Carmageddon
A vehicular combat game where wrecking cars and killing pedestrians earns time.
Carmageddon is a vehicular combat game that first came out on PC in 1997. Developed by Stainless Games and published by Interplay Productions and Sales Curve Interactive, it later appeared on other platforms and led to a series. In 2011, Stainless Games acquired the rights from Square Enix Europe (formerly Eidos Interactive). Mobile versions for iOS and Android followed in 2012 and 2013, and THQ Nordic bought the series rights from Stainless Games in December 2018.
The player races a car against computer-controlled opponents through settings like cities, mines, and industrial zones. Each race has a time limit, which can be extended by collecting bonuses, damaging rival cars, or running over pedestrians. A race ends by completing the course normally, wrecking all other vehicles, or killing every pedestrian on the level. There are thirty-six tracks across eleven locations, and the game includes three instrumental remixes from Fear Factory’s 1995 album *Demanufacture*.
The project began as a prototype called *3D Destruction Derby*, a banger racing sim from Stainless Software. Publisher SCi signed it in 1995 on the condition it become a licensed game to ensure popularity. SCi first tried for the *Mad Max* license but couldn’t determine who owned it, so they secured the *Death Race 2000* (1975) license, as a sequel to that film was planned. Head programmer Patrick Buckland said the concept came from team members getting bored with racing games and driving the wrong way to crash into others; they decided to make that the goal. Around the same time, Psygnosis released *Destruction Derby* (1995) with a similar idea. The pedestrian-running element was added to set the game apart and stir controversy, though earlier games like *Quarantine* and *Die Hard Trilogy* already featured it. SCi’s Rob Henderson suggested awarding points for pedestrian kills to heighten the controversy. The *Death Race 2000* sequel was later cancelled, but SCi was impressed enough with Stainless’s work to let them create their own intellectual property. The name *Carmageddon* was coined, and development continued with unusual creative freedom.
The game uses the BRender engine, which Stainless Software knew well from a previous contract to port BRender to Macintosh and build tools and demos.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Carmageddon
- Developer
- Stainless Games
- Publisher
- EU · Sales Curve Interactive · NA · Interplay ProductionsAspyr / (Mac OS) · HandyGames / (iOS, Android) · THQ Nordic / (PC)
- Producer
- Mark Teal
- Designer
- Neil Barnden / Patrick Buckland
- Programmer
- Patrick Buckland
- Artist
- Neil Barnden
- Composer
- Lee Groves
- Engine
- BRender
- Released
- MS-DOS / SWE · June 13, 1997 · EU · June 20, 1997 · US · July 16, 1997 Windows, Mac OS / 1997 / iOS / October 17, 2012 / Android / May 10, 2013
- Genre
- Vehicular combat, racing
- Modes
- Single player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game that became Carmageddon started as 3D Destruction Derby, a banger racing sim prototyped by Stainless Software. It was signed by SCi in 1995 with the condition that it be made into a licensed game. SCi initially wanted the Mad Max license but could not find the rights holder, so it secured the Death Race 2000 (1975) license instead, as a sequel to that film was planned. The concept stemmed from team members getting bored while playing racing games and driving in the wrong direction to crash into other cars. The notion of running over pedestrians was added to distinguish the game from Destruction Derby and to arouse controversy. Rob Henderson from SCi suggested awarding points for pedestrian kills to increase potential controversy. The sequel to Death Race 2000 was later cancelled, but SCi was impressed enough to let Stainless create their own intellectual property. The name Carmageddon was coined, and development proceeded with unusually free rein. The game uses the BRender engine, which Stainless Software was already familiar with from porting BRender to Macintosh. The PlayStation conversion was subcontracted to developer Elite.
Reader's Guide
Carmageddon was originally released for MS-DOS, Windows, and Mac OS in 1997. It won "Game of the Year" in the 1997 PC Zone reader awards and "Driving Game of the Year" 1997. An expansion pack, Splat Pack, was released in 1997. The Carmageddon Max Pack, released on February 17, 1998, bundled the original game and its expansion, and received a nomination for "PC Action Game of the Year" at the inaugural Interactive Achievement Awards. The game was censored in many countries, including Germany and briefly the United Kingdom, where the BBFC initially refused certification until all blood and gore was removed; after ten months of appeal, the original version was certified. In Brazil the game was banned completely, and in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the sale and distribution of games "oriented towards the destruction of people" with vehicles was banned in 1998. Australia passed the game uncut with an MA15+ rating. According to the co-founders of Stainless Games, about two million copies of the Carmageddon series were sold in total. NPD Techworld reported 118,500 units sold of the computer version in the United States by December 2002. The game had two sequels: Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now (1998) and Carmageddon TDR 2000 (2000). A planned Carmageddon 4 was put on hold in August 2005. In 2011, Stainless Games obtained the rights from Square Enix Europe. iOS and Android ports were released in 2012 and 2013. THQ Nordic acquired the rights in December 2018. A reboot, Carmageddon: Reincarnation, was released in May 2015, followed by Carmageddon: Max Damage in 2016. In December 2025, a spin-off titled Carmageddon: Rogue Shift was announced by 34BigThings.
Did You Know?
- The game features three instrumental remixes from Fear Factory's second studio album Demanufacture (1995).
- The Carmageddon Max Pack included a strategy guide, mousepad, and a leather car key chain with the game's logo.
- In July 2011, the City of Los Angeles launched a media campaign called 'Carmageddon' to warn about a freeway closure, which Stainless Games used to promote upcoming releases.
- The censored version of the game replaced humans with zombies with green blood or robots with black oil.
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