Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Motocross Madness 2

 
Games: Motocross Madness 2
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Games Guide
Motocross Madness 2
Buy Now

Game Description

Get ready for world-class dirt-bike racing action with Motocross Madness 2 for the PC. Developed by Phoenix, Arizona-based Rainbow Studios and published by Microsoft, the sequel to 1998's award winning Motocross Madness has built on the original game and added many new features and depth of gameplay.

Motocross Madness 2 features an upgraded physics engine that allows independent rider and biker motion, variable surface friction (slick ice, gravel, mud) and a range of bike handling and performance options. With over 40 detailed 3D racing environments and tracks (as well as the ability to build your own), as well as ambient vehicles, characters, locations and objects, the developers have designed the game to be an immersive experience.

Six racing events are also offered:

Super Cross. With the roar of the crowd behind you, you are free to grind your way through dozens of technical stadium tracks. You can power your way through Whoopdy-Whoops and a wide variety of stunts, such as the Big Kahuna, Barney, Cliff Hanger, Double Can-Can, Tail Grab and many more on you way to victory.

Nationals. Similar to Super Cross, except the Nationals are outdoor races run on extreme tracks. Windy twisting courses, tabletop jumps and radical elevation changes are all part of these challenging events.

Baja. Travel to remote outdoor environments and race your way through a series of way-points. You have complete control of where and how you navigate to victory.

Stunt Quarry. In this event you can grab some air in scalable open pits. Kick off body twisting stunts like the Cordoba, Superman Seat Grab and many more.

Tag. You're it! In this multi-player event you and your opponents fights to possess a ball for the longest time before being brought down. Bump off your opponents and become the rabbit!

Enduro. In this all new event you race in vast outdoor motocross environments such as an Arizona trailer park, Costa Rican jungle, Open Pit Mine a Farm and others. Each of these areas are populated with over 50,000 3D objects, ambient vehicles and sounds, hidden Easter Eggs and 'living' locations such as highways, airports and more to add to the experience and fun.

In the game's single-player Pro Circuit Career mode, you will vie for prize money and sponsorship dollars to enter future races and pay for bike repairs. You start out as a Rookie rider and work your way up through the ranks to the ultimate motocross challenge, the professional Supercross circuit. Motocross Madness 2 offers you dozens of tricked out motorcross bikes to choose from, including officially licensed bikes and gear from Yamaha, KTM, Honda, Fox and Answer.

Multi-player and community features allow for online gameplay on the MSN Gaming Zone. Form leagues, ladders, team and battle in tournaments in real-life competition for fame and fortune. An online scoring system allows your career to be tracked and scored as you battle to place in the prestigious Top 100 -- gaining this rank allows access to a downloadable numberplate indicating your ranking in every online race!

An improved 3D track and terrain editor gives you the opportunity to build your own twisted tracks and courses for both single and multi-player events. As with the original game, these can be posted on the official website to be downloaded or played by others in the community. Bike and racer skins are also customizable to give the game a look and feel of your own choosing.
~ Tara Hernandez, All Game Guide

Roots & Influences

The development team at Rainbow Studios claims that their inspiration for the 1998 game, Motocross Madness came from watching the Crusty Demons of Dirt video series. These videos gave them an "adrenaline soaked dose" of motocross action that motivated them to try and recreate the experience on the PC. Motocross Madness 2 is an improvement on that original game taking advantage of new technology for smoother frame-rates, detailed graphics and larger interactive environments..
~ Tara Hernandez, All Game Guide

Review: Overall

Motocross racing is an exciting sport that has been gaining some well-deserved respect of late (c.2000). The maneuverability, balance and overall knowledge the riders must possess to be successful is very high. Games like Motocross Madness 2 give those of us who want to experience the sport a chance to see what it's all about with bones intact. With Motocross Madness 2, there's no need to worry about hurting oneself by performing the insane jumps and tricks that are possible. And, trust me, they are insane!

Tricks like Superman, Cliff Hanger, the (appropriately named) Heart Attack, Big Kahuna and many others are part of what contribute to the title Motocross Madness 2. As exciting as the tricks are, they're not the focus of the game, however. Winning the race is what counts. In Motocross Madness 2, there are tournaments, practices, single events and pro circuits. In addition, the game contains stunt and endurance levels as well as emulated Motocross events in stadiums. To start, the Baja levels are definitely recommended. These show arrows at the bottom of the screen to let you, the new racer, know where you are going.

There is a very good amount of variety throughout the different levels of Motocross Madness 2. The tracks range from the deserts of the Baja to the dirt tracks of the pro circuit, with lots in between. The different textures of the surfaces affect your bike accordingly. For example, things tend to be quite a bit more slippery on the dirt tracks of the pro circuit compared to those of the hard desert.

One addition that would have been welcome is weather. With the lack of this key feature that affects many sports (think of a football game without the option of snow), Motocross Madness 2 doesn't feel as complete as it should. With varying weather options, the environments could have been greatly altered and gameplay expanded. Instead of having clear paths to the finish line, you'd be forced to come up with a strategy to evade puddles, icy patches and so forth.

The controls in Motocross Madness 2 are very responsive using a gamepad. While turns can be pulled on a dime, an extremely important aspect, landing jumps is another story. While not a product of poor control, landing jumps takes a lot of proficiency and practice. You must land with tires correctly aligned and have the balance of your bike in complete control at all times -- certainly not something to be taken lightly.

Races are very difficult to compete in for beginners as crashes occur regularly. Anytime your bike goes airborne, you must watch out for anything may get in your way. Trees, rocks and other debris cause regular high-speed crashes. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your point of view), even on the easy level the opposition is very good. The computer-controlled racers are very proficient at their trade and will do everything in their power to win. That makes Motocross Madness 2 seem very real.

The graphics in Motocross Madness 2 are very, very good. If you have a high-quality video card, you can turn up the level of detail for your game for an even better experience. The backgrounds are beautiful. The sun creates unbelievable effects, the trees and bushes look lifelike and the bikes move with such speed, you'll feel like you're riding them. The camera view is nearly perfect as it moves back for wide shots and zooms in for stunts and jumps. There are no problems with swinging cameras or anything in the background getting in your way.

I had a bit of an aversion to the sounds of Motocross Madness 2. The sound effects are just average but the music is nearly non-existent. Aside from an Incubus song during the introduction (very nice touch), real music is not a part of the game. Instead, generic background music is played or nothing at all. Microsoft made a mistake here because heart pounding, adrenaline-pumping music could have enhanced the title a great deal.

As it stands, Motocross Madness 2 is a high quality racing game for the Motocross fan. People who like regular car racing games should also give this title a try -- they may just be surprised by the gameplay and sport of motocross racing!
~ Mark Kanarick, All Game Guide

Review: Enjoyment

The difficulty is very high for the game making it tough to feel confident when playing.
~ Mark Kanarick, All Game Guide

Review: Graphics

The backgrounds are beautiful and the motion is superb.
~ Mark Kanarick, All Game Guide

Review: Sound

There is no true soundtrack to the game -- something that would have enhanced the game.
~ Mark Kanarick, All Game Guide

Review: Replay Value

The pro circuit is a seasonal mode wherein you go through different courses trying to finish high enough to move on. That and the stunt level (open desert with hills to jump off) add to the replay value.
~ Mark Kanarick, All Game Guide

Review: Documentation

Adequately done, although it could have been more thorough. It is complete enough to get you up and racing.
~ Mark Kanarick, All Game Guide

Production Credits

RAINBOW STUDIOS Game Designer: Robb Rinard; Lead Programmer: Glenn O'Bannon; Game Programming Team: Hiro Takahashi, Dennis Booth, Tom Shepherd, Pete Reich; Production Management: Scott Novis, Mark Mahler; Technology Lead: Mark De Simone; Technology Programming Team: Adam Kraver, Travis Hilterbrand; Additional Programming: Chris Brooks, Veronique Lang, Rick Baltman, Lisa Carter, Eric Patrick; Lead Artist: Brian Gillies; 3D Modeling, Animation, Textures: Brad Ruminer, Chris Baranowski, Kevin Riley, Andre Kirk, Ryan Enzweiler; Additional Modeling and Textures: Tom Granberg; Track Design and Consultation: Stephane Roncada; Additional Track Design: Nick Koziupa, Brian Coonce; Audio and Sound Design: Dan Gallagher, Robb Rinard, Dave Lowmiller; System Support: Dave Favier, Chris Rizzo; Administration and Support: Sandy Jarred, Scott Gilbert, Wanda Smith, Tiffany Scroggins, Marji Lent, Amy Doll; Business Affairs: Earl Jarred, Jock Patton, Jeff Padden; MICROSOFT Program Management: Alison Stroll; Test Lead: Paul Bowman; Content Lead: Kiki McMillan; Art Lead: Kiki Wolfkill; Print Design: Jennifer Bixler; Localization: Jennifer Bixler, Kazuyuki Shibuya; Product Planning: Keith Weintraub, Heather Burgess; Product (Last Minute) Planning: Andy Carothers, Kirsten "Leadfoot" Andrews, Atsushi Miyake; Intellectual Property Arrangement in Tokyo: Atsushi Hori; Marketing: Chris "SuperP" Cocks, Peter "Mango" Parsons; Content Writer: Kiki McMillan; Software Rasterization: Michael Abrash, Mike Lyons; Testers: Tony Bradley, Christian "Squido" Owens, Kevin "Gaiden" Darby, Jim "The Jester" Gentle; Configuration Testing: Jason "J-Man" Mangold, Harold "Sparky" Ryan; Additional Design: Christian "Squido" Owens; The Zone: Matthew Esget, Leon Pryor, Dean Pachosa; Product Support: Craig Maas, Anthony Walp; Usability: Michael Medlock, Fred "FlyDaddy" Northup, Kevin Keeker; Playtesting: Dina Suda, Bob Futamura, Bill Fulton, Howard Phillips; Development Relations Manager: Matthew Ployhar; Beta Coordinator: Matt Alderman; Beta Lead: Todd Squire; Legal: Jeff Koontz, Jama Cantrell; Setup Developers: Randy Shedden, Rich Eizenhoefer, Mitch Bate, Tony Bradley; Recon Testing: David Collins, Erika Carlson, Daland Davis, Jacob Fulwiler, Adam Maloy, Peter Mayberry, James Mayo, Paul Shinoda, Matt Shimabuku, Mark Shoemaker, Jeffrey Stephens; Webmaster: Rebecca Lowell; Queen of Madness: Shannon Loftis; Leadership, Love, Tales of Misguided Youth: Pat Cook, Marjorie Osterhout, Alan Hartman, Matt Gradwohl, Mark Thomas, Andy Glaister, Mary Jo Kovarik, Yasmine Nelson, Greg B. Jones (aka Psych), Jeff Stone, Susan Metters, Tony Cheng, Jordan Weisman, Dave Watkins, Eugene Jarvis, Ed Fries; Thanks to the band Incubus!; Special Thanks: MCM fans, Travis Riffle, Spawn, MXDirt & Kam, Stephane Roncada, Brent "reddog" Rederick; With fond memories of our friend, Ryan
~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide
Search unanswered questions...

Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics

Wikipedia: Motocross Madness 2
Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Motocross Madness 2
Mcm2.jpg
The box art for Motocross Madness 2 displays a motocross rider performing a stunt.
Developer(s) Rainbow Studios
Publisher(s) Microsoft Games
License Proprietary
Platform(s) Windows
Release date(s) NA May 25, 2000
Genre(s) Vehicle simulation game, Racing
Mode(s) single-player, multiplayer online,
Players: 1-4
Rating(s) ESRB: E
Media CD, download
System requirements 233 MHz CPU, 64 MB RAM, DirectX 7 compatible 8 MB video card, 4x CD drive
Input methods Joystick, Keyboard and Mouse, Gamepad
Screenshot of the user created track "Urban Jungle".

Motocross Madness 2 is a motocross racing computer game that was developed by Rainbow Studios and published by Microsoft Games.[1] It is one of Microsoft's most popular games and also one of the most well-received.[2]

This sequel to Motocross Madness was released on May 25, 2000, with improved graphics, which included better textures and many landscape objects like trees, roadsigns and caravans. It has over 40 tracks[3] in 6 event types, over 50,000 3D objects and a new career mode. Players as well as bikes are easily customized.[4] Motocross Madness also supports network play over a LAN environment[5] and, until June 19, 2006, multiplayer gameplay through the MSN Gaming Network.[6]

Contents

Gameplay

In MCM2, there are six types of racing: Stunts, Enduro, Baja, Supercross and Nationals, and the campaign-style Pro-Circuit Mode.

In Pro-Circuit mode, a single player follows a series of events and courses in an effort to win prize money and upgrade equipment. Unlike the single-player mode, the multiplayer mode is completely lacking in structure.[7] Players can race against each other on the same map, play tag and can choose from Supercross or Enduro. In either mode, players are not limited to track space, and are free to play amongst the terrain and inanimate objects[7] or moving features such as trains, cars and farm tractors.[8]

In baja mode, the player races against other opponents to ride through checkpoints (called "gates") until all of the gates have been ridden through - this is one complete lap. The first player to complete a certain amount of laps is the winner. Baja, unlike Nationals or Enduro, takes place in massive, open wilderness.

In enduro mode, which is similar to baja, the player also races against other opponents to ride through gates, with the goal of being the first to complete a certain amount of laps. Except, in this mode, the races take place in urban or rural maps, which is smaller and more variable than baja.

In nationals mode, the player is restricted to racing within a dirtbiking track against other opponents, with the goal of completing a certain amount of laps first (there are no gates in this mode).

In stunts mode, the player, in order to win, must accumulate the highest amount of points by performing successful stunts. To perform a stunt, a rider must gain enough height in mid-air and then is able to perform any of the six stunts. A failed stunt results from the rider crashing while attempting to perform a stunt. In stunts, there is no restriction as to where the player may go, and so he may also roam freely across the map.

In supercross mode, the player must race against other opponents within a dirtbiking track in a large stadium watched by an audience. It features an extreme sports-like atmosphere, with the crowd reacting to the player's performance. Supercross is similar to nationals, except for the location as well as nationals tracks are far broader and thinner, whereas Supercross tracks are large yet the track is compact.

While creating a custom game in single-player, players can select the amount of computer opponents to compete against, which range from 0, the minimum, to 10 - the maximum amount of opponents in a game (This makes a full race in MM2 eleven players maximum.) They may also select the difficulty, which ranges from easy and normal to hard. They may then also select the map/track, game mode and toggle vegetation collision (whether players can crash into solid objects, such as trees or buildings) and whether they want to record a replay of the game they're about to play. Players can also select which bike they want to compete with as well as the appearance of the suit of their rider. Players can also select the style of the game they want to play: practice, single event, ghost or tournament. Practice games never end and no players can win. Single events finish right after all players complete the track. Ghost races allow players to race against their own times (how long it took them to finish the track). Tournaments are composed of various single events.


Customization

Unlike its predecessor, Motocross Madness 2 allows players to create terrains (referred to as 'maps' or 'tracks') using Adobe Photoshop and the Armadillo terrain editor.[9] These maps can be utilized by players who download them to their PCs. Players can create their own clothing and customize their motorcycles. Microsoft added to the realism of the game by securing licensed motorcycles from Yamaha, KTM, Suzuki, and Honda.[3][2]

Soundtrack

The band Incubus recorded most of the game's soundtrack [10], their song which was primarily featured in MCM2 as its introductory song being New Skin. Most of the in-game sounds, such as the bikers crying out in pain when falling or radios playing in nearby caravans, were recorded from real-life sources. There is no ambient soundtrack playing in-game.

Graphics And Physics

Motocross Madness 2 is popular for its superb next-generation (for its time) graphics, and is often praised for its 3-D visual texturing and rendering. MCM's graphics engine may be adjusted to increase or decrease the level of visual quality in-game. At its highest, there are detailed shadows emitted from objects as well as lighting effects. The textures are more sharply defined and the particle emission, such as smoke, are better. Surprisingly, MCM is one of the few classic games which has shadow-rendering graphics capabilities that are able to match most light-rendering visuals in 21st century games.

The physics engine is often admired for its simulation of realism as well as its accurate depiction of gravity and aerodynamics, going so far as to include distance, hang time and even weight in its gravity parabola.

Reception

 Reception
Review scores
Publication Score
IGN 8.6/10[11]
Awards
Entity Award
PC Gamer 2000 Editor's Choice Award


Motocross Madness 2 received generally positive reviews, with IGN giving the game an overall rating of 8.6 out of 10, remarking "In the end though, it's about fun, and MM2 provides this in piles and piles. The crash animations never (and I mean never) stop being anything less than hilarious, and the action is always as a pretty relentless pace. The eye-candy is constantly impressive, the physics are crazy enough to be fun but real enough to look right, and the multiplayer game is a blast, especially if you've got devious friends."[12] Gamespot gave Motocross Madness 2 an 8.8 out of ten, stating "Motocross Madness 2 isn't the most realistic motorcycle simulation you can buy, but it's definitely one of the most enjoyable."[13]

MM2 also won the Editor's Choice Award from PC Gamer, who stated "The PC's pre-eminent bike sim."[14]


References

  1. ^ "Motocross Madness 2". IGN Entertainment, Inc.. http://pc.ign.com/objects/014/014057.html. Retrieved 2008-09-08. 
  2. ^ a b Hinson, Byron. "The Features". http://www.activewin.com/reviews/software/games/m/mcm2.shtml. Retrieved 2008-10-01. 
  3. ^ a b "Microsoft "Motocross Madness 2" to Feature Honda Motorcycles". Microsoft Corporation. 2000-05-01. http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2000/May00/HondaPR.mspx. Retrieved 2008-09-08. 
  4. ^ "Motocross Madness 2 (PC)". GameSpy. http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/motocross-madness-2/. Retrieved 2008-09-08. 
  5. ^ "Interview with the Designer of Motocross Madness 2, Robb Rinard". ActiveWin.com. http://www.activewin.com/interviews/microsoft/rinard.shtml. Retrieved 2008-09-08. 
  6. ^ "CD-ROM Matchmaking Has Been Retired on MSN Games". MSN. http://zone.msn.com/en/general/article/midtretiring.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-01. 
  7. ^ a b "Motocross Madness 2: More motor and at least 2.3 times the madness makes this sequel a worthy successor.". IGN Entertainment, Inc.. http://pc.ign.com/articles/164/164057p1.html. Retrieved 2008-10-01. 
  8. ^ "Motocross Madness 2". GameZone Online. http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r13382.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-01. 
  9. ^ Varanini, Giancarlo. "Motocross Madness 2 Terrain Editor Tutorials". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/pc/driving/motocrossmadness2/news.html?sid=2600440&om_act=convert&om_clk=newsfeatures&tag=newsfeatures;title;2. Retrieved 2008-09-08. 
  10. ^ Rainbow Studios And Microsoft, Rainbow Studios. "Microsoft and Rainbow Studios Official MM2 Website". Microsoft. http://www.microsoft.com/games/motocross2/. Retrieved 2009-10-12. 
  11. ^ "MM2 Review". IGN. 2007-11-14. http://pc.ign.com/articles/164/164057p1.html. Retrieved 2008-04-21. 
  12. ^ IGN's Review, IGN Staff. "IGN Reviews Motocross Madness 2". IGN. http://pc.ign.com/articles/164/164057p1.html. Retrieved 2009-10-12. 
  13. ^ Gamespot's Review, Stephen Poole. "Gamespot Reviews Motocross Madness 2". Gamespot. http://www.gamespot.com/pc/driving/motocrossmadness2/review.html. Retrieved 2009-10-12. 
  14. ^ Awards/Previews/Reviews/Praises for MM2, Motocross Madness 2. "Reviews, Praises and Awards for MM2". Microsoft. http://www.microsoft.com/games/motocross2/community.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-12. 

External links


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Shopping: Motocross Madness 2
Top
motocross madness 2
 
 

 

Copyrights:

Games. Copyright © 2008 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Game Guide ® , a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Motocross Madness 2".  Read more