Introduction:

Los Angeles, CA, May 11, 2000 - Unleashing the rocket-like power of Sprint Cars onto the PC, WizardWorks, a division of Infogrames, Inc., introduces Dirt Track Racing: Sprint Cars. The follow-up to Dirt Track Racing, 1999's award winning hit. Dirt Track Racing: Sprint Cars features the alcohol-burning, loud-as-thunder, driving of its real-life counterparts as players slew the dirt and mud of 20 different tracks.

"The original Dirt Track Racing was extremely well received by both the hardcore and casual gaming audience, and garnered several 'Editor's Choice' and 'Best Driving Game' awards," said Paul Rinde, senior vice president of WizardWorks. "Our next installment, Dirt Track Racing: Sprint Cars brings a completely new level of excitement by adding the raw power and excitement of ultra-fast sprint car racing."

Sprint Cars are easily identified by the big "wings" located on the back of each car. The wings prevent the cars from flipping due to their combination of light weight and powerful 720-800 horsepower engines. Achieving speeds in excess of 180 mph, players careen around 20 different track, making Dirt Track Racing: Sprint Cars the closest simulation to the real thing available.

Additional Features Include:

• Race at the local, regional and national levels where you can earn virtual prize money and sponsorship.
• 20 exciting and detailed tracks.
• Realistic action with skiding, dust effects and vehicle damage.
• Five different view perspectives, including two diverse in-car glance angles.
• Car configuration interface with varying tire pressure, suspension, etc.
• Aggressively change racing techniques and tactics as grooves develop on the track creating dynamic racing lines.
• Race arcade-style to full simulation, with all the bone-jarring, action packed slipping, sliding and chaotic racing of the real thing.
• Advance car physics allow for adjustable levels of difficulty and handling.
• Multiplayer capabilities built-in, and Gamsespy functionality for online gaming.

Facts Sheet:

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Official Ratbag screen shots.

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Ratbag and Dirt Track Racing was one of the biggest surprises last year. They started their mud sliding series back in 1996 with Powerslide. Fictional cars got replaced with real late models and hobby stock cars and DTR was an instant success. We heard quite a bit about Sprint Cars, saw some pictures but haven't yet seen it in action. That has all changed and after playing an early version of Sprint Cars, I can say we are all going to like this baby.

Ratbag was part of Infogrames booth. There was a real life sprint car parked in front of a two large screens, on which they were showing Sprint Cars in action. Only a few steps away was the computer on which you could run a short race. Controller was a force feedback wheel and you could really feel the rear of the car stepping out and correct it in time. Power-sliding is the name of the game and if you thought Grand Prix Legends car was loose, better think again. Difficulty (realism setting) was set to 60% and the race was a dash to the flag. Five laps was enough to convince me, that this game will not only be a hard core simulation, but also one of the most fun racing games out there. Different lines have different amount of grip which means there is overtaking taking place on almost every turn. Running a low line will get you faster through the corner but will hurt you on the straight. Those little beasts can really fly. Battling with opponents is fun but what makes it even better is rubbing and bumping with them. Cars are not ultra sensitive on contact so you can save the car quite easily. Computer cars were excellent. They were using all possible lines and overtaking me without contact (I still won). You could choose several views, pretty similar to DTR. Sound was good, but you couldn't really tell how good, because the noise in the background was too much. Graphics were very nice, better than in DTR in my opinion. They were brighter and smoother. Damage wasn't modeled in this version, but I hope they will include damage to specific parts of the car, which will affect the aerodynamics and handling of the car. Loosing a wing would be cool too. I had a short chat with one of the Ratbag guys in which I learned, they will use real life tracks now. He also told me that sprint cars are faster than late models which I found very interesting. I also asked why weren't they showing Leadfoot but I couldn't drag an answer out of him.

Overall I was very pleasantly surprised by Dirt Track Racing: Sprint Cars and I am looking forward to the demo and a final version. If you are one of the few guys, who haven't tried Dirt Track Racing yet I highly recommend you download the demo and prepare for the Sprints. Or better yet, buy the game because its top notch and one of the cheapest games on the market. Way to go Ratbag!

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