AeroStar

Ah, Quick Race. My favourite part of this game. I can’t tell you how nostalgic I get whenever I boot it up and hear that familiar bubbly techno theme! It’s amazing. Needless to say it’s probably my favourite song of all time, next to the song that plays whenever you race on Highland Drive, but I’m getting ahead of myself. 

In part II, we’re covering the bikes. Every single one. Each section will cover a decade of Ducati. I’ve unlocked everything in the Quick Race mode so in the next part we’ll go over each of the courses, including the ones that are hidden during the beginning - I’ll also cover the different parts of Quick Race mode including Time Attack and 2 Player mode. In addition to the bikes listed in the PC port I’ll also be listing the bikes that are available in the Dreamcast version. Overall there should be around 50 bikes in total. I’ll be going through the list of bikes in chronological order, starting from the 1950′s (technically, mid-1940′s). The bikes will be divided into the Vintage and Modern sections. The information presented here is taken from forums, the game itself and various websites including the Ducati official site. Since I’ll be including screenshots from the game and some bikes aren’t available on my PC port I’ll be taking them from IGCD, a pretty cool website about game vehicles. 

The bike list is perhaps one of the most impressive parts of the game. It was released at around the turn of the millennium and was a low profile release at the time so expectations were not high. This was probably reflected in the scores that it received after released - it was rated as pretty mediocre, lost in the sea of other, more polished racing games and then, after Acclaim and Attention to Detail went under a few years later (2003 for ATD and 2004 for Acclaim), Ducati World Racing Challenge quickly become another title for the abandonware pile. Which was rough in its own way, but I’m kind of glad it managed to escape that weird status some old games get where they’re more akin to museum exhibits than straightforward entertainment material.

This game is important to me for a number of reasons. I experienced it when I was very young and listening to the music of the opening screen is actually one of my first memories. I have other fond memories of beating the game, unlocking the hidden courses and bikes as well as setting records for every track there was which probably says more about how much free time I had as a kid rather than my skill at the game. It helped form my aesthetic choices in terms of visual design in that I developed an appreciation for vivid colour palettes in combination with low poly skeletons and structure - and in a broader sense it got me on the road to valuing minimalism in art direction, a view I still hold today. Each screen is quite sparse with no excessive UI elements that would crowd your experience of navigating through the game. During a race your entire HUD is composed of a speedometer, a very simplistic map, your position among the racers, a personal best time and the total lap time. The font choice resembles a bold version of Arial and the sans-serif theme is consistent throughout the game. Everything that needs to be seen at one time is available on screen for you to examine. It’s far from polished but that’s part of its charm. 

- VINTAGE - 

1940′s

CUCCIOLO

Ducati’s first ever motorcycle

The Cucciolo engine held the honour of being the first piece of machinery that was manufactured not only in post-war Italy, but in the entirety of Europe. Created to fill a void left by the destruction of World War II, the Cucciolo was a tiny clip-on engine fitted to a bicycle - first unveiled in 1945, it was taken in by Ducati as a production model and the following year made way for the first original Ducati engine, the T2. It made several improvements on the Cucciolo engine first designed by Aldo Farinelli, most notably on the cylinder head and the drive mechanism. The next model up, the T3, was the first engine to be designed and built in the Ducati factory and was the engine that made significant steps towards building Ducati’s racing reputation which would come to a head with the release of the Ducati 60 in 1949/1950. 

What makes me believe the Cucciolo model in the game represents a T3 is mostly the fuller frame and the longer seat, a feature I noticed in a picture of a specially tuned endurance model. Below I’ll list some of the technical specifications taken from the Ducati website. I’ll be doing this where available, and from other sources when necessary. 

Type: Single cylinder 4 stroke

Bore and stroke: 39 mm x 40 mm

Total displacement: 48 cc

Power: 1.5 HP at 5,500 RPM

Lubrication: Oil sump splash

Timing system: Valves driven by linkage and rocker arm

Cooling system: Air

Carburettor: Weber carburettor with 9 mm choke

Ignition: Magneto flywheel ignition

This is one of the first bikes in the game that you get to try out. I’d recommend starting with it and pulling up a course, doesn’t really matter which at this point. At the very start only three tracks are available anyway, so use the Cucciolo as a good practice point for getting a feel of the game’s handling and physics ability. It’s slow but stable and you can then move onto the other bikes in the 50′s section once you’re more confident. 

1950′s

GRAN SPORT 100 AND 125

Picture by Rinspeed from IGCD

The Ducati Gran Sport model was first manufactured in 1955. Nicknamed the ‘Marianna’ after its production approval coincided with the celebration of Saint Mary that year, the Gran Sport 100 was developed by Taglioni featuring a single camshaft and bevel gears. It proved itself in multiple races and quickly gained a reputation as a stellar endurance bike. The 100cc model was equipped with a four-stroke single camshaft engine which later developed into the 125cc triple camshaft that had a capability of 12,500 r.p.m. 

Its technical specifications are listed below.

Type: Single cylinder 4 stroke with 10° forward angle configuration

Total displacement: 98 cc

Bore and Stroke: 49.4 x 52 mm

Compression ratio: 8:5:1

Lubrication: Forced oil sump

Timing system: Single camshaft twin valves with shaft/helical valve gear

Carburettor: Dell'Orto 20 mm

Ignition: Battery 

Maximum power: 9 HP at 9000 RPM (1st type) 

Top speed: 115 km/h

BIALBERO 125

Above photo by Rinspeed from IGCD

The Bialbero 125 was manufactured in 1955 for a Grand Prix race held that year and was based off of Fabio Taglioni’s Gran Sport 100 model. The bike in the game holds a superficial resemblance to the Cucciolo, albeit more sturdy. The chronology of this model was a little difficult for me to assess and at first glance I assumed it held some sort of relationship with the Ducati 98 T due to the long seat, more visible in the photo below. 

Photo by Phil Aynsley

Interestingly enough the model was available in two versions - no fairing as seen above and one with fairing. This particular style of fairing was pretty radical and acts as a neat example of 50′s biomorphism. 

Photo by Phil Aynsley

According to Bonhams Auctions Home, the model was originally available as a 100cc but a 125cc model quickly followed. Some of its technical specifications, or as much as I could gather anyway, are listed below.

Weight: 90 k.g.

Top speed: 175 km/h

Power: 17 b.h.p at 12,000 RPM

DUCATI 175 F3

Above photo by Rinspeed from IGCD

The bike in the game most likely refers to a Ducati 175 Sport, as shown by the designs on the fuel tank. Too similar to be a coincidence. They were made from 1957 and into the early 1960′s, up to 1961. 

Photo from an article by Kirby Garlitos

From what I’ve read this bike was equipped with a single cylinder 175 cc engine and was a successor to the Gran Sport. Whatever technical specs I could find about it are listed below. There were five models; the Sport, the Turismo, the Americano, the Formula 3 and the Motocross. I’ve only been able to find a direct comparison in some specifications between the first two models - they differ somewhat in their compression ratio, maximum power/speed, dry weight and final drive ratio. The T model will be indicated in italics.

Type: Single cylinder 4 stroke with a single overhead camshaft

Total displacement: 175 cc

Bore and Stroke: 62 x 57.8 mm

Compression ratio: 8:5:1/7:0:1

Final drive ratio: 2.875:1/3.066:1

Carburettor: Dell'Orto 20 mm

Ignition: Battery/ coil 6 volt 40 watt generator

Maximum power: 14 HP at 8000 RPM/12 HP at 7000 RPM

Dry weight: 106 kg/104 kg

Top speed: 130 km/h/110 km/h

There are four categories of license: Basic, Basic II, Full and Advanced. I always saw this part as a chore, because each test had time limits and I was simply interested in picking up a bike and racing. However, in Ducati Life mode the only way you can really do this is if you select races, and then pick the option for ‘One Day Race’ which leads you to pick a track and then race with your equipped bike, no license required. I’ll be including the in-game descriptions of each license task.

Tasks to be completed in the Basic license -

Basic start and stop 1 - Accelerate away from the state in a controlled manner, keep the bike under control at all times. You must stop within the marked finish zone to complete the test.

Basic cornering - Accelerate away from the start line and negotiate the series of bends as fast as possible. Cross the finish line to complete the test. Leaving the track will cause you to fail.

Basic cornering 2 - Accelerate away from the start line and negotiate the chicane. Cross the finish line to complete the test. Leaving the track will cause you to fail.

Basic cornering 3 - There are a series of corners and a fast straight-away. Maintaining your speed onto the straight-away is the key to a fast time. Cross the finish line to complete the test.

A full lap of the track - You must complete a full lap to pass this test. Maintain a smooth line through the corners. Minimise braking into the slower sections. Cross the finish line to complete the test. Leaving the track will cause you to fail the test.

Tasks to be completed in the Basic II license -

Basic start and stop 2 - Avoid spinning the rear wheel under acceleration and then use the brakes smoothly. Your maximum speed will be much higher than before, so you will need to brake earlier.

Advanced cornering 1 -  Using a more powerful bike maintain your speed through this section of track. Use the extra power of the bike with care. Cross the finish line to complete the test. Leaving the track will cause you to fail the test.

Bike control 1 - Control the bike over the crest of the hill. Excessive power will cause the front wheel to rise. Cross the finish line complete the test. 

Accuracy 1 - Do two laps and pass over the red and white curbs at the apex of each corner. Missing an apex will result in failing the test. Try to maintain a smooth line around the track. Cross the finish line to complete the test. 

Accuracy 2 - You must complete a full lap to pass this test. Maintain a smooth line through the corners. Minimise braking into the slower sections. Cross the finish line to complete the test. Leaving the track will cause you to fail the test.

Tasks to be completed in the Full license - 

Bike control 2 - Perfect the art of accurate and rapid direction changing. Maintain a smooth flowing line through a series of tire chicanes. Crashing will cause you to fail the test. Cross the finish line to complete the test.

Bike control 3 - Repeat the previous test using a more powerful bike. The extra power must be used with care. You will find that the bike will turn much quicker and respond better.

Advanced cornering 2 - Complete a section of an airfield. The corners on this track are 90 degree turns. Crashing will cause you to fail the test. Cross the finish line to complete the test. 

Maneuvering 1 - Complete the marked cone course within the time limit, Hitting a cone results in a 5 second penalty. Stop on the black and white grid to complete the test. 

Maneuvering 2 - Perform a successful circuit of this course using a powerful bike. Complete a series of cone gates in the correct order, shown on the map. Stop on the black and white grid to complete the test. Hitting too many cones will fail the test.

Tasks to be completed in the Advanced license - 

High speed control 1 - Maintaining control of a race class bike at high speed requires precision and smooth riding. Negotiate this section of track, maintaining speed at all times. Be prepared for the bike to become unbalanced by the undulations of the track. Cross the finish line to complete the test.

High speed accuracy 1 - Complete two laps. Find a smooth racing line around the track and ensure the bike passes over the red and white curbs at the apex of each corner. Failure to pass over an apex section will result in failing the test. Cross the finish line to complete the test. 

High speed control 2 - Complete a section of the track, using a race class bike. Due to the power of the bike, throttle control must be exceptional. Crashing will cause you to fail the test. Cross the finish line to complete the test. 

Maneuvering 3 - Negotiate the course using a race class bike. The racing brakes on this bike provide exceptional stopping ability, use this to your advantage. Stop on the black and white grid to complete the test. Hitting a cone results in a 5 second penalty. 

High speed control 3 - Complete a lap of the course using a race bike. You must find the perfect racing line around the track to pass this test. Leaving the track will cause you to fail the test. Cross the finish line to complete the test.

As you can see, that was a whole lot of stuff. The time targets on some of the tests can seem a bit unrealistic, but all it takes is practice to achieve what the task requires. 

Now that we’re done talking about licenses, let’s briefly revisit the ‘Bikes’ section of the Ducati Life main menu. 

When you first visit this menu, you are presented with a series of options where you can buy and sell bikes. I haven’t mentioned this previously, but what looks like the little home icon in the bottom right hand corner actually directs you to your garage, where you can store up to 5 bikes. 

When you decide to buy or sell a bike in Ducati Life mode, here are your options:

Vintage bikes include bikes from the 50′s to the 80′s while modern bikes include Monsters, supersports, sports tourers and superbikes. The dealership contains all bikes from every era, while the Ducati Magazine offers the same but with a more limited selection. Finally the classifieds offer private sales with, again, all bikes included. If you’re first starting out this is where I recommend getting your bikes from as you can find a pretty good deal and then invest your money in good headgear and leathers to prevent yourself from crashing as often in your races, leading you to win more prize money to then buy better bikes or upgrade the one you have. 

The depth to which this game goes with customisation is actually quite surprising. Say I’ve bought a M600 Dark for 5,700 in cash. I’ll have 4,300 left to spend on helmets, leathers or upgrades. 

This is a decent price for a bike such as this one. You’re usually aiming to start with a bike worth between 4,500 to maybe 8,500 to get the most out of your cash at the very beginning. If you take quickly to races, getting prize money shouldn’t be an issue. 

So according to the graph at the very bottom, my handling, braking and grip are all quite decent while my acceleration is quite low. If I wanted to change that, all I’d have to do is purchase the bike and then navigate to the upgrades menu. 

Each option has a helpful description at the bottom of the screen. For example, Engine Kit I will improve my bike’s power and weight, while the clutch option improves its braking and acceleration. This isn’t all, though. If you select the option to upgrade your clutch, you’re taken to this screen:

You can choose how you want to upgrade your clutch! It isn’t some sort of vague attachment in a random menu somewhere that you apply and forget about afterwards. You’re presented with two options, each different in price which then cause you to consider whether you’d want to upgrade your clutch fully, thereby hindering your ability to upgrade other parts of your bike or buying other gear like helmets or leathers and earning more money gradually through races. 

Here’s a summary of what each upgrade does.

ENGINE KIT I 

Option 1

Affects the crank, rods and pistons. The crankshaft and connecting rods are polished, increasing power. The aluminium piston is lighter and stronger. 

Total power gain: 4.5% b.h.p.

Total weight loss: 1 k.g.

Cost: 5,000

Option 2

Modifies the counterweights, reducing power loss. Lighter connecting rods. Forged aluminium piston. Lighter and stronger. 

Total power gain: 6% b.h.p. 

Total weight loss: 5 k.g.

Cost: 7,000

Option 3

Modifies the counterweights and reduces power loss. Lighter connecting rods. Increased bore aluminium piston.

Total power gain: 9% b.h.p.

Total weight loss: 7 k.g.

Cost: 9,000

ENGINE KIT II

OPTION 1

Affects the cam shafts and cylinder heads. Polished cam shaft and cylinder heads increase power to the bottom and mid range.

Total power gain: 3% b.h.p.

Cost: 5,000

OPTION 2

Increased port size, bigger valves and higher lift camshafts. Includes bigger coolers free of charge.

Total power gain: 4% b.h.p.

Cost: 7,000

OPTION 3

Increased compression ratio. This system includes bigger oil and water coolers. 

Total power gain: 5% b.h.p.

Cost: 9,000

EXHAUST SYSTEM

OPTION 1

Free flowing aluminium silencers with stainless steel pipe work and carbon fiber heat insulation.

Total power gain: 2% b.h.p.

Cost: 2,000

OPTION 2

Free flowing aluminium silencers and a moderate size increase across the kit with a carbon fiber heat insulator. 

Total power gain: 3% b.h.p.

Cost: 3,000

OPTION 3

Big exhaust system with big free flow silencers including a high flow KN filter along with new mapping.

Total power gain: 4% b.h.p.

Cost: 5,000

BRAKE KITS

OPTION 1

Smoother lines.

Cost: 1,000

OPTION 2

The bees knees of braking systems. 

Cost: 4,000

OPTION 3

The best brakes and lines money can buy.

Cost: 5,000

BODY KIT

OPTION 1

Full carbon fiber body kit reduces weight even further.

Total weight loss: 6 k.g.

Cost: 6,000

WHEEL SETS

OPTION 1 

Aluminium wheels increase the power to weight ratio and improves overall maneuverability. 

Total weight loss: 3 k.g.

Cost: 2,000

OPTION 2

The ultimate magnesium wheels. Not the safest, but certainly the best power to weight ratio. 

Total weight loss: 5 k.g.

Cost: 2,500.

FLY WHEEL

OPTION 1

Magnesium fly wheel increases the power to weight ratio. Improves acceleration and engine braking.

Total weight loss: 3 k.g.

Cost: 1,000

CLUTCH

OPTION 1

Lighter, improving acceleration and engine braking by increasing the power to weight ratio. 

Total weight loss: 1 k.g.

Cost: 500

OPTION 2

Lighter with anti-hopping; improves control under braking and increases the maximum deceleration possible.

Total weight loss: 1 k.g.

Cost: 1,500

TIRES

OPTION 1

Improves grip. Street racing specification.

Cost: 1,000

OPTION 2

Improves grip. Track racing specification.

Cost: 2,000

And that just about covers all the upgrades. There are quite a few and balancing them against your current cash situation takes some practice, but it gets easier as your bike improves.

I have a very strong connection to this game. I remember playing it as a kid, admiring the bike models and the colourful leathers worn by the A.I. opponents that took the time out of their day to hurl themselves at me as we raced around  plainly rendered but colourful 3D environments to the beat of vibrant techno and jungle music. Still find it interesting that out of all the possible genres of music I could have heard growing up, the one that I heard first was jungle.

My rationale for choosing this particular game to talk about at length is that it played a fundamental role in my aesthetic development, both musically and visually. There are going to be more posts discussing other video games but for now let’s just stick to this one as it’s the most important.

Ducati World Racing Challenge came out in 2000/2001 for the Playstation One, the Sega Dreamcast and Microsoft Windows - I’ve only had experience with the Windows version so that’s the version I’ll be talking about here. Most of the media accessible online (if not all of it, including roms) are to do with the PSX or Dreamcast versions, which have their own pronounced differences from the Windows version. Notably, the graphics are much better on the Windows version (of course, I say without meaning to sound patronising). It’s still a stark contrast to the games enjoyed today but it looked decent for a game made barely past the turn of the century. Sure, it looks fuzzy and polygonal but that just lends it character, I feel. The bikes were modelled pretty faithfully to their original forms and each bike had its own separate engine noise simulation - credit where credit is due, Attention to Detail really deserve their name for going to the lengths that they did here. Sadly both ATD and Acclaim are no more so the game is basically abandonware.

When you first boot up the game, you’re greeted with the above opening screen. The theme that plays in this part of the game is undoubtedly my favourite song of all time, a bright techno tune suffused with late 90s charm. 

There are two paths available at the main menu - Ducati Life or Quick Race - the former being a career and the latter being exactly what it says it is, more of an instant action mode. My favourite mode was always Quick Race, chiefly because of the kick-ass music and also because it felt like less of a commitment than Ducati Life. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve played the career mode a hell of a lot too, however this game doesn’t offer anything in relation to what you might expect as far as a story or campaign.  

Ducati Life more or less resembles a choose-your-own-adventure. You start right out of the gate with 10,000 in-game cash and a choice of bikes, helmets and leathers. Let’s talk accessories for now, as I’ll pick back up with bikes and licenses afterwards.

And now for the leathers.

These items serve a purpose separate from just decking you out in cool gear - they stop you from crashing as often, and when you do crash (more of an inevitability in this game thanks to the A.I.), you recover from it quicker if you’re wearing the pricier leathers and helmets.