GAMES:XCar: Experimental Racing

XCar: Experimental Racing
Developer	Bethesda Softworks
Publisher	Bethesda Softworks
Released	1997
Status	Playable
Tested on	0.73
Tested game version	1.0
Links	Compatibility List
Commands
Executable	XCAR.EXE
Installer	INSTALL.EXE
Setup	SETUP.EXE
DOS Extender
DOS4GW.EXE	DOS4GW.EXE
Works with DOS32A	N/A

XCar: Experimental Racing is a 3D racing game, built using Bethesda Softworks' XnGine game engine. Dispensing with many of the rules and regulations that govern all other forms of racing, XCar forms a new genre of racing based on prototype closed-wheel, closed-cockpit design. Choose from 16 cars, each with their own unique characteristics, then tweak the car of your choice down to its finest details, such as its steering, gearbox, aerodynamics and suspension. When you are done, pit your vehicle against the rest in any one of eleven circuits, some based on real world locations.

The playable demo for this game may be found at DOSgames.cc.

Installation Instructions

Windows

As of v0.73 of DOSBox, the full version of XCar is incapable of running on Windows if the Large Installation (57megs) option is chosen. Attempting to run XCar after choosing the Large Installation option will most likely return a File Not Found error, regarding haze.000, after the introductory video and title screens are shown.

The game should work if the Small Installation (5megs) option is chosen. However, as this is the smallest installation size, which copies the least amount of files onto your computer, the game will run very slowly, even on machines with 2 GB RAM.

The CD's sound card setup program will not work when executed from the XCar installer. However, the same setup program copied into the target directory works fine.

The demo version of XCar works fine, although it may crash if game resolution is set to 800x600.

A step-by-step method for installing the full version of the game follows, with the actual key commands parenthesised if applicable. This assumes that the hard drive you are copying to is C:\, and your CD drive with the game disc inserted is D:\.

1. Mount your C drive to C:\. Disregard BOSBox warning you about mounting C:\ (mount c C:\).
2. Mount your D drive to D:\ using the discmount command (mount d D:\ -t cdrom).
3. Switch to the D drive. (D:).
4. Type "INSTALL" (INSTALL).
5. Check that your installation size is set to Small Installation (5megs).
6. When the installer notifies you that the game will be installed into C:\XCar, choose the option to install to a different directory.
7. Change the install directory to C:\GAMES\XCAR and confirm.
8. Install the game.
9. Once the installation is done, the installer will ask you if you wish to set up your sound card. Either option is fine, but choosing No is recommended.
10. Finish the installer.
11. You will return to the DOS prompt, with the directory automatically set to C:\GAMES\XCAR>. If you wish to play the game without sound effects, type XCAR to begin playing (XCAR). If you want to configure your sound card, type SETUP (SETUP).

Mac OS X

Mac OS X users can install the full version of XCar with the Large Installation option via Boxer v0.87, and the game runs quite smoothly on a 2008-era MacBook. The only downside is the lack of CD audio.

The demo version of XCar works fine, although it may crash if game resolution is set to 800x600.

A step-by-step method for installing the full version of the game using Boxer follows. This assumes that you already have Boxer in your Applications directory.

1. Start Boxer to bring up the DOS Games window.
2. Insert your XCar CD into your disc drive and wait for the Audio CD and XCar disc images to show on Finder.
3. Drag and drop the XCar disc image into the Drop games to install icon in the DOS Games window.
4. If Boxer prompts you for a program to open, choose INSTALL.EXE, which will start the XCar installer in a Boxer-created DOSBox window.
5. Choose the settings you want and install the game to C:\XCar.
6. Once the installation is done, the installer will ask you if you wish to set up your sound card. Either option is fine, but choosing No is recommended.
7. Finish the installer.
8. You will return to the DOS prompt, with the directory automatically set to C:\XCAR>. If you wish to play the game without sound effects, type XCAR to begin playing (XCAR). If you want to configure your sound card, type SETUP (SETUP).
9. When you close the Boxer-created DOSBox window, Boxer will ask you if you wish to copy the entire CD into XCar. Allowing Boxer to do so will allow you to play the game without the game disc in your disc drive, essentially creating a no-CD copy of the game.