Almost Sega Good! - A 1UP classic from July 25, 2005

Ladies and Gentlemen, Pardon the lateness of this entry (I usually have something posted before lunch). This time around I wanted to write a little bit about my hometown, the fine city of Long Beach California. There are plenty of places to write about, but I think fans of video games might like to learn a little bit more about downtown and a stretch of road called Shoreline Drive.

Back in the day Namco/Atari released Pole Position. One of the most famous CART-Champ Car tracks was titled Seaside. A not so subtle lift from the real track featured in the Long Beach Grand Prix.

There are many beautiful tracks all over the world, from Monaco to Mexico, Brazil to Japan. But of all the tracks ever put in a game, or raced in the real world, I'd dare say that Seaside Drive is almost SEGA good!

Almost SEGA good? What the heck does that mean?

SEGA arcade racers have always featured some of the most jaw-dropping visuals in any racing games. Even non race fans like my brothers were wowed by the creativity that went into the track designs in games like Daytona USA and Scud Race (SEGA GT).

Even if the track was an oval for example, the designers at SEGA AM2 wanted it to be memorable. In Daytona 2 the oval track was built indoors, with a nature preserve on the inside track and large sails blocking out the sun high overhead. A building like that would dwarf every other sport stadium. It would only work in a virtual world and I was grateful that SEGA always went that extra step making tracks memorable.

Scud Race had players drifting exotic supercars through tight city streets, Indiana-Jones style temples, under the ocean and through an airport! The best track in my opinion was the Medium Difficulty track on Daytona 2. Not only was the race course challenging but it was built, supposedly, in and around an amusment park. The finish line was directly underneath a dragon boat, part of the track went through a haunted mansion, another part through a smokey western town, then arctic village then through a suspended bridge that roller coasters twisted around.

The only arcade racer ever to come close was Hydro Thunder.

But I digress. This blog isn't about comparisons, at least not between arcade racers. This is about SEGA and the one race course that I think is almost SEGA good.

The main portion of the Long Beach track goes near downtown on Shorline Dr. There is a skyline and bridges to go under but many tracks real and virtual also have that. What makes Long Beach so special? Go further down Shorline and you'll go under a special bridge.

Wait a minute is that what I think it is?

We've all seen the ferris wheel in games like SEGA's Virtua Racing and even Sony's Gran Turismo. But is that? No, it couldn't be! A roller-coaster track on a bridge?! A roller-coaster track that Indy-cars get to race under?!

Looks pretty damn sweet, but alas it is just a sculpture that pays tribute to the amusment park that used to be located on Shoreline Dr. The Pike used to be a pretty rocking amusement park back in the day. It featured the Cyclone Racer, at the time the second-largest roller coaster in the USA, and built on a pier! From the late 70's to the 90's the Pike was taken apart and Shoreline Dr. was pretty bleak and empty. In recent years however the city has gone back and begun to restore some of the lost heratige.

Back to the subject at hand. The track at Long Beach! Just because the roller-coaster track isn't real doesn't mean we're out of eye-candy. While still racing on Shoreline Dr. we pass Rainbow Lagoon, a park where the famous Long Beach Jazz Festival happens every summer.

The Lagoon is in the shadow of a hotel and the artist Wyland's current largest mural Planet Ocean.

Pull a hairpin turn on Shoreline and head back the way you came. On the left you'll see the Pacific Ocean and the Queen Mary.

You'll also pass the massive bleachers of Grand Prix spectators. Go right next the the awesome Aquarium of the Pacific and even melt your brakes on the infamous turn 3 before getting back on Shoreline Drive

Even though the roller-coaster track on a bridge isn't real Long Beach still has one of the best race courses in the world! A course that is so awesome it defies tradition and is almost SEGA good!

Are you a fan of racing? Do you have a favorite track, or course? Let me know in the comments section please. As always if you would like to sponsor me please visit my Patreon page and consider donating each month, even as little as $1 would help make better blogs and even podcasts!