Metropolis Street Racer: Opel Challenge/Special Version Demo

CARS: Vauxhall VX220 (red)/ Opel Speedster (grey).  Automatic gears only

RACE THE CLOCK COURSE: Tokyo - Asakusa - Long - Nishi Sumida-Gawa (same course as DreamOn Vol. 13)

RACE AN OPPONENT COURSE: London - St James' Park - Short - St James' Park Bridge North

TWO PLAYER ONLY COURSE: San Francisco - Pacific Heights - Short - Buchanan North

Notable features

* Cars leave the ground on the San Francisco hills!  Not as high as Project Gotham 1 though and has no affect on the driving physics.

* Sega/Sonic, Sprite, "Perfect Blue", Dreamcast Yukawa, cigarette & alcohol adverts in Tokyo (non-playable rolling demos).

* Slightly better lighting (yellow tinted streetlights at night).

* Drift dynamic not present.

Description

This "white label" version was released around Summer 2000 and predates the demo found on DreamOn Vol. 13.  It lacks any drift dynamic and so handling is more simplistic; simply break/handbreak before turning or just hard steer into corners.  MSR Opel Challenge/Special Version was used at trade shows, publicity events and possibly even DC demo units within video game stores.  This version makes an appearance on Volume 11 of the US Official Dreamcast Magazine's playable demo disk (February 2001 edition).  Going by comments found on the old Usenet archive at groups.google.com, it may also have been included with pre-ordered PAL copies of Virtua Tennis 1 (that was released on September 8 2000). 

If you want to obtain a lawful copy of MSR Opel Challenge/Special Version, it is available as a PAL "white label" or on the US demo disk mentioned above.

Related links

https://dcemulation.org/dumpcast/viewtopic.php?t=1359 (pictures of Spanish inserts alongside this version advertising a forthcoming promotion event at Hard Rock Cafe, Madrid in October 2000).

https://groups.google.com/d/msg/uk.games.video.dreamcast/haoS0ZpXWOw/BNTpUfUp0pIJ (player impressions of MSR Opel Challenge/Special Version- early September 2000).

https://groups.google.com/d/msg/uk.games.video.dreamcast/F4WgYeKxNyU/v19cmUwxOD4J (player mentioned MSR Opel Challenge/Special Version included within pre-orders of PAL Virtua Tennis 1).

MSR vs MSR Demo vs Project Gotham Racing 1 (Driving Physics Comparison)

Course: Nishi Sumida-Gawa (MSR) / Beer-Biru Mae (PGR1)

Car: Vauxhall VX220/Opel Speedster with manual gears  

Please note, that the Vauxhall VX220/Opel Speedster is not a top tier car in PGR1.

A video showing the driving physics from the MSR demo have more in common with PGR1 than the retail version of MSR.  In the retail version of MSR, you can achieve very fast times due to its forgiving physics (holding break while cornering) and the "kerbing" technique (acting as a cushion when you take a corner too fast).  If you hold the break while cornering in the demo version of MSR, you will either slow down or spin out, so you need to break/handbreak beforehand.  Also in the demo version, the car somewhat leaves the ground while cornering so this is another factor that is diminished in the retail version of MSR.

The big difference between both versions of MSR and PGR1 is the acceleration rate so this technically makes MSR a faster game.  HOWEVER A GOOD PGR1 PLAYER WILL ALWAYS BE BETTER THAN A GOOD MSR PLAYER DUE TO PGR1'S MORE COMPLEX DRIVING PHYSICS.  

Note: No music in the PGR1 section as that game had a licensed soundtrack.

Apocalypse Street Racer (another early PAL version bug)

I've found another Time Trial bug in the earlier PAL versions. Create a Time Trial, choose "Random Weather" and start a race. The sky will be ash black and all lighting is switched off, even at night. The game will continue until you press Start, where it'll either hang or reset back to the boot screen. This does not happen in the final revisions (including the US version) as the random weather option is removed. 

Here's a screenshot:

MSR Wristwatch

This was given away free when you bought the game around launch time (November 2000) in the UK.  I picked mine up at HMV in Southampton.  It's a cheap digital watch with the MSR logo sprayed on, however it still functions, apart from the light which packed up years ago!

Update 8 June 2023: It seems this watch was an exclusive offer for HMV customers.

PAL Replacement Disc Note

Track names and their location codes (Ghost Attack/Time Trials)

If you save a ghost/time trial, you will see the track's "location code" visible in the file manager rather than the actual track name itself.  The location code shows the city district, the length of the track (S for Short, M for Medium and L for Long) and the tracks's number as displayed on the Time Attack/Record screens within the game.

For example, "Fishermans S-1" is Jones South;  you have the city district Fishermans (short for Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco), the track length (in this case, S for Short) and the track number as displayed on the Time Attack/Record screens within the game (in this case, number 1). 

Please note, the Free Roam courses are not listed here.

SAN FRANCISCO: FISHERMAN'S WHARF

Fishermans S-1: Jones South
Fishermans S-2: Columbus North
Fishermans S-3: Beach East
Fishermans S-4: Francisco West
Fishermans S-5: Leavenworth South
Fishermans S-6: Embarcadero East III
Fishermans S-7: Jefferson East
Fishermans S-8: Taylor South II
Fishermans S-9: Taylor South
Fishermans S-10: Taylor North II

Fishermans M-1: Jefferson West III
Fishermans M-2: Embarcadero East II
Fishermans M-3: Jefferson East II
Fishermans M-4: Francisco East
Fishermans M-5: Beach East III
Fishermans M-6: Beach East II
Fishermans M-7: Embarcadero East
Fishermans M-8: Taylor North
Fishermans M-9: Leavenworth North
Fishermans M-10: Hyde North

Fishermans L-1: Jefferson West V
Fishermans L-2: Hyde North III
Fishermans L-3: Jefferson West
Fishermans L-4: Fishermans Challenge
Fishermans L-5: Jefferson West IV
Fishermans L-6: Fisherman's Wharf East
Fishermans L-7: Hyde North II
Fishermans L-8: Embarcadero West
Fishermans L-9: Embarcadero West II

SAN FRANCISCO: FINANCIAL DISTRICT

Financial S-1: Washington East
Financial S-2: Pine East
Financial S-3: Washington West III
Financial S-4: Davis South
Financial S-5: Merchant East II
Financial S-6: Merchant East
Financial S-7: Pine West
Financial S-8: Market South
Financial S-9: Davis North
Financial S-10: Washington East III
Financial S-11: Washington East II
Financial S-12: Market South II

Financial M-1: Embarcadero North IV
Financial M-2: Embarcadero South
Financial M-3: Pine East II
Financial M-4: Davis North II
Financial M-5: Steuart South
Financial M-6: Embarcadero North II
Financial M-7: Sansome South II
Financial M-8: Sansome North V
Financial M-9: Sansome South III
Financial M-10: Sansome South
Financial M-11: Market West II (San Francisco 'Speed Challenge' course)
Financial M-12: Embarcadero North

Financial L-1: Steuart North
Financial L-2: Sansome North IV
Financial L-3: Market West
Financial L-4: Sansome North
Financial L-5: Market East
Financial L-6: Financial Challenge
Financial L-7: Davis South II
Financial L-8: Sansome North II
Financial L-9: Sansome North III 
Financial L-10: Embarcadero North III

SAN FRANCISCO: PACIFIC HEIGHTS

Pacific S-1: Octavia North II
Pacific S-2: Jackson East
Pacific S-3: Vallejo East
Pacific S-4: Pacific East II
Pacific S-5: Octavia South II
Pacific S-6: Buchanan North
Pacific S-7: Octavia South
Pacific S-8: Gough South

Pacific M-1: Octavia North
Pacific M-2: Washington East IV
Pacific M-3: Washington West
Pacific M-4: Buchanan South
Pacific M-5: Jackson East II
Pacific M-6: Broadway West
Pacific M-7: Buchanan South II
Pacific M-8: Pacific Challenge

Pacific L-1: Pacific East
Pacific L-2: Gough North II
Pacific L-3: Washington West II
Pacific L-4: Jackson West
Pacific L-5: Gough North
Pacific L-6: Gough North III
Pacific L-7: Webster North

LONDON: ST JAMES' PARK

St James' S-1: Queen Victoria Memorial
St James' S-2: Buckingham Gate South
St James' S-3: Buckingham Gate North
St James' S-4: Great George Street East II
St James' S-5: King Charles Street West
St James' S-6: Horse Guards East
St James' S-7: St James Park West
St James' S-8: Great George Street East
St James' S-9: St James Park Bridge North
St James' S-10: Birdcage Walk West II
St James' S-11: Great George Street West

St James' M-1: St James Park West II
St James' M-2: Horse Guards South II
St James' M-3: St James Park North
St James' M-4: Birdcage Walk East III
St James' M-5: Birdcage Walk East II
St James' M-6: Cabinet War Rooms North
St James' M-7: Horse Guards North
St James' M-8: The Cenotaph North
St James' M-9: St James Bridge South
St James' M-10: Horse Guards South
St James' M-11: Birdcage Walk West III

St James' L-1: Birdcage Walk West
St James' L-2: The Mall East
St James' L-3: Whitehall South
St James' L-4: St James Challenge
St James' L-5: The Mall West IV
St James' L-6: Parliament Street South
St James' L-7: The Forecourt South
St James' L-8: Birdcage Walk East
St James' L-9: Parliament Street South II (London 'Speed Challenge' course)

LONDON: TRAFALGAR

Trafalgar S-1: Charing Cross Road South
Trafalgar S-2: Leicester Square North
Trafalgar S-3: Nelson's Column South
Trafalgar S-4: Trafalgar South
Trafalgar S-5: Nelson's Column North
Trafalgar S-6: St Martins North
Trafalgar S-7: Strand North
Trafalgar S-8: Trafalgar East
Trafalgar S-9: Cockspur Street East
Trafalgar S-10: Pall Mall East II

Trafalgar M-1: The Mall West V
Trafalgar M-2: Admiralty Arch East
Trafalgar M-3: Pall Mall West
Trafalgar M-4: St Martins North II
Trafalgar M-5: Pall Mall East
Trafalgar M-6: Regent Street South
Trafalgar M-7: Trafalgar Challenge
Trafalgar M-8: Regent Street South III
Trafalgar M-9: Charing Cross East
Trafalgar M-10: Coventry Street West

Trafalgar L-1: Irving Street East
Trafalgar L-2: Regent Street North II
Trafalgar L-3: Regent Street South II
Trafalgar L-4: The Mall West III
Trafalgar L-5: Regent Street North
Trafalgar L-6: Charing Cross Road North
Trafalgar L-7: The Mall East II
Trafalgar L-8: The Mall West II

LONDON: WESTMINSTER

Westminster S-1: Parliament Square Circular
Westminster S-2: Parliament Square West
Westminster S-3: Parliament Square South
Westminster S-4: St Thomas' North
Westminster S-5: Lambeth Bridge East
Westminster S-6: Houses Of Parliament South
Westminster S-7: A23 West
Westminster S-8: Parliament Square West II

Westminster M-1: Millbank South
Westminster M-2: Parliament Square East
Westminster M-3: Westminster Bridge East II
Westminster M-4: Lambeth Palace Road North
Westminster M-5: Lambeth Bridge West
Westminster M-6: Westminster Bridge East
Westminster M-7: Westminster Challenge

Westminster L-1: Bridge Street West
Westminster L-2: Old Palace Yard North
Westminster L-3: Westminster Bridge East IV
Westminster L-4: Westminster Bridge East III
Westminster L-5: New Palace Yard South
Westminster L-6: Abingdon Street South

TOKYO: ASAKUSA

Asakusa S-1: Shin-Nakamise Kita
Asakusa S-2: Eki-Iriguchi Minami
Asakusa S-3: Chikatetsu-Noriba Minami
Asakusa S-4: Senso-ji Kita
Asakusa S-5: Shin-Nakamise Minami
Asakusa S-6: Asakusa Ni-Chome Kita
Asakusa S-7: Asakusa-Chuo Minami
Asakusa S-8: Kanko-Annal Nishi
Asakusa S-9: Akeido Higashi
Asakusa S-10: Asakusa Eki Minami

Asakusa M-1: Umamichi Minami
Asakusa M-2: Nishi Sumida-Gawa Kita
Asakusa M-3: Hato-bus Noriba Nita
Asakusa M-4: Nakamise Kita
Asakusa M-5: Asakusa Elementary
Asakusa M-6: Koen Nishi
Asakusa M-7: Senso-ji Iriguchi Kita
Asakusa M-8: Beer-Biru Tonneru
Asakusa M-9: Koen Kita

Asakusa L-1: Kenko-Center Higashi
Asakusa L-2: Nishi Sumida-Gawa
Asakusa L-3: Beer-Biru Minami
Asakusa L-4: Asakusa Challenge
Asakusa L-5: Asakusa Eki-Iriguchi
Asakusa L-6: Sumida-Gawa North
Asakusa L-7: Koen Minami
Asakusa L-8: Asakusa Ni-Chome

TOKYO: SHIBUYA

Shibuya S-1: Eki-Higashi-Guchi
Shibuya S-2: Fukushikaikan Higashi
Shibuya S-3: Plaza-Mae Minami
Shibuya S-4: Shibuya Ichi-Chome Kita
Shibuya S-5: Hachiko-Mae Higashi
Shibuya S-6: Route 246 Nishi
Shibuya S-7: Shibuya Ichi-Chome Minami
Shibuya S-8: Yubinkyoku-Mae Higashi
Shibuya S-9: Eki Kita-Koukashita Nishi

Shibuya M-1: Shibuya Hotel-Mae Kita
Shibuya M-2: Marui Kousaten Minami
Shibuya M-3: Syobo-syo Kita
Shibuya M-4: Eki Minami Guchi
Shibuya M-5: Miyashita-Koen Nishi
Shibuya M-6: Shibuya Kita
Shibuya M-7: Seibu-Mae Minami
Shibuya M-8: Shibuya Marui Kita
Shibuya M-9: SegaWorld Minami

Shibuya L-1: Koen-Dori Nishi
Shibuya L-2: Shibuya Marui Minami
Shibuya L-3: West Bus Depot South
Shibuya L-4: Shibuya Challenge
Shibuya L-5: Eki-Minami Koukashita
Shibuya L-6: Tokyo Denryoku-Mae Kita
Shibuya L-7: Shibuya Kuyakusho-Mae Minami

TOKYO: SHINJUKU

Shinjuku S-1: Business Gai Nishi
Shinjuku S-2: Eki Bus Noriba Kita
Shinjuku S-3: Odakyu Nishi-Gawa
Shinjuku S-4: Ohme Kaido Higashi
Shinjuku S-5: Odakyu Nishi
Shinjuku S-6: Bus Noriba Kita
Shinjuku S-7: Nishi Shinjuku Kita
Shinjuku S-8: Higashi Dori Minami
Shinjuku S-9: Chuo-Dori Higashi
Shinjuku S-10: Business Gai Minami
Shinjuku S-11: Shinjuku Challenge
Shinjuku S-12: Shinjuku Gard Minami*

Shinjuku M-1: Shinjuku Hodokyo Shita
Shinjuku M-2: Bus Rotary Kita
Shinjuku M-3: Nishi Guchi Bus Noriba
Shinjuku M-4: Kosyu Kaido Nishi II
Shinjuku M-5: Kita Dori Higashi
Shinjuku M-6: Shinjuku Restaurant Higashi
Shinjuku M-7: Shinjuku Minami-Guchi
Shinjuku M-8: Tocho Dori Minami
Shinjuku M-9: Tocho Kita-Dori Higashi
Shinjuku M-10: Nishi Shinjuku 2 Chome
Shinjuku M-11: Tocho-Dori Higashi
Shinjuku M-12: Eki Nishi-Guchi Minami

Shinjuku L-1: Shinjuku Ni-Chome Nishi
Shinjuku L-2: Nishi Shinjuku Eki Kita
Shinjuku L-3: Eki Nishi-Guchi Kita
Shinjuku L-4: Higashi Dori Kita II (Tokyo 'Speed Challenge' course)
Shinjuku L-5: Ohme Kaido Nishi
Shinjuku L-6: Shinjuku-Gard Minami*
Shinjuku L-7: Nishi Shinjuku Ni-Chome
Shinjuku L-8: Kosyu Kaido Nishi
Shinjuku L-9: Ohme Kaido Nishi II
Shinjuku L-10: Sumitomo-Biru Higashi
Shinjuku L-11: Nishi Shinjuku Restaurant

* Both courses have the same name; only difference is the hyphen.

MSR Alpha Version: Airbourne / Somersaulting Honda

A Honda leaving the ground on the downhill sections on San Francisco.  The alpha game crashes when the car somersaults through the road.  Both the Honda and the ability to leave the ground were pulled from the final version of MSR (as ordered by the car manufacturers and Honda respectively).