“Welcome to 2067, where all the racing video games feature 1960s and 1970s-era muscle cars because we don’t produce anything that cool anymore.”
There’s nothing quite as thrilling as climbing into the driver’s seat of a fuel injected racing machine and taking it out on the roadways of the world’s most exotic and beautiful locations. The acrid smell of burning rubber is an added bonus.
Most of us will never have the opportunity to experience this in real life (you have to leave your mom’s basement first), and that’s why racing video games appeal to that ‘Need for Speed’ and serve as wish fulfillment. However, with the auto industry shifting toward green technology and self-driving cars, what will become of driving video games? Will we just keep using the same cars over and over again, or what?
Most racing games are set in a semi-realistic simulation of real-life with real cars (say that ten times fast). Games like Forza, Gran Turismo, and DIRT all have a place in the genre. Every once in awhile you’ll see a futuristic racing game like F-Zero, but for the most part these games remain grounded. There’s a reason for that.
Gearheads are passionate about their cars and are often exclusively loyal to brands. They’ll advocate their chosen manufacturer till they’re blue in the face, and nothing can change their mind. They love the cars in real life, and so they love them in video games too.
We’ll always have the classics, but what of the the future “classics?” There’s a push toward sustainable technologies, and that’s great. Renewable energy is what’s best for our environment. Yet, I can’t help but wonder what direction this will force driving video games to take.
If everyone in the world drove a Prius, would that significantly cut down on carbon emissions and other types of fossil fuel byproduct pollution? Absolutely. However, when was the last time you saw a Prius in a racing game? Does anyone really want to take a Prius down to the track to drag race? Possibly, but I’ve got to stop at Whole Foods first to snag my locally sourced and organic beverage of choice, kombucha. (Yuck.)
There is definitely a car culture. They love their oil, their gasoline, and manly big block engines. The way things are headed, it seems cars like that will not be a part of the larger picture. The newest Ford Mustangs have eco-boost technology, which is great for fuel economy and reducing the negative impact of those emissions. But wait…isn’t the long term goal to eventually completely stop using fossil fuels?
I’m excited about electric powered vehicles. It’s renewable and it will eventually be cheaper. Tesla Motors is at the forefront of the movement, led by the Tony Stark-esque genius, Elon Musk (sadly absent is that sweet goatee). Their automotive designs are a great example of marrying renewable energy with high horsepower. The Telsa Model S does have a model with 532 horsepower and an incredible 0-60 of 2.5 seconds. Part of me can’t help but wonder if high horsepower electric will ever be replace that feeling behind the wheel of a rumbling big block engine. Will the gentle thrum of electric engines ever be as satisfying?
Thanks Elon Musk! Before you were successful you designed computer games, and now you’re making ours really, really boring.
Let’s not even get started on self-driving cars. Once the kinks are worked out, I could see it being a safe and convenient alternative fifty years from now. You’ll probably save a lot on car insurance, but is it an exciting experience? Eh, not really. If planet Earth is eventually filled with electric self-driving cars, what the heck are we going to be driving in our video games?
