NASCAR Heat Evolution

{{short description|2016 racing video game}} {{distinguish|NASCAR Heat}} {{Infobox video game | title = NASCAR Heat Evolution | image = NASCAR Heat Evolution Cover.jpeg | alt = | caption = Cover art featuring [[Carl Edwards]] | developer = [[Monster Games]] | publisher = [[704Games|Dusenberry Martin Racing]] | series = [[NASCAR Heat (series)|NASCAR Heat]] | engine = [[Unity (game engine)|Unity]] | platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]]<br>[[PlayStation 4]]<br>[[Xbox One]] | released = {{Video game release|NA|{{Start date|2016|09|13}}}} | genre = [[Racing video game|Racing, Sports]] | modes = [[Single player]], [[multiplayer]] }}

'''''NASCAR Heat Evolution''''' is a [[racing video game]] developed by [[Monster Games]] and published by [[704Games]]. The game was released in North America on September 13, 2016 for the [[PlayStation 4]], [[Xbox One]] and [[Microsoft Windows]]. It is the follow-up to the 2015 release of ''[[NASCAR '15#NASCAR '15 Victory Edition|NASCAR '15 Victory Edition]]'' and the first developed by Monster Games since ''[[NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona]]'' was released in 2002.<ref name="polygonann">{{cite web|last1=Good|first1=Owen S.|title=NASCAR makes current-gen console debut this fall with NASCAR Heat Evolution|url=http://www.polygon.com/2016/5/20/11719046/nascar-heat-evolution-xbox-one-ps4-launch-date-september-13|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|publisher=Vox Media|access-date=May 20, 2016|date=May 20, 2016|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109044038/http://www.polygon.com/2016/5/20/11719046/nascar-heat-evolution-xbox-one-ps4-launch-date-september-13|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Gameplay== The game features all 23 tracks from the [[2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series]] schedule, as well as drivers from several teams like Childress, Ganassi, Gibbs, Hendrick, Petty, Penske, Roush and Stewart-Haas.<ref name="gamespot">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/first-nascar-game-for-ps4-xbox-one-announced/1100-6440007/|title=First NASCAR Game for PS4, Xbox One Announced|last=Makuch|first=Eddie|date=May 20, 2016|website=[[GameSpot]]|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=May 20, 2016|archive-date=May 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527092604/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/first-nascar-game-for-ps4-xbox-one-announced/1100-6440007/|url-status=live}}</ref> A November update added the drivers of the 2016 NASCAR Next class, such as [[Todd Gilliland]], [[Ty Majeski]], [[Harrison Burton]] and others, though those drivers are only available in quick race mode.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nascarheat.com/2016/10/12/nascar-heat-evolution-update-3/|title=NASCAR Heat Evolution Update #3 – NASCAR Heat Evolution|access-date=2016-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130034903/http://www.nascarheat.com/2016/10/12/nascar-heat-evolution-update-3/|archive-date=2016-11-30|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''NASCAR Heat Evolution'' also includes a dynamic [[AI]] and Speed Rating system that matches the players skill level.<ref name="gamespot" /> Several different modes are built in the game, including a quick race mode, career mode, and a challenge mode.<ref name="gamespot" /> In the challenge mode, players attempt to match or exceed current [[NASCAR]] records.<ref name="gamespot" />

==Development== In 2015, Dusenberry Martin Racing, then known as DMi Games, acquired the NASCAR license from [[Eutechnyx]]<ref name="GI DMi" /> in a deal lasting through 2020.<ref name="NASCAR.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2016/5/20/dusenberry-martin-racing-nascar-heat-contest.html|title=Dusenberry Martin Racing announces NASCAR Heat Evolution|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|date=May 20, 2016|access-date=May 20, 2016|archive-date=August 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811111738/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2016/5/20/dusenberry-martin-racing-nascar-heat-contest.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The company's President Ed Martin formerly worked for [[Papyrus Design Group]], [[Hasbro Interactive]], [[EA Sports]] and Eutechnyx, who developed the ''[[NASCAR Racing]]'', ''[[NASCAR Heat]]'', [[EA Sports NASCAR|EA Sports ''NASCAR'']] and ''[[NASCAR The Game]]'' series, respectively. CEO Tom Dusenberry was the founder and president of Hasbro Interactive.<ref name="GI DMi">{{cite magazine|last=Kato|first=Matthew|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2015/01/19/new-company-gets-exclusive-nascar-rights.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121014627/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2015/01/19/new-company-gets-exclusive-nascar-rights.aspx|url-status=live|archive-date=January 21, 2015|title=New Company Gets Exclusive NASCAR Rights|magazine=[[Game Informer]]|date=January 19, 2015|access-date=May 20, 2016}}</ref>

== Drivers == On May 20, DMR officially announced the game at [[Charlotte Motor Speedway]], partnering with Monster Games, who had developed ''NASCAR Heat'' and ''NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona''. Monster President and ''Evolution'' lead developer Richard Garcia was a former member of the ''Heat'' design team.<ref name="polygonann" /> Drivers [[Joey Logano]], [[Ryan Blaney]], [[Brad Keselowski]], [[Matt Tifft]], and [[Ben Kennedy (NASCAR)|Ben Kennedy]] were hired by DMR to help develop the game.<ref name=Fox-DMR-HeatEvo-May2016/><ref name="NASCARHeatVideo-History">{{cite web|title=The Making of NASCAR Heat Evolution: History|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NAr6o5675U|website=[[YouTube]]|publisher=DMR NASCAR Heat|access-date=11 July 2016|date=June 29, 2016|archive-date=12 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812170856/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NAr6o5675U|url-status=live}}</ref> The game is the first NASCAR game to be released on [[Eighth generation of video game consoles|eighth generation console]]s, with releases for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.<ref name="polygonann" />

To determine the cover driver, the highest-placing [[Toyota]] driver in the [[2016 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race|Sprint All-Star Race]] was selected;<ref name=Fox-DMR-HeatEvo-May2016>{{cite web|last=Jensen|first=Tom|url=http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/dusenberry-martin-racing-nascar-heat-evolution-sprint-cup-series-charlotte-motor-speedway-052016|title=Dusenberry Martin Racing to unveil new NASCAR video game|website=[[Foxsports.com]]|publisher=[[Fox Sports Digital Media]]|date=May 20, 2016|access-date=May 20, 2016|location=[[Concord, North Carolina]]|archive-date=September 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910094728/https://www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/dusenberry-martin-racing-nascar-heat-evolution-sprint-cup-series-charlotte-motor-speedway-052016|url-status=live}}</ref> the eligible drivers were [[Kyle Busch]], [[Carl Edwards]], [[Denny Hamlin]], [[Matt Kenseth]], and [[Martin Truex Jr.]]<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Kato|first=Matthew|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2016/05/20/monster-games-returns-with-nascar-heat-evolution.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160523090335/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2016/05/20/monster-games-returns-with-nascar-heat-evolution.aspx|url-status=live|archive-date=May 23, 2016|title=Monster Games Returns With NASCAR Heat Evolution|magazine=[[Game Informer]]|date=May 20, 2016|access-date=May 20, 2016}}</ref> Edwards won the cover driver competition with a fourth-place finish.<ref name="Edwards">{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2016/5/22/carl-edwards-rallies-lug-nut-penalty-sprint-all-star-race-charlotte.html|title=Carl Edwards rallies from miscues for top-five spot|first=Zack|last=Albert|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|date=May 22, 2016|access-date=May 22, 2016|location=[[Concord, North Carolina]]|archive-date=March 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305023545/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2016/5/22/carl-edwards-rallies-lug-nut-penalty-sprint-all-star-race-charlotte.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[NASCAR Heat 2|A sequel to the game, released fall 2017]], was released on September 12. The move came as DMR rebranded as [[704Games]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/m/7cd7d3b4-94cb-365a-855f-bfe25f5afdf3/ss_nascar-heat-evolution.html|title=NASCAR Heat Evolution publisher rebrands, plans sequel and mobile game|access-date=2017-03-22|language=en-US|archive-date=2017-03-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323055258/http://sports.yahoo.com/m/7cd7d3b4-94cb-365a-855f-bfe25f5afdf3/ss_nascar-heat-evolution.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Reception== {{Video game reviews | MC = 66/100<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nascar-heat-evolution/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4|title=NASCAR Heat Evolution|website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=2017-09-23|archive-date=2017-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920041419/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/nascar-heat-evolution|url-status=live}}</ref> | Poly = 7.5/10<ref>{{cite web |last1=S Good |first1=Owen |title=NASCAR Heat Evolution review |url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/9/22/13002854/nascar-heat-evolution-review-ps4-xbox-one |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=22 September 2016 |access-date=15 February 2022 |archive-date=15 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215203012/https://www.polygon.com/2016/9/22/13002854/nascar-heat-evolution-review-ps4-xbox-one |url-status=live }}</ref> | GI = 7/10<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Kato |first1=Matthew |title=NASCAR Heat Evolution Review – The Return of That Racing Spirit |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/nascar_heat_evolution/b/playstation4/archive/2016/09/13/game-informer-nascar-heat-evolution-review.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916121555/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/nascar_heat_evolution/b/playstation4/archive/2016/09/13/game-informer-nascar-heat-evolution-review.aspx |url-status=live |archive-date=September 16, 2016 |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |date=13 September 2016 |access-date=15 February 2022}}</ref> }} The game received lackluster reviews from critics, who lamented the game's inability to keep users interested and the lack of improvement in online lobbies. [[Forbes]] gave the game a 5.8 out of 10, citing a "worthless" career mode.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/games/2016/09/24/nascar-heat-evolution-review-dnf/#5704343f7642|title='NASCAR Heat Evolution' Review: DNF|last=Reviews|first=Forbes Games|newspaper=Forbes|access-date=2016-11-29|archive-date=2016-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129014616/http://www.forbes.com/sites/games/2016/09/24/nascar-heat-evolution-review-dnf/#5704343f7642|url-status=live}}</ref> [[FanSided]] gave the game a four out of 10, saying that it "came in dead last".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://apptrigger.com/2016/09/15/nascar-heat-evolution-review-coming-dead-last/|title=NASCAR Heat Evolution Review: Coming In Dead Last|date=2016-09-15|website=App Trigger|access-date=2016-11-29|archive-date=2016-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129210729/http://apptrigger.com/2016/09/15/nascar-heat-evolution-review-coming-dead-last/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.nascarheat.com/}}

[[Category:2016 video games]] [[Category:NASCAR video games]] [[Category:PlayStation 4 games]] [[Category:Xbox One games]] [[Category:Windows games]] [[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]] [[Category:Racing video games]] [[Category:Video games developed in the United States]] [[Category:Monster Games games]] [[Category:704Games games]]