Hot Wheels: Velocity X (lost early builds & behind the scenes videos from multi-platform racing game; 2002)
Hot Wheels: Velocity X is a racing video game developed and published by Beyond Games and THQ. The game was released in the fall of 2002 for PlayStation 2, GameCube, PC, and Game Boy Advance. The game is based off the Hot Wheels toy line and features cars in the game that were in the actual toy line.
The Velocity X Beta
The games beta is very different from its final release. Many screenshots exist of the beta version and the only videos of the beta were posted to YouTube by IGN in May of 2011. Although footage of the beta dates back to January of 2002.
Differences
The beta has many differences compared to the final version.
- When a stunt is performed, it would say “You’ve been Darylized!
- The arrow pointing to the destination is red instead of blue or yellow in the final version. The overall HUD is different.
- The soundtrack is nearly if not completely different.
- Parts of levels are completely different compared to the final version such as different roads and obstacles.
- The startup screen featured the main character Max Justice saying “Hot Wheels Velocity X” which is not in the final version.
Nothing has resurfaced about the beta in years. As all of the online beta footage is years old. The whereabouts of the beta version is unknown.
Cut Cars
The game had 3 known cars cut from the final game: Sling Shot, Purple Passion, and Sweet 16 II. It is unknown how many cars were cut from the game. The only picture of any cut cars is a screenshot of Sling Shot. The other 2 cars have no photos from the beta, but models of the cars can be seen online.
Rare Velocity X 40 Somethin' Release
Hot Wheels released a rare variation of the 2002 mainline #051 40 Somethin’ with Velocity X and THQ decals with redline tires. The car was also released with the PC version of the game but releases are very limited. Because Velocity X was released in October 2002, the Velocity X version of the car had started production just before the 2003 mainline started and had a limited run.
Demo
The game had a demo that was featured with a Hot Wheels Racing 1:24 Scale Ferrari. The demo is similar to the final game besides minor differences such as sounds, placements for gadgets and grayed out and limited options.
Lost "Behind The Scenes" Video
In 2002, shortly after Hot Wheels: Velocity X was released. Beyond Games posted a video to their website showing Behind The Scenes of Velocity X. This video was one of 5 videos posted on the Beyond Games website. 4 of the 5 videos have been posted to YouTube, those being “Opening Movie”, “Opening Movie Part 2”, “Opening Movie Part 3”, and “30-Second Promo”. Unfortunately the original site and page is now gone but can be accessed through the Wayback Machine. The fifth video “Behind The Scenes” cannot be downloaded through the Wayback Machine. The video has not resurfaced onto any site since and remains lost.
References
1. Beta Footage 2. Beta Footage 3. Beta Footage 4. Beta Footage 5. Beta Footage 6. Beta Footage 7. Beta Footage 8. Proof of the lost "Behind The Scenes" video's existence 9. Unused back cover 10. Unused front cover 11. Model of Purple Passion 12. Model of Sweet 16 II 13. CD-ROM Demo 14. Rare Velocity X 40 Somethin' 15. Sling Shot shown on a now defunct blog