Spike Racers is a video game-turned-story that's about nine or ten years in the making (and counting).
History
Originally an "awesome" racing game that I created around sixth grade or so (I think), it slowly grew into a very ambitious racing game that included twenty or so total machines (six selectable from the start) and a track list that was supposed to be thirty in total spread around five different cups (with the final cup having an extra five tracks). However, a secret "elite" cup was later added with five more tracks (culminating into a final race unlike anything ever seen). Times changed however, and the game ended up being too small. So a "very elite" set of tracks was added to each five-track cup (unlockable after the "elite" cup was completed) and a couple more machines were added, giving the game a grand total of 60 3D tracks spread evenly across six cups (originally 2D, but again times changed) along with 23 total machines.
Eventually I found a problem that was again a result of changing times: my machines needed pilots. Individual pilots. About six years of development and I had no pilots for my created machines.
This started a massive name-creation phase for myself that inadvertently spawned my current internet username (Sig Nuka). Personalities were added, more pilots were created, and eventually a massive story was formed. However, the story grew very quickly and I was left with either putting a story spread across five entire games (which wouldn't be very smart considering the size and depth of the story), or just scrapping the entire "game" idea leaving just the story - and work on that.
About a year and a half ago, I finally decided to scrap the idea of a game (series by now). This wasn't too much of a loss however, because the story by then had far surpassed the game in terms of depth and size, and I could always use elements from what would've been the game in the story (track locations for example). By this time though I was working on the story like crazy without actually WORKING on the story. How? That's where the "inspiration songs" come in.
I listened to very many songs in the past two years, and some of them inspired key elements of the Spike Racing world. For example, remember the final race "unlike anything ever seen" that I mentioned earlier? The track itself was supposed to be built around Led Zeppelin's "Achilles Last Stand" - and it was supposed to be a three lap course. It would've been absolutely epic, so definitely expect it in the story. I'll put up a list of "inspiration songs" later somewhere. ^^;
Ambitious as hell
To give everyone a good idea on how large the entire series is, I currently have 67 (maybe more) total named characters (about 20ish of which will be very prominent) and the story, if it were ever animated for television (or actually YouTube), would span five very large seasons (I don't think I could fit it all under 150 half-hour episodes). If it were in a manga format, it would be twenty-five (maybe) of the largest effin' manga novels you'll ever see, guaranteed. It'll be big, trust me.
Or maybe not, I really don't know yet. I'm probably just overestimating everything again. ^^;;
Progress
Since I can't draw, I don't have character designs right now, although I have a pretty good idea what most characters will generally look like. However, the story itself - in general - is done. Now I'm just adding some important details here and there (like people's background and stuff) but the important events of the story are completely done. Now I just need to put it on paper. ^^;;
In other words, none (well, almost none) of the actual story is actually written. It currently exists only as various lists and a few story details here and there, with a few exceptions of course (like machine designs).
Character Progress
Character backgrounds are about 25ish % done (maybe less). Again, the character designs are nonexistent, but I have a good idea what some characters will look like. Some.
...
Well, a few actually. ^^;;
Machine Progress
Machines are mostly designed by now, save for about 10 machines. That makes it about 80ish % done (I think 53 expected machines, so do the math). Crudely designed in 2D because again I can't draw. :P
Questions
If anyone has any questions regarding Spike Racers (and trust me, you'll definitely have questions), go ahead and ask me and I'll try to answer them as best as I can. ^_^
- siggy
