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Putt-Putt Enters the Race

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by IceWelder (talk | contribs) at 13:43, 22 March 2023 (Reverted 1 edit by 65.51.78.195 (talk): See the source. It was released on January 1, 1999, so most likely mastered in 1998. By January 1998, the game was not even announced.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Putt-Putt Enters the Race
Cover art
Developer(s)Humongous Entertainment
Publisher(s)Humongous Entertainment[a]
Designer(s)
  • Mark Peyser
  • Richard Moe
Writer(s)Laurie Bauman Arnold
Composer(s)Tom McGurk
SeriesPutt-Putt
EngineSCUMM
Platform(s)Mac OS, Windows, Android, iOS
Release
  • Mac OS, Windows
  • January 1, 1999
  • Android, iOS
  • June 27, 2014
Genre(s)Adventure
Mode(s)Single player

Putt-Putt Enters the Race is an educational adventure game developed and published by Humongous Entertainment on January 1, 1999.[1] The game is the fifth entry in the Putt-Putt series. This is the first of three games to feature Nancy Cartwright as the voice of Putt-Putt.

Production

The game was created by Humongous Games as part of the popular edutainment series Putt-Putt in January 1999. The game was re-released in 2014 for iOS, Android, and Steam.

Plot

While playing with Pep, Putt-Putt receives a letter from Redline Rick inviting him to enter the Cartown 500 race. Excited, Putt-Putt goes to the Speedway to sign up. Redline Rick says that if Putt-Putt wants to be a race car, he'll need Extra High-Powered High-Octane Gasoline, Super Speedy Radial Racing Tires, a safety helmet for Pep to wear during the race and a triangular flag with a random number on it. Putt-Putt decides to get those items around Cartown, determined to enter.

To get the tires and items he needs, Putt-Putt must give Chuck the Tow Truck a patch from his Tire Patch Kit at his Tire Center, as one of Chuck's tires is flat from running into a nail. After helping Chuck, he can get all four tires for four coins. Also, Putt-Putt helps Pete Crane find his missing hook to move pipes out of the way of the road, Mr. Baldini getting fruits and vegetables from Torvil Tractor's farm garden to earn coins, to fill his gas, he can help Mr. Crankcase sort out his junk, Mrs. Airbag find her husband's new hubcaps (that her poodle, Ralphie, dug up) using a shovel that he borrows from Betsy after giving her a milkshake to get a gas can, to get a racing flag, Putt-Putt helps Mr. Fenderbender by getting a brick to cover up the hole after giving his cat Bonzo milk or help Outback Al feed a baby animal before getting a number, getting a safety badge for putting out a fire to get a ladder he uses to save Bonzo from a tree, or nailing, many other citizens.

After finding all four items, Putt-Putt heads over to the Speedway and gets all set up for the race. If Putt-Putt gets in the Top 3, Redline Rick will honor him with a trophy and announce him to the audience. If Putt-Putt doesn't get in the Top 3, he will get a ribbon as a reward for how he raced around the track. Regardless of the outcome, Putt-Putt will thank everyone in Cartown for getting the things he needed and declares, "It's not if you win or lose, it's how you race around the track."

Promotion

The game was officially unveiled at the 1998 Electronic Entertainment Expo in Atlanta, May 28–30, at booth 5626.[2][3] Humongous Entertainment executive vice president of marketing and licensing, Ralph Giuffre, said that this title was purposely designed for younger players.[2] On January 14, the Humongous Entertainment website (humongous.com) launched a week-long online celebration for the game, which included offering players free downloadable demos, online games, contests and other items the at Putt-Putt's Pit Stop.[4] In December 1999, Humongous partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation for a holiday promotion where customers could "donate the full $10 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation or donate $2 to the charity and receive $8 back" at participating national software retail outlets for Humongous's best-selling 16 software, which included this game.[5][6]

Commercial performance

According to PC Data of Reston, the game was the 5th top-selling educational title across 13 software retail chains for the week ended January 16,[7] and the 9th top-selling home-education software for the week ended May 1.[8]

Critical reception

Sonic praised the game for being both fun and educational, while challenging kids in creative ways.[15] Superkids said the game was best-suited to children who have curiosity and patience.[16] Eugene Register-Guard described the game as "challenging and entertaining".[17] The Bryan Times praised the user interface.[18] Lakeland Ledger thought the game was "charming".[19] Ouders Online said the game was highly fun, and added that Putt-Putt was a good role model.[20] The Boston Herald praised the game's "smooth animation and appealing characters", while saying that its complexity would appeal to older players.[21] The 52 year old reviewer at The Colombian, enjoyed the interactive content, commenting that the game had a high "Giggle-to-Click Ratio".[22] Star Tribune said that, like other Humongous games, this title was "high-quality" and "entertaining", while complimenting its replay value.[23] The game was used in a study by The Mirror.[24] Daily Herald deemed the game "above average"[25] and "sweet".[26] PC Mag said a parent "can't go wrong" with buying the game for their 3-8-year-old child.[27]

References

  1. ^ "Humongous Entertainment Brings a New Perspective to Children's Software; Putt-Putt's Newest Junior Adventure™ Puts Kids in the Driver's Seat Putt-Putt Enters the Race™ Hits Retail Stores This Week; Humongous.com Kicks off Online Launch Party for Putt-Putt on January 14" (Press release). Humongous Entertainment. January 5, 1999. Archived from the original on October 2, 1999.
  2. ^ a b "Humongous Entertainment's Putt-Putt, the No. 1 Character in Children's Adventure CD-ROMs, Gets Ready to Speed Onto the Track of the Thrilling Cartown 500. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  3. ^ "Humongous Entertainment Paints Atlanta "Blue" at Electronic Entertainment Expo -- E3. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Archived from the original on March 28, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  4. ^ "Humongous Entertainment Brings a New Perspective to Children's Software; Putt-Putt's Newest Junior Adventure Puts Kids in the Driver's Seat. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved September 14, 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ "Humongous Entertainment and the Make-A-Wish Foundation Are Partnering to Help Make Dreams Come True This Holiday Season. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved September 14, 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ "Humongous Entertainment Makes Dreams Come True With $228,000 Donation to Make-A-Wish Foundation. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  7. ^ "BESTSELLERS". February 1, 1999. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ "Bestsellers". May 17, 1999. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ^ "Pajama Sam 3: You Are What You Eat from Your Head to Your Feet for PC - GameRankings". GameRankings. Archived from the original on December 28, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  10. ^ "3: You Are What You Eat from Your Head to Your Feet Information, Screenshots & Media". Adventure Gamers. Archived from the original on June 27, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  11. ^ "Pajama Sam 3: You Are What You Eat from Your Head to Your Feet Review". IGN. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  12. ^ "Pajama Sam 3 - Review Corner". May 2000. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved June 11, 2015. Kids will love this engaging adventure that gets them thinking and solving problems, learning about the importance of a balanced diet, and having fun!
  13. ^ "Pajama Sam series on Unikgamer". Unikgamer. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  14. ^ a b c "Infogrames Awards - Putt-Putt Enters the Race". Archived from the original on June 24, 2003. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  15. ^ "Putt-Putt Enters the Race". www.sonic.net. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  16. ^ "SuperKids Software Review of Putt-Putt Enters the Race". www.superkids.com. Archived from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  17. ^ "Eugene Register-Guard - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  18. ^ "The Bryan Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  19. ^ "Lakeland Ledger - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  20. ^ "Ouders Online Leeszaal - Recensie kindersoftware". archief.ouders.nl. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  21. ^ "Putt-Putt motors right along; Putt-Putt Enters the Race. Humongous Entertainment, $30. For ages 3 to 8. CD-ROM for Windows 95/98/3.1 and Macintosh 3 1/2 stars". January 3, 1999. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  22. ^ "GAME SPURS KIDS TO THINK, EXPLORE AND, WELL ... PUTT AROUND". February 2, 1999. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  23. ^ "Putt-Putt gears up for new adventure.(VARIETY)". March 20, 1999. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  24. ^ "kelly's i: Name of the game.(Features)". March 21, 2002. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  25. ^ "Software.(Business)". February 1, 1999. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  26. ^ "WHAT TO FEED YOUR GAME MACHINES; KEEP ON PLAYING WITH NEW SOFTWARE.(L.A. LIFE) (video recording review)". February 20, 1999. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  27. ^ Inc, Ziff Davis (March 23, 1999). PC Mag. Ziff Davis, Inc. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  1. ^ The IOS/Android release was published by Tommo. The Steam release was co-published by Tommo and Night Dive Studios.
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