<s>
NASCAR	O
'	O
98	O
is	O
a	O
racing	B-Application
simulator	I-Application
video	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Stormfront	O
Studios	O
,	O
published	O
by	O
EA	O
Sports	O
,	O
and	O
released	O
in	O
1997	O
for	O
Sony	B-Device
PlayStation	I-Device
and	O
Sega	B-Device
Saturn	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
was	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
EA	B-Application
Sports	I-Application
NASCAR	I-Application
series	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
commemorate	O
the	O
50th	O
anniversary	O
of	O
NASCAR	O
,	O
a	O
collector	O
's	O
edition	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Device
with	O
a	O
new	O
cover	O
featuring	O
a	O
black	O
and	O
white	O
picture	O
of	O
one	O
of	O
Richard	O
Petty	O
's	O
3rd	O
generation	O
(	O
1971	O
–	O
1974	O
)	O
Dodge	O
Chargers	O
racing	O
modern	O
1998	O
cars	O
of	O
the	O
day	O
was	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
NASCAR	B-Application
98	I-Application
received	O
mostly	O
positive	O
reviews	O
,	O
with	O
critics	O
praising	O
the	O
authentic	O
handling	O
,	O
multiplayer	O
mode	O
,	O
smooth	O
and	O
detailed	O
graphics	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
comprehensive	O
usage	O
of	O
NASCAR	O
licensing	O
,	O
with	O
real	O
world	O
cars	O
,	O
drivers	O
,	O
tracks	O
,	O
and	O
sponsorships	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
With	O
a	O
smooth	O
frame	O
rate	O
and	O
very	O
little	O
draw-in	O
,	O
NASCAR	B-Application
98	I-Application
looks	O
and	O
moves	O
almost	O
flawlessly	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GamePro	O
gave	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
version	O
a	O
4.5	O
out	O
of	O
5	O
for	O
graphics	O
and	O
sound	O
and	O
a	O
perfect	O
5.0	O
for	O
control	O
and	O
fun	O
factor	O
,	O
commenting	O
,	O
"	O
The	O
popularity	O
of	O
NASCAR	O
racing	O
has	O
mushroomed	O
-	O
it	O
's	O
now	O
only	O
rivaled	O
by	O
the	O
NFL	B-Application
-	O
and	O
this	O
game	O
's	O
powerful	O
combination	O
of	O
sleek	O
graphics	O
,	O
detailed	O
features	O
,	O
and	O
fender-crumpling	O
action	O
will	O
satisfy	O
any	O
serious	O
race	O
fan.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Reviews	O
for	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
port	O
were	O
somewhat	O
less	O
favorable	O
than	O
those	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
original	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
prominent	O
pop-up	O
and	O
other	O
graphical	O
differences	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Most	O
felt	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
still	O
good	O
enough	O
to	O
be	O
recommended	O
for	O
Saturn	B-Device
owners	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	B-Device
Saturn	I-Device
Magazine	O
was	O
an	O
exception	O
;	O
additionally	O
citing	O
grainy	O
textures	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
PAL	O
conversion	O
's	O
conspicuous	O
borders	O
and	O
slower	O
speed	O
,	O
they	O
gave	O
it	O
a	O
tentative	O
recommendation	O
to	O
simulation-lovers	O
only	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GamePro	O
instead	O
argued	O
,	O
"	O
If	O
you	O
have	O
both	O
systems	O
,	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
NASCAR	O
'	O
98	O
easily	O
laps	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
version	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
But	O
in	O
a	O
season	O
where	O
Saturn	B-Device
titles	O
are	O
few	O
and	O
far	O
between	O
,	O
NASCAR	O
's	O
a	O
solid	O
buy	O
for	O
Sega	O
racers	O
looking	O
for	O
new	O
tracks	O
to	O
conquer.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Japan	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
ported	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Electronic	B-Application
Arts	I-Application
Victor	I-Application
on	O
March	O
19	O
,	O
1998	O
,	O
Famitsu	O
gave	O
it	O
a	O
score	O
of	O
24	O
out	O
of	O
40	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
NASCAR	B-Application
98	I-Application
was	O
a	O
runner-up	O
for	O
"	O
Racing	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
(	O
behind	O
Diddy	B-Application
Kong	I-Application
Racing	I-Application
)	O
at	O
Electronic	O
Gaming	O
Monthlys	O
1997	O
Editors	O
 '	O
Choice	O
Awards	O
.	O
</s>
