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3-D Ultra Radio Control Racers Deluxe: Traxxas Edition

Last updated: January 16, 2026

Overview

3-D Ultra Radio Control Racers Deluxe: Traxxas Edition is an arcade-style racing game developed by Dynamix and published by Sierra On-Line in 2000.1 The game recreates the nostalgic experience of playing with radio-controlled cars, offering players the thrill of RC racing without the disappointing hourly charge-ups of real-world models.2 As an update to the hot-selling original 3-D Radio Control Racers, the Traxxas Edition featured eight new tracks and two new game modes, bringing the total to sixteen tracks of “insane jumps, twisting turns and off-the-wall pitfalls.”3

The game promised “little cars, huge fun,” inviting players to select from four car models, upgrade and customize them, then compete across fourteen hilarious tracks filled with unexpected obstacles and hazards.4 True to the 3-D Ultra series’ signature style, the game featured whimsical hazards including “mad chickens, sea monsters, anarchist lawn gnomes” that players had to navigate during fast and furious racing.1 The Traxxas Edition partnership brought official RC car branding to the experience, lending authenticity to the virtual racing.5

Part of the 3-D Ultra series influx during the final year of the millennium, alongside titles like TrainTown and Cool Pool, this game represented Dynamix’s continued commitment to accessible, family-friendly entertainment software.6 The game was rated “E for Everyone” by the ESRB with no content descriptors, making it suitable for all ages.7 Some fans have even credited the game with innovating car-soccer gameplay that would later be popularized by games like Rocket League.8

Story Summary

Unlike traditional racing games with narrative frameworks, 3-D Ultra Radio Control Racers Deluxe: Traxxas Edition focuses purely on the racing experience without an overarching storyline.2 The game’s premise is simple: players take control of miniature radio-controlled cars and compete across a variety of imaginative tracks designed to evoke childhood memories of backyard RC racing.2

The game’s environments tell their own stories through creative track design. Players race through diverse locations including a frog pond, construction site, backyard setting, pirate cove, and a miniature golf course complete with a rocket, windmill, and waterfall.12 Each track features unique obstacles and hazards that add personality to the racing experience—dodge bombs from garden gnomes and an aggressive dog in the backyard, evade a sea monster on the mini-golf track, swirl between tombs in a haunted graveyard, or avoid lava surrounding an Aztec Pyramid.9

The career mode provides structured progression as players compete against fifteen opponents across circuits to earn money.9 This economic element allows players to upgrade their vehicles and unlock additional content, creating a sense of advancement through the game’s various challenges.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

The game features a bird’s-eye view perspective with pre-rendered graphics, presenting 2D, top-down viewed tracks where players control their RC cars in real-time.210 Controls support keyboard, mouse, and various controllers, with Patch 1.1 addressing some joypad-related bugs from the original release.10 The player maintains direct control over their vehicle at all times, navigating the tracks while managing powerups and avoiding obstacles.10

Structure and Progression

The game offers multiple game modes to accommodate different play styles:2

  • Race Computer: Standard races against AI opponents
  • Race a Friend: Split-screen multiplayer for two players locally
  • Race Circuit: Career mode racing against fifteen opponents to earn money
  • R/C Battle: Combat-focused modes including R/C soccer and R/C Battle Ball

Players can select from Easy or Hard difficulty modes, with the harder setting increasing computer opponents’ skills and making vehicle handling more realistic.9 The career circuit mode allows players to earn money through race performance, which can be spent on vehicle upgrades.9

Vehicle Selection and Customization

The game offers four distinct vehicle types, each with unique characteristics:9

  • Monster Truck: Hugs the track and is extremely difficult to knock over but relatively slow
  • Buggy: Quick handling and good top speed but tends to bounce around easily
  • Stadium Truck: Balanced specifications
  • Baja Bug: Balanced specifications

Players can customize their vehicles with upgrades to engines, shocks, and tires.2 The Deluxe Traxxas Edition expanded customization options beyond the original release.10 Patch 1.1 added the ability to apply custom paint jobs to vehicles.10

Tracks and Environments

The Deluxe Traxxas Edition features sixteen total tracks across varied environments:3

  • Backyard: Features garden gnomes and a dog as hazards
  • Frog Pond: Aquatic-themed obstacles
  • Construction Site: Industrial setting with unique challenges
  • Pirate Cove: Nautical theming
  • MiniGolf Course: Complete with rocket, windmill, and waterfall features plus a sea monster1
  • Haunted Graveyard: Navigate between tombs
  • Aztec Pyramid: Avoid surrounding lava
  • Traxxas Raceway: Official branded track
  • Desert: Arid environment racing
  • 3-D Ultra Thrillride: Crossover-themed track3

Powerups and Combat

Racing action is enhanced with various powerups scattered across tracks:2

  • Missiles: Projectile weapons
  • Dynamite Sticks: Explosive hazards
  • Slippery Oil: Creates slick surfaces
  • Electric Shock: Stuns opponents
  • Turbo Boosters: Speed enhancement
  • Firecrackers and Bottle Rockets: Additional offensive items9

Players race against three other opponents at all times during standard races.2

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Neoseeker’s Adam Byrant reviewed the game on November 23, 2000, awarding it a score of 78%.2 The review acknowledged the game’s nostalgic appeal, noting that “the ultimate Christmas present for any young child out there would have to be a radio controlled racecar” and praising the game for eliminating the “disappointing hourly charge-ups” of real RC cars.2 However, Byrant identified significant issues with the audio design, stating “the biggest problem I had with this game was the sound. The music, announcer dialogue, and above all sound effects of the cars and powerups were the biggest turn-offs.”2 The review concluded that “RCR just doesn’t come through in the lasting fun department, save for maybe the littler ones.”2

The Collection Chamber retrospective offered mixed assessment, noting that “3D Ultra has always valued entertainment value over depth of gameplay, and the lack of variety really shows here. Moreso than any other in the series.”6 Despite this criticism, the review acknowledged “What is there is a lot of fun. I just wish there was more of it.”6

Modern Assessment

Modern gaming communities have expressed nostalgia for the title, with users on GOG.com’s wishlist describing the game as a cherished childhood memory.3 One user noted “The graphics, sounds and gameplay of this amazing piece of history must not be lost to time!”3 The game has developed a cult following among fans who grew up with it, particularly in Germany where it was distributed as “Big Fun Funk Flitzer” via the Micky Maus-Magazin CD.3

User Ratings:

  • Old-Games.ru: 7.0/10 (user rating)11

The game’s historical significance has been reevaluated by some fans who credit it as an early innovator of car-soccer gameplay, a concept that would later achieve massive success with Rocket League.8

Development

Origins

3-D Ultra Radio Control Racers Deluxe: Traxxas Edition was developed as an enhanced update to the original 3-D Radio Control Racers, which had proven to be a commercial success for Sierra’s casual gaming line.3 The game was directed by Randy Thompson and designed by Richard Tunnell.4 The development team at Dynamix, which had extensive experience with the 3-D Ultra series, sought to expand upon the original’s formula with additional content and features.4

Production

Development was handled by Jeff Tunnell Productions under the Dynamix banner.9 The game was published under the Sierra Attractions label, which focused on family-friendly entertainment software.12 The partnership with Traxxas, a prominent manufacturer of radio-controlled vehicles, lent official branding and authenticity to the racing experience.5

Development Credits:1

  • Designer: Richard Tunnell
  • Designer: Shawn Bird
  • Designer: Jonathan Paton
  • Director: Randy Thompson4

Technical Achievements

The game featured pre-rendered 2D graphics with a bird’s-eye view perspective, which was characteristic of the 3-D Ultra series’ visual approach.10 While the graphics were noted as having “small and pixilated cars,” the visual style served the accessible, family-oriented gameplay.2

Technical Specifications

System Requirements:10

  • Operating System: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT 4.0
  • CPU: Intel Pentium 90 MHz minimum
  • RAM: 32 MB
  • Storage: 50 MB installation
  • Graphics: DirectX 6.1 compatible video card

Media:5

  • Format: CD-ROM
  • Disc Image Size: 472.39 MB11
  • Package Weight: 90.72 grams
  • Package Dimensions: 13.97 x 12.45 x 1.02 cm

Technical Issues

The original release suffered from several technical problems that were addressed in Patch 1.1:10

  • Joypad compatibility issues
  • Multiplayer functionality bugs
  • Inverted colors on some systems

The Collection Chamber’s preservation version requires running through DOSBox 0.74 with Windows 95 emulation, noting that users need to properly shut down the emulated Windows environment before exiting DOSBox to avoid “errors, lost saves and corrupt data.”6

Version History

VersionDatePlatformNotes
Original (3-D Ultra Radio Control Racers)September 1, 1999WindowsInitial release with 8 tracks10
Deluxe: Traxxas EditionSeptember 4, 2000WindowsEnhanced edition with 16 tracks9
US Retail ReleaseNovember 2, 2000WindowsNorth American retail7
Patch 1.1UnknownWindowsAdded custom paint jobs, fixed joypad and multiplayer bugs10

Easter Eggs and Trivia

  • The game was known as “Big Fun Funk Flitzer” in Germany and was distributed via a CD included with Micky Maus-Magazin.3
  • The back of the box featured the whimsical tagline: “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear… and they just might eat you!”6
  • Some fans credit the game as an early innovator of car-soccer gameplay, predating Rocket League by over 15 years.8
  • The game features crossover content including a “3-D Ultra Thrillride track” referencing another title in the 3-D Ultra series.3

Legacy

Sales and Commercial Impact

The game was released as a budget-priced title under the Sierra Attractions banner, targeting the family entertainment market.6 While specific sales figures are not available, the game was successful enough to warrant the Deluxe Traxxas Edition update following the original’s strong performance.3

Collections

The game appeared in compilation releases:

  • Planes, Trains & Automobiles — 3 Complete Games! - A budget compilation bundle7

Fan Projects

The game has been preserved by retro gaming communities, with the Collection Chamber providing a configured version that runs on modern systems through DOSBox emulation.6 Old-Games.ru hosts the original disc image and documentation for preservation purposes.11 Community members on Steam and GOG.com have advocated for official digital re-releases, though the game’s rights situation remains unclear.8

  • User Manual: PDF format, 3.02 MB, available through Sierra Chest9
  • Quick Reference Guide: JPG format, 534.91 KB, available through Sierra Chest9

Critical Perspective

3-D Ultra Radio Control Racers Deluxe: Traxxas Edition represents an interesting moment in casual gaming history, arriving at the cusp of the new millennium when budget-priced entertainment software was a significant market segment.6 While the game received mixed reviews for its limited depth and repetitive sound design, it successfully captured the nostalgia of childhood RC car racing for a generation of young players.2

The game’s legacy has been somewhat rehabilitated by modern retrospective analysis, particularly by fans who see its R/C soccer mode as a precursor to the car-soccer gameplay that would later make Rocket League a massive success.8 This historical footnote, while perhaps overstated, demonstrates the game’s creative approach to combining racing with arena-style combat modes. The 3-D Ultra series as a whole prioritized entertainment value over gameplay depth, and Radio Control Racers exemplified this philosophy—providing accessible, family-friendly fun even if experienced gamers found the experience shallow.6

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

  • Not currently available on major digital platforms

Download / Preservation

Manuals & Extras

Series Continuity

3-D Ultra Radio Control Racers Deluxe: Traxxas Edition belongs to both the broader 3-D Ultra series and the specific 3-D Ultra Radio Control Racers sub-series.9 The 3-D Ultra line from Dynamix and Sierra encompassed a variety of casual gaming experiences including Cool Pool, TrainTown, and various other titles released during the late 1990s.6 The Traxxas Edition represented an enhanced update to the original Radio Control Racers rather than a true sequel, adding significant content including eight additional tracks and new game modes while refining the core experience.3

References

Footnotes

  1. MobyGames – 3-D Ultra Radio Control Racers Deluxe: Traxxas Edition – developer, publisher, designers, ESRB rating, box quotes ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9

  2. Neoseeker – Radio Control Racers Review – Adam Byrant review, 78% score, gameplay details, powerups, track themes ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15

  3. GOG.COM – 3-D Ultra Radio Control Racers Dreamlist – game description, German localization info, user memories, track list ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11

  4. LaunchBox Games Database – 3D Ultra Radio Control Racers – designer Richard Tunnell, director Randy Thompson, ESRB rating, overview description ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  5. Amazon.in Product Listing – release date August 9, 2000, Vivendi Universal publisher, platform compatibility ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  6. Collection Chamber – 3D Ultra Radio Control Racers – retrospective review, technical setup, emulation requirements, box quotes ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11

  7. GameSpy – 3-D Ultra Radio Control Racers Deluxe: Traxxas Edition – November 2, 2000 US release, ESRB rating, features, bundle information ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  8. Steam Community Discussion – German “Funk Flitzer” name, car-soccer innovation claim, community nostalgia ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  9. Sierra Chest – Radio Control Racers Traxxas Edition – September 4, 2000 release, Jeff Tunnell Productions, detailed gameplay description, documentation ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14

  10. PCGamingWiki – 3-D Ultra Radio Control Racers – system requirements, Patch 1.1 details, technical specifications, bugs ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10

  11. Old-Games.ru – Game Download Page – user rating, disc image details, documentation files ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  12. Children’s Software Directory – Sierra Attractions (Vivendi) publisher listing ↩

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