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  developer Microprose
  publisher Hasbro Interactive
  designer Geoff Crammond
  released 28 July 2000
  genre Sim Racing
  modes Single Player , Multiplayer
  platforms PC ( Windows )
  media CD-ROM
  requirements Pentium II 266, 32 MB RAM
  input Keyboard , Mouse , Joystick , Steering Wheel


''Grand Prix 3'' 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 disolved since games like F1 Challenge 99-02 and its various ISI follow-up titles, Live For Speed and Nektar Pro .


CRITICISMS

The game was and has since been criticsed for many factors.
  • Dated graphics engine - Geoff's attitude to coding left 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 insistance on locking the framerate (With an absurdly low maximum of 25 frames per second), the RCR bitmaps and the 'faux 3D' rendering of the cars made the game look dated.


  • Poor sound engine - The audio coding for vanilla grandprix 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-existant.


  • 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 discernable differences between the cars in GP2 and GP3. Whilst this meant the game still offered the same keyboard racer support that had won many fans over with GP1 and GP2 by the time GP3 was released it felt stunted compared to the freedom allowed by other F1 games, many compared it to driving on rails.


  • No mod community support - In the racing sim world this is particularly important but Geoff had a very casual attitude towards this meaning that that many issues found with the previous GPX titles, (Hard to understand line and track formats, only one shape at a time and RCR bitmaps) still existed and partcularly frustrated many within the racing community.


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 , a new replay system and EAX 3D-sound. The decision was met with mixed reactions by fans, many were delighed 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.


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