wipeout game design doc
For the 20-year anniversary of the iconic futuristic racing game WipEout, first released on the PlayStation 1 in 1995, original game designer Nick Burcombe—who worked at the renowned UK developer Psygnosis—shared the official Game Design Document with fans.
The document provides a fascinating look into the creative vision behind a title that would become a landmark of the futuristic racing genre, influencing not only subsequent sequels in the series but also shaping the aesthetics of racing games in the PlayStation era. Psygnosis was known for its distinctive visual identity and collaboration with electronic music artists, which helped make WipEout both a critical and cultural success.
Nick Burcombe’s Anniversary Message
“Hi All – Happy 20th Anniversary Wipeout – I’m sharing this just for interest – you can compare and contrast against the final product vs. the original design document. This version of the doc was assembled for the US office, I think, and was dated October the 2nd. I have an earlier doc talking about ambitious plans for 36 tracks… well, I was young, ambitious and very naïve at the time. Hope you enjoy it.”
This candid note from Burcombe highlights how the scope of early design ideas often shifts during development. While the released version of WipEout featured fewer tracks, its tightly honed gameplay, sleek industrial design, and integration of electronic music (notably from artists tied to the 1990s rave and techno scene) cemented its reputation as one of the defining PlayStation launch titles.
The publication of the WipEout Game Design Document offers an invaluable snapshot of mid-1990s game development practices, showing the iterative nature of design decisions and the balance between ambition and technical constraints on the original PlayStation hardware.
Want to see more games? Take a look at the game design docs page
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