________ ___________________ _________ | | / \ / \ |________| |___________________| |_________| ________ ________ _______ __ __ | | | \ | | | | | | | |----- \____ | | ____| | | | | | |_____ ______| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |________| |________/ |__| |__| |__| ____ _____ _____ _____ ____ / ___| | _ \ | | | | | \ / / | | \ | | ___| | ___| | _ \ / /__ | |_/ | | |___ | |___ | | \ | \___ \ | ___/ | ___| | ___| | | | | \ \ | | | |___ | |___ | |_/ | ____/ / | | | | | | | / |____ / |_| |_____| |_____| |____/ __ __ __ ____ _____ _ ____ | | | | | | / \ | _ \ | | | \ | | | | | | / /\ \ | | \ | | | | _ \ | | | | | | | | | | | |_/ | | | | | \ | | | | | | | | | | | | _ / | | | | | | \ \/ \/ / | | | | | | \ \ | | | |_/ | \ /\ / \ \/ / | | \ \ | |___ | / \__/ \__/ \____/ |_| \_\ |_____| |____/ ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Table of Contents ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ [INTR] Introduction [MODE] Modes of Play [FAQS] Frequently Asked Questions [CARS] Car Setup [VERS] Version History [COPY] Copyright [CONT] Contact Information Easy Navigation: Hold down the Ctrl key and press F to bring down a search bar. Then type in the code for the section you want to see (for example, [VERS] for the Version History section). ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Introduction [INTR] ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Okay, I'm writing ANOTHER walkthrough. This is my ninth! If you've read my other guides, you know I like talking about Super NES motor racing games, as more than half of my guides to date have been written for that genre. ESPN SpeedWorld is hardly state-of-the-art, but it's a fun way to spend a couple of hours when you're snowed in (my thermometer reads 81 degrees at the moment, by the way). I don't have a huge amount of advice to give you for this game, but what I do have should be pretty helpful. And for the record, I'm beginning this guide on the Anniversary of the Constitution in Mexico. It's also what the media has declared to be Super Duper Tuesday, but you'll be able to make it through this guide without hearing about Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton, or Mike Huckabee. Yippee! I think it's about time to end this boring introduction and move on to the tips. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Modes of Play [MODE] ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ You can change the current game mode on the Options menu found on the opening screen. This is also where you can change the difficulty level (Rookie, Pro, or Veteran) and turn music and sound on or off. Before every race you'll have the opportunity to decide the number of laps and whether you want damage and pit stops (fuel consumption and tire wear). After that you'll also be able to change your car's settings. ---Season--- In Season Mode, you'll fight your way through a 15-race season. Points and prize money will be awarded after each race, with the amount depending on your finish. The driver with the most points at the end of the season will be the champion. The prize money can be used to purchase upgrades for your car. ---Single Race--- Run one race at the track of your choice after completing a qualifying session. ---Head to Head--- Same as Single Race, but in Head to Head Mode two human players race simultaneously on a split screen. There are still computer drivers on the road, too. ---Practice--- In Practice Mode, you can run a set number of laps at the track of your choice. No other drivers are on the track with you. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Frequently Asked Questions [FAQS] ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Q: What are the controls? A: Chances are, you got this game at the GameStop bargain bin or the Salvation Army (or downloaded the ROM) and don't have a manual. Control pad left and right: Steer the car X: Accelerate A: Brake R: Shift gears up (if using a manual transmission) L: Shift down Start: Pause game Select: Quit race (when paused) You can change the controls on the opening screen if you don't like this configuration, but I find it to be OK. Q: How do I make a pit stop? A: Simply veer leftward into the pit area and you'll pit automatically. However, if you touch the line between the road and the pit lane, you'll keep going and not stop. You should be all right if you stay in the left lane before entering the pits. Remember: When the word "PIT" appears on the screen, pit or you'll blow a tire or run out of gas by the next lap. Q: How can I speed up pit stops? A: Tap L as fast as possible to refuel more quickly, and mash the R button to speed up tire stops. Make sure to use turbo buttons if you have a turbo controller or are playing on an emulator. While you usually want to fully fill up your fuel and tire gauges, you may want to fill them only partially if you have to pit with just a few laps remaining. Q: How do I know how worn my tires are? A: There's a gauge depicting four tires on the right side of the screen near the speedometer and tachometer and directly above the fuel gauge. Each disappearing fraction of a tire represents some tire wear. When you're down to one tire, think about making a pit stop. Q: Should I use a manual or automatic transmission? A: An automatic transmission is easier to use, but a manual transmission improves acceleration very slightly. This difference isn't really noticeable, and it doesn't affect your top speed or handling. If you use a manual transmission, make sure to remember to upshift after leaving the pit lane, after yellow flags, and at the start of the race, and to downshift if you get caught up in a crash or otherwise drop below 130 MPH or so. Q: When should I shift while accelerating when using a manual transmission? A: Shift from first gear to second at about 50 MPH, to third once you reach 90 MPH, and to fourth when you're going about 140 MPH. However, this can vary a little depending on your gear ratio, engine power, and (to a lesser extent) spoiler angle. Q: What is the best car setup for each track? A: Here are my recommended settings: Gearbox Spoiler Florida (Daytona) High 30 Washington Low 60 Maryland (Dover, DE) High 30 Arizona (Phoenix) Medium 45 Oregon (Sears Point) Low 60 North Carolina (Rockingham) High 30 Pennsylvania (Pocono) High 45 New York (Watkins Glen) Medium 45 Virginia (Martinsville) Low 60 Alabama (Talladega) High 30 New Jersey High 45 South Carolina (Darlington) High 45 Minnesota (Michigan) High 30 California Medium 45 Indiana (Indianapolis) High 30 Q: Does changing the number of laps in a race affect the prize money awarded in that race? A: No. The prize money is always the same, regardless of the number of laps or whether damage and pit stops are turned on or off. Q: Can I run a race without qualifying first? A: Yes. When "Qualifying or Race" appears right after the car setup screen, just select "Race." I strongly recommend that you qualify, though, because otherwise you're guaranteed to start in 24th place (dead last). Q: Can I change the difficulty level during a season? A: Yes. However, I haven't noticed much difference between the difficulty levels (Rookie, Pro, and Veteran). Q: What's the fastest speed you've ever achieved? A: My record for fastest straight-line speed is 226 MPH. However, Alexandre from Brazil e-mailed me and told me he's achieved a 227 MPH speed. Q: What other tips do you have? A: Below are some helpful miscellaneous tips: * Drafting is very important in this game, even on road courses. If you're not drafting on someone, you'll probably start falling behind. * Stay on the road to reduce tire wear. * Fuel is consumed more quickly on faster courses like Talladega, while tire wear is usually the main concern on road courses and short tracks. Keep this in mind if you have only one turbo button on your controller. * You don't usually need to brake in this game, except at one very sharp turn at Watkins Glen and when you're trying to avoid a pileup. It's usually best to just let your finger off the accelerator on sharp turns. * Block opposing drivers to keep them from passing you. It's OK to be very aggressive! If you're really audacious, you can try tapping the brakes to slow down a particularly annoying tailgater. * Sometimes, however, it's advantageous to let another driver pass you so you can use it to draft, especially if you're not in first place. * If you're side-by-side with another driver, you're coming up to a sharp turn, and the opponent is between you and the wall, you may be able to use the opponent as a cushion and drive faster and more aggressively than normal. * When starting near the back of the field (especially at Daytona and Virginia), watch out for the inevitable bumping, spinouts, and crashes that will occur. * If you see a car about to hit another in the rear, look out! It's possible that one or both of them will lose control or be forced to slow down - two things that make them unsuitable drafting partners. Be ready to get out of the way. This is especially dangerous when faster cars slam into lapped cars or cars leaving the pit lane. * Accidents often occur near pit lane and on sharp turns on superspeedways and short courses. And as discussed in the previous tip, beware of "dropkicks" (cars hitting each other in the rear). Try not to get dropkicked yourself, especially when leaving the pits. * You can't change car settings between qualifying and the race, so make sure to get the setup right before you qualify. One of my previous questions is very useful when determining your settings. * Drive more cautiously on turns when your tires are worn to avoid spinouts and crashes. * If you don't like the way a race is going in Season mode, just reset and select that same save file again. You'll be able to start the race over again. Q: What tips do you have specific to each course? A: I'm not going in-depth with my track strategies like I did in my F-1 guides, but I do have a few tips for some tracks: * Daytona: Let off the accelerator on the first and third turns. * Washington: Watch out for the deceptively sharp second turn. * Arizona: The second turn gets sharper as you go along. * New York: Use a bit of braking action on the sharp final turn, but use a fairly fast setup for this otherwise quick road course. * Virginia: If you start near the middle or back of the pack, take the early turns very slowly (about 130 MPH) to avoid the near-certain pileups. * California: The last turn is a very good place to pass at this road course. * Indianapolis: Drafting is paramount at Indianapolis. Q: What other notes do you have for this game? A: Here are a few things you might find interesting: * If you're really good, you may be able to lap the field at some of the shorter tracks! Nothing feels better than to see "01 LAPS AHEAD" pop up on the screen. But don't let your guard down, especially if you need to pit soon. * In qualifying, a fairly short margin separates first place and last place. * It's tougher to qualify well on road courses than other tracks. * There's no timer in this game, so there's no way to know how long a lap or race took. After every lap you can find out how far behind (or ahead if you're in the lead) the next car you are, though. Remember that these splits aren't very precise. * Images of real NASCAR stock cars appear on the track select screens, but there are no actual drivers or cars in ESPN SpeedWorld. * Atlanta, Bristol, Charlotte, New Hampshire, and North Wilkesboro are the only 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup courses not included in this game. Of course, tracks like California, Chicago, Homestead, Kansas City, Las Vegas, and Texas aren't included because they weren't on the NASCAR calendar (or didn't exist) at that time. Three tracks in ESPN SpeedWorld (California, New Jersey, and Washington) aren't based on any real-life tracks. * Look up in the air at some tracks and you'll see things like blimps, planes, hot-air balloons, and birds. The Washington course even has a flying saucer! ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Car Setup [CARS] ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Before every race, you'll go to the Car Setup screen. There are nine settings you can change, and I'll divide them into three categories: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ---Upgrades--- +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ These settings can be upgraded - but not for free. These are available exclusively in Season mode. ---Engine--- As you might guess, upgrading the engine increases your car's maximum top speed. Each notch on the bar costs $20,000 and adds about 1 MPH to your speed. However, these upgrades are temporary; for the next race you lose one notch of engine power for every 10 laps you ran on the previous event (although you can't ever get below the red notches). For this reason, you may want to run shorter races than the default. ---Pit Crew--- Unlike upgrades to the engine and body, these are permanent. Each notch costs only $10,000 and will improve your pit service considerably, so make sure to max out this gauge pretty early on in season mode - probably by the second or third race. ---Body--- If damage is turned on, and your car sustained damaged in the previous race, you can use the Body gauge to repair this damage. Each notch costs $15,000. I haven't found many adverse effects from car damage, though. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ---Adjustable--- +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ These settings should be changed depending on the type of track you're racing at. ---Tires--- In my tests, I noticed no difference between any of the tire types. They all wear at the same rate and provide the same handling and performance. Personally, I always go with the default Medium. ---Gear Box--- High gear increases your top speed while hurting acceleration, while low gear makes you accelerate more quickly while reducing maximum top speed. Medium is in between. Note that all transmissions are manual except those marked by "Auto." ---Spoiler--- The 30-degree spoiler boosts top speed while making your car harder to control, while the 60-degree spoiler improves handling but reduces top speed. As you can probably guess, the 45-degree spoiler is in between the two. ---Suspension--- I haven't found any substantial difference between the three varieties of suspension. Loose might increase tire wear slightly while providing VERY slightly better handling. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ---Cosmetic--- +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ These settings allow you to change the way your car looks, but they won't affect handling or performance. ---Paint--- This changes your car's color. The eight available colors are red, orange, green, purple, blue, white, light blue, and yellow. ---Body Type--- Body Type lets you choose between massive muscles and a big bust! Maybe not. In reality, this lets you adjust the color of your car's stripe. Available colors are red, yellow, orange, green, purple, blue, pink, and teal. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Version History [VERS] ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Date Version Size ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2- 5-08 | 0.1 | 7KB | Began guide. 2- 7-08 | 0.5 | 13KB | Finished car setup guide. 2- 8-08 | 1.0 | 20KB | Finished things up. 2-11-08 | | Submitted guide to GameFAQs and Neoseeker. 3- 8-10 | 1.1 | 20KB | Changed a note about the maximum attainable speed. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Copyright [COPY] ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ (c) 2008-2010 Vinny Hamilton. All rights reserved. All trademarks mentioned in this guide are copyrights of their respective holders. You can print this guide out for your personal use. You can download this guide to your computer for your personal use. You can translate this guide into a foreign language (British, Southern, Australian, and New Yorker are not considered foreign languages) and post the translation on your Web site as long as you ask permission first. You can post this guide on your Web site as long as you give proper credit AND you don't change a single letter, number, or symbol (not even a tilde). Remember that the latest version will always be available at GameFAQs.com, but don't count on there being frequent (if any) updates. You can't post this guide on your Web site and then say you wrote the guide yourself. You can't post this guide on Web sites that contain (or have links to sites that contain) explicit depictions of naked humans (also known as pornography), racism, or flattery of totalitarian regimes. You can't post this guide on your Web site if you're going to change anything in this guide that took me so many hours to write. If you don't comply with these guidelines, your hard drive will be reformatted inexplicably and you will suffer from constipation for the rest of your life. Heed this warning. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ Contact Information [CONT] ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ If you have any questions or comments about this guide, please send an e-mail to VHamilton002@gmail.com. That's zero-zero-two, by the way. Remember that not all e-mails will be read. Please follow these rules: Do include "ESPN SpeedWorld" in the subject line. Do send polite suggestions for ways to make this walkthrough better. Do send information about any glitches, tricks, or codes you find. Do ask any questions you have about ESPN SpeedWorld gameplay. I will answer them eventually if you follow all of these rules. Do make a reasonable effort to use decent spelling, grammar, usage, punctuation, and capitalization so that I can understand what you're trying to say. Do use patience. I check my messages quite sporadically. Do not send spam, pornography, chain letters, "flaming," or anything that contains profanity or vulgarity. Again, violating this rule will result in deletion of the message and permanent constipation. And lastly, a public service message: Fight for and affirm the rights of all humans, regardless of race, age, or creed! And... Don't forget to brush your teeth. No one's going to read this, anyway.