Prerelease:Hot Wheels World Race (PlayStation 2, GameCube, Windows)

This page details prerelease information and/or media for Hot Wheels World Race (PlayStation 2, GameCube, Windows).

Hot Wheels World Race was announced at E3 2003. It was released in October 2003.

Scrapped Xbox Version

The game originally was going to be on the Xbox, but was scrapped early on in development. GameFAQs' website still lists this version.

Neoseeker Screenshots

These pictures match v303, dated January 24, 2003. This build is known to have been bought from the Climax lot by Steem69 in 2015, though it has not resurfaced.

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  Early Ice City

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  Early Lava Twists

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  Early Oriental Mountain (old name for Mist Mountain)

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  Another early Oriental Mountain

Early Trailer

A trailer with numerous (and strange) differences from the final game.

• The build date can be seen: v387, dated March 31, 2003. This build is known to have been obtained by Steem69 in 2015, though it has not resurfaced.
• Debug text is visible.
• The number and text design is different.
• The performing trick HUD is very different.
• Nitrox 2 text always appears onscreen. You have to fill up your boost meter in the final game for it to appear.
• The Nitrox 2 Activated text is different and in a different font. It also lacks the "2".
• The ring collection icon is different.
• Vast Jungle has numerous tunnels and green ramps.
• Cars could go over 200 MPH.
• The lap count sound effect isn't programmed in yet.

(Source: Media Graveyard)

Second Trailer

Seen on the Desert Heat DVD and VHS. This appears to be from the v387 build.

• A lot of the maps are in a primitive state and lack detail. There are also no barriers or unlockable triggers programmed in yet.
• An early version of the Pyramid Run track can be seen. Per main programmer Alastair Cornish, "During development we created many tracks, and then through playtesting and iteration we worked out which tracks are the most fun and which aren't quite good enough. So unused tracks / early tracks like those mentioned were likely not quite fun enough, sometimes we'd take elements from those "failed" tracks which we liked and worked them into new tracks."
• Egyptian Dunes looks entirely different.
• Early car decals can be seen.

(Source: Glitch)

August 2003 E3 footage

Seen at E3 2003. The footage starts at 1:19:57.

• Cars now use their final designs.
• There’s a boost pad near the split turn that’s not present in the final game’s Egyptian Dunes.
• Early HUD elements from the May 12 prototype are still present.
• Barriers are now programmed into the tracks.
• There are tall pillars near the jump in Egyptian Dunes. The final game replaces these with generic floating pyramids.
• The “Perfect!” and “Nitrox 2 activated” on screen text uses their final designs.

(Source: FoxCommander)

Commercial

A commercial that aired on television at some point in 2003.

• Early ramp and boost pad designs can be seen.
• There are some motion blur effects that are not in the final game.

(Source: Vizzed Video Game Commercials)