This is a fun, addictive little game. There are a few bugs: the money seems to be calculated in an odd way, so that players can find ways to upgrade too easily or lose their game bucks in a trade; once in the "Death Arena" the 3rd and final computer car killed me in one shot immediately after appearing, then it showed I had won the tournament. But overall, it's a great game with simple, reliable gameplay.

I love this game. My hands ache because I've been playing it almost a month straight! It's a lot of fun. I am annoyed by the arrow-key controls -- sure, but I just love apexing the curves and shooting the other drivers! It's so much like real life! er... except for the shooting part, I mean.

It's fun if you don't mind getting everything after one round of play. I did a Deathmatch, got over $1000000, and bought the best car, maximized all upgrades, and got a little irritated at how quickly I advanced through it. Other than this, it's a great game. I love the actual gameplay, thanks very much Game Giveaway of the Day

from the screenshots it reminds me of Dead Rally, that really old game for DOS that had Duke Nukem as a pilot.

meh, didn't checked in time...

FYI, after I actually tried *this* download, I found out it doesn't save your driver, so it is an *impossible* game now. I guess you could leave your computer on for a few weeks until you played all the levels. I'll just have to use my other one. It 'works', but is a big disappointment. Certainly not worth more than a dollar if it won't save your drivers. By the way, White Rabbit, this does allow using the mouse for firing and setting mines.

Game installs and runs OK until the cars are on the starting line (with the command key explanation in the lower part of the screen). But the cars don't start :(
I've tried all keys and innovative mouse actions, but only ESC works...

i like the game but next time under quickhelp the damage bar dont call it lives. one more thing please have a better save feature maybe a button or autosave after race option incase of crash.

Another nice game by Realore Studios. Installed and runs fine on XP and Vista.

My grandkids will love it! Thank you, Realore!!! :)
Installs & runs fine on xp, sp3! :)

A great game idea, superb graphics, but more bugs than a swamp!!

Winning first or second place doesn't actually get you any "money". Earning bucks by killing your opponents doesn't work either. The only sure way of getting money is to follow the pack & pick up scraps. Game control is horrible. Will need to take heavy pain killers for hand.

This game is best reason I can think of to go back to doing my own game programming (If I could only figure out how to get such excellent graphics!).

hi everyone, i havnt posted for awhile...
I downloaded this game and played it for about 4 hours stright. I think this is a very fun and enjoyably game. i recently bought grand trismo 2 and actually found this game musch more fun!
You get to build up your cars and weapons to make it through bigger races. thae graphis are not to low of resoultion for the style of game that it is. The use of the keyboard comes naturally for this old school PC gamer- also, you gotta upgrade your steering and shocks to get better race responce... so people above complaining of game play controls, this is part of the game.
I did play it for along time- and as somebody above mentioned- it did crash on my a couple times [the game crashed and shut down]- but it wasnt a BAD sustem reboot or anything- and most important, it didnt mess with my SAVED game or corrupt my save game file.
This is an ols school overhead 2D racing game that i found to be very very fun. I highly recommend it for $20. The only draw back that i found- when you finish the big tracks at the end of each group of races, it makes you start off with a basic car again, and takes all your earnings away. ouch. It does allow you to do the races over and over again to build up your cars before going on to the bigger races.
I have a cool game of this type now- thankyou giveaway!!!

Another great game... Realore is my new favorite game Company
thanks gotd.

Hi Chris, Comment #16; thanks for the link to information about Death Rally; it’s definitely almost the same game. You can actually download the original version for free from several abandonware sites. The following is one of the better ones. You do need to use the DOSBox to run it though.

I've explained how to use the DOSBox previously in another thread. If you go to the Games Discussion main menu over in the forums and search out the first few posts I made for the free weekday games project, you'll find the details on how to use the emulator there; or alternatively search for some tutorials on the net. I do think there's a read me with all the information you need to get DOSBox up and running.

Download Links:

Death Rally

http://www.squakenet.com/abandonwarering/site.asp?idgame=219&idsite=85&url=http://www.old-cans.com/en/death_rally/

DOSBox:

http://www.dosbox.com/download.php?main=1


I see gpc111 is still going on about repeats. What does it matter? At least there are some that will not have got it previously, plus there are many who will have lost it to formats etc. As I pointed out in a post last week in answer to your post, there's a much higher percentage of games that are first timers to those that are repeats.

Thank for the info Bigun and also to Axecut for pointiong out that this is a newer version. As I still have the first download I didn't actually bother to download today's. I'm onto it right away now, lol.

I haven't downloaded this one, but if it is the same, I'd rate it about an 8.5 out of 10. I have this from before on my desktop and wanted it for my laptop. I don't remember right off what I would like to see changed (besides not being able to use the mouse/joystick controls)

This is the 1.06 version of the 1.04 version of the game offered here the last time, so even if you have this already, there may be a few bugs fixed that affected the older version.


As for Gamepads vs Joystick there is the incredibly configurable P2600 Rumble from Saitek. It is an old Saitek gamepad ($20), but it allows you to program any key in the keyboard to any key on the pad. The pad come configured with a FPS button that makes the right stick be a mouse and the right stick has the WASD keys. Since the configuration is at the hardware level, it works with any game. There is an older version of the programing software that is better suitable for this pad, but the new one should work as well.

This game is completely outdated and very amateurish. "Cars" are slow and firing at competitors is pretty useless. There is absolutely no sense of fun (not to mention anny sense of driving or racing). Death Rally came to market 10 years earlier and is still better than that. Don't waste your time

Who cares? You got it for free right?
Thank You GOTD

Whiterabbit and others:

In reference to the XPadder keyboard emulator
Information verified on 15 November 2008 ; 20:21 UTC

Whiterabbit you are correct about the XPadder website being up for sale. However, the XPadder keyboard emulator is still available from the author's website. An advantage to using the author's website to download the game controller is there are a gaggle of links to help files and tutorials.

The XPadder forum section is also active and can be approached from the XPadder Home page. Thre forum is full of information that can help users set up their controllers correctly.

XPadder Homepage: http://xpadder.com/
XPadder Forums: http://xpadder.com/forum/index.php

it crashes when progressing in the game..

Same as Chris above in #16 on Vista.. Nvidia 7900 grafix here. I dont think it's a video issue, I think it's just a vista issue. Installs fine, runs up to the point of starting a race, then poof. crash to desktop.

I found a workaround for vista people tho, right click on the shortcut in your start menu and go to properties, then click the compatibility tab and turn on compatibility and set it for XP SP2.

This is a really fun game. The first few tracks are really slow as everyone's in the slowest cars and without any weapons, but once you progress a bit it gets really fun.

Thanks GGOTD!

I've played the demo of this and it for a cheapo little 2d game it was a lot of fun for blowing a few hours of boredom, i found myself REALLY wanting the full version 'cause demo only gives you some pretty boring weapons but the full version gives you some pretty insane stuff. I'd say its well worth Dling.

sorry for the spelling mistakes, by the way it worked after I extracted it.

Hard to get used to controlling by keyboard (arrows) rather than mouse, but still fun once I got used to that. I stayed in autobaun for a long time until I gathered enough money for the best car and best weapon. Then I moved to the next track.

Great fun. Thanks GOTD. Keep up the good work for us.

to the guy with the 1 error problem try extracting the folder first, praying helps ot

Well we have a real treat here. Not only is it a game that is a repeat. It's a game that has been repeated twice. Does that make it a threepeat? That's right... this is the third go with this one. I'm not saying it's a bad game. Quite the opposite. I like it as I like most Realore games. But why offer a game and/or program 3 times? I can only think that there have been no new games in ages means GGAOTD has lost all of their support from the publishers. It was a nice ride while it lasted. Thank you so much GGAOTD team. I greatly appreciate your efforts and the games you have given me.

Sure, this game costs $20 O_o
Nobody would buy it, if it was this expensive. GotD is always lying about the prices.

Wow! Talk about roadrage! I love it. I only wish I could have weapons and mines for my drive to work - "Let's see that jerk pass me now! MuHHHAAAA!"
At first it was midly amusing but with the bonus of upgrades to your vehicle I became obsessed with bombing the heck out of those other cars on the track. I think I bombed myself more than them and it was totally worth it.
This game rocks and I had no problems on Vista for once.

Works the same way as when I downloaded it earlier this year. Installs fine, you can setup your player, when you go to race, it just tanks out and crashes.

Great game but does not like Vista ... keeps crashing during game.

Works the same way as when I downloaded it earlier this year. Installs fine, you can setup your player, when you go to race, it just tanks out and crashes.

This is on a P4 2.8 ghz, 2 gb ram, and an ati x600 pro video card machine running xp pro sp2 with the most current version of directx and video card drives avaible from ati (amd).

Game overall reminds me of an oldie called "Death Rally" Check this link. http://www.3drealms.com/rally/index.html

It's basically the same game...

Game Crashes during setup with i/o error (32) :(
Darn, Love a good combat driving game.
-B-

Hi Kinzo (and Banzai), follow the link to the forum,s You'll find a link to download XPadder; which enables keyboard only games to be used with gamepads. It may work with a joystick as well, but I've not tested it yet.

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/4238

The Xpadder site is for sale, so Wizzard of Oz has posted a new link for the Xpadder.

Can you only play this with a keyboard or also with a joystick ?

Screwed up screen resolution on vista, took ages to correct. Does not work well with Vista.....

Have it already!

# 7...If you have a game controller you can program it to play with that! I used Xpadder...

Suki

Really nice game...thanks GAOTD

Dear sir/madam,
Works well. expect to come every day. Hey. Good game to play.

I like this game... Easy to use...Adn fun to :-D

If I remember last time it was given here the controls sucks, you can use only keyboard.

Whoever decides to not download this game is missing a big time !

It`s a pure gameplay of 8-bit era, but with modern gfx and shooting/action elements.
It`s extremely addictive and can be quite hard on later difficulties, which is also the reason why it`s so good.

No NFS13, no Burnout, just a pure, crystallic 2D gameplay.


HUGE THANKS GAOTD !

The second time this was given away was February 2008 not January as I said above,

also,

I meant to mention that Niteravens comment was from the February 08 giveaway (comment #11)

And,

I removed the links to all the alternative racing games due to the auto moderation that sometimes screens out those posts with loads of links due to possible spamming. There are still several links in my comment, so, just in case it was still filtered out you can check out my review in the forums by following the link below:

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/4238

DOWNLOAD THIS GAME NOW. Seriously. I got this last time it was offered, and it is AMAZING. I ranked it #4 in my top 25 list. Even if you're not into racing games, or if you're not into explosions, download it. At least try it. It's not bloody or gory, it's just fun.

:oops: sorry this is a little late, I overslept:

This received 90% of nearly 200 votes with only 18 thumbs down the first time it was given away and then only 57% from 324 votes the second time it was given away back in January of this year. You can check out the comments from both by following the links below:

Jan 07:

http://game.giveawayoftheday.com/mad-cars/#comments

Jan 08:

http://game.giveawayoftheday.com/cars-gone-mad/#comments


The Game:

There are three game modes Championship which is your basic Racing Game, Arena, which is like stock car racing, but not quite as you face off against one opponent, with no holds barred; and then there’s online play that’s similar to the single player championship game except you can either play with a friend on the same computer using the same keyboard, (or if you have a usb gaming board then you can both have a keyboard each) or play online against others around the globe. You earn bonuses and money so that you can upgrade your cars, choose from more powerful cars and then wipe out your fellow racers or death arena challengers. Earning money also gives you access to nine other tracks all with different scenery and styles. You can see what these look like by going to the multiplayer mode and select the online play option. Following the prompts will take you to a track selection screen where you can see all 10 tracks from a top down view. You can also choose from five different characters, all of which look mean in a cartoon sort of way. Check out the html read me document located in the games folder to find details of all the cars and the different maps (You can see this when the set up wizard finishes provided you leave the checkbox ticked, or go to the start menu and click on the appropriate shortcut). If you just want to get right into the game you can return to the read me via the start menu shortcuts or go directly to the games folder and click on the html document. All the game controls and other info that I’d normal write in my reviews will be found there. There’s also a four page help to be found in the main menu.

Game Features: (taken from the read me as I’m pushed for time)

• Ten tracks: city, military, industrial and other unexpected places.
• Drive 9 mad cars, such as totally equiped bat, furious ranger, insane hunter and more.
• Each car can be equipped with an onboard weapons system of your choice.
• Choose your preferred weapons: mines, spikes, guns and armors.
• Feel like in reality show with perfectly made damage effects.
• Take bonuses of speed-boost, get additional money and collect extreme weapons.
• Find your way through three modes: Championship, Death Arena and Multiplayer.
• Choose among 5 mad characters: savage Dick, crazy Sara or belligerent Max.
• Multiplayer
• Play full screen or windowed

You can see around 30 in game screen captures (though I used a few images I found via Google as I don’t have time to properly play the game today) Though I did play this the first time around and despite the poor controls, enjoyed it thoroughly. Thanks BuBBy for the link to the gamepad converter, though I have a Wolf King gaming keyboard which is almost as good and requires no extra programs to make it work.

All on one page:

http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/Whiterabbit_01/gaotd/Mad%20Cars/?start=all

Slideshow:

http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/Whiterabbit_01/gaotd/Mad%20Cars/?albumview=slideshow

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

• Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP
• Processor Pentium 166 or higher (Pentium II - recommended)
• DirectX 3.0 or higher
• Video card with 1 Mb video memory
• 12 Mb RAM
• 17 Mb free disk space
• Sound card - optional, but recommended for the music!

Conclusion:


NiteRaven hit the nail on the heads as far as I’m concerned when he said the following:

“this is a good game that could have been great. I would say its worth the download. If you’re a racing fan and can get past the arrow keys thing you’ll love this. If you don’t like racing or can’t deal with multiple keys with both hands.. steer clear.

Not being a racing fan despite having several titles such as MotoGP Racing, Motocross Madness I & II, Auto Assault (Which is loosly a 3D version of this) and Need for Speed Carbon & Pro Street, A few Colin McRae rally games including his last called Dirt, Race 07, GTR2, Test Drive Unlimited, Crashday, Flatout: Ultimate Challenge oh yeah! and the ‘Free’ online game called Darkwind: War on Wheels (another 3D real time strategy and racing game that I was involved in during the Beta testing and very loosely based on this game) ……phew, needed a long breath for that……… I do think this game can be a lot of fun once you've got used to the controls as I did the last time it was given away, though if you really want some thrills go for the free online Darkwind or buy Crashday which has the Arena fights and the racing but from a 3D perspective. You can buy this game in the UK from Game.uk for less than $10 which is outstanding considering the amazing game play. If you had to buy today’s game, I know which one I’d buy first, of course Crashday, which should play on most computers built in the last several years. You only require a video card with 64Mb of memory.

Still, I'll probably stick to the ones I’ve got above. It's a fun game so in my estimation is worth a reasonable 6.5 out of 10. Maybe a 7 due to the ability to play against a friend or to go online. The games AI is okay, but once you've got used to the controls it's easily beaten even when setting it on the hardest difficulty setting (of which there are three).

.................................................................................................................................................................

Other Similar Games:

If you like this game or missed the giveaway check out the following free games . The first one is to a post I started several months ago called Wheeled Games that contains loads of racing orientated games for free. I’ve listed a few below the link, though because there are so many links, I decided to remove them from the post and just leave the names. You can find all the links by following the second link below which takes you to the forum version of this post:



Wheeled Games Thread:

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2574


forums:

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/4238?replies=1#post-45552


Real Racing:

This is the same as Intense Racing below and it was also given away over on the game giveaway site as Race Cars: The Extreme Rally


Mad Truckers:


KGB Hunter:


Extreme Racers:


Mad Race:


City Racing:


Intense Racing 2:


Intense Racing:


Real Racing:


Star Racing:


Darkwind:War on Wheels:



Grand Theft Auto:


Grand Theft Auto II:


You can get both of these directly from the developer’s site at Rockstar, but you have to first subscribe to their news letter:

please note, the rockstar version is in my view the better alternative because you don’t get the nag screens that you get with freegamespick, I’ve nmpot tried the softonic version though. Also with the Rockstar download you also get a third game called Wild Metal, which is a bit dated now, but still worth checking out. The download includes all three games and is 344Mb in size

.................................................................................................................................................................

Other useful information:

Regarding the lack of control configurability with respect to only being able to use keyboard controls for this game? I’m sure many find this annoying as I do, because I’d much rather use a controller or Wheel (or even a joy stick). Thankfully BuBBy posted a link to XPadder which should enable you to use a console controller such as an Xbox controller.

I only found out this summer after I’d bought the Beijing 2008 Olympics game, that you required a controller to play it. Someone recommended that I bought an Xbox controller which I though would only work with an Xbox console, but it can actually be used on your PC as well. Anyway, here‘s the link BuBBy posted for the XPadder:

http://xpadder.com/


It allows you to configure any “keyboard only” game to work with your game controller.

Nice little game, but crashes when progressing in the game

From the description, didn't think it would be a game I'd like.
So no comment, no vote, pass on dl.

Then see is from Realcore, and have found their previous GAOTD so much fun. Realcore is one of the few that work well with my older screen + XP. Small size so that is can be gotten via dial up.
So will give it a try & thank you.