Detailed Report: Grand Prix Legends

[JKeefe]

==Game Information==

Grand Prix Legends is a realistic driving simulation of the 1967 Formula 1 Grand Prix championship series, allowing virtual racers the ability to drive famous tracks such as Watkins Glen, Monza, Spa-Francorchamps, Rouen-les-Essarts, Mosport, Silverstone, Kyalami, Zandvoort, Mexico City, Monte Carlo, and the feared Nurburgring. Countless tracks and full cars from the 1965 and 1969 series with their own physics have since been added by the community modders.


==Version==

Information in this report applies the the GPL 2004 DEMO, released for free 6 years after Sierra's retail release. The original GPL can be patched to DEMO standards with the All-in-One patch.


==Method==

GPL requires two hacks/patches for triplehead support.

1. Download custom rastd3d7.dll and rastOGL.dll files (Direct3D7 and OpenGL rasterizers) that offer triplehead resolutions. The best way to do this is to download a file pack (discussed here at RaceSimCentral) that offers tools and DLLs for any imaginable resolution in GPL. Then backup your rastd3d7.dll and rastOGL.dll files. Rename the rastd3d7_12_3.dll file rast3d37.dll, and rename the rastOGL_12_3.dll file rastOGL.dll. This allows the selection of triplehead resolutions in GPL's interface.

2. Download a program called FOVed and follow the instructions in the readme. You want to set the FOV as large as possible; the program accepts a value of 180 although the actaul field of view will be smaller. Input 180. This expands GPL's horizontal FOV to acceptable values for triplehead racing.


Start GPL and select the appropriate API (Direct3D or OpenGL) and triplehead resolution. Due to a DirectX7 limitation, the only working triplehead resolution in Direct3D is 1920x480, while OpenGL supports all resolutions. However, Direct3D may be desireable because some GPL third-party apps only work in D3D.


==Screen change==

Following the instructions above will result in Hor+ screen change, but there will also be a bit of Vert-; the FOV in the vertical direction will not be quite as large as it was prior to hacking in the triplehead options.

1024x768 resized



1920x480 resized


Note that unlike in most triplehead games, the main goal with GPL is not to see more, it is to make what you see bigger. Seeing the edge of the track rush by on left and right monitors greatly enhances the sense of speed in a racing simulation.


==Supported resolutions==

With the RastHack utility linked above, you can create a rasterizer that will run literally any resolution you want. You are limited only by API and by your hardware.


==Singleplayer anomalies==

None.


==Multiplayer support==

Not tested in multiplayer, but nothing will change.


==Aspect ratio support==

Aspect ratio is automatically adjusted based on the chosen resolution and iis correct for triplehead resolutions activated according the the procedures above.


==HUD stretch==

By default, GPL has no HUD or HUD-like information. Some information added by third-party utilities expands across the top and bottom letterbox bars, but does not stretch (each group is just farther from other groups). Other utilities allow you to determine the screen position of information and these can be tailored to the triplehead display.


==Cut-scenes==

GPL has no cutscenes.


==Grading==

Grade: D+. Don't let the grade scare you, using the tools is simple. GPL is amazing in triplehead.

Major unresolved issues: none

Minor unresolved issues: slight Vert- view in triplehead
_________________
SimHQ Technology Editor

Core2Duo E72000 @ 2.66 GHz, 320MB 8800GTS, 4096MB DDR2-800, 3xP1110 21" Trinitron CRT using Matrox TripleHead2Go