Car and Driver (video game)
A 1992 MS-DOS racing game imitating a magazine.
Car and Driver, a 1992 MS-DOS racing game, was created by Lerner Research and released by Electronic Arts. Its menus and title screen mimic the look of the actual magazine, and picking a car brings up a full editorial review and technical specs. Ten cars are available to drive, including the Porsche 959, Ferrari F40, and Lamborghini Countach. The game offers ten driving areas, which include short stretches of famous roads like California Route 1 and a parking lot. One notable track, Dobbs Raceway, is named after J.R. "Bob" Dobbs, a figure from the parody Church of the Subgenius, and features large images of Dobbs, Subgenius slogans, and low-flying planes—likely an inside joke from the developers. *Computer Gaming World* praised its realism and controls, saying it "offers more interesting cars than any competing driving software." *Power Unlimited* gave it a 90% score, calling it one of the best racing games of its time, with fantastic visuals and high speeds.
- developer
- Lerner Research
- publisher
- Electronic Arts
- platform
- MS-DOS
- year
- 1992
- genre
- Racing video game
- notable_track
- Dobbs Raceway
Lore & Background
The game features 10 controllable cars: the Porsche 959, Toyota MR2, Ferrari F40, Lotus Esprit, Ferrari 250 Testarossa, Shelby Cobra, Lamborghini Countach, Eagle Talon, Corvette ZR-1, and Mercedes-Benz C11. It showcases 10 'tracks', although small sections of famous driving roads such as California Route 1 and even a parking lot are included as playable areas. Of particular note is the strange Dobbs Raceway, which takes its name from the Church of the Subgenius parody religion's figurehead J.R. 'Bob' Dobbs and appears to have been an inside joke by the developers. The side of the track is adorned with gigantic images of Dobbs, Subgenius propaganda, and low-flying aircraft.
Reader's Guide
Car and Driver was a racing video game for MS-DOS released in 1992. Computer Gaming World praised the game's realism and controls, stating that it 'offers more interesting cars than any competing driving software'. Power Unlimited gave the game a score of 90%, commenting: 'Car & Driver was one of the best racing games of its time. Cars and backgrounds looked fantastic and a very high speed could be achieved. The perfect pastime for a car thief in jail.' The game is notable for its magazine-inspired interface and the inclusion of the Dobbs Raceway, a track featuring imagery from the Church of the Subgenius parody religion, which appears to have been an inside joke by the developers.
Did You Know?
- The game's title screen and menus imitate the appearance of pages in a Car and Driver magazine issue.
- The Dobbs Raceway takes its name from the Church of the Subgenius figurehead J.R. 'Bob' Dobbs.
- The game includes a parking lot as a playable area.
- Power Unlimited gave the game a score of 90%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who developed and published Car and Driver (video game)?
Lerner Research created the game, and Electronic Acts handled its 1992 release on MS-DOS.
What makes Car and Driver (video game) different from other 1990s racers?
Its entire interface is styled to look like the real Car and Driver magazine, and selecting a vehicle pulls up a full editorial review with technical specifications rather than just a stat sheet.
Which cars can you drive in Car and Driver (video game)?
The roster includes ten machines, among them the Porsche 959, Ferrari F40, and Lamborghini Countach.
What is Dobbs Raceway in Car and Driver (video game)?
It is one of the game's ten driving areas, named as a nod to J.R. "Bob" Dobbs, the fictional figure from the parody religion Church of the Subgenius.
What kinds of driving areas appear in Car and Driver (video game)?
The ten tracks range from short segments of famous roads such as California Route 1 to a simple parking lot, giving the game a mix of open-road and tight-space challenges.
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