Every racing game has at least one thing in common: the finish line — but 'Onrush', a game set to be released by game developers Codemasters, is reimagining the requirements for racing. The new video game, which has been previewed at the Game Developers Conference, abandons the finish line in favor of point collection, making every race a manic series of collisions, jumps, and general mayhem.
Every game in Onrush revolves around the "stampede", which is a group of 12 human drivers and 12 computer-controlled cars that constantly race through the landscape. Rather than jostling to constantly lead the pack, users can opt to hang toward the back and make contact with others or grab missed power-ups. If a player gets knocked out, they immediately spawn back into the stampede, making the game about massive crashes rather than meticulous speed runs.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Finish Line-free Games
- Developers can reimagine traditional game mechanics, creating new opportunities for user experience and engagement
- Point Collection Racing
- Innovative new ways to collect points give developers creative freedom to build more engaging and varied racing games
- Stampede Gameplay
- New gameplay mechanics involving a large group of players and cars can lead to unique experiences and opportunities for social interaction
Where This Applies
- Gaming
- Game developers can innovate and disrupt traditional gameplay mechanics, creating new opportunities to engage with players and gain a competitive edge
- Esports
- Non-traditional racing mechanics can lead to the creation of new esports leagues and opportunities for competitive play
- Automotive
- Developers can partner with automotive companies to bring fresh new experiences to the genre of racing games
