Family Driver by Sega

Console Name: Video Driver
Original Name: ファミリードライバー
Alternate Named(s): Video Driver
Release Date: October 1988
Original Price: ¥8,800
Country of Origin: Japan
Manufacturer: Sega
Publisher: Tyco
Number of Games Cartridges: 3
 

The Family Driver (Video Driver in North Amercia) is VHS-Based video game console. The console is made of a steering wheel connected to a sensor. The sensor itself need to be attached to a television. Since the game was developed in the 1988, the game was develop to work with a 13 – 20 inch CRT television with a 4:3 ratio. On top of the sensor sit a plastic car. The car is controlled electronically by the steering wheel. The system use VHS has game cartridge, but although each VHS are different, the  goal of the game is to steer the plastic car and avoid any obstacle on the road. Obstacle are detected by the sensor and if avoided successfully, will grant you points. Points are added to  the mechanical scoreboard mounted on its front of the console. There’s no win or loss in the game, you only play through the whole tape trying to make the biggest score.

The console was first released in Japan by Sega before being release in North America and Europe. In North America, the manufacturing and distribution was handled by Tyco. In United Kingdom, the game was distributed by Action GT while GIG was doing the same in Italy.

Games

3 games where ever released for this systems.

In Japan, “Halahara Touring 1” (テープのみ ハラハラツーリング1) was included with the systems while “Seaside Drive” and  “I am a patrol”  were both sold separately for 1 ,980 yen.

In North America, only 2 games were ever released. “California Chase” was the the first title released and it was bundled with the console. “Road Race” was then release along side “California Chase” in a single VHS tape and became the new pack-in game for the system. T

In Europe, the same 2 games has North America were released, but with slightly different names. “California Chase” was released as “Police Pursuit” and “Road Race” as “Road Racer”. The games were sold separately and were not bundled on the same VHS as for North America.

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