View source for Project Gotham Racing

{{Short description|Video game series}}
{{for|the 2001 video game|Project Gotham Racing (video game)}}
{{Infobox VG series
| title                  = Project Gotham Racing
| image                  = Project Gotham Racing logo.webp
| caption                = Logo for ''Project Gotham Racing 4''
| developer              = [[Bizarre Creations]]<br>[[Glu Mobile]]<br>Pixelbite
| publisher              = [[Microsoft Game Studios]]<br>Glu Mobile
| platforms              = [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]], [[Xbox 360]], [[Dreamcast]], [[mobile phone]], [[Zune HD]]
| first release version  = ''[[Project Gotham Racing (video game)|Project Gotham Racing]]''
| first release date     = November 15, 2001
| latest release version = ''Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition''
| latest release date    = November 11, 2009
| genre                  = [[Racing game|Racing]]
| spinoffs               = 
}}
'''''Project Gotham Racing''''' ('''''PGR''''') is a series of [[racing video game]]s published by [[Microsoft Studios]], with four main titles all of which were developed by [[Bizarre Creations]]. It is the spiritual successor to Bizarre Creations' previous game ''[[Metropolis Street Racer]]'', released by [[Sega]] for the [[Dreamcast]] in 2000. The ''PGR'' series was released on the [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] and [[Xbox 360]], with spin-offs appearing on mobile phones.

== Gameplay ==
{{Expand section|date=October 2024}}
The ''PGR'' series have a system called Kudos points. These are given for performing stunts with the vehicle (such as power sliding, overtaking another driver, two wheels, etc.). The longer the stunt is maintained, the more points the player receives. Colliding with the [[guard rail]]s and other surroundings will cause the Kudos points from that stunt to be lost. ''PGR2'', ''PGR3'' and ''PGR4'' supported direct network gameplay via [[Xbox Live]].

The cover of each game in the ''Project Gotham Racing'' franchise has featured a [[Ferrari]] car on it, going from the [[Ferrari F50|F50]] (''PGR'') to the [[Enzo Ferrari (automobile)|Enzo]] (''PGR2''), the [[Ferrari F430|F430]] (''PGR3''), and the [[Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano|599 GTB Fiorano]] (''PGR4''). The car manufacturer was even the main focus of a free mobile entry in the series, ''PGR: Ferrari Edition'' for the [[Zune HD]], similar to that of [[Porsche]] in ''[[Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed]]''.

== Titles and history ==
{{Timeline of release years|2000=''[[Metropolis Street Racer]]'' (Dreamcast)|2001=''[[Project Gotham Racing (video game)|Project Gotham Racing]]'' (Xbox)|2003=''[[Project Gotham Racing 2]]'' (Xbox)|2005=''[[Project Gotham Racing 3]]'' (Xbox 360)|2006=''Project Gotham Racing Mobile'' ([[J2ME]])|2007=''[[Project Gotham Racing 4]]'' (Xbox 360)<br/><br/>''Project Gotham Racing'' ([[Symbian]], [[Windows Mobile]])|2009=''Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition'' ([[Zune HD]])|2011=}}
The first ''[[Project Gotham Racing (video game)|Project Gotham Racing]]'' was released as a launch title for Xbox on November 15, 2001. It became a success and led to more sequels, becoming Microsoft's flagship racing game franchise on Xbox.

In December 2006, a mobile version was released for [[J2ME]] mobile phones.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-12-22 |title=Project Gotham Racing (3D) |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/project-gotham-racing/project-gotham-racing-3d/ |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=www.pocketgamer.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Buchanan |first1=Levi |date=1 May 2006 |title=Pre-E3 2006: Project Gotham Racing Mobile |url=http://wireless.ign.com/articles/704/704006p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018090940/http://wireless.ign.com/articles/704/704006p1.html |archive-date=18 October 2006 |access-date=21 July 2015 |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]}}</ref> Another mobile version, simply called ''Project Gotham Racing'' in 2007, was released for [[Symbian]] and [[Windows Mobile]] devices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dredge |first=Stuart |date=2007-02-15 |title=3GSM 2007: Project Gotham Racing Mobile gets a smartphone revamp |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/project-gotham-racing/3gsm-2007-project-gotham-racing-mobile-gets-a-smartphone-revamp/ |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=www.pocketgamer.com |language=en}}</ref> On November 11, 2009, ''Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition'' was released for the [[Zune HD]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition |url=http://www.ign.com/games/project-gotham-racing-ferrari-edition/zunehd-32263 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513201128/http://www.ign.com/games/project-gotham-racing-ferrari-edition/zunehd-32263 |archive-date=13 May 2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]}}</ref>

The final main title, ''[[Project Gotham Racing 4]]'', was released around the time Bizarre Creations was acquired by [[Activision]]. Following this acquisition, in September 2007, Bizarre Creations announced that ''PGR4'' would be the last game produced for Microsoft,<ref>{{cite web |title=Activision buys Bizarre Creations |url=http://newlink.com |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Develop}}</ref> effectively leading to ''[[Forza Motorsport]]'' replacing it as Xbox's flagship racing franchise. Bizarre developed ''PGR4'''s spiritual successor, ''[[Blur (video game)|Blur]]'', which was released on [[Xbox 360]], [[PlayStation 3]] and [[Microsoft Windows]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Activision buys Bizarre Creations |url=http://www.developmag.com/news/28531/Activision-acquires-Bizarre-Creations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722103511/http://www.develop-online.net/news/28531/Activision-acquires-Bizarre-Creations |archive-date=2012-07-22 |access-date=2007-09-26 |website=DevelopMag.com}}</ref> before the studio was shuttered by Activision in 2011. The developers of ''[[Forza Horizon]]'' originally intended to reboot the franchise;<ref>{{cite web |last=Coulson |first=Josh |date=2022-06-13 |title=Forza Horizon Devs First Pitched A Project Gotham Racing Reboot |url=https://www.thegamer.com/forza-horizon-devs-pitched-project-gotham-racing-reboot/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=TheGamer}}</ref> however, for unknown reasons, this proposal was reportedly turned down by Microsoft.<ref>{{cite web |last=McPhillips |first=Andrew |date=2022-06-15 |title=Xbox Reportedly Turned Down a Project Gotham Racing Reboot Pitch |url=https://gamerant.com/xbox-turned-down-project-gotham-racing-reboot-pitch/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Game Rant}}</ref>{{clear}}

== Reception ==
{{Expand section|date=October 2024}}{{VG Series Reviews
| game1 = [[Project Gotham Racing (video game)|Project Gotham Racing]]
| mc1 = 85/100<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/project-gotham-racing/ | title=Project Gotham Racing Reviews | website=[[Metacritic]] }}</ref>
| game2 = [[Project Gotham Racing 2]]
| mc2 = 90/100<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/project-gotham-racing-2/ | title=Project Gotham Racing 2 Reviews | website=[[Metacritic]] }}</ref>
| game3 = [[Project Gotham Racing 3]]
| game4 = [[Project Gotham Racing 4]]
| mc3 = 88/100<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/project-gotham-racing-3/ | title=Project Gotham Racing 3 Reviews | website=[[Metacritic]] }}</ref>
| mc4 = 85/100<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/project-gotham-racing-4/ | title=Project Gotham Racing 4 Reviews | website=[[Metacritic]] }}</ref>
}}Every main ''Project Gotham Racing'' game was a critical success.
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{moby game|id=-group/project-gotham-racing-series|name=''Project Gotham Racing'' series}}

{{Project Gotham Racing series}}
{{Xbox Game Studios}}

[[Category:Project Gotham Racing| ]]
[[Category:Microsoft franchises]]
[[Category:Video game franchises]]
[[Category:Video game franchises introduced in 2000]]