Grand Prix 3

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Grand Prix 3

Developer(s)	Microprose
Publisher(s)	Hasbro Interactive
Designer(s)	Geoff Crammond
Release date(s)	28 July 2000
Genre(s)	Sim racing
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer
Platform(s)	PC (Windows)
Media	CD-ROM
System requirements	Pentium II 266, 32 MB RAM
Input	Keyboard, mouse, joystick, steering wheel

Grand Prix 3 (GP3) is a computer racing simulator by MicroProse. Released in 2000 by Hasbro Interactive featuring the 1998 Formula One season. The game didn't receive great reviews but at the time was widely considered to be the best racing simulation available. Its sequel Grand Prix 4 has since taken that title but its popularity amongst Sim gamers and mod makers has dissolved since games like F1 Challenge '99-'02 and its various ISI follow-up titles, Live for Speed and netKar Pro.

[edit] Criticisms

The game was and has since been criticised for many factors:

Dated graphics engine — the game coding leaves the CPU doing a lot of work instead of the graphics card and as such the game was seen as poorly optimised. Moreover, Geoff's insistence on locking the framerate (with a maximum of 25 frames per second), RCR bitmaps, and the "faux 3D" rendering of the cars made the game look dated.

Grand Prix 3 screenshot

Poor sound engine — audio coding for vanilla Grand Prix 3 meant that only one car could be heard at any time and ambient and positional audio weren't available. Essentially, outside of cockpit view the game's audio was non-existent.

No major changes to the physics or gameplay — other than the inclusion of wet weather (a feature left out of GP2 due to time constraints) and cars that could flip, there were no major discernible differences between the cars in GP2 and GP3. GP3 still offered the same keyboard racer support that had won many fans over with GP1 and GP2, but by the time GP3 was released it was considered stunted compared to the freedom allowed by other F1 games. Many compared it to "driving on rails".

No mod community support — members of the mod community were frustrated when they found GP3 had many of the issues of the previous GPX titles (such as hard to understand line and track formats, only one shape at a time, and RCR bitmaps).

In way of a response an add-on to the game, called GP3-2000 or GP32k, was released by Hasbro which updated the game to the 2000 Formula One season. A few other changes were made as well including: updated damage physics including damage from on-circuit debris, improved AI, a new replay system, and EAX 3D-sound. The decision was met with mixed reactions by fans, many were delighted that some of the more severe issues with the game had been dealt with but some felt cheated that they had to pay extra to get the game they felt GP3 should have been from day one.

[edit] Today

Since the release of Grand Prix 4, the GP3 modding scene has slowly declined, and with the cracking of track editing for GP4 many track modders left GP3 for the newer title.

However, modders like Bellini have kept the community alive with some phenomenal conversions of Grand Prix 4 tracks. These show unprecedented levels of detail and accuracy in the GP3 community but this comes with a price. Only a small number of these tracks actually work with original GP3 and the 2000 season update needed for most. The high detail also means that a much faster PC is required.

GP4 World Series is a league made for GP4 and they have also made a GP3 version now on www.grandprixgames.org in the Grand Prix 4 and Grand Prix 3 sections.