The Need for Speed - DOS

This is the 1995 DOS version of NFS, although really this was the second release of the game. It first appeared on the 3DO in '94 with a few less tracks and an annoying, cocky FMV guy that would taunt you between races. I believe the 3DO version had cops that would give you tickets, too. In '96, EA released a NFS SE, on CD-ROM with a Windows 95 version, which was very similar to the DOS version except it had a few extra tracks and cars, worked through DirectX, and added TCPIP (the DOS version used IPX/PSX) support for networked games. The DOS version was also on the CD without all the added features. The first games in the series were tied into Road & Track Magazine, and were fully titled Road & Track Presents: The Need for Speed.

This video shows most of the tracks in action. It isn't exactly game play, but rather the post-race replay. But the way I have to get video capture working under emulation I had to choose between low-res games or hi-res replays. This game looks hideous in 320x200. I'm playing with a keyboard here, so my steering is less than fluid.

In 1996, a version appeared on the Saturn and PSX. And it has spawned about a bazillion sequels on a variety of systems of varying quality. Since EA owns the name NFS, they'll whore it out to pretty much anything that has a car in it. (more...)

This is the 1995 DOS version of NFS, although really this was the second release of the game. It first appeared on the 3DO in '94 with a few less tracks and an annoying, cocky FMV guy that would taunt you between races. I believe the 3DO version had cops that would give you tickets, too. In '96, EA released a NFS SE, on CD-ROM with a Windows 95 version, which was very similar to the DOS version except it had a few extra tracks and cars, worked through DirectX, and added TCPIP (the DOS version used IPX/PSX) support for networked games. The DOS version was also on the CD without all the added features. The first games in the series were tied into Road & Track Magazine, and were fully titled Road & Track Presents: The Need for Speed.

This video shows most of the tracks in action. It isn't exactly game play, but rather the post-race replay. But the way I have to get video capture working under emulation I had to choose between low-res games or hi-res replays. This game looks hideous in 320x200. I'm playing with a keyboard here, so my steering is less than fluid.

In 1996, a version appeared on the Saturn and PSX. And it has spawned about a bazillion sequels on a variety of systems of varying quality. Since EA owns the name NFS, they'll whore it out to pretty much anything that has a car in it.

I suspect games like this are posed to make a huge comeback, because if gas gets much more expensive nobody will be able to drive for real.

Speaking of 3DO, if you're reading this and you happen to be that guy I sold a 3DO system to at SoftWare Etc right before the PlayStation came out, I'd like to say how very sorry I am about that. I really am. It's haunted me for years. (less...)