Microprose Grand Prix 3 (pre-preview)

Geoff Crammond. Grand Prix. Microprose. Three big names. Combined...

Yes!, GP3 is arriving and Microprose released a promotional video about one of the most anticipated games of 2000. The video can be downloaded from several internet URLs, such as

gp3promo.exe [19 MB]

...and shows you some hot moments and sounds, as seen on GP3's current state of development. But was it a good idea to release the aforementioned blink video? What has been its effect on (hardcore) sim racers?

Unfortunately, it seems that releasing the video wasn't such a great strategy. The truth is that the promotion shows outdated graphics; not bad looking graphics, but definitely not 3D accelerated stuff, at least up to nowadays' standards.

Being blunt, you'll say that GP3 is looking exactly like GP2 (from the Jurassic age), except for the cars' decoration, now featuring textures from 1998's Formula 1 season... Yes, when GP3 ships, you won't race orange Arrows, you won't see Schumacher's red helmet, you won't have Peugeot on Prost, Jaguar will be totally absent, and you'll find the extinct Stewart team...

However, there is a strong chance, that you CAN live without a 2000 license, and even with mid 1990s graphics; after all, it will be the handling, the fun and the long term appeal, to matter, for sales sake :)

GP2 has got to be one of all times' top longevity software. Just notice that the Internet is still crowded with GP2 championships! And yet, it is a game with [basically] NO multiplayer modes... meaning that people enjoy the title so much, that have been willing to "kind of improvise" a multiplayer aspect. So, what if GP3, still a GP2 lookalike, will have the playing subtleties that glue you to the PC, as no other game does?

Yes - the video really tells you nothing.

Now, for a minute, assume the video does tell you something (come on - decide yourself!) :)

Well, then you'll have nightmares:

- sound is 200% GP2, but the development team had admitted it would be so [EDGE Magazine], until the very latest moment.

- graphics are very much GP2, but if they are software rendered, then they are cool; yet, if that is what things will look like, on a GeForce 256 GTS, or on a Voodoo 6000, then BAD NEWS!

- suspension has no travel visual feedback. The video shows several clips, where the car hits the curbs, but you never see the suspension / the car height change, as consequence. They seem to have NOT learned from GP Legends. - can cars lift from the track? I don't think so... The promotion shows some accidents, but it seems that the car's behavior, when having a strong a impact, is kind of scripted...

We can, but wait.

Remember that GP3 is not a 100% Geoff Crammond project. Software techniques have developed too far, even for a genius like Crammond to know and do it all... It makes sense.