rec.autos.simulators

Since the game has not yet been officially released,
the readme could in theory be different in the final version.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grand Prix 3
************
Readme File (English)
V1.00
13 July, 2000

Contents
********
1.  Video cards successfully tested on & supported
2.  Video Card Drivers
3.  Advanced Graphics configuration
4.  Processors successfully tested on & supported
5.  3D performance
6.  Networked play
7.  Keyboard Shortcuts
8.  Amendments
9.  Customer Support
10. Licence Agreement
11. Thanks and acknowledgements
12. Credits

1. Video cards successfully tested on & supported
*************************************************

3Dfx Voodoo2
3Dfx Voodoo3 3000 AGP
3Dfx Voodoo3 3500 AGP
3Dfx Voodoo3 3000 PCI
3Dfx Voodoo3 2000 PCI
3Dfx Voodoo5 5500 AGP
3Dfx Voodoo Banshee
ATI Rage 128
ATI Rage Pro AGP 2x (Software)
ATI Rage Fury
ATI Rage Fury Maxx
NVidia GeForce256
NVidia GeForce256 DDR
NVidia GeForce 2 GTS
NVidia Riva TNT
NVidia Riva TNT2 & Ultra
NVidia Riva TNT2 M64
Matrox Millenium G200
Matrox Millenium G400 Dualhead
Matrox Millenium G400 MAX
3DLabs Permedia3 Create!
PowerVR Series2 (Neon250)
Impact Video + MPEG2 Decoder 6Mb (Software)
TSeng Labs ET6000 2Mb (Software)
3D Image 9750 4Mb (Software)
Creative Exxtreme (Permedia 2) 8Mb (Software)
Cirrus Logic 5464 (Laguna3D) 1Mb (Software)
S3 Virge DX 375 4Mb (Software)

Grand Prix 3 requires the latest video drivers, available from your
hardware manufacturer's web site.
We have included latest drivers for some cards in the \extras\drivers
directory on your Grand Prix 3 CD-ROM.  Please see below for internet
links to hardware manufacturers web sites.

2. Video Card Drivers
*********************

You can download these drivers from the Internet. If you are
experiencing problems with Grand Prix 3, look for your video card
below to find the Web address where you can download the appropriate
drivers.

Creative Graphics Blaster RIVA TNT
Creative Graphics Blaster RIVA TNT2 & Ultra
Creative Graphics Blaster Annihilator & DDR
        http://support.soundblaster.com/files/download.asp

Guillemot MAXI Gamer 2
Guillemot MAXI Gamer Xentor / MAXI Gamer Xentor 32
Guillemot 3D Prophet & DDR
        http://www.guillemot.com/

Matrox MGA Millennium series
Matrox MGA Mystique series
Matrox Millennium G400 & G400 Max
        http://www.matrox.com/mga/drivers/latest_drivers/home.htm

ATI 3D Rage Pro
ATI Rage II
ATI Rage II+
ATI 3D Rage 128
ATI 3D Rage Fury Maxx
        http://support.atitech.ca/drivers/drivers.html

Orchid Righteous 3D 2
        http://www.orchid.com/support/driverlist.html

Diamond Monster 3D 2
Diamond Monster Fusion
Diamond Viper series
        http://www.diamondmm.com/

PowerVR Series 2 (Neon250)
        http://www.videologic.com/

3Dfx reference drivers (for all Voodoo cards - recommended)
        http://www.3dfxgamers.com/

NVidia reference drivers (for all NVidia chipset based cards -
recommended)
        http://www.nvidia.com/

3. Advanced Graphics configuration
**********************************

*** This information is intended for advanced users only.  It is
recommended that you back-up the file "cards.txt" before making any
changes.***

GP3 creates a file named "cards.txt" in the root of the installation
directory when the game graphics are first calibrated. This is a .ini
style file which lets you override certain Direct3D specific settings
at run-time.  It will not affect the software 3d.

The file will have an entry for each 3d card in your system (usually
only one) in the following format:-

[Video card make and model]

There will also be a [general] entry - this is unused at present and
can be safely ignored.

The following is a list of the current flags you can set. Simply type
the required flag beneath the card which you want to affect.  The
defaults for each flag are listed in the examples below.

FLAG                            EXPLANATION
++++                            +++++++++++

lorestextures=0                 Forces the use of lower resolution      
                                textures. This defaults to on on cards
                                with 8M or less of VRAM.

bilinear=1                      Force filtering on or off

reflections=1                   Force the wet weather reflections on
                                or off (they don't work on some
                                cards).

loresclouds=0                   Similar to lorestextures, but for the
                                clouds only.

altmirrors=0                    Some cards need a different technique
                                for the mirrors.

alphawithck=1                   Alpha with color key. Some cards can't
                                do it. If you have shadow problems,
                                try setting this flag to zero.

liverynumbers=1                 If you get corrupted car graphics, try
                                setting this flag to zero.

detailmap=1                     Some cards can't do detail mapping on
                                the track. Set flag to zero if the      
                                track appears corrupt.

altcolorkey=0                   If you get bright cyan around masked
                                objects, try turning this off.

altrain=0                               Different rain code for some
                                cards.

altsoftware3d=0                 Currently only used by Voodoo5 in
                                software.  May help if your card has
                                problems displaying software 3D.

slivoodoo2=0                    This flag MUST be changed manually if
                                you system is running with Voodoo2
                                cards in an SLI configuration.

alticons=0                      Fixes a problem with the latest NVidia
                                Detonator2 drivers  

4. Processors successfully tested on & supported
************************************************

Intel Pentium II
Intel Pentium III
Intel Celeron
AMD K6-2 3DNow! (via DirectX7)
AMD K6-3 3DNow! (via DirectX7)
AMD K7/Athlon 3DNow! (via DirectX7)

5. 3D performance
*****************

The game's 3D performance will vary from configuration to
configuration, but there are many options available in-game to allow
the user to get the best compromise between performance and gameplay.

During a race, you can find out your "Processor Occupancy" rating by
pressing the "O" key.
This figure is given as a percentage.  It is important that this
figure is kept as close to (or below) the 100% mark as possible -
anything higher and the game physics will be compromised and gameplay
will suffer.  Here are some tips for lowering the occupancy:-

- Run the game in a lower resolution
- Switch off some of the textures used in-game, starting with the
mirrors
- Turn off some of the trackside objects
- Lower the frame rate setting

If you are trying to run in 3D hardware mode, some video cards may not
perform as well as others, so it is recommended that you try running
in software 3D mode, as performance may be improved.

6. Networked play
*****************

Network play is supported for up to six players simultaneously via a
Local Area Network.  It is possible to play with up to 22 players, but
this is not supported due to current hardware limitations, and the
need for high-spec systems to be able to run such large network games.
The following points should be noted for larger network games:-

1. The game will run at the same speed on all machines.  This means
that if you have one slow machine on the network, then everybody's
game performance will suffer.  
The problem machines should lower the detail/frame rate settings to
improve overall performance.  You can trace problem machines using the
Processor Occupancy button ("O").

2. The game can support 22 players, but only if all players are
running on high specification machines.  This is to future proof the
game.  It is not possible at this time to have a large network game
using minimum specification machines.

3. TCP/IP play over the internet via analog modems is not currently
supported due to the low transfer rates.

7. Keyboard Shortcuts
*********************

<shift>+Q - Jump to pits (Practice and qualifying session)
<shift>+U - Jump all players to multiplayer lobby screen (multiplayer
only)
O  - Show processor occupancy

8. Amendments & Additions
*************************

Following extensive testing, the 107% qualifying rule has been removed
from the game as it was felt that it did not add to the gameplay of
Grand Prix 3.

We have included some default control sets for many popular control
devices which should help beginners get set-up with Grand Prix 3.
These control sets can be loaded from the Grand Prix 3 CD-ROM, and are
located in the \extras\control sets\ directory.
These should be used as a basis for the controllers - further tweaking
of settings may be required according to individual preference.

[support addresses and stuff snipped]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

<snip>
<snip>

All together now... :-)

<snip>

Then why not have an option to turn it on and off, like MGPRS2 does,
instead of just scrapping it? I ask you.

--
David. (GPLRank handicap: +2.68)
"After all, a mere thousand yards - such a harmless little knoll,
really." (Raymond Mays on Shelsley Walsh)

Hehe. Mind you, cable and DSL are not "analog modems". :-)
We'll see.

Don't ask me! :-)

Blaze

Does this affect the human player too?  It would SUCK to not even be able to
make a RACE...

Eldred
--
Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999
Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
GPL hcp. +70.45

Never argue with an idiot.  He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

You really think so?  I think it makes things much more realistic.  I'm
still waiting for the sim that offers larger qualifying fields than
there are slots on the grid, and having to fight & *earn* your way into
the race.  That would be a hook that would be very hard to turn away
from.

--
Chuck Kandler

A man is no less a Slave just because he is
allowed to choose a new Master every four years.

Registered Linux User #180746
http://counter.li.org

I had no problems getting pole at hockenheim against Amateur drivers, probably
would have got pole on semi pro too
was a 1:44.xx

Martyn_D

In MGPRS2? Yes, it does. If you aren't good enough to make 107%, then
just turn the option off - I do :-)

--
David. (GPLRank handicap: -1.01)
"After all, a mere thousand yards - such a harmless little knoll,
really."
(Raymond Mays on Shelsley Walsh)

Hehe... I haven't tried MGPRS2 seriously.  I bought it on Ebay.  Loaded it,
tried to drive it, couldn't do it, the program went on the shelf.  I couldn't
hear the car well enough to tell when the car was sliding.  Couldn't even
complete a LAP without spinning several times....  I haven't tried it again
since I found out that I have to ALT-TAB back to the win95 mixer to raise the
sound level...
But, I probably WOULDN'T be able to make the field, in that case.  Now I'm
curious... :)

Eldred
--
Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999
Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
GPL hcp. +70.45

Never argue with an idiot.  He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

writes:

Realistic, yes.  Worth spending my money on, no.  If that was the case in GPL,
I wouldn't have even QUALIFIED for a race for several months.  It took me that
long to not be LAST....
Why would I want to pay for something that I couldn't even PLAY?

Eldred
--
Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999
Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
GPL hcp. +70.45

Never argue with an idiot.  He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Ok, I'll give ya that one.  I'd just settle for it being an option that
could be toggled on & off.  Maybe even linked to a career mode.

--
Chuck Kandler

A man is no less a Slave just because he is
allowed to choose a new Master every four years.

Registered Linux User #180746
http://counter.li.org

Like MGPRS2 has had for ages...

--
David. (GPLRank handicap: -1.17)
"After all, a mere thousand yards - such a harmless little knoll,
really."
(Raymond Mays on Shelsley Walsh)

Career mode & the 107% rule, yes.  Still waiting on paring-down
oversized qualifying fields for the grid.  Although it'd probably be
better suited towards a CART/NASCAR sim than F1 as far as realism
goes...

--
Chuck Kandler

A man is no less a Slave just because he is
allowed to choose a new Master every four years.

Registered Linux User #180746
http://counter.li.org

Ah, but if you were that slow that you couldn't even make the 107%
qualifying time then surely the race itself would be somewhat pointless
also as you drove around acting like a moving chicane.  :)

I would be happy to see this option available.  To me, not having this
option is like not having a 'car failures' option just because there's
the potential for the car to break down very early on.  Both these add
that extra e***ment to the game.

What could be more thrilling than knowing that you're 2 tenths of the
qualifying time with only 1 more flying lap left (when the going gets
tought etc), or you're out in front in a race, winning by a country mile
with about 10 laps left, when suddenly your car starts missing gears or
losing power and you then have to use every last ounce of effort and
concentration to nurse the car home whilst all the time the 2nd place
driver is closing in hand over fist.  My palms get sweaty just thinking
about it.  :)
--
Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington)

No person's opinions can be said to be
more correct than another's, because each is
the sole judge of his or her own experience.

That's why I run with damage off.  I can act like Surtees... :)

I haven't turned on the 'random mechanical failures' in too many sims.  I
already have ENOUGH going against me.

Eldred
--
Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999
Homepage - http://www.racesimcentral.net/~epickett
GPL hcp. +69.95

Never argue with an idiot.  He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Hehe, Eldred.  Sometimes I can really sense your pain as I read your
words.  To be so enthusiastic about something and yet, at the same time,
feel so blighted, must be pure torture. :)
--
Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington)

No person's opinions can be said to be
more correct than another's, because each is
the sole judge of his or her own experience.