NASCAR Racing 4

{{Short description|2001 video game}} {{Infobox video game |title = NASCAR Racing 4 |image = NASCAR Racing 4 boxart.jpg |caption = Cover art featuring the cars of [[Jeff Burton]], [[Dale Earnhardt]], and [[John Andretti]] |developer = [[Papyrus Design Group]] |publisher = [[Sierra On-Line]] |producer = Scott Stutsman |designer = Richard Yasi |programmer = David Kaemmer |artist = David D. Flamburis |series = ''[[NASCAR Racing]]'' |released = {{vgrelease|NA|February 7, 2001<ref>{{cite web | author=IGN staff | date=February 7, 2001 | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/02/08/news-briefs-190 | title=News Briefs | website=[[IGN]] | publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204235337/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/02/08/news-briefs-190 | archivedate=February 4, 2023 | url-status=live | accessdate=July 18, 2023}}</ref>|EU|April 6, 2001}} |genre = [[Sim racing]] |modes = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]] |platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]] }} '''''NASCAR Racing 4''''' is a [[Racing video game|racing]] [[vehicle simulation game|simulator]] produced by [[Papyrus Design Group|Papyrus]] and released in February 2001.

==Gameplay== The game was a huge step forward over its predecessor and addressed many requested features for the game. Namely was the introduction of full [[24-bit color]], as the previous games had only allowed [[8-bit color|256]], vastly improved car models and environments and, for the first time, the ability of the car to rotate in three dimensions (i.e. the ability of the car to get airborne and flip).{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} The simulator also continued the increased efforts to reflect the aspects of driving a real car.

This was the first version of the game since ''NASCAR Racing 2'' to have actual car manufacturers represented. Additionally, it was the first version of the game to feature the ability to race a full 43 car field. It was the first installment in the "NASCAR Racing" series to include [[Daytona International Speedway]], and included all 21 tracks that were raced in [[2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series|Winston Cup in 2000]]. It included 25 of the drivers and teams anticipated to run the 2001 season, including [[Dale Earnhardt]] as the game was released 12 days before [[Death of Dale Earnhardt|his fatal crash]], as well as 42 fictional drivers and teams, most of which carried fictional sponsors or are sponsored by a Sierra company. The inclusion of Sierra affiliate-sponsored cars was a trend that began as early as [[NASCAR Racing 1999 Edition]], where a fantasy truck driver sponsored by [[Davidson & Associates]] is present.

As with previous titles in the series, included are the options of testing, single race weekend, championship, and online multiplayer hosted by Sierra servers or a third-party client. In addition, a more detailed paint shop can be accessed via the opponent manager menu, which allows for custom paint schemes and, for the first time, custom pit crew uniforms, to be imported and exported from the game. A replay viewer is also included so the player can view their saved session replays.

''NASCAR Racing 4'' was followed by ''[[NASCAR Racing 2002 Season]]''.

==Reception== {{Video game reviews | MC = 89/100<ref name="mc-pc">{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nascar-racing-4/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=NASCAR Racing 4 for PC Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] | publisher=[[Fandom (website)|Fandom]] | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219232911/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/nascar-racing-4 | archivedate=February 19, 2022 | url-status=live | accessdate=July 18, 2023}}</ref> | CGSP = 4/5<ref>{{cite web | author=Long, David J. | date=March 5, 2001 | url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/032/007/nascar-04.html | title=NASCAR Racing 4 | website=[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]] | publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030627053539/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/032/007/nascar-04.html | archivedate=June 27, 2003 | accessdate=July 18, 2023}}</ref> | CGW = 4.5/5<ref>{{cite magazine | author=Hermes, Wade | url=https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_202.pdf | title=High Octane (''NASCAR Racing 4'' Review) | magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | publisher=Ziff Davis | issue=202 | date=May 2001 | pages=78–79 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322220513/https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_202.pdf | archivedate=March 22, 2023 | url-status=live | accessdate=July 18, 2023}}</ref> | GI = 8/10<ref>{{cite magazine | author=Brogger, Kristian | url=http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200104/R03.0804.1445.12833.htm | title=NASCAR Racing 4 | magazine=[[Game Informer]] | publisher=[[FuncoLand]] | issue=96 | date=April 2001 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041214161347/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200104/R03.0804.1445.12833.htm | archive-date=December 14, 2004 | url-status=dead | access-date=July 18, 2023}}</ref> | Gamekult = 5/10<ref>{{cite web | author=le Roux, David | date=March 9, 2001 | url=https://www.gamekult.com/jeux/nascar-racing-4-4875/test.html | title=Test : Nascar 4 : Nascar Heat version 4 ? | language=fr | website=[[Gamekult]] | publisher=[[TF1 Group]] | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501045319/https://www.gamekult.com/jeux/nascar-racing-4-4875/test.html | archivedate=May 1, 2021 | url-status=live | accessdate=July 19, 2023}}</ref> | GSpot = 9.1/10<ref>{{cite web | author=Goble, Gordon | date=February 20, 2001 | url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nascar-racing-4-review/1900-2687981/ | title=NASCAR Racing 4 Review | website=[[GameSpot]] | publisher=Fandom | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010223073039/http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/stories/reviews/0,10867,2687981,00.html | archivedate=February 23, 2001 | url-status=live | accessdate=July 18, 2023}}</ref> | GameZone = 9.5/10<ref>{{cite web | author=Lafferty, Michael | date=February 26, 2001 | url=http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r15240.htm | title=NASCAR® Racing 4 Review | website=GameZone | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319005216/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r15240.htm | archivedate=March 19, 2008 | accessdate=July 18, 2023}}</ref> | IGN = 9.2/10<ref>{{cite web | author=Magruder, Randy | date=March 9, 2001 | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/10/nascar-racing-4-2 | title=NASCAR Racing 4 | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204235337/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/10/nascar-racing-4-2 | archivedate=February 4, 2023 | url-status=live | accessdate=July 18, 2023}}</ref> | JXV = 14/20<ref>{{cite web | author=pilou | date=May 7, 2001 | url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00001365_test.htm | title=Test: Nascar Racing 4 [sic] | language=fr | website=[[Jeuxvideo.com]] | publisher=[[Webedia]] | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117032924/https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00001365_test.htm | archivedate=November 17, 2021 | url-status=live | accessdate=July 18, 2023}}</ref> | PCGUS = 95%<ref>{{cite magazine | author=Mahood, Andy | url=http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/nascar_racing_4.html | title=NASCAR Racing 4 | magazine=[[PC Gamer]] | publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]] | volume=8 | issue=4 | date=April 2001 | page=70 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315140353/http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/nascar_racing_4.html | archivedate=March 15, 2006 | accessdate=July 18, 2023}}</ref> | PCPP = 93%<ref>{{cite magazine | author=Fox, Edward | url=https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay-060-2001-05/page/n71/mode/2up | title=Nascar Racing 4 [sic] | magazine=[[PC PowerPlay]] | publisher=[[nextmedia|Next Media Pty Ltd]] | issue=60 | date=May 2001 | page=72 | accessdate=July 19, 2023}}</ref> | rev1 = ''[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]'' | rev1Score = 4.5/5<ref>{{cite news | author=Saltzman, Marc | date=March 28, 2001 | url=http://cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/032801_nascar4.html | title=NASCAR Racing 4 | newspaper=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]] | publisher=[[Gannett Company]] | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060107001449/http://cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/032801_nascar4.html | archivedate=January 7, 2006 | accessdate=July 18, 2023}}</ref> }}

The game received "generally favorable reviews", according to the [[Review aggregator|review aggregation]] website [[Metacritic]].<ref name="mc-pc"/>

The game sold 260,000 units in the U.S. and earned $10.4 million by August 2006, after its release in February 2001. It was the country's 76th best-selling computer game between January 2000 and August 2006. Combined sales of all ''NASCAR Racing'' computer games released between January 2000 and August 2006 had reached 900,000 in the U.S. by the latter date.<ref>{{cite magazine | author=Edge staff | date=August 25, 2006 | url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/3/ | title=The Top PC Games of the 21st Century (Page 3) | magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] | publisher=[[Future plc]] | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019052748/http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/3/ | archivedate=October 19, 2012 | accessdate=July 18, 2023}}</ref>

The game was nominated for the "Best Simulation Game" award at ''[[Computer Gaming World]]''{{'}}s 2001 Premier Awards, which went to ''[[IL-2 Sturmovik (video game)|IL-2 Sturmovik]]''. The staff wrote that the game "continued to make us believe in the complex strategy involved in driving around in circles at 200 mph."<ref>{{cite magazine | author=CGW staff | url=https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_213.pdf | title=Games of the Year (Best Simulation Game) | magazine=Computer Gaming World | publisher=Ziff Davis | issue=213 | date=April 2002 | pages=82–83 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402194513/https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_213.pdf | archivedate=April 2, 2023 | url-status=live | accessdate=July 18, 2023}}</ref> The staff of ''[[Computer Games Magazine]]'' named it the best racing game of 2001 at the 11th Annual Computer Games Awards, and called it "the crown King of racing games."<ref>{{cite magazine | author=CGM staff | title=11th Annual Computer Games Awards | magazine=[[Computer Games Magazine]] | publisher=[[theGlobe.com]] | issue=136 | date=March 2002 | pages=50–56}}</ref> The game won the award for "Best Driving Game" at ''[[GameSpot]]''{{'}}s Best and Worst of 2001 Awards.<ref>{{cite web | author=GameSpot staff | year=2001 | url=http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/bestof_2001/p3_08.html | title=GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2001 (Best Driving Game) | website=GameSpot | publisher=CNET | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020206073549/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/bestof_2001/p3_08.html | archivedate=February 6, 2002 | accessdate=July 18, 2023}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{moby game|id=/3378/nascar-racing-4/}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nascar Racing 4}} [[Category:2001 video games]] [[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]] [[Category:NASCAR video games]] [[Category:Papyrus Design Group games]] [[Category:Racing simulators]] [[Category:Racing video games]] [[Category:Sierra Entertainment games]] [[Category:Simulation video games]] [[Category:Video games developed in the United States]] [[Category:Windows games]] [[Category:Windows-only games]]