Astounding arcade racing game released by
Sega in
1986. Designed by
Yu Suzuki. Effectively the first modern arcade driving game. The player takes the wheel of a
Ferrari and has to drive from California to the east coast of the USA against a strict time limit. The route branches at several points along the way.
Out Run not only featured super-fast 3D graphics (powered by two 68000s), but also a state-of-the-art pneumatic chair (in the form of a large red Ferrari). The experience was more like a theme park ride than a mere arcade game. All home computer and console versions of this game (of which there have been many) have been pretty much woefully inadequate. Sega went on to do After Burner and Space Harrier with the same basic technology and philosophy, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Other games in this series/franchise include Turbo Out Run, Out Run Europe, Out Run Europa, Out Run 2019, Outrunners and Battle Out Run.