The "Beat Bizzare Creations" Challenge

**Huge thanks to "krssn" from the DC-Talk forum for the photo**

This challenge was found in Dreamcast Magazine Issue 16 (Paragon Publishing). Its another fastest lap competition with times set by Kevin Reilly, a member of Bizarre Creations' staff. Prizes were nothing special (Joytech goodies).

Some very good times set but after playing yesterday I manage to surpass them. All cars had manual transmission with ABS turned off.  Weather was clear.

GREAT GEORGE STREET EAST II/ST JAMES S-4 
Car: Mazda Miata 
Bizarre Creations' Best Lap: 17.802 secs
My Best Lap:  17.006 secs 

TRAFALGAR EAST/TRAFALGAR S-8 
Car: Peugeot 206 
Bizarre Creations' Best Lap: 17.030 secs 
My Best Lap: 16.533 secs 

HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT SOUTH/WESTMINSTER S-6 
Car: Alfa 156 
Bizarre Creations' Best Lap: 25.869 secs 
My Best Lap: 25.093 secs 

EMBARCADERO EAST/FISHERMANS M-7
Car: Audi TT Coupe 
Bizarre Creations' Best Lap: 48.243 secs 
My Best Lap: 45.228 secs 

CHUO-DORI HIGASHE/SHINJUKU S-9 
Car: Mitsubishi FTO 
Bizarre Creations' Best Lap: 29.801 secs 
My Best Lap: 27.932 secs with accidental wall tap 

I have checked with owners of subsequent issues and although the same challenge is repeated in the next issue (#17) there doesn't seem to be any mention of the readers' results. The above times were also mentioned again in issue #28 so it's highly likely the competition was either abandoned or the results were not made public :(

Speed Challenge Competition (Updated 2023)

One of the promotions Sega Europe/Dreamarena did for MSR was this Speed Challenge competition.....

Basically this was a 'fastest lap' competition over 3 courses (one in each city) using MSR's headline car, the VX220/Speedster.  After getting a fast time, you would then upload them to the leaderboards within Dreamarena.  Here's a picture of the London ranking (scanned from ODM #17):

Frustratingly you are forced to drive with automatic gears and ABS on, however those winning players still managed some spectacular times:

The London Challenge (St James's Park/Long/Parliament Street South II)

Best lap: 1'10.422 set by benvollo (France)

The San Francisco Challenge (Financial District/Medium/Market West II) 

Best lap: 1'01.327 set by Sirus (UK)

The Tokyo Challenge (Shinjuku/Long/Higashi-Dori Kita II)

Best lap: 0'56.034 set by Manasel (Spain)

Original link: Sega Europe News Archive (March 2001)

Here's an interview with the San Francisco Challenge winner in ODM #18:

2023 update: A commentator who took part in The London Challenge told me about the watch they received as a runner-up prize.  It was a 'Swatch New Chrono Overdrive SK413' that was released circa 1998.  A picture is below.  In my opinion, the runner-ups received a better prize than the winners (who got a Dreamcast wheel).

The Speed Challenge option can be found by selecting INTERNET on the main menu.  Of course you are unable to upload your times since Dreamarena has been closed since March 2002!  I managed to beat the above times in 2010/2011 but not via the Speed Challenge option.  Instead I made Time Trials of the above courses so I could use manual gears and switch ABS off.  Here are my video replays for each course however if you think I'm fast, just remember the winners had to do it in automatic!

If you can get your Dreamcast online and wish to challenge my times, the above Time Trial files can be obtained at: https://dreamcastlive.net/metropolis-street-racer-dlc/

August 2023 update: I have now managed to beat the competition times using Speed Challenge rules (automatic gears and ABS).  Please see the following link for more information: https://msrdreamcast.blogspot.com/2023/08/my-speed-challenge-quest.html

Welcome Post

"So......why play MSR when its offspring, Project Gotham Racing, has taken the concept to new levels of popularity and competitiveness? Why bother with a old game from 2000 when the later PGR games offer incredible graphics, powerful supercars and a sensible kudos system? Well, in short....MSR's handling! The game has a very 'coin-op racer' feel and being a fan of Sega's Outrun 2SP, Daytona USA & Scud Race titles alongside Namco's Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune, this is something I really appreciate. To enhance this feeling, I strip the game right down to a car, an empty track and a clock to avoid the flaws (slowdown playing against CPU cars, broken kudos). It's ironic considering the strap line for MSR is "It's not how fast you drive but how you drive fast" yet the time attack modes are the reason I'm still playing today!" Quote from my Time Trial Transfer Guide (hosted at GameFAQS.com).

OK, this is where I'm going to detail my various exploits on Metropolis Street Racer. While this Dreamcast classic has certainly aged and the Kudos system is very flawed, I've always enjoyed the arcadey driving physics. Basically it make me look a better driver than I actually am! :)

I'll conclude this post with my video review of MSR: