SPOGS Racing

Infobox VG
title=SPOGS Racing


developer=Pronto Games
publisher=D2C Games
designer=
engine=
released=vgrelease|NA=July 7, 2008|EU=July 18, 2008
genre=Racing
modes=Single-player, Multiplayer
ratings=
platforms=Wii (WiiWare)
media=
requirements=
input= Wii Remote

"SPOGS Racing" is a racing video game published by D2C Games and developed by Pronto Games for the Wii. It was released as a WiiWare title in North America on July 7, 2008, [cite news|title=King of the Monsters, SPOGS Racing Hit Wii Shop Channel|url=http://gamefreaks365.com/newsarticle.php?sid=2797|accessdate=2008-07-07] and in Europe on July 18, 2008. [ [http://www.wiiware-world.com/news/2008/07/eu_wiiware_update_pirates_and_spogs_racing EU WiiWare Update: Pirates and SPOGS Racing] ] It costs 1000 Wii Points and takes up 264 Blocks. [ [http://www.wiiware-world.com/games/wiiware/spogs_racing: WiiWare World - SPOGS Racing] ]

Gameplay

The game sees the player racing around 12 tracks in a vehicle called a SPOG (Sports Player Object Gyros), [http://www.wiiware-world.com/news/2008/06/d2c_games_interview_spogs_racing D2C Games Interview: SPOGS Racing] ] which resembles a tire with a Pog-like disc inside representing the player's avatar. Adding to the traditional racing game formula, "SPOGS Racing" gives the player an ability, called Crash 'N Grab, to steal spare parts such as engines, brakes, and tailpipes from their opponents to upgrade their own vehicle by crashing into them. The SPOGS themselves are equipped with six different weapons to allow the player to slow down the opponents and take their parts more easily, and are maneuverable enough to allow players to pull off tricks on ramps and loops and make the vehicle spin off, drift and flip over.

In addition to three different control schemes, "SPOGS Racing" also features several different available modes: quick races, a battle mode and a season mode (which sees the player racing on all the available tracks). [ [http://www.n-europe.com/news.php?nid=11587 N-Europe: News: SPOGS Racing WiiWare-Bound] ] D2C Games CEO Scott Orr has also revealed plans for downloadable content for the game. [ [http://www.thewiire.com/news/1218/1/Spogs_Racing_to_Feature_Episodic_Content The Wiire - Spogs Racing to Feature Episodic Content] ] An example of such content will be downloadable "racer packs" that will include content such as new tracks, vehicles and other related material.

"SPOGS Racing" was inspired by other racing games such as "Andretti Racing", "Hard Drivin'", "Mario Kart" and "Crash Team Racing".

Reception

"SPOGS Racing" garnered a largely negative response from critics. It received an "abysmal" 1.9 out of a possible 10 from IGN, who called the game "WiiShovelWare", citing dull gameplay, infuriating AI and claiming it to be the "ugliest game available on the Wii". They also pointed out the absurdness of such a "broken, fugly" game standing among the likes of other WiiWare titles such as "LostWinds" and "". However, they did believe the Crash 'N Grab mechanic was the sole good idea in the game, though it was poorly implemented. [http://wii.ign.com/articles/886/886803p1.html IGN SPOGS Racing Review] ] Hardcore Gamer also gave the game a negative response, scoring it a 1 out of 5 and claiming it to be "one of the most horrible games ever made". They also called the graphics "insulting" and said the game's music will "make you leave the game feeling like you’ve just been punched in the head a few times". [ cite web| title=Hardcore Gamer: SPOGS Racing Review| publisher=Hardcore Gamer | url=http://www.hardcoregamer.com/index.php?option=com_magazine&id_rubrique=1&type=article&id_article=134| date=| accessdate=2008-07-16] Eurogamer's reviewer called it "the most inept game [they've] played on any format, in any genre, in recent memory", giving it a 1 out of 10. [ [http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=200063 SPOGS Racing Review] ]

WiiWare World was only slightly more positive with a 3/10, calling the gameplay and opponent AI "terribly erratic" and the graphics "absolutely inexcusable". However they felt the game had some unique ideas, and that the two player mode was decent, but still "not that great". Their sole praise was for the sound effects, which they felt sounded "very authentic". [ [http://www.wiiware-world.com/reviews/2008/07/spogs_racing SPOGS Racing (WiiWare) Review] ]

References