Cars: The Videogame/Beta elements

This is a list of pre-release and unused content for Cars: The Videogame.
==Early ideas==
In 2012, artist Mark Van Haitsma uploaded a collection of high-quality concept art and production stills showcasing his work on the game, to his ArtStation profile page.Van Haitsma, Mark. "Cars: The Videogame work". Retrieved October 13, 2023. A few of his models exhibit minor differences from their final in-game versions: Vince's front resembles that of a first-generation Ford Mustang, Sonny's spoiler folds are seen pointing downwards instead of upwards, while Cortland's race car number is 4 instead of his final 191.
Additionally, while updating and re-tooling the game models and graphics for the Xbox 360 and Wii ports of the game, designer Jeff Garstecki created a brand new Piston Cup racer model, greatly resembling Claude Scruggs from Cars. While it was never used in the final game, Garstecki showcased a 360 view of the model in a 2017 YouTube video.Garstecki, Jeff. "Disney Pixar Cars: Character Models". Retrieved October 13, 2023.
Garstecki Leak Less.png|"Leak Less" model by Jeff Garstecki
Character art 3.jpg|Artwork by Mark Van Haitsma, showing differences for Sonny and Cortland
==Early builds==
In gameplay in the in-game behind-the-scenes with THQ/Rainbow Studios trailer, clips from earlier builds of the game are shown. Among them can be seen a variety of unused content or design differences not present in the final game. One such clip shows a dark-lit Piston Cup speedway with a forest-like field interior; this may possibly be the scrapped "Pinehills International Speedway" event, the name of which is found in the game's localization and event files.
A demo build was compiled and presented at E3 2006, where it was playable via several game kiosks on the showroom floor."PREVIEW: Cars" (May 25, 2006). GameFam. Retrieved October 13, 2023. Dated May 9, 2006, less than a month before the game's release date, the demo offers only a limited selection of Road Races, Mini-Games, and Piston Cup Races from the final game. The content which is featured has no apparent differences from the final release. The prototype build was recovered and released in 2021 by Hidden Palace's Project Deluge, a project dedicated to archiving prototype game builds.
Pinehills-1.jpeg|thumb|right|200px|Pine Hills stadium screenshot
Pinehills-2.jpeg|Another view of the empty Pine Hills stadium.
Red-Motorhome-Notch.jpeg|An early version of High Speed Heist, featuring a bright red texture for the generic Motorhome NPC.
Xbox - Cars E3 version.jpeg|E3 demo disc
==Unused data==
===Races===
An unused text file named "StoryModeSubscreen.ini" appears to outline an early event sequence for Story Mode. The game was originally split into six different chapters instead of only five; It appears that the fourth and fifth chapters (as originally intended) were merged together into the final game's Chapter 4. Additionally, the file references a handful of event namestrings that are not present in the final game.
*"LIZZIES_OLD_TIME_RACE" (Chapter 3) - A Road Race against Lizzie, set at nighttime; This event likely would have implemented her unused character icon
*"PINE_HILLS_SPEEDWAY" (Chapter 5) - Listed as the closing Piston Cup Race in the pen-ultimate chapter. It may have been the unused Piston Cup race seen in the making-of documentary.
*"RSGP4_EAST_VALLEY" (Chapter 6) - A fourth event for the Radiator Springs Grand Prix series between Lightning and Chick in the final chapter. It is unknown where the titular "Easy Valley" location would have referred to.
===Mini-Games===
The game contains significant data for unused mini-games. Two of them still had unused instruction screens left in the files; The first of these, titled Ramone's Jump Jam, would have involved Lightning jumping over the "Here it is!" billboard next to Lizzie's shop in Radiator Springs. Another game titled "Pavin' Crazy" revolved around McQueen pulling Bessie to pave segments of road within a limited amount of time. Unfinished cut-scenes for both of these games are featured as unlockable Bonus Content videos in the Scenes section.
A third minigame, titled Mater's Tow & Throw, also has an unused instructions screen though its actual written contents are empty. A text file titled "rscameraMG_TW.ini" lists out camera preset info and references eight towable characters: Flo, Fletcher, Ramone, Doc, Fillmore, Sally, Lizzie, and El Guapo. A loading screen was found in the files of the game and was originally going to be part of Chapter 4.
Load 4 5.jpg|Mater's Tow & Throw temporary loading screen.
Also listed separately from Lizzie's Postcard Hunt in ""StoryModeSubscreen.ini" is the string "VIEW_POSTCARD_GALLERY", seemingly accessible from the hub (similar to Ramone's House of Body Art) that potentially would have allowed the player to view the individual Postcards they have found.
===Cut-scenes ===
Extended data exists for the Los Angeles International Speedway event cutscene with Darrell Cartrip introducing the race. One line from this cut-scene, "It doesn't get any better than this!", can be heard in the game's trailer. The cutscene is able to be loaded into the game via hacking."Cars: The Video Game: Alternate Ending" on YouTube. Uploaded by Paynecars. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
===Character icons===
Icon sprites for Lizzie, Frank, Stanley, and a generic "Model T" (very closely resembling Lizzie's) can be found in the game. An early version of Lenny's icon remains in the Wii and GameCube files.
Cars Icon LIZ a.png
Cars Icon FRA a.png
Icon STAN a.png
Icon MODT a.png
Cars Icon Lar a.png
===Menus and loading screens===
To be added
===Audio ===
All console versions of the game contain another licensed song titled "Licensed6", which is "Go Faster" by The Black Crowes. Another track titled "Score_DP_1", containing "Drivin' My Life Away" by Eddie Rabbitt, appears specifically in the Xbox and PS2 versions of the game.
=== Playable Characters===
Many non-playable characters in the game, such as Fillmore, Sarge, DJ, Boost, and Snot Rod (among others) have unused playable data in the files, such as animations for being selected at the character select screen, voice lines for scenarios such as being selected, winning or losing races, or boosting, and full stat sheets. This indicates that many of the aforementioned characters were intended to be fully playable at some point in development instead of being relegated to NPCs.
==External links==
*Cars (PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Windows) on tcrf.net
*http://www.monkeyhertz.com/#/page/b31e/gallery/
==References==
Category:Cars: The Videogame