Naughty Dog began production on "Crash Team Racing" after the completion of "" (1997). The game engine for "Crash Team Racing" was created at the same time "" (1998) was produced. The characters of the game were designed by Charles Zembillas and Joe Pearson. They had designed the characters of the last three games of the "Crash Bandicoot" series. Nitros Oxide was originally a mad scientist who enjoys speed. Oxide plotted to speed up the entire world until the end of time. However, Zembillias and Pearson wanted the character to be an extraterrestrial. Because they said there were already human, animal and machine bosses in the past.