The Definitive GPL Beginners Guide !
Author: Graham 'Awol' Hosking.
Version 1.5 ( 27/06/2004 )

:::::: Updating Grand Prix Legends :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Because GPL was released in 1998, there are a few patches that you'll need to get to make the sim compatible with modern computers, add force-feedback, fix a few bugs, improve on-line gameplay, and enable Direct 3D and Open GL.

The first patch you'll need is the All-In-One Patch compiled by Magnus Th�me.
This will install the following:

GPL v1.2.0.1 (including information from the GPL v1.1 update)
D3D patch
OpenGL patch version 2 (inluding WiHerr's edit and mirror.mip)
GPL disconnect fix
GPL v1.2.0.2 (commonly called the "cpu fix" patch)

This 'All-In-One Patch' will fix bugs, improve off-line and online gameplay, CPU fix for computers with 1.2gig and over, and do it all in the correct sequence for you. All that's required after installation is starting up GPL and changing some options to suit your PC, which you will find out about when you read the rest of the guide. Get the All-In-One-Patch from the GPL Track Database.

The second patch you'll need is the 'Sound Patch' created by Nigel Pattinson.
You can download the patch from here. It comes complete
with instructions. Along with this patch you'll need car sounds to replace the original ones.
You can find a great car sound set at the GPLEA. It also comes with instructions to easily install them.


:::::: Configuring Grand Prix Legends :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

To get the maximum out of the sim, there are a few tasks and options that need to be adjusted. Most modern computers will be able to handle the demands GPL asks for from their PC; however many people still have computers that aren't as powerful as their modern counterparts. If you follow this guide completely, you'll be able to GPL running to the maximum ability it can on your machine.

Before starting Grand Prix Legends, it's a good idea to check and make sure your controller is properly plugged in and working correctly, to do this you need to follow these simple steps:
Win95/98/Me,etc. : Start > Settings > Control Panel > Gaming Options.
WinXP : Start > Control Panel > Game Controllers.

:: General configuration ::::::

The time has come to fire up Grand Prix Legends and configure the simulation to suit you and your computer. But there are a few things you need to do first, before you can get in a car and try a race.

:: Controller configuration ::::::

The first thing that will happen when the sim has loaded is a Controller Calibration screen will pop-up. From here you need to test your controller and GPL will then remember the calibration so you do not need to repeat the process in the future.

When you've completed the previous step, you need to make a driver profile. Enter the information you like, such as name, country and choice of team you want to drive for. The usual recommendation is for a beginner to drive the Ferrari or Coventry (Cooper), as these are the easier ones to start on. Later on you can change the team you are driving for, although this can be done at any time.

:: Graphics configuration ::::::

In the main menu choose Options, once the menu has appeared, you need to pick the Graphics menu by clicking the golden arrows at the very bottom. At the Graphics menu, you will see there are numerous options you can change, whilst this does look a little daunting, it will allow you to configure the graphics to best suit your machine and get the best out of the sim.

The first thing you need to do is change the graphic mode, the most common choice for modern machines is Direct3D 7. It is recommended you try this mode first, providing you have a 3D accelerator graphics card, if not, see below for a run-through on which cards are best suited for the different modes:

None (Software) = No 3D accelerated cards.
3Dfx = Voodoo 3Dfx based cards.
Direct3D 7 = Nvidia FX/GeForce/TNT, ATI Radeon, Kyro and Matrox cards.
Open GL = Nvidia FX/GeForce/TNT and ATI Radeon cards.
Rendition = Old type of card, no longer available.

To make sure you're using the correct graphics mode for your 3D accelerator, exit the Options menu and take a test drive in Training mode at one of the 11 tracks (We would recommend you first try Monza). Once you've selected the track you wish to try, click the green waving button at the bottom-right of the screen. When you are in the car sitting in pit-lane, simultaneously press and hold the Alt and F keys on the keyboard. This will bring up a small numerical FPS (Frames Per Second) number at the bottom-right of the screen, and if this shows a constant 36, you can now fine tune the graphic options further to increase the visual quality.

Note that it is important to keep the FPS at a constant 36. Why? Below 36 will make GPL slow and hard to drive and this sim is hard enough to drive already; it doesn't need to be any harder than it is. Grand Prix Legends was designed to run at a maximum of 36 FPS.

Now it's time to get out of the car and exit the track. Whilst still at the track option screen, click the Options button at the lower-left of the screen, cycle through the Options menu using the gold arrows at the bottom-middle of the screen until you reach the graphics menu. When at this menu, you'll need to make some changes. If the FPS is at a steady 36, you can further increase the options to make the graphics even better.

First start off by increasing the resolution, it's best to try this in steps, so choose the next highest available. This will give better detail and reduce the jagged lined that appear on straight lines of objects in the sim.
Once you've increased the resolution, exit the graphics menu and go back into the track and go for a test run. If the FPS is still a steady 36, exit the track and increase the resolution once again. The most common resolution used by GPL'ers who have modern machines is 1024x768, in either Direct3D 7 or Open GL, on a 17" monitor or 1280x1024 on a 19" monitor.

If you are still achieving 36 FPS with a higher resolution, move onto Sound Configuration.
If you have lower than 36 at all times, follow the below steps to achieve better frame rates.

Follow these steps to help increase FPS and improve game play on lower spec machines.
First you'll need to turn of some options; the best to turn off are listed below and it's best to try this in steps. Note, when driving in race, championship and online races, you may have to decrease details further.

1. Dirt and Dust.
2. Dynamic lighting.
3. Spectacular highlights.
4. Reduce detail slider bar to approx' 60-75%.
5. Change mirror options to Cars and Track Only.
6. Driver arms and wheel.
7. Reduce track-side objects.
8. Reduce resolution.

:: Sound configuration ::::::

The amount of sounds you have set will affect the performance of game-play if your machine isn't very powerful. Adjusting the sound to a more appropriate value can give a substantial increase in FPS, therefore better game-play. The default value is 4, but if you have a decent sound card and machine, you can increase this value further. Increasing the value to 8 will give a better effect of realism. If the performance is still adequate, you can further increase this to the maximum available. However, having the value set to 8 can be too noisy and make it hard to hear your engine and will affect your gear changes. If in doubt, it is recommended to leave this setting at the default value.

Should the sound in game be crackly and/or warping, visit your sound card manufacturer's website and download the latest drivers available, as usually having the latest drivers can increase performance in GPL.

:::::: Installing Add-On Cars :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

When it comes to cars, there's no doubt that the GPLEA have produced the best so far. The accuracy the GPLEA crew have put into the cars is astounding and their cars are the most commonly used. There is also a nice range of add-ons for their cars released by the community. A community member, who goes by the alias of Citytea, has released a beautiful range of paint job add-ons that literally thousands of people use, and there's no doubt why. Besides the GPLEA, there are many other car editors in the community that have released car-sets that are based on different eras of the Formula One Grand Prix circus, such as 1968 when the cars had wings. The best place to find these car-sets is at GPL++ The Addons, remember to bookmark this site. All cars and car-sets come with instructions on how to install them. It's a relatively easy process that anybody can do.

:::::: Installing Add-On Tracks :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Getting tired of the original 11 tracks or just want more? Don't stress. There are over 400 tracks now available! With the release of track making tools from Phil 'Guru' Flack, Peter Prochazka and many more, there have been hundreds of new tracks released. Most of these tracks are real and have been made with precision detail. There are also many fantasy tracks will provide you with a really fun drive. Originally finding them was a hard task. Not anymore, as some dedicated GPL enthusiasts from the community have devoted their free time and social life to make the job of tracking them down a lot easier. Although there are a large number of tracks available, GPL only supports having a maximum of 64 in-game at one time. To get around this problem, there are track managers available. Most do the same job, but Raymond Geering's seems to be the favourite amongst many of the community and my favourite also. You can get the
GPL Track Manager v2.5.0 at GPL++ The Addons in Utilities > Other.

The two best standard setting track directory sites are GPL++ The Addons
and the GPL Track Database. If you find a dead-link to a track on either of those sites, you'll most likely find it available at the
SimRacing Mirror Zone, so be sure to check there. Should it not be available there, leave a message at the forum and they'll make it available for you.


:::::: Racing On-Line :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Racing against the drivers in GPL is one thing, racing against real humans is another world.

Since the Virtual Racers Online Connection hit the scene, aka VROC and the release of WinVROC,
the online racing community has grown enormously; in-fact so much so that you'll never find an empty list of open servers to race on. So you're thinking, "Come on, get on with it, I wanna get out there and try this!" Well you can get WinVROC here.

Make life easier for yourself and be sure to visit the VROC Setup Guide. Setting up WinVROC isn't hard, but the guide will show what all the options do and will also teach you some tips and tricks to make online game-play better.

Remember, there are behavioral standards in real racing, there's behavioral
standards in online racing as well. I suggest you have a look at these following guides: Recommended driver behavior guide & Non recommended driver behavior guide.

:::::: Sites of Interest :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

The GPL community is built up of many people and groups, some of which have taken the time to build dedicated websites to help others. These are the most commonly visited and interesting sites that all GPL'ers should bookmark. This list has been split into categories to make it easier to find what your looking for.

Mad 4 Driving GPL Forum
The M4Driving forum is also definitely one of the best to visit and be a member of. It's one of the very few forums where the forum leaders actually take the time to pick out all the bad seeds so the members can get on with being a part of the community and enjoy themselves. There are many people here who'll help you with any problem you are having with Grand Prix Legends. There are many editors who post their addons here as well, so be sure to check it out as it's also a great place to make friends.

Race Sim Central GPL Forum
There are many people here who'll help you with any problem you are having with Grand Prix Legends. There are many editors who post their addons here as well, so be sure to check it out as it's also a good place to make friends.

SimRacing Mirror Zone Database
GPLMZ is a new and fast growing site that serves as a resource to the community by mirroring/hosting addons that are missing or hard to find. You'll find tracks, tracks addons and general addons here, many of which aren't available at any other site. SRMZ has also got a forum and the amount of new members it has is growing larger every week, so be sure to drop by and join in. The leaders who run this site are very friendly and have plenty of experience and will be able to help you with any trouble you have.

GPL++ The Addons
Looking for add-ons, tracks, cars, car-sets, tools, tutorials and more to spice up Grand Prix Legends? Well, this is the place to go for anything GPL. It is simply the best resource for the GPL community and has been so for years. There's no doubt it will remain that way for many more. It is a 'must visit' and well worth bookmarking, as you will find out.

GPL Track Database
As the name suggests, this site is dedicated to listing and linking just about all the tracks available for GPL. The site has an easy to use navigation system, so you'll be able to find tracks by name, maker, type and much more. Another great feature of this site is you can vote on tracks that you have and you can also view the past votes a track has. This is another 'must visit' site which is well worth investigating.

Legends Of '67
At this site you'll find an array of information about the 1967 Formula Grand Prix season. Knowing some of the information here can also help you understand what really GPL is about. There is also a range of add-ons that you'll surely want to have to make the sim more historically accurate.

BAPOM
The Big Ass Pile of Maps site isn't a general site, but it has become a place that is a 'must visit' to thousands in the community. They are the standard when it comes to track programmes for GPL. The designs are works of art and give an authentic 60's look and feel. It's amazing, so be sure to check this site out !

Eagle Woman's GPL
This site is run by the famous, Alison Hine. If you've watched the Silverstone replay that's shipped with GPL, you'll know that she is one heck of a great driver. At Alison's site you'll find setups, guides and a whole lot of useful information you'll be interested in as a beginner; in fact, even if you are a long term GPL driver.

GPL Foolishness Setup Guide
Are you lost on how to setup your choice of car, need lower times or just want to try something different? Ricardo Nunnini's site is well worth the visit if you want to learn the fine art of tuning a setup.



Copyright� 2004
Graham 'Awol' Hosking. SimRacing Mirror Zone !
Duplication and modification of this guide is strictly prohibited.
All rights reserved.

Graham: Thanks for your time and efforts with this Guide as it'll be very useful indeed for everyone! Like myself (I know alot;& forgot alot..but always willing to learn more) ! Great work mate.
Quattro

Thanks Awol,

Just read the Beginners Guide,
this is a great resource!

cheers

Cheers
Well done. I'm just about to use it to step through setting up a new GPL box now.

Let me know how you go ya lucky bugger.

If you have any prob's, I'll release an updated version
and add a credits page to the guide and add your name to it
along with other people that have helped...

I know there's a dead link in the guide, but it's not necessary
to visit the site, it's only to do with driving behaviour.

Sorry but the Beginners Guide isn't available.

https://gplmz.speedgeezers.com/guides/GplBeginnerGuide.zip

No, the ebook is no longer available but you can have it as a single mht file to open with your browser here:

Another useful addition for beginners, GPL Tweaker. I wouldn't use GPL without this.

https://srmz.racesimcentral.net/index.php?showtopic=1527