Ventura Heat
A downloadable game
Ventura Heat is a first person arcade racer inspired by yesterday's driving games. Tear up six scorching highways in an attempt to beat the clock. You think you got what it takes?
Check out the README for gameplay instructions and tips.
If you are running Windows, grab the Windows release bundled with DOSbox.
Version 1.1 has been RELEASED!
This has:
* Much improved traffic generation
* Stage lengths evened out
* Fixed flicker when textures switch
* Horizon no longer goes missing on hills
* Steering is less twitchy
Requires: DOSbox or a DOS-compatible machine, OPL3 (OPL2 support soon):
While the audio is written to be OPL2-compatible, it does not yet work on an OPL2. Use an OPL3-equipped card only, or mute the volume.
Minimum tried: 486 DX2/66; yielded about 35 fps
Fluid: Pentium P200 (maybe lower-clocked Pentiums too?)
Build isn't fully optimized yet.
Download
Install instructions
Unzip the game in a directory of your choosing. Everything is self-contained in the executable, aside from the readme, which you should check out.
Development log
- Broke my handDec 08, 2025
- Improvements coming!Nov 22, 2025
Comments
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Made it 7 laps, 434.6sec! The music was a perfect balance to the white knuckle cornering. I’m not sure why, but it made me think of Moonshine Racers. [Edit: I think it’s the similar distortion on the hills!]
Once you get the shifting/cornering down, it’s not too difficult, but I can’t say that’s a bad thing. With the music and palette. I’d play it just to drive and listen to what’s in the tape deck.
Fairly simple, but still a very solid and compentent driving system. I really suck at racing games, but eventually managed to get 7 laps done.
With a few different tracks, maybe a leaderboard system and some extra polishing this could potentially become a really awesome dos racer. Hope you keep developing it further.
Good stuff, love the jelly-like 3D. Took me four attempts to be able to get the hang of it, then completed 6 or 7 time extensions (not sure there's a goal?) All good in DOSBox.
Nice! I’ve been contemplating making it more difficult. You were almost to the end (six stages total).