Lotus Challenge is a racing game developed by Kuju Entertainment and published in 2001 for PlayStation 2 by Virgin Interactive. Versions followed for Windows, GameCube, Xbox, and mobile phones from different publishers.

Lotus Challenge
Developer(s)Kuju Entertainment
Publisher(s)Virgin Interactive (PS2)
Xicat Interactive (Xbox)
Sold-Out Software (Win)
Ignition Entertainment (GC)
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, GameCube, Windows, Xbox, mobile phones
ReleasePlayStation 2
  • EU: 2 November 2001
Windows
  • EU: 23 February 2003
Xbox
  • EU: 28 March 2003
  • NA: 30 April 2003
GameCube
  • NA: 4 August 2004
Mobile
20 September 2004
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Development

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Virgin Interactive first announced the game for the PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Windows in August 2000 for an early-2001 release.[1] The game was renamed Lotus Extreme Challenge in November 2000[2] with a North American release planned to be published by Interplay Entertainment,[2] although this never came to circulation. The game would eventually see its release under its former name. The PlayStation 2 version was later ported to Japan and published by MTO on 26 December 2002.[3]

In March 2002, Virgin Interactive announced they would release the game on the Xbox under the name of Lotus Arcade[4] before reverting to its former name, with the announcement that the Xbox version would feature major improvements over the PS2 version. The game was due for a release in Europe by Virgin in September[5] but this never happened. In November 2002, Xicat Interactive announced they would release the game in North America instead as an Xbox exclusive,[6] with a GameCube port also announced.[7] In December 2002, Xicat secured a licensing deal with Motor Trend to rename the title as Motor Trend Presents Lotus Challenge,[8] with the Xbox version originally scheduled for release in late January 2003,[9] before it was somewhat delayed to the end of April. The GameCube version was due for a release in August[10] but was pulled for unknown reasons.

In May 2004, Ignition Entertainment's website listed a title named Lotus Extreme for the GameCube.[11] However, the game was renamed again back to its original title a few weeks later when it was officially announced by Ignition,[12] and was released shortly after.[13]

Reception

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The Xbox version received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[14] GameSpy, GameZone, and Extended Play gave it above-average to mixed reviews while it was still in development.[19][20][26]

The game sold more than 130,000 units for the PlayStation 2.[27]

Notes

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  1. ^ Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Xbox version each a score of 4/10, 3.5/10, and 4.5/10.

References

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  1. ^ Ahmed, Shahed (5 July 2000). "Lotus Racing from Virgin". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 27 August 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b Perry, Douglass C. (5 November 2001). "Lotus Extreme Challenge". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  3. ^ IGN staff (20 December 2002). "Gaming Life in Japan". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  4. ^ IGN staff (8 March 2002). "Lotus Arcade Spins Its Wheels on Xbox". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  5. ^ Strohm, Axel (13 June 2002). "First look: Lotus Challenge Xbox". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 27 June 2002. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  6. ^ IGN staff (26 November 2002). "Xicat's Lotus Challenge". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  7. ^ IGN staff (26 November 2002). "Lotus Challenge GCN Bound". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  8. ^ Rainier (3 December 2002). "Xicat Teams Up With Motor Trend Magazine In 'Lotus Challenge'". Worthplaying. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  9. ^ Varanini, Giancarlo (7 January 2003). "Lotus Challenge Preview". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 7 June 2004. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  10. ^ Schwartz, Matthew (25 July 2003). "Motor Trend Presents Lotus Challenge (GCN Preview)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  11. ^ IGN staff (26 May 2004). "Kuju on GameCube Again". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  12. ^ IGN staff (10 July 2004). "A Lotus By Any Other Name..." IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  13. ^ IGN staff (4 August 2004). "Lotus Challenge Shipped". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Lotus Challenge (Xbox)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  15. ^ Bischoff, Jens (26 November 2001). "Test: Lotus Challenge (PS2)". 4Players (in German). 4Players GmbH. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  16. ^ Bischoff, Jens (5 May 2003). "Test: Lotus Challenge (Xbox)". 4Players (in German). 4Players GmbH. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  17. ^ Linn, Demian; Chou, Che; Sewart, Greg (June 2003). "Motor Trend Presents: Lotus Challenge [sic]" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 167. Ziff Davis. p. 124. Archived from the original on 17 May 2004. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  18. ^ Daguinot, Benjamin (29 October 2001). "Test : Lotuc Challenge, ne rayez pas la peinture (PS2)". Gamekult (in French). TF1 Group. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  19. ^ a b Murphy, Kevin (21 January 2003). "GameSpy: Motor Trend Presents Lotus Challenge (Xbox)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 18 October 2006. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  20. ^ a b Lafferty, Michael (20 February 2003). "Motor Trend Presents Lotus Challenge Review - Xbox". GameZone. Archived from the original on 24 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  21. ^ Romendil (29 October 2001). "Test: Lotus Challenge (PS2)". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  22. ^ Romendil (21 October 2003). "Test: Lotus Challenge (Xbox)". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  23. ^ "Lotus Challenge". Nintendo Power. Vol. 183. Nintendo of America. September 2004.
  24. ^ "Motor Trend Presents Lotus Challenge". Official Xbox Magazine. Future US. May 2003. p. 79.
  25. ^ Soboleski, Brent (10 May 2003). "[Motor Trend Presents] Lotus Challenge Review (Xbox)". TeamXbox. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 12 January 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  26. ^ a b Satterfield, Shane (24 February 2003). "'Motor Trend Presents Lotus Challenge' (Xbox) Review". Extended Play. TechTV. Archived from the original on 22 February 2003. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  27. ^ "First six months of the fiscal year 2001/2002". Titus Interactive. 14 February 2002. Archived from the original on 4 April 2002. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
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