Sega GT 2002

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Sega GT 2002
European version box design for Sega GT 2002
Developer(s)	Wow Entertainment
Publisher(s)	Sega
Release date(s)	Sega GT 2002 (2002); Sega GT Online (2003)
Genre(s)	Racing
Mode(s)	Single Player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: Everyone (E)
Platform(s)	Xbox

Sega GT 2002 is the sequel to Wow Entertainment's Racing Game Sega GT, released in Japan late in 2002 as a competitor to the PlayStation 2's highly successful Gran Turismo 3. The game was originally intended to be released for the Dreamcast, but when the Dreamcast was discontinued in 2001, the game was reprogrammed for the Xbox. The game was given away on a disk with Jet Set Radio Future in specially-marked Xbox console packages. Sega released Sega GT Online for the following year, with extra cars and an online facility to be used with the Xbox Live, but that could not prevent the majority critics from savaging the game and as a result retailers ended up reducing the price of the game sooner that most games released at that time-length would.

The game became criticised of its inaccurate portrayal of '60s muscle cars (e.g. Dodge Charger, despite having more than 700bhp, but only capable of performing no less than 11 seconds on a drag strip regardless to the ability to the driver, leading to numerous debates on various enthusiasts sites), limited tuning options and sponge like handling of the featured cars.

Sega GT 2002 introduced plenty of innovative features, many of which were later adopted by future games of its kind.

[edit] Racing Features

This is the first and only game of its kind to allow you to chose your opponents, and even create races featuring only computer competitors.

This is the first game of its kind to emphasize decade-specific races. While GT2 did have an '80s sports car race, Sega GT 2002 has races where any car from each decade can race, regadless of type. The decades are '70s, '80s, and '90s.

The game makes use of a "damage meter" in lieu of rendered damage, but while it does not affect the handling, it will reduce the awarded prize money at the end of the race. When the player finishes the race with the car unscratched, the game will award a bonus cash prize. In turn, you will either finish with more or less than the prize money advertised, depending on the meter.

It is the first and only game of its kind to feature a numerical system.

It was the first GT-style game to feature drag racing.

The license tests in this game are merely timed laps, with the performance of the car increasing over time, rather than various lessons focusing on only one element of driving.

[edit] Car Features

As applies to the real world, it is the only game of its kind that doesn't give the player fresh parts after each race, most notably tires, and encourages them to service the car at a regular interval depending on wear and tear.

It is the only game of its type to unlock parts over time, and also to feature used parts.

This is the first game sold outside the Japanese market to emphasize largely on pre '80s classic Japanese cars, or "Nostalgic Hero" cars after the Japanese magazine of the same name. An example is the Honda S600.

It is the only game of its kind to feature decorations for your garage.

It was the first GT-style game to allow you to name your price when you sell your car, rather than selling it at a fixed price.

It was the first GT-style game since Gran Turismo 2 to emphasize American muscle cars. Gran Turismo 3 had almost no classics whatsoever, with the exception of the GT40 and the Shelby Cobra.