GP500

MicroProse · released 1999 · discussed in 937 posts, 1996-2006 · overall tone positive

Posts per month

Timeline

• 1999-05-14 At E3, MicroProse showed the pre-war grand prix sim Spirit of Speed and the licensed 500cc motorcycle game GP500. Grand Prix 3 was not shown. thread thread post
• 1999-08-12 A playable demo of MicroProse's GP500 was released. thread post
• 1999-09-23 MicroProse's GP500 was released in Europe. Hasbro said it would not be sold in North American stores. post post

Key threads

• Disappointment with AMA Superbike at release 1999-09-22 · 29 posts
  Reg Mucke said the newly released AMA Superbike was a let-down, citing weak physics and the ability to ride through AI opponents, and several others planned to return it, with some recommending GP500 instead. Motorsims's Mark S. Miller replied, explaining design limits on the physics model, the low-side option and an upcoming patch for collision problems. The exchange ended on civil terms.
• Motorsims explains its approach to AMA Superbike 1999-09-23 · 25 posts
  Motorsims's Bob McCarth explained that AMA Superbike was a long-term project that would be improved through online upgrades, describing the purpose-built graphics engine and design choices. Reaction was split: some buyers found the game grew on them, while poster MaX repeatedly called it rubbish and praised GP500. Mark S. Miller of Motorsims hit back at the abusive comments.
• Best motorcycle racing sim: SBK 2001 or GP500? 2001-07-12 · 42 posts
  A poster asked for the best superbike game. Opinions split between EA's Superbike 2001 for accessibility and graphics and Microprose's GP500, described as the GPL of bike sims and upgradable with superbike add-ons. Posters also compared real GP and superbike machinery, and AMA Superbike was criticised as unfinished.
• Simulating motorcycle lean and countersteering in GP500 and AMA Superbike 1999-06-23 · 34 posts
  Mark Dod described how MicroProse's GP500 alpha modelled rider position and lean, and others discussed how a bike sim could map lean and countersteering onto joysticks, twist axes or pedals. Motorsims's Mark S. Miller revealed that AMA Superbike would allow independent lean and steering, with countersteering handled automatically because full manual control proved unstable, and that a Dutch beta tester got about 150ms pings to their server.
• How realistic are GP500's motorcycle physics? 1999-08-13 · 31 posts
  Joe McGinn questioned whether the GP500 demo was realistic, since he could not crash under hard braking or acceleration. Real riders gave mixed verdicts: some said it felt right, others that it lacked the rush of acceleration and that braking was too forgiving. A beta tester suggested the demo's physics had been toned down, and riders argued over whether bikes can flip from braking alone.
• GP500 motorcycle demo released on Avault 1999-08-12 · 25 posts
  Posters reported that a demo of MicroProse's GP500 motorcycle game was available, with some confusion over whether Ascaron or Melbourne House was the developer. Early impressions praised the graphics, frame rate and physics, especially the feel of balancing near the limit. Opinion was split on the two-stroke engine sound, and some noted the lack of split-axis support and brake sounds.
• MicroProse GP500: 500cc grand prix versus superbikes explained 1999-05-13 · 23 posts
  A poster asked whether MicroProse's GP500 was a superbike game, and others explained the difference between two-stroke 500cc grand prix bikes and production-based four-stroke superbikes. Posters noted Kenny Roberts Jr. helped with the physics and that the game, covering the 1998 GP500 season, was shown at E3. Discussion also covered lap records at Phillip Island and the coming move to four-strokes in GP racing.
• Wish list for GP500's final release 1999-08-19 · 20 posts
  Eric Cote listed changes he wanted in GP500's final version, such as stopping arcade-mode players joining simulation races. Others pointed out that the demo's troubleshooting file already allowed ini settings for simulation-only servers and replay length. Riders debated wind noise at speed and the helmet-cam tilt, and someone found files suggesting smaller bike classes.
• Best motorcycle road racing sims: GP500 vs SBK2001 2001-05-14 · 66 posts
  A poster asked for a good asphalt motorcycle racing sim. Most recommended Microprose's GP500 for physics and EA's Superbike 2001 for graphics, or both, and discussed controllers, with joysticks generally preferred over wheels or handlebar devices. The thread drifted into real motorcycling, starter bikes and the MSF training course.
• Hopes for a realistic motorcycle sim 2002-05-31 · 38 posts
  Luke Phillips asked for a truly realistic bike sim, and others said GP500 and Superbike titles were closer to arcade games. The thread became a long argument about countersteering, gyroscopic effects and bike balance between riders. Thrustmaster's motorcycle controller was briefly mentioned.
• Superbike racing at Brands Hatch and motorcycle sim controllers 2000-08-06 · 27 posts
  Members praised the World Superbike round at Brands Hatch, discussing the crashes of Steve Hislop and Troy Corser and contrasting bike racing's overtaking with processional modern F1. The thread turned to bike sims GP500 and Superbike 2000 and how to control them, with suggestions such as a joystick for lean plus pedals, or limiting a wheel's range of motion.
• Impressions of Microprose's GP500 motorcycle sim 2000-08-07 · 22 posts
  After someone tried the GP500 demo, members called it the most realistic bike sim available, a sort of GPL on two wheels, with Superbike 2000 ahead only on graphics. A side discussion confirmed bike sims are on-topic for the group. Later posts covered controllers, recommending gamepads like the Gravis Xterminator or higher wheel sensitivity, and learning tips.
• GP500 frame rate problems and real bike sounds 1999-09-27 · 22 posts
  A buyer of the full GP500 release reported unplayable frame rates on a P3-450 with a Voodoo3, and others suggested disabling force feedback and checking sound settings. The thread soon turned into motorcyclists comparing the sounds of two-stroke GP bikes, inline fours, Ducati twins and V4s.
• GP500 demo lap times and controllers 1999-08-17 · 20 posts
  Brian Needham invited GP500 demo lap times for his site, later offering ghost laps. Posters shared times around 1:49-2:00 and debated whether a wheel, joystick or paddles best suits a bike game. A steering hesitation in the chicane was reported, and the lead programmer was said to be monitoring complaints on a fan forum.

Busiest threads

• Best motorcycle racing sim: SBK 2001 or GP500? (17 posts about it)
• Impressions of Microprose's GP500 motorcycle sim (12 posts about it)
• How realistic are GP500's motorcycle physics? (11 posts about it)
• GP500 motorcycle demo released on Avault (10 posts about it)
• GP500 vs SBK2000 (9 posts about it)
• SBK2000 Vs. Gp500 (9 posts about it)
• MicroProse GP500: 500cc grand prix versus superbikes explained (9 posts about it)
• Disappointment with AMA Superbike at release (9 posts about it)
• How many racing sims do you have installed? (8 posts about it)
• Simulating motorcycle lean and countersteering in GP500 and AMA Superbike (8 posts about it)
• GP500 VS SUPREBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (8 posts about it)
• Outrage at Grand Prix 3 not being sold in US (7 posts about it)
• Gp500 movie (7 posts about it)
• GP500 is a masterpiece... (7 posts about it)
• GP500 is amazing (7 posts about it)

Sentiment by year

Each post that discussed the sim was rated from −2 (very negative) to +2 (very positive).

Who talked about it most

DjFIL · 33 ymenard · 24 Mark C Dod · 23 Simon Brown · 20 Ma · 20 Jan Verschueren · 16 Steve Blankenship · 16 Colin Harris · 15 Kenneth Verburg · 15 David G Fisher · 14 Gunnar Horrigmo · 13 Dave Henrie · 12 Phil Lee · 12 Tim Deatherage · 12 Luke Phillips · 11 George M. Smiley · 11 David L. Cook · 11 Douglas Ellison · 10 Destroy · 9 James Pickard · 8

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