Grand Prix Simulator
| Grand Prix Simulator | |
|---|---|
|
Grand Prix Simulator box art | |
| Developer(s) | Codemasters |
| Publisher(s) | Codemasters |
| Designer(s) | The Oliver Twins |
| Artist(s) | Mervin James |
| Composer(s) | David Whittaker |
| Platform(s) |
Amstrad CPC Atari 8-bit Commodore 64 ZX Spectrum |
| Release date(s) |
Amstrad CPC[1]
Commodore 64[2]
|
| Genre(s) | Racing |
| Mode(s) |
Single player 2 players |
Grand Prix Simulator is a racing game developed by The Oliver Twins and published by Codemasters for the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and Atari 8-bit computer systems. The ZX Spectrum conversion was done by Serge Dosang.[3][4][5] A sequel, Grand Prix Simulator II, was released in 1988 for the same platforms.[6] The Spectrum version was endorsed by Ayrton Senna's teammate Johnny Dumfries.[7]
Gameplay
The game is designed so that the player is looking down on the track from an overhead view, similar to arcade games such as Badlands or Super Off Road. The player controls a car on the track, while the computer controls the other. Each race is three laps around the track. If the player wins a race, they progress to the next track. The game is over when the player loses a race or disqualifies himself/herself by crashing.
Points are earned for winning a race and extra points are given for picking up bonus items that appear on the track. Oil spots can also appear on the track that, if driven over, cause the player's car to spin, losing time.
The game can also be played competitively by two players.
Voice output
The game was notable at the time for its use of sound samples on limited 8-bit hardware. The game counts "Three...two...one...go!" to start the race, announces the player's status after winning, losing, or crashing, and says "Game over!" to end the game. Other games of the era that produce sampled voice output include Super Robin Hood, Ghost Hunters and RoboCop.
Critical reception
| Reception | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Grand Prix Simulator was rated an average of 19/20 in Amstrad User magazine,[9] 7 out of 10 by Your Sinclair[10] and, across all platforms, sold over a quarter of a million copies.[11]
Trivia
In 1988 Codemasters sued Alternative Software because its title Formula Grand Prix showed a very similar gameplay and even cover (featuring a red car number 27). Ironically, not long ago Codemasters itself had been sued by Activision for intellectual property violation relating to Super Sprint.[12]
References
- ↑ "Release Information for Amstrad CPC".
- ↑ "Release Information for Commodore 64".
- ↑ Grand Prix Simulator on World of Spectrum
- ↑ Grand Prix Simulator on www.lemon64.com
- ↑ Dillon, Tong (October 1987). "GrandPrix Simulator review". Sinclair User (67): 86–87.
- ↑ Grand Prix Simulator II on OliverTwins.com
- ↑ Spectrum version cover art
- ↑ http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/grandprixsimulator.htm
- ↑ Amstrad User review
- ↑ Your Sinclair review
- ↑ Grand Prix Simulator on OliverTwins.com
- ↑ Retro Gamer issue 82, pages 20-21
