Jet Driver
Release type: Shareware
Release date: July 20, 1994
Levels: 5
Author: Matthew Groves
Website: mgroves.com
Registration bonus: new levels, level maps, 1-year subscription to bimonthly newsletter
Registration price: $10
Related games: none
Whereas Matthew Groves' Space Cadet and Mystery series were conceived and completed as discrete trilogies, Jet Driver seems like it was more of an ongoing process. The shareware version contains five tracks, and registration gets you a bunch more plus a bunch of new graphics and sound resources. As with Groves' other games, if it's not in the shareware version then it's probably gone.
Although Groves describes Jet Driver as a sort of early draft of Grand Theft Auto, perhaps a more apt description would be Spy Hunter without the shooting, or Bump 'N Jump without the jumping. You can drive in four directions, or hit "B" to brake. Touch another vehicle and you instantly explode, Pole Position style. Run over children, and be rewarded with a sound clip of screaming.
Thanks to Game-Maker's set map size, the tracks are all short. Some of the tracks take a swerve far enough to the side to allow the map to loop. Since Game-Maker's sense of momentum is fairly limited, and the ability to combine moves is perhaps even more limited, driving isn't as smooth as it might be. Thus those curves can be a bit of a problem to navigate. No one's fault; the game is an experiment.
Jet Driver is awkward and experimental, and there may be reasons why it resembles no other Game-Maker game. Yet it's also fascinating, and designed with the same clean style and genial spirit as Groves' other games. And again, hey. Someone's got to push the boundaries.
Contents
Story
Have you ever wanted to speed past a police car or run down those silly kids who play in the middle of the road? Sure! Now you can do it without hurting anybody!
In Jet Driver, you can speed past police cars, outrun other Jet Drivers, run over silly kids to get extra points and all while you enjoy the gorgeous scenery.
So have fun!
Instructions
Control
- UP - Accelerate
- DOWN - Go back
- RIGHT - Move right
- LEFT - Move left
The above applies both to Joystick and Keyboard
B is to hit the brakes.
Press F1 during play for additional functions.
Credits
Design
Graphics
- Matt Groves
Sound Effects
- Matt Groves
- Steph Groves
Programming
- Matt Groves
- Game-Maker Software
Testing
- Matt Groves
- Jeff Bussey
- Nathan Groves
- Alyssa Groves
Music
- PD and FreeWare
- Assorted Music
- Files (CMF and ROL)
Title Screen
- Shareware CD-ROM
Links
Downloads
- Jet Driver (207.7 kB)
- Level 1 map (22.0 kB)
- Level 2 map (26.8 kB)
- Level 3 map (78.0 kB)
- Level 4 map (30.2 kB)
- Level 5 map (23.4 kB)
