Paramount Digital Entertainment brought the “Thunder” to Toyota Speedway Saturday (Jan. 30).
And that’s saying a lot since the noise of the short-track race cars at the annual NASCAR All-Star Showdown could be heard for several miles surrounding the venue in Irwindale, Ca.
But there was plenty to see off the track to as PDE executives previewed the studio’s upcoming “Days of Thunder” multiplayer arcade videogame from Piranha Games tied to the 20th anniversary of the movie starring Tom Cruise, Michael Rooker, Nicole Kidman, and Robert Duvall. Attendees played the game in several demo areas and were given a DVD of the movie — which was shown in its entirety on a giant 40-foot screen facing the grandstands — with Rooker on hand to meet with consumers and media and kick-off the race by announcing “Drivers, start your engines.” The media got an even closer look at the game, one-on-one interviews with Rooker and PDE execs, and a ride-along in the pace car by well-known NASCAR driver Brett Bodine.
– By Scott Hettrick
(Game details following fast-paced 3-minute video highlights of Saturday’s event below.)
Key features:
- Four single-player modes:
– Quick race
– Time trial: determine starting position in future races
– Career mode: four different circuits at varying difficulty levels
– Derby mode: win by dealing the most destruction without breaking down
- Head-to-head with Trickle, Burns, Wheeler
- Three car types based on cars in film:
– Accelerator: accelerates fastest but most vulnerable to damage
– Regulator: balance of speed and power
– Intimidator: slowest acceleration but fastest top speed and can deliver most damage
- Drop the Hammer: Draft behind other cars
- “And rubbin’, son is racin’!”: damage meter to determine when it’s time to pit for repairs
- Pull into pit for tune-up: mini-game to build up your hammer meter
- SIXAXIS support: steer your car with motion control
- Customize your ride: choose from hundreds of colors, logos, decals, body types, performance upgrades
- Trophies and achievements