rec.autos.simulators

I wonder if Microprose is just going to buy up the
license to this game developed by Ascaron:
http://www.racesimcentral.net/

Better use the AltaVista translater, as it's
in German.

    WOW!  This just may be the 'cycle game I've been waiting for.  Ever
since I got a Ninja motorcycle (and then sold it earlier this spring, doh!)
I've been wanting a bike sim.  I can't read a word of german so lets hope
this one makes it out soon!

Karl

In the days of GP1, I had a Commodore Amiga 500. I also had a disk with
agame called "CYCLES",by Microprose, which used the same game engine as GP1
and was, IMHO, one of only two real motorcycle simulators that I have ever
seen (the other one was "TEAM SUZUKI", of the same era, unplayable because
of the tilting view system). I t was also, by far, the best, and, as far as
simulating bike riding goes, it still beats all of the modern tries. I know
that there was a PC version, but I have never, ever, been able to find it,
or anything about it, anywhere, including extensive Net search. I`m not sure
about the name of the game, though, but I`m absolutely sure about the
company, the game engine and a lot of the details that I still recall. The
menu system was very similar to the GP1 one, both in contents and
presentation, including colors, and there were 3 categories: 125 cc, 250 cc
and 500 cc. The 500`s wheelied in 1st and 2nd, and could lose the rear on
corner exit.

My point is that Microprose is not new to bike sims. I even expected to see
a CYCLES 2 game after GP2 came out...but it wasn`t to be. I sure hope it
happens now. With the company`s track record, it`s bound to be one of the
best, if not THE best, bike sim ever.

BTW, if anyone happens to have, either the original CYCLES game or any
information on how I can get it for the PC, can you please, please, PLEASE
let me know? I would be really grateful.

If so, please e-mail me, or post something here.

Thanks in advance.

Daniel Fris

Aren't you mixing things up here? I think you remember an Accolade-game, which
seemed to use the same engine as their Grand Prix game. Microprose only released
F1GP (by Geoff Crammond) as F1-sim, and no other game ever used that engine
(apart from GP2 being based on it).

JoH
Please remove *anti-spam* from the email when replying.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
When everything else failed, we can still become im-
mortal by making an enormous blunder....

                             John Kenneth Galbraith
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

    Yeah, I know about that game. It was very similar to GP1, but really
nice to play and one of the best motorcycle sims I've seen. When I think
about it I think about how so many years after nobody's been able to do
something better. Ain't it strange?

- Javi -

Thanks for your post...and your witty introduction 8-).

Maybe you are right, and the game is by Accolade. It was a long time ago.
But I`m not absolutely sure either way. Do you, or anyone else, know when
the release date for GP1 was? If it was 8 or 9 years ago, it would be
contemporary to this game. If it was released later, then it`s almost sure
that you are right.

JoH is right. It was definately by Accolade and not based on GP1 but Accolades
Grand Prix game. They're both designed by Distinctive Software Inc. I even have
the Accolade "The Cycles" box in front of me. (C) 1989 Requires 512k ;-)

I've put some screenshots up at http://www.zip.com.au/~davidg/accolade.htm
showing both games.

F1GP PC version was released late 1992. Amiga, Atari before but when exactly I
don't know.

What shall your ancestors think of you? (Assuming that "Karl"
indicates german origin.) :)

Well, as a service from your resident native speaker of German, here
are the most intersting facts from that site:

(I faithfully translated the site's sales hype - don't hold me
responsible...)

Features of GP 500 cc

Simulation

        -realisticly simulated vehicle physics
        -15 very detailed tracks (doesn't say if they are real or
           fantasy)
        -3 bike classes from 125cc to 500cc
        -various modes: test, race, GP, world championship, network
        -100 drivers with individual characteristics
        -realistic driver movements (several previews from mags
           mentioned that too)
        -spectacular crashes and somersaults of drivers and machines
        -viewing other drivers
        -weather, with influence on the bikes
        -rain, smoke, fog etc. displayed
        -career mode through the bike classes
        -three difficulty settings
        -individual selection of input devices
        -a "dynamic racing logic" adapts to the driver's abilities
        -cockpit view and arcade views
        -TV and chopper camera
        -realistic setup of bikes: gears, brakes, suspension, tires
        -detailed telemetry: brake and gas postiton, suspension
           travel, speed, RPM, engine temperature and power
        -statistics of drivers and tracks over various seasons
        -extensive options
        -a demo mode where you can sit back and watch a race

technology

        -fast and extremely powerful 3D engine
        -display in hicolor at 640x480
        -D3D support
        -controlled by keyboard, joystick or joypad
        -support of force feedback
        -native 3Dfx support

--------end of translation ------------

This sounds pretty good. Ascaron has a track record of quality games
("The Settlers" series; a pretty good football(soccer) managing game
called "Anstoss" (kick-off) etc.), although they didn't do a racing
simulation before, AFAIK. Here are the hardware requirements:

System requirements:

                MINIMUM                 RECOMMENDED

PROCESSOR:      Pentium 100             Pentium 200
RAM:            16MB                    32MB
HDD:            yet unknown             yet unknown
GRAPHICS:       3D-accelerator          3Dfx card with Voodoo-chipset
CD - ROM:       4x                      4x
Soundcard:      16-Bit                  16-Bit
MISC:           DirectX 5, mouse        DirectX 5, mouse, joystick

Operating systems: Windows 95 and Windows NT

The text repeatedly speaks of a release date in July, but I haven't
seen the sim on the shelves yet. OTOH, I'm not that intersted in
motorbike sims - the only thing I'm waiting for is GPL.

--
Wolfgang Preiss     \ E-mail copies of replies to this posting are welcome.

Uni des Saarlands     \ and U.S. law. You have been warned.

You`re both right, of course. Blame my faulty RAM:-)
Seeing your screenshots helped it, and now I remember how the cars and the
bikes came rolling from the right and stopped in the machine selection
screens.

Thanks a lot, both for your reply and for the oportunity to see the
screenshots.

Daniel Fris

I don't know about getting a PC version of this game...but what you could do
is get yourself an Amiga emulator (like UAE)...  with a little searching,
I'm sure you'd be able to find the original game on the 'net somewhere.
I'm not really up on the whole Amiga Emulation scene , but if you check out:
  http://www.racesimcentral.net/://www.classic***.com/emunews/
you should be able to track down what you need..

S.