COSMIC CART RACING

Pinball News Website·article·analyzed·Mar 22, 2018

Analysis

claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · $0.019

TL;DR

Multimorphic reveals Cosmic Cart Racing, P3's second full game with racing multiplayer mechanics.

Summary

Multimorphic unveiled Cosmic Cart Racing (CCR), their second full-featured P3 game, at Texas Pinball Festival 2018. CCR is a space-themed pod racing game featuring real-time multiplayer competitive mechanics, 800 RGB-controlled LEDs, innovative magnetic ramp functions, and linking capabilities between machines. The game was approximately 60% complete at reveal, with positive reception despite minor UI/intensity feedback.

Key Claims

CCR is Multimorphic's second full-featured title for P3 after Lexi Lightspeed, bringing the total P3 games to eight separate offerings
high confidence · Article states 'This is their second full-featured title after *Lexy Lightspeed*, bringing the current total up to eight separate games.'
CCR features real-time multi-machine linking capability, either locally or remotely, allowing simultaneous competitive play between games
high confidence · Article explicitly describes linking 'between multiple machines – either locally or remotely – in order to play simultaneously against one or more opponents'
The playfield contains exactly 800 individually-controlled color-changing RGB LEDs
high confidence · Article states 'The shots are also laced with nearly 800 individually-controlled color-changing RGB LEDs'
CCR code and polish was approximately 60% complete at Texas Pinball Festival 2018
high confidence · Gerry Stellenberg quote: 'the code and polish of *CCR* was about 60% complete at the time of TPF 2018'
The right ramp uses magnetic functions to launch balls via a color-count sequence (red, yellow, green) and can adapt based on racing conditions
high confidence · Article describes the ball being 'held in place for a color-count of red, yellow, GREEN! At this point the ball is rocketed back up the ramp via a series of ramp magnets'

Notable Quotes

“I wanted people to realize that this game is fun on its own. While simultaneous play is an engaging part of this game's design, it is also really entertaining as a single player experience.”
Gerry Stellenberg @ Texas Pinball Festival 2018 — Designer rationale for not linking machines at public reveal; emphasizes single-player viability of CCR
“I've been showing some P3 videos to my pinball league at Starport Arcade and the interest is very high. They keep asking me when I'm getting one for them to play and with the newest offering of CCR, I'll likely be in the market for more soon. In fact, I anticipate purchasing four more P3s by Q2 of 2018.”
Chris Meyers @ Texas Pinball Festival 2018 — Commercial operator signal: CCR announcement drove P3 purchase decision and operator confidence in platform expansion
“this game is fun and challenging with a great replay factor. The playfield is innovative and packed with plenty of physical shots showcasing twists, turns, and unexpected ball movement to keep the experienced player interested.”
Article Author — Positive assessment of gameplay depth and replayability after learning curve

Entities

Multimorphiccompany Cosmic Cart Racinggame Gerry StellenbergpersonLexi LightspeedgameTexas Pinball Festival 2018eventStarport ArcadeorganizationChris MeyerspersonP3product

Signals

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business_signal: Commercial operator (Starport Arcade) made immediate P3 purchase decision based on CCR reveal and expressed intent to purchase four additional units
high · Chris Meyers quote: 'with the newest offering of CCR, I'll likely be in the market for more soon. In fact, I anticipate purchasing four more P3s by Q2 of 2018.'
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design_philosophy: Multimorphic deliberately did not link machines at TPF 2018 reveal to establish CCR as viable single-player experience despite multiplayer being design focus
high · Gerry Stellenberg statement emphasizing single-player gameplay quality as important to game acceptance before introducing multiplayer linking
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announcement: Multimorphic officially revealed Cosmic Cart Racing as second full-featured P3 title at Texas Pinball Festival 2018
high · Article explicitly documents TPF 2018 unveiling with Gerry Stellenberg present; photos and detailed gameplay descriptions confirm public reveal
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product_strategy: CCR development strategy included releasing mini-games and test modules on P3 platform to prototype features before full release
high · Article describes ROCs, Barnyard, Cannon Lagoon, Wizard, Secret Agent Showdown as testing sites 'meant to prototype features to be used in the full-featured *CCR*'
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product_strategy: Reviewer identified potential UI improvement: racing information display is too small for amount of information conveyed; suggests frosted ramp trim could diffuse intense LED output
high · Critique section: 'making the information a little more apparent... The racing diagram mentioned above was also pretty small' and 'Perhaps some frosted ramp trim on production games could help diffuse the intensity'

Topics

Multimorphic P3 platform expansion and game library growthprimaryInnovative pinball multiplayer and linking mechanicsprimaryLED lighting technology in modern pinballprimaryCommercial operator adoption of P3 platformsecondaryPlayfield design and ball mechanics innovationsecondaryRacing theme in pinball game designsecondaryP3 platform aesthetics and graphics progressionmentioned

Sentiment

positive(0.82)— Article is enthusiastic about CCR's innovative mechanics, playfield design, and competitive potential. Reviewer provides constructive criticism on UI clarity and LED intensity but overall assessment is favorable. Commercial operator testimonial adds positive sentiment regarding market reception.

Transcript

raw_text · $0.000

At the Texas Pinball Festival 2018 (TPF), Multimorphic unveiled another new game for their P3 pinball platform. This is their second full-featured title after Lexy Lightspeed, bringing the current total up to eight separate games. The reveal at TPF was without the typical preparatory hype and bluster. Instead, attendees were greeted with an unexpected over-sized display mimicking design elements from the P3‘s newest title, Cosmic Cart Racing (CCR). ![The Multimorphic stand at the Texas Pinball Festival 2018](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/p3/cosmic-cart-racing/01-cosmic-cart-racing.jpg) The Multimorphic stand at the Texas Pinball Festival 2018 CCR was announced near the advent of the P3 platform along with Lexy Lightspeed, but in an effort to diversify the system’s offerings, Mutlimorphic founder, Gerry Stellenberg, released a number of mini games that would appeal to arcade aficionados (ROCs), family fun centers with a younger audience (Barnyard) and redemption arcades (Cannon Lagoon), as well as practice modules designed to help players hone their skills on existing games (Wizard and Secret Agent Showdown) and mini games designed to showcase and test the new platform’s capabilities (Heads-Up). ![The full range of P3 titles](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/p3/cosmic-cart-racing/02-cosmic-cart-racing.jpg) The full range of P3 titles Several of those titles mentioned were also loose testing sites meant to prototype features to be used in the full-featured CCR. CCR is a new physical pinball game themed around outer space pod-racing, with nods to competitive racing games like Mario Kart. While racing games have been attempted in pinball’s past, (Stern’s NASCAR, Williams’ Indianapolis 500, and Gottlieb’s Mario Andretti), there has never been an instance of a pinball title which allows you to track your progress with other racers in real time or link games to effect the other player’s race. Enter CCR‘s info screen: ![In-race information display](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/p3/cosmic-cart-racing/03-cosmic-cart-racing.jpg) In-race information display This tiny area of the P3‘s dynamic LCD playfield provides an astonishing amount of information. Simply by looking at this 2″ x 4” area you can see who is in the lead, who is speeding up, who is slowing down, and who has received a power-up. Oh yes, there are power-ups. At the current version of the game, you can increase your speed via a boost, hinder the other players’ progress by leaving them road blocks, stop other players’ progress with an EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) or obtain a shield that will protect you from other players’ use of the offensive power-ups. ![The CCR upper playfield module's](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/p3/cosmic-cart-racing/04-cosmic-cart-racing.jpg) The CCR upper playfield module’s The playfield itself boasts nine separate shots that include inner and outer loops, scoops, a captive ball, ramps, and the ability to stop, divert, or reverse the path of the ball in a number of different ways. The shots are also laced with nearly 800 individually-controlled color-changing RGB LEDs which direct the player’s shots: green for shots that accelerate your speed in the race against your opponents, white for shots already hit, and a pulsing rainbow of color for areas where players can qualify and collect power-ups. ![All the LEDs are RGB controllable](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/p3/cosmic-cart-racing/00-cosmic-cart-racing.jpg) All the LEDs are RGB controllable The right ramp also has a number of different innovative magnetic functions that I’m about to spoil for you. (You’ve been warned!) The first becomes apparent upon ball launch, when the ball emerges from the playfield’s back panel, cascades back down to the first ring, and is held in place for a color-count of red, yellow, GREEN! At this point the ball is rocketed back up the ramp via a series of ramp magnets: VIDEO Cosmic Cart Racing – ball launch This same ramp can accelerate a weak shot or hinder a strong shot, dependent upon racing conditions. Multiball is also achievable by locking balls on this ramp’s magnets, which offers an awfully unique start sequence: VIDEO Cosmic Cart Racing – multiball lock and launch CCR has the ability to link between multiple machines – either locally or remotely – in order to play simultaneously against one or more opponents. However the machines playing CCR at TPF were not linked for their inaugural public unveiling. When asked about this choice, Gerry Stellenberg (Multimorphic Founder and CCR Chief Designer) said, “I wanted people to realize that this game is fun on its own. While simultaneous play is an engaging part of this game’s design, it is also really entertaining as a single player experience.” Gerry also mentioned that the code and polish of CCR was about 60% complete at the time of TPF 2018. If asked to critique the initial offering of CCR, I’d suggest making the information a little more apparent. Where Lexy did a great job of pointing out shots via the dynamic LCD playfield, CCR had more of a learning curve to understand the color-coded shots and what exactly they helped to achieve. The racing diagram mentioned above was also pretty small, especially for the amount of useful information it yields. Finally, while the 800 individually-controlled color-changing LEDs are eye-catching and help to direct the player’s shots, they are also a bit intense when all directly pointing at the user’s eyes. Perhaps some frosted ramp trim on production games could help diffuse the intensity, despite the fact the LED’s have a diagnostic adjustment that allows for intensity manipulation. VIDEO Cosmic Cart Racing – attract mode LED effects With that said, after the initial learning curve of a game or few, I found the title fun and challenging with a great replay factor. The playfield is innovative and packed with plenty of physical shots showcasing twists, turns, and unexpected ball movement to keep the experienced player interested. Finally, the P3’s newest title should also go a long way to quelling the naysayers of Lexy Lightspeed’s ‘retro’ on-screen aesthetic. The motion graphics on CCR looked quite modern and, dare I say, futuristic. Even the start screen boasts a dazzling display of racers, which is not a treatment relegated to the start screen, but rather carried through actual gameplay. VIDEO Cosmic Cart Racing – start screen Even with the limited code and nascent user interface, there was a lot to enjoy in CCR, and the potential is overwhelmingly evident. This point was driven home as Chris Meyers of Starport Arcade in Morgantown, WV arrived at the end of my conversation with Gerry to receive a service demonstration of his new P3 system purchased for his business on the TPF 2018 weekend. ![Gerry and Chris](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/games/p3/cosmic-cart-racing/06-cosmic-cart-racing.jpg) Gerry and Chris When asked about his P3 purchase, Meyers said, “I’ve been showing some P3 videos to my pinball league at Starport Arcade and the interest is very high. They keep asking me when I’m getting one for them to play and with the newest offering of CCR, I’ll likely be in the market for more soon. In fact, I anticipate purchasing four more P3s by Q2 of 2018.” Well, Starport Arcade in Morgantown, WV, the wait is over. For anyone else in visiting distance of Morgantown, another P3 is available for public play.