''Arctic Thunder'' is a 2000

snowmobile A snowmobile, also known as a snowmachine (chiefly Alaskan), motor sled (chiefly Canadian), motor sledge, skimobile, snow scooter, or simply a sled is a motorized vehicle designed for winter travel and recreation on snow. Their engines normally ...

racing game Racing games are a video game genre in which the player participates in a motor racing, racing competition. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to fantastical settings. They are distributed along a spectrum between more re ...

developed by

Midway Games Midway Games Inc. (formerly Midway Manufacturing and Bally Midway, and commonly known simply as Midway) was an American video game company that existed from 1958 to 2010. Midway's franchises included ''Mortal Kombat'', ''Rampage (franchise), Ra ...

. It was released as an

arcade game An arcade game or coin-op game is a coin-operated entertainment machine typically installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are presented as primarily game of skill, games of skill and in ...

, Midway's final arcade title, and was also ported to the

Sony is a Japanese multinational conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at Sony City in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The Sony Group encompasses various businesses, including Sony Corporation (electronics), Sony Semiconductor Solutions (i ...

PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October, in Europe on 24 Novembe ...

and

Xbox Xbox is a video gaming brand that consists of four main home video game console lines, as well as application software, applications (games), the streaming media, streaming service Xbox Cloud Gaming, and online services such as the Xbox networ ...

consoles, with added content, as a

launch title Since the origin of video games in the early 1970s, the video game industry, the players, and surrounding culture have spawned a wide range of technical and slang terms. 0–9 A ...

for the latter. In the arcade version of the game, fans built into the cabinet blow cold winds in the player's face during gameplay to simulate the feeling of riding a snowmobile while the seat contains a vibrating shaker motor to simulate engine rumbling. ''Arctic Thunder'' is part of Midway's ''Thunder'' series, which also included '' Hydro Thunder'', '' 4 Wheel Thunder'', ''

Offroad Thunder ''Offroad Thunder'' is an offroad racing arcade game released in January 2000. It forms part of Midway's "Thunder" series of racing games, which also includes '' Hydro Thunder'', '' 4 Wheel Thunder'', and '' Arctic Thunder'' and is itself an evo ...

'', and '' Hydro Thunder Hurricane''. An updated arcade version, titled ''Ultimate Arctic Thunder,'' which added some of the content introduced in the home versions, was developed by Play Mechanix and distributed by Betson Enterprises, released sometime in 2004. The Xbox version of this game is not

compatible Compatibility may refer to: Computing * Backward compatibility, in which newer systems can understand data generated by older ones * Compatibility card, an expansion card for hardware emulation of another device * Compatibility layer, component ...

with the

Xbox 360 The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the Xbox (console), original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox#Consoles, Xbox series. It was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detail ...

. A

Dreamcast The is the final home video game console manufactured by Sega. It was released in Japan on November 27, 1998, in North America on September 9, 1999 and in Europe on October 14, 1999. It was the first sixth-generation video game console, prec ...

port was also planned but was cancelled due to sagging sales of the console. A website was made available before the game's release. As of 2007, the site is no longer active.

Reception

The Xbox version received "mixed" reviews, while the PlayStation 2 version received "generally unfavorable reviews", according to the

review aggregation A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews and ratings of products and services, such as films, books, video games, music, software, hardware, or cars. This system then stores the reviews to be used for supporting a website where user ...

website

Metacritic Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created ...

. Jim Preston of '' NextGen''s December 2001 issue said of the latter, "There's plenty of 'Arctic,' but little 'Thunder.' But then, we suppose ''Snow Snooze'' wouldn't have been as catchy." The magazine later said in its final issue that the former console version's "only saving grace is that the courses are well enough designed that you rarely get stuck in an alcove or behind a pillar – a frequent, frustrating flaw in racing games. But this doesn't come close to the onscreen mess that makes up most of the gameplay." Tokyo Drifter of ''

GamePro ''GamePro'' was an American multiplatform video game magazine media company that published online and print content covering the video game industry, video game hardware and video game software. The magazine featured content on various video ...

'' said of the PlayStation 2 version, "At the finish line, ''Arctic Thunder'' is moderately enjoyable with good replay value, but its many flaws really hinder what could have been a great romp in the snow." ''

AllGame RhythmOne , a subsidiary of Nexxen, is an American digital advertising technology company that owns and operates the web properties AllMusic, AllMovie, and SideReel. Blinkx was founded in 2004, went public on the Alternative Investment Market, ...

'' gave the arcade version a score of three-and-a-half stars out of five and said it was "not an unpleasant arcade diversion, and it can be quite entertaining to compete against other players. The levels are clever and distinct, and only the patented Midway cheapness and simplicity will get in the way of your enjoyment." The PlayStation 2 version was nominated at ''

The Electric Playground ''EP Daily'' (formerly ''The Electric Playground'') is a daily news television show that covers video games, movies, TV shows, comic books, collectibles and gadgets. Created and executive produced by host Victor Lucas, and his Vancouver, British ...

''s 2001 Blister Awards for (the non-intentional) "Game With the Most Laughs" and "Biggest Disappointment of the Year", but lost both to the PS2 version of ''

Escape from Monkey Island ''Escape from Monkey Island'' is an adventure game developed and released by LucasArts in 2000. It is the fourth game in the '' Monkey Island'' series, and the sequel to the 1997 videogame '' The Curse of Monkey Island''. It is the first game in ...

'' and the Xbox version of ''

Shrek ''Shrek'' is a 2001 American animated fantasy comedy film directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, and written by Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman, and Roger S. H. Schulman, loosely based on the 1990 children's picture boo ...

''.

Notes

References

External links

* * * *INACTIVE* {{Thunder series 2000 video games Arcade video games Cancelled Dreamcast games Midway video games Multiplayer and single-player video games PlayStation 2 games Racing video games Thunder (video game series) Video games developed in the United States Xbox games Inland Productions games