"Checkpoint!"

OutRun 2 is my favorite racing game. I love Gran Turismo, I've got a soft spot Need for Speed (that cheesy FMV!), and I really liked Test Drive Unlimited of all things but OutRun 2 is a game that struck me on first sight and I never let go. Sega AM2 are on a whole other level when it comes to creating the perfect arcade experience, and everything about how this game looks, feels, and sounds is marvelous. It's so vibrant and colorful, with a very fun almost Ridge Racer-y drift feel, and the soundtrack is perfect. I've had the OutRun 2 version of Splash Wave on my car's playlist for at least a decade. It's a perfect sequel to the original, and yet it's a game I stumbled upon by chance way back when Sega put out "OutRun Online Arcade" on PS3 and 360. I saw a trailer, was like "huh that looks cool I should try it" and went to get it only to learn Microsoft paid for it to be 360-exclusive in North America. My 360 had RROD and I didn't want to bother getting it repaired, so I went and made a Hong Kong PlayStation Store account just so I could buy it from there and that was that. I fell in love with this joyous high speed jaunt, coming in at a time when big budget gaming seemed obsessed with brown colors, angry yelling, and space marines it felt so happy and carefree. I was so sad when Sega lost the Ferrari license and had to pull it, largely because by the time they did I'd forgotten my HK account information! Ah well, at least I have the emulated PSP version...

I've wanted a picture like this for awhile. This is yours truly standing next to my favorite car: the one-of-a-kind 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Spider, the star of the original OutRun arcade game (but it also came back eventually in later versions of OutRun 2). We're just chillin' out somewhere in 2006: Stage 1 here. To me, that bright and sunny day by the ocean encapsulates OutRun perfectly. The sun is shining, wind is whipping through your hair, weaving through traffic at high speeds to the tunes on the radio, the smell of the ocean, and you've got someone special by your side. I should probably get another pic with this car with Lopland in it...

Anyway! This here was drawn by a wonderful French artist called  Renneon! I learned of her some time ago through a friend of a friend when asking around about furry artists who also handled cars, and out of all the ones that I saw her style was the one I enjoyed the most. It just took awhile for me to find the right time and get the money squared away to commission her! Thank you very much, Renneon! Go check her out if you want your own cool car stuff.