Acclaim gave players the tools — and then stepped back.
Re-Volt shipped with a track editor in 1999. Not an afterthought — every copy came with the ability to build your own courses. Acclaim knew the game would be finished when players, not the studio, said it was. The publisher went under in 2004. The game didn't. Players kept building — new tracks, new cars, a way to play online. Twenty-five years later, people are still racing on circuits Acclaim never imagined. That only happens when you trust the people holding the remote control.
About this game
Re-Volt is a 1999 radio-controlled car racing game developed by Acclaim Studios London and published by Acclaim Entertainment. Originally released for Windows, PlayStation, and Nintendo 64 in mid-1999, it arrived on Dreamcast in December 1999 (North America) and August 2000 (Europe). The game featured 28 RC cars racing through household and outdoor environments with power-ups, and included a track editor in every copy — enabling players to create custom courses. After Acclaim's bankruptcy in 2004, the community kept the game alive, producing new tracks, cars, and even an online multiplayer client.
Gallery
The Story Behind
Re-Volt was released in 1999 during the height of the mascot racer genre, following the success of games like Mario Kart 64. Developed by Acclaim Studios London (formerly Probe Entertainment) and published by Acclaim Entertainment, it distinguished itself by including a full track editor in every copy — not a separate release or add-on. The game appeared on Windows, PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and Dreamcast. Acclaim Entertainment filed for bankruptcy in 2004, but the game's community-driven longevity outlasted the publisher by decades.
Tricks & Tales
The game's concept was created by Paul Phippen and Simon Harrison, with direction by Nick Baynes. The track editor allowed fans to create entirely custom courses, and the modding community eventually imported original 3D models to build tracks from scratch. An open-source multiplayer client called 'RV House' was developed by fans years after Acclaim's closure, enabling online play long after official servers shut down. Development builds from June, July, and November 1999 for PC and Dreamcast have been discovered and preserved by collectors.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The Dreamcast enforces a regional lockout by software, with discs manufactured for Japan (NTSC-J), North America (NTSC-U), and Europe (PAL) each restricted to their respective consoles. Most Japanese Dreamcast games output at 60 Hz over composite or S-Video, which works on NTSC televisions worldwide; VGA output bypasses the TV standard entirely and is supported by the majority of titles, making a VGA box or HDMI adapter a practical solution for overseas buyers. PAL-specific titles are the exception: a minority of PAL games do not support VGA or force 50 Hz, so checking compatibility lists before purchasing PAL software for use on a Japanese console is advisable.
Maintenance Tips
The GD-ROM drive is the Dreamcast's most common point of failure — the laser lens wears out faster than those in most contemporaneous CD players. If games freeze, fail to load, or the drive makes repeated seeking sounds, the lens is the first thing to check. Clean it gently with a cotton swab lightly dampened with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol; do not press hard or use high-speed cleaning discs, which can scratch the lens. Compressed air is useful for blowing dust out of the drive bay and the fan area. The console's internal clock is maintained by a rechargeable ML2032 coin cell — the correct replacement type is ML2032 (not CR2032, which is non-rechargeable and can be damaged by the console's charging circuit).
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Re-Volt copies regularly.
Does the Dreamcast version of Re-Volt include the track editor?
Yes. Every version of Re-Volt — Dreamcast, PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and Windows — shipped with a track editor built in. You can create custom tracks on any platform, and the Dreamcast version supports this feature fully. The community has kept this alive: decades after release, custom tracks made by fans are still being created and shared.
Will a Japanese Dreamcast disc of Re-Volt work on a North American or European console?
No. Dreamcast games are region-locked, so a Japanese disc will only run on a Japanese Dreamcast unless you use a boot disc or modify the console. The game was released in North America in December 1999 and Europe in August 2000, so region-specific versions exist.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Re-Volt
A short checklist for buying a used Dreamcast disc wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Check the disc for scratches
Deep scratches on the playing surface cause freezes and read errors. Light surface marks are usually fine.
Ask for a clear photo of the disc's underside. A seller who tested it will confirm it loads and plays through.
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Make sure it fits your console
This is a Japanese Dreamcast GD-ROM. The Dreamcast is region-locked, so a Japanese disc generally needs a Japanese console.
Play it on a matching Japanese console or a region-free system, and confirm the listing states the region.
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Saves use a VMU — no disc battery
Dreamcast games save to a VMU memory card; the disc itself has no battery.
Make sure you have a VMU with a working battery and free blocks.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
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Rooms this game lives in
Wander deeper — explore the themed rooms where Re-Volt sits alongside its kin.
Memories from around the world
This is a young museum, and this page is still waiting for its first voices. The memories people send reach Taisei personally, and the ones that move him find a home here over time — always with the writer's blessing. Yours could be the very first for this game.
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