# FlatOut

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/FlatOut
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/FlatOut.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FlatOut
> Source revision: 1324423294
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Video game series}}
{{About|the video game series|the first game in the series|FlatOut (2004 video game){{!}}''FlatOut'' (2004 video game)|other uses|Flat Out (disambiguation){{!}}Flat Out}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox video game series
| title = ''FlatOut''
| image = 
| caption = 
| developer = {{Plainlist|
* [Bugbear Entertainment](/source/Bugbear_Entertainment) <small>(2004–2008)</small>
* [Team6 Game Studios](/source/Team6_Game_Studios) <small>(2010–2013)</small>
* [Kylotonn](/source/Kylotonn) <small>(2017)</small>
}}
| publisher = {{Plainlist|
* [Empire Interactive](/source/Empire_Interactive) <small>(2005–2008)</small>
* [Strategy First](/source/Strategy_First) <small>(2006–2017)</small>
* [Zoo Games](/source/Zoo_Games) <small>(2010)</small>
* [Team6 Game Studios](/source/Team6_Game_Studios) <small>(2013)</small>
* [Bigben Interactive](/source/Bigben_Interactive) <small>(2017)</small>
}}
| platforms = [Microsoft Windows](/source/Microsoft_Windows), [PlayStation 2](/source/PlayStation_2), [PlayStation 4](/source/PlayStation_4), [Xbox](/source/Xbox_(console)), [Xbox 360](/source/Xbox_360), [Xbox One](/source/Xbox_One), [PlayStation Portable](/source/PlayStation_Portable), [Wii](/source/Wii), [Android](/source/Android_(operating_system)), [OS X](/source/OS_X), [Linux](/source/Linux), [Meta Quest](/source/Meta_Quest), [PlayStation 5](/source/PlayStation_5)
| first release version = ''[FlatOut](/source/FlatOut_(video_game))''
| first release date = November 5, 2004
| latest release version = ''[FlatOut 4: Total Insanity](/source/FlatOut_4%3A_Total_Insanity)'' 
| latest release date = March 17, 2017
}}

'''''FlatOut''''' is a series of [action](/source/Action_game) [demolition derby](/source/demolition_derby)/[racing](/source/Racing_video_game) [video game](/source/video_game)s created by [Finnish](/source/Finland) independent [video game developer](/source/video_game_developer) [Bugbear Entertainment](/source/Bugbear_Entertainment).<ref name="Kuorikoski">{{cite book |last1=Kuorikoski |first1=Juho |title=Finnish Video Games: A History and Catalog |date=2015 |publisher=[McFarland & Company](/source/McFarland_%26_Company) |isbn=978-1-4766-2119-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tGRiCQAAQBAJ&q=flatout |access-date=16 March 2019 |via=[Google Books](/source/Google_Books)}}</ref> The ''FlatOut'' series has sold a total of almost three million units worldwide. After Bugbear developed ''FlatOut: Head On'', [Dutch](/source/Netherlands) [video game developer](/source/video_game_developer) [Team6 Game Studios](/source/Team6_Game_Studios) developed the next three games in the series, which are the Windows-exclusive ''FlatOut 3'' and two spin-offs on [Wii](/source/Wii) and Android. [Kylotonn](/source/Kylotonn) developed the series' fourth installment, ''[FlatOut 4: Total Insanity](/source/FlatOut_4%3A_Total_Insanity)'', which was released on March 17, 2017, for [PlayStation 4](/source/PlayStation_4) and [Xbox One](/source/Xbox_One) in Europe and May 2 in the United States. In 2024, Flat2VR Studios announced a remake of FlatOut (2004) for [Meta Quest](/source/Meta_Quest), [PSVR2](/source/PlayStation_VR2), and [SteamVR](/source/Steam_(service)).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=Ben |date=2024-08-15 |title=Flat2VR Studios Announces Four Flatscreen Games Getting VR Ports for Major Headsets |url=https://www.roadtovr.com/flat2vr-announcement-port-wrath-aeon-ruin-roboquest-flatout-trombone-champ/ |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=Road to VR |language=en-US}}</ref>

The series has received both critical acclaim during Bugbear's development<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattgardner1/2019/08/01/13-years-on-bugbears-flatout-2-is-still-king-of-car-combat-will-wreckfest-change-that/?sh=74c64becb61b|title=13 Years On, BugBear's ''FlatOut 2'' is Still the King of Car Combat. Will Wreckfest Change That?|website=Forbes|date=1 August 2019|author=Matt Gardner}}</ref> and notable negative reception after the bankruptcy of Empire Interactive and ownership change to Team6<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-01-03-flatout-3-chaos-and-destruction-review|title=FlatOut 3: Chaos and Destruction Review|website=Eurogamer|date=5 January 2012|author=Rich Stanton}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/01/17/flatout-3-how-to-ruin-a-good-racing-series-forever|title=FlatOut 3: How to Ruin a Good Racing Series Forever|website=[IGN](/source/IGN)|date=18 January 2012|author=Luke Reilly}}</ref> with most notably ''[FlatOut 3: Chaos & Destruction](/source/FlatOut_3%3A_Chaos_%26_Destruction)'' being considered one of the worst video games of all time<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/worst-video-games-metacritic-2018-4?r=US&IR=T#17-flatout-3-chaos-and-destruction-34|title= Worst 50 Games Of All Time, According to Critics|website=Business Insider|date=17 April 2018|author=Ben Gilbert}}</ref> and ''[FlatOut 2](/source/FlatOut_2)'' and its remake Ultimate Carnage being considered the best in the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/08/03/flatout-2-review|title=FlatOut 2 Review|website=[IGN](/source/IGN)|date=17 May 2012|author=Chris Roper}}</ref> It was called a welcome addendum to the derby-racing genre at first but eventually died out due to a lack of critical reception alongside constant developer and publisher changes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/games/14-Game-Franchises-Got-Way-Worse-91857.html|title=14 Game Franchises That Got Way Worse|website=Cinema Blend|author=Will Usher}}</ref> Original developer Bugbear have since released ''[Wreckfest](/source/Wreckfest)'' (2017), which is considered a spiritual successor to the FlatOut series.

== Games ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Title
! Year released
! Platforms
|-
| ''[FlatOut](/source/FlatOut_(video_game))''
| 2004
| [Windows](/source/Microsoft_Windows), [PS2](/source/PlayStation_2), [Xbox](/source/Xbox_(console))
|-
| ''[FlatOut 2](/source/FlatOut_2)''
| 2006
| [Windows](/source/Microsoft_Windows), [PS2](/source/PlayStation_2), [Xbox](/source/Xbox_(console))
|-
| ''[FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage](/source/FlatOut%3A_Ultimate_Carnage)''
| 2007
| [X360](/source/Xbox_360), [Windows](/source/Microsoft_Windows)
|-
| ''[FlatOut: Head On](/source/FlatOut%3A_Head_On)''
| 2008
| [PSP](/source/PlayStation_Portable)
|-
| ''FlatOut''
| 2010
| [Wii](/source/Wii)
|-
| ''[FlatOut 3: Chaos & Destruction](/source/FlatOut_3%3A_Chaos_%26_Destruction)''
| 2011
| [Windows](/source/Microsoft_Windows)
|-
| ''FlatOut Stuntman''
| 2013
| [Android](/source/Android_(operating_system))
|-
| ''[FlatOut 4: Total Insanity](/source/FlatOut_4%3A_Total_Insanity)''
| 2017
| [PS4](/source/PlayStation_4), [Xbox One](/source/Xbox_One), [Windows](/source/Microsoft_Windows)
|-
|''FlatOut VR''
|TBA
|[Meta Quest](/source/Meta_Quest), [PS5](/source/PlayStation_5), [SteamVR](/source/SteamVR)
|}

''FlatOut{{'}}s'' gameplay style remained mostly consistent over the years, so much so that it was criticized for being stagnant and repetitive.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/games/14-Game-Franchises-Got-Way-Worse-91857.html|title=14 Game Franchises That Got Way Worse|website=Cinema Blend|author=Will Usher}}</ref> The [first game](/source/FlatOut_(video_game)) featured standard lap races and destruction derby competitions against seven computer-controlled opponents in either open environments or stadium laps. It was notable for featuring excessive car damage, silly physics and fun gameplay<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/flatout-review/1900-6129383/|title=FlatOut Review|website=Gamespot|date=18 July 2005|author=Alex Navarro}}</ref> and ''[FlatOut 2](/source/FlatOut_2)'' was praised for evolving the gameplay of the first game and having better races, vehicles, graphics and controls.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/08/03/flatout-2-review|title=FlatOut 2 Review|website=[IGN](/source/IGN)|date=17 May 2012|author=Chris Roper}}</ref> It received an enhanced version on [Xbox 360](/source/Xbox_360) called ''FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage'', which also received a port to the [PlayStation Portable](/source/PlayStation_Portable) called ''FlatOut: Head On''.

After ''[FlatOut 2](/source/FlatOut_2)'', the developers behind the series, [Bugbear Entertainment](/source/Bugbear_Entertainment), left the series and [Dutch](/source/Netherlands) [Team6 Game Studios](/source/Team6_Game_Studios) took over the franchise for the next three entries and [Kylotonn](/source/Kylotonn) developed ''[FlatOut 4: Total Insanity](/source/FlatOut_4%3A_Total_Insanity)'', the latest game in the series. However, future games did not exceed ''[FlatOut 2](/source/FlatOut_2)''{{'}}s critical reception, with ''[FlatOut 3: Chaos & Destruction](/source/FlatOut_3%3A_Chaos_%26_Destruction)'' being considered [one of the worst games ever made](/source/List_of_video_games_notable_for_negative_reception),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/worst-video-games-metacritic-2018-4?r=US&IR=T#17-flatout-3-chaos-and-destruction-34|title=Worst 50 Games Of All Time, According to Critics|website=Business Insider|date=17 April 2018|author=Ben Gilbert}}</ref> ''FlatOut'' for the [Wii](/source/Wii) being considered "awful" by ''[Nintendo Gamer](/source/Nintendo_Gamer)''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/flatout/critic-reviews/?platform=wii|title=FlatOut for Wii Reviews|website=[Metacritic](/source/Metacritic)|access-date=24 November 2021}}</ref> and ''[FlatOut 4: Total Insanity](/source/FlatOut_4%3A_Total_Insanity)'' receiving middling reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/flatout-4-total-insanity/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4|title=FlatOut 4: Total Insanity for PlayStation 4 Reviews|website=[Metacritic](/source/Metacritic)|access-date=24 November 2021}}</ref> An [iOS](/source/iOS) [rag doll](/source/Ragdoll_physics) spin-off titled ''FlatOut Stuntman'' was developed and published by [Team6 Game Studios](/source/Team6_Game_Studios) in 2013.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{FlatOut series}}

Category:FlatOut
Category:Nacon franchises
Category:Video game franchises introduced in 2005

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [FlatOut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FlatOut) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FlatOut?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.