rec.autos.simulators

From the pages of PC Gamer (UK)

'Grand Prix 97 is the title of the official Microprose data disc that will
qualify Grand Prix 2 to sport the latest Formula 1 fashions. Why chug round
behind those painful Simtek backmarkers when you can be bang up to date
behind Minardi backmarkers? Updated car graphics, team liveries and driver
rosters are promised along with the post-Senna track changes including that
minor San Marino alteration. Grand Prix 97 will be released at Christmas
just in time for 1998'

There was no mention of 3D acceleration, weather or pit radio messages

Cheers

What's with the actual '97 tracks like Nuerburgring or Zeltweg?

Axel

--------------------------------------------------------------
           - Axel Schlueter - Fax: (02361) 374058 -

This is what Microprose told me yesterday ;)

---- start -------
As of 8/18/97, we have NOT released
any "official" statement as to the contents, updates, or release of any
game called GP '97, GP3, or otherwise.   The contents of the PC Gamer
article is pure conjecture, and unfounded.

Currently, I am not at liberty to discuss ANY title that we have not
officially announced, including any further titles based on the World
Circuit Grand Prix series.  If and when there is an annnouncement, you will
see not only a single article, but several articles, both in ***
magazines and general computer magazines, as well as info on our Web page,
Internet Usegroups, and online communities.

----- end ----

In other words 'it doesn't exist until we tell you about it and when we tell you
about it you will know'.

page.........

Web page? WEB PAGE? Give me a freakin' break, Microprose!!  That's about
the most worthless piece of shit regarding GP2 info I've ever seen!

Hi,

Maybe PC Gamer has confused GP97 Update from Microprose with the instant
access track pack which will be released in sept.

Havn't you heard microprose are not releasing anything for gp2 and that
includes the making of gp3.

Sorry, I've haven't been in this newsgroup for a while! Could someone
tell me what this Instant Access Track Pack is?

--
FOX

We heard a lot of rumours in winter/spring 1996 regarding tension
between Geoff Crammond and Microprose.  Remember this was the
time Microprose lost their good reputation as a company who cared
about the gamers (that's *us*). After that the suits started to ruled
and they ruined everything Sid Meier et. al. had built up.  They fired
their support staff, their best programmers left (Sid Meier, Brian
Reynolds etc.) etc.

I guess Mr. Crammond *will* make a new F1 game, but it will probably
be called something else (i. e. not GP3).  This game will be
distributed by *another* company than Microprose.  Maybe Firaxis? :-)

Maybe Microprose will make a GP3 game of their own, but I guess
that game won't have the same quality as Geoff Crammond's great
GP1 and GP2.  I believe Microprose has the copyrights to the *names*
(Grand Prix 2 and 3, Master of Orion 1 and 2, Civilization 1 and 2).
That's probably why Sid Meier will call his new strategy game for
Alpha Centauri and not Civilization 3.

So I wouldn't wait for another F1 game from Microprose.  Look to
Geoff Crammond instead.  *He* is the one who can produce the
great stuff we are all waiting for (weather, 3DFX support, network
option etc.).  

I lost my belief in Microprose as *the* best *** company
during the winter 1996.  Before that time they were very helpful
and answered almost all questions they got (special thanks to
Amy Vanwesterwelt at the Microprose BBS support site).  

They even had several discussion groups at their Internet page.  
But they shut all that down last spring and didn't bother with
user support etc. after that.  Microprose started on a downhill
path ever since they were bought by Spectrum Holobyte.

So I'm pretty sure Geoff Crammond will produce a great F1
racing game again someday, but I don't think it will have the
Microprose label.

PS:  GP2 is still *the* best F1 sim racing game around.  
It's not easy to outdo Geoff Crammond's great work.  
Several *** companies have tried and failed.

PPS:  But miracles might still happen.  If Microprose is
paying Geoff Crammond enough, he might consider.....

Regards
Borger Borgersen
Oslo, Norway

LOL!

The impression the guy from Microprose was giving was that they may have
signed up the right to publish any and all of Geoff's programs for some
time. So Geoff owns the programs but can't publish them through anyone
else. Not a very pleasant thought as like you, I also beleive that Geoff
& Microprose aren't getting on very well :( I guess it would be a similar
situation to George Michael and Sony.

It took me a while to get used to Indycar/NASCAR as I had always thought
that oval racing was nowhere near the worth of "true" racing. But having
bought Papy's sims and learned how challenging oval racing really is I am
now a big fan of both CART and NASCAR and watch it whenever it is on
Eurosport. F1 will always remain my favourite racing formula, but that
probably has much to do with having been brought up on it.

Grand Prix Legends will be the title that really sees Papy crack the
worldwide market though <g>

Cheers,
Richard