The Worst Racing Video Game Ever Made

Jason Torchinsky loves old things. Old cars, old computers, and especially old video games. He convinced us that Auto Racing for the Mattel Intellivision was the worst racing game ever made and that it needed to be documented on video. He was correct, that game looks like it was truly terrible.
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[BScott]

This guy couldn't be more wrong. Once you master the controls, this was the most exciting player vs player racing game of it's day.

[nurmix]

I couldn't disagree more. Once you understand how to control the car it's a very enjoyable game. Plus you're using the awful Intellivision II controllers. The original Intellivision has much nicer controllers. As you mentioned, there are two versions of the game; as far as how you control the car. The one you showed is what Mattel referred to as "realistic steering" (car-relative). Left is always left, right is always right, no matter which way your car is facing onscreen (just like a remote controlled car). However, you didn't point out that you can do gradual or sharp turns based on where you press the disc. Closer to 12 o'clock is gradual, 3 or 9 o'clock is sharper, closer to 6 o'clock is the sharpest. You can also 'roll' your thumb around the disc as you turn to gradually increase or decrease the turning amount. The other steering version was 'directional' (screen-relative) - you pressed the disc in the direction you want to the car to go. 12 o'clock would steer it toward the top of the screen, 6 o'clock toward the bottom. I preferred the "realistic steering" version. There are also some cool Easter eggs in the game, such as a hidden drag strip, and the ability to drive off on course and onto another. And you can generally position your car just below a horizontal / straight part of the track, and it will drive off the course and continue through the trees and landscape - without hitting anything - giving you a little 'tour' of the little world contained in the cartridge.

[brentshanahan]

I think "Desert Bus" would make Torchinsky rethink that last comment, "worst driving game ever made."

[chrisfreemesser]

Dude loves air-cooled VWs and old video games....we must be long lost cousins!

Tell me you've played "John Anderson's Rally Speedway" on that Atari 800XL you have sitting there..the absolute MOST FUN racing game from that era.

[bobbyread]

I had an Intelivision in ‘79. I remember that in the racing game you could cut through the woods and drive from one track to another. At one point I actually mapped out where all the tracks were.

[BryceBitsPieces]

I need a room tour and give him a gaming channel!

[crookman]

Dude! You didn't even learn the controls before judging the entire game! Lots of 2D racing games used the "steering wheel left/right" type of controls and they're actually pretty good after a short while. Also: Use the brake! You would crash a real car, too, if you entered any turn without braking!

You're doing the game very wrong here.

[fgeiger]

Intellivision was one of the best. The control was awesome once you used it more than once! They were perfectly designed for their games. The longevity was the only issue. They had thin film reaction innards. It was a blast when they were new

[Eatongee]

It's not counter intuitive. Have you ever driven a remote control car? Same thing. When it's driving toward you left is right and vise versa. You get used to it pretty quickly. Probably harder for "grown ups".

[BlueV]

Hold your thumb at 12:00. Glide your thumb around the desk as if you were turning a mini steering wheel. Keep in mind, it doesn't turn past 6:00. Once you understand that, you will have a much better time.

[csigouin]

You're missing the keypad insert for the controller. It indicates which side buttons opperate the braking. With braking the turns are easier and the game's more "fun".

[deathwatch]

Can't really bash a game that looks better than your setup

[Francois_The_Photon_Mechanic]

Had the brown Intellivision when I was a kid... Loved that thing... but as far as worst auto racing games, the Commodore 64 has a few pearls like Dragster 64, Racing destruction set (though this one was still relatively fun), Motocross Racer, Motorway Madness... oh so bad...

[kipudonkipudon]

I'd play that any day. But when it comes to truly bad racing games Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing is in its own league they say. Cult classic

[Backroad_Junkie]

Jason and Clint (from LGR) should play some head to head racing games. They both have this dry sense of humor...

[Lightblue]

If you hold down while you turn you will turn sharper. Understeer problem solved.

With the blue car it turns into a drift racer making it even better than Micro Machines. Takes lots of skill.

[orderofmagnitude-TPATP]

Intellevision 2 is the model he is using here. Looked way futuristic compared to the wooden first model.

[CUZCM]

doesnt look like the looks like you need to get good. try braking to make the turns just because you car can go fast dont mean you should always be flat out on straights hit the break keep you car slower. plus your controller is probably broken and not registering every button hit on steering. this looks really good for 1979

[inkdreams]

I think I’d prefer pushing a real car around the track by hand than play this piece of....

[matthewbanta]

"Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing" was the worst racing game ever. It came out in 2003 so they should have known better. It is actually so comically bad that it might start getting good.