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----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Formula One Grand Prix Editor _
\X/ © Steve Smith and Phil Smith, October 1994, Version 2.75b []/ |o__
------------------------------------------------------------------ O[____o\-
The Original & The Best!
Dedicated to all Amiga Formula One Grand Prix addicts!
Thanks to Steve Coe, Fred Neaves, Simon Harmel, Phil O'Malley, Andrew
Costin, Simon Shorrock, Michael Eracleous, Steve Broadbent and
everyone else who has written to me regarding F1Ed. Most special thanks
go to Steve Coe for writing so many Fido Net messages to me, you are
really the most enthusiastic fan of F1GP the World has ever seen, and
that's official!
Of course, biggest thanks of all should go to Geoff Crammond for creating
the best Amiga game ever.
REMEMBER, IF YOU WANT F1GP II TO FIND IT'S WAY ONTO THE AMIGA, WRITE TO
MICROPROSE AND TELL THEM HOW YOU FEEL!
***************************************************************************
** PLEASE READ THE IMPORTANT DISTRIBUTION NOTICE AT THE END OF THIS TEXT **
***************************************************************************
*Formula One Grand Prix, published by Microprose, is © 1991 Geoff Crammond*
***************************************************************************
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENTS []/ |o__
------------------------------------------------------------------ O[____o\-
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Purpose
1.2 Why?
1.3 What does it do?
1.4 Similar utilities already in existence
2.0 INSTRUCTIONS
2.1 Main menu
2.2 The edit screen
2.3 Edit global options
2.31 General options
2.32 Re-define keys
2.33 Camera angles
2.34 Miscellaneous
2.4 Statistics Editor
2.41 The Buttons!
2.42 Using the 1994 laptimes file included
2.43 Making a new set of statistics
3.0 60Hz SCREEN MODE SWITCHER
4.0 HELP!
4.1 Trouble shooting
4.2 Tutorials
4.21 Using the 1994 data to play Grand Prix
4.22 Changing one of the existing teams to one of your own
5.0 HISTORY
6.0 IMPORTANT DISTRIBUTIONS NOTICE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.0 INTRODUCTION []/ |o__
------------------------------------------------------------------ O[____o\-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.1 PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This utility allows you to edit the various team/driver characteristics
within Geoff Crammond's Formula One Grand Prix. The changes that are made
are written directly to the executable file "F1GP" so there is no need to
mess around with Loading driver names or altering settings before you start
the game.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.2 WHY?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Formula One Grand Prix was the most innovative Amiga game for a very long
time when it was released back at the beginning of 1992. However since then
Microprose seem to have ignored the Amiga version, whilst at the same time,
the P.C. version of F1GP was released and updated four or five times to add
such wonderful features as head to head modem link. If you haven't played
the P.C. version, try and take a look, it's awesome.
The Amiga version could have been just as good, but to my knowledge
Microprose never bothered to update it. To go someway towards compensating
for this, I decided to have a hack at the file to see what could be changed.
The answer was a surprising amount of stuff. Obviously, I couldn't add
features like the head to head modem link, but what you can change has, in
my view, improved the long term playability of the game. Let me know what
you think.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.3 WHAT DOES IT DO ?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
THIS VERSION WILL ALLOW YOU TO ALTER:
· Team/Engine names.
· Driver names.
· Team performance levels.
· Driver performance levels in both qualifying and race trim.
· Car colours.
· Crash helmet colours (this only takes effect whilst you are on the
track, and not on the Driver Selection screen).
· Pit crew colours.
· Switch each driver on and off (you must have at least 26 drivers, or
else the game will crash).
· Choose which driver(s) are under human control when the game starts.
· Editing of the default settings:
- Race length
- Qualifying session length
- Practice length
- Skill level
- Fast Windows on/off
- Animations on/off
- Number of Multi-player turns
- Quick Race track (specify, or have F1GP ask you)
· Statistics Editor. Enter lap times from real G.P . and F1Ed will
use the data to calculate Team and Driver performances for that
extra touch of authenticity.
· Supplied with 1994 and 1993 data file, and 11 race 1994 statistics
file.
· Redefine the keys used in the game.
· Alter the camera setup used in the extra views.
· Supports general release European version and special 3 disk version
of Formula One Grand Prix (A600 Wild, Wierd and Wicked pack).
· Change the speed at which the computer cars travel round corners
(making the game that little more competitive).
· Choose the performance of your own car, or use the performance
programmed in to the editor for which ever team you are driving for.
· Select the probability of a wet race.
THIS UTILITY WILL NOT AT ANY TIME:
~~~
· Remove the manual protection. Although it is perfectly possible,
there needs to be some incentive not to pirate the game.
FUTURE VERSIONS MIGHT/WILL ALLOW:
· Possibility of a comprehensive "sound lab" in which you can replace
all the samples in the game. We've got sound samples of a Ford V8,
Ferrari V12 and Renault V10 which will of course be included.
· Choose how likely an accident is to put you (or the computer
drivers) out of the race.
· Driver aids available at all levels of competition (to make the game
realistic if you happen to be driving for Benetton!)
· Change the points scored for each finishing position. This should
allow the introduction of, for example, Indy Car data files. Of
course, this also allows you to keep F1GP up to date if the
regulations are changed.
· Default controller options (ie. set up your analogue joystick only
once in F1Ed, and save the calibration information back to the F1GP
executable). I've now got an analogue joystick, but there doesn't
appear to be an OS legal routine for reading it! However, there is
a quick and dirty way, so I guess I'll have to use that.
· Track editor :-))) (Just kidding!). Actually, it's always amazed me
that Microprose never released Track Packs for F1GP. They must have
a track editor themselves, and each track is a single file. I would
have paid money to be able to race at Kyalami, Aida, Donnington
and the other tracks which have been modified.
Please note that due to the current Commodore buy-out shambles, the Amiga is
now very much entering it's twilight years, if you don't believe this, then
I'm afraid you're looking at the computer industry from a sentimental,
nostalgic viewpoint. If you wan't proof, just look at the Amiga's software
release schedule for Christmas 1994 and Spring 1995 ... where are all the
major titles such as Transport Tycoon, Magic Carpet, TFX, Inferno, F1GP II
or NASCAR?? I could go on for pages as to the reasons/evidence behind the
Amiga's current demise, but it would be out of place. The Amiga is no
longer my main machine, a DX2-66 P.C. has taken it's place. For that
reason, although I still have an Amiga, I cannot guarantee that any of the
above features will be added to F1Ed, and neither can I guarantee that there
will be future versions. Please take this in to account before deciding you
wish to register.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.4 SIMILAR UTILITIES ALREADY IN EXISTENCE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This utility was inspired by a similar utility, also known as "F1ED", on the
PC. However, for the ultimate "one-up-manship", this editor can do much
more than the PC version! I'm currently looking into writing a version of
F1Ed with will run under Windows and allow all the hacks found in the Amiga
version, plus much, much more. However, please don't write to me about this
at the moment, I'm too busy to implement anything.
After the first version of F1Ed was publically released, Oliver Roberts
released a utility for the Amiga called F1GP-Ed. Instead of using a custom
screen layout and buttons similar to that found in F1Ed, it uses the
standard Amiga intuition user-interface. It's a similar piece of software
to F1Ed in function, but does the job through a different user interface. If
you received F1Ed directly from me you will find the latest Freeware version
of F1GP-Ed, and also a demo of the latest registered version.
Multiplex of Chrome released GP Patch which allows you to speed up the game
(this is rather silly, because it doesn't make the game smoother, just
faster). More importantly, it will display the name of the driver who is
currently ahead of you (and the gap). This is highly useful function that
is missing from the Amiga version of the game (but can be found in the P.C.
version). Please note, this patch does have limitations. Because it has
it's own built in editor for the game, any car colours or driver names you
have edited in F1Ed or F1GP-Ed will be overwritten. Also, it only currently
works on the standard 4 disk version of F1GP. I heard a rumour that the
author's hard disk crashed and the source code was lost. I haven't actually
written to him yet, but it sounds like he doesn't intend to develop GP Patch
any further.
At the time of writing, I have been in correspondence with someone who
claims to have worked out the structure of the F1GP Circuit files. However,
I have had to pass his details on to Oliver Roberts as I simply wouldn't
have time to implement a track editor within F1Ed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.0 INSTRUCTIONS []/ |o__
------------------------------------------------------------------ O[____o\-
Run F1ED from Workbench or CLI, an about screen will be displayed, click on
"O.K.". The main menu will then appear.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.1 MAIN MENU
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
If we first look at the middle box on the screen, you will see four menu
items:
(1) LOAD DATA
With this option you can load data-files (including all the team, driver and
preferences information for Grand Prix) that have previously been created
with "Save Data".
When selected a file-requester will appear, use this to find and select the
data-file you wish to use. To enable you to discover which files contain
F1Ed data, files matching the correct length will appear as light blue in
the file requester window.
F1Ed will automatically detect whether you are opening a data file from
V2.0, V2.5 or V2.75.
The first called "Standard.F1ED" contains the default settings as supplied
with the game. Secondly, we have included a 1994 data file "1994Data.F1ED",
this file's car and driver colours are accurate as of the Hungarian G.P. of
1994. The performance figures are based on an average of the all the races
which have taken place during 1994. The 1993 Data File from V2.0 has also
been included.
If you don't wish to load a data file, you will find that F1Ed is
automatically set-up with an up-to-date (at the time of writing) version of
the 1994 data file when first loaded.
You can of course create your own data files using the next option.
(2) SAVE DATA
This option will allow you to save the settings you have just edited to a
data file of your choice. This file can be opened at a later date using the
"Load Data" option.
(3) READ DATA FROM EXECUTABLE
The settings used when you run the game are stored in the main executable
file "F1GP". If you have the A600 Wild, Wierd, Wicked pack version, this is
is a 582988 byte file on disk 1. If you have the 'normal' shop version of
Grand Prix it's a 582992 on disk 2. If the game is installed on your hard
disk the file is in the main grand prix directory.
Rather than load the whole file into memory, the editor will read the
information it needs from the appropriate places. When you have finished
editing the settings, you will need to write them back to the same
executable file in order to use them in the game. If you are reading F1GP
from a floppy disk, this is quite a slow process ... please be patient.
A progress bar has been added in Version 2.5 which allows you to see how
much longer you have to wait. However, this will only really appeal to
floppy disk users. If you have F1GP installed on your hard disk, the
reading and writing or data will be almost instantaneous.
From version 2.75b, files matching the correct length of the F1GP executable
will be coloured green in the file requester window.
(4) WRITE DATA TO EXECUTABLE
WARNING: This option will make changes to the executable file "F1GP". NEVER
USE THIS EDITOR ON THE ORIGINAL DISKS,ALWAYS USE A BACKUP. I cannot
be held responsible for any damage this editor may cause.
First of all, a warning, I purchased my copy of Grand Prix when it was first
released (February 1992). As far as I know Microprose never updated Formula
One Grand Prix (Other than a few simple changes for the A600 pack version,
mostly caused by removing the intro animation), despite the fact that there
have been at least 4 updates to the P.C. version which was released a year
later!. However, if there are any other different versions of Grand Prix
out there, the editor will not work with them (unless the main file is the
same). We have included primitive version checking, if the executable is
not exactly the length F1Ed expects, you will not be allowed to read
from/write to the file. This will probably also mean that you will be
unable to edit "cracked" versions of the game. Come on guys, F1GP is a
great game, go out and buy it. The 168 page manual is a great read! Anyway
if you are reading F1GP from a floppy disk, this is quite a slow process ...
please be patient.
From version 2.75b, files matching the correct length of the F1GP executable
will be coloured green in the file requester window.
O.K., so now you know how to open/write files using this utility.
When you have opened a file for editing, your attention should then turn to
the top box, which contains four buttons.
The first "Edit Team" opens the editor screen (See 2.2) for the team name
which is currently displayed in the black box directly below. The other two
buttons "<" and ">" cycle through the team names. The next option "Edit
Global Game Options" (See 2.3) allows you to alter the default settings (eg.
Race distance, skill level etc.). The final option so far, Statistics
Editor, allows you to use real race results to set the performance figures.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.2 THE EDIT SCREEN
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
When you click on "Edit Team" a different screen appears. At the bottom of
this screen is a picture of a formula one racing car. You will notice that
Team 1 has a slightly different shape at the front of the car. Geoff
Crammond did this to allow for the Marlboro logo on the front of the
McLaren. For this reason, even though McLaren currently don't have the 1
and 2 numbers for their cars, we suggest you leave them as the first team.
Directly beneath this picture is the palette of the colours available to
you. To change any part of the car, click on the colour you wish to use on
the palette (the currently selected colour is shown to the right of the
palette), and then click on the polygon to which the colour is to be
applied.
Next to the picture of the car is another bank of buttons. Click on "Pit
Crew" and the car will change to a picture of the teams pit crew, which can
be edited in the same way as the car.
If there is at least one driver in the team you are currently editing, you
will also be able to edit helmet colours. Under the "Pit Crew" icon, you
will see buttons labelled "Helmet 1" and "Helmet 2". When you click on
either of these buttons, the picture will change to the crash helmet of
either driver 1 "Helmet 1", or driver 2 "Helmet 2". Change the colours of
the crash helmet in the same way as you would the car or pit crew.
If you make a mistake while setting the colours of car, pit-crew, or
helmets, you can use the undo button remove the last change you made. The
undo feature is 'Multi-level' so if you keep clicking you can undo up to 20
changes.
Above the picture, you can change the setup of the team and drivers. First,
you can change the text in the black boxes. Click on the box you wish to
change, and then make alterations using the keyboard. When you press
return, the cursor will appear in the next box. You can also use the up and
down cursor keys to move the cursor from box to box.
You can change the settings for the team, and for each driver within that
team. Simply click the mouse at the point on the scale which you want.
I've included a box next to each scale displaying the actual value currently
set. For the teams, the highest performance level is 1279, the lowest is 0.
For each driver, 1 is the best setting down to 34 for the worst. "Qual" and
"Race" signify the separate settings for Qualifying sessions and the Race
itself.
To choose which drivers should be human controlled in the game, the button
on the right of the word "Select" is used. It can be toggled between a tick
and a cross by clicking on it. The driver is computer controlled when it is
a cross, and human controlled when it is a tick. The program makes sure you
have at least one driver selected. If this wasn't the case, F1GP would
crash.
To allow the removal of teams/drivers no longer competing in the
Championship, you can click on the "Off" button. Alternatively, if you wish
to "switch" back on any teams/drivers you click on the "Turn On" button.
There are two circumstances when you will not be able to "Turn Off" drivers:
- You cannot switch off a car which is selected for human control.
- When the number of currently selected drivers falls below 27 (you must
have at least 26 cars or else the game will crash).
Click on "O.K." to finish editing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.3 EDIT GLOBAL OPTIONS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
When this option is selected from the main menu, a new menu appears. Use
the mouse to choose one of the following options:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.31 GENERAL OPTIONS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A new screen will appear which allows you to change:
DIFFICULTY LEVEL:
As in the Race setup menu in the game, from Rookie to Ace. This was put
in to save you having to fiddle with the game settings each time you
play Grand Prix.
OPPOSITION TYPE:
Ditto the above. When using "1991 Level", the figures actually
correspond to those you set using the edit team option.
LENGTH OF PRACTICE SESSION:
Set the length of the practice session, as Race Setup Menu in game.
(from 5 minutes to 120 minutes).
LENGTH OF QUALIFYING SESSION:
Set the length of the qualifying session,as Race Setup Menu in game.
(from 15 minutes to 120 minutes).
PERCENTAGE RACE DISTANCE:
Set the percentage of the race distance to be covered, as Race Setup
menu in game (10% to 100%).
MULTIPLAY TURNS:
The number of turns for each driver in multiplayer mode.
QUICK-RACE LAPS:
The number of laps to be used for the quick race.
QUICK-RACE CIRCUIT:
Set the circuit on which the quick-race will be held.
QUICK-RACE CIRCUIT SELECTION OPTIONS:
Use the cycle gadget to select whether the game should bring up the
track selection menu to allow you to choose a circuit when you select
quick race, or use the above selected quick-race circuit as normal.
QUICK RACE/START-UP MENU:
Use the cycle gadget to choose whether the game shows the normal "QUICK
RACE" "MAIN MENU" choice when it first loads, or if it jumps straight to
the main menu.
FAST WINDOWS:
Use the cycle gadget to choose whether fast windows are on or off when
the game first loads.
ANIMATIONS:
Use the cycle gadget to choose whether animations are set to on or off
when the game first loads.
EDIT GLOBAL MENU:
Return to the Global Options menu.
MAIN MENU:
Return to the first, main, menu
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.32 RE-DEFINE KEYS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This brings up a new screen which allows you to change which keys are used
for different functions in the game.
The following is a list of the functions you will be prompted to set a key
for, along with their defaults.
Accelerate (A)
Brake (Z)
Steer Left (<)
Steer Right (>)
Gear Shift (SPACE)
Reverse Chase View (DEL)
Forward Chase View (HELP)
Return to Cockpit (KEYPAD 7)
Return to Pits (Q)
Return to cockpit is not normally available to A600 users, because of the
keypad problem (ie. the lack of it!). There is another key on the keypad
which we have been unable to track down. This key (INS or 0) allows you to
view an accident which has just occured. If we can find it, we'll allow you
to change it in the next version. Also, during qualifying, you press the
accelerate key to move into accelerated time. Although changing the
accelerate key from 'A' to something different will also change the key you
need to press to go into accelerated time, you must still press 'A' to leave
accelerated time. Again, if we can find why this is, we'll change it.
When the keys have been set, click on O.K. to return to the Global Options
Menu.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.33 CAMERA ANGLES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Choose this option and the camera angle editing screen appears.
Using the following options the camera angles can be completely changed. It
is quite tricky to get the hang of this, so its best to start by looking at
the presets, see below.
CHASE/EXTERNAL CAMERA HEIGHT:
This changes the height of the forward and reverse chase views, and the
TV style external view (0-1500)
CHASE CAMERA ZOOM:
This changes the zoom used for the forward and reverse chase views
(0-40535)
IN-CAR CAMERA HEIGHT:
This changes the height of the cockpit view (0-255)
CHASE CAMERA TRACKING SPEED:
This changes the speed at which the forward and reverse chase views
catch up with the car (0-127)
TRACKING CAMERA LENGTH OF SHOT:
This changes the the length of time before the TV style tracking view
moves on to the next camera (0-50)
PRESETS:
As mentioned above, there are some preset camera set ups included.
These can be moved through using the cycle gadget below the other camera
bars, and are as follows:
- F1GP Default Camera Set Up
The usual set up used by F1GP.
- Rear Wing 'Cam (Chase View)
A closer, Virtua Racing, style chase view.
- Nose/Gearbox 'Cam (Chase View)
Use the reverse and forward chase views as full screen, low, cockpit
views.
- Steve Coe's Blimp View
Not exactly a blimp view,but sets the forward and reverse chase views
to a long way from the car.
- Zoomed in Chase View No Tracking
A nice view to watch a race from, rather than controlling the car.
EDIT GLOBAL MENU:
Return to the Global Options menu.
MAIN MENU:
Return to the first, main, menu
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.34 MISCELLANEOUS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
These options are, as the title suggests, for changing things that don't
fit into the other catagories.
WET RACE PROBABILITY:
Set the probability of a wet race (0 - 100%)
LEVEL OF COMPUTER CAR TYRE GRIP:
Change the computer cars cornering speeds (0 - 128). Please note that
only small changes should be made to this number. If you increase it too
far you will find the computer cars corner as if on rails, rendering the
game totally impossible.
HUMAN PLAYER PERFORMANCE:
Set the performance of the human players car (0 - 127). The cycle gadget
below this changes between using the performance set in the scroll bar,
and using the performance set up for the players team. We recommend
setting up your own team with a suitable team performance figure.
GLOBALLY REDUCE TEAM PERFORMANCE
Click on this to decrease every teams performance by +/- 10 BHP.
GLOBALLY INCREASE TEAM PERFORMANCE:
Click on this to increase every teams performance by +/- 10 BHP.
EDIT GLOBAL MENU:
Return to the Global Options menu.
MAIN MENU:
Return to the first, main, menu
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.4 STATISTICS EDITOR
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The statistics editor is one feature of F1Ed that we are very proud of. It
is unique to F1Ed, and is not featured in any F1GP editors currently
available for the P.C. or Amiga.
As you have already probably noticed, it is possible to alter the
performance of each individual team and driver using F1Ed. The statistics
editor has been incorporated so that the performances of the teams and
drivers in F1GP can be as close as possible to the real World Championship
teams and drivers. The statistics editor will let you record the details of
up to twenty Grand Prix, using some or all of these details, F1Ed can create
a set of team and driver performance figures. To use the statistics editor,
you must be able to supply F1Ed with the fastest lap time each driver
recorded during both qualifying sessions and the race itself. This
information is readily available in publications such as Autosport.
Qualifying lap times appear on the BBC Ceefax service during each G.P.
weekend.
Using the statistics editor, you can choose how many races are included in
the performance calculation. For instance, you may like to play F1GP with
Ferrari being the fastest team. If this is the case, you can ask the
statistics editor to just work with the figures for the 1994 German G.P. If
you prefer a more mixed level of performance, you can pick one street
circuit, one fast circuit and one intermediate circuit. You can also
specify a range in to which each team's performance must fall. For
instance, you can specify that the slowest team's performance figure is
850HP, and the quickest team's performance figure is 1100HP, the statistics
editor will calculate the other team performances to fall within this range.
If this information is not readily available to you, we have supplied the
quickest lap times recorded at each Grand Prix this year in the file
"1994LapTimes" which can be read by the Statistics editor.
This is the first release of the statistics editor, so some of the current
limitations may be altered in later versions. Currently, if there is no
data available for a certain driver, the performance figure which already
exists will be used. Also the statistics editor does not recognise a
particular driver's name. For instance, the lap times file supplied works
correctly with our own 1994 data file. However, if you have swapped some of
the teams or drivers around, you will find the information in the statistics
editor does not change.
To enable you to identify the lap time files in your F1Ed directory, all
file names containing the phrase "laptimes" will be coloured light grey in
the file requester window.
NOTE: The lap times are NOT stored in the standard F1Ed data file. You must
save and load lap time files from within the statistics editor.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.41 THE BUTTONS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you can't be bothered to read the tutorials for the statistics editor
(2.42 and 2.43) heres an explanation of what all those buttons and gadgets
do!
.--------------------------------------------------------------------------.
|Add new race |
|| |
|| Insert new race after current race |
|| | Move through the loaded races |
|| | Delete current race | |
|| | | .---.--------------' The name of the current race|
|| | | V V ___________________________ | |
|| | `-> [DELETE] [<] [>] [___________________________]<---' |
|| `---> [INSERT] |
|`-----> [ADD] .---->[/] INCLUDE IN CALCULATION |
| / _____ |
|A Tick shows ----' FASTEST TEAM [_____] <-.__.--The performance levels|
|that this race is SLOWEST TEAM [_____] <-' of the fastest and|
|part of the calculation slowest teams at the|
| end of the calculation|
|Return to Main Menu ->[MAIN MENU].>[SAVE] [LOAD]<. |
| .-------' `--Load new statistics |
|Save all the statistics -' [CALCULATE]<-------. |
| _ _ _________________________`-Calculate and change all|
|Move through-->[<][>] [_________________________] the driver and team per-|
|drivers ________ -ormances based on the|
| .->QUALIFYING TIME [0:00.000] ^ statistics. |
| | FASTEST RACE LAP [0:00.000] | |
|Drivers best -' ^ | |
|Qualifying Time | Drivers name |
| Drivers fastest |
| race time |
`--------------------------------------------------------------------------'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.42 USING THE 1994 LAPTIMES FILE INCLUDED
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To use the included 1994 lap times data file, do the following:
As these statistics are for the 1994 data file "1994Data.F1Ed" which is
also included with the editor, make sure this is loaded in the normal
way first.
Now enter the statistics editor.
Next click on the "LOAD" option, select the "1994LapTimes" file and click
"Open File"
Now click "CALCULATE" and the performance figures are set.
Click "MAIN MENU", and the save the the altered details as you would a
normal data file.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.43 MAKING A NEW SET OF STATISTICS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To make a new set of statistics do the following:
Have the set of names, car colours etc. that you wish to set the
performance of loaded first.
Enter the statistics editor.
Select "ADD". A box will appear asking for the race name, click in the
black box and type the name of the race you wish to add, and then click
"O.K.".
The name of the race will appear near the top of the screen, along with a
ticked box marked "Include in Calculation". You can untick this later if
you don't want the calculations to include this race.
The first drivers name will also appear, near the bottom of the screen,
followed by empty places to enter the fastest qualifying and race lap
performed by that driver.
Click in the empty "Qualifying Time" box and enter the fastest qualifying
lap performed by the driver, the cursor will then move to the "Fastest
Race Lap" box, continue by entering this.
If either of these figures were not set for any reason, leave the time as
"0:00.00" and it will be ignored in the calculation. If no figures are
entered for the driver, their performance levels will not be changed by
the statistics editor.
Now click on the ">" button along side the drivers name to move onto the
next driver, and repeat the process until you have set all the figures for
this race.
If you wish to add another race, click on "ADD" again and repeat the
process.
Once you have finished you need to set the range other which the figures
will be set. This is done by telling the program what the peroformance of
the fastest and slowest teams will be by clicking in the "FASTEST TEAM"
and "SLOWEST TEAM" boxes, and entering the figures you wish to use. The
defaults (and normal figures) are 1000 and 850.
Now click on the "SAVE" button and save your statistics (They probably
took ages to enter and you wouldn't want to lose them would you?).
Now click on the "CALCULATE" button to start the calculating and changing
of your team and driver performance figures, a progress bar will appear
giving you an idea how long the calculations will take.
Thats It! Now click on "MAIN MENU" to move back to the main menu, and
then save your newly calculated team and driver details in the usual way.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.0 60HZ SCREEN MODE SWITCHER []/ |o__
------------------------------------------------------------------ O[____o\-
We released this editor to improve F1GP on the Amiga. Another way to
improve the way the game plays and looks, is to run your Amiga in 60Hz mode.
Geoff Crammond must have designed the game with the NTSC market in mind, as
there is a large black border at the bottom of the screen, and the cars and
scenery look "squashed". We've included in this archive, a short 60Hz mode
switcher. This one is particularly good as it has a go at emulating the ECS
hardware on a non-ECS Amiga (unfortunately this emulation won't work on
F1GP, but does on some other games like Test Drive). However, If you have
an ECS or AGA chipset Amiga (which is basically any Amiga from the A500+
upwards), you'll be able to play the game in fullscreen mode. Is it my
eyes, or does the game also run slightly quicker/smoother in this mode?
We have added an icon which calls the tool "IconX" to run 60hz emulator.
This is because if you use 60Hz directly from Workbench, it crashes. IconX
opens a CLI window first, and then runs 60Hz Emulator.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.0 HELP! []/ |o__
------------------------------------------------------------------ O[____o\-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.1 TROUBLE SHOOTING
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Q) When I click on the F1Ed icon from workbench or try to load F1Ed from
CLI nothing happens.
(A) This could be because you F1Ed can't find the libraries it needs, F1Ed
looks for the following libraries in your "LIBS:" directory:
mathieedoubas.library
mathieedoubtrans.library
If in doubt, start F1Ed from your Workbench disk.
(Q) I've tried everything and I still get a"This is not the F1GP executable"
message when I try to read from or write to the executable.
(A) If you are NOT using a pirate copy of the game and believe it to just be
a different version, make a backup of the disk containing the F1GP
executable file, and post it to me *with a stamped address envelope* at
the address below.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.2 TUTORIALS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Still can't figure it out? *Sigh* O.K. here's a couple of simple tutorials
explaining a couple of simple tasks which can be performed with F1Ed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.21 Using the 1994 data to play Grand Prix
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you run F1GP from floppy disks:
If you have the Wild, Wierd and Wicked pack version of Grand Prix, make a
backup of disk 1, otherwise backup disk 2 (To find out how to backup a
disk, see your Workbench manual).
If you are using Workbench to copy the disk, make sure that the text "Copy
of"is removed from the beginning of the back-up copy's name.
Next load F1Ed (Easy!)
Click "O.K." to get past the About screen, and then click "Load Data".
When the directory has appeared on screen,use the mouse to drag the "Scroll
bar" on the right hand side of the directory until you spot a file call
"1994Data.F1Ed" (all F1Ed data files are coloured light blue, and have
"F1Ed Data" next to them in the file requester window). Click on this file,
and then on "Open File".
Wait for the "Loading from F1Ed V2.75 data file" message to disappear.
The program is now set with data for the 1994 season. You can use the left
and right arrows under the team name at the top of the screen to scroll
through the teams, should you wish to.
Now click on the "Write Data to Executable" option.
When the F1Ed directory appears, wait until the drive light goes out.
If F1GP is installed on your harddisk:
Click in the "Directory" box, and enter the path of Grand Prix (e.g.
"HD1:Games/GP", "DH0:gp" etc.)
If you run F1GP from floppy disks:
Remove the F1Ed disk, click in the "Directory" box, insert your backup
F1GP disk into your computers disk drive, type "DF0:" and press return.
When the Grand Prix directory appears, use the scroll bar again to find the
file called "F1GP" (as with the data file, F1GP executable files are
coloured coded green, and have the phrase "F1GP Game" next to them), click
on it, and then on "Save File". The program then writes the 1994 data into
your version of Grand Prix. When it has finished, click on "Quit".
Now run Grand Prix as usual and the game will be set up with 1994 data.
If you run F1GP from floppy disks:
Make sure that when you run F1GP, you are using the backup that you
actually made the changes to!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.22 Changing one of the existing teams to a new one of your own
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you run F1GP from floppy disks:
If you have the Wild, Wierd and Wicked pack version of Grand Prix, make a
backup of disk 1, otherwise backup disk 2 (To find out how to backup a
disk, see your Workbench manual).
Next load F1Ed
Click "O.K." to get past the About screen, and then click "Read Data from
Executable".
If F1GP is installed on your harddisk:
Click in the "Directory" box, and enter the path of Grand Prix (e.g.
"HD1:Games/GP", "DH0:gp" etc.)
If you run F1GP from floppy disks:
Remove the F1Ed disk, click in the "Directory" box, insert your backup
F1GP disk into your computers disk drive, type "DF0:" and press return.
When the Grand Prix directory appears, use the scroll bar again to find the
file called "F1GP", click on it, and then on "Open File".
The program will now be set with the data from your version of Grand Prix.
Use the left and right arrows under the team name at the top of the screen
to find, for example, Williams.
Click on "Edit Team".
A screen will appear with all the statistics for your team,and a picture of
your car.
First change the Team, Engine, and Driver names by click on the black box
containing the old ones, deleting it, and then entering your own.
Next re-paint the car by first clicking on the colour you want from the
palette at the bottom of the screen, and then on the part of the car you
wish to re-colour. By clicking on the "Helmet 1" button you can edit the
first drivers helmet in the same way, "Helmet 2" is used for the second
drivers helmet, and "Pit Crew" to change the colour of the teams pit crew.
Next check that the driver you wish to control is selected. Do this by
checking that the icon next to the word "Selected" on the drivers panel, is
a tick (If it isn't, click on it).
When you have finished,click on the "O.K." icon to return to the Main Menu.
Now click on the "Write Data to Executable" option.
If the F1GP directory does not appear:
If F1GP is installed on your harddisk:
Click in the "Directory" box, and enter the path of Grand Prix (e.g.
"HD1:Games/GP", "DH0:gp" etc.)
If you run F1GP from floppy disks:
Make sure the F1GP disk is in the internal drive, click in the
"Directory" box, type "DF0:" and press return.
Next use the scroll bar again to find the file called "F1GP", click on it,
and then on "Save File". The program then writes your new data into your
version of Grand Prix. When it has finished, click on "Quit".
Now run Grand Prix as usual and the game will be set up with your team
included.
If you run F1GP from floppy disks:
Make sure that when you run F1GP, you are using the backup that you
actually made the changes to!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
See it's easy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.0 HISTORY []/ |o__
------------------------------------------------------------------ O[____o\-
---- Version 1.0 - Released February 1994 ----------------------------------
Change Team/Engine names.
Driver names.
Team performance levels.
Driver performance levels in both qualifying and race trim.
Car colours.
Supplied with 1993 data file.
---- Version 2.0 - Released March 1994 -------------------------------------
Change Crash helmet colours
Switch each driver on and off
Change the following default settings:
Race length
Qualifying session length
Practice length
Skill level
Added 1994 Data File
---- Version 2.5 - Released August 1994 ------------------------------------
Now compatible with A600 Wild Wierd and Wicked pack version of F1GP
Change Pit crew colours.
Choose which driver(s) are under human control when the game starts
Improved file requester handling under Kickstart 1.3
Change the following default settings:
Fast Windows on/off
Animations on/off
Number of Multi-player turns
Quick Race track (specify, or have F1GP ask you)
---- Version 2.75 - Released September 1994 --------------------------------
Statistics Editor.
Change the keys used in the game.
The camera setup used in the extra views.
Change the computer cars "tyre grip", speeding them up on corners.
Adjust the human players HP or just use the team performance figures.
Select the probability of a wet race.
Click buttons for more accuracy on scroll bars.
When editor starts, 1994 data is automatically set-up.
---- Version 2.75b - Released October 1994 --------------------------------
- Not a major release, just a few bug fixes: doesn't do anything new -
Fixed bug in writing data to 4 disk executable which caused "glitches"
on some of the in-game menus. F1Ed2.75b will also fix the cosmetic
damage this caused.
Due to popular demand, a custom written file requester, which sorts &
colour codes the important files used by F1Ed and therefore makes them
easier to identify. This file requester is not as intelligent as the
ASL requester used in previous versions,but will work on Kickstart 1.3
and integrates better with the rest of F1Ed. Note: the "Volumes"
button will not work under Kickstart 1.3, we believe this is because
the function used to read the list of devices was not available in
Kickstart 1.x.
----- Version 2.75i - In existance, but not released yet ! ----------------
F1Ed "International" Can read a configuration file containing the text used
throughout the editor. Thanks to Steve Broadbent and the Amiga F1GP Club
who are converting F1Ed to German for me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.0 IMPORTANT DISTRIBUTION NOTICE []/ |o__
------------------------------------------------------------------ O[____o\-
Firstly, I've had to update this text substantially because Amiga Computing
magazine possibly (although I don't really believe it) didn't understand the
phrase "may be distributed provided NO charge is made", and included F1Ed on
their coverdisk without my permission. Let me set this straight down the
line. If you are intending to make or charge any money what-so-ever through
the distribution of F1Ed, no matter how un-related you may feel it to be,
then DON'T unless you have my permission! (I AM a reasonable person!) This
means NO MAGAZINE COVER DISKS, NO PUBLIC DOMAIN LIBRARIES and NO PAY BBSs.
by saying charge, I include distribution fees, media costs and overheads of
any kind. If you obtained F1Ed by parting with money, please let me know
where you got it from.
Personally, Amiga Computing's argument of coverdisk software not making
people buy the magazine doesn't hold truth. Most letters I have received
have been from people who never normally buy Amiga Computing, but just
bought the one issue which had F1Ed on the coverdisk. Amiga Computing is
£3.99 per copy. I wonder out of their circulation of over 50,000 how many
people bought the magazine specifically to use F1Ed? The maths are
frightening!
The exception to the rules are Visage Computers (who I know provide a good
honest cheap service and may therefore distribute F1Ed at their standard
P.D. rate), and Barkman Computers in Kingston and Ealing.
If we are maligning your own perfectly good P.D. Library, please send us an
example of your work, and if we believe you are providing good value for
money, your name will be added to the list. Feel free, in fact we encourage
you, to upload this utility to any BBS, providing they don't operate on a
premium rate number (eg. 0898). This documentation must always be
included.
All of these conditions do not stop the average user making a copy (or as
many copies as they like) for their relatives or mates.
SHAREWARE/FREEWARE
This utility took me a long time to devise and write, the first versions
were considered as absolute freeware (providing ABSOLUTELY NO CHARGE IS
MADE). However, from now on, and purely to cover my costs, F1Ed will be
shareware. Don't get me wrong, I don't believe in crippling software, so
registered versions of F1Ed will be no different to their P.D. equivelant
(maybe you'll have to keep clicking on some annoying requester, but then
thats life!). The idea of registering is not just to show your
appreciation for my work, but also to have any subsequent major versions of
F1Ed sent to you in the post on the day of release. If you want to
register, send me £5. If I'm over-whelmed with £5 notes (which I sadly
doubt!), a percentage of the money will be donated to a Grand Prix related
charity. Please note, due to the current shambles which is collectively
called the Commodore U.K./CEI buy-out, the Amiga has very much been forced
in to an early grave. Since the last version of F1Ed was released, the
Amiga is now no longer my main machine. For this reason, it cannot be
guaranteed that there will be future versions of F1Ed. BTW, Please don't
write to me to tell me that the Amiga community is perfectly healthy. I
know a number of people who have had Amigas for more than 6 years who are
now selling up and moving across to the P.C. instead. For sure, the Amiga
will be around in a few years time, but it is not possible to predict what
kind of software support to expect. At the time of writing, there is not a
single major release scheduled for Winter 94/Spring 95 period - unless you
want dodgy football games. On the P.C., we've just seen NASCAR racing,
Transport Tycoon and Doom II with F1GP II and Dark Forces amongst the many
great titles lined up for next spring. Sadly, you could have the best
computer in the World, but without software support, you might as well pack
up and go home. That's just my opinion, but you may want to take all of
this in to account before deciding whether to register F1Ed or not.
There are currently two people to contact to register your copy of F1Ed:
Germany:
Steve Broadbent
Amiga F1GP Club
(Full address TBA)
Rest of World:
Steve Smith
34 Wolsey Drive
Kingston Upon Thames
Surrey
KT2 5DN
U.K.
Internet email : steves@a4000.demon.co.uk
FidoNet Netmail : Rock of Gibralta BBS 2:254/4
(Please note, I have NOT included my phone number because I do not wish to
receive phone calls. This is not because I don't want to speak to F1Ed
users, it's just inconvenient for the other people living with me if the
phone is ringing all the time). If you are writing to me with a problem
(and you aren't a registered user) and want me to reply, please remember to
include a stamped addressed envelope.
Finally, thanks to my brother Phil who created all of the graphics found in
F1Ed (offers of commercial work will ALWAYS be more than welcome at the
above address!)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Formula One Grand Prix ... _
\X/ ... Not so much a game, but a way of life! []/ |o__
----------------------------------------------------------------- O[____o\ -
