Ridge Racer et la naissance d’une Race Queen virtuelle

Reiko Nagase is one of the virtual icons who has left her mark on the history of racing games, becoming the iconic mascot of Namco's Ridge Racer series in the late 1990s. Originally created as a simple extra, a “grid girl” intended to add to the atmosphere of the races, this young Japanese woman with a dazzling smile gradually took on a central role in the franchise. Her heyday came with Ridge Racer Type 4 on PlayStation, where Reiko took center stage, both in the spectacular opening cinematic and in the hearts of fans. Let's take a look back at the origins of this character designed by artist Kei Yoshimizu, her first discreet appearances, her rise as a mascot, and the cultural impact of this virtual “race queen.”