The year is 1999 (the game’s development cycle). You play as Barry “Fares” Fairbanks, a 32-year-old London cab driver who has just been dumped by his fiancée, a high-powered lawyer named Penelope. While most taxi sims focus on hitting fares on time, Cabbie 2000 has a single, bizarre objective: Win Penelope back by proving you are a "high-value man."
The gameplay loop is schizophrenic. By day, you drive a classic black cab through a procedurally generated (and remarkably ugly) London. You pick up stockbrokers, punk rockers, and old ladies. The money you earn isn't for upgrades or a nicer cab; it is for "Status Tokens." You buy tailored suits, gym memberships, and a subscription to The Economist. cabbie 2000
By night, you "cruise" the streets looking for "Street Beefs." If a rival cabbie insults Penelope’s honor, the game shifts from a driving sim into a clunky, Street Fighter II-style brawl. The mechanic is famously broken—the "Block" button is mapped to the same key as "Accelerate." The year is 1999 (the game’s development cycle)
When the Cabbie 2000 hit the market, it felt like science fiction. Here were the features that set it apart: By day, you drive a classic black cab
This was the killer app. The Cabbie 2000 integrated directly with the vehicle’s electronic meter. When the trip started, the system logged the time and mileage. When it ended, it calculated the fare (including waiting time, surcharges, and tip) and instantly printed a professional, detailed receipt. No more arguing about the fare.