Microprose GP500 speculation...

I wonder if Microprose is just going to buy up the license to this game developed by Ascaron: http://www.ascaron.com/german/news/gp500/index.html Better use the AltaVista translater, as it's in German.

>I wonder if Microprose is just going to buy up the >license to this game developed by Ascaron: >http://www.ascaron.com/german/news/gp500/index.html >Better use the AltaVista translater, as it's >in German. WOW! This just may be the 'cycle game I've been waiting for. Ever since I got a Ninja motorcycle (and then sold it earlier this spring, doh!) I've been wanting a bike sim. I can't read a word of german so lets hope this one makes it out soon! Karl

>I wonder if Microprose is just going to buy up the >license to this game developed by Ascaron: In the days of GP1, I had a Commodore Amiga 500. I also had a disk with agame called "CYCLES",by Microprose, which used the same game engine as GP1 and was, IMHO, one of only two real motorcycle simulators that I have ever seen (the other one was "TEAM SUZUKI", of the same era, unplayable because of the tilting view system). I t was also, by far, the best, and, as far as simulating bike riding goes, it still beats all of the modern tries. I know that there was a PC version, but I have never, ever, been able to find it, or anything about it, anywhere, including extensive Net search. I`m not sure about the name of the game, though, but I`m absolutely sure about the company, the game engine and a lot of the details that I still recall. The menu system was very similar to the GP1 one, both in contents and presentation, including colors, and there were 3 categories: 125 cc, 250 cc and 500 cc. The 500`s wheelied in 1st and 2nd, and could lose the rear on corner exit. My point is that Microprose is not new to bike sims. I even expected to see a CYCLES 2 game after GP2 came out...but it wasn`t to be. I sure hope it happens now. With the company`s track record, it`s bound to be one of the best, if not THE best, bike sim ever. BTW, if anyone happens to have, either the original CYCLES game or any information on how I can get it for the PC, can you please, please, PLEASE let me know? I would be really grateful. If so, please e-mail me, or post something here. Thanks in advance. Daniel Fris

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>>I wonder if Microprose is just going to buy up the >>license to this game developed by Ascaron: >In the days of GP1, I had a Commodore Amiga 500. I also had a disk with >agame called "CYCLES",by Microprose, which used the same game engine as GP1 >and was, IMHO, one of only two real motorcycle simulators that I have ever >seen (the other one was "TEAM SUZUKI", of the same era, unplayable because >of the tilting view system). I t was also, by far, the best, and, as far as >simulating bike riding goes, it still beats all of the modern tries. I know >that there was a PC version, but I have never, ever, been able to find it, >or anything about it, anywhere, including extensive Net search. I`m not sure >about the name of the game, though, but I`m absolutely sure about the >company, the game engine and a lot of the details that I still recall. The >menu system was very similar to the GP1 one, both in contents and >presentation, including colors, and there were 3 categories: 125 cc, 250 cc >and 500 cc. The 500`s wheelied in 1st and 2nd, and could lose the rear on >corner exit.

Aren't you mixing things up here? I think you remember an Accolade-game, which seemed to use the same engine as their Grand Prix game. Microprose only released F1GP (by Geoff Crammond) as F1-sim, and no other game ever used that engine (apart from GP2 being based on it). JoH Please remove *anti-spam* from the email when replying. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= When everything else failed, we can still become im- mortal by making an enormous blunder.... John Kenneth Galbraith =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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>>I wonder if Microprose is just going to buy up the >>license to this game developed by Ascaron: >In the days of GP1, I had a Commodore Amiga 500. I also had a disk with >agame called "CYCLES",by Microprose >BTW, if anyone happens to have, either the original CYCLES game or any >information on how I can get it for the PC, can you please, please, PLEASE >let me know? I would be really grateful.

Yeah, I know about that game. It was very similar to GP1, but really nice to play and one of the best motorcycle sims I've seen. When I think about it I think about how so many years after nobody's been able to do something better. Ain't it strange? - Javi -

>Aren't you mixing things up here? I think you remember an Accolade-game, which >seemed to use the same engine as their Grand Prix game. Microprose only released >F1GP (by Geoff Crammond) as F1-sim, and no other game ever used that engine >(apart from GP2 being based on it). >JoH Thanks for your post...and your witty introduction 8-). Maybe you are right, and the game is by Accolade. It was a long time ago. But I`m not absolutely sure either way. Do you, or anyone else, know when the release date for GP1 was? If it was 8 or 9 years ago, it would be contemporary to this game. If it was released later, then it`s almost sure that you are right.

>Maybe you are right, and the game is by Accolade. It was a long time ago. >But I`m not absolutely sure either way. Do you, or anyone else, know when >the release date for GP1 was? If it was 8 or 9 years ago, it would be >contemporary to this game. If it was released later, then it`s almost sure >that you are right. JoH is right. It was definately by Accolade and not based on GP1 but Accolades Grand Prix game. They're both designed by Distinctive Software Inc. I even have the Accolade "The Cycles" box in front of me. (C) 1989 Requires 512k ;-) I've put some screenshots up at http://www.zip.com.au/~davidg/accolade.htm showing both games. F1GP PC version was released late 1992. Amiga, Atari before but when exactly I don't know.

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>>I wonder if Microprose is just going to buy up the >>license to this game developed by Ascaron: >>http://www.ascaron.com/german/news/gp500/index.html >>Better use the AltaVista translater, as it's >>in German. > WOW! This just may be the 'cycle game I've been waiting for. Ever >since I got a Ninja motorcycle (and then sold it earlier this spring, doh!) >I've been wanting a bike sim. I can't read a word of german so lets hope >this one makes it out soon! >Karl

What shall your ancestors think of you? (Assuming that "Karl" indicates german origin.) :) Well, as a service from your resident native speaker of German, here are the most intersting facts from that site: (I faithfully translated the site's sales hype - don't hold me responsible...) Features of GP 500 cc Simulation -realisticly simulated vehicle physics -15 very detailed tracks (doesn't say if they are real or fantasy) -3 bike classes from 125cc to 500cc -various modes: test, race, GP, world championship, network -100 drivers with individual characteristics -realistic driver movements (several previews from mags mentioned that too) -spectacular crashes and somersaults of drivers and machines -viewing other drivers -weather, with influence on the bikes -rain, smoke, fog etc. displayed -career mode through the bike classes -three difficulty settings -individual selection of input devices -a "dynamic racing logic" adapts to the driver's abilities -cockpit view and arcade views -TV and chopper camera -realistic setup of bikes: gears, brakes, suspension, tires -detailed telemetry: brake and gas postiton, suspension travel, speed, RPM, engine temperature and power -statistics of drivers and tracks over various seasons -extensive options -a demo mode where you can sit back and watch a race technology -fast and extremely powerful 3D engine -display in hicolor at 640x480 -D3D support -controlled by keyboard, joystick or joypad -support of force feedback -native 3Dfx support --------end of translation ------------ This sounds pretty good. Ascaron has a track record of quality games ("The Settlers" series; a pretty good football(soccer) managing game called "Anstoss" (kick-off) etc.), although they didn't do a racing simulation before, AFAIK. Here are the hardware requirements: System requirements: MINIMUM RECOMMENDED PROCESSOR: Pentium 100 Pentium 200 RAM: 16MB 32MB HDD: yet unknown yet unknown GRAPHICS: 3D-accelerator 3Dfx card with Voodoo-chipset CD - ROM: 4x 4x Soundcard: 16-Bit 16-Bit MISC: DirectX 5, mouse DirectX 5, mouse, joystick Operating systems: Windows 95 and Windows NT The text repeatedly speaks of a release date in July, but I haven't seen the sim on the shelves yet. OTOH, I'm not that intersted in motorbike sims - the only thing I'm waiting for is GPL. -- Wolfgang Preiss \ E-mail copies of replies to this posting are welcome. Uni des Saarlands \ and U.S. law. You have been warned.

>JoH is right. It was definately by Accolade and not based on GP1 but Accolades >Grand Prix game. They're both designed by Distinctive Software Inc. I even have >the Accolade "The Cycles" box in front of me. (C) 1989 Requires 512k ;-) >I've put some screenshots up at http://www.zip.com.au/~davidg/accolade.htm >showing both games. >F1GP PC version was released late 1992. Amiga, Atari before but when exactly I >don't know. You`re both right, of course. Blame my faulty RAM:-) Seeing your screenshots helped it, and now I remember how the cars and the bikes came rolling from the right and stopped in the machine selection screens. Thanks a lot, both for your reply and for the oportunity to see the screenshots. Daniel Fris

I don't know about getting a PC version of this game...but what you could do is get yourself an Amiga emulator (like UAE)... with a little searching, I'm sure you'd be able to find the original game on the 'net somewhere. I'm not really up on the whole Amiga Emulation scene , but if you check out: [link lost in import: /://www.classic***.com/emunews/] you should be able to track down what you need.. S.

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>>loped by Ascaron: >>In the days of GP1, I had a Commodore Amiga 500. I also had a disk with >>agame called "CYCLES",by Microprose >>BTW, if anyone happens to have, either the original CYCLES game or any >>information on how I can get it for the PC, can you please, please, PLEASE >>let me know? I would be really grateful.