In 2000, EA released a simple NASCAR themed arcade racer named NASCAR Rumble on the original Playstation. While it was anything but a simulation, that didn’t stop it from becoming a cult favorite in the racing genre. Firebrand games and Activision are hoping lightening strikes twice, with the release ofNASCAR Unleashed. This is not a sequel in any way to the previously mentioned title, but it definitely has the same feel and look. The car models resemble that of an early 70s muscle car, rather than a stock car. The racing takes place anywhere from certain licensed NASCAR tracks, to a city setting, the woods and just about anywhere else you could think of. NASCAR Unleashed absolutely pushes the boundaries of its licensing, and that’s exactly what they set out to do.

Operation Sports: What was the inspiration behind the making of NASCAR Unleashed?

Firebrand Games: With NASCAR Unleashed, we really wanted to hearken back to the old racing games from the arcades and bring the NASCAR experience into that genre. Games like Daytona USA and San Francisco Rush directly influenced the development of NASCAR Unleashed. The goal was essentially to set out and make a lightning-fast, super-fun racing game that anyone could pick up and play and within minutes be having a blast and knowing exactly what the game was about. 

OS: How long has the game been in development, and what is your favorite aspect of the game?

FG: NASCAR Unleashed has been in development for around a year. Our favorite aspect of the game is definitely the pack-racing aspect and the Rival system which pits the player against the other racers on the track. The pack-racing mechanic we have developed ensures the player is never left alone during a race. Now that means you’ll never find yourself way in the back for long, but also you’ll have a real challenge holding first place for a long time as well. What this did for us is create a fun and hectic racing experience that ties into how you make rivals and more so, how you will use strategy to win races.

OS: How many modes will Unleashed have, and will there be any type of career/season mode?

FG: We have a full Career mode where players can pick their favorite driver from a wide selection of Sprint Cup drivers. Our career mode doesn’t follow the real NASCAR circuit, but you will still be going after a Championship cup with some bonus events along the way that could earn you some fun and quirky surprises. In addition, we offer Time Trials, Exhibition races, Create-A-Circuit races and the ability to play split-screen co-op with a friend in every mode. That means you and a friend can take on the Championship together, but still play competitively during a race.

OS: Are there any plans for DLC (Tracks, Cars, Drivers)?

FG: At this point, it is something we have explored. But currently there are no plans for DLC.

OS: Obviously this is an arcade racer at its core -- does that give the developer a lot more freedom to be creative or are the design parameters still pretty restricted?

FG: With the help and guidance of NASCAR we were able to push the fiction of many elements of the sport to create the unique and fun experience that we have with the game. The biggest jump for us was just breaking out of the track but still ensuring that we retained the core principles of the NASCAR sport. With that, we made sure to implement some of the core driving technicalities that NASCAR is all about, such as bump drafting and slingshotting. From there, we worked with NASCAR to start pushing boundaries with how the car looks and some of the quirky attachments you will get while playing the game such as a big spoiler on the back. The end result is a game that the NASCAR fan will recognize their favorite driver and portions of speedways such as Daytona, but will offer them something entirely different by breaking out of the track and going as fast as you can around city streets or through forests.

OS: Is this a title that may see a follow up/sequel, or is this going to be a single release?

FG: Our relationship with NASCAR continues to build and although it’s still early to determine if a sequel will be in the making, I don’t think it is something to rule out at this point by any means.

OS: Obviously there are 15 real drivers from the NASCAR circuit, each with their own paint scheme. Are there alternative skins in the game, and is there an ability to create your own?

FG: With the 15 Sprint Cup drivers we selected, each will start out with their 2011 Primary Paint scheme. However as you complete each race you will earn points which will be used to unlock additional paint schemes for each of those drivers. Some have up to three alternates so there are plenty to unlock. We didn’t pursue a create-a-car with this game, mainly because we wanted to keep that core NASCAR experience. Once you start making your own cars, you can often lose the identity of what the game is all about. We wanted players to pick their favorite drivers and have fun with them.

OS: Will the game have online racing capabilities, and if so, how many drivers (users) can be in a room at once?

FG: NASCAR Unleashed doesn’t offer online racing, but instead we have created a split-screen co-op and competitive experience on the consoles and local wi-fi on the 3DS. You can grab a friend or a father and son can sit down and play together and help each other move through the Career while still competing head-to-head during a race to see who gets more points or more rivals. 

OS: What was the hardest part of developing NASCAR Unleashed?

FG: NASCAR Unleashed is a pack-racing game. The player is constantly within the pack and fighting to gain position. We also set out to make a casual arcade racer that would be just as fun for kids to play as for adults. Getting this pack mechanic to feel right and also adjust to various play styles and skill levels was a bit tricky. What we ended up with feels great and really keeps drivers in the middle of the action for the entire race. 

OS: For those that are still on the fence about this game, what would you say to them?

FB: NASCAR Unleashed is a fun game, simple as that. It doesn’t deliver a real simulation experience and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Instead, the game focuses on getting players into the excitement as quickly as possible and keeping them there. If you are a fan of NASCAR, or racing in general, and you like incredible speeds, insane jumps, impossible wall rides and crazy crashes, you’ll enjoy NASCAR Unleashed.

Will you be picking up NASCAR Unleashed tomorrow?