Daytona USA was a racing arcade game released by Sega in 1994. Daytona USA took the groundwork laid by Sega in their 1992 release Virtua Racing and built upon it, with the smoothest graphics and most realistic physics yet seen in a racing game. The game was also a huge leap forward in multiplayer, with the possibility of linking four twin cabinets, or eight deluxe cabinets, to create a massive eight player competition. Deluxe cabinets also contained a camera attached just above the coinslots pointing towards the drivers seat, which could be linked to a television to show the player's facial expressions on a separate screen.
Daytona USA was one of the highest grossing arcade games ever made; no game since has come close to selling as much, or making as much for arcade owners. [1]
It was later ported to the Sega Saturn. The conversion had a somewhat slow frame rate and lots of pop-up, which failed to impress several critics and casual gamers who were more interested in the Sony PlayStation's Ridge Racer port. So, the in-house team who made the Saturn port of Sega Rally remade Daytona USA, adding some new tracks and a 2-player mode, and released it as Daytona USA: Championship Circuit Edition. Both ports made their way to the PC.
Daytona USA was also completely revamped into a Sega Dreamcast version. This sported the same tracks as the Championship Circuit Edition (which of course included the original's three) and added three more, as well as a gargantuan graphical update to bring the game's visuals up to modern standards. It was released in the console's dying year.
A sequel, Daytona USA 2 , was also released.
