GP2 97 Update to be released

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.

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> > '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. > > ... with the post-Senna track changes including that > > minor San Marino alteration. > What's with the actual '97 tracks like Nuerburgring or Zeltweg? > Axel > -------------------------------------------------------------- > - Axel Schlueter - Fax: (02361) 374058 -

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

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> >This is what Microprose told me yesterday ;) > I've had two emails from different guys from Microprose. One > categorically denied that any work was taking place on GP3 or any updates > to GP2. The second one arrived a couple of days later and told me to > ignore the first and could be read that they are working on something! > (alternatively it could be read that they are not <g>) > Believe what you will, but frankly I'm not going to believe anything from > Microprose again until I see it on a shelf :( > Cheers, > Richard

I don't think it's up to Microprose to decide whether GP3 will be made or not. It's up to *Geoff Crammond*. Microprose didn't make GP2. Mr. Crammond's company sold the rights to distribute GP2 to Microprose. He, and only he, has the rights to the source code. If Crammond doesn't want to make GP3, then there won't be one. 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