Woodpecker Racing". GameZone. Archived from the original on November 18, 2001. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  10. ^ "Video Game release dates". The Pantagraph. Bloomington, Illinois. March 29, 2001. p. 65. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Yarwood, Jack (27 March 2023). "Archivists Get Unreleased Dreamcast Port Of Woody Woodpecker Racing Up And Running". Time Extension. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Woody Woodpecker Racing for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 5, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Woody Woodpecker Racing for PlayStation Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 11, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  14. ^ Baize, Anthony. "Woody Woodpecker Racing - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  15. ^ Zjaba, Tom. "Woody Woodpecker Racing - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  16. ^ "Mini Reviews: Woody Woodpecker Racing". Computer and Video Games. No. 230. January 2001. p. 120.
  17. ^ Pfister, Andrew (January 2001). "Review Crew: Woody Woodpecker Racing". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 138. Ziff Davis. p. 207.
  18. ^ a b Varanini, Giancarlo (February 9, 2001). "Woody Woodpecker Racing Review". GameSpot. ZDNet. Archived from the original on February 12, 2001. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  19. ^ Da bomb mom (March 7, 2001). "PC Game Reviews: Woody Woodpecker Racing". GameZone. Archived from the original on March 10, 2001. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  20. ^ Courtney, Rita (March 26, 2001). "PlayStation Game Reviews: Woody Woodpecker Racing". GameZone. Archived from the original on June 6, 2001. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  21. ^ Kozlowski, David (February 12, 2001). "Woody Woodpecker Racing review". IGN. Snowball.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2001. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  22. ^ Zdyrko, David (November 28, 2000). "Woody Woodpecker Racing review". IGN. Snowball.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2001. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  23. ^ Romendil (February 7, 2001). "Woody Woodpecker Racing - PC". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). L'Odyssée Interactive. Archived from the original on February 18, 2004. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  24. ^ Twitten (January 8, 2001). "Woody Woodpecker Racing - PSX". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). L'Odyssée Interactive. Archived from the original on June 15, 2004. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  25. ^ Ellis, Nick (February 2001). "Reviews: Woody Woodpecker Racing". Official Australian PlayStation Magazine. No. 41. ACP Publishing. p. 72.
  26. ^ Baker, Chris (January 2001). "PS One Reviews: Woody Woodpecker Racing". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 40. Ziff Davis. p. 141.
  27. ^ Presley, Paul (May 2001). "Shorts: Woody Woodpecker Racing". PC Zone. No. 102. Dennis Publishing. p. 70.

Bibliography

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