Rocket Racer
| Rocket Racer | |
|---|---|
 Artwork of Rocket Racer and his car for LEGO Racers (1999) by Roger Harris | |
| First game | LEGO Racers (1999) |
| Created by | Pete McLennon??? |
| Designed by |
|
Rocket Racer is a fictional character introduced in the 1999 video game LEGO Racers.
I don't know what's best to use for an image - one of the renders by Artworld or Roger Harris or whoever else, or an in-game screenshot. I added one from the manual by Harris - Does this one work or not really? let me know what kind of image you think would be best
💬 I think the manual render is great for now! As for the Created By part, I remember the doc where McLennon says "The producer, who was the primary contact between us and LEGO, gave me a prototype minifig of my Rocket Racer character on one of his visits" which has me believe Rocket is probably his creation?
Background
💬 a super rough outline. also wanted to say he was sort of lego racer 1's mascot - there isn't anything officially saying so, but his face is plastered all over the physical media for the game - left it out for now
As a part of his debut in the first LEGO Racers, Rocket Racer was created as a final boss of all the Circuit races in the game. something something about how bored he is after being the best (comic source and concept source etc).
LR2 manual ref mention LEGO Racers 2
LEGO Racers 2 (seen in intro) hes depressed etc about coming in second to the player character once they became the new racing champion. after coming across a flyer for racing oriented planet called Xalax, he travels there and becomes Galactic Racing Champion, sporting a new look inspired by Evel Knievel. (i dont know if its worth mentioning the scrapped driver in LR1 who was also inspired by knievel or if its too off topic for rocket racer.) -- --
to mention characterization from other appearances -- --
Development
While the majority of characters in LEGO Racers were taken from contemporary and then-recent LEGO themes, Rocket Racer and Veronica Voltage were created by developer High Voltage Software.[1]: 15
Some of the devs got a figure of him.[1]: 19 [2]
.jpg)
In a February 1999 concept draft written by game developer Tomas Gillo during the development of LEGO Racers, the conceptual lore states that Rocket Racer made his first appearance to the racing scene as a kid in plain clothing (as opposed to his future racer uniform), and was made to be a laughing stock when he introduced himself by name. This eventually turned around when he claimed the World Champion title and the trophy alongside it, ultimately gaining respect and cementing his place as the best of the best among racers.[3]
Appearances
Information[4] and another rough outline-
1999 - LEGO Racers (High Voltage Software) [game]
2000 - Rocket Racers [park attraction]
2001 - LEGO Racers 2 (Attention to Detail) [game]
2001 - LEGO Racers 2 (Pocket Studios) [game]
2018 - LEGO Minifigure series 18 "Race Car Guy" designed by Austin William Carlson [lego set]
2021 - Rocket Stunt Bike [lego set]
*LEGO City Adventures [tv series] (series started in 2019 but rocket didnt appear until 2022)
2023 - LEGO 2K Drive [game]
2023 - LEGO City No Limits [onlines series?]
2023 - Ultimate Stunt Riders Challenge [lego set]
💬 only mentioned some media appearances and lego counterparts, do official merchandise pieces need to get mentioned too?
💬 also about drome racers - one of the lego racers devs did make a character with the same name as a nod to the lego character but this is known only as a homage, theres nothing officially saying it's him. feel free to mention anyway idk?
Gallery
-
Placeholder image captured from N64 emulation (via OpenEmu emulator)
-
Art by Roger Harris
-
Art by Roger Harris
-
Art by Roger Harris
-
Art by Roger Harris
-
Wallpaper (Roger Harris)
-
Wallpaper (unknown)
-
Wallpaper (unknown)
-
Early design
-
Late concept art
-
Early render by Artworld UK
-
Early render by Artworld UK
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Crecente, Brian; Vincent, Ethan (June 30, 2021). "Episode 26 – Rocket Racer, Veronica Voltage, and the Legend of LEGO Racers" (PDF). Bits N' Bricks (Podcast). Participants: Keith Morton, Eric Nofsinger, and Cary Penczek. The LEGO Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 13, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024. Audio version via YouTube.
- ↑ McLennon, Pete (December 30, 2023). "Pete McLennon - Artist/Designer" (Interview). Interviewed by Ben Davies. Archived from the original on November 21, 2024 – via Bricks to Bytes.
- ↑ Gillo, Tomas (18 February 1999). "The Legend of the Rocket Racer". Second draft. Archived from the original on November 21, 2024 – via Bricks to Bytes.
- ↑ High Voltage Software (1999). "Story of the Circuit Race". LEGO Racers Instruction Manual. London: LEGO Media International. pp. 17–18. Serial IB2G-ROC3 2299598.
