Geoff Crammond's Grand Prix 5?

[jMz]

The last edition was in 2001 or 2002 I think, (GP4) and I'm itching for a new release. There was some problems a while back with the developers and publishers and contracts and all the other bollocks. I'd love to know if they are planning to make Grand Prix 5. Number 4 is still shit hot, but it's time for a new one.

I'm gonna hunt for info and post it back here. Incase anyone cares....

 

[Gary G]

I remember the older ones well, quality stuff. I wasn't overly good at it though so sometimes I would just purposefully crash into the other cars, aaahh memories

 

[t1000v2.0]

Yeah, I loved GP4, but it was blighted by so many bugs I couldnt believe the game was released so buggy...optimistic for GP5.

 

[jMz]

It did have a lot of bugs, but there are loads of patches for it. I've even got my own team and car design in there, there is a spare team because they made it before they cut the teams down to 20. The mods for it are pretty good too. I've got one with International Touring Cars, and another DTM one. If you can imagine the graphics of todays games, with a new Grand Prix, then the mods and tweaks.... My mouth is watering.

 

[Travis Bickle]

I thought it was poor, at uni, me mate had it on PC, and I had the Sony Formula 1 on PS2, no comparison for me really, or my mate !! The representation of the tracks isn't a patch on the Sony effort and like you say the bugs were just a deterent compared to the polished PS2, and it'll have to come along way to go up against the new sony F1 2004.

 

[Paul B]

I had Grand Prix 3 and the following ad-on pack that came out.

Really good game, used to play it a lot.

I liked the multiplayer mode where you can choose two or more cars, and have your mate and yourself swap over at the 10 second intervals during the race.

 

[jamez]

I used to play the Original Microprose Grand Prix on the Amiga 500. I would rate that as one of my all time favourite games. You could play it for years because of the patches that allowed you to change the car designs.

I havent actually played any of the games since, mainly due to F1 going downhill and becoming incredibly dull. GP3 and 4 certainly did look impressive graphically though, but i doubt i'll buy 5 because i've lost all interest in F1. I prefer touring car games.

 

[jMz]

I thought it was poor, at uni, me mate had it on PC, and I had the Sony Formula 1 on PS2, no comparison for me really, or my mate !! The representation of the tracks isn't a patch on the Sony effort and like you say the bugs were just a deterent compared to the polished PS2, and it'll have to come along way to go up against the new sony F1 2004.

You thought it was poor? Did you play it with the keyboard? Is it the same game we are talking about? Grand Prix 4? Poor?
Don't take this the wrong way Travis, but they are totally different games. The GP series is a simulator. The Sony ones are more arcade. I know this coz I have GP3, GP4 and all the sony ones since Formula One 97 on the PS1 (which have all been traded back in since).
Sony has to 'dumb it down' for a commercial market, but Grand Prix3/4 is purely for the hardcore. Taking into account it is really so you can recreate a season and do full distance races with pit stops, tyre wear, damage, and then there's the fact that GP4 never goes out of date because of the modding ability. You need to update Sony's every year.
For a racing nut like me, there is no other game for Formula One but GP4. It's all about realism, and that is where Sony always miss out. So like I say, no offence, but Sony F1 is for kids, Geoff Crammonds Grand Prix is for hardcore enthusiasts, and unless you are one you could never appreciate it fully.

 

[jMz]

I used to play the Original Microprose Grand Prix on the Amiga 500. I would rate that as one of my all time favourite games. You could play it for years because of the patches that allowed you to change the car designs.
I havent actually played any of the games since, mainly due to F1 going downhill and becoming incredibly dull. GP3 and 4 certainly did look impressive graphically though, but i doubt i'll buy 5 because i've lost all interest in F1. I prefer touring car games.

The original on Amiga. That game contributed, and more or less started the passion I have for motorsports today. My uncle made me play it with manual gears until I learned how to do it. I am forever in his debt for what he has taught me about driving and cars.

F1 is fine for me, but I've always been Ferrari. It wasn't so rosy ten years ago I'll tell you. I hate Schumacer (smug bastard), but like him to win for the team, like I said I'm enjoying it while it lasts, they haven't always been the top team. Rubens is great but my fave driver was Eddie Irvine. Cool as ice.

I know what you say about Touring car games too, followed Codemasters for years now, they knock a decent game out. The whole Colin Mcrae and Toca series have been investments of mine. I think I've had just about every decent driving game.

 

[t1000v2.0]

Yeah, the original microprose Grand Prix on Amiga was quality, 3d graphics in those days!! it was light years ahead of the competition, was just the first awsome F1 sim. GP2 improved ion GP1 in every way 3 and 4 with better graphics has taken the series forward. If GP5 can futher improve graphics, add some more features etc, it will be class. I do like the Sony F1 on the ps2, been playing that since F1 97 which was quite good. I managed to get F12002 for £7 brand new, and it was a steal, excellent game, with a real sensation of speed doubled up with a formula force wheel....its awsome!!

 

[jamez]

The original on Amiga. That game contributed, and more or less started the passion I have for motorsports today. My uncle made me play it with manual gears until I learned how to do it. I am forever in his debt for what he has taught me about driving and cars.

Same here. I wasn't big on racing games until i played the first GP. It blew me away. The level of detail was superb, and setting up the cars actually made a big difference to lap times. And it was best to play with no driving aids, as after a while you knew all of the tracks inside out, and knew what gear to take every corner. This game actually started my interest in F1 in real life.

 

[Travis Bickle]

You thought it was poor? Did you play it with the keyboard? Is it the same game we are talking about? Grand Prix 4? Poor?
Don't take this the wrong way Travis, but they are totally different games. The GP series is a simulator. The Sony ones are more arcade. I know this coz I have GP3, GP4 and all the sony ones since Formula One 97 on the PS1 (which have all been traded back in since).
Sony has to 'dumb it down' for a commercial market, but Grand Prix3/4 is purely for the hardcore. Taking into account it is really so you can recreate a season and do full distance races with pit stops, tyre wear, damage, and then there's the fact that GP4 never goes out of date because of the modding ability. You need to update Sony's every year.
For a racing nut like me, there is no other game for Formula One but GP4. It's all about realism, and that is where Sony always miss out. So like I say, no offence, but Sony F1 is for kids, Geoff Crammonds Grand Prix is for hardcore enthusiasts, and unless you are one you could never appreciate it fully.

I wouldn't go as far as to say the Sony versions are Arcade-like, obviously there is an Arcade style subsection, but if you want to play properly you go to career mode, which you can play a full race with Tyre wear, seasonal weather, damage etc. I've meet the creators (in Liverpool) and they'd cry if you thought it wasn't a real simulation. I mean they hed too delay the release last year to encorporate launch control to go along with guidelines that were introduced mid-season (w**ky EA would never do that). I'm sure with the endless downloads to stop bugs and update rosters and tracks, GP3 is a good game but I'm gonna walk into Game and pick up F1 2004 next week and walk home with a completed SIMULATION of what Formula one should be, it has Brake bias and traction control and gears at the touch of a button, up-to-date qualifying, real weather conditions that actually do something (effect track temperature and tyres, dig at EA I don't know about GP3) tyre wear and engine failure, unbelievable representation of the tracks, unbelievable AI (Schumacher knocked me off last season on the last race to stop me from being in contention with him!?!?), and I'll be able to play it on my wide screen sony TV with surround sound !!

but Sony F1 is for kids, Geoff Crammonds Grand Prix is for hardcore enthusiasts, and unless you are one you could never appreciate it fully.

I don't know how old you are but I watched Senna die and Mansell faint at the finishing line when most of you guys were in diapers, I mean my student band was called "Tamburello" for Senna's sake !! On the Sony game you get into the car, drive at 200mph, have direct control through the joypad of brake bias, traction, gears and pit stratergy, and you try too knock milliseconds off your time every lap and win the race, thats all Schumacher does every other week and if GP4 add anymore than that its just "whistles and bells".

 

[jMz]

I wouldn't go as far as to say the Sony versions are Arcade-like, obviously there is an Arcade style subsection, but if you want to play properly you go to career mode, which you can play a full race with Tyre wear, seasonal weather, damage etc. I've meet the creators (in Liverpool) and they'd cry if you thought it wasn't a real simulation. I mean they hed too delay the release last year to encorporate launch control to go along with guidelines that were introduced mid-season (w**ky EA would never do that). I'm sure with the endless downloads to stop bugs and update rosters and tracks, GP3 is a good game but I'm gonna walk into Game and pick up F1 2004 next week and walk home with a completed SIMULATION of what Formula one should be, it has Brake bias and traction control and gears at the touch of a button, up-to-date qualifying, real weather conditions that actually do something (effect track temperature and tyres, dig at EA I don't know about GP3) tyre wear and engine failure, unbelievable representation of the tracks, unbelievable AI (Schumacher knocked me off last season on the last race to stop me from being in contention with him!?!?), and I'll be able to play it on my wide screen sony TV with surround sound !!

I don't know how old you are but I watched Senna die and Mansell faint at the finishing line when most of you guys were in diapers, I mean my student band was called "Tamburello" for Senna's sake !! On the Sony game you get into the car, drive at 200mph, have direct control through the joypad of brake bias, traction, gears and pit stratergy, and you try too knock milliseconds off your time every lap and win the race, thats all Schumacher does every other week and if GP4 add anymore than that its just "whistles and bells".

I like you Travis, you seem like a clever guy. I'm 24 btw I was dragged into Formula 1 at a very early age, I have a bunch of motor enthusiasts for family. I also saw Senna die. Sad day. You do make an excellent point and I'm not discrediting Sony's efforts, like I say I have bought them all, but for me Grand Prix 4 is far superior. I can do all of the above from my steering wheel with GP4, and more..... with bells on. And I've got my own car in there, you can't do that with Sony's.

 

[Travis Bickle]

I think I'm more against PC games in general, rather than this particular one. I hate the way they are unfinished, have loads of bugs and don't work on certain systems/graphics cards. If you think GP5 will be good I might go an get it on 10 day trial from Game, but if its rubbish I'll spam your E-mail. All I'm gonna say is I think Sony F1 is a great simulation when it comes to sitting in the car the representation of speed and tracks are excellent, and the fact that the Jordans blow up every race means its real enough for me, but as long as you don't say Gran turismo is a perfect simulation, and not just very good looking game where you can race "realistic looking" cars around rubbish tracks with no tension or realism whatsoever then I'll get along with you.

 

[Compulsion]

The original on Amiga. That game contributed, and more or less started the passion I have for motorsports today.

F1GP was the reason I brought an Amiga There was quite a few mods and editors made, I had one which showed split times, and another which recorded telemetry data. Amazing that a game that ran at about 9fps could be so addictive.

Some of Sony's F1 games haven't been bad, but the best PS2 F1 game I've played is Grand Prix Challenge by Atari / Infogrames.

 

[jMz]

I do like Gran Turismo a lot, but it's not perfect, you're right in some ways. I've had some pretty good intense races on there with the lads (steering wheels, link up) was ritual for a couple of years at one of my mates houses. Computer competition is wank though. It's purely a multiplayer game to me now. I did complete it, but that's cos of my perfectionism. I can't leave a game until it's done. The best driving game I've played recently is Toca Race Driver 2 I think. Still pluggin away at that.

 

[jMz]

Do you use the joypad for driving Travis?
I'm a wheel only guy. Logitech force feedback for PS2, and Thrustmaster Ferrari Forcef for PC.
Manual gears the lot.

 

[Compulsion]

A good racing game site, for comparing lap times:

http://www.racing-line.org/

Especially good for Gran Turismo, as times can be verified by sending an X-Port replay.

 

[Travis Bickle]

Do you use the joypad for driving Travis?
I'm a wheel only guy. Logitech force feedback for PS2, and Thrustmaster Ferrari Forcef for PC.
Manual gears the lot.

I ain't got a wheel, just use the classic sony pad, gotta have it on manual gears, get frustrated if you mess up the start though. I always think about buying a wheel but then I think the games are made for joypads and I just don't know how well the wheel is represented ??

 

[jMz]

I ain't got a wheel, just use the classic sony pad, gotta have it on manual gears, get frustrated if you mess up the start though. I always think about buying a wheel but then I think the games are made for joypads and I just don't know how well the wheel is represented ??

When I got mine for PS2 (Logitech), it was the only wheel that would work with GT3. The force feedback adds so much as it pulls away in cornering and stuff (it's a bit more technical you can guess). It makes GT3 a new game, that's maybe why you don't rate it highly. The wheel was released with GT3, the programmers used it in development.
PC one works with everything. Superb on GP4 (it is like Schumacers wheel in red.)
I can't play automatic anymore now, my braking zones get all screwed up and the revs stay too low in 2nd or 3rd for the exit. There is nearly 2 secs difference between my auto and maual laps. On any game. Much faster with manual.
I prefer the wheel for accuracy, my thumbs sometimes slip off the sticks on a pad. But the wheel. Ooooooh. The brake is dead stiff, and the throttle is dead sensitive. You can hold your revs easily for starting and feathering through corners.
Most games now are made for wheels. Codemasters do, GT3 was and GT4 will be. You get the rumble, but not the force feedback through the pad. I love it when you go over a kerb and the wheel tugs away and you have to fight through the corner. It's not bad for 5 or 6 laps. But a full distance race..... You end up like popeye. Bulging arms.