166 replies to this topic

[John Woods]

Plus there is this...Legends of GPL Mod


SV3000, post #137 is too valuable to eventually be lost in this thread.
Perhaps open a new well-tagged thread on the need help forum?

Why not start with the 2004 Demo?


BTW, Anyone, can a demo version be used as an iGOR/VROC race server?

Edited by John Woods, Sep 10 2018 - 08:02 AM.

[SV3000]

Hi John, thanks for the suggestions and the website, didn't know it before, reading it now, its great thanks for the hard work to all modders. And about 2004 demo, its pretty great, since it comes with graphic/sound modifications, might result conflict if we decide to add new updates on top of them, but other than that, 2004 demo is a good start base, all depends what to include.

Also no worry about my guide post, its just a rephrase of the old way of installing GPL back in days, which somewhere in the forum must already have similar guides.

Edited by SV3000, Sep 10 2018 - 10:29 AM.

[Michkov]

That is wonderful plan you laid out SV3000. I think this is the best way of getting a running GPL install. Pack it into a self extracting zip file and we are done. The only thing I'm missing is any kind of graphic updates, so the game is going to look like 1998, ie https://www.youtube....?v=3C4lrrGgGIM.

That is also the main hangup from my side, since I havn't really updated the cars for the past 10 years. I'm happy with the GPLEA cars. I got no answers when I posed the question in the thread earlier. Since the idea was to show off GPL graphic updates are must from where I stand. Good thing is changing the graphics is easy if they already exist. So I'm going to see if I can get a reliable installer based on your laid out plan, and the rest of you deliberate on the best gfx set for the seven original cars Watkins Glen and Monza, sound like a plan?

[SV3000]

I agree, GPLEA cars is good enough, and it has good consistency (2004 demo already has all the GPLEA cars updates, just need update other stuff to the latest). However they are not visually as stunning as those newly ones (such as Thomas' car updates, and other stuff in '67 Car Addons sub-forum, but they may not look as consistency), since some replies in this thread mentioned that they wanted the game to look great and attractive (though imo, real sim racers always pick gameplay over graphics, can't really convince non-sim racer to enjoy something as hardcore as GPL). Alternatively, like many have mentioned, use the "GPL-67 Historical Mod". Or "Legends of GPL Mod" that John has mentioned (which are better provided as extra addons).

But I'm not representative here, better having a poll voting, or find a representative to decide where to go and proceed the plan (and sorting out permissions).

Edit: the plan is good enough for me: GPLEA cars + track updates for watkins and monza + 67 Complete Soundset maybe + new rasterisers & 1.3 patch & some essential patches + documents and permissions.

Edit2: since 1.3 patch and other GEM+ patches involve modifying exe and redistribution, not sure if it's legal or not , if not, then we have to give up those extra patches and put in a simple guide on how to install GEM+ and patches (if the player decides to try new tracks/mods that requires 1.3)

Edit3: if 1.3 patch can't make into new demo, then maybe better just stick with 2004 demo, but do some minor updates & fix (graphics, sound), including new rasterisers (important), revise old documents (remove outdated information) and add a quickstart guide. This however is probably the easiest solution.

Sidenote: MD5 check of gpl.exe from 2004 demo is different compare to the ones found in GPL_v1.2.0.2(US)all-in-one_2.3_patch or GPL_v1.2.0.2(UK)all-in-one_2.3_patch (they are all version 1.2.0.2), not sure if it is necessary to replace it if we decide to use 2004 as base.
B63573B8EA3658F2D5064D81028913B0 | gpl.exe (2004 demo)
35E70B46719E9259619B613A95EA099F | gpl.exe (GPL_v1.2.0.2(US)all-in-one_2.3_patch)
6377EAAA7F2F1397EC2152B72C7445A8 | gpl.exe (GPL_v1.2.0.2(UK)all-in-one_2.3_patch)

Edited by SV3000, Sep 11 2018 - 04:19 AM.

[John Woods]

SV3000, on Sep 10 2018 - 06:49 PM, said:

But I'm not representative here, better having a poll voting, or find a representative to decide where to go and proceed the plan (and sorting out permissions).

Please read or re-read the Modder's Manifesto, somewhere here...
Not a criticism...trying rather to be encouraging.
If everyone had in the past waited on consensus we would have half of one unfinished track in the add-on database.
Well maybe two and half but no database.


How about a full spectrum YT Grand Prix Legends 2018 Demo Video featuring all Mods, all capabilities, and all resources? A Demo movie could take the whole scope of GPL load off the Demo.

Then a dedicated as discussed here 2018/19 Demo, (enhanced 2004), and a download site featuring links to select add-ons?



That could be a nice belated birthday present.

Edited by John Woods, Oct 08 2018 - 08:02 AM.

[SV3000]

Thanks John   totally agreed with you, GPL could really use a new and better community driven promotion video(and couple with new demo), especially for the 20th anniversary.

The reason I mentioned "representative" stuff was because GPL community has far greater amount of very experienced and capable modders (all the great works modders made in the past 20 yrs) who can definitely make this demo dream come true (and perfectly with years of experience), but still this demo thing hasn't progressed at all. So all I can think of is the few reasons (don't mean to against anyone):
No one cares, or have the time;
Everyone is waiting for the big guy to do it;
Afraid of legal issue if there's any;
The long-troubled-historic modding permission controversial that made most people not willing to deal with;
Secret project has already been undergoing (best wish).

PS: Really do hope new demo could be made possible. Recently I made a full length GPL installation and configuration guide for the Chinese community, and there are people interested in, even though only a few, also did bring out a few silent die-hard GPL fans .

Also if anyone interested, this is my Chinese GPL guide: https://bbs.srfc.com....read&tid=182128

Edited by SV3000, Oct 09 2018 - 05:38 AM.

[SV3000]

So, another two days have passed... here is a bit more constructive thoughts:

1. The new demo is definitely gonna need car updates, and since most car updates are built upon GPLEA's base, so it inevitably requires permission from GPLEA (consider so many years have passed, don't know how hard is it to do this, I'm not optimistic on this one.)

2. Same reason as above, if new demo is based on 2004 DEMO, a full permission from GPLEA is maybe needed.

3. (speculation) Since manipulating original game files is considered not legal, it's gonna be quite impossible to integrate 67 patch 1.3 and other essential patches that greatly enhanced GPL experience, UNLESS somehow someone developed a patching program to do the same thing as GEM+ does. Otherwise "extract and play" user friendly demo is impossible, too much to give up.

4. If somehow all the above are not issues (maybe no one owning GPL rights any more and no one cares about copyright), then all we need is a list of things (yes this was discussed and repeated many times already in this thread) required and to be done to make the demo happen, as simple as that. And this would require community input, especially from experienced players and modders. So if anyone interested in a new demo, or willing to help get more new players into GPL, please don't remain silence, and say something (people like to share things they love, that's why this game is still alive, right?).

Not much left to say. If this thread still managed to sink Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas, then it just further proved my point in the previous post (prove me wrong ).

Edited by SV3000, Oct 11 2018 - 03:18 AM.

[jerera05]

I think I might have something of a "2018" demo already packed away in a 7zip. I would of course need tons of different permissions to release it though. I was just keeping it around as a basic install anytime I wanted to jump back into the same for a day. I tried to keep it as "Papy Standard" as possible. This means no historical updates, a standard driver ini used on every track, no non championship tracks, only official Grand Prixs included, no high intensity graphics updates or draw distance fixes. The total amount of space it takes up on a hard drive is around 4.9 GB uncompressed and just under a 1 GB compressed. Here's what it includes:

GPLEA install base with improved car graphics, sounds, community patch (which I could go back and remove), track updates, all combination of rasterizers
GEM+ 2 Installer
4GB patch installed on gpl executables
Standard unpatched, unmodded 1965 mod
Standard unpatched, unmodded 1966 mod
Irridux's high wing 1968 mod
Original 1969 mod with one carset, the low wings
Pavel's AI updates
Updated Season inis
GPL Shift patched (which I could always remove)
Patched out pribulda

I tried to make the file as lightweight as possible while also allowing addons to be installed easily. Installation would be as easy as installing GEM+, unzipping GPL, then pointing GEM to the unzipped file. I think this would be the most straightforward way of going about a demo for the modern user (allowing the user to experience GPL's bread-and-butter, late 60's GP racing). Of course, I wouldn't think about releasing this until I got some more feedback on it (and finding somewhere to put it).

[TvO]

SV3000, on Oct 11 2018 - 03:17 AM, said:

(consider so many years have passed, don't know how hard is it to do this, I'm not optimistic on this )

Should be possible, I've seen GPLEA texture artists Mike Tyler, Michel Beran and Michiel Pompert pop up on facebook (Michiel has added me as a friend ) . I haven't seen GPLEA contact person Nils Ruwisch or 3do guru Gustavo Oliveira but it should be possible to track them down. I think they would be honoured with a permissions question over work they made 15 years ago! I know I would

[Stefan Roess]

Any news on this?
Is there any interest to pick up this topic again?

Lee, you had made a post on this somewhere in the private forums section. I can not find it anymore, but it sounded like you would be interested. 😊

Is it possible to create a GPL DEMO 2019?
What are the main problems?

[John Woods]

Everything created by the GPLEA is available for download already with apparently no objection to current accessibility.

Maybe, more than a new demo version, the current ones need their own home page featuring narrative about Grand Prix Legends, important links, and maybe SV3000 ez install notes?

Edited by John Woods, Jul 28 2019 - 11:28 AM.

[Stefan Roess]

John Woods, on Jul 28 2019 - 11:13 AM, said:

Maybe, more than a new demo version, the current ones need their own home page featuring narrative about Grand Prix Legends, important links, and maybe SV3000 ez install notes?

We already have a GPL 2004 Demo website.

[English] https://www.gplworld....s/gpl-2004-demo
[German] https://www.gplworld....s/gpl-2004-demo

[Lee200]

In my view, the biggest issue with making a 2019 demo is getting agreement on what should be included.  

Putting the files together and getting Bernd to make an installer would be relatively easy once the content is nailed down.

[Stefan Roess]

Lee200, on Jul 28 2019 - 02:58 PM, said:

In my view, the biggest issue with making a 2019 demo is getting agreement on what should be included.  

Then we should be able to do it.
Let`s go.

[John Woods]

Stefan Roess, on Jul 28 2019 - 02:32 PM, said:

We already have a GPL 2004 Demo website.

[English] https://www.gplworld....s/gpl-2004-demo
[German] https://www.gplworld....s/gpl-2004-demo

Tah-dah!

[John Woods]

1. The Legends of GPL Mod
2. Lee's Patches
3. GEM+/iGOR
4. A bunch of tracks

[John Woods]

Maybe an annual demo would be easier?

If a yearly edition, not so much emphasis needs to be placed on getting over and past a "completely representative" one time big hurdle. Instead, little tweaks, new cars, tracks, and editors featured, unique menu graphics, a new patch or new utility, etc, that make it a special release without a lot of the issues and complexity of "one big demo."

What is the easiest thing to do now to get a 2019 Demo published and start working on enhancements for the 2020?
Release each year on GPL Birthday?

2019 - The Legends Mod?
2020 - 67X?
2021 - 65s?
2022 - SCX?


Just some 2ct ideas

Edited by John Woods, Jul 30 2019 - 05:34 AM.

[fajanko]

John Woods, on Jul 29 2019 - 08:25 AM, said:

1. The Legends of GPL Mod
2. Lee's Patches
3. GEM+/iGOR
4. A bunch of tracks

1. Yes.
2. Yes.
3. Yes.
4. It should include all type of tracks, one for all mods/era.

[Michkov]

John Woods, on Jul 30 2019 - 05:16 AM, said:

Maybe an annual demo would be easier?

Have you seen the title of this thread? Lol a decadal demo is the best we can manage I fear.

[webfoot]

My two penneth worth of thoughts....

If the purpose is a Demo, to attract people to easily try out GPL, then it doesn't need to include "everything but the kitchen sink".  


- The Legends of GPL Mod would give a good intro to people for the available mods.

- Still need to include the original papyrus+GPLEA cars to provide a "normal" race feature.

- Tracks.  Pick well known tracks that showcase GPL.  Doesn't need to be too many or a coherent "championship" set of tracks.  If users want to add further tracks then that's fairly easy step for them once they get pointed to the ATDB.

- Include a select number of extra utilities.  Just key ones that provide features that a new user would immediately appreciate.  Off the top of my head, Rasterizers, No Letterbox, Pribluda, Set Up Manager, CCM.

- If Legends and 1967 were included, then obviously you need GEM+.  I think this should be "packaged" pre-installed.  i.e. so the user does not have to set up/configure it.  For example as part of the install it could include 2 players pre-setup.  One for Legends and one for 1967.  With all necessary options activated (e.g. no letterbox).  This would make for an easier install and go, without the need to activate car sets, set up players and link to the carset (this tends to confuse people).

- If people like what they can (easily) try out. then they might be bothered to dig into the complexities of further GPL setup/configuration that we have all grown to love.

Edited by webfoot, Jul 31 2019 - 03:41 AM.