Grand Prix 3

MicroProse · released 2000 · discussed in 10,635 posts, 1996-2008 · overall tone mixed

Posts per month

Timeline

• 1998-03-07 Geoff Crammond said in a PC Format interview that he was working on Grand Prix 3 as an evolution of GP2. thread post
• 1998-06-05 MicroProse Europe stated that it had no GP2 sequel or other racing sim in development. thread post
• 1998-07-31 A MicroProse SEC filing listed Grand Prix III as under development. post
• 1998-11-19 PC Gamer UK reported that MicroProse no longer expected Grand Prix 3 before the end of 1999. post
• 1999-05-27 Hasbro Interactive signed a five-year Formula One licence and a long-term development deal with Geoff Crammond for Grand Prix 3. post post
• 1999-09-05 Grand Prix 3 was shown in playable form at ECTS, said to be 60% complete and running in software mode. It won the show's PC Game of the Show award. thread post post
• 1999-09-28 The official Grand Prix 3 site said the game would not ship in 1999 and was due in the first quarter of 2000. post
• 1999-10-11 Hasbro/MicroProse stated that Grand Prix 3 would not be sold in the US. Two days later MicroProse said this was a mistake and that it would ship in the US in 2000. thread post post
• 1999-12-08 MicroProse let go its Falcon 4.0 team as Hasbro announced 2,200 job cuts. A MicroProse source said Geoff Crammond's Grand Prix team was not affected. thread post
• 2000-01-15 Hasbro confirmed that Grand Prix 3 would miss its first-quarter 2000 release because Geoff Crammond wanted more time. thread post
• 2000-02-09 MicroProse developers said Grand Prix 3 would support modem and LAN play for up to 16 players but would not offer internet racing. thread post
• 2000-03-13 Grand Prix 3 was shown publicly on Hyper Stimulator rigs at the Australian Grand Prix expo in Melbourne, and readers' questions were relayed to producer Nick Court. thread post thread
• 2000-05-13 At E3, Papyrus showed NASCAR Racing 4 in-car footage, and Hasbro had NASCAR Heat and Grand Prix 3 playable on its booth. thread post post
• 2000-06-25 Grand Prix 3 was reported to have gone gold, with a UK release confirmed for 28 July. thread post
• 2000-07-21 A pirated copy of Grand Prix 3 circulated online a week before its release. thread post
• 2000-07-28 Grand Prix 3 was officially released in the UK and Europe after some shops sold it early. It had force feedback and weather but no internet play. thread thread post
• 2000-07-28 Hasbro acknowledged a Grand Prix 3 bug that left most wheels without split-axis (3-axis) pedal support and promised a patch. post post
• 2000-07-28 Paul Hoad released a Grand Prix 3 track editor on launch day, and other GP3 editing tools soon followed. post post
• 2000-08-22 Grand Prix 3 was released in North America. post post
• 2000-09-19 The official Grand Prix 3 demo was released. The 121 MB download offered two laps of Suzuka. post post
• 2000-10-16 Hasbro announced it was seeking a strategic partner for Hasbro Interactive. Ed Martin said the NASCAR Heat series would continue and the GP series was unaffected. thread post
• 2000-10-25 The free Grand Prix 3 v1.13 patch was released. It improved controller support, including split-axis pedals, and fixed physics and AI problems. thread post post
• 2000-12-07 Infogrames agreed to acquire Hasbro Interactive for about $100 million, with the deal expected to close in Q1 2001. post post

Key threads

• GPL engine, historic racing and GPL's commercial failure 2001-07-05 · 246 posts
  A suggestion to reuse the GPL engine for classic Trans-Am, Can-Am and Group B sims led to a long debate over whether GPL was a commercial failure, with Tim O and ymenard trading arguments about sales. Mark Jeangerard later argued GPL's physics and visual cues were inferior to GP3, prompting extended discussion of field of view, frame rates, tyre grip modelling and immersion. The thread ran to more than 240 posts.
• Outrage at Grand Prix 3 not being sold in US 1999-10-10 · 139 posts
  American fans reacted angrily to Hasbro/MicroProse's statement that Grand Prix 3 would not be sold in the US, with some threatening boycotts or piracy and others planning to import it. Posters such as Meiji and MichaelJP argued that US retail economics and weak sales of F1 titles explained the decision, while others blamed Bernie Ecclestone or tobacco advertising rules. The long thread later drifted into banter and apologies.
• Geoff Crammond confirms work on Grand Prix 3 1998-03-07 · 110 posts
  A PC Format interview reported Geoff Crammond was working on GP3 as an evolution of GP2. The news reopened debate over GP2's slow-motion approach when the CPU is overloaded versus dropping frames. The thread then argued at length whether racing sims are 'just games' or genuine simulations.
• GP3 disappointment sparks GPL grip realism debate 2000-10-31 · 98 posts
  Arto Wikla said Grand Prix 3 lacked the feel of a powerful car, and a defender claimed GP3 had superior physics and that GPL cars slid too easily at low speed. Kevin Gavitt reported controlled measurements showing GPL lateral grip matched real 1967 cars, and Ron Ayton noted Jackie Stewart's broader comments on GPL. The thread went on to cover TOCA 2, VROC, controllers and speed sensations.
• GP3 questions relayed from the Melbourne Grand Prix demo 2000-03-09 · 89 posts
  James Pickard, who worked for Hyper Stimulator and drove GP3 at the 2000 Australian Grand Prix, offered to put readers' questions to Hasbro's GP3 producer Nick Court and relayed answers on system requirements, telemetry, editability and other features. Readers asked dozens of questions about physics, force feedback, weather and multiplayer. The lack of internet multiplayer sparked a long argument, with some calling it elitist and outdated and others saying online racing was a negligible market.
• Does rec.autos.simulators represent typical sim racers? 2000-07-19 · 74 posts
  Posters argued over whether the newsgroup's GPL-focused regulars were out of step with most sim players, citing a High Gear poll showing strong interest in GP3. Jan Verschueren argued that GP3 should be judged on its physics and feared commercial pressure would kill pure simulations, while Jo Helsen argued that AI, weather and atmosphere matter to most buyers and that Crammond was not targeting the hardcore crowd. The debate was long but mostly civil.
• Leaked warez build of Grand Prix 3 judged a GP2 update 2000-07-21 · 69 posts
  Early impressions from a leaked warez copy of Grand Prix 3 described it as largely GP2 with 3D graphics, force feedback and weather, with complaints about graphics, missing tyre pressure settings and canned spins. Robert Platts and others argued a warez build could not be fairly reviewed, while file dates and the readme suggested it was close to final. Posters argued over whether four years of development had produced enough progress, with some name-calling.
• MicroProse Autosport advert seeks Grand Prix 3 developers 1999-07-16 · 60 posts
  A poster transcribed a full-page Autosport advert in which MicroProse Grand Prix and Hasbro sought artists and programmers in Chipping Sodbury near Bristol for their Grand Prix series, including PC and PlayStation work. Readers took it as a sign GP3 was still far off and worried about console compromises; Joe McGinn said he would apply for the user interface job. The thread then drifted into jokes about Bristol and a testy exchange between Meiji, John Wallace and Bruce Kennewell over UK poll tax.
• Is GPL harder to drive than the real cars? 2000-01-18 · 56 posts
  Richard Clegg argued that GPL is harder than real 1967 F1 cars because sims lack physical feedback, and that the edge between grip and a spin feels too abrupt. Pat Dotson and others countered that GPL's physics are credible and that the difficulty comes from limited sensory feedback and drivers pushing harder than period racers would. The thread covered lap-time anecdotes, setups and the origins of the Weslake V12.
• Hands-on report of Grand Prix 3 at ECTS 1999-09-06 · 49 posts
  Kulvinder Singh Matharu reported playing Grand Prix 3 at ECTS, describing its features and a moving cockpit, and noted the demo ran in software mode on a Pentium III 600 with driver aids on. A Hasbro representative mentioned improved multiplayer, and the official site listed four-player LAN support. The thread then turned into a long debate on Murray Walker's F1 commentary.
• Grand Prix 4 announcement greeted with scepticism 2002-01-13 · 43 posts
  John Metcow mocked the announcement of Grand Prix 4 as GP3 with internet support, and ymenard criticised Geoff Crammond's track record with GP3. Developer Ashley McConnell argued it is easy to sneer at games without having made one, and others replied that paying customers are entitled to criticise. The thread also discussed GPL's poor sales, which posters put down to its perceived difficulty and historic setting.
• Grand Prix 3 to be unveiled at ECTS 1999-08-12 · 38 posts
  An ECTS show preview reported that Hasbro Interactive would unveil Geoff Crammond's Grand Prix 3 at the show. Sceptics predicted huge system requirements, no multiplayer and no patches as with GP2, while others defended GP2's graphics and longevity. Posters debated GP2's 'canned spins' and its 486 system requirements, and hoped GP3 would add online racing like GPL's.
• First Grand Prix 3 screenshots examined 1999-09-06 · 36 posts
  Posters examined the first Grand Prix 3 screenshots, released around ECTS and shown in software rendering. Most were impressed for software mode, though some found the models blocky, and there was debate over the visible steering wheel with its dashboard display and whether it would cost frame rate. Posters also hoped the cockpit would move as in GPL.
• Hasbro Interactive's future and NASCAR Heat support 2000-10-15 · 25 posts
  News that Hasbro was seeking a strategic partner for Hasbro Interactive led users to fear for NASCAR Heat and Grand Prix 3 patches. Hasbro's Ed Martin said the racing business was doing well, that the NASCAR Heat series would continue and that the GP series was unaffected. He also answered a question about the earlier dismissal of the Falcon 4.0 team.
• Will Grand Prix 3 survive MicroProse's simulation cuts? 1999-12-08 · 25 posts
  Greg Cisko reported that MicroProse had dismissed the Falcon 4.0 team and was leaving the simulation market, and asked whether Grand Prix 3 would survive. Others noted that Geoff Crammond's UK team develops GP3 independently, and Cisko later relayed word from a MicroProse source that the UK team was not affected. The thread became a debate about shareholders and short-term thinking.
• Grand Prix 3 slips past its Q1 2000 release 2000-01-15 · 25 posts
  Pez reported, citing trade paper MCV and Hasbro, that Grand Prix 3 would miss its first-quarter release because Geoff Crammond wanted more time. Posters vented about MicroProse's history of delays, joked about Crammond's pace, and argued about whether GP3 would lack proper online play. The thread also became a debate about the GPL online community versus empty Microsoft Gaming Zone-style arenas.
• GP3 goes gold ahead of late-July release 2000-06-25 · 23 posts
  Posters celebrated reports that Grand Prix 3 had gone gold, with a UK release expected on 28 July. They discussed hardware upgrades, reserving copies and fears of early warez versions, and Jo Helsen posted a widely praised satirical 'typical RAS GP3 review'.
• MicroProse denies Grand Prix 3 plans, fans dispute it 1998-05-27 · 23 posts
  Asked about Grand Prix 3, Mark Rich of MicroProse Europe stated that neither Geoff Crammond nor MicroProse had plans for a GP2 sequel and that MicroProse remained Crammond's exclusive publisher. Posters cited a PC Format interview in which Crammond discussed a new game and attacked MicroProse's support for GP1 and GP2. A spoof post in Crammond's name added confusion, and the matter stayed unresolved.
• Grand Prix 3 v1.13 patch released 2000-10-25 · 22 posts
  The Grand Prix 3 patch was released, adding better controller configuration including split-axis pedals. Some users reported installation errors and difficulties combining USB and gameport devices, with tips about clicking the calibration tab and using control-driven calibration. A rude reply to a user's report led to insults, and it was noted that the patch had been cracked within a day.
• GP3 to have LAN play but no internet multiplayer 2000-02-09 · 22 posts
  David Cook posted a translated Gamezone interview in which Grand Prix 3's John Cook and Nod Court said it would offer modem and LAN play for up to 16 players but no internet racing. Some called for a boycott and complained about Geoff Crammond's attitude to online play and add-ons, while others said the lack of internet play would barely hurt sales and hoped Kali could be used.
• Official Grand Prix 3 website launched 1999-09-07 · 21 posts
  Kenneth Verburg announced the official Grand Prix 3 website with new screenshots, press releases and a feature list. Meiji criticised the shots as looking like GP2 and read the '4+ player' network support as weak, prompting a debate about reading press releases. Others suggested FIA/FOCA licensing might forbid internet play, and some said it was too early to judge.
• TV commentators discuss sims and hearing other cars 2000-08-13 · 79 posts
  Fox Sports' Hungarian GP coverage discussed whether drivers can hear other cars, a point raised by RAS viewers and relevant to GP3's lack of opponent engine sounds. The thread turned into a long GP3 versus F1 2000 argument over track accuracy, slow-motion and sounds, plus debate about a Speedvision remark that sims are futile and whether sim racing is a pursuit in its own right.
• Continuing row over claim that GPL is too time-consuming 2000-09-27 · 78 posts
  The poster behind 'GPL is shit' clarified that he thought GPL was the best sim but only usable with lots of free time. Regulars replied that a few hours a week was enough and pointed to driving aids and the AITweak utility, while ex-Codemasters employee Damian Wilson joined in calling r.a.s. 'gaming fascists' and preferring GP3 as a game. The exchange descended into insults and troll accusations.
• Was F1 2000 rushed out, and track accuracy debate 2000-06-09 · 77 posts
  Zen asked whether EA released F1 2000 unfinished to make sales before GP3 arrived, and Dave Henrie explained that EA ties licensed titles to the start of the season. Karl Zosel and ymenard attacked its inaccurate tracks, while Iain Mackenzie, Rod Prince and Greg Cisko defended it as the best modern F1 sim and said the accuracy was good enough. Side arguments covered 'pivoting' car physics and Hasbro's plans for yearly GP sequels.
• Debate over downloading pirated GP3 before release 2000-07-18 · 70 posts
  A joking post about finding a warez copy of Grand Prix 3 led to a debate on whether downloading pirated games to try before buying is acceptable. Tim Wheatley angrily objected to warez links being posted in the newsgroup, and an argument followed with Vintook about whether anyone could stop such posts. Side discussions covered retailer return policies and the lack of a GP3 demo.
• Which is the most realistic racing sim? 2001-09-27 · 69 posts
  A former GPL player asked what sims besides NASCAR Racing 4 offered realism and good gameplay. Answers ranged across GPL with add-ons, GP3 2000, NR4 (which Ed Solheim argued had better physics than GPL) and NASCAR Heat with its CART mod and converted road courses. The thread drifted into CART versus IRL arguments and jokes about road-car drive belts, with talk of an NR4-based TPTCC road-racing mod in development.
• Grand Prix 3 versus F1 Racing Championship 2001-07-24 · 66 posts
  A GP3 player asked whether F1 Racing Championship is a step up. After buying it he praised the GPS-mapped tracks but found its tyre behaviour less progressive than GP3's. The thread degenerated into a bitter exchange between David G Fisher, Thom J and ymenard over his beta-testing claims, with Iain Mackenzie supporting Fisher.
• Whether any modern F1 game matches Papyrus realism 2001-06-09 · 62 posts
  Arto Wikla argued that none of F1CS2000, GP3 or F1RC matched GPL or NASCAR 4 and wished Papyrus would make a modern F1 sim, and others asked for a CART sim. John Bodin defended F1CS2000's physics with the All Chassis Patch, and an interview about EA's F1 2001 and its new engine was debated. The thread drifted into jokes and a long exchange between Jan Verschueren and mark jeangerard about field of view and sense of speed.
• Does GP3 still have GP2's canned spins? 2000-07-02 · 61 posts
  Morgan Wooten asked whether GP3 kept GP2's 'canned' spins, and Ed Solheim said it seemed so from his Goodwood test drive. Some defended GP2's spins as genuine physics, while others such as Jan Verschueren cited power cutting out at about 180 degrees and slides that could not be stopped. Gregor Veble suggested GP2 may have modelled yaw inertia more realistically than other sims, which makes spins hard to catch.
• GP3 2000 add-on reviewed by a former GP3 hater 2001-08-20 · 58 posts
  Andre Warringa, who disliked the original GP3, wrote a positive review of the GP3 2000 expansion, praising its improved feel, sound, replays and controller setup. Others argued free patches like GPxPatch already provided much of this and debated whether paying was worthwhile. Posters also shared controller ID fixes and discussed the throttle-linked gear change behaviour.
• Bruce Kennewell condemns rush to download GP3 warez 2000-07-23 · 52 posts
  Bruce Kennewell compared posters scrambling for the GP3 warez to pigs at a trough. A long ethics debate followed over whether downloading to try before buying is theft, with m.seery and Bruce taking a hard line and Senninha, Simon Brown and others arguing that the lack of a demo justified it. Some exchanges turned to insults.
• Disappointed first-hand report on GP3 at the Melbourne GP 2000-03-13 · 51 posts
  A visitor to the Australian Grand Prix said the GP3 build on show looked like a prettier GP2, including the same black-flag slowdown for cutting corners. Others urged waiting for the final version and debated how much could change before a summer release. Reports that GP3 would lack force feedback dismayed many. Posters also argued over GPL's 3D track surfaces and the F1 rules on corner cutting.
• Is keyboard racing dead in modern sims? 2001-02-23 · 50 posts
  Leo Greco lamented that modern sims like NASCAR Racing 4 are unplayable with a keyboard, making quick casual sessions harder. Respondents mostly said wheels or joysticks are essential, though GP3 and Codemasters' Insane were cited as having good keyboard support. A disabled GPL racer described driving fast laps using only hand controls, and others shared setup tips.
• Calls for realistic expectations of Grand Prix 3 2000-07-22 · 47 posts
  A long post urged readers to calm down about GP3 and judge it as an evolution of GP2 rather than a GPL rival. Replies split between those disappointed that four years of work had produced 'GP2.5' and those happy with weather, AI and updated graphics. F1 2000 was compared, and some noted Hasbro had done little official hype.
• Detailed comparison concludes GP3 trails F1 2000 2000-08-01 · 46 posts
  Intimidator posted a long comparison of GP3 and F1 2000 covering graphics, physics, sound, AI and features, concluding that GP3 offered little improvement for its development time. Replies were split: some agreed, while others said third-party editors would fix many issues and that GP3's weather and AI were strong. Discussion also covered what counts as a sim versus an arcade game and GP3's lack of online play.
• Debate over whether GP3 is just GP2 again 1999-09-06 · 44 posts
  Some argued the Grand Prix 3 screenshots looked no better than GP2 and that it reused the old engine, while others said the software-mode shots were impressive and hardware support was promised. Karl Zosel claimed GP2 had been a rip-off, sparking a hostile exchange with insults. Others recalled that GP2's physics had been revolutionary and that its SVGA mode was reportedly a late addition.
• Debate over pessimism about GP3's missing features 2000-03-14 · 43 posts
  Imar de Vries questioned the pessimism about GP3, while many posters criticised its reported lack of force feedback and internet play as behind the times. Jan Verschueren objected to treating Geoff Crammond as a guarantee of quality, and David G Fisher argued that GPL's online play had been poor anyway, drawing accusations of trolling. Some speculated that IPX LAN play could be used online via Kali.
• Reports of a paid GP3 1999 season update 2000-08-16 · 43 posts
  A website report that a GP3 update would arrive in November at $22 caused anger about paying for bug fixes. Others pointed out it was a 1999 season data add-on that required licensing, and Hasbro tech support reportedly told callers a free bug-fix patch was also in the works. Side discussions covered split-axis pedal support, career mode and GP3's poor TCP/IP play.
• GP3 versus Monaco Grand Prix Racing Simulation 2 debate 2000-08-05 · 41 posts
  A South African reader waiting for GP3 asked whether a cheap copy of Ubisoft's Monaco GP Racing Simulation 2 was worth buying. Jan Verschueren strongly defended MGPRS2's driving model and force feedback, while most others said GP3 was far better apart from online play. The thread drifted into a heated argument over a poster's claim that Ferrari mechanics thought GP3's physics were wrong, and whether locking the brakes at high speed makes an F1 car spin.
• Adjusting from GPL to GP3 physics, and corner technique 2001-04-15 · 41 posts
  A GPL driver found GP3 cars snapped away without warning. Others said it takes time to feel and noted modern F1 cars' stiffness and bumps, then the thread became a technique discussion on corner exit, smooth throttle application and Gregor Veble's detailed explanation of GPL differential settings in Alison Hine's setups.

Busiest threads

• GP3 questions relayed from the Melbourne Grand Prix demo (48 posts about it)
• Complaint that GP3 spins out at every corner (33 posts about it)
• GP3 2000 add-on reviewed by a former GP3 hater (31 posts about it)
• Leaked warez build of Grand Prix 3 judged a GP2 update (29 posts about it)
• Does rec.autos.simulators represent typical sim racers? (27 posts about it)
• TV commentators discuss sims and hearing other cars (26 posts about it)
• Outrage at Grand Prix 3 not being sold in US (26 posts about it)
• Calls for realistic expectations of Grand Prix 3 (25 posts about it)
• How many racing sims do you have installed? (24 posts about it)
• Debate over pessimism about GP3's missing features (24 posts about it)
• Is GP3 blatantly unfinished? (23 posts about it)
• Are GPL fans rude and intolerant? (23 posts about it)
• GP3 disappointment sparks GPL grip realism debate (22 posts about it)
• GP3 hardware mode on Voodoo 2 cards (22 posts about it)
• Detailed comparison concludes GP3 trails F1 2000 (22 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

ymenard · 207 Simon Brown · 197 Andre Warringa · 165 Greg Cisko · 162 Jan Verschueren · 148 GraDee · 145 Jo Helsen · 142 Dave Henrie · 102 (unknown) · 100 Stephen Ferguson · 95 EldredP · 94 Ronald Stoehr · 90 Douglas Ellison · 88 Michael E. Carver · 86 Bart Westra · 83 Gregor Veble · 82 David G Fisher · 73 Damien Smith · 72 Nos · 69 Chris Bloom · 66

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